We had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Stolar, and here’s what he had to say:
Q: What does “8 Ball” mean to you?
STOLAR: “8 Ball” is a song I wrote at one of the biggest crossroads I’ve ever been at in my life to stay or leave college. This song symbolizes the freedom of choice and the consequences that come with that decision. 8 Ball means so much to me because it was written during such a huge turning point and it’s a timestamp of that.
Q: At what point did you know this song was complete and ready for release?
STOLAR: I wrote this song in August of 2021, but I didn’t start working on recording it until about a year later. The song was completely finished back in January of 2023, but I decided to wait until the entire EP was finished before deciding to release it at the end of April.
Q: Could you walk us through your creative and production process for this song?
STOLAR: Lyrically, I wanted to use a game of pool to represent college as a whole. I use lots of Billiards jargon to talk about the back-and-forth feeling my brain was going through while I grappled with the decision to stay or go. When it came time to produce it, I wanted it to be a perfect blend of modern pop mixed with an early 2000’s rock-ballad similar to Sara Bareilles. I was aiming to keep it reminiscent of those pop-rock jams of 15 years ago while still remaining current and edgy as well.
Q: What do you love most about creating music?
STOLAR: I love the feeling of writing a song the most. I’ve never been the most emotional person, and I’m also not very clear at expressing my feelings. However, when I write music, the song clearly articulates my emotions better than I ever could alone. The cathartic release is what I love about it, but I don’t only make music because I love it. I make music because it’s a fundamental part of who I am, even when I want to turn it off and be normal hahaha.
Q: What effect would you love your music to have on listeners?
STOLAR: I absolutely LOVE this question. 8 Ball is the first song off of my upcoming EP that will be released in the next few weeks. The entire EP talks about the transition from adolescence to adulthood. This is something that everyone goes through but is rarely talked about in music. I hope this EP makes people feel understood and heard in a way they never have been before. I hope it inspires, comforts, and validates anyone who relates to it. You are not alone, and you will get through the sea of doubt. I promise 🙂
Q: Do you play any instruments? If so, which? If not, which would you like to learn?
STOLAR: I do! I play the keyboard, guitar, and ukulele! However, I play them all pretty badly! So I would love to improve hahaha. I would love to play the violin or maybe the harp one day.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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