ARTIST TO WATCH: Briston Maroney

If you’re still sleeping on Briston Maroney, here’s your wake-up call. With his raw vocals, grungy guitar riffs, and lyrics that feel like a coming‑of‑age film you’ve lived through twice, Maroney is staking his claim as one of indie rock’s biggest voices.

Though born in Jacksonville, Florida, Briston Maroney was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. His journey into music began early. At just 15, he auditioned for "American Idol", making it to the Top 30 before being eliminated. But that brief brush with the spotlight didn’t slow him down. Instead, he returned home, sharpened his sound in local venues across East Tennessee, and independently released a string of EPs. 

Maroney’s breakout moment came with his 2018 EP Carnival, featuring the viral hit "Freakin’ Out on the Interstate". The song caught fire on TikTok, soundtracking countless edits, covers, and moodboard-style videos. Its success laid the foundation for his next EP, Indiana (2019), which delivered fan favorites like "Caroline" and "Fool’s Gold" — the latter even landing on Taylor Swift’s “Playlist by ME!” In 2021, "Freakin’ Out on the Interstate" earned RIAA Gold certification, solidifying his place in the indie music scene.

Briston Maroney’s debut album Sunflower, released in 2021, was a fully-realized world. Every track was paired with its own storytelling music video, creating a vibrant, visual narrative arc that matched the emotional depth of the music. Sunflower captured that transitional feeling of early adulthood: all the freedom, confusion, joy, and heartbreak of finding your footing in a world that doesn’t come with instructions. 

In 2023, he returned with Ultrapure, a sophomore album that saw him tighten the screws sonically and emotionally. The production is crisper, the songwriting more introspective, and the overall tone more refined without losing the emotional grit fans loved. It is an album that wasn’t afraid to sit with uncomfortable truths. 

Then came JIMMY in May 2025, his most expansive project yet. With JIMMY, Briston pushed his sound in new directions, blending indie rock with experimental textures, spoken word moments, and even hints of psychedelia. Lyrically, it’s a deep dive into identity, ego, and evolution. It feels like a mixtape left behind by someone trying to figure out who they are and inviting us to figure it out with them. Each album builds on the last, like chapters in a coming-of-age novel.

If you haven’t listened to Briston Maroney before, don’t worry, we’ve rounded up our top five songs to get you started!:

1. "Freakin’ Out on the Interstate"

This is the song that put Briston on the map, and has probably been on your TikTok For You Page at some point. It’s a scream-into-the-wind, roll-down-your-windows kind of anthem. Whether you're literally freaking out on the interstate or just trying to hold it together in your bedroom, this song hits like a wave and sticks like a memory.

2. "Freeway"

"Freeway" feels like a 2am drive with your best friend when no one’s talking but everything’s being said. With grunge-meets-folk instrumentals and Briston’s aching vocals, it balances between vulnerability and rebellion. It’s a standout from Sunflower, and one of those songs that somehow knows exactly what you’re going through, even when you don’t.

3. "Caroline"

Sweet, moody, and slightly tragic in the best way, "Caroline" is the indie ballad you didn’t know you needed. With lyrics that sound like a diary entry from someone trying to make peace with the past, this song wraps you in nostalgia and heartache. It’s the perfect soundtrack for overthinking your last situationship while staring dramatically out a car window.

4. "Better Than You"

This one’s for anyone who’s ever been underestimated, dismissed, or just plain annoyed by someone who needed to be humbled. "Better Than You" is Briston at his most biting — a fuzzy, energetic alt-rock track with a lyrical side-eye that somehow still sounds fun. It's confident, a little petty (in the best way), and ready to be your personal theme song for getting over it.

5. "Sunshine"

A burst of optimism from Briston’s catalog, "Sunshine" lives up to its name. It’s the musical equivalent of Golden Hour: warm, hopeful, and made for days when things finally start going your way. It still has that signature Briston grit, but this time it’s wrapped in a breezy melody that feels like letting go of a heavy weight and just vibing.

Briston Maroney is crafting a soundtrack to growing up, breaking down, and building yourself back up again. From his Tennessee roots to the national stage, his evolution as an artist has been both fearless and deeply personal. With each release, he peels back another layer, and honestly, we’re lucky to be along for the ride.