YouTube Star Bo Burnham Readies Debut EP,Bo Fo Sho
Bo Burnham, a young YouTube musician known for recording R-rated ditties on math, Helen Keller and sex-addicted Santa in his bedroom, is gearing up for his first album release.
The 17-year-old singing comedian, who describes his popular videos as "pubescent musical comedy," was signed to Comedy Central Records — home to superstar stand-up comedians Dane Cook and Jon Stewart — earlier this year.
Despite having landed a deal with the star-studded label, the recent high-school grad insists he’s keeping his first EP,Bo Fo Sho, homegrown and simple. So don’t expect to hear any souped-up beats or celeb cameos on his debut.
"I’m still a kid in his bedroom, writing songs and playing them," said Burnham in a phone interview. "If [the album] were anything else, it would lose the whole DIY effect of how I started out."
Burnham first began posting videos of himself singing and playing guitar in his bedroom in December 2006. His pun-riddled, jokester songs "Bo Fo’ Sho’" (embedded, right) and "My Whole Family (Thinks I’m Gay)" grabbed millions of views on YouTube, skyrocketing the performer to internet fame in late 2007.
He’s slated to begin college at New York University in the fall, but Burnham says his new digs won’t make him change his DIY M.O.
"I’ll just be broadcasting from my college dorm," he said.
Burnham’s six-song EP will beavailable for download from iTunes on June 17.
Photo:Josh StansfieldSee also:
Underwire 2.0: Jenna Wortham’sDel.icio.us feed; The Underwire onTwitterandFacebook.
