Forrest Kline
The creative force behind Hellogoodbye, he crafted the infectious 2000s pop anthem 'Here (In Your Arms)' that defined a summer sound.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: November 7·Millennials
Biography
Forrest Kline turned a home recording project into the soundtrack for a generation of Myspace-era teenagers. As the principal songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for Hellogoodbye, Kline operated from a unique space where earnest emo sentiment met shiny, synth-driven power pop. The band's breakout hit, 'Here (In Your Arms),' was a phenomenon, its playful music video and irresistible hook cementing it as a mid-2000s staple. Kline, often working from his home studio, has always been the band's unwavering core, steering its sound through various evolutions. After the whirlwind of early fame, he guided Hellogoodbye toward a more mature, guitar-oriented indie pop direction on later albums, demonstrating a commitment to artistic growth beyond a single hit. His work represents a specific, sun-drenched moment in internet-fueled pop culture, created by a musician who valued melodic craft and DIY ethos.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Forrest was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Forrest Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Forrest's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote and performed 'Here (In Your Arms),' a platinum-selling single that peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2007.
- Has released multiple studio albums with Hellogoodbye, evolving the band's sound from synth-pop to indie rock.
- Built an initial fanbase through early use of social platforms like Myspace, exemplifying a new model for music discovery.
Did You Know?
He originally studied to be a marine biologist at Orange Coast College before focusing on music.
The early Hellogoodbye EPs were recorded in his parents' house in Huntington Beach, California.
He is an avid skateboarder and has incorporated that culture into the band's aesthetic.
He runs the band's label, Wasted Summer Records.
“I recorded those songs in my bedroom, just trying to capture a feeling.”
