April 5, 2024 |
Bursting onto the scene in 2020, Joey Pollari swiftly emerged as a versatile artistic powerhouse. Transitioning seamlessly from acclaimed acting roles in American Crime, The Inbetweeners, and Love, Simon to exploring the realm of music, Pollari is now treating us to his sophomore album, I’ll Be Romance, which released earlier today.
The 10-track album has roots deeply entrenched in classic songwriting, as it invites listeners on a captivating folk-inspired journey, emitting a melancholic yet soothing aura akin to the perfect companion of a patchouli stick. Offering a glimpse into Pollari’s unique blend of blues and Americana introspection, I’ll Be Romance is a testament to the multi-hyphenate’s symphonious skill.
Produced in a swanky LA studio, Hotel Earth, by longtime collaborator Theo Karon, Pollari embarked on a journey to craft expansive sonic realms, transforming his intimate demos into the grand, tactile soundscapes that define the final record. From humble beginnings, bedroom songwriting to performing on an acoustic guitar once owned by the revered artist, Elliot Smith, Pollari underscores his remarkable artistic journey with an undeniable flair.
What’s more, Pollari recruited a dream team of musicians, including powerhouse drummer Elizabeth Goodfellow from Boygenius and Iron & Wine, alongside guitarist Steven Van Betten of Fell Runner, adding to the album’s star-studded allure. Together, they’re shaping up to deliver a musical experience that’s not just heard, but felt deep in the bones. His previously released three singles, ‘Efforts of Love’, ‘So Close’, and ‘Aletheia’ are just the beginning. Here, we sat down with the polymath to talk about the new album, his hopes and dreams for 2024 and living in a different era.
1. Hey Joey! What’s your favourite thing about making music
“On one hand, any art is the call down of a spirit you hope will enter a room, and meanwhile on earth, the encounter is like a wrestle between instincts and intellect. Spirit and earthly wrestle get exciting when they finally decide to collaborate.”
2. You’re an actor as well as a singer – how do you find juggling all your different projects?
“No trouble at all except they require both different execution of skills for the same purpose, and so it’s hard to remember which mode belongs to what goal. Right now, I’m remembering what-goes-were better than I did yesterday.”
3. The album is really emotionally driven – what was the experience of making it like for you?
“The songs came relatively easy, I thought. The lyrics bent nicely. But the recording was hard because the songs took on forms that I didn’t recognise, and therefore the lyrics gained dimensions I was spooked by. They became large and haunted, not so gentle like I had imagined. Recording it was confrontational — like a good editor does for a writer, my producer Theo Karon showed me what I actually wrote.”
4. Do you have a favourite single on the album and why?
“Favourite song today is different than yesterday: the album’s closer, ‘Peach Blossom Spring,’ has a trembling, shaky ground. I love that it sounds like porcelain ready to crack.”
5. Your music video for ‘Efforts of Love’ is based on this idea of dreams becoming a reality – what’s one dream that you have right now you’re hoping will come true?
“I had a dream two nights ago that a voice said to return to the innocent joy of a five-year-old.”
6. What is the perfect setting to listen to the new album in?
“Anywhere private, nice headphones, glass of wine, contemplation available, looking at greens or midnight blue.”
7. If you got to change which era you lived through, which one would you transport to?
“The Hollywood studio system of the ’40s and ’50s. Troubled times, but incredible works of art produced, which is the history of the entire world.”
8. Who are you listening to on repeat nowadays?
“Just last night, I played ‘Moon Safari’ by Air five times in a row. Otherwise, the new Kacey Musgraves. ‘Flaming Red’ by Patty Griffin. ‘Hotel Nota’ by Romeo Poirier.”
9. Who’s one artist you hope to collaborate with in the future?
“Kelly Reichardt.”
10. What are you looking forward to in 2024?
“The release of I’ll Be Romance and other finished projects like Sugar (for AppleTV). The recording of another record or two. Playing shows, seeing how the music feels out in the world. Continuing my path with more instinct. Less fear. Fear is the mind killer.”
Photography courtesy of Joey Pollari.
