Borns

Børns – Life, Career, and Notable Quotes

Børns (born January 7, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his dreamy pop, glam-rock influences, and hit singles like “Electric Love.” Discover his origin, rise, artistry, controversies, and memorable words.

Introduction

Garrett Clark Borns (better known by his stage name Børns, stylized as BØRNS) is an American musician whose lush, genre-blending sound has captured the attention of indie-pop and mainstream audiences alike.

He blends influences from glam rock, electro-pop, and psychedelia to produce a signature, emotive style. His breakthrough single “Electric Love” became a touchstone of his career.

Yet his journey has also been marked by controversy, a hiatus, and a reemergence. In this article, we explore Børns’s life, musical path, impact, and insights through his own words.

Early Life and Background

Birth & Origins

• Garrett Clark Borns was born on January 7, 1992, in Muskegon, Michigan, and grew up in Grand Haven, Michigan.

• His stage name, Børns, uses the Scandinavian “Ø” stylization but is derived from his surname.

Artistic / Musical Development

• At age 10, he performed as a magician under the name “Garrett the Great” at parties, earning money for his performances.

• By age 13, he received a Gold Key Award in the National Scholastic Art Awards, including an $8,000 scholarship to the Kendall College of Art and Design for his visual art.

• When he was 14, he attended a summer program at Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts.

• For his formal musical learning, he took classical piano lessons at Grand Rapids Community College and studied jazz at Muskegon Community College.

These early experiences reflect that Børns’s artistry was not only musical but visual and performative from his youth.

Career and Achievements

Early Steps & Breakthrough (2012–2015)

• In 2012, Børns released his first EP under his birth name, A Dream Between.

• He relocated to Los Angeles in 2013, and soon co-wrote “10,000 Emerald Pools,” which became one of his signature songs.

• In 2014, he released the Candy EP via Geffen / Interscope, which did well on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Dopamine Era & Rise (2015–2017)

• His full-length debut album, Dopamine, dropped October 16, 2015.

• The standout track “Electric Love” went platinum and became a fan favorite and radio hit.

• He toured extensively, opening for acts like Charli XCX, Bleachers, and Halsey, and played notable festivals (e.g. Coachella) in 2016.

• In interviews, he emphasized integrating the visual and live performance aspects into how he made Dopamine, seeking “pleasurable moments you weren’t expecting.”

Blue Madonna & Further Work (2018)

• His second studio album, Blue Madonna, was released January 12, 2018.

• This album included collaborations such as “God Save Our Young Blood” with Lana Del Rey.

• To support it, he embarked on his Money Man Tour (2017–2018) and supported Del Rey on her LA to the Moon Tour.

Hiatus, Allegations & Return

• In September 2018, multiple women accused Børns of sexual misconduct, alleging manipulation, grooming, and sexual aggression. The festival All Things Go Fall Classic dropped him from its lineup.

• Børns responded with statements denying the allegations as framed, but acknowledging “brief relationships” with fans.

• After the allegations, he essentially went on an indefinite hiatus beginning late 2018.

• In 2023, he announced a new EP titled Suddenly, marking his return to music.

As of 2025, the Børns website lists a “Decade of Dopamine” tour slated for fall 2025.

Style, Influence & Musical Identity

Genre & Sound

• Børns’s music is often described as a fusion of indie pop, glam rock, electronic, and psychedelia—a dreamlike, atmospheric sound with rich production.

• He has cited David Bowie as a major influence.

• In interviews, he expresses that his favorite songs send listeners on journeys with unexpected moments—he composes with the live show in mind, not just studio polish.

Artistry & Persona

• He leans into a somewhat androgynous visual aesthetic. He has publicly embraced gender-bending style elements (e.g. nail polish, crop-tops) and noted that his voice and appearances lead some listeners to mistake his gender on first hearing.

• His background in visual arts and his early interest in imagery influence how he thinks about music as both sonic and visual.

Famous Quotes by Børns

Here are some quotations by Børns that illuminate his mindset, creative approach, and reflections:

“Yeah, moving to Los Angeles definitely influenced my sound.”
“It’s very easy in the studio to get overzealous with your vocal takes … when you’re doing it every night on the road, it’s pretty intense.”
“I guess that’s always the mystery of music. It’s like why does this song make me feel so grey or … nostalgic and so I’m most fascinated by breaking that down in my music.”
“My parents played the Bee Gees; Earth, Wind & Fire; Michael Jackson. The best pop music to infiltrate a child’s mind.”
“I feel very short-attention span for like accomplishment … that felt really good … immediate emptiness … I don’t like to dwell on things too long.”
“I remember seeing an interview from the Bee Gees and they were like, ‘The biggest competition to the Bee Gees is the Bee Gees.’ … I’m always trying to do that.”
“Maybe it’s just me being lazy but I just don’t like describing my music or style or anything, I just like letting people interpret it.”

These quotes show his introspective nature, his respect for musical lineage, and his preference for letting listeners derive meaning.

Lessons & Themes from Børns’s Journey

1. Artistry is multifaceted
   Børns’s journey underscores that being a musician today often means being a visual artist, a performer, and a curator of image—not just a songwriter.

2. Balance between studio and live thinking
   His deliberate intention to compose with live show dynamics in mind speaks to a holistic view of music as not just recordings but experiences.

3. The cost of fame and accountability
   His hiatus and the allegations against him are a reminder that public life intersects with personal integrity, and that careers can be deeply affected by behavior and perception.

4. Reinvention and resilience
   Despite the turbulence, Børns’s return via a new EP underscores the possibility of evolution, reflection, and comeback—even in the face of controversy.

5. Letting meaning breathe
   His discomfort with overly defining his art and his willingness to allow interpretation suggest humility toward one’s own creation—inviting the audience to join in the meaning-making.

Conclusion

Børns (Garrett Borns) is a compelling figure in contemporary music—a creative whose early life in visual arts and performance fed into a musical identity built on texture, vision, and emotional resonance. His breakout success with Dopamine and “Electric Love” established him as an artist to watch. However, his career trajectory has not been without dark spots; the allegations and ensuing hiatus complicate how he will be remembered.

What remains clear is that Børns sought to blur boundaries between sound and image, to let the emotional weight of music speak louder than genre labels, and to grow—not just succeed. Whether he continues to rebuild or reframe, his story offers insights into artistry, consequences, and the fragile power of transformation in the music world.