Being Bo

Bo Staloch seems to be the kind of guy you talk to at a party for 10 minutes and never forget about. The Texas native has an innate ability to articulate himself that far surpasses most seasoned adults, let alone most 20-year-olds.

His music mimics the ebb and flow of life: confusion, acceptance, love, disappointment, and the constant change that both haunts and drives you. I was fortunate enough to send him some questions after listening to his discography, and I will say, it’s an odd experience to (sort of) understand a person you’ve never met. But that’s the age we live in, I guess. His honesty, paired with his raw talent, will undoubtedly be his greatest strength, and I’m excited to see what he chooses to make of himself, because it really will be his choice.

Q&A

• Describe headlining your first tour - how is it different from your experience opening in the past?

We’ve done a whole lot of support tours. The last 2 years have really only consisted of opening for other artists which has been so informative and incredible for me and the band. We’ve learned so much from the crowds and from watching the headliners and we feel so lucky that we’ve had that experience before going on this run.

I feel like with opening up shows for other people, there’s a pressure of “winning the crowd over” because they aren’t essentially there for you. When we’re headlining it feels so much freer and looser and just awesome. It’s so so crazy to look out and see people singing along to my songs.

• What inspires you? Do a lot of your songs begin with events, people, or do ideas form before you assign them to situations?

The biggest thing that inspires me in every portion of my life is just the idiosyncratic nature of being human. The way we are so weirdly and uniquely ourselves, yet connect in so many tiny ways. I find a lot of inspiration from that with my writing.

• Do you think that there is 100% truth in what you write?

Whether or not what I write actually happened to me, I still feel like it is completely genuine and true to me and how I was feeling at the time of writing

• How does it feel to be so vulnerable with tens of thousands of people?

Being vulnerable I feel like is the only way this whole thing works. I believe the depth creates the real relationship with the fans

• How has performing changed you?

I am a very anxious person and really struggle with attention. Obviously, performing is like the opposite of what that means I like. But it’s pushed me in so many ways and I honestly feel like I understand myself better with every show.

• Biggest role models/what drives you?

Bon Iver, Radiohead, Elliot Smith, and Jeff Buckley are some of my biggest inspirations right now. I draw a lot from them with my writing and sound, especially with some of the new stuff I’m writing.

I am very inspired by my family and friends and just trying my very best to be the best for them- make them proud.

• What does rest look like for you? How do you find the time?

I struggle with allowing myself rest. It’s been really busy and I feel like I need to protect rest in my life more. Right now I find a lot of peace in airplanes for some reason. They kind of force my brain to take a second and actually think.

• What is something that most people don’t know about you? (Or a misconception many people hold)

I feel like people assume that I’m a very confident person and that is most definitely not the case.

• What do you hope to accomplish by 30?

By 30, I would love to have a start to my own family. I’d love to just be surrounded by my friends and loved ones as much as possible. I’d love to be touring and keep this whole thing going :). My dream is to headline red rocks and I hope by 30 I will have done that.

Author’s Picks:

• “Fault Line”

• “Give It A Break”

• “The Blame”

• “Sante Fe”

• “Birds of San Francisco” (s/o hometown)

If you guys are ever looking for someone to make you think and make you feel, I highly recommend giving Bo a listen.