This story appears in V139, the Supermodel, Superhero issue: now available for purchase!

We’ve seen him behind the screen—decked out in leather, dripping in diamonds, with his signature smudged eyeliner and shellacked nails—but when given the chance to peel back his outer shell, a new side of Landon Barker is revealed. The soft-spoken star of the next generation is, at heart, like any Gen-Z kid trying to navigate the tumultuous contemporary world—and it is his deep-rooted passion for music and his charismatic personal style that acts as a guiding beacon, keeping him sensible amidst all the noise.

As the son of rock icon Travis Barker, growing up was no easy feat. But he relays that his upbringing, constantly surrounded by drum rhythms and musical chords, drove his zeal for music. “My dad was my first musical influence, so naturally, seeing how hard he works has influenced the way I approach my projects,” he shares. This natural inclination toward music has landed Barker a feature on Machine Gun Kelly’s number one punk-hyperpop album, Mainstream Sellout, with an emotional song, “Die in California,” he penned himself. And, not to mention, four million followers and counting on TikTok and a slew of projects on the horizon that will cement Barker’s status as more than just internet royalty, but rather as a powerhouse in his own right. “TikTok has definitely had a profound impact on my career and the audiences I’ve been able to reach,” the burgeoning artist reflects.

Although he has the utmost respect for his background and the platform that skyrocketed him to stardom, it is undeniably evident that no matter what Barker does, he’ll do it his way. Not only does he want to shake up the music industry, with a debut set for 2023, but he is also exploring his own rebellious fashion sense and setting the tone for boundless self-expression. “Music and fashion tie in seamlessly, and I feel like fashion is another opportunity to express ourselves, so I enjoy being able to do that,” says the 19-year-old artist. And his affinity for the fashion realm really shines, as he is constantly donning divergent, grunge-inspired looks with the highest confidence. Barker even recently launched a collaboration with a major fashion retailer and, taking his fascination with the fashion industry one step further, made his runway debut for AMIRI’s Fall/Winter 2022 show. This milestone was a marker of his growing influence on younger generations’ approach to their own personal style.

It is clear that Barker’s effervescent persona and nonconformist flair will take him far beyond our handheld screens. If he is any indication of the next generation of stars, it’s safe to say that the kids are definitely alright.

“Die in California” is now available on all streaming platforms.

This story appears in V139, the Supermodel, Superhero issue: now available for purchase!