Deftones' TikTok Boom: From Nu-Metal to 17M Listeners

Deftones, formed in 1988, are currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity, with frontman Chino Moreno stating they are 'literally bigger than we've ever been.' Between the release of their albums 'Ohms' in 2020 and 'Private Music' last year, their monthly listener figures on Spotify skyrocketed from two million to 17 million.

This dramatic increase in commercial fortunes is largely attributed to TikTok virality. Songs like 'Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)' and 'Cherry Waves' have become ubiquitous on the platform. The reasons for their appeal are debated, ranging from emo rappers sampling their music to discussions of 'hornycore' due to Moreno's perceived 'sexual tones.'

The band's renewed fame is evident in their current UK tour, where they are playing a 15,000-capacity venue in Birmingham. The audience reflects this broad appeal, with longtime fans alongside a new generation of younger fans, including 'tweenage goths' attending with their parents.

Despite their nu-metal tag from 25 years ago, Deftones have always possessed a wider musical bandwidth. Their sound, characterized by distorted guitar waves and flanged basslines, draws from influences like Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure, and anticipates the hazy sounds of shoegaze revivalists.