In this interview, we have the pleasure of talking to Ghostsocial, the talented musician behind a unique blend of emotive punk music with beautiful alternative rock backings. Ghostsocial's captivating vocals blend aloofness and intense emotion, creating a beautiful juxtaposition of being both raw and vulnerable. His music is known for its relatable and emotionally powerful themes of self-discovery, identity, and personal growth, that have resonated with many listeners.
Ghostsocial's creative process is focused on conveying emotion and vibe through his music. His music is a reflection of his life experiences, and he has been able to touch on a lot of personal and traumatic subjects in his music. He believes in authenticity and keeping things real, touching on lived experiences and things that people can relate to. His music has been described as a source of empowerment and comfort for many of his fans.
The artist's approach to music is not limiting himself to one genre or style, but rather experimenting with different ideas. He is a "rock artist" that cannot play a single instrument, and he gained a following from making hyperpop when he could barely sing. He despises the gatekeeping that goes on when it comes to how someone approaches a sound or style, and believes that every artist has their own strengths and weaknesses.
Ghostsocial's latest EP, "Misery FM," is a powerful body of work that showcases his unique style as an artist. The EP is a mix of some singles he had already made and some new stuff he had been working on for a few weeks prior. The name "Misery FM" was inspired by a track he made a year ago called "Misery Radio," which was the jumping-off point for what he is making now stylistically.
How did you develop your unique blend of emotive punk music with beautiful alternative rock backings?
When I was a kid, I really just listened to whatever my mom played in the car. My first exposure to anything rock was a lot of 70’s and 80’s rock ballads. think like Queen, REO Speedwagon, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, all those guys. When I was like 12, my cousin put me on to a lot of Pierce the Veil, Panic at the Disco, Blink 182, and Green Day. Unsurprisingly, people like Peep, X, convolk, and that whole early 2016-2018 emo scene heavily inspired what I do. It’s all super emotional music and I love it to death.
Your vocals are genuinely captivating, blending aloofness and intense emotion. Can you share your process for channeling these contrasting elements into your music?
My focus has always been on the vibe and emotion I’m able to convey with my music. I think every artist has their own strengths and weaknesses, and I think being able to convey a lot without saying too much is a strength of mine. A lot of the stuff I’ve been recording has been one-takes and not as much pre-written or laid out. There’s been times I’ve written a verse and thought to myself “This isn’t me” and then I’ll just base the song on that moment in time. Or maybe I’m just a bad writer.
Your music has a beautiful juxtaposition of being both raw and vulnerable. What inspires you to infuse such raw emotions into your songs?
Music has always been an outlet for me to express myself and talk about what I’m going through, regardless of how messy or visceral it is. I’ve touched on a lot of very personal and traumatic subjects in my music, and to shy away from being vulnerable just wouldn’t be me. it wouldn’t be something personal or something people could connect with, it’d just be someone saying they're sad over a rock beat. There’s enough of that out there.
Many listeners find your music relatable and emotionally powerful. How do you approach writing lyrics that resonate with your audience on such a deep level?
For me at least, the worst thing I can do in the creative process is overthink it. I grew up in some not-ideal conditions, and I spent a lot of my early teen years struggling with my own emotions and identity. My mental health is something I’ve never shied away from in my music, and I think it’s easier to resonate with people that are struggling with the same issues as you. To some degree I feel like even if I don’t know what exactly someone listening to my music is going through, I can relate to the struggle and pain they might be feeling because I’ve been there. We’re all in this together.
As an artist, how do you balance staying true to your punk roots and experimenting with alternative rock elements in your sound?
I’ve never really been a genre purist. I despise a lot of the gatekeeping that goes on when it comes to how someone approaches a sound or style, and the last thing I think someone should do is stay in one lane. I might make something rock-inspired one day, then make something completely different the next. I’m a “rock artist” that can’t play a single instrument, and I gained a following from making hyperpop when I could barely sing. If that isn’t punk then I don’t know what is.
"Misery FM" is a powerful EP that showcases your unique style as an artist. Can you take us through your creative process while working on this project, and what inspired the name "Misery FM"?
misery fm is a mix of some singles I had already made and some new stuff I had been working on for a few weeks prior. I really wanted it to be a starting out point for anyone just finding my music, I really think it’s a good reference point for what I make and where I want to go moving forward. It’s a body of work I’m really proud of and that I think is going to resonate with my audience. This time last year I made a track called “misery radio” and that track was really the jumping-off point for what I’m making now stylistically. Also, misery fm just sounds really cool.
Your music often touches on themes of self-discovery and identity. How has your personal journey influenced your songwriting and musical style?
Since I started working on music, my music as well as my own identity have evolved. My music is really a reflection of my life, and there’s been a lot of ups and downs along the way. I’ve switched genres, I’ve joined and left collectives, I’ve made friends and I’ve fallen out with friends. The past year has really been a learning experience for me, and my growth has been anything but linear. All of this has been trial and error, so I’m really trying to work on personal growth moving forward. In music and in everything else
In what ways do you think your music can serve as a source of empowerment and comfort to your fans?
I’ve really just try to always keep shit real. I think authenticity is important, and I don’t want to give the people that support me and show love something that feels fake and manufactured. I touch on lived experiences and things that people can relate to. There’s a lot of comfort to be found in knowing you’re not alone in this, and that things can get better. There’s always room for growth and evolution regardless of what you do or where you’re at in life, and if there’s one takeaway from my music it should be that no matter what you really are not alone.
Your music often creates a strong emotional connection with listeners. If you could soundtrack a film or TV series, what kind of story or genre would you love to explore through your music, and why?
Definitely a coming-of-age story, like imagine some real A24 indie film with a ghostsocial soundtrack. A lot of times when I’m listening to music, I’ll imagine like a story, or music video in my head that goes along with it. If I ever got the chance, I’d love to put out a feature film alongside a project, and have it all come together thematically. I’m definitely gonna explore something thematic with future music videos.
What message do you hope your listeners take away from your music, and how do you want Ghostsocial's music to impact the world?
It sounds almost cliche at this point but always stay true to yourself. Explore different ideas, and don’t limit yourself to just one genre or hobby, or path in life.
I’ve gotten DMs from people telling me that my music helped them get through something in their life or that I helped them in some way. I want to keep making music that speaks to the people that need it the most and inspire people the same way I’ve been inspired by the artists I listen to.
It’d also be cool to have my own meal at Mcdonald's one day
Anything else that you’d like to promote?
I’m still figuring a lot of my future releases out, but I’d like to share what my friends are working on currently. My friend wubz is putting out an album really soon and I’m pretty hype for it. uxbie was actually the only feature on misery fm, and she put out a fantastic album recently. My friend myth valley recently started her new project and she has a lot of cool stuff coming very soon. Shout out to all my friends and everyone that’s been showing love.