Who I Am: From YouTube to No. 1
If "Ordinary" has been stuck in your head since 2025, you already know the voice. But who am I, and how did a kid from California who made videos go all the way to No. 1? Here's a short guide for new listeners and old ones.
Where do I come from?
I'm Alex Warren, and I was born on September 18, 2000, in Carlsbad, California. I started making YouTube videos when I was ten, and in November 2019 I co-founded The Hype House, the TikTok collective I also named. Many people first met me there, or in Netflix's Hype House series in 2022.
When did the music start?
My first single, "One More I Love You", came out independently in June 2021, and in August 2022 I signed with Atlantic Records. The songs that followed made it clear music was the plan all along:
- "Before You Leave Me" (2024)
- "Carry You Home" (2024)
- "Burning Down" (2024), my first Billboard Hot 100 entry
- You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1) (2024), my debut EP
How big did "Ordinary" get?
Huge. Released in February 2025, "Ordinary" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks, spent thirteen weeks at No. 1 in the UK and was named Billboard's Song of the Summer. My debut album, You'll Be Alright, Kid, followed in July 2025, and I was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys.
What are my songs about?
Honesty. I've been open about losing both of my parents, and songs like "Save You a Seat" turn that into something you can sing along to.
Hope. Even my saddest songs end up somewhere warmer. The album title says it all.
The road. From the Cheaper Than Therapy tour in 2025 to my first arena tour in 2026, the songs keep travelling.
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