Exclusive! Godspell's Hunter Parrish on His New EP Guessing Games and Why He's 'Not Like Taylor Swift'

Godspell's resident Jesus and Weeds star Hunter Parrish is adding another credit to his resume: solo artist. Parrish recently completed an EP record titled Guessing Games that will soon be available for sale in the lobby of Godspell’s home at the Circle in the Square Theatre, with a wider release to follow. Broadway.com recently caught up with Parrish to learn about his first solo effort.

“This is a chance for me to show people that I write my own music and to share another part of myself,” he said of the EP, which he hopes to potentially later develop into a full album. “It’s because of the encouragement I’ve had through Godspell that I realized this is the right time to share that part of me. It’s a very exciting opportunity.” Parrish worked with Los Angeles-based producers Dan James and Leah Haywood of Layer Cake Records to co-write his music, which he describes as “pop folk,” and credits artists like John Mayer, Ryan Adams and Sufjan Stevens as influences.

“A lot of the music is about love,” Parrish said of the EP. “Some of it is just love for my momma [one track is called “Oh, Mother”] and there are some ex-girlfriends I’ve been writing about,” the currently single actor said. So, is he nervous about how his former flames might react? “I don’t think they’ll be angry, I’m not like Taylor Swift!” he said with a laugh. “One song is just about the simplicity of being with a girl in general and wanting every moment of life to be spent with her.”

The songs also focus on other topics including Parrish’s growing career and his formative years spent in the spotlight on a popular TV series. “The title track is about trying to make strategic choices for what you’re going to do [in life] and the truth is, sometime you can’t and just have to go with the flow, and not try so hard. That has been a big lesson for me in the last few years.”

While Parrish is enjoying his time in Godspell, he is aware that with Jesus Christ Superstar now in previews at the Neil Simon Theater, he’s no longer Broadway’s only Jesus. “He’s a little older and more experienced in this genre,” Parrish said of Superstar leading man Paul Nolan. “Everyone from Godspell is going to see the show this week to support them, so it’s very exciting. I just hope come Tony season they only remember the first Jesus,” he joked.

Want to know more about Parrish’s singing career, life on Weeds or anything else? Be sure to submit a question for when he stops by Broadway.com’s studios to film his very own Ask a Star video feature.