1 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Hey guys, it's Sammy J and welcome to the Let's 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: Be Were All Podcast. First, I just want to make 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: sure you guys are all staying safe and healthy and inside. 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: I love this episode. It is with Alec Benjamin. We 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: recorded this right before the coronavirus hit, and that means 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: we actually got to record in person, which is really cool. 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: This episode is really inspiring for me because we talked 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: about his resiliency and persevering in the music business, his 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: new album These Two Windows, which is coming out soon, 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: his very unique songwriting process, and so much more. I 11 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: cannot wait for you guys to listen, and I can't 12 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: wait for your feedback. I'm really excited to have you 13 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: on my podcast because christ of Fall, You're an incredible 14 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: singer songwriter. I think your lyrics are just so vivid 15 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: and descriptive where it really paints a story. Um You're welcome, 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: and I think one of the really cool things that 17 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: I joy about your music is that it's different than 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: anything else. And I'm curious, what was the first song 19 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: you ever wrote? And do you remember what was the 20 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: first song I ever wrote? Was a song that I wrote? 21 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: Um Man, I've started a lot of songs before I 22 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 1: ever completed a full song. But the first song I 23 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: ever wrote, like in full was a song that I 24 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: wrote after my grandpa died when I was like fifteen. Um, 25 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: and uh, yeah, that's it was called. It was called 26 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: Beautiful Pain, and it was like the first time I 27 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: had ever like completed a song and performed it. So 28 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 1: I consider that like the first song that I made. 29 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: One of the things I found really interesting. I've talked 30 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: to a few people about this on the podcast. But 31 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: you started writing songs based on you created title, and 32 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: then you go off that that's true. Sometimes not all 33 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: the time and sometimes most of the time. Recently, Yes, 34 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: that's how I make music. So how do you come 35 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: up with the title? Read a lot of like random 36 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: sort of poetry things online and then like, you know, 37 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: I'll look for a word that's inspiring to me. And um, 38 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: if you read enough stuff or listen to a conversation, 39 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: is ultimately like a phrase or a word will pop 40 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: out to you. Like someone said something to me the 41 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: other day. Uh, I keep, you know, sitting in my 42 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: car and feeling sorry for myself, and I was like, oh, 43 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 1: that's like kind of poetic. Maybe I can like take 44 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: that line or use it as a title. So I 45 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: just try to be like aware of whenever I'm reading 46 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: something or having a conversation with someone, just like have 47 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 1: that kind of thing on in my brain where it's like, hey, 48 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: just in case someone says something like poetic, you know, 49 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: make a note of it. Um, So that's how I 50 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: do it. So I think your titles, like, for example, 51 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: death of a hero, right, how do you come up 52 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: with something like that a song like that, because that's 53 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: not necessarily based on well, I was reading a poem. 54 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: I was reading a poem on this website, and um, 55 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: sometimes people ask me if I'm a fan of Panic 56 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: at the Disco, But it wasn't. It wasn't actually the 57 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: death of a bachelor song that inspired that title, but 58 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: something there was another title that I read. It was 59 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: like a death of something and I was just like, 60 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 1: that's cool. I'll just change the last word and then 61 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: see how it relates to me and use it for 62 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: something else. Do you have a favorite song you put out? 63 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: So what you say, Oh, no, not really, because like 64 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: I don't really like I don't listen to my own 65 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: music really well yeah, I mean not like do you 66 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: ever well do you listen to your own interviews just 67 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: not have to write, right, but but beyond that for 68 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: like for like pleasure, like yeah, exactly. So it's like 69 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: a similar thing. I hate hearing myself right, So I 70 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: don't like hearing myself singing either, and so like I 71 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: listened to my voice or I listened to my voice 72 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: back on songs because I have to you know, edit 73 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: the song or whatever. But I'm never like sitting in 74 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: my car and being like, yeah, man, like this is 75 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: this is tight, Like let's just do another one, you know, 76 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: like of my own music. So I don't really have 77 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: a preference. I think I just like whatever. If I 78 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: put on music and there's like a fan favorite or something, 79 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: those tend to beat the songs that I like to 80 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: play the most because it gets the best reaction that shows. 81 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: I find that so much. I mean it makes sense 82 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: when you say it. I just feel like I hear 83 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: artists listening to their songs really Yeah. I heard Kanye 84 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: say once. He's like someone was like, what are you 85 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: listening to right now? He's like, I only listen to 86 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: my own music. Yeah he can. Hey, if I were, 87 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: if I were making music that level, Like if I 88 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: were if I were Kanye probably listened to Kanye too, 89 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: so I can't blame him. Do you have any role 90 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: models that have inspired your music? Yeah? Sure, like my 91 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: my mom and dad and my sister. And then like 92 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: I have a lot of fit like artists that I 93 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: look up to, like John Mayer, Um, I really like 94 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: um Paul Simon, I like eminem A lot. I like 95 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: a lot of different kinds of artists. Um m m. Well, 96 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: I know that John Mayer has become your mentor, which 97 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: is crazy to say, Yeah, it's cool. What is it 98 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: like working with someone who you got to perform on 99 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: stage with you? Who is so I got to perform 100 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: on stage with him your concert? Sure, but still I 101 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: don't know. Yeah, what is the biggest lesson you've learned 102 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: from him? Would you say? There's probably a lot of 103 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: lessons that I've learned from him, But I'm trying to 104 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: think there's so many to try and sort of like 105 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: think of just one this. Well, I guess one thing 106 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: is just like, you know, try and just be myself 107 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: and not worries so much about what other people are doing, 108 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: which I suppose is a challenge, you know, in this 109 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: day and age when there's so much information you're on 110 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: social media, you know, you're you're always focused on like 111 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: what other people have or what other people are making. 112 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 1: And so one of the cool things is that, like 113 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: for a while I was kind of like, oh man, 114 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: maybe I shouldn't have done this, maybe I shouldn't have 115 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: started making music, and he was like, you know, you're 116 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: on the right path. Just stay the course. So I 117 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: don't know if that's like a lesson life lesson that 118 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: he's taught me, but it was one thing that he 119 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: told me that um was cool and definitely made me 120 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: feel good. I mean, I think working with people like that, 121 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: it's also so inspiring. I'm curious what's your take on 122 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: social media because I've I've heard a lot of different things, 123 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: and oh, well, I think it's like it's like a 124 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: there's pluses and minuses, But I don't really think my 125 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: opinion on social media matters so much because it just 126 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: seems to be the way the world is moving. And 127 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: so it's done a lot of great things for me. 128 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: And also I was sitting next to someone on the 129 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: plane yesterday and we were talking and he was works 130 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: in like I t or something and it has a 131 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: really good job and he was like, yeah, man, I 132 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: got rid of that stuff a long time ago. My 133 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: life is much better for it. And I'm like, you know, 134 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: but for me, you know, making music, it definitely I 135 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: kind of have to do it. So, um, do you 136 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: have a healthy relationship with it? Would you say? I 137 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: don't know if when I don't know it, I don't 138 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: know not to go into like a whole Like you know, 139 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: I don't know what people believe about, like you know, 140 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: humanity and stuff, but like you know, social media and 141 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: like technology is definitely like one of the next steps 142 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: and like you know, our human evolution forward. So if 143 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: you're going to evolve, it's usually never like a painless thing. 144 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: So I guess that sort of means it's a good thing, right, 145 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: But it's not it's supposed to. Physically, it's not great 146 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: for you, and mentally it's not great for you. And 147 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: maybe the de pends on how you feel about everything, 148 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: but sometimes those are the same things. But it's definitely 149 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: not good for your neck. Like I went to I 150 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: went to the chiropractor and he was like, you know, 151 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: how much pressure you put on your neck when you 152 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: look at your phone like this in your lap. He's like, 153 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: that's two hundred pounds of pressure on your spine, Like 154 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: that was my backpack for school. I'm like, hunch, now, 155 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: it's not good. It um so ultimately I think it 156 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 1: maybe isn't necessarily great for the individual, but for humanity 157 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: as a whole, it's probably like the next step for us. 158 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: So I don't know if it matters how I feel 159 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: about it. That's really interesting. I haven't heard that take, 160 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: but it's true. How do you think it's going to 161 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: affect the future. I don't know, but I know that 162 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: it will. That's all I can say. I think people 163 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: are like becoming more integrated with their life with technology, 164 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: So next step is, like, you know, it keeps getting 165 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: smaller and smaller and smaller. Eventually it's going to be like, 166 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: you know, in your arm or whatever. It's on your 167 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: wrist right now. So that's gonna be so scary that 168 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: the thought of it will be cool. Who knows, Yeah, 169 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: but like yeah, I just feel like, you know, you 170 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: see like the spy movies that happen and you're like, man, 171 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: that's not too far away. Probably no, no, it's not, 172 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: it's not. It's coming. Well, I want to talk about 173 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: your music. Mind is a prison lyrically incredible. Thanks. I 174 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: think the way you visualize things and just put it 175 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: into words, that's so difficult to do. And I'm wondering 176 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: when you wrote that song, did you realize that it was? 177 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: I don't know. Did you just realize how many people 178 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: it could affect and how many people people could relate 179 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: to it? Um? I think that the song for me. 180 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: When I wrote that song, I wasn't really thinking about 181 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: other people. I was more thinking about, like, what was 182 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: Every time I write a song and I think that 183 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: a lot of people are going to relate to it, 184 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: it usually doesn't. And it usually is because I'm not 185 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: Um yeah it is, it is? But um yeah, you know. 186 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: I think the jury is still out on how many 187 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: people it will actually affect. But from when I when 188 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: I first posted it, I definitely got a bigger response 189 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: than I thought I was going to get. The first 190 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: three lines of that song incredible. Can you just for 191 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 1: the listeners who haven't heard it, can you just speak 192 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: them or save them? Let me see were the first 193 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: few lines of the song. I don't live in California. 194 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: I'll inform you that's not where I reside. I'm just 195 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: a tenant pay rent inside this body, and I got 196 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: two windows. In those windows what I call in my eyes. 197 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 1: I'm just going where the wind blows. I don't get 198 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: to the side. Those are the first lyrics of the song. 199 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: How long does it take you to cop with that? 200 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: We wrote the song in like an hour and a half, 201 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 1: so the lyrics probably took me about thirty five minutes. 202 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: But there have been times where lyrics I mean, but 203 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: it's it's hard to say because like, I've lived my 204 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: whole life to write like the one song. So I 205 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: feel like it's like a culmination of a lot of 206 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: things that result in every single song. So it's not 207 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: like how long did it take? It's like, well, I 208 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: wrote it in a day, but I've lived a lot 209 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: of days before I wrote the song. So yeah, I 210 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: know you've talked a lot about your struggle with anxiety, 211 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: which I can relate to. U. Is it therapeutic songwriting? 212 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: Does that help? Um? No, releasing the songs helps. So 213 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: when I get a reaction of like you know, you 214 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: get comments on the YouTube video and then you can 215 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: actually see that people relate that helps. UM writing the song, 216 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 1: UM you is probably it's it's writing songs is like, 217 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: especially when you do it for work, it's like a 218 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: tends to sometimes be painful because you don't always want 219 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: to be in the studio, but you know, like you 220 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: got to put out a record and you have a 221 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: deadline and you don't want your record to suck, so 222 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: you're like, well, I'm just gonna go to the studio. Um, 223 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: some days it can be really um, you know, cathartic 224 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: to like get the idea out, but um, yeah, it's 225 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: a mixed bag. I don't really know. I think, well, 226 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: what um have you used to help you with your anxiety? 227 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: Because I know you do this on your YouTube channel 228 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: where you go up to people and start singing to them, 229 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: and like for someone who's anxious like myself, I'm like, 230 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: that would stress me. Yeah, it stresses me out too. 231 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: It's not fun. I don't like to Why do you 232 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: do it? Because my label said to be a really 233 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: fun idea to make out a YouTube series, But I 234 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: did it because I was out of necessity. I didn't 235 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: really have a choice. I got dropped from my first 236 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: record company, and I didn't own the master rights to 237 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: any of my songs, and the only way that I 238 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: could spread my music was by literally going out on 239 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: the street and playing my songs for people. So I 240 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: did it because I had to, um, you know, and 241 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: then everyone's like, oh, that's such like a cool part 242 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: of your story. You should go out and do it again. 243 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: I'm like should. I Like that was like one of 244 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: like the worst times in my life, but at the 245 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: same time, it is fun to go out and do it. 246 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: I think the thing that's most therapeutic for me spending 247 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: time in my family. But also I really do like performing, 248 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: like in a venue that's really fun. It's fascinating by 249 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: that because for like for me, I feel like that 250 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: would just give me more anxiety, but for you it doesn't. Well, 251 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: um no, because I think that like the sort of 252 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 1: when you're opening for someone, it's a little bit of 253 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: a different story. And even that I like that challenge, 254 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: but sort of like the terms of of the engagement 255 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: I've already been set before you get there, right, you know, 256 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: you know, the people they know what they're getting, they 257 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: want to be there, and then it's you know, it's 258 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: not so scary, and it's also like it's a pretty 259 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: one sided conversation. Sometimes people will scream at you when 260 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: you're on stage. You know that can be a challenge, 261 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: but um, it's normal. It's different. It's different than like 262 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: going to a party where you don't know anyone and 263 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: like having like a hey, you know it's it's really great, 264 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: it's cool out and you're like, yeah, man, yeah it is. 265 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: That's like those situations always stressed me out, Like having 266 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: to go somewhere when you know no one you go 267 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: by yourself. That's just like m m yeah, that can 268 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: be difficult. How do you handle that? Um, working on it? Well, 269 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: how do you do this? I mean this is like 270 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: this is very uh when when you get up in 271 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: front of like a you know, a thousand people or whatever, 272 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: it's like you're not looking anyone in the eye. I 273 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: feel like this something like this is like a little 274 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: bit more nerve wracking. So how do you you ever 275 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: get nervous having conversations every time? But like a good 276 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: nerves It's I don't know, it's cool talking to people 277 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: like you know, you see them doing these crazy things, 278 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: but people forget like you're human, like you're a person, 279 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 1: sure you know, And I think that's really cool to 280 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: just see that in real time as well. Okay, that's 281 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 1: why I like to do it all right, So when 282 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: you're on the tour bus when that's just seems so 283 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: stressful to me to be on a tour bus. Yeah, 284 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: I live on a tour bus. Yeah, I don't like it. 285 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: How do you do that? Not well? Not well? No, Um, 286 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 1: the first time I was on a tour bus, we 287 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: were in an accident. Um, so that was pretty not fun. Yeah, 288 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: that was not fun. And then since then it's been 289 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: difficult for me to like be on a tour bus. 290 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: I sound like I'm not really happy about everything, but 291 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 1: I'm like having a great time, you know, like life 292 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: is really good. Um, but there are definitely aspects of 293 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: like touring that I don't love. But how do I 294 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:22,719 Speaker 1: how do I do it? Well? I just focus on 295 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: the fact that like the next night I'm going to 296 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: get to play a show for people, and that's I 297 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: get to share my music with people and have a 298 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: really awesome experience, and like the whole process of that 299 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: is worth it for me. So um, yeah, it's worth 300 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: it for me to be on a tour bus. But 301 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: also how do I deal with it? I try to 302 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 1: have like friends, you know, I try to tour with 303 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: people and play shows with people that I really enjoy 304 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: being around, and then you know that can be really fun. 305 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 1: Sleep better or worse, way worse. Yeah, people say it's 306 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: nice to sleep when it's moving. Yeah, I've yet. I've 307 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: yet to meet those people. No, I'm just kidding. No. No, 308 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: we have a couple of kids on the tour bus 309 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: who were like, man, I sleep so good on the bus. 310 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: I'm like, you're crazy where it's at. Yeah, that's true. 311 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: It gives me nightmares, So I've heard that. Yeah, it's 312 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: not for me. Yeah, but I'm I'm starting to enjoy 313 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,079 Speaker 1: being on a tour bus. But it's a it's a 314 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: it's a skill, like learning how to live on a 315 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: tour bus. So I'm getting better. Yeah, have you been 316 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: on a tour bus? I like, I went on one 317 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: just to look at one. If you can. Did you 318 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: did you sleep on it? No? No? Whose tour bus 319 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: was it? E? Smith? Okay? Very cool. What's your go 320 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: to snap? Would you say my go to snack? Well, 321 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: it depends on well, it just depends on like what 322 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: mode I'm in, you know, right now, I'm trying to 323 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: stay healthy. So like I would tell you that, like 324 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: you would be like carrot sticks, you know, but that 325 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: Proba probably lasts for about two and a half weeks 326 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: and then I'll probably go back to eating slim jims 327 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: and Dorito's lovely. So that's that's like what But it 328 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,359 Speaker 1: just depends. It depends on also where we are, like geographically, 329 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: you know, so if we're in like the UK or Europe, 330 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: like we have a lot more options. You know, there's 331 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: a lot more junk food that you can really play with. 332 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: You know. Something that I've been kind of dealing with 333 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: his you know, I'm doing all these really cool like 334 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: interviews and all these things, and it all happens at 335 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: once and then kind of like come off the high 336 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: of it all, it's like everything is back to normal. 337 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: So when you when that happens to you after a show, 338 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: how do you not hit that? You don't? You do 339 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: hit it? You hit it every time. It's like I 340 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: was explaining to someone, I was like, Yo, yeah, you 341 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: know you go to you're at You're at John Mayer's house, 342 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: and then you know you're back at home living with 343 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: your parents, and like that's cool too, but it's not 344 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: like the John Massey So it's just it's just it's 345 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: just one of those things. Um, I don't have an 346 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: answer for you. Do you like living at home? Oh? Yeah, 347 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: I do. I do, except for when I go on 348 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: a date, you know, and then I'm like, oh, I 349 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: also like live with my parents, you know. But now 350 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: I'm just kidding. I wouldn't change it. I like living 351 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: living at home, especially when I spend a lot of 352 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: time on the road. So your album, these two it is, Yeah, Okay, 353 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: how long has it taken you to rate this album 354 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: because it's your first debut album. Yeah, it's like a while, 355 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: I guess, um, but probably wrote it over like seven months, 356 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: eight months, um, But you know, throughout the whole process, 357 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: like I was touring, so it wasn't like a whole 358 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: like seven months of writing songs. I wrote some songs 359 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: on tour. I wrote some songs like while I was 360 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: at home, and then I wrote pieces of songs like 361 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: you know, just all all over the place. So the 362 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: process of making the album's taken a while. But if 363 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: I had like it wasn't like when I made my 364 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: last project, I had like a whole eight months where 365 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: I could just like be at home. So some of 366 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: these songs have I've actually had for like a couple 367 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: of years. My favorite song is the Book of You 368 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: and I. Oh cool, how have you heard it? It's 369 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: not out yet, this will be out, okay, cool, alright, 370 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: that's my favorite song on there too. Well maybe it is. 371 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: I haven't decided. Why is the Book of You and 372 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: I one of your favorites? Um? Because I feel like, 373 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 1: you know, people tell me that it's their favorite. So 374 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: that's why. Because ultimately, I'm a performer, so like, I 375 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: want to make the audience happy. So if people like 376 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 1: one song over the other one, and I like one 377 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: song over the other song, how long did it take 378 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: for that song to have? For you to write that song? 379 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: I wrote it like in a day, you know. But 380 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: I wrote it two years ago. Um. So I've been 381 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,360 Speaker 1: hanging onto the song for a while and I never 382 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: really thought anything of it. And then I played it 383 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: for my mom and my mom was like, oh, yeah, 384 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:22,719 Speaker 1: I like that song. You should put it out. And 385 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: so I'm going to. So the song the Book of 386 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: You and I. What is the story behind the song? 387 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: This song is about a girl that I liked and 388 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: she broke up with me. And when she broke up 389 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: with me, I pretended like it didn't matter to me 390 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: because she was like this is gonna be the best 391 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: thing for us, and I was like, for sure, because 392 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: I didn't want to admit to her that it made 393 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: me upset, and so this is my admission of being like, 394 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: oh man, I wish I didn't have to end. That's 395 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: what the song is about. And has she heard it? 396 00:17:55,680 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 1: Uh yeah, but it's like she's married now, so it's 397 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: all good, Like it's it's a it's the you know, 398 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: it's it's it's I don't know what I'm gonna say, 399 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: but it's it's over. Yeah, it's over. It sounds like 400 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: I don't know. When I listened to I was like, 401 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: it's kind of magical. Thanks, you know, it puts you 402 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: through like, um, it kind of reminded me have like 403 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: old Taylor Swift when how we describe like a story 404 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: of something and I thought, I thought it was brilliant 405 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: that you took a book but then used it to 406 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: as a metaphor of a relationship. Is that one of 407 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: the songs where you had the title and yeah, I 408 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: found I had the title on like a plane. And 409 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: then I was like going to my friend's house the 410 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: next day to make some music and I was like, yeah, 411 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: I've got this title, like we should turn this into 412 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,879 Speaker 1: a song, and that's how I made the song. So 413 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: that's that's like how I do. That's how I've done 414 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: most of the songs that I've written for the last 415 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: like two or three years. But I'm thinking that, like 416 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: my formula is probably gonna change soon because I'm getting Yeah, 417 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: I'm getting tired of it. Maybe I'm going to write 418 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: like in a different way. But to be honest, the 419 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: lyrics are the most important thing for me because if 420 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: you told me like tomorrow, like hey, you could still 421 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: make music, but you can't write lyrics with your songs, 422 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: I probably wouldn't make music anymore because lyrics is the story. Well, 423 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 1: the lyrics are like, you know, the part of the 424 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: song for me where it's like it's more important that 425 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,959 Speaker 1: some that that I have something to say instead of 426 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 1: like but and like. Music is just like the vehicle 427 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: um to like express how I feel. UM. So if 428 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: I wouldn't, if I couldn't write lyrics, and I wouldn't, 429 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: I would find another form of expression. What do you 430 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 1: think that would be? Uh? Maybe a podcast. I'm like 431 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: I'm really into podcast. I listened to like a lot 432 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: of a lot of podcasts I listened to. There's so many. 433 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: But I really like Joe Rogan, so he's cool. You 434 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: ever listened to his podcast? I've listened to a few episodes. 435 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: I really like Dax Shepherds. Okay, cool? Do you know 436 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: theo Van? I'm a fan of his podcast. There's like 437 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: a lot of pods. There's this guy named Eric Eric 438 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: Weinstein who has a cool podcast. Yeah, there's like a 439 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: whole There's a lot of them. So I'm sure there's 440 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: a lot of podcasts that you listen to that I'm 441 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:06,959 Speaker 1: not familiar with. And there are so many podcasts. That's 442 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: what's so cool about it. I feel like, what do 443 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: you ever draw? No? No, what do you ever act? 444 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: Maybe I would like do some sort of you know, 445 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,239 Speaker 1: sketch comedy or something. I don't wouldn't do stand up 446 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 1: But are you talking like S and L type? It 447 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: may be cool to try and write some skits for 448 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 1: other people or something like that that would be fun 449 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: to do. I don't think I'm not like a stand 450 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: up comedy kind of person. I don't know, I'm not 451 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,879 Speaker 1: like I'm not funny enough to do. You have like 452 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: any good go to jokes? No? Okay, I'm going to 453 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: get my parents are going to roll their eyes. I 454 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: read this on Ellen when I was eight years old, 455 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: and it's okay, what do you call a fake noodle? Uh? 456 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: It's I want to I don't know, and the pasta okay, Yeah, 457 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: I was gonna I was thinking if you're going to say, 458 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: what do you call a scared noodles? Thinking a chicken noodle? 459 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 1: That that's the other, that's a ya. Another thing I 460 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: want to talk to you about is you know you 461 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: got signed, Yes I did, and then you got dropped? 462 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: Yes I did. How do you have What was it 463 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: like coming back after then getting signed again? And how 464 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: do you stay motivated and not? I have like an 465 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: interesting I have an interesting like it was? It was? 466 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 1: It taught me a lot getting signed to a label 467 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,199 Speaker 1: at a young age. Um, you know a lot of 468 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:33,959 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff comes down to timing, you know, 469 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: and like it wasn't the right time. Um I think that, like, um, 470 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: it's it's I wrote a whole album when I was 471 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 1: signed to Columbia Records and then they dropped me, and 472 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: then you know, it would have been one thing if 473 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: like the music wasn't good enough and for a long time, 474 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 1: like I believe that it wasn't. You know. It's like, well, 475 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 1: just this just wasn't the album. And then you know, 476 00:21:57,440 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: now I have a song that's I wrote six years 477 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: ago that should have been a hit like multiple times, 478 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: and it's finally now it's called the water Fountain maybe 479 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: getting out there, and so like, you know, at first 480 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 1: I was really excited, but now I'm kind of like, oh, man, 481 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: Like for some reason, it makes it makes me look 482 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 1: back and be like, uh, when't this could have happened 483 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: when I was eighteen, you know, And so I'm like, man, 484 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: think about how how much time I wasted. Um So, 485 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: I have a very troubled relationship with that whole thing. 486 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I'm grateful for the opportunity 487 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: to think ultimately, in the long run, it will make 488 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: me like a much stronger artist. And things happen when 489 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 1: they're supposed to. Um So. Yeah. So in those moments 490 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: when you found out you got dropped, did you ever 491 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: want to give up music or was it something you know? 492 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: I didn't? Um, I didn't. When I got dropped. I 493 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: remember my manager called me and he was like, hey, um, 494 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 1: this is uh you know, we spoke to so and 495 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 1: so at the label and they said that, you know, 496 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: they're no longer gonna have you as an artist on 497 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: the label, and you know, there's nothing we can do 498 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 1: about it. And I was like, all right, what do 499 00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: we do now? You know, you kind of just gotta 500 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: figure what the next step is. Um. But there was 501 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:03,399 Speaker 1: never a point where I was like I'm going to 502 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: give up. I think that's important. It's really that must 503 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: be hard to do, especially at how old are you 504 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: when you got dropped? I was twenty one, so I 505 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: was like an adult, you know, yeah, Um, but I 506 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: guess it's hard at any age. Um. But yeah, it 507 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: was a bummer, but it is what it is. So 508 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 1: as a singer songwriter, is it one of those things 509 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 1: because I've always been curious about this. Does it like 510 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: can you remember a song and you can put it 511 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:33,479 Speaker 1: back your head and focus on it later? Is one 512 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: of those things where like you wake up in middle 513 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 1: night because it's all you can think about writing songs? Yeah? Um, 514 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: it just depends on it just depends. Sometimes I really 515 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: have like a song idea that I got it write down, 516 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: like right before I'm getting on stage, or and sometimes 517 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: I have to force myself to write music because I 518 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: am just not feeling like it. Um So it just 519 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,120 Speaker 1: it just depends how do you do it when you're 520 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: like just not in the mood. Because I feel like 521 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: it's one of those things. Well, I don't really have 522 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: a choice because ultimately it's like my job. So I 523 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: wake up and then I'm like, well, I don't really 524 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: want to finish my album, and then you know, the 525 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,920 Speaker 1: labels like, well it's do. So it's not really about 526 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: what I want sometimes, Whereas like you know, when I 527 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 1: was fifteen, if I didn't want to write a song, 528 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 1: I didn't have to. But I made the decision that 529 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:19,719 Speaker 1: this is how I want to support myself financially. So 530 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:21,719 Speaker 1: it's not always about what I want to do. It's 531 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 1: about what I have to do. It's called responsibility. Yeah. Yeah, 532 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: So in your free time, what do you do when 533 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: you're not writing music? Uh? This? You know, chill? Well, 534 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, hopefully I try to have to 535 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: promote the music, you know, So it's like making music 536 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: and promoting it in like a cycle. That's what I do. 537 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: What are you most excited for about this album? Putting 538 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: it out? Yeah, just like seeing how people feel about 539 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: the songs. That I made. How does this album differ 540 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,959 Speaker 1: from your stuff in the past. It's the next step 541 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: in my evolution as an artist. So like older, Yeah, 542 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: I'm older and I have different things on my mind. 543 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 1: And um, musically, uh, the instrumentation and production on some 544 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 1: of the songs is I feel like a little bit 545 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 1: more involved. So as an artist, what is your goal? 546 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 1: Is it to win? Graham means, is it to really 547 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: to more people? Uh? Well, I think I'll have a 548 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: I think I'll have a way of changing that so 549 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,640 Speaker 1: that you know, whatever I ultimately do achieve, I'll try 550 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: to find a way to tell myself if that was 551 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: my goal the whole time. But if you ask me 552 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: total world domination, I want. I want it all and 553 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: I don't want to compromise my integrity as an artist either, 554 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: So that probably won't happen, But that's my goal. As 555 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: you grow as an artist, are you afraid because you know, 556 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 1: more people have more opinions that's gonna um affect the 557 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: quality of your music. Yeah, well I'm not afraid of that. Um, 558 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 1: I'm afraid that I'm going to take into consideration the 559 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: wrong opinions because um, because like I don't know everything. 560 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: You know, and I like to make my music better, 561 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,640 Speaker 1: and I do listen to people. I'm open to listening 562 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,440 Speaker 1: to other people's input. It's just I don't always trust 563 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 1: myself that I know who knows what they're talking about, 564 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: you know. So sometimes I feel like I have to 565 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 1: find the right people. Who's who are going to give 566 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: me the right input? How do you know if someone's 567 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: like the right person you can trust? Um, I give 568 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: them one chance and if it's wrong, then I don't 569 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 1: give them another chance. Yeah. No, I listened to my 570 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 1: friend Chrissie and my mom and I play them music 571 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: and they've been right almost every single time on which 572 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: songs are going to connect and which ones aren't. And 573 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: uh so you know that's who I listened to. Yeah, 574 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: but but but you know, I'm I'm also open that 575 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 1: will evolve because I have more people around me, and 576 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,679 Speaker 1: then you know they those two don't know everything. And 577 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: I always the more people you have giving you ideas 578 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: the best to just have to make sure that you 579 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:00,199 Speaker 1: pick and choose which ones are right for you. So 580 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: I'm sure I've made mistakes and I'll continue to make 581 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:05,159 Speaker 1: those mistakes, but I think a bigger brain trust is 582 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 1: always better. Yeah, that's what the computer lets you do. 583 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 1: That's ultimately like how I decide, right, Like yeah, my mom, 584 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: my friend Chris Chrissie choose. But like who lets me 585 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: decide is like my fans. You know, if I post 586 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 1: a song and they're not listening to it, it doesn't 587 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: matter what anybody says, like the record company or whatever. 588 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 1: If if people don't like the music, they don't like 589 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 1: the music, you know, so it doesn't My mom could 590 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 1: be like, this is the best song you ever made, 591 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter if the fans aren't listening to it. 592 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:36,440 Speaker 1: Would you ever try another genre of music? No? No, Well, 593 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: I don't love I love music, but I like a 594 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 1: certain kind of music. You know. I'm not like I 595 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 1: don't dance or anything, and I don't like have any 596 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,159 Speaker 1: like you know, I'm not trying to like make club music, 597 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 1: so like that wouldn't make me happy. It's not the goal. Um. 598 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 1: So no, this is probably like the genre that I'll 599 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 1: stay in forever. Um I love like Bob Dylan and 600 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 1: Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen and those kinds of people 601 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: who like are they have a message? Um? And there 602 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 1: are other types of music too, like obviously there's a 603 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 1: lot of rock music and hip hop music or whatever, 604 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: but I don't see myself as like one of those artists, 605 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 1: like a rock or hip hop artist. Dream collap you 606 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: know what. I just worked with Kasey Musgraves. That was 607 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: really cool. Um, that was really fun. But it's hard, 608 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: Like artist collaborations can be difficult, especially when you work 609 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 1: with someone as talented as like Casey or John Mayer 610 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: or whatever, because it's like they're already making amazing stuff, 611 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 1: you know, so sometimes it's like figuring out like what 612 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,480 Speaker 1: you guys are gonna do together, Like how you're gonna 613 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: make something awesome together. It's can be challenging. Um, But 614 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 1: my dream artist collaboration, I don't I can't answer that 615 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 1: for you, but it was pretty awesome getting to hang 616 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 1: out with John and getting to work with Casey, and 617 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: I work with Khalid that was really cool. Um. But 618 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 1: like Casey and Khalid are like two of the most 619 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: talented people I've ever been around, So sometimes the challenges 620 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: is like, well, how do I add something to this 621 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: or is that ever intimidating like going into the room. Yeah, sure, 622 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: but it's intimidating going to the room with anybody you know, 623 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: whether they've had success or not, doesn't. It's always like, 624 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: how are we gonna do this? Because you're starting with nothing. 625 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: So but that's what's really cool. I think you start 626 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 1: with an idea in your head and then it's out 627 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 1: in the world. Yeah. Well, sometimes you walk into the 628 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: session you don't even have an idea in your head, 629 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: and then you have to write, you know, come up 630 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: with one, and that can make it more challenging. Do 631 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: you remember the first time you had like you had 632 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: the idea for something and then the world is hearing it. 633 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: Do you remember that feeling? It just happened so many 634 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: times where it's like when I made a song and 635 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: then released it yeah, yeah saying uh saying replay by 636 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: ia s on Facebook and I posted the video and 637 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 1: it was horribly embarrassing. So that's that's the first half 638 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 1: the time I can remember, like I was like, yeah, 639 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put out this cover I did on my Facebook. Um, 640 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 1: but it was it was it was horrifying and exhilarating 641 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: at the same time. So that's why I guess why 642 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: I keep doing it. Yeah, is that feeling just like, 643 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: is it like an addiction? Almost? Yeah? Is mhmm. Very interesting. 644 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: M M well, I think you should make a podcast, 645 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 1: all right, maybe I will. Maybe I will. Thank you 646 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: for having me on your podcast. I appreciate it. Thanks. 647 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 1: Your album is incredible. Thanks. I cannot wait to see 648 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: you perform. Okay, well I'm excited. Uh and you're amazing 649 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: at what you do, so I appreciate it. Thanks for 650 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 1: for it was it was a privilege to do this 651 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: with you. Thanks, thank you. Thank you guys so much 652 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 1: for listening to this episode of Letslie Real Podcast. I 653 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: hope you guys enjoyed it. To make sure you follow 654 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: Alec Benjamin on all of the socials It's at Alec 655 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:40,040 Speaker 1: Benjamin and stay tuned for his album These Two Windows. Also, 656 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: Alex just to release a new song called six ft 657 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 1: Apart inspired by COVID nineteen and it's such a beautiful 658 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: song and has a beautiful message and it's what the 659 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,680 Speaker 1: world needs right now. So go check it out and 660 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 1: make sure you also follow me on Instagram at It's 661 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: Sammy J. That's I T S S A M M 662 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: Y J A y E. And don't forget to follow 663 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: our podcast account because we have a giveaway going on 664 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:03,719 Speaker 1: right now. I made hats with Jordan Fisher in our 665 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: last episode, and you can still win them, so I 666 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: would make sure you put an entry in the podcast 667 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 1: account is Sammy j Dot. Let's be real and with 668 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: everything going on in the world, I just want to 669 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 1: make sure you guys are safe and healthy and I 670 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:17,400 Speaker 1: will see you guys next year