Interview: Bo Staloch Finds That Nothing is “Too Big, Too Big” at Austin City Limits
The Austin native jumps from festivalgoer to performer ahead of the release of his newest EP and an upcoming headlining tour.
Written by Valeria Mota
Photos by Mckenna Sefcik
Life can feel heavy at 20, but for rising folk star Bo Staloch, nothing is too big once it's put into writing. The young musician went from attending ACL as an Austinite to debuting at the festival ahead of his November EP, Too Big, Too Big, in which the songwriter explores the crushing weight of adult expectations. Afterglow sat down with Staloch straight after his Weekend 2 set at the Tito’s tent to discuss his festival experience, latest single, and his desire for newfound connections.
Afterglow: You were born in Austin and came to ACL growing up. What's it like being on the other side of the stage?
Staloch: I still can't believe it. It’s just so cool to actualize something you've envisioned for years and years. It's unbelievable.
What would you say is the difference between being a crowd member and being a performer?
I feel like before I even knew music was an option for me, I'd always, and I think everyone does this when they see a show, kind of envision what it would be like if it was you on stage. And now being on stage, it's just crazy. First of all, it's very different from what I thought. I'm much more nervous, but it is so special. It's incredible, and to see my friends and family in the crowd, it's just so cool.
I wanted to talk a little bit about your new single, “Hers.” Why did you choose the song to introduce your new EP, and what's the story behind the song?
I think the palette, all the production choices, and the song itself are just so special, and they're so close to me. It's one of my favorites. I wrote it with one of my best friends, Sydney Rose, about our other friends that were kind of… they were friends, but forming into — [a person walks by] — it's funny, the guy I wrote about actually just walked by. He doesn't know it's funny, but it's about them. They know their friendship is blossoming into something more, but they're not being fully honest about it to each other. They both know that they're not being fully honest, and you know that can spiral out pretty quickly. So it's kind of a riser of a song, and the end is a big crescendo of emotion.
Your new EP is coming out in early November. What's the story behind the title, Too Big, Too Big?
I wrote all these songs when I was 20, and I think when you're 20, things can just feel so heavy. I mean, you are expected to know things, expected to do things, expected to know who you are, know what you want to do, it's kind of absurd in my opinion, and that can feel really, really heavy and really big. And I don't think our brains are wired for that yet. This song or this project is kind of about all those feelings. I think once you talk about it, write about it, feel what you need to feel, you can kind of realize that nothing is ever really too big, but it’s tough to feel that in the moment.
What do you want people to feel after they leave one of your sets, whether it’s this one at ACL or any of the sets on your upcoming tour?
Good question. I just want to feel connected with as many people as I can. I think that's kind of like the main goal of life in general. And being an artist, I feel like I have a unique lane to be connected with people. I just want to feel like I have a newfound connection with strangers. I think that's the coolest thing in the world.
You can follow Bo Staloch on Instagram and TikTok and stream his music on Spotify and Apple Music.
This interview has been minimally edited for clarity and length.