Goodboys
Goodboys are an English house music duo formed in 2018, consisting of producers and songwriters Joshua Grimmett and Ethan Shore.[1] Known for blending high-energy dance elements with melodic pop hooks, they rose to prominence through their collaborative single "Piece of Your Heart" with Italian DJ Meduza, released in 2019, which amassed over 1 billion streams worldwide and achieved multi-platinum status in multiple markets, including double platinum certification in the UK.[2][1] The track peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and topped charts in several European countries, marking their breakthrough into global electronic dance music.[2] Their success with "Piece of Your Heart" earned them a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020, highlighting their rapid ascent from independent producers to recognized talents in the industry.[3] Building on this momentum, Goodboys followed with "Lose Control" in 2019, featuring Meduza and British singer Becky Hill, which garnered over 450 million streams, reached the UK Top 40, and received platinum certification in the UK.[2] The duo's style emphasizes infectious melodies and vocal-driven tracks, often co-produced with leading figures in house and EDM, contributing to their reputation as Grammy-nominated hitmakers with a focus on crossover appeal.[2][3] Since their early hits, Goodboys have continued to release music through major labels, collaborating with artists such as Tiësto, Vintage Culture, ACRAZE, and Joris Voorn.[4] Notable recent works include "Chemicals" with Vintage Culture in 2024, "Won't Be Possible" with Tiësto and Odd Mob in May 2025, and "Utopia" with Joris Voorn in July 2025, showcasing their ongoing evolution in the house genre with anthemic, club-oriented productions.[4][5][6] Their discography, distributed via platforms like Atlantic Records and Musical Freedom, reflects a commitment to high-impact singles that blend electronic innovation with accessible songwriting, solidifying their place in contemporary dance music.[2]Background
Formation
Goodboys trace their origins to 2014, when Joshua Grimmett, Ethan Shore, and Johannes Shore met in South London and connected through a mutual passion for music production.[7] The three friends, inspired in part by electronic and pop influences as well as football chants, began exploring collaborative creative endeavors that laid the groundwork for their future work.[7] In 2018, the group formally came together as Goodboys, establishing themselves as a British songwriting and production trio with a focus on house music.[8] [9] This formation marked their shift toward professional teamwork, emphasizing vocal-driven tracks and melodic structures central to the house genre. Before achieving wider recognition, Goodboys spent their initial years as a unit developing their sound through informal collaborations and experimentation in home studios, refining a style that blended catchy hooks with danceable rhythms.[10] These early efforts culminated in production work that contributed to their breakthrough single "Piece of Your Heart" in 2019.[11] Subsequently, the group transitioned to a duo comprising Joshua Grimmett and Ethan Shore following Johannes Shore's departure sometime after 2019.[12]Members
Goodboys originally formed in 2018 as a trio comprising Joshua Grimmett, Ethan Shore, and Johannes Shore, with the latter serving as a former member after contributing to early releases. The current duo consists of Grimmett and Shore, who first met in 2014 through shared interests in electronic and pop music while involved in London's church music scene.[2][13] Joshua Grimmett serves as the primary vocalist and songwriter for Goodboys, playing a key role in vocal production tailored to house tracks. With roots in Christian and gospel music, Grimmett began his pre-group experience writing songs for church settings, including contributions to Hillsong-affiliated projects.[14][13][15] Ethan Shore is the group's producer and instrumentalist, responsible for electronic production and mixing. Originally from York, England, where he attended Manor Church of England School, Shore relocated to London and gained early experience producing Christian songs for Hillsong London before forming Goodboys.[16][17][13] Johannes Shore, Ethan's brother and a former member, contributed to early production efforts within the trio. Like his brother, he hails from York and drew on prior involvement in London's church music community, including songwriting for worship settings, before departing after 2019 to focus on solo projects as a songwriter and producer.[16][13][8]Career
2019 breakthrough
Goodboys' breakthrough into mainstream success occurred in 2019 with their collaboration alongside Italian production trio Meduza on the track "Piece of Your Heart," released on February 1, 2019, via Virgin Records.[18] The song quickly gained international traction, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and achieving over 1 billion streams on Spotify.[19][20] This release marked the vocal trio's—comprising Ethan, Johannes, and Josh—debut on a major label, following their formation as a group in 2018.[21] The production of "Piece of Your Heart" stemmed from an initial meeting between Meduza and Goodboys, arranged through a mutual friend in a London studio, with both acts co-managed by the same company.[21] A pivotal moment came when Goodboys member Josh spontaneously suggested the track's hook—"Sorry, just quickly..."—which was recorded using a talk box effect, ultimately defining the song's infectious drop and contributing to its three-week ascent to the UK Top 10.[21] The track's success led to a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 2020 ceremony, highlighting its influence in the electronic music scene.[22] Building on this momentum, Goodboys reunited with Meduza in October 2019 for the follow-up single "Lose Control," featuring British singer Becky Hill and also released via Virgin Records.[23][24] The track peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, solidifying Goodboys' role in delivering emotive, house-infused vocals that bridged club sounds with pop accessibility.[25][26] Its production began during a studio session where Meduza presented a chorus idea to Hill, evolving into a collaboration that emphasized soaring melodies and rhythmic drive.[27] The 2019 releases of "Piece of Your Heart" and "Lose Control" played a key role in revitalizing house music's presence on mainstream radio, as noted in media coverage praising the tracks for reintroducing the genre to broader audiences beyond clubs.[21] Meduza's Matt emphasized this shift, stating, “We hope this track inspires other producers to help get this sound back on the radio. People need to hear house music on the radio as well as in the clubs,” reflecting the collaborations' broader impact on the genre's revival.[21]2020–present
Following the success of their 2019 breakthrough, Goodboys released "Goodbye" in collaboration with Kazakh producer Imanbek on December 18, 2020, through Teta Records and Positiva.[28] The track, blending deep basslines with the duo's signature vocal hooks, peaked at number 59 on the UK Singles Chart and spent seven weeks there, marking a solid entry into international dance charts.[29] It garnered praise for its infectious dance-pop energy, positioning Goodboys as rising figures in the post-pandemic electronic scene.[30] By 2021, Goodboys had transitioned to a duo comprising Joshua Grimmett and Ethan Shore, with Johannes Shore having departed around 2020–2021, streamlining their collaborative process and emphasizing refined house and EDM production styles.[31] This evolution allowed them to explore deeper melodic structures and vocal-driven tracks, as seen in subsequent releases that built on their pop-infused electronic foundation. Their Grammy-nominated status, earned through earlier work, further solidified their trajectory, leading to high-profile collaborations with artists like James Hype, Acraze, Biscits, Kream, and Jax Jones.[32] In the years since, Goodboys maintained momentum with a series of singles showcasing their maturing sound, including "Made of Gold" with Korolova in 2023, which fused progressive house elements with uplifting lyrics about resilience.[33] The 2024 release "Forever (Stay Like This)" alongside Armin van Buuren sampled classic trance motifs for a euphoric crossover appeal, highlighting their adaptability in trance-house hybrids.[34] More recently, in 2025, they delivered "Paradise" with KREAM, a vibrant house anthem evoking escapism through pulsating rhythms and soaring vocals; "Blindspot" featuring Nu Aspect and AVAION, which delved into introspective themes with glitchy synths and emotional builds; and "Won't Be Possible" with Tiësto and Odd Mob, a high-energy track that underscored their role in festival-ready EDM.[35][36][37] These works reflect an ongoing shift toward more layered, genre-blending production amid the digital streaming era. Goodboys have sustained visibility through live performances at major events, including Tomorrowland in 2024, where they delivered sets blending their hits with fresh material.[38] Paralleling their artist output, they continued songwriting for other acts, contributing hooks and production to projects by Meduza, Becky Hill, and beyond, adapting to industry demands for versatile, remote-friendly collaborations in a post-pandemic landscape.[15] This multifaceted approach has cemented their influence in electronic music, prioritizing innovative vocal integrations over traditional touring circuits.[12]Discography
Singles as lead artist
Goodboys' singles as lead artists primarily feature collaborations with established electronic producers, showcasing their vocal contributions in house and dance genres. Their debut releases in 2019 marked significant commercial success, while subsequent tracks from 2020 onward maintained momentum through international streaming and chart performance. As of 2025, they have contributed to over 46 total releases across various formats, with the following key singles highlighting their role as primary artists.[39]| Title | Release Date | Label | Peak Chart Positions | Certifications | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Piece of Your Heart" (with Meduza) | February 1, 2019 | Virgin EMI Records | UK #2 | BPI: 3× Platinum (1,800,000 units); ARIA: 5× Platinum | Breakthrough single that amassed over 2 billion global streams; Grammy-nominated for Best Dance Recording; produced by Italian trio Meduza as their debut vocal collaboration.[19][40][41] |
| "Lose Control" (with Meduza and Becky Hill) | October 25, 2019 | Virgin EMI Records | UK #11; US Dance Club Songs #1 | BPI: 2× Platinum (1.2 million units); RIAA: Platinum | Follow-up hit emphasizing emotional vocals over pulsating bass; reached top 10 in multiple European countries; certified 4× Platinum in Australia and Platinum in Italy.[25][42] |
| "Bongo Cha Cha Cha" | May 21, 2021 | Atlantic Records UK | No major chart entry reported | None reported | House reinterpretation of 1959 Caterina Valente song; achieved viral traction on YouTube with over 6 million views.[43][44] |
| "Goodbye" (with Imanbek) | December 18, 2020 | Virgin EMI Records / Teta Lake | UK #59 | Pro-Música Brasil: 2× Platinum (80,000 units) | Melancholic house track blending Kazakh production with Goodboys' harmonies; gained traction in Latin markets; over 100 million Spotify streams.[29][45] |
| "Paradise" (with KREAM) | February 21, 2025 | Tomorrowland Music | No major chart entry reported | None reported | Debut collaboration with Norwegian duo KREAM; uplifting melody designed for festival play; released via festival's imprint for global dance audiences.[46][47] |
| "Blindspot" (with Nu Aspect and Avaion) | March 28, 2025 | Independent digital release | No major chart entry reported | None reported | Atmospheric house track with layered vocals; extended mix available for DJ use; focused on streaming platforms post-release.[48][49] |
| "Utopia" (with Joris Voorn) | July 18, 2025 | Armada Music / Spectrum | No major chart entry reported (recent release) | None reported | Lead single from Voorn's album Serotonin; melodic house with introspective lyrics; remix by Korolova released in October 2025.[50][51][52] |