‘Choosing happy is a hell of a process’: Thundercat on funk, lost friends and being fired by Snoop Dogg (possibly)

February 13, 2026

TL;DR

Thundercat, also known as Stephen Bruner, is a genre-hopping bass virtuoso with a diverse career, having collaborated with artists like Ariana Grande and Herbie Hancock.
His upcoming fifth album, 'Distracted', explores themes of grief, loss (specifically mentioning Mac Miller), self-sabotage, and the process of 'choosing happy'.
Bruner's musical approach is highly eclectic, mixing various genres such as funk, jazz-fusion, hip-hop, electronic pop, and punk, often featuring complex bass solos.
He has also appeared in Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett and has taken up dedicated boxing training.
The album was created during a period of introspection following the release of his previous album, 'It Is What It Is', which was released during lockdown and dealt with significant grief.
Bruner attributes his broad musical tastes to his parents, both musicians, who believed musical categorization was a marketing tool.
He describes his current state as 'choosing happy,' acknowledging it as a difficult but ongoing process.

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