Petey USA

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Petey USA

| birth_name = Peter Martin

| alias = {{flatlist|

90 Pounds of Pete (2012–2016)
Petey (2020–2024)

}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|11|17}}

| birth_place = Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|social media personality|comedian}}

| instrument = {{flatlist|

Vocals
guitar
drums

}}

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| past_member_of = * Young Jesus

| label = Terrible

| module = {{Infobox TikTok personality| embed=yes

| page = peteyusa

| page_display_name = Petey

| followers = 1.5 million

| likes = 34.3 million

| stats_update = 27 January 2025

}}

Peter Martin, known professionally as Petey USA, is an American musician and social media personality who rose to prominence on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has 1.5 million followers on the social media platform,{{cite web |last1=Christopher|first1=Michael|title=Concert previews of Sophie B. Hawkins, Petey, Silver Sun Pickups, more [Seven in Seven] |url=https://www.readingeagle.com/2022/11/02/concert-previews-of-sophie-b-hawkins-petey-silver-sun-pickups-more-seven-in-seven/|website=The Reading Eagle|date=2 November 2022 |access-date=25 November 2022}} and has released two studio albums.

Early life

Martin was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, on November 17, 1991, and raised in Winnetka, Illinois, where he attended Crow Island Elementary School and graduated from New Trier High School. He played with the emo band Young Jesus and graduated from Loyola University New Orleans before moving to California in 2013, where for a time he lived in a hand-made tent in a friend's backyard.{{cite web |last1=Cosores|first1=Philip |title=The World According To Petey |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/petey-interview-lean-into-life-tiktok/ |website=Uproxx |date=23 June 2021 |access-date=25 November 2022}}{{cite magazine |last1=Sanneh|first1=Kelefa |title=Petey's Earnest Songs and Absurd TikToks |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/22/peteys-earnest-songs-and-absurd-tiktoks/ |magazine=The New Yorker|date=15 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2022}}

Musical career

While attending Loyola University in New Orleans, Martin released music under "90 Pounds of Pete" with fellow Music Industry junior, Adam Stewart. {{cite web | url=https://loyolamaroon.com/103239/lifestyle/meet-90-pounds-of-pete/ | title=Meet 90 Pounds of Pete | date=May 2, 2013 }}

They released a handful of singles as well as two EPs, "Promiseland" in 2012 (locally) and "Perfect High Five" in 2016. {{cite web | url=https://soundcloud.com/petercmartin | title=Peter Martin }}

Notably, a single with vocals from Devon Baldwin was released prior to "Perfect High Five" attracting more attention to Martin's work.

Petey was signed to Terrible in 2020, and has released two albums and several standalone singles with the label.{{cite web |last1=Robles|first1=Jonathan |title=Petey shares his rowdy, addictive new single 'Big Bad!' |url=https://variancemagazine.com/sounds/13357-petey-big-bad|website=Variance|date=20 July 2021 |access-date=25 November 2022}} In 2022, he embarked on a US tour, including playing festivals such as Lollapalooza and Outside Lands.{{cite web |last1=The Standard Staff|title=TikToks of Outside Lands: 6 Interesting Artist Accounts to Follow Ahead of the Festival |url=https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/tiktoks-of-outside-lands-6-interesting-accounts-to-follow-ahead-of-the-festival/|website=The San Francisco Standard|date=2 August 2022 |access-date=25 November 2022}} In March 2022, he released a short film called Lean Into Life, based on his 2021 album of the same name, directed by Director Crane.{{cite web |last1=Okon|first1=Wongo |title=Petey Debuts His 'Lean Into Life' Film Which He Calls An 'Original Drama' Based On His 2021 Album |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/petey-lean-into-life-film/|website=Uproxx|date=3 March 2022 |access-date=25 November 2022}}

Comedy

Martin's TikToks, created together with his friend and manager Will Crane (known sometimes as Director Crane), have been described as "wholesome" and "absurd", and feature him playing multiple characters, using many quick cuts to stitch the skits together.{{cite web |last1=Cognata|first1=Sabrina |title=Mandatory TikTok: @PeteyUSA Is the Must-Follow TikToker of the Week |url=https://www.mandatory.com/fun/1593786-tktoker-peteyusa|website=Variance|date=3 June 2021 |access-date=25 November 2022}} Martin began making sketches on TikTok when his nascent career in music was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and has parlayed his popularity on the platform into sponsorship deals and collaborations with other figures like Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and Grateful Dead member Bob Weir.

In an interview with Jeremy Bolm for Bolm's podcast The First Ever Podcast, Martin revealed that his approach to writing and creating comedy was largely inspired by actors Dana Carvey and Fred Armisen, as well as shows such as Flight of the Conchords, Saturday Night Live, Reno 911 and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.{{cite web |title=The First Ever Podcast 165: Petey: Along For the Ride |url=https://the-first-ever-podcast.libsyn.com/165-petey-along-for-the-ride |website=Libsyn |access-date=6 November 2023}}