Parker Wierling - Interview
Unless you live under a rock or perhaps just off the internet, you’ve more than likely heard the mantra of a Pop Girl Summer. Music lovers everywhere have categorized this 2024 Summer (and the year as a whole) as a time destined for the pop artists that have been on the rise this year such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, The Kid LAROI, and even Khalid as he makes a comeback. To this label of 2024 being the year of pop, I raise the idea of it being a time for indie to rise. Wallows, Dayglow, COIN, Briston Maroney, and several more have all been releasing music and touring non stop this year which consequently has taken over my playlists and most of my focus as is. Indie has always been the genre that just feels like Summer and even more so, it is a genre that never fails to amaze me both on a large level like Modest Mouse and on a small level like, say, Parker Wierling.
Parker Wierling, as most of you probably don’t know (yet!), is a budding indie artist from the grand city of Atlanta, Georgia. At 27 years old he has several singles and three EPs under his belt already along with an upcoming single that’s sure to rock socks off. I had the honor of interviewing him in anticipation for this impending song, I Won’t Think of You, along with discussing general music topics to truly get readers onboard with this budding artist.
Kenzie: You have an upcoming single titled “I Won’t Think of You”. Can you go into detail about its creative process (writing, recording, production, etc.)?
Parker: Of course! I started this song how I start most of them, by strumming some chords that feel right and humming a general melody with gibberish lyrics. Eventually, the chord progression and melody came and I started writing lyrics. Like always, I struggled to decipher what the song would be about. When the words 'I Won't Think of You' came to me, it felt too negative. But "I WILL think of you" didn't have the same ring to me either! I did my best to keep the mood of the song upbeat and positive by framing the phrase "I Won't Think of You" as a sort of celebration that says "these bad feelings I'm experiencing right now are only temporary. In a year's time I won't remember these inconveniences and doubts." I recorded the song in two days at We Bought a Zoo records in Athens, GA with local legend Tommy Trautwein (Well Kept). We had an absolute blast in the studio! There were so many spontaneous moments where we just took an idea and ran with it. We had a few other friends (Toni Hunlo, Gavin Boone, Tyler Key) lend a hand by recording drums, synth / organ, and pedal steel!
Kenzie: Being born and raised in Atlanta, how do you think your upbringing influenced your music?
Parker: I love Atlanta, but as a city I'm not sure how much it played a role in shaping my musical identity. I owe more of that to Athens, GA. The music scene there is electrifying! It has so many incredible bands and is rich with musical history. My parents also gave me a lot of my own musical leanings indirectly. The Goo Goo Dolls are a staple amongst the Wierling household and I think I've just been trying to write 'Iris' my whole life.
Kenzie: What role do you think music plays in society today, and how do you see your own music contributing to that role?
Parker: I think music will always fascinate and play a huge part in the everyones lives. We all have our own relation to music so it's hard to say exactly what role it has in society. I think it's fair to say that music is a way to lift your mood or experience catharsis. As artists, we'd all like for our music to help someone better understand their own feelings and not feel so alone.
Kenzie: If you could choose a different genre of music to explore, what would it be and why?
Parker: For better or worse, if you shuffled my discography at random you'd get a pretty wide range of different styles and moods. I've always enjoyed making hip hop beats but haven't played around with that in a long time. At some point, I'd love to collaborate with someone and help make beats for a hip hop record.
Kenzie: Who are some of your largest musical influences?
Parker: Radiohead is my favorite band of all time! It's almost impossible to sound as unique as them so you might not hear too much of their influence in my music. Some other influences who I love are Declan McKenna, DJO, The Beatles, Spoon, Elvis Costello, Alvvays, Dayglow, and Phoenix.
Kenzie: What’s the most adventurous or daring thing you’ve done in the name of your music career?
Parker: Climbed a power line for a shot in my music video for 'Always, Always' back in 2018!
Kenzie: If your music was the soundtrack to a movie, what kind of movie would it be?
Parker: An academy award winning documentary about meerkats.
Kenzie: It’s known that you’re also an actor. Do you think your acting influences your music or vice versa (explain)?
Parker: I don't know how much they really cross over. I love both of them separately. Acting has taught me the value of control (or lack thereof) of your environment. As an actor, I wait to hopefully get an audition, prepare it, tape it, edit it, send it in and then hopefully hear back that I booked the role. With music, I can pick up my guitar and start writing whenever I want! I really value that amount of control over my work.
Kenzie: If you could have a dinner party with any three musicians, living or dead, who would they be and what would you serve?
Parker: Thom Yorke, Paul McCartney, and Charli XCX. Since they're British, we'll have a nice fish n' chips dish.
Kenzie: What role do you think vulnerability plays in creating meaningful music?
Parker: I always feel a lot better about my songs when I really mean what I'm saying. In the past, I settled for lyrics that felt good enough. Nowadays, I put a lot more emphasis on what I'm trying to communicate and why. It's a lot easier said than done, though.
Kenzie: How has your perception of success in the music industry evolved over time?
Parker: I always viewed success through the idea of making a living doing something I love. Being rich and famous sounds pretty sweet, of course. I can admit that I'd open that pandora's box if it appeared in front of me. But I know at the end of the day I'll be successful if I continue to feel happy writing, recording, releasing and performing songs that mean a lot to me.
Kenzie: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about yourself through your music journey?
Parker: There are so many lessons I've learned in the last few years of releasing music. One of the biggest ones has to be to stop comparing myself to other artists. When I moved to Athens, GA for two years, I was surrounded by really impressive artists and producers. It was incredibly intimidating and I felt inferior. Over time, I started to see this as a way to learn and soak in all this knowledge. Be a sponge! Take in information from anyone and everywhere you can. Then you can discern what's right for you and what's not.
Kenzie: How do you think the current state of the world influences the music being created today?
Parker: Everything influences everything. I won't make any big predictions for the future of music. But at the end of the day, music will be there for us to enjoy.
Kenzie: What’s one misconception people often have about being a professional musician that you’d like to correct?
Parker: I don't know if this really answers your question, but one thing I love is when bands switch up their sound. Even if I don't like it, I appreciate that they're trying something new. I don't think it makes sense for listeners to expect or want their favorite band to release the same record twice. People change over time, so naturally their music will change with them.
Kenzie: (Here’s a fun one to end on) If you could create a band using only cartoon characters, who would be the lead vocalist, guitarist, drummer, and bassist?
Parker: Powerpuff girls for sure. Blossom on vocals, Bubbles on lead guitar and Buttercup on bass. Mojo JoJo is gonna kick us off on drums!
After reading this eye-opening interview with Parker, you can be sure to keep up with him on Instagram (@parkerwierling) and Tiktok (@parkerwierling). Furthermore, I Won’t Think of You is available to presave below. I urge you to do so both from a journalist’s and a fan’s standpoint.