Bo Staloch has listeners swooning over his latest single, “Angelina.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
What has been your favorite memory of tour?
We’ve done a few covers. We’ve been covering a Harry Styles song called “Kiwi.” And every time we announce the song – I’ve never had a crowd react to a song like they react to “Kiwi.” I get the chills every time, so it’s fun.
Fans are finally getting “Angelina.” Who or what inspired the song?
My friend just showed me this Harry Styles quote. He has a song called “Olivia.” An interviewer was like, ‘Who is Olivia?’ And he was like, I don’t know if Olivia is an emotion or a place or whatever. I kind of feel the same way about “Angelina.” I’ve honestly never really met an Angelina. And I think this song just is like a placeholder for a lot of emotions that I felt with females and dating and all of that.
Fans loved the snippets on social, but what has it been like to see people reacting to the full song in real time?
It’s fun. I didn’t think much of the song when I first made it. I thought it was awesome, but I didn’t really know if it was going to get received well by the fans. We played it on tour with Mark Ambor, and that reaction was really, really special. These guys seem to like the song as well, too. So seeing it in fruition live is the coolest thing. I’m very happy that they’re liking it.
In a recent interview, you mentioned that witnessing live music—like performances by Mt. Joy and Briston Maroney—inspired you through the little moments they sparked, like a couple dancing or an older man brought to tears. Now that you’re the one creating those moments for others, what has that experience been like for you?
It’s the whole entire world. It’s why I do it. I think the live part of the music world is kind of, it’s like the dessert. It’s why you do it. To see people’s reactions—whether they’re hearing my music for the first time or they’re familiar with the songs—to see their faces, to see them smile or cry or feel whatever they need to feel, and to actually see them feel it, it’s like the coolest thing ever. And when I’m talking to them after the shows and hearing them say, ‘you helped me with blah blah blah,’ it’s so cool. It’s so cool.
You are making your debut at Lollapalooza! What was it like to see your name in the incredible line-up, and what are you most looking forward to?
Yeah, that’s a dream. It’s an absolute dream. It’s funny as artists, you know you’re playing Lolla, but obviously they told me a while before they released the lineup, and I forgot that I was playing Lolla. [After] the lineup was released, I was so pumped. I was like, who’s playing Lolla? And I saw my name on the list. I was like, what the? I freaked out. Totally forgot. And my whole team was like, ‘yeah, bro, we knew this. We knew this already.’ But with that being said, it’s a dream. To be sharing the stages with those people, it’s unreal, and to see my name amongst those names, it’s a dream.
What message do you want to share with your fans?
I think the biggest thing I want to say is thank you. This past year—year and a half—has been crazy, and I’ve learned a lot about myself and about people in general. I just want to say thank you. This has been a wild ride so far, and I can’t wait to see where it all goes. But I couldn’t be doing this without you guys. Seriously, thank you so much. Let’s take this thing to the moon and back. I’ll be here as long as you guys will have me.
Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.