By Arden Berry | Arts & Life Editor
Bo Staloch grew up in Austin watching from the audience as artists performed onstage at Austin City Limits in Zilker Park. Oct. 2 and again Friday, now 21-year-old Staloch returned to ACL as one of those artists on the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage.
Staloch said he has pictured himself on an ACL stage his whole life.
“It is unreal,” Staloch said. “So surreal … for that to actualize into reality is just, It’s unreal. So I’ve been at a loss of words for the last couple weeks.”
In the years he attended the festival, Staloch said his favorite performance he encountered was Mumford & Sons.
“Seeing that big of a show that early on in my life was just very intoxicating, and I was like, OK, this is awesome,” Staloch said.
Now as an ACL artist himself, Staloch has an EP releasing Nov. 6 titled “Too Big, Too Big.” He said everyone he collaborated with on his EP was “incredible to work with.”
“[They were] just so supportive and helping me really cultivate this sound in this world that we’re going for,” Staloch said. “I just feel so lucky to have the people that are surrounding me, surrounding me. It’s so cool.”
As for the music on the EP, Staloch said his genres circle around folk, rock and alternative.
“I’m very inspired by the indie folk scene of the early 2000s, like Bon Iver and Damien Rice and Daughter and those kind of early 2000s folk bands, folk artists,” Staloch said. “So I think sound that evolves around those musicians and bands, for sure.”
Staloch was drawn to these artists and bands because they are “real and honest.”
“They can be sad songs while having an integral piece of hope,” Staloch said. “There’s always some sort of hope that I find or at least comfort. And I think that is so cool. And I aspire to do that with my music.”
At his performances, Staloch said the fans curate a great vibe.
“The fans are just so kind and welcoming and warm,” Staloch said. “… I feel like I haven’t done anything. I just feel so lucky. So, yeah, it’s amazing.”
For students interested in hearing Staloch’s music live, he is coming to Dallas on March 25, Austin on March 26 and Houston on March 27 as part of his “Too Big, Too Big” tour. He said attendees can look forward to a range of moments.
“I think there are some very acoustic and low points,” Staloch said. “And then there’s very rock and an explosion of emotion. So kind of like a roller coaster.”
