Photo Credit: Anna Azarov

For his fans, Layto’s music captures the angst and bottled-up dread of modern-day living. His riotous debut album, alternative psycho, has catapulted him into the spotlight, with over 1 million monthly streams.

When Boston artist Layto first began listening to hip-hop as a teenager, he found the antidote to the anxiety preoccupying him for the better part of his youth. The artist - whose real name is Paul Catalano - grew up in a chaotic household where he was the youngest in a family of five. In this context, he sometimes experienced alienation from a young age. For a long time, he thought he was the only one.

But as he grew older, the anger-fueled lyrics of artists like Eminem helped Layto find ways to express his angst. He began writing songs in earnest. Later, he discovered that other rock and alt hip-hop acts - such as Twenty-One Pilots, Post Malone, NF, and Imagine Dragons - also served as musical inspirations. The goal was clear - he wanted his lyrics to be incisive, his voice booming, and his songs big, anthemic, and stadium-sized.

Since releasing his debut EP Low Boy in 2018 - featuring the hit ‘Little Poor Me’ - Layto has amassed 250+ million global streams and over one million monthly listeners on Spotify.

His transition into being a generation-defining voice happened almost overnight. He left a job he hated in 2018 and fully rose to the challenge of being a million-streaming artist. “I worked as a car detailer for years; it was horrible work,” he said. “I was getting carpal tunnel in my elbows, and my shoulders hurt constantly. I didn’t know how I was going to continue.”

Photo Credit: Anna Azarov

Saving every cent he made from his newfound streaming success, Layto bought studio time in Boston to cut tracks. “I got lucky early on, to the point where I knew I had to choose. I had to go all in on music, or I’d be squandering an opportunity. Thankfully, it all worked out for the best with his 2020 anthem “Houndin” which reignited his fanbase in a big way now with over 70 million streams opening the door to his first indie label conversations.

Fast forward to today, and Layto`s distinct brand of moody alt hip-hop frequents many FYPs on TikTok around the globe. His TikTok handle @singsonglayto, launched earlier this year, has already grown to over 125,000 followers. Meanwhile, his Facebook page has grown tremendously, soaring from 5,000 to 170,000 followers since he dropped his album.

Now, he can look back on the success of his debut album, alternative psycho, with unabashed pride. The album is a coherent expression of all the pent-up rage and frustration he’s kept contained throughout his lifetime. Fans ate it up after its release to the world in 2023.

Layto’s partner in crime on ‘alternative psycho’ was his producer Inverness (Rob Nelson) who has quickly become one of the most sought after producers in LA who’s recent cuts include Royal & The Serpent, Pierce The Veil, K.Flay & Ashley Sienna. Rob recalls the writing process over the past year “I got started working with Layto on his single “MY HEAD” for his last EP. It was a seamless process, so we wanted to get in and see what else we could create together. We made a few demos and started to create a picture of his mind and artistic vision in a way he hasn’t before. ‘alternative psycho’ is the sonic catalogue we came up with together through hours or irons out existing demos and creating new ones. We trust each other a lot and really let the ego die, leaving us with the best version of every song”.

Now, Layto has shared the Deluxe version of the LP, which includes three brand-new tracks.

His new song ‘better off’ comes complete with a scorching new music video. In the video, Layto visualizes getting sectioned in a Tim Burton-Batman-esque asylum, complete with padded walls and straightjackets. Even in his confined state, Layto’s voice and lyrics show that he’s undaunted and uncontained; ‘better off’ is a loaded shotgun of a song aimed at bad break-ups and the lingering effect they leave on individuals.

Layto is at the top of his game.