Many times our success is heavily dependent upon our
willingness to be brave and take a leap of faith. Never an
easy task to step out of our comfort zone and create new
patterns.
So, the new pattern has been put into motion for Mariel
Loveland with her new band, new band name, and new
sound as it all fits neatly it is befitting to the name 'Best
Ex' along with the album title ICE CREAM ANTISOCIAL.
Currently out on tour with Promise of Redemption
through July, the new fit... fits! Although, one who might
have been a fan of the former band Candy Hearts might
say they still see the true soulful songwriting heart of
their beloved artist Mariel Loveland. And that is certainly
okay after all ice cream is best eaten alone and adding a
new flavor every now and again makes the process even
sweeter.
S o n g R i v e r : C h a n g e i s a p a r t o f l i v i n g . C a n a n a r t i s t t r u l y
b e a n a r t i s t i n t h e i r s o u l i f t h e y a r e n o t c h a l l e n g i n g
t h e m s e l v e s t o e v o l v e ?
Mariel Loveland: I don't think you necessarily need to
change to be an artist, but I do think you need to grow
and learn to be a good human. I can't imagine my life
without switching up my art, but if some people want to
create the same thing over and over again, I get it.
S o n g R i v e r : W o u l d y o u s a y t h e m o v e f r o m p o p - p u n k t o
m o r e i n d i e - p o p w a s e x p e c t e d b y o t h e r s w h o k n o w y o u ?
W a s t h e r e a n i n t e r n a l o r e x t e r n a l s t r u g g l e - o r d i d t h i s g o
o f f w i t h o u t a h i t c h ?
Mariel Loveland: It was completely expected by
everyone who knows me. They know that's the kind of
music I tend to identify more with, even though I really do
like playing pop punk. I think I always have some sort of
an internal struggle when I want to change anything. I'm
not very good with change.
S o n g R i v e r : W e r e y o u s u r p r i s e d w h e n y o u c a m e t o t h i s
c o n c l u s i o n y o u r s e l f o r w a s i t m o r e o f a n " i t ' s t i m e t o
c h a n g e c l o t h e s t o m y a g e a n d m a t u r i t y ? "
Mariel Loveland: I was pretty surprised I actually followed
through with it. I'm typically way too afraid to do stuff like
that that I think it got to a point where I really, really just
couldn't continue as I was going. I reached a breaking
point and it was like either quit or reinvent you.
S o n g R i v e r : M o v i n g f r o m o n e g e n r e t o a n o t h e r i s g o o d
a s i t s h o w s a n a r t i s t ' s d i v e r s i t y , m u c h l i k e D a v i d B o w i e
d i d a l l t h r o u g h h i s c a r e e r . N o t t h a t w e a r e s a y i n g M a r i e l
h a s t o l i v e u p t o t h o s e s a m e s t a n d a r d s b u t d o y o u s e e
y o u r s e l f a s m o r e o f a p r o g r e s s i o n t h a n a s t a l w a r t
s t a n d i n g p u d d l e ?
Mariel Loveland: I definitely see myself continue to
reinvent our sound over and over again. I like so many
different kinds of music, I can't see not incorporating all
those things or growing with my tastes.
S o n g R i v e r : Y o u l a t e s t E P I c e C r e a m A n t i - S o c i a l a b i t o f
a p l a y o n w o r d s t h e r e . . . t a l k a b o u t t h e t i t l e a n d t h e s o n g s
y o u h a v e i n c l u d e d o n t h i s r e l e a s e .
Mariel Loveland: I really liked the title. It just came to me
one day when I was eating ice cream, as I do most days.
I spent a whole lot of time alone when I'm at home, and I
think the theme fit the songs.
The songs to me seemed really introspective like I was
sitting around watching things happen to myself and
others and then writing about it when everything was
quiet and settled down. I think the songs are pretty
diverse, too and I'm excited to have a record that shows
so many parts of myself.
S o n g R i v e r : W h e r e d o y o u s e n s e t h i s g i f t f o r c r e a t i v i t y
c a m e f r o m ? P a r e n t s ? F r i e n d s ?
Mariel Loveland: I think it was something I was born with.
I've always been the type of person I am, so I guess it's
genetics or a higher power or both.
S o n g R i v e r : W h a t d o y o u f a n c y M a r i e l w h e n y o u a r e
d e v e l o p i n g y o u r s o n g l y r i c s ? A n y c e r t a i n t y p e s o f b i t s
t h a t h a v e t o b e i n o r d e r s o t h a t t h e f r e e f l o w o f t h o u g h t
s a i l s s m o o t h l y ?
Mariel Loveland: I can't be really sad when I write. I have
to be in a pretty okay, relaxed mood. Sometimes things
will just come to me, but I know a lot of artists say they
write great stuff when they're sad, but for me, it's just a
wall where I can't do much of anything, much less create.
As long as I'm in an okay mood, if I'm ever stuck, a walk
around the block seems to help!
S o n g R i v e r : W h e n y o u w r i t e / s i n g / p e r f o r m , w h o i s i t f o r , t o
b e g i n w i t h ( s e l f , a p e r s o n i n p a r t i c u l a r ? ) a n d a s i t
d e v e l o p s d o e s i t o p e n i t s e l f u p t o t a k e i n m u l t i p l e p a r t s o f
i n c l u s i o n ?
Mariel Loveland: I think it's different every time!
Sometimes I write a song for myself, sometimes I write
for people I think may like it. Sometimes I want to write
about a certain event for another person (even though I'd
never say that to them out loud).
S o n g R i v e r : I n s o n g w r i t i n g f o r y o u p e r s o n a l l y M a r i e l w h a t
h a s t o b e f