
Ep 51: Rick Maguire of Pile on appreciating the journey
Rick Maguire has been releasing music – both solo and with a band – under the name Pile for over 10 years. Pile has toured hard since day one, gaining a cult following for their thoughtful lyrics and a sound that’s ever-evolving but uniquely theirs.
In this episode, Rick shares what makes their upcoming album, Green and Gray (out 5/3/19), different, his experience quitting and drinking and how it’s impacted his work, working on music full-time, being grateful for the journey and weird experiences along the way, the value of growing slowly, lessons in leading a band, and more.
Listen above or on iTunes or Spotify.
Show notes
In this episode, we talk about:
- Nashville’s music scene and what it was like moving from Boston
- forever learning how to navigate the music industry as he goes
- being confident in his decisions and how he’s chosen to create things
- looking retrospectively at his touring and musical history as Pile
- learning to not have expectations as a band playing in a new place
- being happy with his slower path to where he’s gotten and the wild experiences along the way
- his experience quitting drinking and smoking
- Pile’s new double LP Green and Gray out May 3rd and how it’s different from their past albums
- why he feels better about this record now that it’s done compared to previous albums
- what drives him to be constantly writing
- being committed to music as his sole career and the difference that’s made in creating work
- stepping up to the plate as band leader with two new members
- the role nervousness plays in his lyrics
- what drives him to make music despite the personal sacrifices he’s made
- finding bandmates who want to live his art with him
- his respect for Randy Newman’s lyrics and subject matter
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Pile’s music
- Pile tour dates
- Rick/Pile on Instagram
- DRKMTTR Collective
- Calyx
- Soul Glo
- Bib
- Daughters
- Deerhoof
- Aneurysm
- Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
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