For Chico musician Scout Parker — who performs as Scout The Wise — vulnerability and self-expression remain at the center of his work.
In "Problems," his 10th album, the artist leans into openness and emotional depth, weaving raw experiences into song.
Originally from Durham, Parker once aimed to use music to foster community and expand his reach.
“I have a flood of emotions in a moment, and I feel horrible, and I need to get it out, and so I write a song. It all happens really fast. There's no purpose other than getting the feelings out. It's like writing in a journal or a diary, pretty much.”— Scout Parker, singer-songwriter
“I was trying to give a message to a certain point, I was trying to be seen and step out of my roots,” Parker said.
Over time though, Parker's musical aspirations have shifted. Rather than seeking a wider audience, he now uses songwriting as a way to process emotions and reflect inward.
“I kind of dropped that more with maturing as a person, and just really took on the fact that I am just writing music to get feelings out,” Parker said.
Parker says he writes almost daily.
“I have a flood of emotions in a moment, and I feel horrible, and I need to get it out, and so I write a song. It all happens really fast,” Parker said. “There's no purpose other than getting the feelings out. It's like writing in a journal or a diary, pretty much.”
The track "Problems" became the foundation for his latest album with the same name.
Parker composed the song late one night, while working through melancholy and self-inflicted heartbreak.
With that title track as the starting point, he pulled together twelve more songs, all recorded around the same period, that fit the album’s narrative.
“The more vulnerable you are with the world, the easier it is to attract the beauty that connects with you.”— Scout Parker, singer-songwriter
“They're all songs from the past year. They're all very honest,” Parker said. “I put them together … and it all blends into this theme of things I was going through from the past year.”
From the friendship complications in “My Friend” to the desire for closeness in the synth-friendly “The Garden,” to queer period piece parallels in “Sweet Lady”— inspired in part by Fannie Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes" — the album draws on various influences.
“This is a pretty sad album,” Parker said. “I like it though … it's honest, and I think people will connect with it.”
Ultimately, Parker hopes listeners comes away with the reminder that neither their art, nor themselves, need to be flawless.
Despite the rough personal terrain, he emphasizes how critical the project was as an outlet for him to navigate and understand his feelings.
“The more vulnerable you are with the world, the easier it is to attract the beauty that connects with you,” Parker said. “When you make art, I hope you remember that it doesn't need to be perfect to be valuable.”
