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‘I used to do acid on a Wednesday. I don’t have time for that now’: alt-pop star Steve Lacy on his struggle to follow huge hit Bad Habit
Steve Lacy has achieved extraordinary commercial success as an alt-pop artist whilst remaining nearly anonymous—his 2022 hit 'Bad Habit' was one of that year's biggest songs, and his album Gemini Rights accumulated 2.8 billion Spotify streams. Despite mainstream breakthrough, the 28-year-old maintains a fundamentally ordinary existence as a self-described homebody, avoiding celebrity culture and public visibility despite his musical prominence.
Lacy's career has involved continual creative evolution since receiving Grammy recognition at 17 as part of The Internet band, followed by producing Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer-winning track 'Pride' on an iPhone at 18—that phone now resides in the Smithsonian. Rather than remaining insulated by early praise and the 'genius' label, critical setbacks (including a low review of his debut solo album) prompted him to abandon solitary work for collaboration with other musicians, ultimately culminating in his new album released after a four-year gap.
In short
- Alt-pop star Steve Lacy achieved massive 2022 success with 'Bad Habit' and subsequent Gemini Rights album whilst remaining largely unknown by face
- Career trajectory included Grammy nomination at 17, producing Kendrick Lamar's acclaimed track on iPhone at 18, and receiving public criticism that pushed him toward collaboration
- Returned with new album 'Oh Yeah?' after four-year absence, shaped by trauma and heartbreak
Explained simply
Steve Lacy is an alt-pop musician whose 2022 hit "Bad Habit" became one of that year's biggest songs, though Lacy himself has remained largely unknown to the general public. His album Gemini Rights has accumulated 2.8 billion Spotify streams. The 28-year-old has deliberately avoided celebrity culture and describes himself as a homebody, living an ordinary existence despite his commercial reach.
His musical credentials are substantial and were established young. At 17 he earned a Grammy award as part of The Internet band, and at 18 he produced "Pride" on Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer-winning album using only an iPhone—that device now resides in the Smithsonian Institution. Critical responses to his early solo work prompted him to evolve his approach, moving away from isolation towards collaboration with other musicians.
This context is relevant because Lacy represents an unusual case: an artist with considerable credentials and mainstream commercial success who has resisted becoming a public figure. His experience navigating these tensions forms the basis of this story.
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