Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
I'm from a small town in the Pocono Mountains in PA. After high school, I moved to Philly and learned to be a recording engineer.
How did you wind up in Chicago?
I wound up in Chicago because I got an offer to work at Chicago Trax Studio for R. Kelly, which... did not go well.
Where did you get the inspiration for the name Marital Streep?
"Marital Streep" came from me ranting to someone about my favorite film, The Deerhunter and he completely misheard me talking about Meryl Streep.
When/ how did you decide to start drumming?
Did you play another instrument first?
What were some of your early musical influences?
I started playing drums when I was 9 years old. One of the first drummers I really imprinted on was Stewart Copeland from The Police. I've taken piano and music theory as an adult but I'm primarily very rhythm-oriented. I can sit for hours picking apart kick drum sounds on my drum machine.
What other bands have you played with?
What other musical collaborations have you been involved in?
I played in hardcore bands through high school and when I came to Chicago, I was lucky enough to find like-minded power pop/indie rock fans in Daemon Familiar and my current band, Sonny Veneer.
What led you from drumming to doing more beats-oriented musical output?
I still love being behind the kit, but life took a turn and gave me cancer three years ago. I felt completely drained, but I bought an Akai MPC to just toy around with during treatment. Of course, I can't just half-ass anything and I became obsessed with wanting to make electronic dance music motivated by all the new wave and hip hop I grew up with, as well as being inspired by modern hyperpop producers like AG Cook and Underscores.
How did your first EP, which received a lot of airplay on Chirp early last year, come about?
My first EP, Violent by Consent sprung from the desire to get back to all that I was missing. I wanted to be healthy enough to go back to the gym or go out dancing. A big part of my life is Muay Thai kickboxing and I've had a few fights. I really wanted to get back to training with my friends and feeling that sense of discipline and adrenaline and camaraderie. On the new album I have a song called "Make It Suck" that I wrote during a fight camp this year.
What did you learn from that in making your second release?
The new EP, Hunting for a Beautiful Accident, is very much a product of my growth – really honing in on chopping samples and creating harmonies and always finding new drum sounds. I'm so flattered CHIRP has given it so much airtime and I hope it connects with people.
What do you have planned for the future with Marital Streep? Is there a third album in the works?
Any other musical directions you have in mind (with Marital Streep or otherwise)?
I've only just started learning to use Ableton software and I get really excited every day to expand my capabilities and find new ways to chop, warp, and glitch.
Where might people be able to see you play in the coming months?
I don't have any gigs lined up at the moment as Marital Streep, but you can see me behind the kit with Sonny Veneer on Friday, Dec. 11 at Montrose Saloon.
Thanks so much!
Marital Streep’s video for the song “Diagetic” is due out in November 2026.
Follow Marital Streep on Youtube or Instragram at @MaritalStreep.