Paintings of “Paradise”: Briston Maroney's Newest Single!

By: Allyson J.L. Clayton

Photo: Danica Robinson

So, here's the gist. “Paradise,” the newest single and music video from PLEASER’s bestie Briston Maroney, made me feel so many things. I felt awe, resonance, and a deep knowing sadness, in addition to feeling joy. Plus, an urgent need to get to the nearest body of water to submerge myself entirely. On top of all of those feelings happening at the same time, my brain was also being melted by the all-encompassing saturated atmosphere of the music video––directed by Joey Brodnax. As a result, this forced me to go back to my arts high school days and paint my feelings.

One of my favorite things about Maroney and his creative collaborators is their innate ability to immediately immerse the listener in the world of the song. He sings: “Kings and queens of a sun-tan generation / Generally working hard & needing a p-paid vacation / Around the sun one hundred times and they want explanation / Sun-soaked sinners trying not to get caught / What's the use in being what I'm not?”. 

The imagery is so rich! The vocabulary teams up with the lilt of Maroney's voice and the production of the song to give the listener almost no time to process the depth of what he's saying. You are being taken for a ride you can't get off and despite being scared, you stay on and keep dancing.

If you, for one second, think I am not going to get the lyrics, "might sink but imagine if we end up swimmin’" tattooed on my literal brain, you are sorely mistaken. You owe it to yourself to be yourself. And to just try. Try and try and try. Imagine if it all works out! 

Along with his new single, Maroney announced his very first festival of his own curation! Under the same moniker, the line-up includes performers such as Indigo De Souza, Annie DiRusso,  The Greeting Committee and more. You can't miss this two-day extravaganza happening in Nashville, TN on November 3-4!

“Paradise” is streaming now!