In Conversation with Briston Maroney
By Allyson Clayton
With contributions from Jackilyn Cooper
Allyson Clayton: Mr. Maroney…
Briston Maroney: Ms. Clayton….
Okay that’s not how it started, but I needed to have my “Harry Styles in conversation with Timothee Chalamet” moment.
In actuality this interview was conducted entirely over e-mail because who actually talks on the phone anymore??
Jackilyn Cooper & I actually met over social media through our shared love of Briston’s music, and we thought it would be fun to see how quarantine has been treating good ol’ Bristo!
Allyson Clayton: Hey Briston! It’s nice to meet you over e-mail. Thank you for doing this. I have been listening to “The Garden” since it came out and it’s really great.
Briston Maroney: Thank you for havin’ me, so glad to be interacted with another human seeing that i’ve done that like three times total during quarantine. Thank you so much for listenin’ to The Garden, it’s definitely a song that feels not real to have other people hear!!!!
A: My favorite lyrics from the single are “Jesus Christ, my heart’s a mess/ but ain’t that why you love me best?” & "Putting your demons up on the shelf/ only gives them time to themselves." Both of those lines seem to come from a place of raw honesty and I think a lot of people can resonate with them--feeling like you don't have a handle on anything, let alone your emotions and the fact it seems so much easier to just not deal with your problems, but they only get worse that way. What's your favorite lyric you've ever written? Do you have a favorite lyric from another artist that really resonates with you?
B: Oh wow, thank you so much for listening so intently, it really means a lot to me to think folks are like really hearing those words. That song for sure is about really trying to call myself out on my own bullshit, but also talk a little about how we can sometimes glorify peoples brokeness and how i wanna love people differently than that!! Im not good at havin’ 'favorites' of anything ive done really hahaha, its hard for me to think too much about it!! There are so many lines that have changed my life!!! Probably hearing John Prine say "to believe in this living is a hard way to go" in Angel From Montgomery will always take my breath away!!!
A: Wow, glorifying people’s brokeness!! That hits hard. It’s so easy to do. Harry Styles is one of my favorite artists & his music (and the way he interacts with people & the way he dresses) gives you a sense of freedom, almost like it's giving you the permission to be yourself and be kind. Who are some of your favorite artists? What's your favorite thing their music has taught you?
B: Thats so dope!!! I was such a fan of his first record and need to dig the new one, he seems so sweet and definitely has great threads!!!! I read an article about John Prine that touched on how he talked to his listeners in a way that he was 100% equal to him in every way, that they were his peers. That really moved me and is something i wanna do!!
A: We love a fellow Harry stan--I couldn’t get enough of self-titled! As for the new album, if you haven’t heard Sunflower vol. 6 or Canyon Moon, start there, I think you’ll love those songs! It’s no secret that we’re all experiencing a global pandemic and it’s completely changing the world of live music. How has being in quarantine influenced the way you make music? Has anything about your songwriting/producing process changed?
B: Yes pandemic is real!!! If anyone does not think that!! they are!! wrong!!! hahah Man it has definitely made music even more of a lifeline than it was before, and quarantine has honestly allowed me to fall in love with music in a way i had fallen out of for a while. It had been so long since i laid on my floor and just consumed a beautiful record, but with no where to go and no fear that the world was leaving me behind, its really allowed for space to love it again!!! Songwriting has stayed similiar, but having more time to do it makes me feel a lot better about taking days off to just live and think between pourin everything into it every time i sit down to play!!
A: I love taking time to just absorb music and let myself be wrapped up in it, I’m so glad you’ve gotten to fall back in love with it. I can definitely relate to feeling like the world is leaving us behind. It’s so weird how we’ve all been kind of forced to slow down. What would you tell someone who wanted to start making music in this kind of environment? Is there anything that helps you stay focused? Or what do you do to relieve the pressure of feeling like you have to be productive?
B: Man, right now is obviously like, such a good time to be creative. Its also scary as shit!!! I think anyone being creative now will be doing it from a place of absolute necessity, so i would def say in order to get the most out of being creative in this time, make sure you are treating it like a lifeline. Unless you wanna do it just to get your mind off of the rest of existence, which in its own way is to make it a necessity!!!
A: I think creativity is essential to life, especially right now, and it doesn’t just mean being artistic. I think it’s so important to stay creative in every way possible, find new ways to walk around your neighborhood, make a recipe you’ve never had time to make, watch a new show, listen to some new songs, watch a youtube video on something you’ve always been curious about--all of that is creative! What are some practical ways you stay positive in times of crisis? Are there any small things you can look forward to that give you that sweet, sweet serotonin boost? Being able to make iced coffee at home is one that gets me out of bed most days.
B: The love affair with iced coffee is at an all time season finale level of intensity for me right now too. Dude i don’t really know how I got to this point, most likely through a series of breakdowns lol, but i have just been acting like a little freaking kid. Reading comic books, walking around in the woods by my house, laying on the floor doing weird shit with my feet while i watch movies, really just letting go of the need to be anything right now!!!
A: I think that’s actually kind of profound.We should all allow ourselves more child-like joy and practice the intuitive “do whatever feels good” nature that comes with childhood. It’s so sad that adulthood has come to mean you can’t experience fun or pure joy, that’s completely bogus if you ask me!! Now for some q’s that are a little less heavy. Can you describe your weirdest dream in only 3 words? No context!
B: THE GRINCH AHHHH
A: I saw you at Austin City Limits last October (rip festivals) and you were wearing a gorgeous pink sweater that you said you had thrifted that day. What is your favorite thing you’ve ever thrifted?
B: Oh lordy thank you so much, i love that sweater very dearly!!!!!! Thats def up there on my best thrift finds! I have a blue hat i wear that has been with me for a really long time that was thrifted. but i would probably say my wrangler jeans, ive worn those suckers for years now after spending like 4 bucks on them!!! also yeah i miss music festivals a lot :(
A: What’s that one thing you always wanted to learn as a kid but for some reason never did? I always wanted to learn how to ride a skateboard but never thought I was cool enough but I’m learning now!
B: Honestly dude skating is up there for me; a lot of times i have these insane dreams where im really really good at it and wake up pretty sad HAHA. i say we both start shredding now. I always wish i was better at painting!!!!
A: I’ll skate if you skate! If you could be any pattern or shape, what would you be? I think I would be the colorful flower clouds from spongebob.
B: Oooo yes those clouds have a lot of love to give. I’d probably be a nice classic plaid flannel kind of get-up.
A: One more fun one and I’ll let you go. Hah, get it, because we’re “on the phone” hah. ANYways, just to make sure you're not a robot, I have a quiz for you. Answer wisely. Which book from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate events is the best?
a. The Wide Window
b. The Slippery Slope
c. The Grim Grotto
d. The Austere Academy
e. trick question, they're all the best, you fool!
f. Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography (if you haven't read this, it's outrageous and a must-read)
B: Ok i gotta just straight up say they are all amazing, but also completely break the rules and add my own answer and say that the Miserable Mill is so insanely good!!!! Im on the Hostile Hospital rn!!!!
A: A rebel!! We love to see it. I just organized my collection, I should start re-reading too!!
Thank you so much, Briston, “talk” soon!! 😎
Truly, if you haven’t already, please go stream his music, it’s really magnificent! I first saw Briston open for Wallows with his band mates Jack Filipovic (@jack_philly) & Noah Pope (@noah.pope4life) in London & Manchester in June 2018 and they were the nicest boys around! They have such an enigmatic stage presence, it’s never boring and always energetic. There’s an authenticity about Briston that you can physically feel through his music and through his performances. My favorite songs are “Under My Skin”, “Virginia”, “The Garden”, “Steve’s First Bruise” and “Freakin’ Out On the Interstate”---an actual classic. Best bet is to go to the “Briston Maroney Discography'' playlist on Spotify, grab a snack, put on your dancin’ (nay--thrashin’) shoes, prepare to have your world rocked and also make sure you have a couple tissues handy. You’re welcome.
