Parker Winston – If These Walls Could Talk

By starrymag | September 22, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I would describe the sound of my music as escapism, euphoric, and dreamy.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) My biggest musical influences are Lana Del Rey and Ricky Nelson.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Happiest Depression.”

A) “Happiest Depression” is written through the lens of being deep within a relationship that is starting to take a turn for the worse. The way this song is written does a pretty good job of romanticizing, distracting and hiding those qualities, which is exactly what you do when you’re within that stage.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think the people who have experienced a dark relationship will best relate to this song because it encapsulates the kind of addiction or adrenaline high you sort of receive from it. I tried my best to make this song seem toxic on both ends, but at the same time taking the most accountability and showing that I am instigating this behavior so the very people who are experiencing this can identify the same traits in themselves and save themselves a lot of pain in the future.

Q) What is the story behind your latest release, “Green Eyed Baby?”

A) “Green Eyed Baby” was written during the honeymoon stage of a relationship of mine. It is pure and absolutely filled with the most adoration for the partner. After writing the whole EP and coming to peace with myself, I found that I hold adoration for that person in a whole new way with forgiveness and love. I can still find that part of my life beautiful without it being tainted with pain or having a sour taste in my mouth and that is why I think it is one of the most important tracks of the EP.

Q) How does the video for “Green Eyed Baby” play into the message behind it?

A) I really just wanted the video to feel intimate and beautiful, so I took my Super 8 vintage video camera and shot some really personal visuals. There’s nothing over the top about the video or any crazy storyline it follows. It is just personalized and close to my heart, made by a friend of mine and me and I think it closely follows the message of “Green Eyed Baby” and what it directly relates to me.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) For me, the lyrics always come first. It’s really important for me to articulate what I affiliate specific feelings with; I believe that is a large part of my songwriting strategy. And through and through, I try to express what emotion I’m feeling through my personal lens. As I’m writing, I sing what those lyrics truly SOUND like to me and that’s how I navigate the music and sound

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I absolutely cannot take credit for the beautiful creations my lovely producer Kate Hallowell creates. I really try to articulate what I want the song to sound like to her in the best and most specific way possible, and she brings that to life one hundred percent – just with some adjectives I give her and song inspirations. Once she creates a draft, I’ll give some notes, alterations and ideas and she nails all of it every single time. I am so lucky she is a part of this project!

Q) Congrats on your debut EP If These Walls Could Talk! What are some themes you explore on it?

A) The biggest theme I explore on If These Walls Could Talk is losing myself. Throughout this project you see me fall head over heels in love and letting that become my identity. You see that the most on the third track, my favorite track. There are a lot of themes within the project, but I don’t want to summarize it, so the listener listens to it through my lens instead of their own.

Q) What songs challenged you the most with the creation process?

A) Strangely enough, all the songs weren’t too challenging just because I felt all of them so deeply that they almost created themselves. Immediately upon writing I heard them and visualized them and, along the way my team Shilo Gold, Kate Hallowell and I, improvised new ideas to each of them and brought them to life. The most challenging out of all of them though had to be “Happiest Depression” just because we worked on that one for a while making it perfect!

Q) What songs were the most difficult to record – either emotionally or not feeling fully fleshed out?

A) The song that was the most difficult to record was the title track “If These Walls Could Talk.” That song feels like there is a keyhole in my heart and the listener is looking right into it. I HATE typical breakup songs and the resentment people attach to them, especially because that’s not how I feel. I don’t feel any negative connotations against any of my ex-partners, no matter what we went through together. Recording something that has so much pain AND love attached to it was truly hard. I went home afterwards and just ate pizza and cried. It was beautiful in a funny way.

Q) What do you hope listeners really take away from this EP?

A) I hope listeners can allow themselves to feel the things they do without any judgement. There are so many flaws to emotions, and it was so freeing to just be myself and free myself through these songs. I hope the listeners realize their feelings are valid and no one can take that away from them.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I haven’t performed too much, but I would say my favorite location is the Hamptons because that’s where my first two performances took place.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) It would be a dream to collaborate with Rex Orange County. His music is so special to me.

Q) You’re also a model and actress. Do you have any upcoming projects or campaigns that you’ve been working on?

A) I have some secret projects I’m working on regarding modeling that I cannot share too much on, but I’m really excited. For acting, I’m just bettering my craft and auditioning!

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Social media is an important outlet to connect to others on because I try my hardest to personalize my page besides just posting photos of myself and including beautiful pictures that I love that feel like me. It’s special in a different kind of way when someone appreciates my whole vibe and aesthetic because it’s just another extension of myself.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you for just hearing me and listening to me. It means the world to me in ways I’ll never be able to describe