Strange Trip Ahead: An Interview with Mariel Buckley

Acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Mariel Buckley has returned with her third studio album, Strange Trip Ahead, out now via Birthday Cake Records. Following the Polaris Prize–longlisted Everywhere I Used To Be, Buckley steps even deeper into the emotional current that runs through her music. This new collection blends alt-Americana, indie rock, and soul-baring confessional songwriting — a bold evolution, steeped in raw honesty and sonic risk-taking.

Anchored by her standout single “Anvil” (featuring her brother T. Buckley), Strange Trip Ahead dives into themes of identity, family, loss, and the strange beauty of life’s uncertain in-betweens. Produced by Jarrad K (Ruston Kelly, Goo Goo Dolls), the record captures Buckley in creative bloom. With a national tour supporting Matt Andersen and an international run in Scandinavia on the horizon, Buckley took a moment to sit down with Exposed Vocals to talk grief, guitars, and growing into her “sad guy sauce.”

Exposed Vocals: Strange Trip Ahead feels like both a sonic and emotional evolution for you. What pushed you to blur the lines between alt-Americana, indie rock, and your confessional songwriting style this time around?

Mariel Buckley: I think I was ready to push further away from country and roots music, not that I don’t love those sounds, but a lot of the music I’ve been listening to falls more under the alt-indie umbrella. It felt like a natural progression from my previous work. It’s important to me that each record has its own energy and part of that will always include deviating into alternate instrumentation and styles. That’s one of the most enjoyable parts for me.

Exposed Vocals: You’ve called “Anvil” the emotional centerpiece of the record — and it touches on that deeply personal decision about whether or not to have kids. How did writing this song challenge or change your own perspective on that topic?

Mariel Buckley: I’d been thinking about if I wanted to start a family long before the song was actually on paper. In my previous relationship, it became a pretty important conversation that required me to sit, alone, with my thoughts and perceptions around family, kids, my career and what I wanted out of life. I recognized that parenting, although not necessarily a decision for some, is a really intentional and focused commitment. It’s an evolution that requires tremendous patience, emotional capability and strength — and although I know I’m capable of those things, I don’t trust myself in any measure of consistency. Beyond that, I had to take ownership over enjoying my life as it is. The song didn’t particularly challenge or change my perspective, but it did cement my belief that I’d made the right decision for me.

Exposed Vocals: You worked with producer Jarrad K, known for his work with emotionally rich records. What was your creative chemistry like in the studio — and how did he help bring your vision for Strange Trip Ahead to life?

Mariel Buckley: Jarrad was a perfect balance of constructive and laid back. Because I was using my live band and a lot of the songs were incredibly new (I’m a “write up to the last second” kinda guy), we needed a bit of time to process each tune, find the direction and play around. In these critical development phases, Jarrad knew that too much input would steer us off course or have us second guessing important instinctual moves. So he’d let us cook on the minutia and when we’d found the formula, he’d start building out parts with us to get everything just right. We got along and continue to be friends, always a great way to leave things.

Exposed Vocals: There’s a line in your quote about still keeping the “sad guy sauce” intact. What does that phrase mean to you — and how does it show up across this record?

Mariel Buckley: It’s poking fun at the running melancholic theme through my work. That sentiment basically just means I’m self-aware enough of my own thunder cloud, while still inviting folks to take part. That line between self-awareness/deprecation is a tricky one for me, as I think it is for a lot of people. I hope that my songs will find other folks who feel that running through-line of sadness in the world or in their own life and not feel so alone.

Exposed Vocals: “Vending Machines” captures burnout and uncertainty with haunting precision. How did that song come together, and why did it feel like the right opener for this new chapter?
Mariel Buckley: That song fell into my lap when I was near catatonic with grief, completely lost at the beginning of this whole new chapter. I’d just ended a tour that made no money and sold no tickets in a new market, got home, went through a breakup, realized I had to move out and start all over again. I was sitting in my old apartment and started playing the guitar to self-soothe and about an hour later I’d written this song, which is crazy. That almost never happens, but it’s so special and affirming when it does.

Exposed Vocals: Strange Trip Ahead was written partly in Edmonton and finished in Nashville. Did those places shape the writing or mood of the album?

Mariel Buckley: I think that this album focuses a lot on liminal spaces and time, so I don’t know that the two locations had a ton of influence on the actual writing to be honest. Normally, I’m very “place” oriented, with a ton of obvious markers about specific landmarks, but this album was much more focused on feeling lost anywhere and everywhere. When you sit in a van and stare out a window as much as touring folks do, a lot of places and feelings and moments blend together — making it really hard to place yourself in any one spot.

Exposed Vocals: You’ve always written for the underdogs — for people just trying to make sense of messy emotions and small moments. Who were you writing for this time around?

Mariel Buckley: I always try to think of it as writing about my own mess for folks to see themselves in. It’s always for everyone.

Exposed Vocals: The collaboration with your brother T. Buckley on “Anvil” adds another layer of intimacy to the record. What’s it like to bring family into something this personal?

Mariel Buckley: Tim and I are super close. He has two kids who I adore, and watching him become a parent was also something that helped inform and shape my decision around choosing to remain child free. I’ve always felt that there are only a very few people who understand me, and Tim is one of them. Making music with him is always so rewarding.

Exposed Vocals: You’re heading out on a massive Canadian tour with Matt Andersen, and planning a Spring tour of Scandinavia. How are you preparing to bring these songs to life on stage?

Mariel Buckley: I’m looking forward to building out the new live show. It’s one of my favourite parts of a new album, getting into rooms with listeners and evaluating which songs are landing best. As a performer I’m super adaptable, so the Matt Andersen dates are a solo show which is one of my favourite ways to perform, and the Scandinavian run will be with the band. I think having dynamic presentations of the songs allows folks to see and connect with the music in really different and special ways. It’s also a great exercise to work the new songs with the band outside of a studio setting.

Exposed Vocals: After Strange Trip Ahead, what does the “next trip” look like for you artistically? Are there new stories or sounds you’re excited to explore?

Mariel Buckley: At the moment I’m focused on writing as many songs as I can to begin to form a picture of what that next project will even look like. I’ve got lots of theoretical concepts about recording technique or sounds I want to chase, but ultimately it will depend on the songs and how they come together over the next little while.

With Strange Trip Ahead, Mariel Buckley has crafted an album that speaks to uncertainty — not just as an emotional state, but as a place where truth can live. It’s music for anyone who’s ever felt lost, for those learning to let go, and for everyone searching for something just out of reach. As Buckley hits the road and keeps writing toward her next chapter, one thing’s clear: this journey is far from over.