Unveiling the Artistic Journey of Flawed Mangoes — Evan Lo’s Quiet Uprising in Hopecore

“It’s funny to see them and be like, ‘Oh, that’s my song.’ … I’m trying to evoke very strong emotions.” — Evan Lo WBUR

Early Years & Origins

• Real name: Evan Lo. WBUR+2Apple Music - Web Player+2

• Where he's from: Raised in Newton, Massachusetts, in an Asian American family. WBUR

• Musical beginnings:

  • His parents had him take piano in childhood (“very typical Chinese family thing”) though he didn’t appreciate it then. WBUR

  • Later he discovered rock bands like Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers, picked up guitar, played in high school bands. WBUR

  • In college, studied audio engineering in Rochester, NY. WBUR

• Early solo / side projects:

  • While in college, separated from bandmates, he began producing solo material. WBUR+1

  • He released under earlier monikers (e.g. Fla.mingo). WBUR+1

    
    

The Breakthrough: Viral Moments & “Killswitch Lullaby”

• Around 2023, Evan Lo began posting snippets of guitar loops he recorded in his bedroom (Cambridge, MA) that resonated with people online. WBUR+2Guitar.com+2

• One of the defining early viral tracks is “Killswitch Lullaby”, inspired by his guitar modified with a killswitch (a physical hardware switch in his guitar to instantly cut signal to the amp) — a tool he used to create sudden dynamic changes. WBUR

• This surge in online exposure coincided with the rise of “hopecore” — a content / video aesthetic + musical vibe characterized by sentimental, uplifting, bittersweet, nostalgic, emotional soundtracks used in montages, motivational clips, etc. Evan Lo’s music (as Flawed Mangoes) became one of the more recognizable sonic pillars of that trend. WBUR+2Guitar.com+2

  
  

Style, Aesthetic & Themes

• Musical style & sound palette: Ambient textures, richly reverbed guitars, looping melodic figures, soft synths, often instrumental or with featured vocalists (rather than Lo singing himself, at least initially). Apple Music - Web Player+3WBUR+3Guitar.com+3

• Mood / emotional tone: Bittersweet, nostalgic, hopeful but tinged with melancholy. There’s an emphasis on evoking feeling rather than big, flashy production. WBUR+1

• “Hopecore” as identity & conflict:

  • Hopecore was not something he set out to create; it’s a label that got attached. Guitar.com+1

  • He’s had mixed feelings about it — sometimes finds the term “cringe,” but now more at peace with it, recognizing that it opened doors. Guitar.com

  • He is exploring beyond pure instrumental guitar-loop pieces: adding energy (drums, structure), and moving toward vocals. Guitar.com+1

The guy behind the background music of those memes. So brilliant! Check this out:

Key Works & Collaborations

• Albums / EPs / Major Releases:

  TitleYearNotesKillswitch Melodies2023One of his first full-album statements; helped cement his profile. SoundCloud+1The Unwavering Hand2024A follow-up project that continued his sonic signature while expanding. SoundCloud+1Anomaly IV2025Latest full-album / major release (12 songs) as of mid-2025. Apple Music - Web Player

• Singles / Notable Tracks:

  • Swimming — became especially well known via short-form video clips. WBUR+2Guitar.com+2

  • Fatal Flaw ft. Will Jay — shows his versatility and willingness to collaborate with vocalists. PURPLE MELON

  • I Am No Fun with HANDSOME — more collaborative work, lyrical content, etc. This Song Is Sick

• Other work / features:

  • Produced for others: e.g. Show You by Josh Pan. Dancing Astronaut

  • He’s done visual / video-collaborations (HUGO in “2AM”). Nagamag - International Music Magazine

    
    

Turning Points & Career Moves

• Quitting day job / engineering work at Bose: as his music gained traction, he moved away from non-music work. WBUR

• Signing with a label / representation: in 2024 he signed with APG Music, which helped formalize some of his releases and projects. Industry Previews+1

• Live presence: moving beyond bedroom recordings, adding full arrangements, drums, performing live. Guitar.com+2Stub Stories+2

  
  

Evolution & What’s Next

• Vocals: Lo has begun incorporating his own voice into his music on newer works. It’s a shift away from being purely instrumental — not because he thinks he needs typical vocal polish, but because imperfection can be part of the character. Industry Previews+1

• Genre-fluidity / expansion: He’s been intentional about not being boxed into “instrumental guitar loops + ambient sounds.” Recent tracks have more dynamic structure, more energy, more variation. Guitar.com+1

• Full-length projects & release strategy: Working on a new album (unnamed as of yet during the coverage in early 2025) which he will release in batches to keep audience engagement and adapt to streaming dynamics. WBUR

  
  

Challenges & Reflections

• Balancing online virality with artistic intention: Many of his early fans found his music through TikTok / social media snippets. That brings visibility, but also expectations (e.g. “Make more like this snippet,” “don’t change the style”). He’s navigating those pressures. WBUR+1

• Identity of “hopecore”: Label/genre can help exposure and community building, but can also feel restrictive. Evan has expressed feeling uneasy about being defined by it, but also acknowledging its role in his growth. Guitar.com

• Performance & touring: Moving from bedroom recordings to live shows means logistical, technical, and personal shifts. There’s also the question of how his music translates live (adding energy, adjusting arrangements). Guitar.com+1

  
  

Why People Connect With His Music

• It offers emotional space — moments for listeners to reflect, slow down, feel something gently. In a digital age of rapid scroll, loud posts, saturated media, his music is a counterpoint. WBUR+1

• The aesthetics of nostalgia + bittersweetness + hope: his songs often evoke memories or emotional images (mourning what’s lost, anticipating what may be, longing, quiet joy). This resonates especially with younger listeners grappling with anxiety, overwhelm. WBUR

• Authenticity: The rawness, the lack of over-polish especially in vocal experimentation, his lo-fi roots, his willingness to be vulnerable. All of that strengthens the connection. Guitar.com

  
  

🛤 Where Could Flawed Mangoes Go From Here

Based on how his career has been moving, here are some possible routes / opportunities, and what might be next if things continue as they seem to:

1. More Vocal Features / Singing HimselfHis stepping into vocals suggests that future projects may lean more into songs rather than instrumental tracks. Perhaps an album where more tracks are vocal-driven.

2. Larger Live Shows / TouringAs live arrangements get more energy and complexity (drums, expanded instrumentation), there’s scope for full live shows rather than intimate or bedroom-style performances. Guitar.com

3. Expanded Genre BlendingIncorporating more varied influences — shoegaze, alternative rock, maybe lo-fi pop, ambient electronic, maybe even crossovers with more mainstream indie genres. He’s already moving beyond strict “hopecore instrumental” style. Guitar.com+1

4. Larger CollaborationsMore work with other artists, perhaps with more prominent names, or cross-genre collaborators, which could bring more diversity to his sound and increase visibility.

5. Physical Releases / PackagingVinyl, maybe limited physical editions, more visual art tie-ins, merch that echoes the mood of his music.

6. Media / Brand PartnershipsGiven how his tracks are already used in motivational / inspirational content, there could be opportunities for placements in films, series, advertisements, or curated content (mindfulness, well-being, mental health, etc.).

   
   

✍️ In His Own Words

Evan Lo has been quoted saying:

• “It felt like a dream that never happened,” speaking about doing music on the side while working a day job. WBUR

• On hopecore: “In my head, it was never ‘I want this to be motivational and inspiring’ … [My music is] toeing the line between melancholy and happy in that bittersweet sort of way.” Industry Previews+1

• On singing: somewhat self-deprecating but earnest: he admires singers who aren’t vocally perfect but commit; that inspires him. Industry Previews

  
  

Flawed Mangoes / Evan Lo is a compelling case of how modern music careers can evolve: from bedroom loops, small viral moments, to a broader artistic presence. His journey shows how authenticity, emotional resonance, and consistency can build something meaningful in a landscape that often emphasizes instant fame or flash.

He may forever be tied to “hopecore,” but the signs are strong that he’s expanding beyond it — not abandoning what connected with people, but evolving. And that evolution is something many listeners seem to root for.

One of my favorites, check this live version of Surreal. Man, you're awesome!