Briston Maroney Performs LIVE

Summary

All Of It: Briston Maroney Performs LIVE

Host: Alison Stewart | Release Date: May 22, 2025 | Episode: Briston Maroney Performs LIVE

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Introduction to Briston Maroney and His New Album "Jimmy"

In this episode of All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart, singer-songwriter Briston Maroney takes center stage to discuss his latest work and perform live. Maroney introduces his new album, "Jimmy," which marks his third project and delves deeply into themes of personal freedom and self-acceptance. Alison highlights that the album showcases some of Briston's most "vulnerable songwriting" to date (01:05).

Exploring "Land of Light"

Alison begins by focusing on the opening track, "Land of Light." She asks Briston about his inspirations and objectives for the song.

Briston Maroney shares, “I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, so around a lot of kind of Americana folk music. And I was always very drawn to songwriters like Townes Van Zant and John Prine and all the classics... I'm basically doing my best impression of those dudes on this.” (01:13)

Performance: "Land of Light" [01:45 - 05:20]

Maroney performs "Land of Light," a serene and introspective piece that sets the tone for the album. The song's lyrics reflect on personal growth and the desire to leave a meaningful legacy, encapsulated in lines like:

"Someday soon your soul will fly
I'll be sitting in the sun in the land of light where you never run out a fishing line"
(03:21)

The Creative Process Behind "Jimmy"

Following the performance, Alison delves deeper into the making of "Jimmy."

Alison Stewart: "What was the goal of this third album?" (05:32)

Briston Maroney: “To finally enjoy the process a little bit. Making records for me has always been a pretty grueling process... this time around, I wanted to take a little bit of that edge off and just sit back and try to enjoy it.” (05:35)

Briston reveals that previous albums were "internally intense," often causing him to be overly concerned with technical aspects and external perceptions. With "Jimmy," he aimed to rekindle the cathartic reasons that drew him to music initially, emphasizing authenticity over perfection (06:07).

Embracing Authenticity and Community Support

Alison inquires about how Briston managed to relax during the album's creation.

Briston Maroney: “With the help of a lot of really good friends, the help of a lot of really good mentors... reminded me of why I got into this to begin with.” (06:28)

He underscores the importance of community and support in maintaining his artistic integrity, stating:

“This isn't about trying to be perfect or trying to check any boxes.”
(06:28)

Introducing the Character "Jimmy"

A central theme of the album is the character Jimmy. Alison asks about the inspiration behind this persona.

Briston Maroney: "Jimmy is basically an amalgamation of a lot of the people that I grew up around... extreme characters and extreme... representations of what growing up in that region looked like. Inspired by the sense of humor and the freedom that was exuded by these people." (07:39)

Jimmy embodies the vibrant and sometimes eccentric personalities Briston encountered in his upbringing, particularly in Florida and Tennessee. This character allows him to explore and celebrate the nuances of Southern culture with a touch of humor and authenticity.

Expanding Musical Horizons: From Singer-Songwriter to Rock

Alison observes a shift in Briston's musical style on this album, noting a more rock-oriented sound in tracks like "Tomatoes" and "Real Good Swimmer."

Briston Maroney: “A lot of it had to do with permission... I’m very inspired by the spine within that music and the messaging that comes with the intensity of something like punk rock or alternative rock.” (09:02)

He credits his father’s influence, who was a grunge enthusiast, for instilling a love for 90s alternative rock. This newfound confidence allowed Briston to experiment and incorporate heavier sounds into his music, bridging his folk roots with alternative influences (09:40).

The Significance of the Flip Phone in "Tomatoes"

In discussing the song "Tomatoes," Briston touches upon his choice to use a flip phone.

Briston Maroney: “Because I cannot handle the immense reality that comes along with carrying the iPhone all the time... trying to draw a heavier line in my life of, like, art being a human, dividing the two things very intensely.” (10:11)

This decision reflects his effort to manage anxiety and create boundaries between his personal life and his artistic endeavors, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being in his creative process.

Navigating Industry Pressures

Alison brings up the challenges Briston faced with the pressure of selling his music.

Briston Maroney: “The pressure was coming from a couple different sources... internal fears that everything could disappear at any second.” (11:05)

He discusses how confronting these fears led to a more relaxed and enjoyable approach to making music. By accepting the uncertainties of the music industry, Briston found freedom, which in turn allowed his creativity to flourish without the constant stress of external validation (12:02).

Album Art and Personal Connections

The album cover for "Jimmy" features a vibrant portrait with symbolic elements. Alison asks about its creation.

Briston Maroney: "The artist behind that album art is a really good friend of mine named Scout Smith... she and her dad both contributed to the final piece. I wanted this to feel like something that I would want tattooed on my body." (14:46)

This collaboration underscores the personal connections and artistic integrity that Briston values, ensuring that the visual representation of his album aligns with his musical vision.

Concluding Performance: "Be Yourself"

The episode concludes with a powerful performance of "Be Yourself," the closing track of "Jimmy." Briston describes it as:

“The closing track on the record... kind of the summation of the whole mission.”
(15:38)

Performance: "Be Yourself" [15:47 - 18:52]

This song encapsulates the album’s core message of self-acceptance and authenticity. The raw emotion in Briston's delivery emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s true self amidst external pressures.

Final Thoughts

Throughout the episode, Briston Maroney conveys a profound journey toward artistic freedom and personal authenticity. By reducing pressures, embracing his influences, and connecting deeply with his community, he has crafted an album that is both introspective and liberating. Alison Stewart skillfully navigates the conversation, allowing listeners to gain a comprehensive understanding of Briston’s creative process and the heartfelt narratives within "Jimmy."

For those interested in experiencing Briston Maroney's live performance and the evocative sounds of "Jimmy," he is performing tonight and tomorrow night at the Rooftop at Pier 17 alongside the band Peach Pit.

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Notable Quotes:

• Briston Maroney (01:13): “I'm basically doing my best impression of those [classic folk songwriters].”

• Briston Maroney (06:28): “This isn't about trying to be perfect or trying to check any boxes.”

• Briston Maroney (09:02): “I’m very inspired by the spine within that music and the messaging that comes with the intensity of something like punk rock or alternative rock.”

• Briston Maroney (12:02): “I'm having more fun, I think, to put it simply... Practicing that.”

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This comprehensive summary provides an in-depth look into Briston Maroney's latest album, his creative evolution, and the personal experiences that shape his music, making it a valuable resource for both longtime fans and new listeners.

Transcript

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[Alison Stewart]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. Hi, I'm Alison Stewart. Singer, songwriter Bristen Maroney has a new album out. It's called Jimmy, and much of the record is about feeling free to be your true self. That's something Briston has had to figure out throughout his time in the music industry. Jimmy is his third album, and it features some of Briston's most vulnerable songwriting. Bristen Maroney will be playing tonight and tomorrow night at the rooftop at Pier 17 alongside the band Peach Pit. His new album Jimmy, is out now, and he joins us now for a performance. It's really nice to meet you.

[Briston Maroney]

Nice to meet you. You too. Thank you for having me.

[Alison Stewart]

So the first song we're going to hear is Land of Light. Would you tell us a little bit about it and what you wanted to accomplish when you were writing this song?

[Briston Maroney]

Absolutely, yeah. Well, first off, thanks for saying all those nice things. My confidence is through the roof now. I really appreciate it. Yeah. This song. I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, so around a lot of kind of Americana folk music. And I was always very drawn to songwriters like Townes Van Zant and John Prine and all the classics. And so I loved the simplicity and the layers within the simplicity in their songwriting. And so, yeah, I'm basically doing my best impression of those. Those dudes on this. On this one. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's hear Land of Light.

[Briston Maroney]

Awesome.

[Briston Maroney (performing)]

I woke up late I went outside and I looked real hard at my little life I love to laugh I love to cry I know someday my soul will fly I'll be sitting in.

[Alison Stewart]

The sun.

[Briston Maroney (performing)]

In the land of light where you never run out a fishing line Let my legacy be these friends of mine Blowing in the wind just like fishing line I stood up straight I dried my eyes Everybody will live but some folks never die if you found love then you found life.

[Briston Maroney]

And.

[Briston Maroney (performing)]

Someday soon your soul will fly I'll be sitting in the sun in the land of light where you never run out a fishing line Let my legacy be these friends of mine Blowing in the wind just like fishing line D I can see it all when I close my eyes those were the days the best of my life I hope you Know I can see your soul it's the greatest story ever told I hope you know I can see your soul it's the greatest story ever told I'll be sitting in the sun in the land of light where you never run out a fishing line Let my legacy be these friends of mine Blowing in the wind Just like fishing line.

[Alison Stewart]

That was gorgeous.

[Briston Maroney]

Oh, thank you.

[Alison Stewart]

That was Briss Maroney with a live performance of Land of Light from his album. Jimmy Brisson is playing tonight and tomorrow.

Night at the rooftop at Pier 17.

With the band Peach Pit.

This your third album?

[Briston Maroney]

Yeah, third album.

[Alison Stewart]

What was the goal of this third album?

[Briston Maroney]

To finally enjoy the process a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. I like making records. In the past, for me, has been a pretty grueling process, I guess, like, internally, like, I've spent a lot of the process very in my head and very concerned about the. Oh, I just realized. I think that maybe that pickup's down. That's my fault. Sorry about that.

[Alison Stewart]

We had our engineer come on in, check everything out.

[Briston Maroney]

That was a rookie mistake on my end.

[Alison Stewart]

No worries.

[Briston Maroney]

I think that mic was still picking it up. But, yeah, making records for me has always been a very somewhat internally intense process. So this time around, I wanted to kind of try to take a little bit of that edge off and just sit back and try to enjoy it. For the reasons that I got into making records were cathartic, and I kind of drifted away from that. So with this record, I wanted it to feel good. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you sit back and just relax?

[Briston Maroney]

With the help of a lot of really good friends, the help of a lot of really good mentors, a lot of. A lot of folks in my life who just really reminded me of, like I said. Yeah. Why I got into this to begin with. So I started writing songs and started playing music to try to speed up the process of being understood in a community that I didn't feel totally understood in growing up in the South. And, yeah, I realized I had sort of. Yeah. Drifted away from that core principle of, like, I'm doing this to try to understand the human experience more. And this isn't about, you know, trying to be perfect or trying to check any boxes. So, yeah, just kind of getting in touch with the people who were there for those days, the early days of why I started doing this all.

[Alison Stewart]

And don't worry, we got a text says the guitar sounded great. Don't worry about the pickup.

[Briston Maroney]

Oh, great to hear. Oh, okay. Huge sigh of relief. I'm so sorry about that.

[Alison Stewart]

My friend is Briston Maroney. You named the album Jimmy? Who's Jimmy? Is Jimmy somebody I should know?

[Briston Maroney]

The million dollar question. I like to say Jimmy is a person that we all know in some roundabout way. So I know I keep talking about growing up in the south, but so I split time between Tennessee and Florida. My mom was in Florida. And the idea of this Jimmy character, this Jimmy person, is basically just like an amalgamation of a lot of the people that I grew up around. There's a very specific. You know, the phrase Florida man obviously has a connotation to it, and I do think that is applicable here. You know, I kind of, in reflecting on my childhood, realized I was around so many people that were just like extreme characters and extreme. Kind of cartoonish almost. Yeah. Representations of what growing up in that region looked like. And so I was so inspired by just the sense of humor and the freedom that was exuded by these people that I was around a lot, you know, just at bonfires or oyster roasts, you know, in my backyard at my parents place. Like some funny old Jimmy Buffett motorcycle riding dudes that like. Yeah, you know, Jimmy, Jimmy, you know. Yeah, you know.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Briston Maroney. You know, you have a singer, songwriter vibe. That's what people describe you as. But on this new album, you rock out a little bit.

[Briston Maroney]

Oh, yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, yeah. On Tomatoes and on Real Good Swimmer, totally. Why did you want to try a different sound and how did you go about it?

[Briston Maroney]

I feel like a lot of it had to do with permission. I think I've always loved. I've been very drawn to, like, alternative rock and heavier stuff. And I'm very inspired by just the spine within that music and the messaging that comes with the intensity of something like punk rock or alternative rock. So my dad was a huge grunge head and put me on all the 90s classics growing up, so it was in my blood. But I think it took until this point in my life where I felt confident enough to maybe give it a swing myself. And yeah, like I said earlier, just kind of try out an impression of those bands that I love.

[Alison Stewart]

Who are you thinking of? What bands?

[Briston Maroney]

I mean, I got a weaned tattoo during the process of this record to sum up what making this record was like. Yeah. Oh, yeah, right.

[Alison Stewart]

Is it reverse Cuomo on your arm?

[Briston Maroney]

Got the little dude right there. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

That's awesome.

[Briston Maroney]

Yeah. All the insane, you know, just like weirdos of the 90s. My heroes.

[Alison Stewart]

In the song Tomatoes, you talk about having a flip phone.

[Briston Maroney]

Oh, yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you have A flip phone?

[Briston Maroney]

I sure do. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Okay. Tell me why you have a flip phone.

[Briston Maroney]

Because I cannot handle the immense reality that comes along with carrying the iPhone all the time. I mean, it's pretty new. I just got into it for this tour, honestly. So, yeah, I did it for a long time in college, and it was awesome. I think forcing myself to take a break from the constant influx of. With this career path, like, doing music, there's no defined hours, so anxiety, a lot of times for me will manifest by way of working. So if it's the middle of the night, and instead of just letting my thoughts race, I'll pick up my phone and try to do something productive, which always ends up being counterproductive. So trying to draw a heavier line in my life of, like, art being a human, dividing the two things very intensely, if possible.

[Alison Stewart]

You write about that on the album, on the song, bs, the radio version, how you really hated the pressure of selling your music.

[Briston Maroney]

Totally.

[Alison Stewart]

Where was the pressure coming from?

[Briston Maroney]

I think it was from a couple different sources. I think internally maybe was the strongest. I mean, the folks that I work with. I feel really lucky to be around, you know, some. Some very genuine people in the music industry. But there's just kind of the looming cloud. I mean, I'm sure, you know, in. In any media format, like, you know, there's always this voice in the back of your head that's telling you, you know, that it'll all go away at any second. And so I think those. Yeah, that's always been a fear of mine. And so I think I built up a real concept that if I was not constantly two steps ahead, that all of this would disappear. And in writing this record, I tried to really swallow the pill that that is a reality and it is technically possible. And if that happens, then, like, so be it. You know, I. Just. A bit of acceptance. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

How did it change your music? Just sort of alleviating yourself of that pressure.

[Briston Maroney]

I'm having more fun, I think, to put it simply. Yeah. I'm a lot less conscious of. There's less fear involved with the idea of some people not liking it. It's taken me, yeah. Almost 30 years of my life to accept that you can't make everybody happy, but it's a daily effort to practice that.

[Alison Stewart]

But it's okay. It's okay not to make everybody happy.

[Briston Maroney]

Dude, you don't want to make everybody happy. Good Lord. That's a lot of. Yeah, that's a lot of weight. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Also, I think if you make everybody happy, you sort of become sort of like the mean. Like there's nothing there. It's nothing to like or to dislike. It's just sort of like, eh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Briston Maroney]

I feel like I spent two years being that. Just like the most two dimensional. Like, hey, how are you? Yeah, like, you know, I felt like no depth as a human being at all. Yeah. And being down to just be true to yourself, I feel like is so. It just relieves that pressure that must.

[Alison Stewart]

Have meant so much to you personally, aside from your guitar and your career, Just you as a human being.

[Briston Maroney]

Oh my God. Yeah. Yeah. That was like. I think that honestly. Yeah, that. That should have been my answer to that question is like, it's kind of a survival thing. I think I. It's impossible. I don't. I have so much respect for the folks who can balance their existence at the same time as their, you know, commercial success. Like, it's. Those two things are just like, not congruent to me and my soul. So, yeah, I feel so much lighter knowing that I'm like, doing what I, you know, want to do.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is singer songwriter Brissen Maroney. His new album Jimmy is out now. Brisson is performing tonight and tomorrow night at rooftop at Pier 17. What's your songwriting process like for you?

[Briston Maroney]

It's pretty squirrely. I'm a squirrely cat. It's like I like to be caught off guard by a song. I'm not a very. What's the word? I don't sit down and deliberately try to, like, put pen to paper. I like to set up a day. It's like, okay, Saturday. I would love to write a song on Saturday. So I'm gonna plan on going to the grocery store. I'm gonna go for a jog. I'm gonna go to the rock climbing gym. I'm gonna do whatever, Just something completely unrelated to music and wait for inspiration to strike at a time where I'm, you know, my eyes are 180 degrees the other direction. Like, I'm typically kind of grabbed by stuff when I'm not thinking about writing. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

The COVID art for your album is kind of amazing.

[Briston Maroney]

Thank you.

[Alison Stewart]

All right, so it's a portrait of you. You've got a blue hat on. There's all kinds of things coming out of your hair. Car keys, a pencil. Who's the artist? How did you come up with the concept?

[Briston Maroney]

Yeah, the artist behind that album art is a really good friend of mine named Scout Smith. She and her dad both contributed to the final piece, but we went to high School together. We were in an art class together. I think we were two years apart, and we chatted every now and then, but we were both, like, pretty shy, and we never. Never really connected. But then we ended up reconnecting a few years ago over tattooing. So she's an incredible tattoo artist, and she gave me a couple pieces. So she gave me my handpiece and this little fishing lure that I have. Yeah. So we connected over that, and when it came time to make the art for this record, I was like, oh, dude, it's. You know, I want this to feel like something that I would. Yeah. Want tattooed on my body. And I literally have trusted this person to do that multiple other times. So let's go for it. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

All right. We're gonna hear one more song from you. It's gonna be Be Yourself from Jimmy. Do you wanna set this up?

[Briston Maroney]

Yeah, absolutely. This is the closing track on the record. I would say this is. Yeah. Kind of the summation of the whole. The whole mission, baby.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest has been singer, songwriter Briston Maroney. His new album Jimmy, is out now. Briston is playing tonight and tomorrow night at Rooftop at Pier along with the band Peach Pit. This is Be Yourself. Thank you for being with us.

[Briston Maroney]

My pleasure. Thanks for having me. I feel like I'm st. I'm glad people can't see how red my face is. I'm really nervous, but I'm having a lot of fun. Thanks for having me.

[Briston Maroney (performing)]

Stuck my head out the window or in this case, the ceiling oh, I wish I had the perfect word for this imperfect feeling all my life I've been told to look after myself all my life I have lived like I'm somebody else Put my foot on the pedal and I fired up the vestibule Wasted days doing things other kids said were cool can't tell if I'm scared if I'm excited I just want to be myself so tired of hiding I just want to be myself so tired of hiding I just want to be myself so tired of hiding it, yeah and when I wake up yeah, I don't feel like I slept Every secret that I'm keeping is a secret best kept Wasting so much time being somewhere I'm not never getting into it Always scared of being caught There's a hand on my throat and it's strong Stronger than God Some days I'm ready to give up what I got but right when I feel that hands start to tighten I remember all the birds I hear singing in the morning and I fight with my muscles push them away? Stand up tall like the birds that sing? La la la la la la la la la la la la la? And if everything is nothing? Then I guess I've got.

[Briston Maroney]

Everything.

[Briston Maroney (performing)]

Yeah? If everything is nothing Then I guess I've got everything, yeah? I just want to be myself? I just want to be myself, yeah? I'm so tired of high and I just want to be myself? I'm so tired of hiding? I just want to be myself? Just want to be myself? And I'm so tired of hiding it, yeah?

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