Work Text:
Individual Stiles: Peter Hale interviews Stiles Stilinski ahead of debut solo album release
Edited by Braeden Marshall
Stiles Stilinski, formerly of The True, is a chart-topping lyricist who is celebrating the release of his first solo album. Peter Hale is a platinum-selling, Grammy and Oscar-winning musician on world tour. To mark the release of Stilinkski’s hotly anticipated debut album Spark, they discuss navigating fame, falling in love, and growing up in the same small northern California town.
When The True shot to number one from obscurity half a decade ago, the five-member band all became household names: Scott, Allison, Lydia, Jackson and Stiles. For three years the band pumped out an album every year while simultaneously touring the world. With every album released, the reviews only got better. This was thanks in a big part to the band’s lyricist, Stiles Stilinski.
So it was a shock to everyone when after three years, in the middle of a world tour (Belize, to be exact) that the band announced that Stilinski would be leaving.
There have been hundreds of articles--and thousands of social media posts--about the split, but Stilinski was silent. He hasn’t spoken publicly about the break even though every other member of the now seven-member band has. Many fans believed Stilinski was done with performing music, though he continued to write behind the scenes--he’s written 3 songs that have made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 this year alone. That’s why it was a big surprise when he announced on his Twitter last month that he was releasing a solo album, and that it was being produced by Peter Hale.
Their partnership confused, surprised, and intrigued many.
Stilinski agreed to participate in this exclusive article as long as Hale was the one who interviewed him. Hale is currently on a world tour, so the interview was conducted by phone and recorded. The interview includes editor’s notes for clarification.
PH: Hello, Stiles.
SS: Hi, Peter. Thanks for doing this. For being the one to interview me.
PH: You’re very welcome. Ready for the first question?
SS: Lay it on me.
PH: I’m going to start with the question on everyone’s minds. Did you always know you wanted to make a solo album?
SS: No. No, I...After...After The True I wasn’t sure I wanted anything to do with music ever again. I thought about going back to college and finishing up my degree. I thought about hiding out in my dad’s house under the covers of my childhood bed. I thought about, just, traveling. Going as far away as I could.
PH: So how did you get here?
SS: I couldn’t stop writing.
PH: [hmms]
SS: I kept writing songs and they were good but I hated the idea of singing them myself, so I talked to some industry people I knew to see if they had anyone who could use them.
PH: And that’s how we met.
SS: Yeah, that’s how we met. Which, it’s weird we never met before. BH isn’t very big. [editor’s note: Beacon Hills, California]
PH: No, it’s not, but I never really went back after I left. We might have met when we were younger. At the library or park.
SS: Yeah, that’s true. I was just a little kid. I probably wouldn’t remember some random teenager.
PH: And I definitely wouldn’t have remembered some bratty, snot-nosed child.
SS: You can’t see it because we’re on the phone, but I’m sticking my tongue out at you.
PH: Very mature. Exactly the tone you want this interview to set.
SS: Oh crap.
PH: So we met and I got one of your songs, and asked you to come help me work on my new album.
SS: Yeah, we went to your place in New York and camped out with a couple of guitars and notebooks and wrote for like two weeks straight. And while writing for you, I realized that I wanted to write for me too--that I had things I wanted to say.
PH: What do you want to say?
SS: Oh, damn, Peter. Pulling out the big guns. So much. There’s so much I want to say.
PH: I suppose I could just listen to your album again, but all your fans haven’t heard it yet.
SS: I want to say that I don’t regret anything I did. And that I’m still angry even though I’m trying to get over it. And that fame is fleeting--it’s only going to last for so long--and that I feel like I was traded for a few more years of fame and I thought I was worth more than that.
PH: You are.
SS: And I want to say that I’m in love. And that it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. So if all that bullshit is what it took to get me here, then that’s okay. I’m okay. I’m happy. I’m so fucking happy.
PH: Me too.
SS: [laughter] Do you know that I had a poster of you on my bedroom wall?
PH: I did not know that. Tell me more.
SS: My dad looked at me sideways the entire time I was putting it up. He knew I was bi way before I did, but he didn’t pressure me. But it was still up when I was eighteen and he finally just asked if I had a crush on you.
PH: And of course you did.
SS: No, I told him that I wanted to be like you. A kid from Beacon Hills who made it big.
PH: Sure.
SS: Plus, you looked like a twink. It was the poster from when you first got your record deal.
PH: The AMG one? [editor’s note: Argent Music Group; Peter Hale was briefly signed with AMG before a court case and lawsuit. His contract was bought out by Demon Wolf Records]
SS: Yep. But you look much more handsome now. I like the scruff.
PH: Thank you, darling. Ready for another question?
SS: Yeah, I’m ready.
PH: You said earlier that fame isn’t going to last forever, so what do you want out of a career in music? How do you want to be remembered?
SS: I want to make music I’m proud of. Stuff that’s honest and real. Stuff with heart and soul. I don’t really care about awards or accolades. If I can’t stand to listen to it in five years, then what good is it?
PH: Is there a song on your album you’re the most proud of? Or most excited for other people to hear?
SS: There’s a few I’m nervous about. The one I’m most proud about is Monster Heart.
PH: I love that one.
SS: Vain.
PH: You know that you love Honey Warm the best of mine.
SS: Shut up.
PH: My sheets are lonely. My heart is cold without you. When are you coming home, honey? [editor’s note: These are lyrics from Hale’s song Honey Warm from his album Anchor)
SS: [groan]
PH: Are you blushing?
SS: No.
PH: Liar.
SS: Don’t you have questions you’re supposed to be asking me?
PH: Enquiring minds want to know, Stiles.
SS: Nobody cares if I’m blushing or not.
PH: Agree to disagree.
SS: Agree that you need to shut up.
PH: You mentioned your dad earlier and one of the songs on your album is about your parents. Has your dad heard it and what were his thoughts?
SS: Yeah, he’s heard it. I honestly never planned on ever writing something about my mom and dad. They were so in love, like those couples that people complain about and aspire to be. And when she died it was so hard on him. It was devastating to watch. Not just because I was a kid who was losing their mom, but because my dad was losing his soulmate. And so, yeah, I didn’t think I would ever write about them. I thought it would be too hard, but…
PH: But?
SS: But I fell in love. And we’re one of those couples too. And it made me think of them. So, yeah. My dad has heard it. I think he liked it.
PH: He did.
SS: I miss you.
PH: I miss you too. A few more days and I’ll be flying in.
SS: And then I fly out for L.A.
PH: I’ll go with you.
SS: You hate L.A.
PH: Yeah, but I love you. So I can deal with traffic. And industry meetings.
SS: At least there will be sunshine. It’s been rainy here for three days straight.
PH: Darling, one more question and we can be done with the interview.
SS: Thank god. I got out of the habit. I forgot how much I suck at interviews.
PH: You’re doing fine. Ready?
SS: Absolutely.
PH: Are there any comments or clarification you would like to make about your departure from The True?
[editor’s note: There is a 32 second silence before Stilinski answers.]
SS: Honestly, it’s like I said earlier. I tried to be honest on my album. And some of that covers stuff that happened during the end of my time with the band. None of it is direct, like Scott said this and Allison did this and blah blah, but more like my feelings with the situation. I don’t want to badmouth anyone. I can be angry and hate what happened and still hope that one day everything won’t suck with them. Maybe that’s too forgiving of me.
PH: You know my opinions on the situation.
SS: You want me to get a lawyer and file an injunction since they are still using all of my songs.
PH: It’s your music. They don’t get to keep it if they kick you out.
SS: Peter.
PH: Shutting up, darling. It’s been an honor to get to interview you.
SS: Thank you again for doing this. Facetime me. I miss your stupid face.
Stiles Stilinski’s debut album Spark will be released May 1st. Peter Hale’s sixth album Anchor is available everywhere.