Briston Maroney

A rootsy Nashville-based singer/songwriter, Briston Maroney mixes an earnest folksiness with a ’90s-style indie rock melodicism. Following a handful of singles, he gained acclaim at the end of the 2010s for a pair of EPs before making his major-label debut with 2021’s full-length Sunflower. Live and deluxe versions of the album followed over the next two years along with singles like “Paradise” and “Body,” paving the way for his sophomore full-length, 2023′s Ultrapure. Born in 1998 in Kennesaw, Georgia and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Maroney began writing music in his teens, listening to a mix of classic rock, folk, and indie rock including John Prine, Jim Croce, John Mayer, the White Stripes, and Kings of Leon. While still in his teens, he successfully auditioned for American Idol and made it as far as the Top 30 before getting cut. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to develop his sound. He ultimately landed in Nashville, where he drew early fans in 2017 with songs like “Hangin’ Around,” “Virginia,” and “It’s Not My Fault. These singles laid the groundwork for the release of his 2018 Carnival EP. The album gained critical buzz and helped build interest in Maroney. However, he subsequently found himself in rehab in 2019 and lived with his mother in Florida for a time while reevaluating his career. He eventually moved back to Nashville and in May of 2019, issued his second EP, Indiana, which included the song “Caroline.” Maroney’s full-length debut, Sunflower, was released by Atlantic in early 2021 and featured production from John Congleton. A hometown show in Nashville was later released as Sunflower: Live at Third Man Records and in April 2022, a deluxe version of Sunflower appeared featuring collaborations with Manchester Orchestra and Genevieve Stokes. Meanwhile, the prolific artist kept up a barrage of singles including “Paradise,” “Oregon,” and “Body.” The latter track appeared on his sophomore full-length, Ultrapure, which arrived in September 2023, hitting number 15 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart. A non-album single, the Andrew Sarlo-produced “I Told You So,′ arrived in January 2024. ~ Matt Collar