Wilbur Soot

Foundations in Comedy and YouTube

William Patrick Gold began his public online career in 2017 under the name Wilbur Soot. That year, he co-founded the group comedy YouTube channel SootHouse with friends. The channel's content primarily consisted of reaction videos where the members discussed internet memes, life hacks, and other topics. Gold served as the lead editor for the channel, which reached one million subscribers on 30 May 2019.

Parallel to the group effort, Gold started his own dedicated YouTube channel, Wilbur Soot, on 29 March 2019. This channel became his main platform for personal projects. It achieved one million subscribers on 8 April 2020 and grew to over 5.31 million subscribers by January 2026. He also maintains a separate channel named Wilbur, started on 23 November 2017, which focuses on geography content and had over 607 thousand subscribers by early 2026.

Livestreaming and Minecraft Storytelling

Wilbur Soot built a substantial audience on the livestreaming platform Twitch. By June 2024, his channel had accumulated over 4.6 million followers, placing it as the 51st-most-followed channel on the platform. His streams frequently feature video games, with a particular emphasis on Minecraft.

In 2020, his involvement in the Minecraft community deepened when he joined the roleplay-focused Dream SMP server, run by YouTuber Dream. On this server, Gold created the fictional nation of L'manberg. His creative contributions expanded, and he eventually became a lead writer for the server's complex stories and lore. This narrative work connected him with a massive, engaged audience. He also participated in competitive Minecraft events such as MC Championship and Minecraft Monday.

Beyond streaming, Gold collaborated with fellow creator TommyInnit on a book. The project, titled TommyInnit Says...The Quote Book, was announced by TommyInnit on 4 August 2022 and published on 13 October 2022. All proceeds from the book were donated to the Sarcoma Foundation of America in memory of the late Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade.

Solo Music Career and Chart Success

Wilbur Soot's music career began in 2018 with comedy songs and covers posted to YouTube. His first release was the comedy track The 'Nice Guy' Ballad in January 2018. He soon began writing more serious material, releasing the EP Maybe I Was Boring on SoundCloud and Bandcamp in December 2019. He described the songs on this EP as ones that did not fit the vibe of his upcoming album.

His debut solo album, Your City Gave Me Asthma, was released as a surprise in June 2020. The album was originally intended to have eight tracks, but Gold removed the fourth song, Screensaver, before its publication. His most successful solo single to date is Your New Boyfriend, his sixth comedy song released in December 2020. It peaked at number 64 on the UK Singles Chart, number 10 on the UK Indie Chart, and number 100 on the Irish Singles Chart. The song's performance also earned him spots on artist charts like Billboard's Emerging Artists Chart and Rolling Stone's Top Breakthrough Chart. He released another comedy single, Soft Boy, in September 2022, and his second solo studio album, Mammalian Sighing Reflex, in November 2023.

Lovejoy: Formation and Early Success

In 2021, Gold formed the indie rock band Lovejoy with his friend Joe Goldsmith. The band's full lineup consists of Gold as lead vocalist, co-songwriter, and rhythm guitarist, Joe Goldsmith as lead guitarist, co-songwriter, and backing vocalist, Mark Boardman as drummer and co-songwriter, and Ash Kabosu as bassist and co-songwriter.

Lovejoy released their first EP, titled Are You Alright, on 9 May 2021. The band experienced a rapid commercial breakthrough, debuting at number 10 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart just eleven days later on 20 May 2021. Their second EP, Pebble Brain, followed on 14 October 2021 and entered the UK Albums Chart at number 12. This EP featured a notable re-recording of Gold's earlier solo song It's All Futile! It's All Pointless!.

Lovejoy: Chart Breakthrough and Debut Album

After joining the music company AWAL, Lovejoy released the single Call Me What You Like on 10 February 2023. The single became a significant hit, peaking at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. Their third EP, Wake Up & It's Over, was released on 12 May 2023 and marked their highest chart placement yet, debuting at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart.

The band's debut studio album, titled One Simple Trick, was released on 3 October 2025. This release represented the culmination of their work from their initial EPs to a full-length album, confirming their position within the British indie rock scene.

Content and Creative Synthesis

Wilbur Soot's work demonstrates a consistent synthesis of different creative formats. His early experience as an editor for SootHouse informed the pacing and comedic timing of his own YouTube and streaming content. The narrative structures he helped write for the Dream SMP often paralleled the storytelling found in his song lyrics, creating a cohesive fictional world for his audience across platforms.

His musical projects also reflect this synthesis. His solo work often carries a more personal, sometimes comedic tone, while his work with Lovejoy adopts a full-band, indie rock sound. Both avenues have found commercial success, demonstrating his ability to operate in distinct musical genres while maintaining his core audience. This approach, where content from one platform feeds into and enriches another, is a defining characteristic of his career as a digital creator.