WEBVTT - Judah & the Lion 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:03.000 Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Inside the 0:00:03.040 --> 0:00:06.040 Studio on iHeart Radio. My name is Jordan runt Dog, 0:00:06.160 --> 0:00:09.280 but enough about me. My guests today are an alternative 0:00:09.360 --> 0:00:12.920 natural group whose unique sound can perhaps best be described 0:00:12.960 --> 0:00:15.800 by one of their album titles, folk Pop and Roll. 0:00:16.560 --> 0:00:20.160 They went platinum in with their single Take It All Back, 0:00:20.360 --> 0:00:22.520 and have followed it up with a series of country 0:00:22.520 --> 0:00:25.920 tinged tracks like Suit and Jacket, Over My Head and 0:00:26.000 --> 0:00:31.520 Pictures featuring Casey Musgraves. They released their latest album, Pep 0:00:31.520 --> 0:00:36.800 Talks and Emotional Tour to Force that grapples with personal trauma, anxiety, 0:00:36.920 --> 0:00:38.959 and the grace and strength that it takes to come 0:00:38.960 --> 0:00:41.800 out the other side. Their new song Spirit is the 0:00:41.880 --> 0:00:45.400 Dawn After the Darkness, an uplifting track that seems custom 0:00:45.440 --> 0:00:48.599 made for these uncertain times. The band recently released an 0:00:48.600 --> 0:00:52.560 EP featuring five distinct versions of the song, the original track, 0:00:52.920 --> 0:00:56.400 a stripped down acoustic rendition, and then three remixes by 0:00:56.440 --> 0:01:00.320 friend group Twice Young and Lamourne. Each of the visions 0:01:00.320 --> 0:01:03.920 reveal new facets of a multidimensional track. Today, the band 0:01:03.960 --> 0:01:06.880 of dropping their all new single Helped Me to Feel Again. 0:01:07.000 --> 0:01:10.040 I'm so happy to welcome Judah Nate and Brian, who 0:01:10.080 --> 0:01:13.520 together are known as Judah and the Lion. Yeah, of course, 0:01:13.560 --> 0:01:16.679 thanks for having us. Your new EP Spirit features five 0:01:16.720 --> 0:01:19.680 different versions of your track Spirit. That's such a cool approach, 0:01:19.959 --> 0:01:22.600 like all these showcasing all these different interpretations. How did 0:01:22.600 --> 0:01:24.800 that an idea come about? I think it was kind 0:01:24.800 --> 0:01:27.720 of just a product of the season we were going through. 0:01:27.760 --> 0:01:32.000 We recorded the original version in July, and it was 0:01:32.560 --> 0:01:36.240 it was a little bit of this first reunion in 0:01:36.319 --> 0:01:38.959 the Mystic COVID where we were able to get in 0:01:39.000 --> 0:01:42.959 the studio together and write and record. And then soon 0:01:43.040 --> 0:01:45.800 after that we were all living in different places, Like 0:01:45.840 --> 0:01:48.840 what I was telling you earlier, I moved to Sweden, 0:01:49.200 --> 0:01:51.680 Nate's been living in Colorado, So it was kind of 0:01:51.760 --> 0:01:54.120 this time where we were keeping it in touch over 0:01:54.160 --> 0:01:57.920 the distance, and I think that kind of birth the 0:01:57.960 --> 0:02:02.000 idea to bring about the song in different lights remotely 0:02:02.040 --> 0:02:05.040 as we could, whether through remix or doing like the 0:02:05.080 --> 0:02:07.720 acoustic version. And when was that written? Because the message 0:02:07.720 --> 0:02:10.280 of the song really feels so appropriate to the last 0:02:10.360 --> 0:02:13.440 year we've had, but it actually predates that, right, Yeah, 0:02:13.480 --> 0:02:16.000 we we actually wrote it. Me and Brown would appear 0:02:16.040 --> 0:02:20.280 in my loft like the previous November to COVID, and 0:02:20.320 --> 0:02:22.640 I think, you know, for for us our band, I 0:02:22.680 --> 0:02:24.600 think that with the within the last record and kind 0:02:24.600 --> 0:02:26.560 of going through transition, we were already kind of I 0:02:26.600 --> 0:02:29.959 think probably feeling a sense of spirit in like our 0:02:30.000 --> 0:02:32.560 story and I'm just kind of following suit with like 0:02:32.600 --> 0:02:35.480 the Pep Talks kind of message of hope and reality 0:02:35.480 --> 0:02:37.800 of that. But it was kind of like ironic that 0:02:37.919 --> 0:02:40.240 you know, we have this pandemic now and then we 0:02:40.280 --> 0:02:42.200 had the song about you know, not giving up and 0:02:42.440 --> 0:02:45.560 kind of coming together if you will. So yeah, I 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:47.880 get asked a lot like yeah, it's just like bidding 0:02:47.919 --> 0:02:49.840 for the times, like, wow, we actually wrote it there 0:02:50.000 --> 0:02:53.120 less before. It must be so cool for you to 0:02:53.160 --> 0:02:55.679 hear the EP because all these different versions of song is, 0:02:55.720 --> 0:02:58.680 four different versions of the song, different remixes by different people, 0:02:58.760 --> 0:03:01.000 must almost be like hearing it as an outsider for 0:03:01.040 --> 0:03:03.480 the first time. Which which version was the most surprising 0:03:03.520 --> 0:03:05.280 for you? It was? It was interesting because you know, 0:03:05.360 --> 0:03:08.560 usually when we're hearing like remixes on songs or songs 0:03:08.560 --> 0:03:10.880 that we get back that we've asked for remixes, we're 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:12.840 kind of all together. We're able to listen to it 0:03:12.880 --> 0:03:15.280 on on the road and kind of pick and shoes 0:03:15.360 --> 0:03:17.799 you know which one. But it was really interesting with 0:03:17.800 --> 0:03:20.600 within the email thread, if you will. It was like Brian, 0:03:20.720 --> 0:03:23.200 Like I remember Brian being super excited about the Lame 0:03:23.480 --> 0:03:25.360 Lame Moore and um, I think I'm pronouncing that right 0:03:25.800 --> 0:03:28.600 track and that was like so unique and flavorful and cool. 0:03:28.880 --> 0:03:31.640 I was really excited about the Brian White track or 0:03:31.680 --> 0:03:33.520 the Friend Group track, and um, he's a buddy of 0:03:33.520 --> 0:03:36.400 ours in town and and then um, Nate was excited 0:03:36.400 --> 0:03:39.520 about Twice Stone. But yeah, it was just interesting because 0:03:39.520 --> 0:03:42.560 each one of these had a different flavor and obviously 0:03:42.560 --> 0:03:45.400 the acoustic being a completely different flavor than those. Um, 0:03:45.440 --> 0:03:47.440 it just felt like it's on this email thread. We 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:49.240 were just kind of like we like all these tracks 0:03:49.280 --> 0:03:53.120 and they offer kind of this unique spectrum for the 0:03:53.240 --> 0:03:55.680 song and the lyrics of the song and the story 0:03:55.680 --> 0:03:58.680 of the song is still says the same thing that 0:03:58.960 --> 0:04:00.960 you know. On the twice Young one, it's a little 0:04:00.960 --> 0:04:03.240 bit not sleepier but like kind of new to year 0:04:03.320 --> 0:04:05.400 and sleepier and and kind of you know, he's got 0:04:05.400 --> 0:04:07.320 a lot of vocal samples kind of happening. And then 0:04:07.600 --> 0:04:09.360 the lay more and one of what I was really 0:04:09.400 --> 0:04:10.920 drawn to that one, and I don't want Brian to 0:04:10.920 --> 0:04:12.920 speak on that one too, but like the drum track 0:04:13.000 --> 0:04:16.159 with like a little bit more minor fuel was very unique. 0:04:16.320 --> 0:04:18.680 And then you know, on the Fring Group track, which 0:04:19.040 --> 0:04:21.880 was Brian White, it's it was just so anthemic to me, 0:04:21.960 --> 0:04:24.440 like I just I love like the drums and the percussion, 0:04:24.760 --> 0:04:28.040 um and all of it. So there is what is 0:04:28.120 --> 0:04:30.880 up Nate? We are now joined by Nate. How are you? Oh, 0:04:31.000 --> 0:04:33.719 I'm fine, Sorry to be late, y'all, not a problem 0:04:33.760 --> 0:04:36.760 at all now that you're here. I guess just to 0:04:36.800 --> 0:04:40.320 ask in general, has the last year been a productive 0:04:40.360 --> 0:04:42.920 time for you all musically, Like have you all been 0:04:43.160 --> 0:04:45.240 sort of writing on your own and sharing stuff through 0:04:45.320 --> 0:04:48.279 zoom or Yeah, we've been trying to figure out different 0:04:48.279 --> 0:04:50.600 ways to definitely, you know, make all that happen still 0:04:50.680 --> 0:04:53.760 and sending new ideas back and forth, and if anything, 0:04:53.800 --> 0:04:56.400 we really like we made some acoustic versions and worked 0:04:56.400 --> 0:04:59.599 on some remixes, and that was, I guess, a simpler 0:04:59.640 --> 0:05:01.760 way without having to you know, go through some of 0:05:01.839 --> 0:05:04.640 more the organic process of building on a new song 0:05:04.760 --> 0:05:07.039 or a new idea that we definitely prefer to be 0:05:07.080 --> 0:05:10.200 more in person for did our best, but definitely Stokes 0:05:10.480 --> 0:05:12.480 kind of be back together now and be able to 0:05:12.520 --> 0:05:14.599 be face to face and have those connections that you know, 0:05:14.600 --> 0:05:16.040 we weren't able to have when we were apart from 0:05:16.080 --> 0:05:19.239 each other. Judy, you mentioned earlier your last album, Pep Talks, 0:05:19.279 --> 0:05:22.360 which is an album that grappled with all sorts of 0:05:22.400 --> 0:05:25.760 just just difficult moments in life. I get the sense 0:05:25.839 --> 0:05:27.840 that that the song Spirit is almost like like the 0:05:27.880 --> 0:05:30.320 calm after the storm, the morning after the storm, in 0:05:30.320 --> 0:05:31.960 a way, the sort of the vibe I got. Yeah, 0:05:32.080 --> 0:05:34.919 kind of all the songs that we released with Beautiful 0:05:34.960 --> 0:05:37.760 Anyway and Spirit, and we have one coming out this 0:05:37.800 --> 0:05:40.520 week as well, it does kind of feel like kind 0:05:40.520 --> 0:05:45.120 of a rebuttal to the story of Pep Talks Um 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:48.359 and Yeah, of like Spirit especially kind of has the 0:05:48.360 --> 0:05:52.960 message of hope and clarity and the messiness of all 0:05:52.960 --> 0:05:55.120 the things that we go through in life and especially 0:05:55.120 --> 0:05:57.440 this last year. But I guess at the end of 0:05:57.440 --> 0:05:59.440 the day, it's choosing not to give up and to 0:05:59.440 --> 0:06:03.279 push forward. It's fair to say you guys consider yourselves optimists. Yeah, 0:06:03.320 --> 0:06:05.640 I think so. I think so. I don't know. I 0:06:05.680 --> 0:06:07.560 think this last year made an optimist out of a 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:11.680 lot of us because he's just gotta gotta keep going up. Yeah, 0:06:11.760 --> 0:06:17.560 two choices, either depression or optimist. I gotta ask. The 0:06:17.600 --> 0:06:20.320 song was used in the trailer for the new Muddy 0:06:20.360 --> 0:06:23.680 Duck series Game Changers. That must have been cool, right 0:06:23.720 --> 0:06:25.960 to see your track with Gordon Bombay. I mean, that's 0:06:26.040 --> 0:06:29.000 that's my childhood right there. Yeah, that was big. That 0:06:29.120 --> 0:06:31.720 was freaking epicy. I think all of us were just 0:06:31.800 --> 0:06:34.839 a little bit like in shock when we got that 0:06:35.240 --> 0:06:38.560 link with the email. Yeah, huge, huge money Ducks fan. 0:06:38.680 --> 0:06:40.800 I think we all are. But that was, like, like 0:06:40.839 --> 0:06:43.800 you said, like my childhood, my my main film franchise 0:06:43.880 --> 0:06:46.840 with sports and Disney and all that that really really 0:06:46.880 --> 0:06:49.520 loved And I think they placed it really well too, 0:06:49.600 --> 0:06:51.120 not just because it's our song, but the way that 0:06:51.160 --> 0:06:53.520 they made it fit and vibe with what's going on, 0:06:53.640 --> 0:06:56.400 I think was was perfect. And I've been watching the 0:06:56.440 --> 0:06:58.800 show and I think they crushed it. So it's so 0:06:58.839 --> 0:07:00.440 cool that we got to be a part of it, 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:03.240 and really really sweet. It's interesting too, if like any 0:07:03.360 --> 0:07:05.920 any sink that we get, because I remember our first 0:07:06.200 --> 0:07:07.919 I first sink that we got on our first EP 0:07:08.240 --> 0:07:10.280 out of college. We were. We had a show in 0:07:10.320 --> 0:07:12.400 Birmingham and we told like all of our parents and 0:07:12.440 --> 0:07:14.920 our fans, like, our song is going to be on 0:07:14.960 --> 0:07:17.200 the show Nashville and it's like just go watch the 0:07:17.240 --> 0:07:19.040 show and then like all of our parents watch it 0:07:19.040 --> 0:07:22.200 and you couldn't even hear the song like like it was. 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:24.520 It was like just the instrumental and it was in 0:07:24.520 --> 0:07:27.440 the background, and like even our moms like, we're like 0:07:27.680 --> 0:07:31.360 your song, you know, who are paying attention for every 0:07:31.760 --> 0:07:34.760 sound out? Like so I think getting back to the 0:07:34.840 --> 0:07:37.160 video of it and seeing Gordon Mumbay and seeing like 0:07:37.200 --> 0:07:40.440 the kids, it was just like wow, the song actually 0:07:40.480 --> 0:07:42.280 kind of felt like the vibe of the show and 0:07:42.600 --> 0:07:44.760 it was really that was awesome. It was it was 0:07:44.840 --> 0:07:47.480 Mother's Day recently. I know, Judy, your mom played a 0:07:47.520 --> 0:07:50.400 big role in your decision to kind of pursue songwriting, 0:07:50.480 --> 0:07:53.280 right you were playing songs around the house and and 0:07:53.360 --> 0:07:55.040 she gave you that that push. Tell me a little 0:07:55.040 --> 0:08:00.640 more about that. You've done your research that go. Yeah. 0:08:00.840 --> 0:08:03.200 We so we all met the fresh in our band. 0:08:03.240 --> 0:08:05.160 We we we all met at Belmont. I was a junior 0:08:05.320 --> 0:08:07.160 and it was a sophomore, and Brian was a freshman. 0:08:07.160 --> 0:08:10.680 And at Belmont. I was a music business major on 0:08:10.720 --> 0:08:13.800 the production side, but essentially, as a student, you have 0:08:13.880 --> 0:08:16.840 access to all these amazing studios for free because you're 0:08:17.520 --> 0:08:20.480 you know, you have engineers that are learning to engineer, 0:08:20.520 --> 0:08:22.960 yet producers that are trying to produce. And I was 0:08:23.000 --> 0:08:24.920 a songwriter that was trying to learn about the music 0:08:24.920 --> 0:08:28.040 business side as well as the production. And honestly, at 0:08:28.040 --> 0:08:29.760 the time my junior year, I was I was pretty 0:08:30.080 --> 0:08:31.960 I don't want to say insecure, and then I'm not 0:08:32.320 --> 0:08:34.600 being self deprecating here, I just I didn't really believe in, 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:37.240 I guess my voice yet and I was still kind 0:08:37.240 --> 0:08:40.800 of coming to and m my mom this summer when 0:08:40.800 --> 0:08:42.920 I went back home, I was just like playing upstairs, 0:08:42.960 --> 0:08:44.280 like in my in my room or whatever, like I 0:08:44.520 --> 0:08:46.440 would do as a kid, and like to sing these songs. 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:48.439 She was like, what do you like? You know, you're 0:08:48.440 --> 0:08:51.000 at Belmont in two years these studios are gonna be 0:08:51.000 --> 0:08:54.760 really expensive, so like, why don't you just record an EP? 0:08:54.920 --> 0:08:57.080 And that's when I met the guys and we we 0:08:57.160 --> 0:08:59.160 recorded our first EP that that, I guess it was 0:08:59.200 --> 0:09:01.520 that following they were probably better at the timeline. The 0:09:01.559 --> 0:09:05.599 following year when we got back after Christmas break Twolve. 0:09:05.760 --> 0:09:08.000 So yeah, she was definitely that like punch to the gut, 0:09:08.160 --> 0:09:11.120 like tough love type thing, and I'm really glad that 0:09:11.160 --> 0:09:22.360 she she didn't support it and believed in it. This 0:09:22.480 --> 0:09:24.480 may sound like a corny question, but like was it 0:09:24.559 --> 0:09:26.680 love at first? Listen? Like, how soon after you guys 0:09:26.679 --> 0:09:28.960 started playing together, did you know like, oh, this is it? 0:09:29.120 --> 0:09:31.240 Like these are the guys, this is this is the thing. Yeah. 0:09:31.520 --> 0:09:34.000 I think the first time that we met and played 0:09:34.040 --> 0:09:39.160 together felt very natural, and it was it was unusual 0:09:39.280 --> 0:09:41.880 in a way because we didn't really know each other 0:09:42.040 --> 0:09:44.840 before that moment. Like the first moment we met, we 0:09:45.000 --> 0:09:48.000 had lunch and then just jammed a little bit. But yeah, 0:09:48.320 --> 0:09:51.640 it felt natural and it felt organic. It definitely felt 0:09:51.679 --> 0:09:54.040 to me at that moment like there was something special 0:09:54.120 --> 0:09:57.360 that could happen out of it. The sounds of of 0:09:57.440 --> 0:09:59.160 you guys, it's I think I think of your album 0:09:59.200 --> 0:10:02.920 titled Folk Call Unroll, it's like it's so unique. I mean, 0:10:02.960 --> 0:10:05.120 was that something that evolved organically or did you approach 0:10:05.160 --> 0:10:07.800 the project initially being like, no, I want to take 0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:10.600 these folk and bluegrass influences and kind of build on 0:10:10.640 --> 0:10:14.280 it and take it to this different place. It almost started. Uh, well, 0:10:14.280 --> 0:10:16.199 we were at least I was very said on like 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:18.680 let's just stay a folk band, let's let's keep doing 0:10:18.720 --> 0:10:20.960 this thing. And we all have influences from other areas 0:10:21.000 --> 0:10:24.439 for sure, But it took getting into the studio when 0:10:24.440 --> 0:10:27.520 we were making kids these days to kind of get 0:10:27.559 --> 0:10:30.360 pushed by our producer to try some other sounds and 0:10:30.400 --> 0:10:33.640 incorporate other things in. And the first one was instead 0:10:33.640 --> 0:10:36.680 of doing an upright basse, using a mog synthesizer to 0:10:36.720 --> 0:10:39.680 cover that area. And I think when that got put 0:10:39.720 --> 0:10:42.480 on there and I remember being reluctant to that, and 0:10:42.520 --> 0:10:45.000 then hearing it, I was like, this is really cool, 0:10:45.280 --> 0:10:47.520 Maybe we can. I think that kind of just opened 0:10:47.559 --> 0:10:50.320 up the floodgates to trying new things and adding electric 0:10:50.360 --> 0:10:53.720 guitar and basically any other thing that we were excited 0:10:53.720 --> 0:10:56.480 about or interested in at least being willing to try it. So, 0:10:56.800 --> 0:10:59.840 I mean, yeah, our our focus for our primary instruments 0:11:00.040 --> 0:11:03.000 at least when we started, we're banjo, mandolin, guitar, but 0:11:03.360 --> 0:11:05.720 really we all are all over the place with what 0:11:05.800 --> 0:11:07.640 else we write and what we like to listen to 0:11:07.760 --> 0:11:09.680 and things like that. So it's it's been more fun 0:11:09.800 --> 0:11:12.160 I think in an honest representation of who we are 0:11:12.280 --> 0:11:15.880 individually and collectively, to branch out and add those elements 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:19.680 of literally anything else. I guess that has become more 0:11:19.679 --> 0:11:22.520 of I think our official sound, but then also still 0:11:22.520 --> 0:11:25.920 holding onto our our roots of banjo and mandolin specifically 0:11:25.960 --> 0:11:28.679 for each song, and trying to still make those kind 0:11:28.679 --> 0:11:30.960 of fit into the puzzle of all the different areas 0:11:30.960 --> 0:11:33.120 that we kind of dabbled it. Now. I was always 0:11:33.160 --> 0:11:34.880 gonna ask what did you grow up listening to? Did 0:11:34.880 --> 0:11:37.640 you all grow up listening to that that kind of bluegrass, 0:11:38.120 --> 0:11:41.439 Oh brother, we're out there top type sound or what? What? 0:11:41.559 --> 0:11:43.360 What was were you into? What was the music that 0:11:43.400 --> 0:11:46.520 first got you into music? For me, I was my 0:11:46.559 --> 0:11:50.119 parents started the symphony and so I definitely was influenced 0:11:50.120 --> 0:11:53.319 on that level classically and listening to that a lot. 0:11:53.520 --> 0:11:56.000 But I think when I first fell in love with music, 0:11:56.080 --> 0:11:59.120 and for myself, it was like kind of rock punk metal. 0:11:59.520 --> 0:12:02.559 We're the things like you know, the Green Day, Lincoln 0:12:02.559 --> 0:12:07.520 Park Link two to Avenge, sevenfold in, Flames and Disturbed 0:12:07.559 --> 0:12:09.880 and Slip Knot. I think we're some of the ones 0:12:09.920 --> 0:12:12.040 that I was really into. I'd stay around middle school 0:12:12.040 --> 0:12:15.480 when I particularly got excited and more inspired. I used 0:12:15.480 --> 0:12:17.000 to make my own music. That was what I was 0:12:17.040 --> 0:12:19.719 definitely listening to. But let's say folk came later. Got 0:12:19.720 --> 0:12:22.840 into that more around high school with Nicols Creek and 0:12:23.040 --> 0:12:26.120 uh John Butler, those are probably my big influences there. 0:12:26.360 --> 0:12:28.880 And then got a banjo as a high school graduation 0:12:28.920 --> 0:12:31.080 gift because it almost like you'd probably like this, and 0:12:31.120 --> 0:12:33.560 I said, sure, somehow that's the one. The one I 0:12:33.640 --> 0:12:36.679 ended up playing for for all this Bryan tute, it 0:12:36.679 --> 0:12:39.320 would bet you guys. For me, it was kind of 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:41.880 two sides of the coin with with my dad and 0:12:41.920 --> 0:12:44.719 my mom also being like influences. Like when I was 0:12:44.760 --> 0:12:46.720 in my dad's car was always kind of you know, 0:12:46.840 --> 0:12:50.040 run the MC him and um like he's kind of 0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:52.360 throwing a party and his suburban with like he was 0:12:52.400 --> 0:12:54.960 like the cool dad, like listening to hip hop. You know. 0:12:55.040 --> 0:12:57.280 My mom was more kind of like an R M 0:12:57.600 --> 0:13:01.000 R Speedwagon top Petty Queen, all the Rick and Backer 0:13:01.120 --> 0:13:04.040 rock type stuff, Gelton Show, I mean, I kind of 0:13:04.040 --> 0:13:06.520 like the classic just more kind of eclectic. I guess 0:13:06.520 --> 0:13:08.319 maybe like John Jett was like one of her favorite 0:13:08.360 --> 0:13:10.760 artists as well. I think they had kind of attitude 0:13:10.800 --> 0:13:14.120 and chip on his shoulder, like rock wise that was 0:13:14.200 --> 0:13:15.360 kind of blowing out of the top when she was 0:13:15.360 --> 0:13:19.000 growing up. What kind of my my influences. Yeah, I 0:13:19.040 --> 0:13:22.679 grew up playing starting on a piano and and then 0:13:22.720 --> 0:13:26.320 eventually like picking up guitar and playing in more rock bands, 0:13:27.120 --> 0:13:29.719 like in the middle school talent show, that kind of thing. 0:13:30.280 --> 0:13:34.160 So I was really big into Ben Folds play, you know, 0:13:34.600 --> 0:13:39.720 definitely did our Fisher playing Sweet Child of Mine. But 0:13:39.800 --> 0:13:43.679 then similar to Nate, I got a mandolin as a 0:13:43.760 --> 0:13:47.280 Christmas gift around the end of my senior year of 0:13:47.360 --> 0:13:51.160 high school, and and then also meeting Nate really introduced 0:13:51.160 --> 0:13:54.920 me even more into bluegrass music. Moving from Chicago to 0:13:55.200 --> 0:13:58.720 Tennessee was a lot more exposure to bluegrass music, and 0:13:58.760 --> 0:14:02.080 I think that was around the time that I met 0:14:02.120 --> 0:14:05.640 the guys, was the peaking my interest in that genre. 0:14:06.080 --> 0:14:09.679 So I think that was not not a plan for 0:14:09.840 --> 0:14:13.040 you guys, because the mandolin was a Christmas gift, It 0:14:13.120 --> 0:14:16.600 wasn't like my main instrument. It definitely played a part 0:14:16.640 --> 0:14:19.720 in like the beginning of our journey and kind of 0:14:19.720 --> 0:14:21.440 going from there. I want to ask you more about 0:14:21.440 --> 0:14:23.240 your writing process because I think I read that your 0:14:23.400 --> 0:14:26.080 your song take It All Back came together like in 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:28.080 a couple of minutes in a ship. I think, do 0:14:28.160 --> 0:14:31.600 the best songs come quickly or are they're ones that 0:14:31.640 --> 0:14:33.720 you really love and feel passionate about that you really 0:14:34.000 --> 0:14:36.120 lavished a lot of attention on for a long long time, 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:39.360 Like we kind of running the game about both of 0:14:39.360 --> 0:14:42.760 those stories. Like take It Off Back was kind of 0:14:42.760 --> 0:14:44.880 a moment of time. It was just a quick you 0:14:44.920 --> 0:14:47.880 were you were actually rehearsing for the tour. We just 0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:49.960 started kind of gaming and they had kind of come 0:14:50.000 --> 0:14:51.880 up with this stage a lot that I think you 0:14:51.920 --> 0:14:55.040 had light before. For whatever reason that that day it 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:58.240 just kind of something kind of struck and we ended 0:14:58.320 --> 0:15:00.880 up playing that song on the tour because we loved 0:15:00.880 --> 0:15:03.360 this so rich um, you know, that wasn't out yet, 0:15:03.920 --> 0:15:06.040 so that that was like kind of a magical moment. 0:15:06.360 --> 0:15:08.760 But then like a song like the Student Jacket or 0:15:08.960 --> 0:15:11.120 a song like over my Head, they were written over 0:15:11.160 --> 0:15:13.280 the course of like five years, that was kind of 0:15:13.360 --> 0:15:15.760 like a slower process. And so I think there is 0:15:15.800 --> 0:15:18.520 definitely a magic in the ones that come quack, but 0:15:18.640 --> 0:15:21.040 also allowing the ones that need to be slower to 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:23.080 come slow. And I think that's kind of the beauty 0:15:23.120 --> 0:15:25.240 of like I think the beauty of music and writing. 0:15:25.280 --> 0:15:27.640 It's like there's there's not really one format that is 0:15:27.800 --> 0:15:31.400 necessarily correct. Yeah, I was just kind of like kind 0:15:31.400 --> 0:15:34.480 of following the song where wherever it goes and in 0:15:34.480 --> 0:15:46.160 a very gify way and saying that you mentioned rehearsing 0:15:46.240 --> 0:15:49.400 for for touring. Obviously it's been really difficult this last 0:15:49.480 --> 0:15:52.120 year to tour. I try to pitch in and help 0:15:52.200 --> 0:15:54.360 in what little way I can. I wanted to ask you, 0:15:54.480 --> 0:15:56.880 have you ever had any spinal tap moments on the road, 0:15:56.960 --> 0:15:59.720 Moments on tour where you're just like, this is a disaster. 0:16:00.040 --> 0:16:02.000 Were you know, we we were lost on the way 0:16:02.040 --> 0:16:04.520 to the stage, the bus broke down where you know, 0:16:04.520 --> 0:16:07.440 we're opening for a puppet Shell. Any any funny moments 0:16:07.440 --> 0:16:10.640 from the road that you remember. When we were on 0:16:10.680 --> 0:16:14.280 the tour with Incubus and we had like a one 0:16:14.320 --> 0:16:17.200 off date that was in New York but the next 0:16:17.280 --> 0:16:21.280 day was in Portland, I think our flight that morning 0:16:21.400 --> 0:16:24.360 got canceled from New York, so we had like we 0:16:24.400 --> 0:16:26.640 had to figure out a way to get to Portland 0:16:26.760 --> 0:16:29.720 and play the show that night. And so I think 0:16:29.720 --> 0:16:33.160 it was you know, like a seventeen hour travel to 0:16:33.640 --> 0:16:36.320 We ended up planning to Seattle and then driving and 0:16:36.360 --> 0:16:39.760 we were actually I think fifteen minutes late for our set, 0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:43.160 but we just we just rolled up and just ran 0:16:43.240 --> 0:16:45.800 on stage and played like half of the set and 0:16:45.840 --> 0:16:49.160 then just collapsed after that. I think that was that 0:16:49.200 --> 0:16:51.840 stands out for me as like one of the longest 0:16:51.920 --> 0:16:56.520 days in our touring history. I can't believe you made it. Wow, Yeah, 0:16:56.720 --> 0:17:00.320 barely made it that that night to tour a slee 0:17:00.440 --> 0:17:02.680 like we we would start out to set, I'm not sure. 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:04.720 I'm pretty sure we started out to set this time 0:17:04.880 --> 0:17:09.119 with like tea paints, booty work, just as like this 0:17:09.320 --> 0:17:11.840 survibe that we were kind of coming with and it 0:17:12.000 --> 0:17:14.880 actually wasn't really coming across very well to like that 0:17:15.080 --> 0:17:17.960 fan base demographic, but we just kind of like we 0:17:18.080 --> 0:17:20.920 just stuck with it because we were like, hey, you know, 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:24.760 our our job as a member advantage to the black esser. Hey, 0:17:24.840 --> 0:17:27.520 it's like the boken opinion and so like. But I 0:17:27.560 --> 0:17:31.439 remember that day we were also stressed, so tired, and 0:17:31.480 --> 0:17:34.240 there's two fans in the front row. It was like 0:17:34.240 --> 0:17:37.160 a bit of a couple and after we did few 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:40.639 people work that day they like they're on the barricade 0:17:40.680 --> 0:17:42.960 on the rail and they like look the other way 0:17:42.960 --> 0:17:45.560 on our whole set. I've never seen it before. Like 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:48.960 they were just absolutely discussed of coming out and like 0:17:48.960 --> 0:17:52.879 a little dance jig and then um, you know that 0:17:52.960 --> 0:17:55.520 was like that was a that was a rough, tough 0:17:55.600 --> 0:18:00.280 look for us. Yeah about Ben as a fromman going 0:18:00.320 --> 0:18:04.720 into like plunging someone, it was probably because it's just 0:18:04.800 --> 0:18:08.880 tire stress and this dude was just disrespect man. Man. 0:18:09.200 --> 0:18:10.879 We'll stay there. I hope that helps now, aren't you 0:18:10.920 --> 0:18:17.000 glad you're home? Exactly? Obviously, this last year has been 0:18:17.040 --> 0:18:19.679 tough for all of us for so many different reasons. 0:18:19.840 --> 0:18:22.080 What's been keeping you grounded? Like has there been a 0:18:22.119 --> 0:18:24.560 silver lining at all for this for you guys, Like 0:18:24.600 --> 0:18:27.280 what's been sort of like the thing that that has 0:18:27.520 --> 0:18:30.040 gotten you through the last year? And we've all, I mean, 0:18:30.280 --> 0:18:33.240 we've obviously all been different places, so we've all been 0:18:33.280 --> 0:18:37.639 individually growing a whole lot. I think for us individually, 0:18:38.040 --> 0:18:40.920 we have found like actually a lot of mental health 0:18:41.119 --> 0:18:43.760 and space to kind of be ground because I think 0:18:43.760 --> 0:18:47.000 we've all have discovered just kind of like what you're saying, like, um, 0:18:47.119 --> 0:18:50.120 for the greater amount of like our first eight years 0:18:50.200 --> 0:18:51.920 to be and like we were doing around two witter, 0:18:52.400 --> 0:18:56.320 you know, trying to pick these shows a year, and 0:18:56.720 --> 0:18:59.200 that I think for me, like we're just realizing, man, 0:18:59.200 --> 0:19:01.879 that actually was really taking a toll on me and 0:19:02.040 --> 0:19:05.000 my soul. And I think this year in a lot 0:19:05.040 --> 0:19:07.280 of ways has been like really healthy for like our 0:19:07.320 --> 0:19:11.120 relationships back home, being able to process things a little 0:19:11.119 --> 0:19:14.000 bit better as they come up, whatever the tragedies or 0:19:14.119 --> 0:19:16.520 traumas or whatever you wanna call them. Because when you're 0:19:16.520 --> 0:19:18.000 on the road and you're kind of in the think 0:19:18.040 --> 0:19:21.879 of the rhythms, you're almost like you're not on an 0:19:21.880 --> 0:19:26.080 autopilot because each show and everything it's like a new adventure. 0:19:26.640 --> 0:19:29.840 Well we all three well performing, But I think for 0:19:29.880 --> 0:19:31.720 me it's just been nice to be home and to 0:19:31.800 --> 0:19:34.800 be like rounded in like the family. And also when 0:19:34.800 --> 0:19:38.920 things come up, we're dealing with past things. I'm able 0:19:38.920 --> 0:19:41.320