The Elevator Boys, Jacob, Julien, Bene, Tim, and Luis, just dropped “California”, their most personal track to date. They are well-known for their charm and choreography, but this time they demonstrate emotional depth, independence, and true skill.

“We wanted to make something that’s truly ours,” says Julien Brown in our Sonical.ly exclusive. “Not just another song people expect from ‘influencers.’ We wanted to speak about what it really feels like, to miss someone, to chase dreams, and to lose yourself in the process.”

And California delivers just that: a gritty, catchy tale of long-distance love, emotional exhaustion, and the paradox of feeling surrounded by people but alone.

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From TikTok Sweethearts to Real Artists

The Elevator Boys, Jacob, Julien, Luis, Tim, and Bene, became well-known for their amusing, adorable, and coordinated dancing TikTok videos. But, after being labeled as "just pretty boys with good hair" for years, with some comments;

“I actually think all of them seem cute and kind of dorky. And their content is very cringe but in an endearing way? But how do these boys have any talent? Who is trying to make them into Popstars? Does anyone know anything about them personally?”- writes a user on reddit.

Regardless, they’ve been working behind the scenes to prove they’re more, however they rarely discuss this aspect of stardom in public. However, California allowed them to process it.

“Fame came fast. We weren’t ready for all of it,” says Tim Schäcker. “People saw the highlights online but didn’t realize how chaotic and draining it was off-screen. We lost people we cared about. We lost pieces of ourselves too.”

The song transports listeners to restless nights on tour, unanswered FaceTime calls, and silent moments after the applause fades.

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A Breakup Anthem from the Boys’ Perspective

At the heart of California is heartbreak; both romantic and personal.

“The song came from a real place,” explains Jacob Rott. “One of us was going through a breakup. We all felt it. When you’re constantly moving, you start wondering if the version of you people love is even real.”

"You said it's too late / I'm stuck in L.A. / But I still see your name in the stars" shows how sad the song is.

It sounds like a movie, with synth-pop, bare vocals, and airy, sad production that makes you feel nostalgic.

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A Song Made by Them, For Us

Unlike past releases that leaned heavily on industry producers, California was written and produced entirely by the group.

“We rented a tiny studio outside Berlin, and just locked in,” says Luis Freitag. “No label heads, no big teams, just us, some late-night coffee, and a lot of honesty.”

Fans have responded favorably to this DIY mentality. California received over 250,000 streams in the 48 hours following its release, trended on TikTok, and sparked hundreds of fan-made edits under the hashtag #ElevatorBoysCalifornia.

Why California Could Change Everything

“We’re not perfect,” Julien admits. “We’ve made mistakes, been misunderstood. But this is who we really are. California is the first time we’ve told our story, no filters, no edits.”

The Elevator Boys are more than just artists now that they have a devoted following around the world, a developing discography, and a sound that reflects their inner selves. They have something genuine to say and are developing into full-fledged artists.

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Final Take

Although California sounds like summer, its significance remains. It's a silent plea for connection, a goodbye, and a love letter.

Furthermore, this may be the start of a group's rise to prominence as storytellers, after they built their empire on phone screens and elevators.

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