Malcolm Todd (musician)
{{Short description|American musician (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{infobox musical artist
| name = Malcolm Todd
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Malcolm Todd Hobert
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|09|15}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California
{{Infobox person | child=yes
| education = University of Oregon}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
| occupation = {{flatlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2022–present
| label = Columbia
| past_member_of =
| spouse =
| partner =
| website = [https://www.malcolmtodd.cool/ Official website]
| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| signature = Malcolm Todd sig.svg
}}
}}
Malcolm "Todd" Hobert (born September 15, 2003) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He signed to Columbia Records after he went viral on TikTok for his 2023 singles "Art House" and "Roommates", both of which were included on the mixtape Sweet Boy, released in 2024. He released his first studio album, Malcolm Todd, in 2025. It charted on the Billboard 200 and contained the single "Chest Pain (I Love)", which became his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 68. Todd's music is a blend of indie pop and R&B and has been heavily compared to Steve Lacy.
Early life
Malcolm "Todd" Hobert was born on September 15, 2003, in Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web |title=Malcolm Todd |url=https://www.combster.com/t/Malcolm-Todd/01-0201-98968d |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Combster |language=en}} His father was a television scriptwriter who mainly worked on the sitcom The Middle and, as a child, Todd made a cameo as a baseball player in the sixth episode of the fourth season of the show. His mother dabbled in some musical theater, but mainly was a stay-at-home mother. Todd's sister, Audrey Hobert, is the best friend of singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams and provided songwriting and background vocal contributions to her album The Secret of Us, along with directing a few music videos.{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Megan |date=2024-06-21 |title=With 'The Secret Of Us,' Gracie Abrams Made The Ultimate Bestie Album |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/gracie-abrams-interview-the-secret-of-us/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Uproxx |language=en-US}}
Todd performed music at parties while he was still in high school and began to write his own songs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demos Before Prom, his first extended play, consists of songs he wrote and produced while he was in high school.{{Cite web |last=Bagdady |first=Mariam |date=2024-11-01 |title=Interview: Malcolm Todd Talks Tackling Love, New Music, & His Twenties |url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/mctd-malcolm-todd-artist-music-interview-2024/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Atwood Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=December 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207122429/https://atwoodmagazine.com/mctd-malcolm-todd-artist-music-interview-2024/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Chhoeun |first=Michelle |date=2024-03-01 |title=Is Malcolm Todd the new face of alternative R&B? |url=https://www.thetriangle.org/entertainment/is-malcolm-todd-the-new-face-of-alternative-rb/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=The Triangle |language=en-US}} He originally gained popularity by claiming that his songs were unreleased Steve Lacy tracks. Todd released another extended play, Shower Shoes, in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Wilkerson |first=Hagen |date=2024-11-22 |title=Meet Malcom Todd, indie music's newest "Sweet Boy" |url=https://georgetoniancom.wordpress.com/2024/11/22/malcom-todd-indie-musics-newest-sweet-boy/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Georgetonian |language=en}}
Career
Todd originally pursued music part-time while working at an ice cream parlor and studying music production at the University of Oregon. Todd's commercial breakthrough came in 2023 when his single "Art House" went viral on TikTok, catapulting his monthly listener count to millions. Following the success of "Art House" and another single, "Roommates", he was noticed by an executive at Columbia Records and was signed to the label. He made his live debut in July 2023, in a sold-out show at Winston House in Venice, Los Angeles.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-26 |title=Malcolm Todd Premieres 'Hot In NY' Video |url=https://www.antimusic.com/musicpressbox/news/0826malcolm_todd_premieres_hot_in_ny_video/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=antiMusic |language=en}} On April 5, 2024, Todd released his first project under Columbia, the mixtape Sweet Boy. Todd also opened for Omar Apollo for the North American leg of his God Said No World Tour in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Higgins |first=Molly |date=2024-09-18 |title=Omar Apollo Brings the 'God Said No' Tour to Forest Hills Stadium |url=https://fordhamobserver.com/77624/recent/multimedia/omar-apollo-brings-the-god-said-no-tour-to-forest-hills-stadium/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Fordham Observer |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113133104/https://fordhamobserver.com/77624/recent/multimedia/omar-apollo-brings-the-god-said-no-tour-to-forest-hills-stadium/ |url-status=live }} In 2025, Todd and Apollo collaborated on the single, "Bleed". Jack Harlow and Harry Daniels made a cameo in the music video.{{Cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Derrick |date=2025-02-28 |title=Omar Apollo And Malcolm Todd Get Jack Harlow For Their 'Bleed' Video |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/omar-apollo-malcolm-todd-bleed-video-jack-harlow/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Uproxx |language=en-US}}
Todd released his self-titled debut album in April 4, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Gehlich |first=Clare |date=2025-03-04 |title=Malcolm Todd announces self-titled album out in April and The Wholesome Rockstar Tour |url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2025/03/03/malcolm-todd-announces-self-titled-album-out-in-april-and-the-wholesome-rockstar-tour/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Melodic Mag |language=en-US}} The album's lead single "Chest Pain (I Love)" marked Todd's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 68 for the week ending April 19, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=2025-04-15 |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Malcolm Todd Arrives With Breakthrough Hit 'Chest Pain (I Love)' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/malcolm-todd-hot-100-debut-chest-pain-i-love-1235947177/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} In the same week, the album also entered the Billboard 200, also marking his first chart entry.
Influences and artistry
Todd's music is a blend of indie pop and R&B, drawing influences from the bedroom pop scene and 2010s alternative R&B.{{Cite web |last=Saxena |first=Arman |date=2024-10-22 |title=Meet the ACL artist: Malcolm Todd |url=https://www.ricethresher.org/article/2024/10/meet-the-acl-artist-malcolm-todd |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Rice Thresher |language=en-US}} He has stated that his music is inspired by alternative R&B artists like Steve Lacy, Omar Apollo, Dominic Fike, and Rex Orange County. Todd also enjoys music by The Beatles and Paul Simon.{{Cite web |last=Weidmann |first=Emma |date=2024-10-15 |title=Q&A: Malcolm Todd talks signing faces, 'iCarly' cover, new music - The Baylor Lariat |url=https://baylorlariat.com/2024/10/14/qa-malcom-todd-talks-signing-faces-icarly-cover-new-music/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Baylor Lariat |language=en-US}} He has additionally been compared to Smino, Kali Uchis, and Tyler, the Creator.{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Amarylis |date=2024-04-24 |title="Hot in Houston:" Malcolm Todd Brings the 'Sweet Boy Tour' to the Heights Theater |url=https://coogradio.com/2024/04/hot-in-houston-malcolm-todd-brings-the-sweet-boy-tour-to-the-heights-theater/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Coog Radio |language=en-US |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204031529/https://coogradio.com/2024/04/hot-in-houston-malcolm-todd-brings-the-sweet-boy-tour-to-the-heights-theater/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |title=Malcolm Todd Drops Two-Track Bundle Two New Malcolm Todd Songs |url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/malcolm-todd-drops-two-track-bundle-two-new-malcolm-todd-songs |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Shore Fire Media |language=en}} The website antiMusic described Todd's style as incorporating "groovy production with intricate vocal layers". Todd has said that he enjoys using obscure chords in his music to make him unique.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details ! scope="col"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | US {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2025-04-19/|title=Billboard 200: Week of April 19, 2025|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 15, 2025}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Malcolm Todd
|
| 103 |
=Mixtapes=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Details |
| scope="row" | Sweet Boy
|
|
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| Demos Before Prom
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Shower Shoes
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="4" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | US {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2025-04-19|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of April 19, 2025|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 15, 2025}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | CAN ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | WW |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Art House"
| rowspan="5" | 2023 | — || — || — || — | rowspan="7" | Sweet Boy |
| scope="row" | "Sweet Boy"
| — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "Roommates"
| — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "Hot in NY"
| — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "Mr. Incorrect"
| — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "4Me 4Me"
| rowspan="6" | 2024 | — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "New Friends" (with Eem Triplin)
| — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "You Owe Me"
| — || — || — || — | rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row" | "Cute Shirt (Interlude)"
| — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "Comfort Me"
| — || — || — || — |
| scope="row" | "Chest Pain (I Love)"
| 68 || 10 || 78 || 101 | rowspan="3" | Malcolm Todd |
| scope="row" | "Bleed" (with Omar Apollo)
| rowspan="2" | 2025 | — || 20 || — || — |
| scope="row" | "Cheer Me On"
| — || — || — || — |
Tours
=Headlining=
- Sweet Boy Tour (2024)
- The Wholesome Rockstar Tour (2025)
=Supporting=
- God Said No World Tour (Omar Apollo) (2024)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.malcolmtodd.cool/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Todd, Malcolm}}
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
Category:Alternative R&B musicians
Category:Bedroom pop musicians