Audrey Hobert’s pop success is more than a lucky strike

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Audrey Hobert isn’t clowning herself anymore. She was meant to be a pop star.

I’d been holding onto all this music for so long, I honestly felt like there was a little guy inside me just desperately trying to get out. That’s how I described it recently, while grabbing breakfast at Swingers Diner in Hollywood – it was a rainy morning, and I was finally ready to talk about it.

This week, the Los Angeles artist begins her Staircase to Stardom tour, playing shows in North America, Europe, and Australia. She’ll be performing songs from her first album, “Who’s the Clown?,” which came out on RCA Records in August. She’s scheduled to play at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, followed by a performance at Jingle Ball at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome the next day.

Despite her incredible success as a singer with the hit “Bowling Alley,” a career in music wasn’t always the plan. After earning a screenwriting degree from New York University in 2021, she initially worked as a writer for Nickelodeon’s “The Really Loud House,” which is no longer in production.

Everything shifted when she began writing songs with her childhood friend, Gracie Abrams, for her 2024 album, “The Secret of Us.” Shortly after, she signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Group and spent several months co-writing songs for others. However, she soon realized her deeply personal lyrics deserved a wider audience than just her own ears. She started writing for herself, understanding her honest songwriting needed to be shared.

Hobert collaborated with producer Ricky Gourmet to craft her signature bubbly pop sound and decide when a song needed a saxophone. Though she never played a leading role in school plays, her music feels like a star is performing. Her debut single, “Sue Me,” a catchy and energetic song about briefly reconnecting with an ex for attention, climbed to No. 26 on the Billboard Pop Airplay Chart. The music video, which Hobert directed herself – as she does with all her videos – showcased an artist who isn’t afraid to let loose and dance freely.

Despite only playing a few shows, she’s quickly gained a loyal following who enthusiastically sing along to her concerts. They know all the words, from the bold choruses of songs like “Sue Me” to the quirky details in tracks like “Sex and the City.”

Over French toast and black coffee, Hobert mused about the career she never saw coming.

This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

It’s funny, even with everything changing, I still feel like the same person who just loves being comfortable at home. And honestly, I really thrive on being busy and pushing through exhaustion. There’s a line, though – you can get carried away with that feeling. It’s not about partying, really. For example, I’ve been filming a music video for four days straight, and last night I was up until 3 a.m. with a very small team. I don’t feel like I’ve fully adjusted to this new life yet, and I’ll know when I truly feel like I’ve ‘made it.’ But you can always create boundaries and protect yourself if you need to.

I’m really nervous about performing in L.A. because most of my friends and family will be there. I’ve decided to keep the details of the show a complete surprise for them, hoping to get honest feedback. I want them to experience it fresh, without any prior expectations. This first tour is short and intimate, and I’m really looking for constructive criticism – what works and what doesn’t – to help me improve.

You know, it’s funny – people always ask if I get more nervous playing for friends and family, but honestly, I think it’s the opposite! For me, nervousness and excitement feel almost the same, and I definitely lean towards excitement. This summer, traveling and performing all over the world, I realized I was most hyped for the shows where I knew people in the audience. There was something really freeing about that. Actually, performing in places like Australia, Amsterdam, and Berlin felt less pressured, because I didn’t know as many people – it was a great feeling!

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I’m so excited! Gracie Abrams is releasing her new album, ‘The Secret of Us,’ and she’s celebrating with three shows at the Greek Theatre in September. I already got my tickets!

I was curious how the rest of the performances went. My first time singing my songs in front of an audience was amazing. I hadn’t imagined myself performing solo with just a guitar, but that’s how I originally wrote many of them, so it felt authentic. As someone with a theater background, I also have a natural urge to perform on my feet without instruments for some songs, so I’m not sure how the full experience will feel. I did appear on “Jimmy Fallon,” which gave me a small preview, but it won’t be the same as playing for a crowd who actually loves my music. Overall, it was incredibly fun and really got me energized.

It’s honestly incredible hearing crowds sing along to my songs already! I remember pouring everything into writing each line, really striving for perfection because I cared so much. Someone asked if I was nervous to perform them, but I’ve been excited since I first wrote them – I just put in the work. So when people sing the lyrics back to me, it feels amazing. I think, ‘Yes! It took me a long time to find the right way to say that, and I hoped it would either completely blow you away or get you fired up enough to scream it with me!’

Your song “Phoebe” starts with the line about being told you’d become a star in New York. It felt like right after “Sue Me” came out, things really started happening for you. Could you talk about how you wrote and pitched your songs?

I had just started enjoying songwriting as a hobby. I wrote a bunch of songs with Gracie, which led to a publishing deal. I was in a weird place because, as a kid, I always knew I wanted to be a television writer. Now, I was a signed songwriter, but I hadn’t dreamed of this career path my whole life, so it felt strange to suddenly be launching into something I hadn’t actively pursued.

Everything felt incredibly destined, and I was really drawn to songwriting. Throughout the whole experience, I never doubted myself or felt like I didn’t deserve it. I knew holding back would have been a mistake, and I needed to fully embrace whatever was happening.

Gracie and I were living together then, but she was constantly on tour. I was living in a pretty quiet part of Los Angeles, and I started to feel really isolated in my little house. I began writing songs as an escape – it felt like stepping into another world, almost like something out of ‘The Twilight Zone,’ where I could completely lose myself and forget about feeling lonely, missing her, or wanting a relationship. It was just about the writing.

Songwriting feels magical to me because it combines creating melodies – which is something I can’t quite explain – with writing lyrics, which I think of as the ultimate puzzle. It’s almost like doing math, even though I’m not good at it! I can often sense how a feeling will come together in a song before it actually happens. I spent about eight months writing constantly, and that’s when I decided to tell Universal Music Publishing that I wanted to become an artist myself. It was a way to move away from just writing for others, and then I met Ricky. I immediately knew I wanted to create music solely with him – it was the most fun I’ve ever had.

You mentioned the album title and cover art came to you suddenly, and you initially found that odd. Have you had any further insights into what that experience meant? Well, the cover art really came from my initial assumption that I’d be releasing this project independently. I hadn’t even considered the possibility of a record label getting involved. As a new artist, I figured I needed a cover that would really grab people’s attention and make them curious about the music. I felt like a female pop artist hadn’t really explored darker, more unsettling imagery before. I simply wanted to surprise and maybe even scare people, making them wonder what kind of music it was – only to discover it was just pop. That was the whole idea behind it.

I’m so curious about the release of “Sue Me.” What do you remember about that moment? The release date kept getting delayed, and each time it did, I felt really disappointed. I was incredibly excited – more so than I’d ever been about anything. As soon as the first song was released, I immediately felt a sense of liberation.

Predicting how a song will be received is always a mystery. You can create something amazing and do everything perfectly, but it still might not connect with listeners. “Sue Me” wasn’t a massive, overnight viral sensation like some songs, but it did gain popularity, which was really rewarding. By the time it was released, I’d listened to it hundreds of times – probably over 800! – so my reaction wasn’t just about whether others liked it; I genuinely loved the song myself.

I didn’t really decide to start writing more personal songs; it just happened naturally. Writing with Gracie felt just as good as writing on my own, but in a more fulfilling way because it was a shared experience. Sharing creativity with her has always been a joy, going back to when we were kids. It always felt like just hanging out was a creative process, and we never specifically planned to collaborate more formally. When I write alone, it can be harder work, but the feeling of finally writing something good is incredibly rewarding.

Your music has a really interesting quality – it feels both familiar and current, blending a nostalgic vibe with lyrics that clearly speak to today’s digital world. You’ve mentioned not having specific influences for this project, but are there any songwriters you admire? I think with your next album, you might start drawing on those influences more. For this project, though, it sounds like you intentionally broke away from traditional songwriting rules. You were analyzing what made popular songs work, but then decided to just trust your own instincts. You didn’t worry about whether the songs fit a classic structure, you just focused on what felt authentic and kept you engaged, and you ran with that.

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I’ve been getting some really great feedback on my music videos, which is awesome! Someone asked if I have a dream director I’d like to collaborate with, or if I plan to direct all my own videos. Honestly, when I was first starting out and approaching labels, I was pretty set on doing everything myself – I didn’t want a director involved. But the more videos I make, the more I enjoy the directing process, and the more open I am to being directed by someone else. There’s this guy, Dan Streit, who I really admire. We actually used his camera on my latest video! I think he’s incredibly talented, and he’s the only director I’ve ever thought, ‘Wow, I wonder if he’d be interested in directing one of my videos?’

Your “Thirst Trap” video seemed to draw inspiration from the Japanese horror film “House” and even “High School Musical 2.” What kind of movies do you generally enjoy, and do you have any favorites you like to rewatch? I’m really trying to watch more movies and disconnect from social media. I recently saw a Robert Altman film, “The Player,” and thought it was great. When I need something comforting, I usually watch “Frances Ha” or “Mistress America.” I especially love Greta Gerwig as an actress, though she’s a fantastic director too! I randomly discovered “House” and immediately watched it twice – I’m a big fan. I’d say my taste in movies is pretty varied.

Does fashion play a big role in how I express myself creatively? Well, when I was a kid, I actually wanted to be a fashion designer – I was always inspired by the outfits I saw on TV. I do enjoy fashion, but to feel comfortable with everything that’s happening in my career right now, I need to wear clothes that feel like me. I recently did a photoshoot for Vevo and purposely didn’t focus much on my appearance. Looking back at the pictures, I realized it’s sometimes good to put a little more effort into how you present yourself. Ultimately, though, staying true to my own style is what matters most.

Who was your Disney Channel fashion inspiration?
Selena Gomez. All the way.

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Kendrick Lamar, the rapper from Compton, and pop icon Lady Gaga are both nominated for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter are also among the leading nominees.

Now that the album is released, are you focusing on writing new material or taking some time off? I’ve been reflecting on writer’s block and whether it’s a genuine thing. I’ve realized I don’t need to question if I’m a writer – I’ve always felt like one. Some artists believe in writing something every day, even if it’s not great, while others take long breaks. For me, when I have a song I want to write, I just do it. I’m trying not to stress about maintaining the same constant writing pace I had while making the album. So, to answer your question, not really – I’m not writing more right now.

What’s been the best part of this whole journey? It seems to connect back to the opening track, “I like to touch people,” doesn’t it? You’re right to point that out. Honestly, that’s the most thrilling aspect – even more so than things like getting press coverage or gaining followers. It’s a constant reminder of why I started, and it feels amazing.

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2025-12-02 02:03