Audrey Hobert has brought back fun pop. Her debut album “Who’s The Clown?”, released Aug. 15, leaves listeners wanting more with her upbeat sound. The album contains 12 songs and provides 35 minutes of pure happiness. Each song contains a new story to be learned, from weird habits to personal anecdotes about TV shows and friendships.
Hobert is multi-talented; she started her career as a director and songwriter for her longtime friend, Gracie Abrams, and her brother, Malcolm Todd. After helping with their respective projects, Hobert signed with Universal Music Group, securing a publishing deal.
Her first single, “Sue Me,” released May 9, intrigued listeners because there hadn’t been an official album announcement at that time. The song has a catchy chorus alongside verses that vividly describe her experiences at parties.
The major success of the first single led to Hobert’s release of the song “Bowling Alley” in June, which gave listeners a better look at her self-aware and loud musical persona. One word to describe Hobert’s music is “odd.” The first track on the album, “I like to touch people,” hints at her fascination with making people uncomfortable. Songs like “Drive” and “Thirst Trap” immerse listeners in an imaginary world where they hear her made up “personal” experiences. Hobert’s idea of having a crush on someone and how she feels when driving a car recklessly are used metaphorically in these songs as they show her passion for the subjects.
In contrast to her slower tempo songs, “Drive” and “Thirst Trap,” Hobert’s next three songs, “Chateau,” “Sex and the City” and “Shooting Star,” build suspense, starting slowly and progressing to a constant, faster pace. This change in tempo mirrors her experience attending a bustling college in New York City after growing up in Los Angeles.
The album finishes with a banger, “Silver Jubilee.” The song carries an upbeat and confident energy that describes her relationships with her family, especially her sister. Hobert writes about this song and its context in her archive as she notes her writing under the influence, which led to this thrilling song.
My favorite song on the album is “Phoebe,” which exhibits Hobert’s interest in the show “Friends.” The song is structured like a plot of a movie as she goes from finding the show to having the same experiences like the characters in the episode. The record explores ideas of self love and the significance of small moments as she realizes the many ways she is in touch with the character in her everyday life.
I find songs off of “Who’s the Clown” especially compelling when letting loose or taking time to self-reflect. Hobert’s wide range of personal anecdotes and pop-culture references took me on a journey into her mind, as she was able to share different and strange experiences that made you both question her words and make you love the way the music sounds.
Published and digitized October 2025.
