Interview: Balancing Authenticity and Growth with ‘Mi Amigo Slow Joy’
Slow Joy by Jay Martin
When we first listened to Slow Joy’s hauntingly beautiful Wildflower EP last year, it felt like a punch to the gut – raw, honest, and deeply moving. We had the distinct pleasure of chatting with Esteban Flores, the visionary behind Slow Joy, towards the end of last year for a candid conversation about his musical journey, influences, and an upcoming collaboration with legendary producer Mike Sapone – a collaboration we’re finally getting to experience.
With his new EP, Mi Amigo Slow Joy, finally releasing this week, we reconnect with Esteban Flores to delve into the narratives woven into the latest songs, the significant role of Flores' cultural heritage and identity in shaping his music, and preparations for the upcoming summer tours.
“I think the last time we talked I hinted that this EP was already recorded. And since then, I’ve been in the studio again recording an album. So I’ve just been here, excited, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the songs to come out. Now they're finally trickling out, it's been really exciting to see people connecting with it. I'm really, really hyped on these songs.”
This dual process of promoting finished songs while creating and even completing new material keeps Flores engaged, allowing him to focus on continually improving his craft. “I prefer it,” he shares, noting that it keeps him from getting bogged down by the pressures of current trends and algorithms. “I can keep myself busy, consistently trying to better things, while still being excited about what’s to come. And now I get to see it from a different perspective. I get to reflect on these songs, how cool they are, and what makes them work.”
Undoubtedly, it’s Flores' dedication to authenticity and commitment to growth that has been key in creating Mi Amigo Slow Joy, the new EP offering fresh perspectives while delivering the same powerful impact.
Using music as a means to process profound personal experiences, Flores’ earlier work was deeply influenced by personal grief and loss. These songs, raw and introspective, served as a form of catharsis, allowing space to process pain through music. However, the new EP showcases a noticeable shift in thematic focus. Flores has consciously moved towards exploring lighter themes, reflecting a desire to stretch his writing, explore other perspectives, and capture a broader spectrum of human experience.
“I felt like the story was told,” he says. Acknowledging the importance of those songs in his journey, this new chapter still retains the melancholic undertones that have become a hallmark of Slow Joy’s sound, but with a renewed perspective. “I always try to go in with double the amount needed, so we can pick the best. I wanted to continue to stretch myself, so this EP deals with a range of things from running on empty and being thankful for my significant other to a commentary on the American dream.”
Flores’ continued ability to weave complex themes into accessible music is part of what makes Slow Joy so compelling. Each track is a window into his world, offering listeners a glimpse of deeply personal thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Two particularly poignant songs in Mi Amigo Slow Joy come in the tracks ‘Pulling Teeth’ and the yet-to-be-released ‘4U’. For the eagle-eyed listeners (bat-eared listeners?), ‘Pulling Teeth’ might sound familiar as the chorus is borrowed from ‘Soft Slam’, released in 2022. “I thought that chorus deserved a better shot; it just went under the radar. And I felt it’s such a good melody, it needs to shine somewhere.”
And what better place to shine than in a song written about your significant other? “My wife is a brilliant lyricist and writer; I’m always bouncing ideas off her. She’s known for a long time that the song is about us and long-term relationships generally. It’s that vulnerable moment that I think anyone who’s been in a long-term relationship will understand, where you wonder, ‘Would you still love me if I was a worm?’ And I think it's important to feel those feelings. You're thankful your partner is there, despite either of you being hard to deal with in a moment.”
As for ‘4U’, the EPs opening track, Flores shares a compelling blend of melancholy and romance with a noticeable Gallagher-esque vibe. “I'm just such a Gallagher fan. The lore, everything about them is fascinating to me,” he shares. “I go further into that sound in the record I’m working on now. But ‘4U’ in particular I wanted that melancholy.”
The song began as a simple melody Flores struggled to infuse with the right sentiment. It wasn't until a friend suggested the phrase ‘I’d do it for you’ that the song began to take shape. This phrase sent Flores down a path of revisiting personal experiences, including the enduring yet complex love between his parents. “My dad, even after my parents’ divorce, always loved my mom. They didn’t work in a relationship, but he was always only a phone call away. I love that sentiment of deeply caring for someone even if the thing doesn't work.”
The result is a deeply moving piece, much softer in tone when compared to early Slow Joy works, characterized by their grungier, growling vocals and fuzzy guitars. “I have to attribute that to Mike [Sapone]. It felt like maybe this song was a little bit too pretty and he challenged me to question why I would even worry about that. Why not just enjoy the fact that it's pretty and lean into it? And that really helped me let go of any fear or pressure to dirty everything or make it heavy. It could just be a beautiful song.”
But my favorite song on Mi Amigo Slow Joy comes in the EP’s closing track, ‘Lay Me Out, I’m Out of My Mind’. Flores possesses a rare talent for crafting songs that can freeze time, pull focus, and articulate deeply seated feelings of anger, resentment, and longing. It’s something we recognized immediately upon first listening to ‘I Don’t Hate You’, a song that served as both the precursor and closer to the Wildflower era.
‘Lay Me Out, I’m Out of My Mind’ is another of those tracks. I’m punched in the gut, but in the best way that music hits home when we feel like the only one experiencing something.
Born out of frustration from a corporate layoff, the track reflects Flores’s views on the absurdities of the American workforce and the struggle to meet basic needs. “It's crazy to think that your basic needs are not met, especially in America,” he says, highlighting the precariousness of life in a system that often fails to support its people. “I was just so mad. But instead of writing something that said straight up ‘everything is messed up’, I wanted to come at it from a perspective of telling a story, just slightly to the left of center. If this is what the world is, then I must be the one who's out of my mind? It’s partly about feeling powerless and partly poking fun at the absurdity of this game that’s made up, and made up poorly.”
Now, you might be wondering, ‘Esteban, mi amigo, I thought these songs were supposed to be lighter this time?’ But that lightness most clearly stands out in the already released ‘King Cowboy’, which shares a nuanced take on the American dream, wrapped in a catchy melody that invites deeper reflection. “I had written something and just sang 'King Cowboy,' and I thought it was a really funny concept,” Flores explains. The song presents a simple, catchy melody on the surface but carries a deeper commentary on societal expectations.
“I've always felt like the cowboy narrative was not for me, culturally, so I'd never connected to it emotionally. If I’m going to be king of the American dream, or I’m going to be a cowboy, I’m going to be the king of all cowboys. And I think writing songs like that, having something fun that also has a deeper meaning, it’s just fun and good to do.”
But with a title like Mi Amigo Slow Joy, it’s front-and-center clear that Flores’ Chicano heritage plays a significant role in his identity and music. From the very inception of Slow Joy, his cultural roots have been bedrock, influencing everything from the music to the aesthetic. “It's extremely important to me,” Flores states, beaming with pride of his heritage and the importance of representing it authentically.
From the very first EP cover featuring Flores in a luchador mask, a symbol rich with cultural significance, the aesthetic of Slow Joy is imbued with Chicano culture. “It’s one thing that I didn't do a good job of championing when I was younger. As I get older, I really want to continue to champion this cultural heritage that I have. I'm thankful for it and I think it’s really cool to now be touring and connecting with people who understand the importance of that representation in alternative rock music.”
With a busy touring schedule ahead, Flores will have lots of opportunities to connect with old and new fans across North America. This week, he’s kicking off a month-long stint opening for Free Throw, before returning to the Ohio Is For Lovers festival, this time at the festival's Ohio roots, alongside Hawthorne Heights, Emery, and other major names in the alternative scene.
Preparing emotionally and physically for the demands of touring, Flores emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance and gratitude. “The Free Throw guys are so nice. And I’m going to Canada and Portland for the first time; all these places I’ve never been to. It’s also my first time supporting a body of work, so I’m working to gear myself up to keep the energy alive internally on really long days. It’s a grind, but I would have killed to have this when I was a kid, so just got to keep pushing.”
And continuing to push, he will. With his new EP on the horizon and an album in the works, he’s clearly excited about the future. However, what remains a striking aspect of Flores’ personality is his ability to remain grounded and grateful. “I was just talking about imposter syndrome, and I never want it to go away. I think the moment you think you belong in these places is the moment you’re not thankful for them. I want to consistently be thankful for this. Gratitude is the bedrock of happiness. Find joy in every little thing you possibly can.”
Mi Amigo Slow Joy by Slow Joy is out Friday 7 June. Pre-save the release on your favorite platforms. Catch Slow Joy on tour this summer with Free Throw, and this September at the iconic Ohio Is For Lovers Festival.
