Diandra Interviews Calloway Circus: Music Is Entropy

Sometimes, life goes from bad to worse. Not every dream comes true, and, unfortunately, you can’t send a text to Jesus saying, “Hey, Big Guy! I am kind of having a rough time, you mind telling the universe to give me a break! Thanks! See you at the wine party!” Releasing Entropy on February 14, I got the chance to interview Calloway Circus, lead singer Ben McGuinness and discuss how their upcoming album helped them get through the chaos of life to find the reasons they love it. 

Diandra: What is one lesson of healing you learned from a toxic love? 

Ben: To stop blaming myself when things go wrong, and through that finding my own self-worth was probably the biggest lesson I learned from toxic love(s).

Diandra: With “Gray” being about toxic love, what color is true love to you and why?

Ben: Another color that’s prominent in the artwork, pink. I felt pink was such a powerful color that harnessed all the emotions I tried to convey in the record. I feel it contains the mania, low points, and the beauty that comes in love and in all other walks of life.

Calloway Circus – Kind to Myself (Official Music Video)

Diandra: Entropy means a gradual dissent into disorder. How do you feel your upcoming record is, in some ways, a discussion on becoming entropic? 

Ben: Our album really was just my cathartic way of working my way out of my own personal chaos. I had lost a lot of people, my sense of self, and sense of purpose. Through creating this album, I found all of that, and even more.

Diandra: What was a song that gave you a sense of peace and clarity about a personal situation through its creative process? 

Ben:  Tired Eyes is a song that I wrote after one of those days that really tests you, and I think when that song was completed I realized that those days/nights don’t matter because you always make it through. It’s a very peaceful realization that you’re probably gonna be okay.
Calloway Circus – Gray (Official Music Video)

Me: HOW POWERFUL! 

Diandra: How would you define what chaos and peace mean to you?

Ben: Chaos and peace are almost interchangeable for me. Sometimes when my life is most chaotic I’m actually at peace in my mind with all the things going on, and, other times, where it’s calm and “peaceful” my mind is running and chaotic. I think chaos and peace are an endless cycle we all repeat throughout our lives, and the moments of true personal peace are really the reason to keep going.

Diandra: What is the thing you most feel you should be kind to yourself about? 

Ben: I think the thing that I really needed to hear was that I am worth something. I think a lot of times we get in a mindset like we don’t matter or the world would be better without us, but through writing “Kind to Myself”, and the album as a whole, I realized that every person we touch is affected forever and that our time here truly does matter.
Calloway Circus – Mess (Official Music Video)

Diandra: Are there things touring have helped you learn to love about yourself?

Ben: Touring helped me recognize my work ethic that I’m honestly really proud of. We did our first independent tour when I was 18, and booked/managed it ourselves. It was honestly soul-crushing at some points but it taught me perseverance and the value of hard work.

Diandra: Who in your life most taught you to breathe and breeze through hard times? What was their advice? 

Ben: My father is the one person in the world who could calm me down and talk me through any situation. He went through many rough times, like to the point where my hardships seem really insignificant, and just seeing him, where he’s at, is what truly inspires me to work through hardship.

Diandra: Life can be pretty unpredictable. What it one thing about life that you have found is always constant? 

Ben: The one thing in my life that has been a constant is music. Music has always been inside of me and affected me heavily. I think, even if I wasn’t pursuing music as a career, it’d still be a very important part of my life.
Calloway Circus – Unpredictable (Official Music Video)

Diandra: What is the one song on Entropy you find most represents where you currently are, now, in life? 

Ben: I think “Kind to Myself” is not only where I want to be now, but also what I constantly strive to be. I always want to love myself because honestly it’s a great feeling to have. Currently I really feel like I’ve made it out of the darkness/chaos and am truly kind to myself.

Diandra: What are the qualities of Entropy ins sound and style that you feel match your personality?

Ben: I think the sound and vibe of Calloway Circus essentially is my personality. It’s all over the place; tender sometimes, aggressive and bitter at others. I think even the very broad soundscape is reflective of all the little different things that make me who I am.

For More Information On Calloway Circus And Buy Entropy On February 14 Click Here.