Canadian alt-folk musician Mariel Buckley discusses her experiences with breakups, burnout, and composing songs for those on the fringes.
Stream: “Vending Machines” – Mariel Buckley
Mariel Buckley has released a new single titled “Vending Machines.” Crafted during a challenging period at the end of 2023, the song emerged following a breakup and a financially unproductive tour. It expresses the uneasy sensation of uncertainty about the future and the path one is taking. Buckley shares, “I was genuinely questioning my career, my personal life tied to that career, my distant relationships with family and friends, and how I could start over after yet another significant change.” Everybody goes through moments of stagnation, and Buckley captures those feelings beautifully in her latest track.
**Vending Machines – Mariel Buckley**
The lights beneath the bridge remain illuminated
A beacon in the dark for those barely holding on
I drive back and forth occasionally
Drop you at the entrance, attempt to say goodbye once more
The faint glowing embers of working men
In their decaying mouths, shifting from gray to red
Springing up like fireflies, swirling above their heads
Gripping my chest whenever I see them inhale
This song also signifies a shift for Buckley. She is moving away from synthesizers and keys, embracing a heavier, guitar-focused sound influenced by ‘90s alt-rock and Americana. Sonically, “Vending Machines” reflects the feeling of being caught in limbo, featuring a looping guitar riff that echoes the song's underlying monotony and uncertainty.
**I will wait**
**Outside in parking lots, with my aspirations**
**Attempt to pursue something beautiful**
**Gazing at the vending machines**
**It’s perpetually a choice between another round**
**Or staring at a color TV**
**One poor decision after another**
**I don’t want to distress my mother**
Atwood Magazine interviewed Mariel Buckley about her new single, how it signifies a new chapter, and her ways of coping with emotional limbo.
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:: Stream/purchase Vending Machines here ::
:: Connect with Mariel Buckley here ::
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**A CONVERSATION WITH MARIEL BUCKLEY**
Atwood Magazine: “Vending Machines” feels like the beginning of a fresh chapter for you, both musically and personally. Can you describe the mindset you were in when this song began to take shape?
Mariel Buckley: This song emerged from me during a particularly low point towards the end of 2023. I had just returned from a tour that didn’t cover costs, and I was going through a separation from my partner of five years. Over several months, we realized she deeply desired to be a parent while I wanted to focus on touring and advancing my career. Living in Edmonton, I noticed the visibly present working class. I would see men covered in tar, chain-smoking at 7 AM, and felt a strange connection to them. Even though my work is less physically demanding in many respects, there’s a clear thread of long hours, time apart from loved ones, waiting, repetitive tasks, and physical strain. I aimed to intertwine the stories of those living that lifestyle with my own, finding a shared ground in the parking lots in front of vending machines.
You expressed a desire to move away from synthesizers and keys this time. What attracted you to that “heavier” sound? Were there any particular artists or albums that influenced this transition?
Mariel Buckley: I truly enjoyed creating my last album and loved exploring that post-punk, heavy synth sound; however, I was definitely drawn more towards guitar and string-centric music while writing this upcoming batch of songs. Growing up in the ‘90s, I revisited a lot of alt-rock from that era, as well as heavier Americana. For sonic inspirations, I’d point towards artists like Ruston Kelly, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sun Kil Moon, and the Goo Goo Dolls.
The song remarkably captures the feeling of self-doubt and searching. Was there a specific moment or experience that inspired it?
Mariel Buckley: It’s been a buildup of many similar moments. I always feel the stark contrast during performances, with just an hour on stage and the constant waiting for something to unfold. That feeling can be thrilling but also exhausting and anxiety-inducing. Sometimes, things just are, and waiting for “it” to materialize has not benefited me much.
There's a potent line in your description about “trying to find a way forward” while stuck in a cycle. How do you personally navigate that emotional limbo, and did writing this song help?
Mariel Buckley: Yes, songwriting serves as a significant catharsis for me, so articulating these feelings in a song that (I hope) resonates with others is incredibly helpful. I
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Canadian alt-folk musician Mariel Buckley shares her thoughts on breakups, burnout, and crafting songs for those on the fringes.