youbet

Youbet serves as the creative outlet for Brooklyn-based musician Nick Llobet, whose tactile, lo-fi indie rock pulses with anxious energy, wit, emotion, and explorations of self-discovery. Their first release arrived in 2020 via the charmingly offbeat Compare & Despair, after which the project shifted to the Hardly Art label for the 2024 successor, Way to Be.

Llobet relocated from their native Davie, Florida, to New York during the late 2010s in pursuit of expanded creative prospects and an artistic breakthrough. After enduring stretches of despair and self-doubt, they joined a songwriting collective that maintained a weekly song challenge. A fortuitous encounter with Patti Smith, combined with encouragement from the group, sparked rapid growth, allowing Llobet to amass an inventive and deeply personal body of work. They connected with seasoned collaborators Julian Fader, Katie Von Schleicher, and Adam Brisbin, who contributed production to the debut album.

Ba Da Bing Records, based in Brooklyn, issued the vibrant Compare & Despair under the Youbet name in January 2020. Even before that date, Llobet had initiated another independent songwriting challenge that generated a fresh collection of material. In the ensuing years, this repertoire was refined into a cohesive sophomore effort that addressed dysfunctional relationships, addictive personalities, queerness, and further dimensions of personal experience. Following a signing with the Sub Pop imprint Hardly Art, Youbet delivered Way to Be in May 2024.