Boygenius Decides to Take a Break After Grammy Success | Vanity Fair

Written by Daniela Tijerina

Rock supergroup Boygenius, comprised of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus, won several awards at the 2024 Grammys. However, just two days after their big wins, Baker is not speaking, not just to her bandmates, but to anyone. Dacus, speaking to Vanity Fair via Zoom, explained that Baker lost her voice during the late-night celebrations, which concluded at 4 a.m.

The bandmates, known as "the boys", won awards for best rock song, best rock performance, and best alternative album. They were all exceptionally excited about their victory, with Phoebe Bridgers mentioning feeling an adrenaline hangover the day after the awards ceremony.

Bridgers, who won an additional award for her contribution to SZA’s “Ghost in the Machine”, joked about placing her awards beside her boyfriend's, comedian Bo Burnham and a previous Grammy winner himself. Dacus suggested displaying them on her bookshelf.

The wins by Boygenius were part of a historically feminist Grammys, where women scooped all the major awards. The band was part of the audience who enjoyed rare performances from artists like Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell, and loved Taylor Swift revealing her new album.

Baker and Dacus have dismissed any rumors of their involvement in Swift’s new album. They emphasized that the awards show was reflective of the changing landscape of music, where women are being recognized for their contributions. Dacus in particular mentioned not thinking in terms of gender but rather acknowledging the quality of music.

In series of post-award interviews, Bridgers criticized former Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow for his comments about female musicians needing to "step up". She defended women’s contributions to rock music, highlighting some names that have been overlooked by the Grammys and deeming Portnow's statement ridiculous.

The band appeared on the red carpet in custom-made white suits from designer Thom Browne with pink carnations attached. This attire represented an homage to a lyric from their song “We’re in Love,” which in turn referenced singer Elliott Smith's choice of outfit for the 1998 Oscars ceremony. The tradition of wearing pink carnations can be traced back to the song “A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)” by Marty Robbins.

Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus

According to Bridgers, they planned their Grammy outfits with the idea of having a good time at the pre-event parties and choosing whatever they wanted to wear. She said they had settled on either dressing boldly or wearing all black. The concept started small but quickly grew into a collaborative effort with Browne.

Bridgers speaks fondly of their harmonious teamwork, attributing it to their constant company. She likens their relationship to sharing a singular brain.

Dacus shares how their friendly intimacy extended to their Grammy preparations, describing how they all got ready in one room and frequently sought each other's opinions about their make-up and outfits.

Authored by Eve Batey, Jack McCordick, and Kia D. Goosby.

Pinned onto their lapels, the trio wore red pins with the words “Artists for Ceasefire" as a tribute to the ongoing Gaza crisis. Dacus shows her disappointment over the low turnout of artists wearing similar pins, chalking it up to a combination of lack of awareness and concern over outfits. She affirms the trio's activist spirit, mentioning how she and Baker were previously seen at a pro-Palestine rally.

The call for a cease-fire was echoed by Annie Lennox during her tribute to Sinead O’Connor which, as Bridgers points out, resonated with many in the room. Dacus emphasizes the breadth and high stakes of the meaningful gesture via Baker's words, citing the firing of known figures in TV, film, and related industries.

During the time leading up to their interview, fans observed that Bridgers and Dacus had stopped following each other on Instagram. This, along with the fact that their profiles were essentially empty, stirred rumors that their announced break was due to internal conflict.

Dacus quells these rumors, reassuring fans that there is no bad blood between them and that they continue to love each other.

“I've decided to shrink away from the public eye three years ago for a brief period," Bridgers declares. She adds that she plans to lay low until 2024 and that she has the support of the band. As for their Instagram activities, both Bridgers and Dacus say they are merely cleaning up their profiles with plans to stay offline for a while.

While acknowledging her struggle with feeling detached from her life, Bridgers admits that the internet only exacerbates this condition. Baker approvingly comments, “Healthy.”

Having devoted a year to performances and media appearances, Boygenius is glad to be slowing down. They express their desire to relax, catch up on films like Paddington 2, and reflect on the past year. They close with a final message affirming their belief in self-determination and the value of genuine companionship over elusive high-profile opportunities.

Bridgers reaffirms this message, emphasizing that success is better achieved with authentic connections and interactions rather than through manipulative industry figures.