maryjo: 20 Questions with PopFiltr

In this light-hearted but insightful session, PopFiltr gets to know maryjo better through 20 quick-fire questions. From her unexpected inspirations to her most memorable performance, maryjo gives us a candid glimpse into her world. Let’s dive in!

1. Do you have any 'drunk tattoo's?
maryjo: Yes! Well, actually no. I was sober, but the tattoo says “drunk again.”

2. What has been your most unexpected source of inspiration for a song?
maryjo: Probably being inspired by Noah Kahan’s production, which is crazy because it’s not my type of production at all.

3. If you could perform at any venue or festival in the world, where would it be and why?
maryjo: Probably Madison Square Garden. It’s iconic! That’s how you know you’ve made it.

4. What was your last Google search?
maryjo: Oh, how to say something in Hebrew. I don’t speak Hebrew, but I think it was “What are you doing later?” My friends speak it, and I wanted to impress them. It worked, but then they responded, and I had no idea what they said!

5. Is there a book, show, or movie that changed your life?
maryjo: Yeah, Elvis. The Austin Butler movie where he plays Elvis. Butler really dives into his characters and becomes someone else. It made me think about how I could do the same in music—explore a deeper part of my artistry. Plus, I learned more about Elvis, which was cool.

6. Pick one: “Love Fools” or “Drunk Tattoo”?
maryjo: “Drunk Tattoo.”
PF: “Drunk Tattoo” or “Carpet”?
maryjo: “Drunk Tattoo.”
PFi: “Drunk Tattoo” or “Cleveland”?
maryjo: “Cleveland.”
PF: “Cleveland” or “Should It Be Us”?
maryjo: “Cleveland.”
PF: “Cleveland” or “Nothing to Lose”?
maryjo: “Nothing to Lose.”

7. What inspired the lyrics in “Cleveland,” especially the line: “Who am I? Who am I supposed to be when I've got everybody's eyes on me?”
maryjo: Sometimes I worry people think it’s an ego thing, like, “Oh, everyone’s watching me,” but it’s not that. It’s more about feeling pressure when everyone around you is looking for you to make a decision. When I had to move from Cleveland to LA, everyone was so supportive, but I felt this huge internal pressure. It wasn’t coming from them, it was me putting it on myself. I wasn’t ready for such a big change, but now I love California. At the time, though, it felt overwhelming.

8. What does your perfect day look like?
maryjo: I usually wake up, go for a walk, then head to the beach. That’s literally it! I love sitting at the beach, writing there, and then coming home with my dog.

9. What’s your dog’s name?
maryjo: Bo.

10. What’s one thing you never leave home without?
maryjo: My phone.

11. Your favorite social media challenge?
maryjo: I don’t really know! Maybe those TikTok filter questions where it tells you your red flags. That’s fun.

12. Are there any fashion trends you think should die for good?
maryjo: High socks and sandals. But honestly, that’s more of a personality thing. Stripes, though—I’m not a fan.

13. If you had to describe yourself as a landscape, what would it be?
maryjo: A beach with some hills and mountains.
PF: Sounds like California?
maryjo: Yeah! Also, my family lives in Brazil, and they have a beach with hills there, so that’s my favorite place to be.

14. What single or album do you currently have on repeat?
maryjo: Chappell Roan and Zach Bryan—which is funny because I don’t really listen to country.

15. If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be?
maryjo: Elvis Presley.

16. What’s your current cellphone background?
maryjo: My dog!

17. What was your first job ever?
maryjo: Babysitting.

18. What’s your favorite place to write music?
maryjo: By my piano.

19. What’s been the most memorable performance of your career so far?
maryjo: Boston, when I opened for Knox. It just clicked, and I knew how I wanted to perform for the rest of the tour after that. The people were amazing. I love Boston now—they’re just awesome.

20. What’s a piece of advice that’s stuck with you throughout your career?
maryjo: Be patient.

We have a closing tradition here at PopFiltr, where our current guest leaves a question for the next guest without knowing who it’s for. The question that was left for you is: If you weren’t a musician or artist, what career path would you choose and why?

maryjo: I’d be an interior designer. I love decorating!

PF: And what would you like to ask our next guest?‍

maryjo: How do you know your job is right for you?

PF: Any final words?

‍maryjo: Thank you for your support! This has been so much fun, and I’m glad I get to do this.

If you haven’t yet checked out our full interview with maryjo, where she dives deeper into her creative process, heartbreak, and newfound confidence in Nothing to Lose, make sure to read it here.