YUNGBLUD is once again having a moment, continuing to forge his own path in the world of Rock, thanks to sincere songwriting, electric performances, and a few heavy co-signs from iconic artists. The "Zombie" singer recently joined us for an Audacy Check In to catch up on all of it, and he admits that conquering doesn't come easy.
LISTEN NOW: Audacy Check In with YUNGBLUD
Still feeling the love from this summer's album, Idols, YUNGBLUD has been everywhere ever since, first at the final Black Sabbath show in July, and ultimately with Aerosmith at the MTV VMAs honoring the life of Ozzy Osbourne. He also collaborated with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry on an upcoming EP, arriving everywhere on November 21.
After receiving a message from Perry, pouring on praise for his song "Hello Heaven, Hello," YUNGBLUD made plans to connect with Joe and Steven in Florida. "I went for a drink with the Aerosmith guys and I secretly held a studio, cause if you're on a first date, you're either gonna go on with each other or you're not gonna get on," he shares. "Luckily we went home with each other, you know, within an hour I was like, 'I've got a studio around the corner, you want to get in,' and they were like, 'yeah.'"
"When we got together, we were so similar energetically, we're two puppies. I say me and Steven are puppies and Joe's a cat. Joe Perry's a cat, we're puppies, you know what I mean? Joe Perry's like, 'I'm gonna sit here and look cool as f*** and I'm gonna play my guitar,' and me and Steven are just like, 'woo woo woo.'"
"There was this beautiful sense of healthy competition between me and Steven," he adds. "We were just trying to outdo each other, and then all of a sudden Joe's going, 'wow, he's hitting notes that I've not heard him hit in years.'"
YUNGBLUD goes on to share details of the incoming EP, One More Time, teasing a song that's "stadium rock & roll" and another that's "outlaw Country," as well as a juiced-up version of "Back In The Saddle" from Aerosmith. "We're like family now."
Once again YUNGBLUD is set for another tour of states, one which sold out in mere minutes when it went on sale. "As an Englishman, you know, and an English Rock musician, the whole dream is to break America," he reveals.
In one of his final interactions with Ozzy Osbourne, the icon told him to "conquer America," and that's just what he has set out to do. "I've always been obsessed with playing Rock music in America because it's where it came from. Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, it's where it came from, and I think that's why breaking America for a British Rock musician is so sacred," YUNGBLUD explains.
"It's where the genre began, it came out of the blues, it came out of the swamps. I think Rock music is such a beautiful genre because it's adherent to where it came from. It's very respectful to its history. I think that's why it's a safeguarded genre. I think Hip-Hop and Pop music give the crown up to whatever's biggest, Rock music doesn't give its crown easily because you need to be vetted multiple times."
"My vibe is this, if you are unsure about me, come see me live, and I'll blow your mind. Promise."
For much more from YUNGBLUD check out the full Audacy Check In above.