Yungblud has never fit neatly into the music industry’s preferred boxes, and according to him, that discomfort has been mutual from the very beginning.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, the British artist addressed what he calls one of the biggest misconceptions about his career: the idea that the industry created him. Instead, Yungblud insists his rise has been entirely self-directed — creatively, strategically, and culturally.
“People don’t realize about me that I’m in control of everything,” he explained, pushing back against assumptions that his image, sound, or success were engineered by executives behind closed doors.
In reality, Yungblud says the industry didn’t roll out the red carpet. Quite the opposite. Early on, he claims he was repeatedly dismissed and discouraged.
“The industry has told me to f*** myself at every single turn,” he said.
Rather than waiting for approval, Yungblud built his world from the ground up. With little backing and plenty of resistance, he turned directly to his phone — speaking to fans through raw, unfiltered videos, sharing thoughts in real time, and fostering a sense of community that felt personal rather than polished.
That direct connection became the foundation of his career. Instead of chasing radio formulas or industry trends, Yungblud focused on identity, vulnerability, and honesty — themes that resonated with a generation feeling equally overlooked and misunderstood.
Crucially, he emphasizes that this wasn’t a solo crusade driven by ego. He credits a small, trusted team that believed in the same vision — one rooted in independence rather than validation.
There were no massive marketing campaigns at the start, no industry co-signs smoothing the path forward. Just persistence, self-belief, and a refusal to compromise creative control.
That independence now defines Yungblud’s public persona, his genre-blurring sound, and his fiercely loyal fanbase. What once looked chaotic or unorthodox is increasingly understood as intentional — a career built outside the traditional system, not because of it.
As his profile continues to grow, Yungblud remains adamant that control will stay where it always has been: in his hands.
The misconception may persist, but his message is clear — nothing about his rise was handed to him.
