1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 2: It's interesting when you're surrounded by great people. They're usually 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 2: pretty cool. There's not much ego. Everybody just does their work. 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:16,479 Speaker 2: Everybody's really humble, nice and respectful. And I learned a 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 2: lot from that because you know, you work with a 6 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 2: lot of people that run the gamut, and you know 7 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 2: who's full of shit and who's the real deal. And 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 2: it's such a treat. It's such an honor to work 9 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: with people that are great because they're just they know 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: what they're doing and they make it easier for you. 11 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 2: It's like a great dance partner, a great tennis partner. 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: You know, they just make you better. And so I 13 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 2: felt quite calm and collected, even though it was overwhelming, 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: especially because also Peter was they're filming a documentary something 15 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 2: great the song fell into. I can't even relax. I'm 16 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 2: just like, oh, on it. But you know, at the 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: same time, they everybody just made me feel comfortable and 18 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: that I have a write and belong here. 19 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 3: I'm Buzz Night, the host of but Taking a Walk pot. 20 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 3: This is the podcast where we talk with a variety 21 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 3: of musicians about their latest music projects. 22 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,199 Speaker 1: Now, if you like what we do with Taking a Walk. 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 3: I'd love if you could share this or other episodes 24 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 3: with your friends. 25 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: Also, we love feedback. 26 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 3: So you can give me feedback by writing to me 27 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 3: at Buzz at Buzznightmedia dot com, or go to Apple 28 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 3: Podcasts leave us a review. On this episode, we're talking 29 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: with Grammy nominated singer Leslie Mendelssohn. She's collaborated with Jackson 30 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 3: Brown and many others. She has a great sound. She 31 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 3: has new music out called After the Party. It's her 32 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 3: fourth studio album. Let's talk with Leslie now on Taking 33 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 3: a Walk. Leslie, thanks for being on Taking a Walk. 34 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 3: Congratulations on your fourth album After the Party. We're gonna 35 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 3: celebrate that, but I want to ask you to start. 36 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: Tell me who influenced you to be a socially concerned artist. 37 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: I think it starts with John Lennon. I was always 38 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: a Beatles fan, but you know his political activism, you 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 2: know when he became a solo artist. I mean even 40 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: throughout his whole career with the Beatles, he always pushed back. 41 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: And that's what I love, you know, being able to 42 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: push back against whether it's authority, the regime, the government, 43 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: you know, and just speaking truth in your music. Bob 44 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: Marley does it, and you know csn Y, you know, 45 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: carisby Stiel's Nashy like people that are that and when 46 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: the message is good and there's truth and the songs 47 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: are good, that's a home run. So that's that always 48 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: turned me on. 49 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 3: Talk about some other musical influences, I know you have 50 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 3: a lot of them. 51 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, like I said, I grew up on the Beatles. 52 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 2: There were my first loves. And then but I grew 53 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 2: up on the radio and I loved pop music. I 54 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: love just you know, in high school or whatever or 55 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: after high school there's like Nirvana and everyone from Nirvana 56 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 2: to like Frank Sinatra or you know, like it was 57 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: just a huge there's no boundaries when it. If it's 58 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: a good song, I love it. I like, you know, 59 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: I got into country music a little later, but like 60 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: my influences early on was probably just like you know, 61 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 2: radio pop rock and just let's see and but then 62 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: when I got an acoustic guitar, I got into like 63 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and that whole Laurel Canyon scene. 64 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 1: How does it make you feel that you not only 65 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: have a fan base in the traditional sense, but you're 66 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: also really adored by fellow artists. 67 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: Oh well, do tel I have no idea. That's nice. 68 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 2: I mean it's always nice to hear I like that. 69 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: Can you talk about that moment that was at Austin 70 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: City Limits when you performed with this fella named Jackson Brown? 71 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 2: Oh? 72 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 3: Him? 73 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: Well, okay, So speaking of like going back to when 74 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 2: I was mentioning Joni Mitchell and Laurel Canyon, when I 75 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: got my first acoustic guitar, I learned These Days. That 76 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: was one of my first songs that I learned. I mean, 77 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: I love Jackson Brown, and so when I had this 78 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: opportunity to work with him, it was amazing. And it 79 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 2: happened so casually too. I was doing this what do 80 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 2: they call it, like a house concert in Brooklyn, and 81 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 2: a director came up to me and said he liked 82 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: what I just did, He liked my set, and if 83 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 2: I'd be interested in collaborating, you know, doing some original 84 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: music for his documentary and possibly teaming up with Jackson Brown. 85 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: I'm like, uh, okay, And we got this opportunity, me 86 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 2: and my co writer Steve McEwan to sketch something out. 87 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 2: We said to Jackson, He's like, I really like this 88 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 2: I can work with this, and then when we got together, 89 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 2: we got together in New York and finished the song, 90 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: and then we recorded it in his studio in Santa Monica, 91 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: and then it made it into the movie. The movie's 92 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 2: called five b and for those who haven't heard of 93 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: it or seen it, it's about the beginning of the 94 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: AIDS epidemic and San Francisco General. That's five bees, the 95 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 2: first dedicated AIDS ward in that hospital, and the music 96 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 2: plays over the end titled the End Credits. It's a 97 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: beautiful documentary though it's really about the relationship between the 98 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: nurses and the patients. They were the first ones to 99 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: give the patients love anyway, So that happened, and then 100 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 2: Jackson put it on his latest record too, which is great, 101 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 2: and it's called a Human Touch, and he invited me 102 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 2: out to tour with him. I would open the show 103 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: and then join him on stage, and then when it 104 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 2: came time for them to do Austin City Limits, he 105 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 2: invited me to sing the song because it was on 106 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: his record, So that was a pretty great moment. I 107 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: love that show too, so to be able to sing 108 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: that song with Jackson on that show is pretty special. 109 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: These days, still blows me away thinking about the fact 110 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: that wasn't he like nineteen years old or something when 111 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: he wrote that he was sixteen sixteen. 112 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 2: It's insane, like the wisdom that he has on it's 113 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 2: just it's mind blowing his perspective on life. 114 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: So you've collaborated with a few other notables, going from 115 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: Bob Weir to Roger Daltrey to some others. Can you 116 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: talk about those experiences and what that meant to you. 117 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: Well, let's start with Bob Weir. As a kid, there 118 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: was another influential band for me. It was The Grateful Dead, 119 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 2: and growing up on Long Island, there was a plethora 120 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: of Grateful Dead cover bands to sit in with, and 121 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: I never saw the Dead. So when I remember seeing 122 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: this band reckoning, and I just thought they were playing 123 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 2: these songs and I'm like, what is this because it 124 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: didn't sound like anything I've ever heard before. But I 125 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: got it and the band was great, and so you know, 126 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: and that music is such a vehicle, like if you're 127 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 2: having a good night and you can expand on the music, 128 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: it's really could be transcendent. And I remember, especially one 129 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 2: night listening to this music and then I got into 130 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 2: him and you know, started listening to tapes and stuff 131 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 2: like that. But I love the songs because the harmonies 132 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: were amazing, to these great melodies, and so I kind 133 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: of did a lot of I learned a lot of 134 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 2: the songs. I just loved it. And so flash forward 135 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 2: to I don't even know how many years later, I 136 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 2: was invited to sing with Bob for his show We're Here, 137 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: which was this web series he had about ten years ago, 138 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: and he would invite singer songwriters to come and sing 139 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 2: in his studio in Marin at tri in Marin, and 140 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 2: he would conduct the show where he'd have the band, 141 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: we'd sing songs, we sang some of mine, we sing 142 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: some hints, some covers, and then in between sets he 143 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: would conduct this David Letterman type of interview. And I 144 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,679 Speaker 2: sat on the couch between Dave's schools and Steve Parrish, 145 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: which is like two mountain men and me. It's just 146 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: you could see it online. It's funny and I loved 147 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: it though. The band was great, and that's what actually 148 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: kicked off my relationship with Steve Kimmock and Jason Crosby, 149 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 2: who was an old friend from Long Island. And it 150 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: was a great band. Dave's Schools, Jay Laine, you know, 151 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: and they're still my friends to this day, so that 152 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: was pretty special. And then Bob came and sang on 153 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 2: my record. They sing Blue Bayou, which turned out to 154 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: be collectively one of our favorite songs, so that was 155 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 2: really cool that he sang that with me. So as 156 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 2: far as Roger Daltrey, it kind of ties back in 157 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 2: a strange way to even me meeting Bob Weir because 158 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 2: I was working in London and I was working with 159 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 2: The Who's management and Justin Kreutzman, who's Bill Kreutzman's son, 160 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: the drummer of The Grateful Dead son is a documentary maker. 161 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 2: He was in the audience one night when I was 162 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 2: in London because he was making a documentary about Pete Townsend. 163 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: So he was the one who saw me and connected 164 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 2: the dots for me and Bob. But as far as 165 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 2: me working with Roger, it was actually after I was 166 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 2: living in London when I got invited to open for 167 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 2: The Who. Because I was back in twenty nineteen, they 168 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 2: asked me to open for them at Madison Square Garden 169 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 2: and I remember getting the call and I was just like, 170 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 2: I just said, why I was like why, I don't understand, 171 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: and they were like, well, we wanted somebody, you know, 172 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: we wanted somebody from New York and they were doing 173 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 2: this huge, big orchestra symphony thing, so they wanted something small. 174 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 2: And because I've worked with them and I've opened for 175 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 2: Roger before and that just kind of randomly happened too. 176 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 2: But because I knew the crew, they were just like, 177 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: come open for us, and it was That was just 178 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 2: one of the most wild things because I did it 179 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: with just me and an acoustic guitar and my co writer. 180 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 2: We played two guitars at Madison Square Garden, but it 181 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 2: went overwhell. They had me back a few more times. 182 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 2: So I've opened for The Who a handful of times 183 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 2: and then Rogers had me out like for three or 184 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 2: four tours, and those are a little bit more my speed, 185 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 2: because you know, The Who plays big stadiums and Roger 186 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:17,199 Speaker 2: plays just these lovely theaters, which I like that because 187 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: the sound for me is better and I love a theater, 188 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 2: especially when I'm just doing solo or duo acoustic. It 189 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: just but I just did one. I just opened for 190 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 2: him a few weeks ago and Billy, which was fun. 191 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: You're still in awe of what's happened in your career, aren't. 192 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 2: You, Well, you know, I mean I should maybe, but 193 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 2: I'm not because I'm just kind of always looking forward 194 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 2: to what's next. Because it's hard to hang your hat 195 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 2: on anything because you got to keep moving, you got 196 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 2: to keep working. And so I'm very proud of the 197 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 2: work that I've done with these legends. But you know 198 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 2: that's it. 199 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 4: Keep moving, all right, Well, let's keep moving. Let's talk 200 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 4: about after the party. I want you to brag about 201 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 4: it though, this group of amazing collaborations on this project. 202 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,439 Speaker 4: So brag away, Leslie Mendelssohn. 203 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 2: Well, specifically, what do you want to know? 204 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 3: Well, okay, on this whole project, let's start with Peter 205 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 3: Asher Hello, Like, yeah, okay, okay. 206 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 2: We could start there. So my co writer, Steve, I'll 207 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 2: just call him Steve now. He met Peter, I think 208 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 2: at the Grammys. Steve is one of few Grammys at 209 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 2: this point, and they were friends. And I don't even 210 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: know how it happened, but I was wound up at 211 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 2: a dinner with Peter and Jackson Brown. I sat next 212 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 2: to them, so you can imagine just sitting next to 213 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 2: them for an hour or so, just I kept my 214 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: mouth shut the whole time. I just can't even believe that, 215 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 2: you know, It's just a lot of music history in 216 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 2: one small, little corner of an Italian restaurant. And after 217 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 2: that dinner, Peter had asked Steve if he wanted to 218 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 2: come listen to the new record he just produced for 219 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 2: Susannah Hawks. And again, I'm a huge Bengals fan from 220 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 2: when I was a kid. So Susanna has like the 221 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 2: greatest voice, and I love their songs, and I was like, absolutely, 222 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 2: I want to go. And so we heard some mixes 223 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 2: and I met Susanna and she's just the sweetest. And 224 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 2: then after we listened, we just asked Peter if he was, 225 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 2: you know, if he likes producing, and if he'd be 226 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 2: up for listening to some of my stuff and possibly producing. 227 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 2: He said yes, and so we sent him some songs 228 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:44,559 Speaker 2: and yeah, there we go. 229 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: Okay, another one to brag about Tyler Chester. 230 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that happened around the same time. I had 231 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 2: this opportunity to work with Tyler. So I'm like, let's 232 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 2: do a few songs. And I love the stuff that 233 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: happened with him. He's I mean, I'm a fan of 234 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 2: his work from Madison Cunningham, and it was Bob Cloud, 235 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 2: Bob Blob from Jackson's Band who connected us, and yeah, 236 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 2: we wound up doing a few songs. So I had 237 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 2: all the opportunities to work with these great producers, and 238 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: I didn't want to say like, well, I've already started 239 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 2: with this one or that one. I'm just like yes. 240 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 2: And so at the end of the day, I just 241 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 2: collected these songs and like, these all work together, let's 242 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 2: just put them on the same record. I'm not the 243 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 2: first one who's done it. 244 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 3: So and then a couple of other notables that were 245 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 3: part of the sessions, Waddie walktell Leland Sklark, Jim Keltner, Oh. 246 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 2: Those bums, none of those Yeah, now they're great. I 247 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: mean when Peter asked me who I wanted to work with, 248 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 2: I said, well, let's get the dream team. You know, 249 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 2: it just seemed like unobtainable, but like because of Peter, 250 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 2: it made it happen. And oddly enough, I know Wattie 251 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: walked out because my dad and him went to high 252 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 2: school together in Jackson Heights, Queens. Wow, so they you know, 253 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 2: they were in a band together when they were kids. 254 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 2: They had lost touch, but then got back together through 255 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 2: Facebook or something and reconnected. And then Waddie invited him 256 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 2: to himself and meet to see Stevie Nicks down in 257 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: Atlantic City. So then I got to meet Wattie, you know, 258 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: and he was so gracious and funny, and ever since 259 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 2: then he's been like Uncle Wattie because we've kept in 260 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 2: touch and he's just he's the best. So we actually 261 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 2: got to work together, which was a dream come true 262 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 2: for me. 263 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: What did you learn from this amazing collection of people 264 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: in those sessions. 265 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 2: It's interesting when you're surrounded by great people, they're usually 266 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 2: pretty cool. There's not much ego. Everybody just does their work. 267 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 2: Everybody's really humble, nice and respectful. And I learned a 268 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 2: lot from that because you know, you work with a 269 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: lot of people that run the gamut, and you know 270 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 2: who's full of shit and who's the real deal. And 271 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 2: it's such a treat. It's such an honor to work 272 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 2: with people that are great because they're just they know 273 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 2: what they're doing and they make it easier for you. 274 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 2: It's like a great dance partner, a great tennis partner. 275 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 2: You know, they just make you better. And so I 276 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: felt quite calm and collected, even though it was overwhelming, 277 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 2: especially because also Peter, they're filming a documentary something great 278 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: this song fell into. I can't even relax. I'm just like, 279 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: oh on it. But you know, at the same time, 280 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: everybody just made me feel comfortable and that I have 281 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 2: a write and belong here. 282 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,239 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with the Taking a Walk Podcast. 283 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 284 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 3: Can you talk about your creative process for after the 285 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 3: party and specifically, is it evolving from maybe previous albums 286 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 3: in any different ways? 287 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 2: I hope so, I like to think so. I feel 288 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 2: like each time I make a record, i'd like to 289 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 2: think that it gets better at least the process. You 290 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 2: can only hope the songwriting that people like it as 291 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 2: much as your last one. And I'm proud of these 292 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 2: songs in this collection kind of was born during the 293 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 2: pandemic because you know, there's nothing going on, and a 294 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 2: lot of these songs were visions of better days. And 295 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: so even though my twenty twenty record came out, well 296 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 2: I recorded it before the pandemic, it came out like 297 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 2: smack during like April or May of it, so, which 298 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 2: was crazy. But you know, in A lot of those 299 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 2: topics on that record dealt with a lot of anxieties 300 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 2: from the past year or two of just the twenty 301 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: four hour news cycle, depression, gun violence, that, you know, 302 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 2: like a lot of hot topics. But then this record, 303 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 2: even though it was created during the pandemic, I felt 304 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 2: like it was looking towards the future of just like 305 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 2: when we're through it all, So it's kind of in 306 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: a way more hopeful. I don't know if that answered 307 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 2: any of the questions here. 308 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 3: Rock and roll radio that's packed with loads of fun. 309 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 3: You mentioned listening to things on the radio earlier in 310 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 3: the interview. Were you listening to the radio in the 311 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 3: New York metropolitan area. 312 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 1: When you were influenced Long Island? 313 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: Long Island? 314 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: What were you listening to? 315 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 2: Let me think back, Okay, there was like, well there 316 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 2: was Z one hundred, which was like the pop music, 317 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 2: which was like the NTV of radio, which was fine sometimes. 318 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 2: And then what were the rock stations, K rock, YEP, 319 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 2: W B L I and I think that was more 320 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 2: like light FM, which I dug too. I was I'm 321 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 2: all about light FM. Those are I love those songs, 322 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: you know, anything from like Phil Collins to whoever you know. Yeah, 323 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: I love it all. I love it. I'm sure when 324 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 2: we're done with this, I'll start remembering call letters. But 325 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 2: I'm not sure. 326 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: It wasn't a quiz, you know. 327 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: So I'm sorry you remember. 328 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: It came off like a quiz. It wasn't intended to be. 329 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 2: This is a real gotcha media, isn't it. 330 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: Yeah right, I come out of radio, so that's why 331 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: it was curious. 332 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 2: So yeah, well I'm still listening to Howard Stern, so 333 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 2: I listened to him on. 334 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 3: Series Yeah, the Good Life and Appreciation of the Little Things. 335 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: I imagine that was heavily influenced during the COVID lockdown. 336 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 2: Actually that was That's funny because that was the last 337 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 2: song I had written with Steve for this collection of songs, 338 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 2: and I feel like we were out of the pandemic 339 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 2: by them. But sure, I mean, just slide it right 340 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 2: in there. But this was kind of my me tipping 341 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 2: my hat to some of my other favorite songwriters, like well, 342 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 2: Jimmy Webb and the way he would write for like 343 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 2: Glenn Campbell, And this song puts me into the Glenn 344 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 2: Campbell good Time hour. I love that style of like 345 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 2: country pop music but from the seventies. I love Whyalon 346 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 2: Jennings and Willie Nelson and that. To me, this kind 347 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: of song feels like it embodies that and that time, 348 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,679 Speaker 2: and the topic is just it is just from the 349 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 2: hard and wanting better things or appreciating the little things. 350 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 2: Like you said, like it's not so bad kid, relax. 351 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: Can you talk about the joy of playing live in 352 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: front of people? 353 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah I can. I actually really love it. I'm 354 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 2: very lucky I get to do what I do. I 355 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 2: appreciate it. I take a deep breath before I go on, 356 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 2: so I could really try to be in the moment. 357 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 2: I really like connecting with people. I love talking shit, 358 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 2: and I love singing songs where people like if it 359 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 2: and it's not like I mean, I like making music. 360 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 2: It's fine when you're home and you're creating, and some 361 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 2: days I just I love doing it. Some days I 362 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 2: can't be bothered. But you know, when you're in front 363 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 2: of an audience, they give you that energy and they're 364 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 2: there to be entertained, and I'm like, I'm here. I'm 365 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 2: the one at that moment going to deliver. And so 366 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 2: you know, I think I used to terrify me. I 367 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 2: used to hate talking between songs because I never knew 368 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 2: what to say that the more I do it and 369 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: the more experiences I grab, you know, that are under 370 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 2: my belt, I can't speak you know what I'm saying. 371 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 2: I collect under my belt. I don't know, it sounds wrong, 372 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 2: but you know what I mean, the more I have 373 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 2: to talk about and it's just it's becoming more fun. 374 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: When you're on the road. Are you constantly writing as well? 375 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: Or do you just focus on the performance. 376 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 2: I mean I'll come up with little ideas here and there, 377 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: like during sound check if I just start playing something 378 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 2: that I like, I'll like, oh that sounds nice, and 379 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 2: I'll record it. But yeah, mostly just there's the whole 380 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 2: regiment of the day. I like the groove of being 381 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 2: on tour, you know, waking up in a hotel or 382 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: you know, eat your breakfast, map out the day you 383 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: get on the road. You know, maybe you'll get into town. 384 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 2: You know, just like there's just something about the rhythm 385 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 2: of it. I like it. And then you know, getting 386 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 2: to the club soundcheck and then I get into like 387 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 2: a kind of a meditative state and then try to. 388 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: Relax as much as possible, and then you hit the 389 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: stage and go you know, you love the artist community, 390 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: the musician community. 391 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 3: Who are some of the musicians that you're fond of 392 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 3: that might be not on people's radar these days. 393 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 2: Well, I think Emily King is doing some great work. 394 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 2: She's got this amazing voice, and her songs are really 395 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 2: personal and she's great players, so they really come across. Well, 396 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 2: I think she's fantastic. Well, there's an artist named Sam 397 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: Fender that I like. He's in England. He's great and 398 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 2: he's kind of big over there, but nobody really knows 399 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: who he is. And over here I love Iron and Wine. 400 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 2: I mean, people know who he is. But I think 401 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 2: he's just made a beautiful record, a new record that 402 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 2: I love, and I got to meet him a few 403 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 2: weeks ago. I was asked to sing at Carnegie Hall 404 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 2: for the Crosby Still Is a Nash tribute and he's 405 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: just incredible. A couple of those artists on that stage 406 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 2: are great, like Sarah Jirose was there and if O'Donovan. 407 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 2: I think they're just incredible folk singers, and you know, 408 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,880 Speaker 2: in that in the Americana genre, I think they're they're great. 409 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: There's a few you know you've had, you know, so 410 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: many of those great collaborators that we were talking about 411 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: previously that you've worked with. Is there anybody on the 412 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: dream list of collaborators that you haven't worked with? 413 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 2: Like I was just saying Iron and Wine, Sam Beam, 414 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,880 Speaker 2: I mean, I just I'd love to sing with him 415 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 2: one day. I love his voice and saying with Bonnivert. 416 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 2: I think he's just incredible. And yeah, there's just there's 417 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 2: a couple of guys off the bat. 418 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 3: In closing, as you're a continuous learner, I could tell 419 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 3: what are you still wishing you could learn that you 420 00:22:58,800 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 3: haven't learned. 421 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 2: As far as like lessons or instruments or anything. Well, 422 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 2: I always want to just get better at whatever I'm doing, 423 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 2: but you know, maybe learn a language one day that's 424 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 2: besides just being like just a dumb American, like learn 425 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 2: some Spanish or Italian or something that's on the bucket list. 426 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 1: Leslie, I've so enjoyed talking to you on taking a walk. 427 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 3: Congratulations on after the party, and good luck on it 428 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 3: as you take it to the world. Thank you. 429 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:30,439 Speaker 2: That was great talking to you. 430 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: Thanks, Leslie. 431 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 3: I appreciate it. 432 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: Okay, Okay, you take care of yourself, Okay. 433 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:36,439 Speaker 2: All right, thank you. 434 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 3: Thank you, thanks, bye bye, thanks for listening to the 435 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 3: Taking a Walk podcast with Leslie Mendelssohn. 436 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: You could find Taking a Walk at Apple 437 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 3: Podcasts, Spotify, and of course, on the iHeartRadio app, America's 438 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 3: number one podcast network, iHeart