Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Will Stockle

Will Stockle is an exciting indie artist to keep your eye on. His signature sound is a blend of pop, soul, mixed with heartfelt lyrics that’ll strike you at your core. Today, he drops his newest single, “How’d You Let Me Go.” Pop Culturalist caught up with Will to chat about the track and his 2020.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Will: When I was in school, I took a music class where we had to write songs with a software called Cubase, and it turned out I was reasonably good at it. From that, I caught an addiction to writing music and songs. I still haven’t gotten over this addiction. It’s quite funny actually because I was never remotely good at music until this point.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Will: Growing up, there was always music playing in my house. Constantly being surrounded by music definitely had an impact. When I started writing songs, I would show all of them to one of my best friends at the time, and she was super supportive, so I owe a lot to her.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “How’d You Let Me Go.” What inspired the track?
Will: I was playing guitar one night when I had this burst of inspiration. I had earlier been looking through old photos of me and an ex, and so the lyrics just flowed. The first verse to the chorus was written super quickly, and I knew it was something good. The next day, I got into my studio and started putting it all together. I started with the guitar and built off of that. For the next week, I was trying to finish it, but something was off. Working on it so much started making me insane, so I put it aside for a while until I got the idea to swap out the main instruments with the ones you hear now. Once I did this, it was that same “wow” moment as the night I wrote the lyrics for the first time.

PC: It’s the second single off of your sophomore EP On Mine. What can fans expect from this latest collection?
Will: The songs all have a very distinct vibe. They all have this warm, happy feel to them with deeper lyrics. The EP all revolves around the feeling of having someone on your mind and the different situations around that. Hence why it’s called On Mine.

PC: As you look ahead in your career, what are some goals that you hope to accomplish?
Will: I would love to sell out the O2, as it was the first venue I ever went to. I want to write and release an album that is internationally successful. And I want to do a headline world tour.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Will: Taylor Swift

PC: First album you bought?
Will: Resistance by Muse

PC: First concert you attended?
Will: Muse

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Will: I would say Geography by Tom Misch as it unlocked the jazzy side of my music and made me love that soul R&B style that heavily influences my music today.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Will: The O2

PC: A must-have on the road?
Will: My laptop and MIDI keyboard to keep producing and writing on the road.

To keep up with Will, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up or stream “How’d You Let Me Go” here.