Viral dark pop artist Jared Benjamin has had a pretty stellar year so far, and after kicking off The ICARUS Tour, his debut headlining tour, yesterday on April 14, he’s just getting started.
In just a few years, the rising star’s music has been streamed more than 200 million times, and he started 2026 off strong with the release of “Three steps ahead.” With its dark, cinematic sound and yearning lyrics, it’s earned a cult following on BookTok—a perfect fit for the stories that speak to readers’ souls—with more than 10 million streams since its release in January.
He followed it up last week with the new single, “Drag Me Down,” which feels poised to follow in its predecessors footsteps. The new song is equally haunting, with a vulnerable yet scathing message as he calls out a love who grows less and less interested the more he transforms into the man he’s destined to be. As the tour begins, we got the chance to speak with Jared to learn more about the new song, TikTok fame and what to expect during his next shows. Read our full interview with him below.
Sweety High: What was the inspiration behind “Drag Me Down”? What does it mean to you, and is it based on a real experience?
Jared Benjamin: When I first started music, nobody but my family took me seriously. People thought that it was a joke, that I was cringe. In the beginning, I even made fake pages to hide from my friends. All that changed when it started working. Now I have my dream job, and although quitting was never an option, I’m so thankful I stuck with it.
SH: How do you personally overcome outside judgment and gossip and focus on yourself?
JB: It doesn’t happen instantly, but eventually you realize that it’s all just words, and that I can choose not to let any of them define me. It can be hard at first, but you learn not to pay attention to any of that and not to give any of that power. It’ll always be there, and in some ways that makes it even easier to ignore. And that conviction is what I believe really speaks to people.
(Image courtesy of Jared Benjamin)
SH: What’s your favorite lyric from the song? Why?
JB: I’d say, “All those fears you’re running from is why you hate who I’ve become.” I believe hate is rooted in projection. It’s never about the person receiving it, and I wrote that to push back against those who put what they are going through onto other people and cause them harm. They need to look in the mirror.
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SH: What does it mean to you that “Three Steps Ahead” has resonated so much with so many people? What is it about that song that you think caught on so fiercely? Were you at all surprised to see it become a hit with BookTok?
JB: It means everything to me. The comments I’ve received have been so beautiful and powerful, and now seeing the reactions playing it live, it takes it to another level.
The authenticity of it is what I think resonated so much. I truly feel like I’m not good enough for my loved ones, especially my girlfriend. It definitely was a surprise to me that seemingly every protagonist in the #BookTok Romantasy series experiences something similar. BookTok actually gave me another outlet to channel that part of me. I adore that community so so much.
(Image courtesy of Jared Benjamin)
SH: What are you looking forward to most on The ICARUS Tour? Is there anything you can tease for fans who’ll be coming out to see you?
JB: Meeting everybody who connected with the music face-to-face. We have such an amazing relationship online, but there is no substitute for meeting in real life. It’s the best feeling in the world. And to those people who are coming out to see me, we are making sure you have an incredible experience, and that includes teasing some unreleased songs for sure.
SH: Anything else you can tease about what’s next?
JB: All I can say is that the “ICARUS” world is far from being over. We still haven’t gotten too close to the sun. But that might change…
(Image courtesy of Jared Benjamin)
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SH: Is there anything fans should know about you or “Drag Me Down” right now?
JB: Playing the song live is really a magical experience. I’m having so much fun with it, and I can’t wait to share that moment with people.
Check out the remaining dates on The ICARUS Tour below and find more info HERE.
- April 15 – Lager House – Detroit, Michigan
- April 17 – The Drake, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- April 18 – Casa del Popolo – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- April 19 – The Rockwell – Somerville, Massachusetts
- April 21 – Berlin Under A – New York, New York
- April 23 – DC9 – Washington, D.C.
- April 24 – The Pinhook – Durham, North Carolina
- April 25 – The End – Nashville, Tennessee
- April 26 – Vinyl – Atlanta, Georgia
- April 28 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, Louisiana
- April 30 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, Texas
- May 1 – Empire Control Room – Austin, Texas
- May 2 – Texas Tea Room – Dallas, Texas
- May 3 – 89th Street – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- May 5 – Lost Lake – Denver, Colorado
- May 7 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, Utah
- May 8 – The Shredder – Boise, Idaho
- May 10 – Barboza – Seattle, Washington
- May 11 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- May 13 – The White Eagle – Portland, Oregon
- May 14 – Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco, California
- May 16 – Peppermint Club – West Hollywood, California
- May 17 – Voodoo Room – San Diego, California
- May 19 – Constellation Room – Santa Ana, California
- May 20 – Valley Bar – Phoenix, Arizona
For more on the music that inspires us, click HERE to read our interview with rapidly rising Latin boy hand DND.
