Artist Advent Calendar - Day 20: Co-Stanza
For Day 20 of Next Wave’s Artist Advent, we’re spotlighting Co-Stanza, an artist who finds inspiration in the most unexpected places—like a rough day at the dentist—and turns life’s chaos into something beautiful. Known for his honest, reflective songwriting and vintage aesthetic, Co-Stanza brings a unique blend of creativity and heart to his music.
Whether he’s dreaming of collaborations with Mk.Gee and Clairo, reminiscing about holidays in Chicago, or embracing the colorful vibes of 60s and 70s decor, Co-Stanza is all about connection, storytelling, and celebrating the little things that make life meaningful. From his favorite fans to his old bandmates, his love for community runs deep, and it shines through in everything he does.
This is an artist who reminds us to appreciate where we’ve been, look forward to where we’re going, and maybe even turn a bad day into a great song.
NW: What's the weirdest thing that’s inspired a song?
Co-Stanza: I wrote a song called Gum Disease after going to the dentist. I was told that I was going to need to get surgery on my teeth and that it was going to cost me thousands of dollars to do. I was BROKE and in college at the time and it just totally destroyed my mood for days. I realized that I had been feeling down for some time and this was really just the straw that broke the camel's back, so I wrote a song about being depressed and connecting it to rotting my teeth. Funny thing is, I didn;t touch the song for quite a while, and when I came back to it and finished it, the song actually ends on a happy note about appreciating what you have. Things did get better, but that shittttty day at the dentist made a pretty good 3/4 of a song.
NW: If you could collab with any artist right now, who would it be?
Co-Stanza: I can't stop listening to Mk.Gee and Clairo and haven't been able to allll year. Mk.Gee is newer to me but Clairo I have loved since Immunity. I love them both so much and I think being in the studio with either of them would be so fun. I feel like they both have tapped into such a unique and vintage sound that I would love to learn about and write with. I really love their ability to be patient and show restraint and I feel like there is a lot I could learn in that regard.
Photo Via Co-Stanza/Julianna Photography
NW: Do you have a favorite fan interaction from this year?
Co-Stanza: I had someone reach out to me on Instagram and ask if I could clarify some lyrics because they are writing an analysis for a college paper. I thought that was really cool to hear that someone wanted to get more insight about what I wrote and that they wanted to dig in and also to share out with someone about what they think and what it matters to you.
NW: Is there a city you’d love to spend the holidays in?
Co-Stanza: I am from Chicago originally and that will always be my favorite city. My family is all still there and I have such a nostalgic and positive association with that city so I love spending the holidays there more than anywhere else. However, I do think spending the holidays in somewhere like the Swiss Alps in a little ski town, drinking red wine, could be pretty awesome to do some day. Big dreams lol.
NW: Are you more of a ‘decorate everything’ or ‘less is more’ type of person?
Co-Stanza: I have a tendency to collect a LOT of little things and use them as decoration. Often times I think that my line between decoration and clutter is a bit blurred. I love having tons of stuff around. It makes me feel like my brain is more active. I actually really do NOT resonate with minimalism or "modern" design like at all. I can't stand when I enter a beautiful house and it's grey... I am so much more into 60s and 70s color palettes with greens, oranges, and browns. I like a place that feels like it is full of stories and of history, instead of somewhere that doesn't tell much about the people that live there.
Photo Via Co-Stanza
NW: What’s the biggest thing you learned about yourself this year?
Co-Stanza: I think this year has really showed me that I am inspired by the people that I am around. I need to remind myself to make new friends, forge new connections, and visit new places. I think I let myself get really stuck in a rut for portions of this year and it really stunted my creativity and my general excitement for life felt dulled. I need to be around more styles of life. Seeing more cultures and more perspectives helps me remind myself that I just have a single POV and that there are SO many things to learn about that can help me see the world in new ways.
NW: Do you have a favorite holiday movie?
Co-Stanza: It has to be Nightmare Before Christmas. I love that movie so much and I feel like it just hits every single thing I like in a movie. So creative and has an incredible soundtrack. Funny, and emotional, and also not too long or overly dramatic. It's just an awesome movie and feels like the best thing to watch under a blanket in the snow.
NW: If you could invite any musician to your holiday dinner, who would it be?
Co-Stanza: Honestly, it's a bit corny but I would invite all of my old band mates to dinner. I miss those Chicago friends so much and I so rarely get to see them. Erik, Katie, Joe, Noah, Matt and those fools would be my vote. I just want to hang out with them and hear what all of them are up to and really connect with them. I'd make sure I pick a place with realllllly slow service.
