1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:24,596 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Bartis strange is an amalgamation of musical styles. Listen 2 00:00:24,636 --> 00:00:26,956 Speaker 1: to any given song on his newest release, From to 3 00:00:27,036 --> 00:00:30,276 Speaker 1: Table and you can hear hints of Earliott's emo, auto 4 00:00:30,276 --> 00:00:33,996 Speaker 1: tuned hip hop vocals, and country blues, all housed in 5 00:00:34,116 --> 00:00:38,436 Speaker 1: an indie rock veneer. Bartiz wide reaching sound makes perfect 6 00:00:38,436 --> 00:00:42,396 Speaker 1: sense given his Midwest upbringing and early influences. He was 7 00:00:42,476 --> 00:00:45,036 Speaker 1: raised in Mustang, Oklahoma, as one of the few black 8 00:00:45,116 --> 00:00:47,596 Speaker 1: kids in an area still rife with the threat of 9 00:00:47,676 --> 00:00:52,436 Speaker 1: racial violence. As a young teenager, Bartiz discovered Christian hardcore music, 10 00:00:52,716 --> 00:00:54,836 Speaker 1: and for the first time, he felt at home in 11 00:00:54,916 --> 00:00:59,676 Speaker 1: a scene that embraced outsiders of all kinds. After graduating college, 12 00:00:59,676 --> 00:01:01,956 Speaker 1: Bartisse moved to d c where he joined the labor 13 00:01:02,036 --> 00:01:05,196 Speaker 1: movement and worked with President Obama as a press secretary 14 00:01:05,316 --> 00:01:08,716 Speaker 1: at the FCC. Overcome with the urge to play music, 15 00:01:08,796 --> 00:01:11,156 Speaker 1: barti He's moved to Brooklyn when he was twenty five 16 00:01:11,436 --> 00:01:14,916 Speaker 1: and found a bunch of musical collaborators. In twenty twenty, 17 00:01:15,036 --> 00:01:19,476 Speaker 1: he released his genre bending debut album, Live Forever. This year, 18 00:01:19,516 --> 00:01:22,476 Speaker 1: Bartiz dropped his follow up album, Farm to Table to 19 00:01:22,596 --> 00:01:26,556 Speaker 1: critical acclaim. On today's episode, I talked to Bartie Strange 20 00:01:26,556 --> 00:01:29,036 Speaker 1: about his ascent into the upper echelon of indie rock 21 00:01:29,276 --> 00:01:32,356 Speaker 1: now that he considers artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Justin Vernon, 22 00:01:32,476 --> 00:01:36,836 Speaker 1: and Lucy Dacas friends. Bartisse also performs an acoustic version 23 00:01:36,836 --> 00:01:39,276 Speaker 1: of a song heavy Heart for us, and he plays 24 00:01:39,276 --> 00:01:41,676 Speaker 1: stems from two of my favorite songs from his new 25 00:01:41,716 --> 00:01:44,836 Speaker 1: album and reveals how he's able to expertly blend what 26 00:01:44,916 --> 00:01:51,956 Speaker 1: he calls sections on sections. This is broken record liner 27 00:01:52,036 --> 00:01:55,596 Speaker 1: notes for the digital age. I'm justin Richmond. Here's my 28 00:01:55,636 --> 00:01:58,636 Speaker 1: interview with Bartie Strange from the Bridge Studio in Brooklyn. 29 00:01:59,116 --> 00:02:01,676 Speaker 1: We start things off by talking about his recent work 30 00:02:01,796 --> 00:02:05,276 Speaker 1: producing other artists. How does make your records for others 31 00:02:05,316 --> 00:02:09,116 Speaker 1: impact to your own music or does it not tremendous? 32 00:02:09,196 --> 00:02:12,476 Speaker 1: Slay So, like I put out Lift Forever in twenty twenty. 33 00:02:12,476 --> 00:02:14,316 Speaker 1: I produced that record and recorded it with my friends 34 00:02:14,316 --> 00:02:16,196 Speaker 1: and we'll say it New York in a in a barn. 35 00:02:16,596 --> 00:02:18,556 Speaker 1: After that record, I got all this production work, so 36 00:02:18,556 --> 00:02:20,436 Speaker 1: I was able to quit my day job right and 37 00:02:20,476 --> 00:02:23,156 Speaker 1: I had already started writing farm to Table, but I 38 00:02:23,236 --> 00:02:25,716 Speaker 1: was like, I'm gonna wait on recording that until I 39 00:02:25,756 --> 00:02:28,956 Speaker 1: record these four albums because I'm gonna try a bunch 40 00:02:28,956 --> 00:02:30,716 Speaker 1: of stuff that I'm gonna do on Farm to Table 41 00:02:31,316 --> 00:02:36,036 Speaker 1: and so for proper cinema, hearts Low Tides this band 42 00:02:36,036 --> 00:02:39,516 Speaker 1: called Cherish out of DC. I just tried all types 43 00:02:39,556 --> 00:02:41,396 Speaker 1: of stuff on those records to see if I could 44 00:02:41,436 --> 00:02:44,076 Speaker 1: get the sounds I wanted. And you know, I wanted 45 00:02:44,076 --> 00:02:46,276 Speaker 1: to make the records too. Their beautiful records, and they 46 00:02:46,276 --> 00:02:48,876 Speaker 1: don't sound like me, so I put it. There's a 47 00:02:48,876 --> 00:02:50,556 Speaker 1: lot of stuff on Farm to Table that I tried 48 00:02:50,596 --> 00:02:52,716 Speaker 1: on those other records. If you listen to them, you'll 49 00:02:52,716 --> 00:02:55,076 Speaker 1: hear it for sure. How did you get the sounds 50 00:02:55,116 --> 00:02:59,596 Speaker 1: on Lift Forever? It's gorgeous sounding record, Thank you. I 51 00:02:59,596 --> 00:03:03,196 Speaker 1: think the way I got those sounds was being pretty 52 00:03:03,236 --> 00:03:05,596 Speaker 1: limited in the tools I had. Honestly, I had to 53 00:03:05,676 --> 00:03:08,316 Speaker 1: really use my ears, and I had a really clear 54 00:03:08,396 --> 00:03:09,956 Speaker 1: vision of what I want wanted it to sound like. 55 00:03:10,236 --> 00:03:15,196 Speaker 1: I knew I wasn't capable of making a like pristine album. 56 00:03:15,236 --> 00:03:17,996 Speaker 1: I didn't have the skills to do it, but I 57 00:03:18,036 --> 00:03:20,276 Speaker 1: did know I wanted it to have sauce like. I 58 00:03:20,316 --> 00:03:24,756 Speaker 1: wanted it to be like interesting and flavorful more so 59 00:03:24,836 --> 00:03:27,396 Speaker 1: than anything. I was like, I want vibe vibe first, 60 00:03:27,756 --> 00:03:29,436 Speaker 1: and I do the same thing for all the records. 61 00:03:29,796 --> 00:03:32,276 Speaker 1: I catch sounds on the way in. I don't do 62 00:03:32,396 --> 00:03:35,356 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff in post like I don't do 63 00:03:35,396 --> 00:03:38,836 Speaker 1: a lot of like dry tracks, Like every reverb, every delay, 64 00:03:38,996 --> 00:03:41,556 Speaker 1: every compression, I catch it on the way in. I'm 65 00:03:41,596 --> 00:03:45,076 Speaker 1: squeezing super hard as I track. What's the genesis of 66 00:03:45,116 --> 00:03:49,356 Speaker 1: that record? Lif Forever? Lif Forever? What's the earliest known 67 00:03:49,916 --> 00:03:54,076 Speaker 1: either song or part or even just lyric from that record? 68 00:03:54,396 --> 00:03:58,316 Speaker 1: Two songs, Mustang and Boomer. I think I played those 69 00:03:58,356 --> 00:04:02,756 Speaker 1: songs in different capacities in like three or four bands 70 00:04:03,396 --> 00:04:07,876 Speaker 1: before I decided on the arrangement for Lift Forever, and 71 00:04:08,076 --> 00:04:11,116 Speaker 1: pieces of those songs songs are in bands. I played 72 00:04:11,196 --> 00:04:14,156 Speaker 1: a band called Stay Inside Almos, a hardcore band out 73 00:04:14,156 --> 00:04:18,156 Speaker 1: of Brooklyn. They still make music together, but my first 74 00:04:18,436 --> 00:04:21,236 Speaker 1: inklings of those songs were in those in those hardcore bands. 75 00:04:21,596 --> 00:04:25,396 Speaker 1: The lyrics, I do lyrics like Dead Dead, Dead Last. 76 00:04:25,716 --> 00:04:28,796 Speaker 1: I never really start songs with lyrics. I'll start with 77 00:04:28,836 --> 00:04:31,476 Speaker 1: like a melody, but I don't know what the song's 78 00:04:31,516 --> 00:04:35,636 Speaker 1: about until I finished the song. The arrangement that kind 79 00:04:35,636 --> 00:04:37,636 Speaker 1: of tells me what the song is about. Honestly, you 80 00:04:37,636 --> 00:04:39,556 Speaker 1: don't even have a thought about what it's about based 81 00:04:39,596 --> 00:04:43,076 Speaker 1: on the feeling. I know what the emotion is, but 82 00:04:43,156 --> 00:04:45,476 Speaker 1: I don't know the words. I just kind of freestyle 83 00:04:45,876 --> 00:04:49,956 Speaker 1: in the demos and once i'm the arrangement is there 84 00:04:50,516 --> 00:04:53,996 Speaker 1: in a way that I feel like truly emotionally captures 85 00:04:53,996 --> 00:04:58,076 Speaker 1: the song. I feel like I'm able to meet the 86 00:04:58,116 --> 00:05:01,436 Speaker 1: song with the lyrics. It's almost I have to build 87 00:05:01,436 --> 00:05:03,596 Speaker 1: it and then I can like put the final like 88 00:05:03,916 --> 00:05:07,236 Speaker 1: jinga piece in it. You know. It's Yeah, it's a 89 00:05:07,276 --> 00:05:09,556 Speaker 1: really interesting way of working. Oh it's cool because I 90 00:05:09,556 --> 00:05:11,196 Speaker 1: feel like it takes all the pressure off of me 91 00:05:11,556 --> 00:05:14,836 Speaker 1: as a lyricist, because it's like the song is telling 92 00:05:14,836 --> 00:05:17,916 Speaker 1: you where to go, Like if you nail it, the 93 00:05:17,916 --> 00:05:20,676 Speaker 1: song is it's like giving you the answer. Sometimes and 94 00:05:20,836 --> 00:05:23,396 Speaker 1: I try to write lyrics before the song's done, I 95 00:05:23,516 --> 00:05:26,476 Speaker 1: end up writing for a song that doesn't exist. It's 96 00:05:26,516 --> 00:05:28,356 Speaker 1: like these lyrics don't fit in that song. It fits 97 00:05:28,836 --> 00:05:31,276 Speaker 1: in this other world that's in my mind. But like 98 00:05:31,436 --> 00:05:34,676 Speaker 1: this song doesn't want those lyrics. Yeah, it wants something else. 99 00:05:35,316 --> 00:05:37,156 Speaker 1: Do you think there's any song of yours then that 100 00:05:37,276 --> 00:05:39,636 Speaker 1: might be operating and like on two levels, like an 101 00:05:39,636 --> 00:05:42,916 Speaker 1: emotional truth that comes through the feel and the sound 102 00:05:42,956 --> 00:05:46,476 Speaker 1: and the arrangement, and then maybe even lyrics that refer 103 00:05:46,596 --> 00:05:48,796 Speaker 1: to something that might not even have anything to do 104 00:05:48,916 --> 00:05:51,516 Speaker 1: with the initial drive of what you were trying to 105 00:05:51,556 --> 00:05:54,756 Speaker 1: capture in terms of feeling. Yes, Heavy Heart the first 106 00:05:54,796 --> 00:05:58,236 Speaker 1: song on Farm to Table. The lyrics of that song 107 00:05:58,276 --> 00:06:02,036 Speaker 1: are very kind of sad. I think the hook is like, 108 00:06:02,516 --> 00:06:04,956 Speaker 1: I never want to miss you this bad. I didn't 109 00:06:04,956 --> 00:06:07,036 Speaker 1: mean to run out like that. Some nights I feel 110 00:06:07,076 --> 00:06:09,436 Speaker 1: just like my dad rushing around. I never saw the 111 00:06:09,476 --> 00:06:11,516 Speaker 1: god in that. I work so hard if you can't 112 00:06:11,556 --> 00:06:14,396 Speaker 1: fall back, And then I remember I really upon a 113 00:06:14,516 --> 00:06:18,596 Speaker 1: heavy heart kind of thinking about times I feel guilty 114 00:06:18,596 --> 00:06:21,676 Speaker 1: for things I can't control. But I wanted to juxtapose 115 00:06:21,756 --> 00:06:25,116 Speaker 1: that with a song that felt super victorious and driving 116 00:06:25,156 --> 00:06:27,916 Speaker 1: and upward moving. It kind of feels like a song 117 00:06:27,956 --> 00:06:30,836 Speaker 1: by the National, like off a Boxer or something. The 118 00:06:30,996 --> 00:06:36,316 Speaker 1: drums are extremely like pounding and repetitive and driving and 119 00:06:36,396 --> 00:06:40,596 Speaker 1: NonStop sixteenth notes the whole time. You know, the guitars, 120 00:06:40,596 --> 00:06:43,676 Speaker 1: there's like five guitar tracks. They're going the entire time. 121 00:06:43,716 --> 00:06:46,036 Speaker 1: They create like a round, like a loop, it's like 122 00:06:46,036 --> 00:06:49,916 Speaker 1: a mantra, and then it just explodes through the bridge 123 00:06:50,156 --> 00:06:52,916 Speaker 1: and you have all of this arrangement that's sending a 124 00:06:52,996 --> 00:06:57,036 Speaker 1: signal of like extreme momentum upward, but the lyrics are 125 00:06:57,076 --> 00:07:01,796 Speaker 1: like downward. You had that arrangement, that exact arrangement before you. 126 00:07:02,636 --> 00:07:05,276 Speaker 1: I definitely thought some of the arrangement must have come 127 00:07:05,356 --> 00:07:07,476 Speaker 1: after the lyrics, but I guess you the lyrics are 128 00:07:07,516 --> 00:07:09,556 Speaker 1: reacting to the arrangement. That makes sense. I just some 129 00:07:09,596 --> 00:07:11,516 Speaker 1: reason thought of it because when I heard the arrangement, 130 00:07:11,516 --> 00:07:15,156 Speaker 1: I was like, this is a perfect picture of the record. 131 00:07:15,196 --> 00:07:18,516 Speaker 1: I'm trying to paint where it's like holding two extreme 132 00:07:18,556 --> 00:07:22,116 Speaker 1: emotions and at the same time, because most people are 133 00:07:22,116 --> 00:07:26,956 Speaker 1: happy and sad all the time. Yeah, it's like good 134 00:07:27,036 --> 00:07:29,076 Speaker 1: days and bad days have happened on the same day 135 00:07:29,276 --> 00:07:31,876 Speaker 1: all the time. And that song was me trying to 136 00:07:32,596 --> 00:07:36,076 Speaker 1: do that through the composition and the arrangement of the track. 137 00:07:36,276 --> 00:07:38,596 Speaker 1: Do you want to play the first song on heavy Heart? Yeah? Yeah, 138 00:07:38,676 --> 00:07:54,476 Speaker 1: yeah cool. There's three reasons for heavy Us. This past year, 139 00:07:54,676 --> 00:08:02,516 Speaker 1: I thought I was booking you so nice, Cherry Scoff, 140 00:08:06,756 --> 00:08:12,636 Speaker 1: we should go to n I never want to miss 141 00:08:12,756 --> 00:08:17,316 Speaker 1: you this back. I never meant to run now like that. 142 00:08:18,036 --> 00:08:22,836 Speaker 1: Some nights I feel just like my dad rushing around. 143 00:08:24,876 --> 00:08:29,156 Speaker 1: I never saw the god and that while work so hard, 144 00:08:29,196 --> 00:08:35,436 Speaker 1: if you can't fall back, then I member rely too 145 00:08:35,516 --> 00:08:41,196 Speaker 1: much upon my heavy are. And that's a shame putting 146 00:08:41,276 --> 00:08:43,836 Speaker 1: up black. It's with scheme. It's a NAT's on the train, 147 00:08:44,116 --> 00:08:46,516 Speaker 1: that's on DC. Fuck you man, put the red down 148 00:08:46,556 --> 00:08:48,996 Speaker 1: on your team. Yet I don't need no one but me. Yeah, 149 00:08:49,076 --> 00:08:51,116 Speaker 1: she said in my turn, and I geeked. She said 150 00:08:51,116 --> 00:08:53,156 Speaker 1: in my turn, and I geet. She a whole lot 151 00:08:53,196 --> 00:08:55,676 Speaker 1: of bad news. Put the law on it. Yeah, fool, 152 00:08:55,796 --> 00:08:58,116 Speaker 1: I'm a rich nigga rad dude. I can buy that, 153 00:08:58,396 --> 00:09:00,676 Speaker 1: damn fool. When I think about Jay last week's Yeah, 154 00:09:00,796 --> 00:09:02,676 Speaker 1: how you blad out in them sheets here, how the 155 00:09:02,756 --> 00:09:05,356 Speaker 1: doc said you were clean? Holloway y'all put on me. 156 00:09:05,436 --> 00:09:09,236 Speaker 1: I never missed you this bat. I really had had 157 00:09:09,276 --> 00:09:13,196 Speaker 1: to run out my bad my hand on the small, 158 00:09:13,356 --> 00:09:20,676 Speaker 1: love your back touching around. I really thought the God 159 00:09:20,876 --> 00:09:26,156 Speaker 1: in that watching how he braced for impact. Then I 160 00:09:26,316 --> 00:09:57,996 Speaker 1: remember that too much of fun, my heavy heart. There's 161 00:09:57,996 --> 00:10:07,596 Speaker 1: reasons for heavy heart this pastie. I thought I was brokeken. 162 00:10:10,196 --> 00:10:18,436 Speaker 1: You look so nicey a cherry scar hard we should 163 00:10:18,516 --> 00:10:23,556 Speaker 1: go to to run No more often. I never want 164 00:10:23,596 --> 00:10:27,516 Speaker 1: to miss you this bad. I never meant to run 165 00:10:27,596 --> 00:10:31,956 Speaker 1: now like that. Some nights I feel just like my 166 00:10:32,076 --> 00:10:38,836 Speaker 1: dad rushing around. I never thought a god in that. 167 00:10:39,556 --> 00:10:43,396 Speaker 1: Why work so hard if you can't fall back? Then? 168 00:10:43,516 --> 00:10:56,876 Speaker 1: I remember I RelA too much, A punt. I hear 169 00:10:56,956 --> 00:11:12,796 Speaker 1: you keep on rocking, MB free world, baby beautiful. Thanks. 170 00:11:13,276 --> 00:11:16,636 Speaker 1: Where did those lyrics come from? Yeo? So COVID was 171 00:11:16,676 --> 00:11:19,476 Speaker 1: a weird time. Is continues to be a weird time. 172 00:11:20,276 --> 00:11:22,996 Speaker 1: After I put out livet Forever. I mean I was 173 00:11:23,036 --> 00:11:25,636 Speaker 1: working a full time job and working from home and 174 00:11:25,836 --> 00:11:28,396 Speaker 1: doing the whole thing. Record came out and I got 175 00:11:28,396 --> 00:11:30,436 Speaker 1: all this production work and I was able to quit 176 00:11:30,556 --> 00:11:34,196 Speaker 1: my job and everything was going so well for me 177 00:11:34,636 --> 00:11:36,596 Speaker 1: at a time when so many people in my life 178 00:11:36,636 --> 00:11:40,556 Speaker 1: were experiencing like the most trying times of their lives. 179 00:11:41,236 --> 00:11:44,716 Speaker 1: My grandfather died, they had a funeral, everyone went to 180 00:11:44,796 --> 00:11:47,796 Speaker 1: the funeral, got COVID, A few of them died. It 181 00:11:47,956 --> 00:11:50,556 Speaker 1: was just over and over and over, just horrible things. 182 00:11:51,276 --> 00:11:53,956 Speaker 1: And I was like, Yo, this is horrible, but also 183 00:11:54,076 --> 00:11:56,756 Speaker 1: like I'm having like the best time of my life, 184 00:11:57,156 --> 00:12:00,316 Speaker 1: you know. And I was like, at a certain point, 185 00:12:00,516 --> 00:12:02,836 Speaker 1: You're like I want to celebrate this, but I feel 186 00:12:02,876 --> 00:12:06,756 Speaker 1: guilty for wanting to, but I felt like it was 187 00:12:06,796 --> 00:12:10,396 Speaker 1: still important to celebrate. I think like joy as a 188 00:12:10,436 --> 00:12:13,596 Speaker 1: form of resistance is like super real. So eventually, after 189 00:12:13,636 --> 00:12:16,596 Speaker 1: feeling guilty and having a heavy heart and feeling bad 190 00:12:16,676 --> 00:12:19,316 Speaker 1: about everything, I was like, I'm going to take a 191 00:12:19,396 --> 00:12:21,876 Speaker 1: second and just like take some take stock here because 192 00:12:22,276 --> 00:12:26,156 Speaker 1: things worked. This is working, and that was really big 193 00:12:26,236 --> 00:12:27,756 Speaker 1: for me to do, Like I had to do it 194 00:12:27,836 --> 00:12:30,396 Speaker 1: for myself, And that's what the song is about. It's 195 00:12:30,476 --> 00:12:33,556 Speaker 1: kind of counting all of these things that I felt 196 00:12:33,636 --> 00:12:37,436 Speaker 1: so guilty for, you know, my dad working so hard 197 00:12:37,476 --> 00:12:41,596 Speaker 1: all the time, or us not going to my partner's city, Toronto, 198 00:12:41,676 --> 00:12:43,716 Speaker 1: you know she's from Toronto, not going up there and 199 00:12:43,836 --> 00:12:45,196 Speaker 1: we had a chance, and now we're locked in the 200 00:12:45,236 --> 00:12:46,676 Speaker 1: house for two and a half years and I feel 201 00:12:46,716 --> 00:12:49,476 Speaker 1: bad that I didn't schedule the time. Or my granddad 202 00:12:49,556 --> 00:12:51,676 Speaker 1: dying and me not seeing him enough before he died, 203 00:12:51,756 --> 00:12:54,076 Speaker 1: you know, and then being like, but then I realized, 204 00:12:54,156 --> 00:12:57,916 Speaker 1: you know, you can't continue to like move forward in 205 00:12:57,996 --> 00:13:00,076 Speaker 1: life feeling bad about everything that happened in the past. 206 00:13:00,156 --> 00:13:02,596 Speaker 1: At a certain point, you gotta turn over a new 207 00:13:02,636 --> 00:13:07,236 Speaker 1: leaf and move forward. Reminds me of tours. I imagine though, 208 00:13:07,356 --> 00:13:10,556 Speaker 1: that that's written about your experience of touring, right of 209 00:13:10,676 --> 00:13:13,636 Speaker 1: being a working musician, quitting your job being a working musician. Yeah, 210 00:13:13,996 --> 00:13:16,556 Speaker 1: kind of to me. The song's about turning into your parents. 211 00:13:17,076 --> 00:13:20,036 Speaker 1: My dad was in the military, he was an engineer, 212 00:13:20,116 --> 00:13:22,436 Speaker 1: and he would go on tour quote quote military tour 213 00:13:22,436 --> 00:13:24,796 Speaker 1: all the time. My mom, she's an opera singer, so 214 00:13:24,916 --> 00:13:27,276 Speaker 1: she would tour a lot too, And I remember being 215 00:13:27,316 --> 00:13:29,876 Speaker 1: a kid and being like, oh, I'm never gonna do that, 216 00:13:30,076 --> 00:13:31,996 Speaker 1: Like I'm going to be home and like raise a 217 00:13:32,076 --> 00:13:34,556 Speaker 1: family and do the thing. And then I got I 218 00:13:34,636 --> 00:13:37,556 Speaker 1: got older, and music worked out. I was able to 219 00:13:37,676 --> 00:13:42,116 Speaker 1: like tour and I love it. And in that realization, 220 00:13:42,476 --> 00:13:45,796 Speaker 1: I learned more about my parents and like why they toured, 221 00:13:46,116 --> 00:13:48,436 Speaker 1: and it was because they loved it and they wanted 222 00:13:48,476 --> 00:13:51,476 Speaker 1: me to see them doing something they loved. And so 223 00:13:51,676 --> 00:13:53,276 Speaker 1: the end of the song I ended by saying like, 224 00:13:53,316 --> 00:13:57,396 Speaker 1: I'm I'm your son, like I'm you, you know, and 225 00:13:58,596 --> 00:14:01,556 Speaker 1: another realization of getting older, just being like dang, like 226 00:14:02,076 --> 00:14:04,676 Speaker 1: and turn it into my parents, you know in this 227 00:14:04,876 --> 00:14:07,756 Speaker 1: in this funny way. Have you had conversations with them 228 00:14:07,916 --> 00:14:10,156 Speaker 1: to this effect and it's cool because my parents have 229 00:14:10,236 --> 00:14:13,236 Speaker 1: always been so supportive of my music and they're so 230 00:14:13,396 --> 00:14:15,756 Speaker 1: pumped that everything is going the way it is, and 231 00:14:15,916 --> 00:14:18,356 Speaker 1: it's not uncommon that I'll reach out and I'll be like, 232 00:14:18,796 --> 00:14:21,916 Speaker 1: this shit is so hard, and they're like, no one 233 00:14:21,956 --> 00:14:24,956 Speaker 1: can encourage me like they can, you know, because I've 234 00:14:24,996 --> 00:14:27,716 Speaker 1: seen them do hard things and they know what it's 235 00:14:27,756 --> 00:14:32,636 Speaker 1: like to sacrifice and go after things and face challenges 236 00:14:32,836 --> 00:14:36,396 Speaker 1: and overcome them in a way that we can relate 237 00:14:36,436 --> 00:14:39,476 Speaker 1: to each other on a deeper level now, So it's 238 00:14:39,476 --> 00:14:43,796 Speaker 1: a special relationship. Music has deepened our relationship in that way. 239 00:14:44,196 --> 00:14:47,476 Speaker 1: So when people hear military dad, I think the first 240 00:14:47,516 --> 00:14:51,236 Speaker 1: thing they would think is like disciplinarian, And if they're 241 00:14:51,516 --> 00:14:54,756 Speaker 1: opera singer mother, then they would probably think that she 242 00:14:54,996 --> 00:14:57,756 Speaker 1: might have been the lenient one or maybe pushing you 243 00:14:57,836 --> 00:15:02,276 Speaker 1: towards the arts. Military man and an opera singer, yeah 244 00:15:02,796 --> 00:15:05,316 Speaker 1: is a great pairing. Yeah. My mom and dad they 245 00:15:05,356 --> 00:15:07,876 Speaker 1: met in high school. My mom was the girl that 246 00:15:07,956 --> 00:15:11,316 Speaker 1: could sing and dad was an athlete. In North Carolina, 247 00:15:11,556 --> 00:15:14,116 Speaker 1: my mom went to Eastman School of Music. Her choir 248 00:15:14,236 --> 00:15:16,636 Speaker 1: director at church sent a tape to the director of 249 00:15:16,756 --> 00:15:19,316 Speaker 1: music at Eastman and let my mom in school and 250 00:15:19,396 --> 00:15:21,996 Speaker 1: then my dad he didn't really have a lot of guidance, 251 00:15:22,076 --> 00:15:25,636 Speaker 1: so he joined the military. And you know, over the years, 252 00:15:26,396 --> 00:15:28,076 Speaker 1: you know, my mom she was you know, heavy and 253 00:15:28,156 --> 00:15:30,356 Speaker 1: teaching us how to sing, and you know, we sang 254 00:15:30,436 --> 00:15:32,116 Speaker 1: in church and I went to opera camp and my 255 00:15:32,156 --> 00:15:35,276 Speaker 1: mom was very involved. But she never like forced me 256 00:15:35,356 --> 00:15:37,716 Speaker 1: into music. She was a musician herself, and which I 257 00:15:37,756 --> 00:15:40,196 Speaker 1: think she knew how hard it was, and she was like, 258 00:15:40,236 --> 00:15:41,676 Speaker 1: if you really want to do this, you got to 259 00:15:41,716 --> 00:15:43,756 Speaker 1: really want it, and I'm not gonna like force you. 260 00:15:44,276 --> 00:15:46,836 Speaker 1: You know, what was her experience as a musician, like 261 00:15:47,116 --> 00:15:50,316 Speaker 1: after going to school. I think my mom faced a 262 00:15:50,396 --> 00:15:52,836 Speaker 1: lot because there were a lot of black opera singers, 263 00:15:53,436 --> 00:15:57,116 Speaker 1: especially not once from the South and black woman at 264 00:15:57,156 --> 00:15:59,996 Speaker 1: Eastman and Rochester, New York in the seventies. You know, 265 00:16:00,116 --> 00:16:01,676 Speaker 1: I think she there was a lot of firsts for her, 266 00:16:02,196 --> 00:16:04,756 Speaker 1: and I know that it was hard for her. Did 267 00:16:04,796 --> 00:16:06,316 Speaker 1: she want to go to New York? Did she ever 268 00:16:06,396 --> 00:16:07,916 Speaker 1: do that? And I think she did. She did, and 269 00:16:07,996 --> 00:16:10,596 Speaker 1: then she got some gigs in Europe and that was 270 00:16:10,596 --> 00:16:12,356 Speaker 1: another reason. You know, my dad was station in Europe. 271 00:16:12,356 --> 00:16:14,876 Speaker 1: My mom was singing in Europe, you know, Hawk Shuler 272 00:16:15,116 --> 00:16:18,116 Speaker 1: and London. You know, she was doing her thing. But 273 00:16:18,356 --> 00:16:21,156 Speaker 1: after she had us, she moved into like the educational 274 00:16:21,276 --> 00:16:24,036 Speaker 1: role and she taught music at the University of Oklahoma, 275 00:16:24,076 --> 00:16:25,596 Speaker 1: where I ended up going to school. She was a 276 00:16:25,676 --> 00:16:28,996 Speaker 1: vocal professor there, got her PhD at Columbia. You know, 277 00:16:29,356 --> 00:16:33,276 Speaker 1: she's a she's real, she's deep. But my dad was 278 00:16:33,316 --> 00:16:35,956 Speaker 1: the one that actually really got me deep into music 279 00:16:35,996 --> 00:16:38,676 Speaker 1: because he was a record collector and when he would 280 00:16:38,676 --> 00:16:42,116 Speaker 1: come back from Japan or Korea or wherever, he would 281 00:16:42,116 --> 00:16:45,796 Speaker 1: always bring like turntables or like tape decks, reel to reels. 282 00:16:46,276 --> 00:16:49,156 Speaker 1: He was like really into like monitor like listening to music. 283 00:16:49,276 --> 00:16:53,676 Speaker 1: He's not a musical person creatively, but he collects, and 284 00:16:53,836 --> 00:16:55,676 Speaker 1: so he was putting me onto like sly Stone and 285 00:16:55,756 --> 00:16:59,516 Speaker 1: Teddy Pendergrass and Parliament and Rides the Funking Stein and like, 286 00:17:00,076 --> 00:17:01,916 Speaker 1: honestly that was like rock and roll to me. I 287 00:17:02,036 --> 00:17:04,116 Speaker 1: was like, oh, these are like rock records that I 288 00:17:04,276 --> 00:17:07,636 Speaker 1: fell in love with. First, Bootsy Collins, you know, Rick James. 289 00:17:08,476 --> 00:17:12,356 Speaker 1: That was my baseline. Was like opera gospel from mom, 290 00:17:12,556 --> 00:17:16,116 Speaker 1: but like the expansiveness of what music can be through 291 00:17:16,196 --> 00:17:19,676 Speaker 1: what my dad was showing me and looking back, it's funny, 292 00:17:19,796 --> 00:17:22,436 Speaker 1: Like you would expect my dad'd be the disciplinarian, but 293 00:17:22,636 --> 00:17:25,396 Speaker 1: he was more of the creator. Like my dad like 294 00:17:25,796 --> 00:17:28,436 Speaker 1: it's super handy, works on cars all the time, like 295 00:17:28,516 --> 00:17:31,556 Speaker 1: always building stuff. He's an engineer, but like that creative 296 00:17:31,596 --> 00:17:34,956 Speaker 1: tick and like wanting to engineer and build things. I 297 00:17:35,076 --> 00:17:37,356 Speaker 1: got that from my dad, that need to create something 298 00:17:37,396 --> 00:17:40,676 Speaker 1: out of nothing. I repurpose something, yeah, something better or 299 00:17:40,756 --> 00:17:43,316 Speaker 1: more useful to you or whatever, or being like how'd 300 00:17:43,356 --> 00:17:46,756 Speaker 1: you make that? Like that's like my dad in a nutshell. 301 00:17:46,876 --> 00:17:48,796 Speaker 1: He's always like, how do they build that? I'm going 302 00:17:48,836 --> 00:17:51,716 Speaker 1: to figure it out today. We'll be right back with 303 00:17:51,836 --> 00:17:59,396 Speaker 1: more from my conversation with Barties Strange. We're back with 304 00:17:59,556 --> 00:18:03,436 Speaker 1: more of my conversation with Barties Strange. So you mostly 305 00:18:03,436 --> 00:18:05,916 Speaker 1: grew up in Oklahoma, right, Yeah, that's where most of 306 00:18:05,956 --> 00:18:09,956 Speaker 1: all my raising was. Aside from what you're parents were 307 00:18:09,996 --> 00:18:12,236 Speaker 1: playing around the house. What was the music that you 308 00:18:12,316 --> 00:18:15,436 Speaker 1: and your friends were listening to. The first like record 309 00:18:15,516 --> 00:18:19,356 Speaker 1: I ever bought was Millennium by the Backstreet Boys. Yeah 310 00:18:19,476 --> 00:18:21,676 Speaker 1: I had that, Yeah, it was great. And then the 311 00:18:21,716 --> 00:18:24,836 Speaker 1: second one I got was Get Richard Died Trying fifty 312 00:18:24,876 --> 00:18:28,716 Speaker 1: cent record. My mom was like super Christian. She was 313 00:18:28,836 --> 00:18:31,436 Speaker 1: kind of like weird about letting like too much secular 314 00:18:31,516 --> 00:18:33,436 Speaker 1: music in the house. But like I said, at the 315 00:18:33,476 --> 00:18:35,596 Speaker 1: same time, my dad was like playing me Rick James records. 316 00:18:36,116 --> 00:18:38,756 Speaker 1: Black parents are hilarious. They'll be like, you can listen 317 00:18:38,756 --> 00:18:42,116 Speaker 1: to Teddy Pendergrass, but you can't listen to like one twelve. Yeah, yeah, 318 00:18:42,316 --> 00:18:47,396 Speaker 1: super freak school. Yeah. I'm like, okay, cool, right, turn 319 00:18:47,476 --> 00:18:50,436 Speaker 1: off to the night side of Candle. That song so good. 320 00:18:50,636 --> 00:18:53,116 Speaker 1: But um yeah so. But the thing that really grabbed 321 00:18:53,156 --> 00:18:55,716 Speaker 1: me though, early was hardcore music. My friend invited me 322 00:18:55,796 --> 00:18:58,196 Speaker 1: to a show. I think it was like Victory Christian Center, 323 00:18:58,356 --> 00:19:00,916 Speaker 1: some church in Oklahoma City, and Norma Jean was playing 324 00:19:00,916 --> 00:19:03,476 Speaker 1: in the basement. Wow, that's I haven't heard that name 325 00:19:03,516 --> 00:19:06,596 Speaker 1: in a long time. That was heavy, heavy, heavy, and 326 00:19:06,716 --> 00:19:09,436 Speaker 1: I'll never forget seeing Norma Jeane. I saw It's too 327 00:19:09,476 --> 00:19:12,076 Speaker 1: Actually that you mentioned that they're Christian band in California. Yeah, yeah, 328 00:19:12,076 --> 00:19:14,476 Speaker 1: they're a Christian band. My mom let me go because 329 00:19:14,516 --> 00:19:16,276 Speaker 1: they were a Christian band. I just told her. I 330 00:19:16,356 --> 00:19:19,996 Speaker 1: was like, yo, like, there's a concert at church. It's Wednesday, 331 00:19:20,076 --> 00:19:23,436 Speaker 1: you know, Wednesday night church. You know. She was like, great, go. 332 00:19:23,996 --> 00:19:26,156 Speaker 1: You know, she was just like probably excited I wanted 333 00:19:26,156 --> 00:19:28,676 Speaker 1: to go to church, and she drove me, dropped me 334 00:19:28,716 --> 00:19:31,156 Speaker 1: and my friend off. We watched Norma Jeane play and 335 00:19:31,236 --> 00:19:33,236 Speaker 1: I found out about all those Tooth and Nail bands, 336 00:19:33,676 --> 00:19:36,716 Speaker 1: you know, under Oath the almost like I fell in 337 00:19:36,756 --> 00:19:39,396 Speaker 1: love with hardcore music through that, and like at the 338 00:19:39,476 --> 00:19:43,276 Speaker 1: drive in came close after, and yeah, they're from El 339 00:19:43,356 --> 00:19:46,876 Speaker 1: Paso and so they would tour through Oklahoma and I 340 00:19:46,996 --> 00:19:49,156 Speaker 1: just remember been like, dang, these guys always just speak Spanish, 341 00:19:49,676 --> 00:19:52,156 Speaker 1: they don't give a shit about That was beautiful, you 342 00:19:52,236 --> 00:19:53,996 Speaker 1: know for me to see because I was one of 343 00:19:54,036 --> 00:19:56,476 Speaker 1: the only black kids people of color in my world 344 00:19:56,556 --> 00:19:59,116 Speaker 1: at the time. But yeah, hardcore music kind of was 345 00:19:59,156 --> 00:20:02,116 Speaker 1: the thing that grabbed me. And like skateboarding culture, we're 346 00:20:02,156 --> 00:20:04,796 Speaker 1: like born in the exact same year, yea, and so 347 00:20:05,396 --> 00:20:08,596 Speaker 1: similar experiences, and that if it wasn't rap or R 348 00:20:08,676 --> 00:20:11,196 Speaker 1: and B well around the time like we were teenagers, 349 00:20:11,316 --> 00:20:15,436 Speaker 1: was like very white spaces. Extremely Yeah. Yeah, I think 350 00:20:15,476 --> 00:20:18,236 Speaker 1: that's why I loved hardcore music so much, because like, 351 00:20:18,876 --> 00:20:21,036 Speaker 1: even though everyone was white, I didn't feel like I 352 00:20:21,116 --> 00:20:24,836 Speaker 1: stood out because everyone was kind of wild, like people 353 00:20:24,876 --> 00:20:27,916 Speaker 1: had like snake bites and like tattoos on their faces 354 00:20:28,076 --> 00:20:31,316 Speaker 1: and crazy hair. I was just there in like khakis 355 00:20:31,356 --> 00:20:33,916 Speaker 1: and a button nut, Like I was just a normal 356 00:20:33,996 --> 00:20:36,796 Speaker 1: kid at the thing, you know, I wasn't the weird one. 357 00:20:37,556 --> 00:20:39,796 Speaker 1: And I kind of loved that because I always felt 358 00:20:39,796 --> 00:20:42,236 Speaker 1: like everyone was staring at me every time I went 359 00:20:42,316 --> 00:20:47,116 Speaker 1: anywhere growing up. Yeah, but those shows, it didn't feel 360 00:20:47,156 --> 00:20:50,956 Speaker 1: like that. So I found like a safe space and 361 00:20:51,156 --> 00:20:55,036 Speaker 1: hardcore venues and those little like shitty bars and like 362 00:20:55,276 --> 00:20:58,436 Speaker 1: random DIY spaces in Oklahoma City. When did you start 363 00:20:58,476 --> 00:21:01,796 Speaker 1: to recognize that people were looking at you? My parents 364 00:21:01,916 --> 00:21:04,636 Speaker 1: were really because they grew up in the South, were 365 00:21:04,796 --> 00:21:08,876 Speaker 1: very upfront about the world that we lived in and 366 00:21:09,316 --> 00:21:11,276 Speaker 1: wanted me and my brother and sister to be very 367 00:21:11,356 --> 00:21:15,996 Speaker 1: like clear about where we lived and the repercussions of 368 00:21:16,636 --> 00:21:19,036 Speaker 1: staying out too late or looking a certain way or 369 00:21:19,116 --> 00:21:23,036 Speaker 1: being too loud or whatever. So I always kind of 370 00:21:23,356 --> 00:21:27,116 Speaker 1: was hyper aware, I would say, like as a teenager 371 00:21:27,556 --> 00:21:31,036 Speaker 1: and as a college student living in Oklahoma, I lived 372 00:21:31,036 --> 00:21:34,276 Speaker 1: near like clansmanaged and shit people like end up missing 373 00:21:34,316 --> 00:21:37,636 Speaker 1: and stuff when I was growing up, So you couldn't 374 00:21:37,676 --> 00:21:41,276 Speaker 1: help but realize that is a part of your reality 375 00:21:41,916 --> 00:21:44,116 Speaker 1: and this wasn't the time when black people were getting 376 00:21:44,156 --> 00:21:47,476 Speaker 1: tied up and drug behind trucks and Texas. Yeah, man, 377 00:21:47,876 --> 00:21:50,796 Speaker 1: I had friends from high school guys I knew, you know, 378 00:21:50,996 --> 00:21:53,956 Speaker 1: have a bad football game, people run them out of 379 00:21:54,036 --> 00:21:57,716 Speaker 1: town and shit like crazy stuff. And this was before 380 00:21:57,836 --> 00:22:03,396 Speaker 1: like body cams and people tweeting and sharing videos and iPhones. 381 00:22:03,596 --> 00:22:06,236 Speaker 1: It was like people would just go missing in two 382 00:22:06,276 --> 00:22:09,556 Speaker 1: thousand and four, you know, like this is a nineteen 383 00:22:09,636 --> 00:22:14,076 Speaker 1: sixty five, you know, and so we were aware, you know, 384 00:22:14,316 --> 00:22:16,596 Speaker 1: of who we were. And that was kind of like 385 00:22:17,156 --> 00:22:19,236 Speaker 1: I didn't realize how scared I was, honestly until I 386 00:22:19,316 --> 00:22:20,756 Speaker 1: moved to like Brooklyn. It was the first time I 387 00:22:20,796 --> 00:22:22,556 Speaker 1: lived in an all black neighborhood. I was twenty five 388 00:22:22,636 --> 00:22:24,516 Speaker 1: years old, and you felt normal, Like you just felt 389 00:22:24,676 --> 00:22:26,236 Speaker 1: like how you should have felt your whole life. Yeah, 390 00:22:26,276 --> 00:22:31,876 Speaker 1: and I wrote Live Forever. Really that's literally how it happened. Wow, 391 00:22:32,236 --> 00:22:35,676 Speaker 1: Like I was in a spot where I was around 392 00:22:35,756 --> 00:22:38,756 Speaker 1: black people, creative people that looked like me. I didn't 393 00:22:38,756 --> 00:22:41,396 Speaker 1: feel so weird. I was able to like really grow 394 00:22:41,516 --> 00:22:46,476 Speaker 1: and express myself fully. And those friends are still my 395 00:22:46,556 --> 00:22:48,876 Speaker 1: friends to this day. It's interesting you've heard to the 396 00:22:48,916 --> 00:22:51,476 Speaker 1: fact that you went to Oklahoma University, and you kind 397 00:22:51,516 --> 00:22:56,516 Speaker 1: of had a nice successful career going before music, Like 398 00:22:56,676 --> 00:22:58,476 Speaker 1: you're on your second career here, you know, like your 399 00:22:58,516 --> 00:23:01,436 Speaker 1: second endeavor. Yeah. I played football at Emporious State and 400 00:23:02,156 --> 00:23:05,276 Speaker 1: I transferred to Oklahoma. And after University of Oklahoma, I 401 00:23:05,476 --> 00:23:07,796 Speaker 1: moved to DC and started doing political work. Worked for 402 00:23:07,916 --> 00:23:10,956 Speaker 1: Obama as a press secret two the FCC, and ended 403 00:23:10,996 --> 00:23:12,996 Speaker 1: up joining the Labor Movement and I was an organizer 404 00:23:13,076 --> 00:23:16,196 Speaker 1: and commas director in that world for years, and then 405 00:23:16,236 --> 00:23:19,196 Speaker 1: the Environmental Justice Movement, doing a lot of campaign planning 406 00:23:19,276 --> 00:23:22,356 Speaker 1: and political work there too, which was really special. Were 407 00:23:22,436 --> 00:23:25,676 Speaker 1: you playing music at the time, Yeah, just playing guitar. 408 00:23:26,036 --> 00:23:27,956 Speaker 1: When did you start playing music? I mean I had 409 00:23:27,996 --> 00:23:30,156 Speaker 1: a guitar in high school, so I had like a 410 00:23:30,236 --> 00:23:33,596 Speaker 1: little band called Belmont, which was the name of my neighborhood. 411 00:23:34,756 --> 00:23:39,796 Speaker 1: You know, classic situation. And then when I went to college, 412 00:23:39,796 --> 00:23:42,036 Speaker 1: I kind of played around school. I played with some 413 00:23:42,156 --> 00:23:45,876 Speaker 1: really great players, John Calvin now at Abney, John Moreland, 414 00:23:45,956 --> 00:23:48,876 Speaker 1: Samantha Crane. Those are some of the best in Oklahoma 415 00:23:49,036 --> 00:23:51,436 Speaker 1: right now. And then when I moved to DC, I 416 00:23:51,596 --> 00:23:53,996 Speaker 1: kind of shelved it because I was like, I need 417 00:23:54,076 --> 00:23:56,676 Speaker 1: to like get serious about life and like make the 418 00:23:56,756 --> 00:24:00,796 Speaker 1: place for hardcore music though the birth home I know, 419 00:24:01,156 --> 00:24:03,036 Speaker 1: I remember well, I had to sell I had no money. 420 00:24:03,076 --> 00:24:05,076 Speaker 1: I sold all my music equipment and moved to DC 421 00:24:05,276 --> 00:24:07,036 Speaker 1: and I tried to find some bands to play in. 422 00:24:07,116 --> 00:24:08,996 Speaker 1: But I wasn't really plugged in and I was I 423 00:24:09,156 --> 00:24:11,436 Speaker 1: had no money, like you know, I lost my first apartment. 424 00:24:11,476 --> 00:24:13,596 Speaker 1: I was homeless. I was like living out of my car. 425 00:24:13,796 --> 00:24:15,716 Speaker 1: And then I met a girl and I was living 426 00:24:15,716 --> 00:24:17,676 Speaker 1: out of the dorms at Howard, you know, pretending I 427 00:24:17,756 --> 00:24:20,316 Speaker 1: was a student there. I was just trying to like survive. 428 00:24:20,716 --> 00:24:23,116 Speaker 1: I didn't have time to like join a band, got you, 429 00:24:23,276 --> 00:24:25,076 Speaker 1: you know. So then when I started getting jobs, I 430 00:24:25,156 --> 00:24:26,836 Speaker 1: was just like cool, this is what I'm doing now. 431 00:24:27,676 --> 00:24:30,076 Speaker 1: And then I hated it didn't feel good, and I 432 00:24:30,156 --> 00:24:32,796 Speaker 1: moved to New York started playing in band. So I 433 00:24:32,876 --> 00:24:36,116 Speaker 1: was like twenty five when I really started hitting it 434 00:24:36,236 --> 00:24:39,356 Speaker 1: hard in New York, and I just gigged for five 435 00:24:39,436 --> 00:24:43,876 Speaker 1: and a half years. Basically, So lifevers inspired by your 436 00:24:43,956 --> 00:24:46,796 Speaker 1: moved to Brooklyn to New York and finding a space 437 00:24:46,836 --> 00:24:50,636 Speaker 1: where you finally feel yourself like free, like comfortable, like 438 00:24:50,916 --> 00:24:52,956 Speaker 1: not like an oddity everywhere you go, or no one's 439 00:24:52,956 --> 00:24:55,556 Speaker 1: staring at you or wondering. What were the first songs 440 00:24:55,636 --> 00:24:59,916 Speaker 1: that came out of that feeling Boomer, Mustang, Ghostly, those 441 00:24:59,996 --> 00:25:02,276 Speaker 1: three probably I wrote. I wrote a lot of music 442 00:25:02,356 --> 00:25:04,956 Speaker 1: for that record. I just picked those ten Boomers a 443 00:25:04,996 --> 00:25:07,796 Speaker 1: crazy song. So I like that song. Where did you 444 00:25:07,876 --> 00:25:13,196 Speaker 1: find the confidence to mix? Like I actually wrote down. 445 00:25:13,756 --> 00:25:16,356 Speaker 1: I had to write this song out and like track 446 00:25:16,596 --> 00:25:18,796 Speaker 1: what's going on in it? Because you know, first of all, listen, 447 00:25:18,796 --> 00:25:20,796 Speaker 1: I was like, that's that's fucking cool. And then I 448 00:25:20,876 --> 00:25:22,916 Speaker 1: was like, wait a second. I'm like the verses are 449 00:25:22,996 --> 00:25:25,996 Speaker 1: like storytelling through like rap, and then you're into like 450 00:25:26,276 --> 00:25:28,876 Speaker 1: a pre courses like R and B pop course just 451 00:25:28,996 --> 00:25:31,996 Speaker 1: feels indie rock, and then the bridge is like a 452 00:25:32,076 --> 00:25:35,356 Speaker 1: country blues or something. You know, You're like, yeah, damn. 453 00:25:36,116 --> 00:25:39,876 Speaker 1: There's been adventurous artists like Prince has songs that feel 454 00:25:40,076 --> 00:25:42,716 Speaker 1: like a country song or a gospel song. In Parliament 455 00:25:42,756 --> 00:25:44,556 Speaker 1: the same. But it's like, don't everything into one song 456 00:25:44,676 --> 00:25:49,036 Speaker 1: that guts yeah, some courage, man, dude. The songs, I mean, 457 00:25:49,236 --> 00:25:51,236 Speaker 1: a song scared the shit out of me. It's it 458 00:25:51,396 --> 00:25:53,316 Speaker 1: was a scary song to write because I thought people 459 00:25:53,316 --> 00:25:55,556 Speaker 1: were gonna think I was corny. When I wrote it, 460 00:25:55,716 --> 00:25:57,836 Speaker 1: I was like, people are gonna think this is whack. 461 00:25:58,156 --> 00:26:00,756 Speaker 1: Like I love this, but I don't think anyone's gonna 462 00:26:00,756 --> 00:26:05,956 Speaker 1: really understand this. But luckily, my friend Brian Damilia was like, dogs, 463 00:26:05,996 --> 00:26:08,956 Speaker 1: that's the best song on the record, Like easy, you need, 464 00:26:09,756 --> 00:26:11,596 Speaker 1: we're putting that on the record. I almost didn't put 465 00:26:11,636 --> 00:26:14,196 Speaker 1: it on the record at all. I was like uh, 466 00:26:14,796 --> 00:26:16,396 Speaker 1: And I was like, I don't think I'm gonna take 467 00:26:16,396 --> 00:26:18,916 Speaker 1: it off the record, and he was like, that song 468 00:26:19,036 --> 00:26:21,836 Speaker 1: wraps up the record. It like it's like such a 469 00:26:21,876 --> 00:26:24,636 Speaker 1: clear picture of who you are, you know, Like I 470 00:26:24,756 --> 00:26:26,716 Speaker 1: grew up in the country. The first shit I learned 471 00:26:26,716 --> 00:26:28,276 Speaker 1: how to play was like blues and country music, and 472 00:26:28,316 --> 00:26:30,396 Speaker 1: then it was like hardcore and I fell in love 473 00:26:30,396 --> 00:26:34,556 Speaker 1: with hip hop and it's all of it in one song. Yeah, great, 474 00:26:34,676 --> 00:26:37,036 Speaker 1: I love that song. It's a beautiful gift that you have. 475 00:26:37,196 --> 00:26:39,876 Speaker 1: Did you always have that level of confidence? No, because 476 00:26:39,916 --> 00:26:41,836 Speaker 1: I was scared all the time. I was scared of 477 00:26:41,956 --> 00:26:45,596 Speaker 1: everything growing up. I was horrified to be myself. I 478 00:26:45,636 --> 00:26:47,356 Speaker 1: felt like I was gonna get killed for it. That 479 00:26:47,516 --> 00:26:51,956 Speaker 1: was like all I learned from my parents, grandparents, everyone, 480 00:26:52,116 --> 00:26:55,036 Speaker 1: like everything was about fear. So when I moved here, 481 00:26:55,356 --> 00:26:57,316 Speaker 1: I was the first time I met black people who 482 00:26:57,316 --> 00:27:00,756 Speaker 1: weren't scared of anything, Like Nigga's outside all day, like 483 00:27:01,516 --> 00:27:05,796 Speaker 1: like all day, you know, just kicking it, smoking, partying, drinking, 484 00:27:06,316 --> 00:27:09,556 Speaker 1: having a good time whatever. You know. I never seeing 485 00:27:09,596 --> 00:27:12,436 Speaker 1: black people so free. So I was like, I want 486 00:27:12,476 --> 00:27:14,956 Speaker 1: to be like that. And so as I got closer 487 00:27:14,996 --> 00:27:19,316 Speaker 1: to that, I was like, dang, superpowers, Like this is amazing. 488 00:27:19,836 --> 00:27:21,676 Speaker 1: That's where it came from. I love it. I think 489 00:27:21,716 --> 00:27:24,396 Speaker 1: I got drunk off of it because I've never had 490 00:27:24,436 --> 00:27:28,996 Speaker 1: it before. It's an intense voice that you found. Yeah, 491 00:27:29,196 --> 00:27:31,436 Speaker 1: but it's so different, Like did you feel that you 492 00:27:31,556 --> 00:27:34,676 Speaker 1: had to make music that was from that same place, 493 00:27:34,756 --> 00:27:37,396 Speaker 1: like almost trapped by your own creation in that sense, 494 00:27:37,436 --> 00:27:39,676 Speaker 1: like or scared of it. No. I felt like that 495 00:27:39,836 --> 00:27:43,316 Speaker 1: record gave me all the running room I could ever want. 496 00:27:44,036 --> 00:27:46,796 Speaker 1: Like people expect me to do whatever I want after 497 00:27:46,916 --> 00:27:50,116 Speaker 1: that record. If I made a country record, they'd be like, well, 498 00:27:50,356 --> 00:27:52,876 Speaker 1: you know, it's kind of weird. Or if I made 499 00:27:52,916 --> 00:27:55,116 Speaker 1: like a freaking like a fusion record, they'd be like, 500 00:27:55,476 --> 00:27:57,676 Speaker 1: he kind of does whatever he wants, you know, Like, 501 00:27:58,116 --> 00:28:00,476 Speaker 1: and that's kind of the career I want. I want 502 00:28:00,516 --> 00:28:03,316 Speaker 1: to make a lot of stuff, and in my mind, 503 00:28:03,796 --> 00:28:06,716 Speaker 1: I'm not limited. There are things I want to do 504 00:28:07,636 --> 00:28:10,476 Speaker 1: that I'm just I'm gonna do. It'd be very hard 505 00:28:10,516 --> 00:28:15,396 Speaker 1: for someone to pressure me into making a specific record 506 00:28:15,756 --> 00:28:18,196 Speaker 1: unless it was like a fat check, you know, if 507 00:28:18,276 --> 00:28:20,636 Speaker 1: I get the Kanye gig or something. Yeah, you know, 508 00:28:21,236 --> 00:28:23,636 Speaker 1: now you're on four A D. You've you've taken the 509 00:28:23,716 --> 00:28:27,276 Speaker 1: fat check A check? Yes, h h check? Okay, won't 510 00:28:27,276 --> 00:28:30,956 Speaker 1: we won't, we won't. It's okay, it's good, it's very good. 511 00:28:30,996 --> 00:28:35,836 Speaker 1: I'm happy. My life is fine. Do you feel like 512 00:28:35,876 --> 00:28:37,596 Speaker 1: there's more people telling you what they do now or 513 00:28:37,756 --> 00:28:41,676 Speaker 1: no or anyone strongly recommending. That's why I signed with 514 00:28:41,756 --> 00:28:44,196 Speaker 1: them When I made Lift Forever, like no one wanted 515 00:28:44,196 --> 00:28:47,596 Speaker 1: to sign me at all. Everyone passed on my album. Everyone. 516 00:28:47,876 --> 00:28:50,036 Speaker 1: I was like, I get it, like it's weird as well, 517 00:28:50,036 --> 00:28:52,956 Speaker 1: you know, it's weird whatever, but I think it's gonna work. 518 00:28:53,596 --> 00:28:56,476 Speaker 1: And it worked. And then everyone came back and they 519 00:28:56,556 --> 00:28:59,116 Speaker 1: knew I had vision, and they knew that I knew 520 00:28:59,116 --> 00:29:01,116 Speaker 1: what I was doing and that I could make the record. 521 00:29:01,756 --> 00:29:03,076 Speaker 1: You know, I don't need a lot to make the record. 522 00:29:03,076 --> 00:29:05,116 Speaker 1: I can make them by myself, make it with my 523 00:29:05,236 --> 00:29:07,876 Speaker 1: friends whatever, you know, like if I say I'm gonna 524 00:29:07,876 --> 00:29:10,876 Speaker 1: do it, I'm probably gonna do it. And so for 525 00:29:10,996 --> 00:29:13,036 Speaker 1: a d they you know, they I felt like with them, 526 00:29:13,116 --> 00:29:16,396 Speaker 1: they they understood me the deepest and they understood that 527 00:29:16,596 --> 00:29:19,116 Speaker 1: I had vision and they were just going to trust me. 528 00:29:19,396 --> 00:29:23,076 Speaker 1: And I felt like they understood that I was in 529 00:29:23,196 --> 00:29:25,796 Speaker 1: it for the long haul. Like I wasn't looking for 530 00:29:25,916 --> 00:29:28,876 Speaker 1: a hit. I wasn't trying to make like the biggest 531 00:29:28,916 --> 00:29:30,916 Speaker 1: song of twenty twenty two. I was just like, I'm 532 00:29:30,916 --> 00:29:34,436 Speaker 1: gonna build this thing over time, and one day we're 533 00:29:34,476 --> 00:29:36,476 Speaker 1: all gonna look down from the mountain and be like, 534 00:29:36,556 --> 00:29:39,516 Speaker 1: look what we did. Because the bands I admire, that's 535 00:29:39,596 --> 00:29:44,196 Speaker 1: what they did, Like what groups the National Radiohead TV 536 00:29:44,316 --> 00:29:48,996 Speaker 1: on the Radio, Nick Cave, people who like, over decades 537 00:29:49,356 --> 00:29:52,556 Speaker 1: build these followings that are just like you can't fuck 538 00:29:52,636 --> 00:29:55,636 Speaker 1: with it. It's deeper than like having a hit. It's 539 00:29:55,676 --> 00:29:58,396 Speaker 1: like I want a career like those because I feel 540 00:29:58,396 --> 00:30:00,836 Speaker 1: like there's not enough black people that get that opportunity 541 00:30:01,476 --> 00:30:03,716 Speaker 1: to be in like the alternative space and like have 542 00:30:03,836 --> 00:30:06,316 Speaker 1: a career like the National. You know, there aren't. I mean, 543 00:30:06,356 --> 00:30:09,476 Speaker 1: there's Prints, there's MJ. You know, there's dev mind. You 544 00:30:09,556 --> 00:30:12,516 Speaker 1: know these people they're like pop kind of world. But 545 00:30:12,676 --> 00:30:15,356 Speaker 1: like in my world, it's like, after all the music 546 00:30:15,396 --> 00:30:18,236 Speaker 1: black people have made, like it's it's weird that there's 547 00:30:18,316 --> 00:30:22,116 Speaker 1: not like a band like The National that's black. It's 548 00:30:22,156 --> 00:30:25,036 Speaker 1: had like seven great albums and it's just like, you 549 00:30:25,116 --> 00:30:27,196 Speaker 1: know has built that following. And I want to do that. 550 00:30:27,876 --> 00:30:29,716 Speaker 1: I mean TV on the radio made some great music. 551 00:30:29,836 --> 00:30:31,756 Speaker 1: They did, but they don't make music anymore. I know 552 00:30:31,876 --> 00:30:34,396 Speaker 1: what happened. They need to. I really want them to 553 00:30:34,436 --> 00:30:36,236 Speaker 1: make music again. Dog. I met tun Day for the 554 00:30:36,316 --> 00:30:39,036 Speaker 1: first time like two months ago, and I was just 555 00:30:39,196 --> 00:30:43,796 Speaker 1: like almost, I was like, keep it together. You know, 556 00:30:45,156 --> 00:30:48,756 Speaker 1: he's like patron saint of my the world in my mind. 557 00:30:49,076 --> 00:30:51,876 Speaker 1: You know, you're just like you're the greatest. Yeah. I 558 00:30:51,956 --> 00:30:54,756 Speaker 1: had billboards all over LA for my album from the Table, 559 00:30:55,356 --> 00:30:57,236 Speaker 1: and he was he was telling me about how he 560 00:30:57,316 --> 00:30:59,716 Speaker 1: kept passing him and how he was like listening to 561 00:30:59,796 --> 00:31:01,956 Speaker 1: the songs and how he loved the music. And I 562 00:31:02,116 --> 00:31:05,156 Speaker 1: was just like, dude, like I remember watching you play 563 00:31:05,196 --> 00:31:07,996 Speaker 1: Wolf like me in two thousand and six on The 564 00:31:08,116 --> 00:31:10,756 Speaker 1: Letterman Show. Me asking my mom to get me a 565 00:31:10,836 --> 00:31:13,636 Speaker 1: guitar the next day and I got a guitar, and 566 00:31:13,676 --> 00:31:17,236 Speaker 1: I started dressing like you and like covering that song 567 00:31:17,316 --> 00:31:19,596 Speaker 1: at every party I went to for like two years. 568 00:31:20,076 --> 00:31:22,356 Speaker 1: And now I'm like just like talking to you at 569 00:31:22,396 --> 00:31:24,996 Speaker 1: a bar in La before I go on headline at 570 00:31:24,996 --> 00:31:27,836 Speaker 1: the Getty tomorrow. Life was fucked up. Man, It's crazy 571 00:31:28,956 --> 00:31:32,996 Speaker 1: what can happened? And we have to pause for a 572 00:31:33,076 --> 00:31:35,436 Speaker 1: quick break and then we'll be back with more from 573 00:31:35,476 --> 00:31:42,556 Speaker 1: Bartie Strange. We're back with the rest of my conversation 574 00:31:42,756 --> 00:31:45,756 Speaker 1: with Bartie Strange, who's about to play as stems from 575 00:31:45,756 --> 00:31:48,556 Speaker 1: his latest album Farm to Table and break down how 576 00:31:48,636 --> 00:31:51,316 Speaker 1: he built some of the tracks. We should talk about 577 00:31:51,316 --> 00:31:53,436 Speaker 1: the creation of your new record. I know you brought 578 00:31:53,516 --> 00:31:56,196 Speaker 1: some stems. Yeah, which song should pull up first? Whatever 579 00:31:56,236 --> 00:31:59,316 Speaker 1: you want to pull up with mulholland drive, okay out 580 00:31:59,356 --> 00:32:01,276 Speaker 1: of this track? Get built the song started with this 581 00:32:09,116 --> 00:32:13,916 Speaker 1: wrote it on electric. Yeah, so straight up. I love 582 00:32:14,036 --> 00:32:18,676 Speaker 1: like emo music like Twinkled Daddy, shit from the Midwest, Snowing, 583 00:32:18,836 --> 00:32:24,396 Speaker 1: Sam Ruddick, American football owls, Cap and Jazz Cap and 584 00:32:24,556 --> 00:32:29,276 Speaker 1: Jazz Mike and Tim Kinsella, all those guys, Victor Villareal. 585 00:32:29,516 --> 00:32:30,836 Speaker 1: There's a lot of things that happened in this song. 586 00:32:30,876 --> 00:32:33,316 Speaker 1: But it all started with a guitar line which is 587 00:32:33,396 --> 00:32:35,876 Speaker 1: kind of like an emo kind of Midwestern thing of 588 00:32:35,916 --> 00:32:39,036 Speaker 1: ainsla thing, like now you say, like tim yeah, big time. 589 00:32:39,316 --> 00:32:41,396 Speaker 1: I mean it's especially when you kind of get towards 590 00:32:41,436 --> 00:32:42,956 Speaker 1: the end of the song. There's some big licks that 591 00:32:42,996 --> 00:32:45,756 Speaker 1: are big emo licks. I'll just press play, I guess yeah, 592 00:32:45,836 --> 00:33:01,236 Speaker 1: please listen. Yeah. And now it's like war on Drugs. 593 00:33:08,076 --> 00:33:16,596 Speaker 1: It's easy track. I don't know what's happening. I know 594 00:33:24,316 --> 00:33:28,076 Speaker 1: who's playing on this, so I'm playing that lead line. 595 00:33:28,316 --> 00:33:31,916 Speaker 1: My buddy Dan Kleiderman is playing the cool guitar lines 596 00:33:32,156 --> 00:33:33,996 Speaker 1: which you'll hear during the chorus, and some of those 597 00:33:34,516 --> 00:33:38,636 Speaker 1: commenting left here headphone guitar lines, the kind of like 598 00:33:38,876 --> 00:33:42,876 Speaker 1: filling lead lines. Um. I played bass, and then my 599 00:33:42,916 --> 00:33:46,116 Speaker 1: buddy John Days played bass as well, kind of the 600 00:33:46,196 --> 00:33:50,436 Speaker 1: way I there's two basses on it, there's four, So 601 00:33:50,956 --> 00:33:54,276 Speaker 1: the way I track, I'll play and then I'll have 602 00:33:54,356 --> 00:33:58,076 Speaker 1: other people play and I combine parts like all the time. 603 00:33:58,316 --> 00:34:00,236 Speaker 1: Can you solo the bass so you can hear that. 604 00:34:00,956 --> 00:34:04,596 Speaker 1: So here's one bass track during this section, it's just 605 00:34:04,756 --> 00:34:09,996 Speaker 1: synth bass. Day didn't just get over me. That's all 606 00:34:10,036 --> 00:34:20,196 Speaker 1: we have, right, now that's the bass. What's happening? But 607 00:34:20,356 --> 00:34:29,796 Speaker 1: then what stuffs men in my boat? Cutty in incoming 608 00:34:29,956 --> 00:34:40,396 Speaker 1: every single time. So right there, it goes from wide, 609 00:34:40,916 --> 00:34:44,676 Speaker 1: spacious base to a very focused based sound in the middle, 610 00:34:45,196 --> 00:34:51,916 Speaker 1: which is this, this is me playing bass, this is John, 611 00:34:55,236 --> 00:35:02,716 Speaker 1: and this is the other one. So you get this 612 00:35:02,876 --> 00:35:07,916 Speaker 1: thing where normally people go verses are small, choruses are wide, 613 00:35:08,476 --> 00:35:11,276 Speaker 1: but I wanted to go opposite. Made the chorus is 614 00:35:11,476 --> 00:35:16,076 Speaker 1: very like direct and punchy. And the way I accomplished 615 00:35:16,116 --> 00:35:20,516 Speaker 1: that was by making the bass focused and direct. Wow. 616 00:35:21,156 --> 00:35:25,476 Speaker 1: So a trick. So yeah, that's a vibe. Moving on 617 00:35:25,996 --> 00:35:30,436 Speaker 1: second verse, classic move different vocal melody than the first verse, 618 00:35:31,076 --> 00:35:33,196 Speaker 1: and I threw an auto tune on it because I'm 619 00:35:33,236 --> 00:35:36,276 Speaker 1: like switching characters. This is like not the same person 620 00:35:36,356 --> 00:35:46,676 Speaker 1: that was in the first verse. I'm on the team. 621 00:35:47,316 --> 00:35:55,596 Speaker 1: It's your favorite sing angel friend, the biggest and singing 622 00:35:55,756 --> 00:36:12,356 Speaker 1: songs and the sand and I'm in such a So 623 00:36:12,716 --> 00:36:17,036 Speaker 1: if you compare the verses first first vocal like, I 624 00:36:17,116 --> 00:36:21,836 Speaker 1: don't know what's happening in man to this guy, I'm 625 00:36:21,956 --> 00:36:25,276 Speaker 1: on the team, it's your favorite thing. I'm your nigga, 626 00:36:25,436 --> 00:36:28,516 Speaker 1: I ain't your friend. Let's gop to the legglow the 627 00:36:28,636 --> 00:36:32,436 Speaker 1: biggest and play the bands. Remember singing songs in GC 628 00:36:32,876 --> 00:36:36,636 Speaker 1: all about how you like ty dollars? Yeah, sh it's hard. 629 00:36:36,836 --> 00:36:39,076 Speaker 1: Do you identify with one more than the other? I'm 630 00:36:39,116 --> 00:36:41,556 Speaker 1: both at the same time. I wish everyone listening to 631 00:36:41,636 --> 00:36:43,756 Speaker 1: see your face right now, I'm like cheesing so hard. 632 00:36:45,396 --> 00:37:22,676 Speaker 1: I love this, Okay, moving forward, jazz emo moment. You 633 00:37:22,756 --> 00:37:25,036 Speaker 1: know what made you throw that those couple of chords 634 00:37:25,116 --> 00:37:27,676 Speaker 1: in before the It felt like it was time to 635 00:37:27,756 --> 00:37:32,716 Speaker 1: move on, you know, like I love that chorus because 636 00:37:32,996 --> 00:37:36,516 Speaker 1: you know, first chorus is short, no repetition, it's just 637 00:37:37,276 --> 00:37:40,436 Speaker 1: it's sung through one time. Second time, we sing it 638 00:37:40,516 --> 00:37:43,596 Speaker 1: through twice with a little bit of an added measure, 639 00:37:44,356 --> 00:37:47,036 Speaker 1: and then we come out of it with these jazz chords, 640 00:37:47,116 --> 00:37:50,036 Speaker 1: which are very natural to me. I taught myself how 641 00:37:50,076 --> 00:37:51,556 Speaker 1: to play guitar, so I don't really know what I'm 642 00:37:51,596 --> 00:37:53,836 Speaker 1: doing most of the time. I don't know notes or 643 00:37:53,916 --> 00:37:56,876 Speaker 1: chords or anything like that. But I wanted to create 644 00:37:56,996 --> 00:38:02,476 Speaker 1: a shift that was out in the jazz sense, like 645 00:38:03,156 --> 00:38:05,956 Speaker 1: something that really doesn't fit the vibe of the song, 646 00:38:06,116 --> 00:38:10,916 Speaker 1: but creates a break that ends the space we were in. 647 00:38:11,676 --> 00:38:14,236 Speaker 1: You know, I wanted to like leave that world and 648 00:38:14,356 --> 00:38:17,676 Speaker 1: go somewhere else like now, you know, I didn't want 649 00:38:17,676 --> 00:38:20,236 Speaker 1: to create a transition. I was just like shut that door, 650 00:38:20,556 --> 00:38:23,756 Speaker 1: next room, amazing, And so I felt like that voicing, 651 00:38:31,756 --> 00:38:35,716 Speaker 1: you know, it's like sounds like like Robert Fripp, you know, um. 652 00:38:36,076 --> 00:38:38,676 Speaker 1: And to me it's also I like to show off, 653 00:38:38,716 --> 00:38:40,596 Speaker 1: I guess you know. I like to be like, yeah, 654 00:38:40,596 --> 00:38:43,076 Speaker 1: I can do that too, whatever Bloom Boom jazz or 655 00:38:43,156 --> 00:38:47,756 Speaker 1: right next scord, you know, disrespectful. All my freaking band 656 00:38:47,836 --> 00:38:51,516 Speaker 1: members are jazz nerds, like Berkeley freaking losers. You got 657 00:38:51,996 --> 00:38:53,676 Speaker 1: a stunt on them. Yeah. I was just like I 658 00:38:53,756 --> 00:38:56,916 Speaker 1: didn't do any schooling. And you know, I'm kidding. I 659 00:38:56,996 --> 00:38:59,876 Speaker 1: love those threats. Yeah, I love them so much. And 660 00:38:59,996 --> 00:39:03,036 Speaker 1: they and they're always like, yo, what key is this in? 661 00:39:03,116 --> 00:39:06,196 Speaker 1: And I'm like, you tell me my my guy, because 662 00:39:06,236 --> 00:39:09,876 Speaker 1: I just work here at Bartey strangealousy. I signed the checks. 663 00:39:13,156 --> 00:39:16,996 Speaker 1: Somehow I feel like you've got cards to me. I 664 00:39:17,156 --> 00:39:20,916 Speaker 1: don't really feel like I'm supposed to be my band, 665 00:39:21,156 --> 00:39:29,436 Speaker 1: my brand, my band, my brand. Somehow I feel lucky 666 00:39:29,556 --> 00:39:33,356 Speaker 1: to card to me. I don't want to be I 667 00:39:33,476 --> 00:39:39,676 Speaker 1: was pupposed to be my band, my band, my band. 668 00:39:45,236 --> 00:39:48,516 Speaker 1: I find it hard to get over this right now 669 00:39:52,636 --> 00:39:55,876 Speaker 1: because when I'm talking it off, I've seen you like 670 00:39:56,076 --> 00:40:02,476 Speaker 1: a bye. I find it hard to get over this 671 00:40:02,996 --> 00:40:21,036 Speaker 1: right now. By you're really showing off on this song. 672 00:40:21,076 --> 00:40:23,716 Speaker 1: And now I'm realizing, yes, you have more parts than 673 00:40:23,796 --> 00:40:27,676 Speaker 1: you know what to do with. Yeah, sections, sections on sections, 674 00:40:28,036 --> 00:40:31,436 Speaker 1: but yo, there's method to the madness. So that section, 675 00:40:32,196 --> 00:40:35,876 Speaker 1: you expect it to go somewhere, but it never climaxes. 676 00:40:36,516 --> 00:40:37,956 Speaker 1: We leave that and we just go right back to 677 00:40:37,996 --> 00:40:39,956 Speaker 1: the chorus and we end the song. So even in 678 00:40:40,076 --> 00:40:41,716 Speaker 1: writing it, did you feel like you wanted to go 679 00:40:41,836 --> 00:40:44,436 Speaker 1: big there and stop yourself? What did you? Yes? I 680 00:40:44,516 --> 00:40:45,796 Speaker 1: felt I was like, I was like, I want to 681 00:40:45,876 --> 00:40:48,956 Speaker 1: lead them somewhere, and I don't want it to actually 682 00:40:49,036 --> 00:40:51,956 Speaker 1: be gratifying. I want to suck it all back in 683 00:40:52,836 --> 00:40:56,236 Speaker 1: and refocus it all small because That's how I'm feeling. Yes, 684 00:40:57,116 --> 00:41:00,556 Speaker 1: it feels powerful too to take it away and not 685 00:41:00,716 --> 00:41:03,796 Speaker 1: give it to them as a writer, as a musician, 686 00:41:04,596 --> 00:41:06,996 Speaker 1: especially after showing them I can do all these things 687 00:41:07,556 --> 00:41:09,996 Speaker 1: like I can do the jazz move, I can do 688 00:41:10,036 --> 00:41:12,156 Speaker 1: the big guitar lick, I can write the tight chorus. 689 00:41:12,476 --> 00:41:14,356 Speaker 1: We can do the cool auto tune thing. Got a 690 00:41:14,476 --> 00:41:16,796 Speaker 1: nice sound of lead vocal in the first half. But 691 00:41:16,916 --> 00:41:22,276 Speaker 1: I'm not going to give you the climax, and it's 692 00:41:22,476 --> 00:41:26,356 Speaker 1: a choice. I like it. Yeah, should do one more. Yeah, 693 00:41:27,196 --> 00:41:30,516 Speaker 1: let's see co signs or this song is. I was 694 00:41:30,596 --> 00:41:33,796 Speaker 1: really proud of this, this song co signs right. I 695 00:41:33,916 --> 00:41:36,676 Speaker 1: had this beat for a while. Actually, I had this 696 00:41:36,996 --> 00:41:41,316 Speaker 1: for a while, this sound. Let's see if we can 697 00:41:41,356 --> 00:41:48,156 Speaker 1: make this louder. And I came upon that sound because 698 00:41:48,196 --> 00:41:51,636 Speaker 1: I was like, you know who Nils from is from 699 00:41:52,196 --> 00:41:57,076 Speaker 1: a race tapes? I think so, yeah, he's a piano player. Yes, yeah, 700 00:41:57,636 --> 00:42:02,076 Speaker 1: that sound is like sampled from his hit. He did 701 00:42:02,116 --> 00:42:05,396 Speaker 1: this beautiful prima vera set with a juno one oh six, 702 00:42:06,036 --> 00:42:08,996 Speaker 1: and that bouncy, scynth thing was a sound he was 703 00:42:09,116 --> 00:42:11,756 Speaker 1: getting from that juno, and I like recreated the patch 704 00:42:12,356 --> 00:42:15,876 Speaker 1: and played it right. So programmed that and I was like, 705 00:42:15,956 --> 00:42:19,076 Speaker 1: this is dirty. And then Tom York put out Anima, 706 00:42:19,716 --> 00:42:22,916 Speaker 1: that solo project, and I was like, this is like 707 00:42:22,956 --> 00:42:25,116 Speaker 1: the coolest record I've ever heard. I really loved it. 708 00:42:25,756 --> 00:42:28,556 Speaker 1: And so I was playing around a lot with like 709 00:42:28,716 --> 00:42:31,436 Speaker 1: these like more Housier songs and It's like I came 710 00:42:31,556 --> 00:42:34,356 Speaker 1: up with that little thing, and somewhere along the way. 711 00:42:34,796 --> 00:42:37,836 Speaker 1: I think it was because Chris Conner's my co producer, 712 00:42:38,436 --> 00:42:40,996 Speaker 1: was just coming off of this Kanye gig because he 713 00:42:41,076 --> 00:42:43,836 Speaker 1: was working on the latest Kanye record, and he was 714 00:42:43,876 --> 00:42:45,716 Speaker 1: telling me about it and how they were attracting the 715 00:42:45,836 --> 00:42:49,916 Speaker 1: vocals and just how aggressive the vocals were. And then 716 00:42:49,996 --> 00:42:52,196 Speaker 1: I was like, dang, let me dig in. So I 717 00:42:52,356 --> 00:42:55,076 Speaker 1: started digging hard and all this Kanye stuff and I 718 00:42:55,236 --> 00:42:57,756 Speaker 1: was like, damn, I really love how like evil and 719 00:42:57,836 --> 00:43:00,596 Speaker 1: mean and aggressive and ridiculous this vocal sound is. It's 720 00:43:00,636 --> 00:43:06,076 Speaker 1: like this insane, saturated, supergated, like really risky tracking. And 721 00:43:06,196 --> 00:43:08,276 Speaker 1: I was like, Okay, let's see how close we can 722 00:43:08,316 --> 00:43:11,516 Speaker 1: get to that. And then when it's like this radiohead 723 00:43:11,596 --> 00:43:16,076 Speaker 1: meets Kanye meets like this indie rock thing, and I 724 00:43:16,356 --> 00:43:18,036 Speaker 1: fell in love with it. I thought it was like 725 00:43:18,076 --> 00:43:23,756 Speaker 1: a really interesting portrait or like amalgamation of ideas. I 726 00:43:23,916 --> 00:43:26,436 Speaker 1: was also having this realization. I was in four A 727 00:43:26,596 --> 00:43:30,156 Speaker 1: D's studio in Wandsworth in London, and I just come 728 00:43:30,156 --> 00:43:32,876 Speaker 1: off towards like Lucy Dacis and Phoebe Bridgers and I 729 00:43:32,956 --> 00:43:35,356 Speaker 1: was about to go onto at Courtney Barnett and Bonavere 730 00:43:35,516 --> 00:43:37,796 Speaker 1: just checked in to see it what my touring schedule 731 00:43:37,916 --> 00:43:40,316 Speaker 1: was like, and Martin Mills was coming down and listening 732 00:43:40,316 --> 00:43:43,356 Speaker 1: to the music every couple of days, and I was like, Man, 733 00:43:43,716 --> 00:43:46,236 Speaker 1: I don't know what happened, but this is working, Like 734 00:43:46,476 --> 00:43:48,996 Speaker 1: I'm doing this shit. Yeah, And this song is kind 735 00:43:49,036 --> 00:43:52,196 Speaker 1: of it's that energy. It's kind of like Boomer on 736 00:43:52,316 --> 00:43:55,236 Speaker 1: Live Forever to me where it's like it's two or 737 00:43:55,316 --> 00:44:00,276 Speaker 1: three vibes in a song, smashed in and succinct, but 738 00:44:00,596 --> 00:44:03,716 Speaker 1: there's like an honesty behind it that like, I honestly 739 00:44:03,756 --> 00:44:05,516 Speaker 1: felt like I was the only person who could have 740 00:44:05,556 --> 00:44:09,436 Speaker 1: made this song because I was like in a stage 741 00:44:09,476 --> 00:44:10,876 Speaker 1: of my life that I felt like it was really 742 00:44:10,956 --> 00:44:13,596 Speaker 1: unique and I was around people that I'd always wanted 743 00:44:13,636 --> 00:44:15,796 Speaker 1: to be around, and I was able to capture that 744 00:44:15,956 --> 00:44:18,436 Speaker 1: feeling in this recording. Yeah, because that's a feeling you 745 00:44:18,476 --> 00:44:22,996 Speaker 1: only have once. Yeah, you only kind of are ascending once, 746 00:44:24,036 --> 00:44:25,876 Speaker 1: you know, all of that shit happens for the first 747 00:44:25,956 --> 00:44:32,196 Speaker 1: time one time. And then I made this song. Damn, 748 00:44:32,796 --> 00:44:36,436 Speaker 1: just got out the van. You personal hit me bass 749 00:44:36,476 --> 00:44:39,876 Speaker 1: and ticks on me to sing my address first and 750 00:44:39,996 --> 00:44:43,636 Speaker 1: Chicks and Day forget to sing time to fit this chance. 751 00:44:43,716 --> 00:44:48,036 Speaker 1: It ass coma need to binge. I'm a I'm with Phoebe, 752 00:44:48,236 --> 00:44:51,956 Speaker 1: I'm a jens Dan, I'm a chet, I'm a little see, 753 00:44:52,036 --> 00:44:57,076 Speaker 1: I just got the scan hit according as my already stand, 754 00:44:57,756 --> 00:45:01,596 Speaker 1: I'm a FaceTime. I'm with Justin. We already friends, We 755 00:45:01,836 --> 00:45:07,556 Speaker 1: already friends, We already I'm FaceTime repeat the line just 756 00:45:07,676 --> 00:45:22,716 Speaker 1: like Kanye West began. Definitely to me, I can hear radiohead, 757 00:45:22,836 --> 00:45:30,756 Speaker 1: like the freaking bass line. It's like ball, just like 758 00:45:30,876 --> 00:45:33,116 Speaker 1: the repetitive nature of the track and how it evolves 759 00:45:33,156 --> 00:45:42,796 Speaker 1: over time. It feels like that to me. Anyways, it grows, Well, 760 00:45:42,836 --> 00:45:46,596 Speaker 1: what's going on with the guitars in the background. Yes, lord, 761 00:45:47,116 --> 00:45:50,596 Speaker 1: I play these guitars. They're the wiggliest, most fun guitars. 762 00:46:03,636 --> 00:46:25,876 Speaker 1: And then this horn comes in. It's awesome. It's so 763 00:46:27,476 --> 00:46:33,756 Speaker 1: fucking right. I love it. It's bizarre, man, It's like, 764 00:46:33,876 --> 00:46:38,156 Speaker 1: that is not what the beat that you started with. Yeah, 765 00:46:38,556 --> 00:46:41,556 Speaker 1: I would never in a million years think to put 766 00:46:41,596 --> 00:46:44,516 Speaker 1: those guitars on it. It's weird. And then you've got 767 00:46:44,596 --> 00:47:01,356 Speaker 1: this bassline down the middle. Could have been a radio 768 00:47:01,476 --> 00:47:08,276 Speaker 1: ed song, right. I got co signs and Suns gonna 769 00:47:08,316 --> 00:47:11,396 Speaker 1: ask my team my putter love for forty feet at 770 00:47:11,436 --> 00:47:15,236 Speaker 1: the Beacon four week with the multiple pointy atus bed 771 00:47:15,276 --> 00:47:20,476 Speaker 1: I don't know, yall. Yeah wow, that kind of jumps 772 00:47:20,516 --> 00:47:22,876 Speaker 1: off into this like very what I would say, like 773 00:47:22,996 --> 00:47:27,436 Speaker 1: a Tom York Anima style like housey section, like an 774 00:47:27,556 --> 00:48:10,236 Speaker 1: intense thang like remember system of a down of course 775 00:48:10,516 --> 00:48:19,916 Speaker 1: check this out not arials right Oh oh, I told 776 00:48:19,916 --> 00:48:49,036 Speaker 1: you say, Yeah, Wow, those are good drums. Beautiful, that's 777 00:48:49,036 --> 00:49:05,476 Speaker 1: a great playing. Yeah. My buddy Fabian Prinn played those 778 00:49:05,556 --> 00:49:08,876 Speaker 1: in the UK at the forty studios. He's the house 779 00:49:08,916 --> 00:49:12,236 Speaker 1: in here for four A d crushing drummer though, and 780 00:49:12,836 --> 00:49:15,276 Speaker 1: literally we wrote it and I was like, okay, I 781 00:49:15,316 --> 00:49:16,636 Speaker 1: can try and play the drums. And I went and 782 00:49:16,676 --> 00:49:19,476 Speaker 1: played it, and I was like, you gotta play better 783 00:49:19,596 --> 00:49:21,676 Speaker 1: version of this. Dog. I can't. I can't be the 784 00:49:22,196 --> 00:49:27,036 Speaker 1: I can't be the drummer on this song. Good joy, Yeah, beautiful, Yeah, 785 00:49:27,036 --> 00:49:29,956 Speaker 1: you crushed it. It's a beautiful, beautiful drumming. And then 786 00:49:29,996 --> 00:49:32,156 Speaker 1: there's a lot of processing and dog, that's how those 787 00:49:32,236 --> 00:49:35,356 Speaker 1: drums sounded when we recorded him, Like all these sounds 788 00:49:35,636 --> 00:49:38,756 Speaker 1: for the most part were done live. That this vocal 789 00:49:38,796 --> 00:49:42,156 Speaker 1: take I did it's all live. It's just hell of processing, 790 00:49:42,356 --> 00:49:44,596 Speaker 1: like mostly through UA D stuff and a bunch of pedals. 791 00:49:44,836 --> 00:49:47,356 Speaker 1: How many configurations did you have to go through til 792 00:49:47,356 --> 00:49:49,836 Speaker 1: you found that chain? It took me like an hour 793 00:49:50,156 --> 00:49:52,476 Speaker 1: because I knew what I wanted to sound like. I 794 00:49:52,676 --> 00:49:54,556 Speaker 1: was like, it used to come off a guitar amp. 795 00:49:55,236 --> 00:49:57,276 Speaker 1: I wanted to hit a space echo and it's got 796 00:49:57,356 --> 00:49:59,956 Speaker 1: to be smashed and I need an auto tune. So 797 00:50:00,076 --> 00:50:01,556 Speaker 1: I was like, how do we want to do this? 798 00:50:02,156 --> 00:50:04,796 Speaker 1: You know, it's like we got you know, let's figure 799 00:50:04,796 --> 00:50:07,436 Speaker 1: it out. And yeah, when we figured it out, me 800 00:50:07,556 --> 00:50:16,956 Speaker 1: Christ and Fabian nils Um Radiohead System of a down kanyets, 801 00:50:18,636 --> 00:50:22,436 Speaker 1: Yeah insane. Yeah, here, I'll play this vocal track for 802 00:50:22,516 --> 00:50:27,476 Speaker 1: you just really quick. Just got out the van. Universal 803 00:50:27,676 --> 00:50:31,396 Speaker 1: hit me Battle Chicks on me to sing me my address, 804 00:50:31,436 --> 00:50:34,636 Speaker 1: first food chicks that they forgot to sing time to 805 00:50:34,716 --> 00:50:37,156 Speaker 1: flip this transit what we work were doing for Universal? 806 00:50:37,196 --> 00:50:39,916 Speaker 1: By the way, Oh, I didn't do anything for Universal. 807 00:50:40,236 --> 00:50:41,956 Speaker 1: I just thought the line was dope, Okay, I just 808 00:50:42,076 --> 00:50:44,916 Speaker 1: want no. It's like a hip hop move where it's 809 00:50:44,916 --> 00:50:47,716 Speaker 1: just like I don't have a Bugatti. I'm not buying 810 00:50:47,756 --> 00:50:50,716 Speaker 1: Birken bags for chicks, but I'm gonna rap about it, 811 00:50:50,876 --> 00:50:55,076 Speaker 1: like because I will one day. I love it. It's like, 812 00:50:55,716 --> 00:50:58,276 Speaker 1: but that's the fun of the song. It's like, when 813 00:50:58,356 --> 00:51:00,756 Speaker 1: do you ever hear like a rap song talking about 814 00:51:00,796 --> 00:51:03,876 Speaker 1: like Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dakis and Justin Vernon. It's like, yeah, 815 00:51:03,916 --> 00:51:06,356 Speaker 1: it doesn't exist. Yeah, you know, it's like the it's 816 00:51:06,356 --> 00:51:08,956 Speaker 1: an art project. It's it's fun. I love what you're doing. 817 00:51:09,676 --> 00:51:14,076 Speaker 1: Than thanks man, Thank you so much, Bartise Man, Thank you. 818 00:51:14,356 --> 00:51:20,396 Speaker 1: This was awesome. Thanks to Bartis Strange for dissecting a 819 00:51:20,476 --> 00:51:22,916 Speaker 1: couple of songs off his new album Farm to Table 820 00:51:23,156 --> 00:51:25,836 Speaker 1: and for sharing his creative jargon with us. You can 821 00:51:25,876 --> 00:51:28,236 Speaker 1: hear all of our favorite Bartis Strange songs on a 822 00:51:28,356 --> 00:51:31,836 Speaker 1: playlist at broken record podcast dot com. Be sure to 823 00:51:31,876 --> 00:51:34,916 Speaker 1: subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube dot com slash 824 00:51:35,036 --> 00:51:38,436 Speaker 1: broken record Podcast. We can find all of our new episodes. 825 00:51:39,036 --> 00:51:41,916 Speaker 1: You can follow us on Twitter at broken Record. Broken 826 00:51:41,956 --> 00:51:44,956 Speaker 1: Record is producing help from Lea Rose, Jason Gambrel, Vent 827 00:51:45,036 --> 00:51:48,756 Speaker 1: Holiday and Sandler from Jennifer Sanchez, with engineering help from 828 00:51:48,836 --> 00:51:53,596 Speaker 1: Nick Chafee. Our executive producer is Mia Lobell. Broken Record 829 00:51:53,716 --> 00:51:56,396 Speaker 1: is a production of Pushkin Industries. IF you like this 830 00:51:56,516 --> 00:51:59,756 Speaker 1: show and others from pushkin, consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus. 831 00:52:00,316 --> 00:52:03,676 Speaker 1: Pushkin Plus is a podcast subscription that offers bonus content 832 00:52:03,836 --> 00:52:07,156 Speaker 1: an uninterrupted, ad free listening for four ninety nine a month. 833 00:52:07,796 --> 00:52:11,596 Speaker 1: Look for Pushkin Plus on podcasts subscriptions, and if you 834 00:52:11,676 --> 00:52:14,116 Speaker 1: like the show, please remember to share, rate, and review 835 00:52:14,196 --> 00:52:17,116 Speaker 1: us on your podcast That or the mus expect Anny Beats. 836 00:52:17,436 --> 00:52:18,396 Speaker 1: I'm justin Richmond,