1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: Podcast Playground. I'm Buzznight and welcome to the special La 2 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: edition of the Taking a Walk series. We're here at 3 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: the Crustwood Hills Park in Brentwood, a beautiful setting, a 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: beautiful day, and a perfect spot to take a walk 5 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: with my guest, LA based singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and producer, 6 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Grace Gosted. Grace released her debut album Black Box What 7 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 1: Are You Hiding in twenty twenty one, and she has 8 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: one of her songs Hero getting great reaction in the 9 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: Netflix original Rescued by Ruby. I'm so excited to be 10 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: taking a walk with Grace Gosted taking a Walk with Buzznight. Well, Grace, 11 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: it is so nice to meet you and to be 12 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: taking a walk with you. Thank you so much for 13 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: the time. Thank you so much for having me. This 14 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: is the most unique, probably interview podcast experience I've ever had. Well, 15 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: I have been really fascinated by your work, to say 16 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: the least, you put everything out there with your work. 17 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: You are not just a singer songwriter, you are just 18 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: a fabulous content creator and I'm really amazed by the 19 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: work you do. So that's particularly been something I've been 20 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: so excited about to take a walk with you. Do 21 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: you take a walk at any point in time during 22 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: the day to just kind of chill and you know, 23 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: feel good about what's going on in your life, or 24 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: how do you use walking? You know, I've got a 25 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: dog and I'm in the process of getting another one, 26 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: So walking my dog's a big part of my daily routine. 27 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: He loves the outdoors and it gives me, you know, 28 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: some time to get outside. I spend a lot of 29 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: time in you know, studios and very dark, small spaces, 30 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: so it's always always nice to get out and get 31 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: into nature. And you know, if I can do with 32 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: my dog, that makes it ten times better. And the 33 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: dogs really they have the mind of their own, right, 34 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: I mean it's really their walk, It's not your walk 35 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: when it comes down to it, right, Yes, they do, absolutely, 36 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: And you know, especially when there's a scenthound of some 37 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: type involved, right, I mean, you know, they see a 38 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: squirrel and they're off to the races, right. Yeah. Well, 39 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: I've got I've got a very little dog, so he's 40 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: usually much more afraid of everything outside than you know, 41 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: any of the animals are of him. So he kind 42 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: of kind of sticks close by and you know, hopes 43 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: that he doesn't get attacked. He's a little shit too, 44 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: so he's hey, you know it's supposed to swear on 45 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: the podcast Grace, come on just kill Oh I got you, 46 00:02:53,000 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: that's funny. I got you. Oh yeah. Well, so you 47 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: grew up in the New York area, actually after some 48 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 1: time in Arizona. Is that correct? Yep. I was born 49 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: in Phoenix, Arizona, and then when I was about nine 50 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: years old, we moved to Long Island, and then after 51 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: a few years there, we moved to New York City, 52 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: where I attended high school. So what were your impressions 53 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: growing up in the New York area in terms of 54 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: just the hustle and bustle and the insanity. It's very 55 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: fast paced, you know, New York is. It's a loud city, 56 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: it's an exciting city. It's very intense. But I think 57 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: that for me as an artist, I was able to 58 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: draw a lot of inspiration from the New York environment. 59 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: There's so many different types of people from all different 60 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: walks of life, and it makes for a really great 61 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: sort of creative hub. So do you go back frequently 62 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: at all? Or I do. My dad still lives on 63 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: the East Coast, and my aunts as well, so I 64 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: go and visit them periodically. And we still have an 65 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: apartment in New York, so sometimes when we've got some 66 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: free time to go visit my mom and I will go. 67 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: But you know, New York has changed since I grew 68 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: up there. The pandemic, I think on any major city, 69 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: they've all sort of taken a little bit of a hit, 70 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: but it's slowly getting back to normal. Yeah, the cities 71 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: are really People just are moving out of the cities 72 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: and yearning for I guess quiet in the country, right, Yeah, 73 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: you know, and I think I can understand that. I'm 74 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 1: a huge nature person. I really like to you know, 75 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: fish and hike and just be outdoors. I love to 76 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: swim things like that, so I can totally understand people 77 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: not wanting to be a part of the hustle and 78 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: bustle anymore. So. Yeah, we're at this cool park, the 79 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: Crustwood Park in Brentwood, and you know, as someone who's 80 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: been in Boston for the last few months dealing with 81 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: the winter, it's nice to have some sunshine and beautiful 82 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 1: weather and to be taking a walk and enjoying a conversation. 83 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: That's one of the cool parts for me. Meeting new people, 84 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: having a conversation with someone that you meet for the 85 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 1: first time, and someone who has a story to tell. 86 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: So your story take us back to the earliest point 87 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: you could remember where you knew and I've heard you 88 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: in other interviews described this that you were going to 89 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: be a musician. Gosh, well, you know, there's two points 90 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: really that I speak about quite a bit, but I 91 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: think that the biggest one for me. I was riding 92 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: in the car with my dad and I heard just 93 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: Dance for the first time I'm by Lady Gaga and 94 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 1: sort of you know, this was in that same time 95 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: period where I Kissed a Girl by Katie Perry came out, 96 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: and I was just getting exposure to like these big 97 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: pop sounds, these big pop musicians, and I just remember 98 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: hearing that song and I listened to it four hundred 99 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: more times, and I announced to my parents that that's 100 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: what I was going to do. One day. I was like, Mom, Dad, 101 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be a pop star, and they were like, okay, 102 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: you know, sure, whatever. But you know, here we are 103 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: many years later, and I feel lucky to be able 104 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: to do music as my everyday job. It's like doing 105 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: what you love every day. You never work a day 106 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: in your life, and it was it was a moment 107 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: of complete certainty for you when you realize that, right, absolutely, 108 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 1: I really began to study Lady Gaga as a performer 109 00:06:54,480 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: and entertainer and artist, and she really just ended up 110 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: being such a almost like a muse for me. I 111 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: drew so much inspiration from her as an artist, and 112 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: I think that she really solidified music being something that 113 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to pursue professionally. And your mother plays music 114 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: as well. She does. Yeah, my mom is a very 115 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: talented piano player and writer and singer too. She never 116 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: pursued it professionally, but occasionally I'll still, you know, walk 117 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: down the stairs and she'll be playing something beautiful on 118 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: the piano. She's probably a better piano player than I am, 119 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: but she's got you know, an extra forty years on 120 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: me herself. So but you learned while you were sitting 121 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: on her lap, Yes, I did. I used to follow 122 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: her hands on the piano. She put my hands on 123 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: top of hers, and she'd play, you know, different chords 124 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: and different melodies and things like that, and that's those 125 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: are my earliest memories of starting to learn how to 126 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: play music. So as life progressed and you face some 127 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: pretty incredible challenges in your life, music was always something 128 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: you can come back to and really utilize as you know, 129 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: really almost a savior, right. Yeah. Music has always been 130 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: my safe space. It's always been, you know, a space 131 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: for me where I feel that I can go when 132 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: I'm having a hard time, any sort of struggles, any 133 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: type of pain that I was ever feeling. My way 134 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 1: of coping was to turn it into you know, art. 135 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: I always say, in order to sort of process something 136 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: very painful and very ugly, you got to turn it 137 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: into something beautiful. You got to turn it into something 138 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: that you can work with. So for me, any hardship 139 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,079 Speaker 1: or anything like that that I've ever faced in my life, 140 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: I have found a way to turn it into something, 141 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: you know, that people can appreciate. And as you progressed 142 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: in your career, in your writing, in your musicianship, how 143 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: did you sort of always challenge yourself to learn and 144 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: grow as an artist? You know, I think the biggest 145 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: challenge is to just keep writing, keep going. I've been gosh, 146 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 1: I've played piano now for fifteen years, which is kind 147 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: of crazy considering I'm only twenty but you know, I 148 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: just whenever I thought that I had sort of topped 149 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: my level, I kept working. You know, anytime I did 150 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: a great song, I wanted to go back in the 151 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: studio and I wanted to do ten more. So I 152 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: think the secret to staying inspired and staying you know, 153 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 1: just really fully immerse in your work is to just 154 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: keep going. You know, it's it's a full time it's 155 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: a full time job, it's a full time process. I 156 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: really stand by the fact that you can't ever stop creating. 157 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: The day you stop creating is the day you kind 158 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: of kill your craft. But it's risk taking too. Absolutely, 159 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: there's a lot of risk in art, especially when you 160 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: are making art that exposes some of your most vulnerable 161 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,319 Speaker 1: moments and deepest feelings. You know, you never know how 162 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: people are going to react, and there's you know, there's 163 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: a certain thrill in that. But I wouldn't trade it 164 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: for the world. I think that, you know, writing music 165 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: that other people can relate to, Although sometimes it discusses 166 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: really hard topics, seeing the messages that I get on 167 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: a daily basis from you know, teenagers from around the 168 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: world makes it all worthwhile to me. Well, talk about 169 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: that now, how how do you, you know, sort of 170 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: communicate hope to them when when they communicating with you. Well, 171 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: you know, black Box, my first album, was really an 172 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: album about hope because although it explores a rather tumultuous 173 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: journey that I went through as a teenager, you know, 174 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: I come out on the other side, and lots of 175 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: those songs, although they discuss super you know, painful topics 176 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: like anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, trauma, et cetera, you know, 177 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: they all have a solution. There's a solution everything. And 178 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: I always say that in order to sort of get 179 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: through your pain, you literally have to get through it. 180 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: You have to walk through the doors. You have to 181 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: validate your own feelings, you have to figure out how 182 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna solve for whatever problems you're facing. The only 183 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: guarantee that you know you won't get through it is 184 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 1: just if you lay there and let it take over. 185 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: You got to keep pushing. And so black Box is 186 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: really a project that encourages young people no matter what 187 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: they're going through. You got to get up every day. 188 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: You got to find something that makes your life meaningful. 189 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: You got to find purpose, You got to find you know, 190 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: strengthen those who you love, and it's really not an 191 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: option to just you know, throw in the towel. You 192 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: got to keep going. Were there ever parts in the 193 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: Black Box creative process that you just said, I don't 194 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: know if I could complete this, and this is going 195 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: to be like, you know, just impossible to get over 196 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: the top on. Yeah. Absolutely. You know, there's a lot 197 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: of different degrees of severity that were discussed in Black Box. 198 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: I can look back and remember certain tracks, particularly Code Black, 199 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: which is all about depression and you know, not feeling 200 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 1: like you maybe want to be a part of this 201 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: world anymore. I remember that song being very tricky for 202 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: me to write. It was a point in time where 203 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:12,599 Speaker 1: I thought about ever putting out this project. So that 204 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: was a really hard record for me. Another hard record, 205 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: surprisingly to write was ninety three Days because it was 206 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: me saying, wow, you know, I actually I need help, 207 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: and that was a lot for me to admit as 208 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: someone who considers themselves really independent and you know, very 209 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: sort of resourceful. So writing that record ninety three Days, 210 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: I was like, you know, this is the first time 211 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: I'm admitting to myself and the world that you know, 212 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: I can't do this alone. So you know, black Bocks. 213 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: I always tell people it's almost like therapy for me. 214 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: It was like this open therapy session where I was 215 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 1: forced to deal with a lot of things that I 216 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: never dealt with before. We're on this walk. We just 217 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: stopped in front of this like really unique tree that 218 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: I venture to guess has been here a few years Grace. 219 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: And one of the amazing things I always think about trees, 220 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: you know, in the analogy around life, is just really 221 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: how you know they are a solid foundation. And then 222 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: you know in life you need a solid foundation around you, 223 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: and it really sounds like the solid foundation in your 224 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: world has certainly been your family. Yeah, you know, I 225 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: am incredibly close with my mom. I'm an only child, 226 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: so I never had a ton of people around that 227 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: were my age. Most of my cousins are much older 228 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: than me. But it's kind of been you know, my 229 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: mom and I since I can remember. She is one 230 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: of the strongest people I know. She has pulled me 231 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: out of places that I never thought I would get 232 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: out of. She's just she's an incredible person and I've 233 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: never really met anyone quite like her, So I think 234 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: that she has been a tremendous support system for me. 235 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: And you know, I feel blessed to be able to 236 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: have such a supportive and loving mom and uh, you know, 237 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: we've really been on this musical journey together. She's been 238 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: by my side the whole way and continues to do 239 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: so every day. So how how are during COVID has 240 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: been to be in the midst of creative processes? You know, 241 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: it was pretty hard when when COVID first started. There 242 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: was a lot of uncertainty. A lot of people didn't 243 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: know how they were going to move forward. It was 244 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: definitely very stressful in the music world because obviously touring 245 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: shut down completely, so I had to watch a lot 246 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: of friends of mine go through very hard times. You know, 247 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: they were strictly touring musicians, and COVID sort of forced 248 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: them to become writers and producers and it really forced 249 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: them out of their comfort zone. And I think it 250 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: did that for a lot of people. You know, I 251 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: ended up working on projects and doing things in COVID 252 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: that I maybe never would have done had we not 253 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: had a situation like that. So for a creative I 254 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: think it was sometimes you know, it's hard to say, 255 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: but it was like a blessing in disguise. It definitely 256 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: forced me to really think outside of a comfort zone 257 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: and figure out how to be creative when I really 258 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: had no interest in doing anything. You know, it's very 259 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: easy to sort of fall into, you know, that sort 260 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: of dark, depressed place when the world sorts to or 261 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: starts to sort of fall apart around you. But you know, 262 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: I got through it. I'm glad to say that. You know, 263 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: I feel like we're coming out on the other side 264 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 1: now and we're all better people for it. Yeah, and 265 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 1: you used it. That's the opportunity to spend your time wisely, 266 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: and you know, I think that's smart of you, for sure. 267 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: So so the world is pretty pretty scary right now. Obviously. 268 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: Let's just say with the crisis that's going on certainly 269 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 1: in you know, Ukraine, and you know what we see 270 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: in terms of the news cycle on it and just 271 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: the you know, just the awful story there. We see 272 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: stories that are amazing, that are unbelievably resilient, but we 273 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: certainly see so much tragedy. Tell me your feelings on 274 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: what we're we're all seeing from a perspective that you have, 275 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, God, it's it's hard to say. I think 276 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: the people that I feel the most sad for are 277 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: all of the kids and very young people who are 278 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: having to live through, you know, these unprecedented times that 279 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: we're living through right now. You Know, although I'm only twenty, 280 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: I've had a great deal of exposure to the world 281 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: and how things really are. And I just wish that 282 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: I could just get on a loud speaker and tell 283 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: our youth that it's going to be okay. You know 284 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: that although things seem, you know, so bad right now, 285 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 1: there's a pendulum and things will swing to the other side. 286 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: You know. I'm a believer that although there are so 287 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: many bad things that are going on in the world, 288 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: I also think that there are so many good things 289 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: that you don't hear about. You know, the news loves 290 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: to cover everything that's terrible, and they don't like to 291 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: cover things that are beautiful and wonderful and things that 292 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: are taking a step forward and things like that. So 293 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 1: as much as I can, one way that I cope 294 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: is to try to find something good that happens every day. 295 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: And it can be something small, or it could be 296 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: something big. But I just try to fill, you know, 297 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 1: my energy and my mind with positive things as opposed 298 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: to incredibly painful and hurtful ones. So talk about beyond 299 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: your family some of the people that also inspire you, 300 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: whether they're people who are musicians or friends, or who 301 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: are the other folks that really are important to you 302 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: in terms of inspiration musical and otherwise. Well, you know, 303 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: we spoke a little bit about Lady Gaga and she 304 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: will always be a massive inspiration to me. I've been 305 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: lucky enough in my life to work with Don Lawrence, 306 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: who is Lady Gaga's vocal coach and has been mine 307 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: for the last almost eight years now. Don's been a 308 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: tremendous support system for me and just you know, he's 309 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,719 Speaker 1: he's uh. I always say he's almost like my grandpa 310 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: or my second dad or something like that. He's been, 311 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: you know, just just incredible. And any time that I 312 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 1: was ever considering, you know, quitting or there goes my 313 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:30,479 Speaker 1: water quitting or you know, wanting to stop what I 314 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: was doing, he was always that voice of reason who 315 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: could put things into perspective for me and kind of 316 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: bring me back down to the ground. I also draw 317 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:47,880 Speaker 1: a lot of inspiration from my frequent collaborator and kind 318 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: of creative partner, Scott Efman. He wrote UH with me 319 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: a few of my favorite songs off of black Box 320 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 1: Creature in ninety three days, and he has produced I 321 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: believe thirteen of thirteen tracks off my next album. So 322 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: Scott is one of my best friends and one of 323 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 1: my favorite people to work with. I feel I do 324 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: the best work with him. So he's definitely been a 325 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 1: huge source of inspiration for me as well. And then 326 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 1: of course my girlfriend Katie, she's uh, we've been together 327 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: almost a year now, and she's brought me an amount 328 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: of happiness that I didn't know possible before. So she's 329 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: definitely inspired some some happier music, some love songs for 330 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: the first time in my career. She's an actress. Yes, 331 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 1: she's an actress and she's very good at it. And 332 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: we actually met on the set of the creature music 333 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,959 Speaker 1: video for black Box. I you know, I found her 334 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 1: on TikTok and I was like, you know, gosh, that 335 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: girls so funny, she's so cool. I'm gonna see if 336 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: she wants to be my music videos, and so I 337 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: just messaged her and she was like, yeah, you know, 338 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: I'd love to be in the project. And so that's 339 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 1: really where we met. And then all of a sudden, 340 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: by the time I was done filming that project, I 341 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: found myself in a very unique situation. And you know, 342 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: now we've been together for a year. Oh so it's 343 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: so great. It's a very cool story. That's a lovely story. 344 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:27,239 Speaker 1: Sounds serendipitous really right, Yeah? Yeah, And how do you 345 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: continue to get exposed to maybe artists, whether they be 346 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 1: new artists or new artists for you that you've not discovered. 347 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm always looking online. I love to see 348 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: what my friends are listening to. I like to see 349 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: what my other collaborators and producers and writers are listening to, 350 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: because you know, they've all got a very sophisticated musical ear. 351 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: And sometimes they'll show me songs that I would have 352 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,679 Speaker 1: never found on my own that ended up being some 353 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: of my you know, favorite records. So I think it's 354 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: just about talking to a lot of different people about 355 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: their musical opinions and getting like recommendations from your friends. 356 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 1: I think music is a very it's a very personal thing. 357 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: Everyone's taste is very different, and I think that's what 358 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: that's what makes it great. There's something for everybody. Yeah, 359 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: I mean music, Like, what is it about music? What 360 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,959 Speaker 1: is it that it does? How can you explain what 361 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: music does to us? Because when I think of it, 362 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: I think of how it lifts you up, it takes 363 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: you down, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry. 364 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: There's so many emotions. But what do you think is 365 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: the secret sauce behind music. I think that music is 366 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 1: a universal language. That's always how my mom described it 367 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: to me when I was a little kid. It's something that, 368 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: you know, from the beginning of time, has always brought 369 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: people together in some form. And I don't think, you know, 370 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: you necessarily have to know what someone's talking about or 371 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,919 Speaker 1: even what they're saying, to just sit there and listen 372 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: to the beautiful sounds of instruments and to appreciate, you know, 373 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: the craftsmanship that comes with musicianship and so on. I 374 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 1: think that it's something that really has only upside. And 375 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 1: you know, you say music brings us up, it brings 376 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: us down, and that's true. I think music forces us 377 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: to look inward and look at ourselves and really do 378 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 1: a lot of self reflection and growing. It's just it 379 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: is universal, and it's just the beauty of it. And boy, 380 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: I know, I'm grateful for the exposure that I have 381 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: to music. And like you said, and a friend who 382 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: just turns you on to something, setting you the recommendation, 383 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: and if it's something that you've never experienced, it's it's 384 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: just a special moment, right, absolutely, it really is. So 385 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: what's next here? Project wise? It sounds like something's finished 386 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 1: that you've bed. Thing is finished. Yes, something is finished. 387 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 1: I you know, I wrapped up black Box, and as 388 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: the creative kind of cuckoo that I am, I went 389 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: right into the second one without taking any time in between. 390 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: I would call it prolific. But there you go. Well, 391 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 1: you know, everyone in my household who hears me at 392 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 1: three am writing music, I don't know if they feel 393 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: that way, but uh, you know, I My next project 394 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: is called Pillbox. What's your Fantasy? I wouldn't necessarily call 395 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: it a continuation of black Box, but I would call 396 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: it a continuation of my life and where I'm at 397 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: now as an artist, as a person. It's a project 398 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: that I'm very excited about. It feels it feels like 399 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 1: almost the first time I'm putting something out as an adult. 400 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,160 Speaker 1: You know, when I created black Box, although I didn't 401 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: film it till I was a bit older, it was 402 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 1: something that I created when I was seventeen, and so 403 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: I wasn't really out of that that high school space yet. 404 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: I was still kind of just right on the cusp 405 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: of adulthood. And now at twenty, I feel very confident 406 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: in this next project and this next message and sort 407 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: of group of songs. You know, my team and I 408 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 1: are working twelve and fourteen hours a day to try 409 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: and get this thing together. We start production in six 410 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: weeks and hopefully rollout starts early in the summer. That's 411 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:51,679 Speaker 1: tremendous and hero in the Netflix movie rescued by Ruby. 412 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,959 Speaker 1: Congratulations on that. What a tremendous song and what a 413 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: great story for you to be a part of that 414 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: netflick special. That was a dream of yours for a 415 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: while to attain. Yes, yes, it was a long time dream. 416 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: I used to tell my mom when I first started out. 417 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: I was like, you know, one day I'm gonna have 418 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: one of my songs in one of these big movies. 419 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: And you know, She's like, okay, babe, I bet you 420 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: can do it, you know, and it's just it's a 421 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,119 Speaker 1: full circle moment. Her and I were talking about it 422 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,439 Speaker 1: last night and we were just like, wow, you know, 423 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:32,919 Speaker 1: how crazy that this happened. And it's sort of you know, 424 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: when it rains, it poor. So it's it's nuts that, like, 425 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: right when this Netflix film comes out, I'm ready to 426 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:43,199 Speaker 1: start my second project, and I've got a lot of 427 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 1: really cool things going on behind the scenes, and it's 428 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 1: just like, you know, I'm sort of in this space 429 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 1: where I'm creating a ton, I'm working a lot, and 430 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 1: I'm having the most fun I've ever had in my life. 431 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: So you know, I can't complain that's so great. Well, 432 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:03,199 Speaker 1: here is such an important song I think for the 433 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 1: time because there's so many heroic actions that were witnessing 434 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: in the world. There's so many people who, you know, 435 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: bring heroic traits and into life and grace. What you're 436 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 1: doing for people and the voice that you're giving them 437 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: and the safe haven that you're giving them is heroic 438 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 1: in its own regard. And I want to just certainly 439 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:31,440 Speaker 1: congratulate you for all of your work, and I look 440 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:36,879 Speaker 1: forward to the next bodies of your prolific work. Thank you, 441 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 1: and I'm so honored that you were able to find 442 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 1: the time to take a walk with me. Oh gosh, 443 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: it was a blast. And you know, it's beautiful outside 444 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: and it's reminded me that I got to get out more. 445 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: I got to get out from the studio, and hopefully 446 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: when I'm done with this project, I can you know, 447 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 1: find myself outside in nature a little bit more than 448 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 1: I am right now. Thanks for your tremendous energy, grace. 449 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, buzz This was a blast. Taking 450 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: a walk with Buzznight is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 451 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.