WEBVTT - What’s the State of R&B and Where Is It Going with Nicci Gilbert-Daniels and SiMaya 0:00:06.240 --> 0:00:09.400 Hey, everybody, it's Tiffany Cross. I'm your host of Across Generations, 0:00:09.440 --> 0:00:12.320 and you can catch new episodes of Across Generations every 0:00:12.360 --> 0:00:15.720 Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts. I am sitting here 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.520 going through our reviews. When you rate and review a show, 0:00:18.560 --> 0:00:21.080 it really helps grow our platform. And I'm reading all 0:00:21.079 --> 0:00:23.880 of these wonderful reviews that you are so kindly took 0:00:23.920 --> 0:00:26.240 the time to write. So I just want to shout 0:00:26.280 --> 0:00:28.200 a few of you all out because I'm just touched 0:00:28.240 --> 0:00:32.320 and overwhelmed. Never enough shoes. That's somebody's handle, which I love. 0:00:32.400 --> 0:00:35.159 A woman after my own heart. She says that she 0:00:35.440 --> 0:00:37.680 is sure she's gonna love this podcast. I want to 0:00:37.720 --> 0:00:40.120 know did you listen, and if so, drop another review 0:00:40.120 --> 0:00:41.760 and let us know what you think because we love 0:00:41.800 --> 0:00:44.200 having you as a listener. I also wanted to thank 0:00:44.280 --> 0:00:47.519 tiff hops tif if Tiff is short for Tiffany, you 0:00:47.520 --> 0:00:49.880 gotta say, I love your name, but you said woo 0:00:49.920 --> 0:00:52.560 who You're excited for this and you love the title, 0:00:52.600 --> 0:00:56.680 and anytime I speak, you're always tuning in. Well, thank you, sis, 0:00:56.800 --> 0:00:59.880 I really appreciate that. Keep tuning in and tell your 0:00:59.880 --> 0:01:01.960 friends to rate and review the show as well. We 0:01:02.120 --> 0:01:05.160 really appreciate it. I also want to shout out Jaya 0:01:05.360 --> 0:01:09.160 four eight eight. You said you are excited to have 0:01:09.319 --> 0:01:12.560 a weekly double dose of me on this podcast, so 0:01:12.640 --> 0:01:15.680 I really appreciate you tuning in. Remember new episodes of 0:01:15.720 --> 0:01:19.759 Across Generations drops every Tuesday, so tell your friends, tell 0:01:19.800 --> 0:01:23.360 your family. Listening with a group is a really great 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.040 way to enjoy Across Generations because we want the conversation 0:01:26.120 --> 0:01:29.319 to continue well after we're off the air. So if 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:32.000 you tune in, be sure to rate and review the show. 0:01:32.319 --> 0:01:34.479 And we go through these reviews. Guys, we read every 0:01:34.480 --> 0:01:36.440 single one, so you never know we might tap you 0:01:36.480 --> 0:01:39.319 in to be a guest again. I'm your host, Tiffany 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:43.039 Cross to a cross generation. Welcome to a cross Generations 0:01:43.080 --> 0:01:46.360 where the voices of black women unite. I'm your host, 0:01:46.880 --> 0:01:51.520 Tiffany Cross. Tiffany Cross. We gather a season elder myself 0:01:51.640 --> 0:01:54.280 as the middle generation, and a vibrant young soul for 0:01:54.440 --> 0:01:59.560 engaging intergenerational conversations. Prepare to engage or hear perspectives that 0:01:59.800 --> 0:02:01.040 know no one else is happy. 0:02:01.600 --> 0:02:02.400 You know how we do? 0:02:02.960 --> 0:02:08.280 We create Maggie Creates mag Hey everybody, I'm Tiffany Cross 0:02:08.280 --> 0:02:11.880 and welcome to your next episode of Across Generations, and 0:02:11.960 --> 0:02:14.760 this is going to be a great conversation. We are 0:02:14.840 --> 0:02:18.920 talking about music, and music is deeply rooted in our tradition. 0:02:19.080 --> 0:02:22.680 The soundtrack of my life can be set chronologically by 0:02:22.720 --> 0:02:25.520 the music my mother will play on Saturday mornings. You 0:02:25.560 --> 0:02:27.640 know those Saturday mornings where everybody gotta get up and 0:02:27.680 --> 0:02:31.640 do chores. Well, she'd be playing Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, 0:02:31.840 --> 0:02:35.440 Earth Wind and Fire Maze, and Frankie Beverly of course, 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:40.080 Prince Anita Baker, Luther Big Luther and Little Luther, Michael Jackson, 0:02:40.120 --> 0:02:43.640 of course, Eurley Murdoch, Regina Bell, of course, Whitney Houston, 0:02:43.680 --> 0:02:46.360 the Voice. I gotta tell you, I would barely be 0:02:46.480 --> 0:02:50.280 ten years old, singing along talking about somebody else's husband 0:02:50.639 --> 0:02:54.079 as we lay barely in my double digit singing and 0:02:54.160 --> 0:02:57.560 my imaginary husband that I am not just superwoman. It 0:02:57.639 --> 0:03:01.200 took me to a place yet unseen. When What's the 0:03:01.240 --> 0:03:03.280 four one one drops? I was a teenager at this 0:03:03.360 --> 0:03:07.040 time and albums were fading out, CDs were fading in. 0:03:07.600 --> 0:03:10.600 I listened to that CD and had every song memorized. 0:03:10.600 --> 0:03:13.200 In the week, Who among us wasn't looking for real 0:03:13.280 --> 0:03:15.839 love in nineteen ninety one. This is around the same 0:03:15.880 --> 0:03:17.920 time I was one of my first adult parties, and 0:03:17.919 --> 0:03:20.480 one of the first was in Atlanta, Georgia. 0:03:19.960 --> 0:03:21.120 At Wendy Hill Village. 0:03:21.320 --> 0:03:23.480 And this is back when the parties always closed out 0:03:23.520 --> 0:03:25.280 to that slow song some of y'all know what I'm 0:03:25.280 --> 0:03:28.160 talking about and Forever My Lady by Jodas he came 0:03:28.200 --> 0:03:30.760 on Baby, the hormones were hormony. 0:03:31.320 --> 0:03:32.840 Then came the girl. 0:03:32.560 --> 0:03:36.800 Groups, Escape in Vogue, and you may remember a little 0:03:36.800 --> 0:03:39.240 girl group, Destiny's Child. I wonder whatever happened to them, 0:03:39.440 --> 0:03:43.160 and of course Brownstone more about that later. So I 0:03:43.240 --> 0:03:45.720 wonder now are the love balance the same what we 0:03:45.800 --> 0:03:48.160 listened to, how we listened to music. We went from 0:03:48.200 --> 0:03:52.080 boomboxes to walkman tonanos to our phones. We went from 0:03:52.120 --> 0:03:55.600 copping albums, the dubbing tapes, the burning CDs to now 0:03:55.720 --> 0:03:59.960 streaming stars are discovered and made on social media. Audio 0:04:00.120 --> 0:04:03.680 soon helps the tuneless, and streaming numbers do not translate 0:04:03.680 --> 0:04:06.800 to millions of dollars for artists. So for both artists 0:04:06.840 --> 0:04:09.600 and consumers, I wonder, is this the best earl R 0:04:09.600 --> 0:04:10.600 and B or the worst? 0:04:10.840 --> 0:04:11.360 And why? 0:04:11.920 --> 0:04:15.480 And where are we going? In this industry. So you 0:04:15.480 --> 0:04:18.080 guys remember like Blue Eyed Soul, like they kind of 0:04:18.080 --> 0:04:21.679 had a place, right. I mean, you think about color 0:04:21.760 --> 0:04:27.039 me bad, George Michael, Michael Bolton, who is the guy 0:04:27.080 --> 0:04:31.600 who just died? Bobby Caldwell. Bobby Caldwell, he was I 0:04:31.680 --> 0:04:34.839 would listen to these guys and think they were literally black, 0:04:35.000 --> 0:04:37.160 but they were not. So we're going to get into 0:04:37.240 --> 0:04:39.680 this conversation and I want to bring in my guests. 0:04:39.880 --> 0:04:42.680 Joining me now Nikki Gilbert Daniels. 0:04:42.760 --> 0:04:46.239 She's fifty three year old singer and songwriter, most known 0:04:46.520 --> 0:04:50.120 for being the founder of the multi platinum Grammy nominated 0:04:50.160 --> 0:04:51.760 group Brownstone. 0:04:51.920 --> 0:04:54.599 I used to love that song if you Love Me, 0:04:55.040 --> 0:04:55.919 y'all know that song. 0:04:56.240 --> 0:04:58.320 The group had success during the mid nineties as the 0:04:58.360 --> 0:05:01.680 first group sign to Michael jack Sin's record label MJJ. 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:04.760 Currently independent, Nikki has set forth to create her own 0:05:04.800 --> 0:05:08.679 streaming platform to give female artists more control over their content. 0:05:08.920 --> 0:05:11.360 I'm sure a lot of female artists appreciate that. She's 0:05:11.400 --> 0:05:14.200 also the creator of the hit reality series R and 0:05:14.240 --> 0:05:16.760 B Divas. Now on the other side of this, we 0:05:16.839 --> 0:05:19.720 have Smaya. She's twenty six years old. She's an independent 0:05:19.800 --> 0:05:22.559 singer and songwriter I wonder if she'll sing for us today. 0:05:22.720 --> 0:05:25.320 She's based in Atlanta, Georgia. She's never been signed to 0:05:25.400 --> 0:05:28.400 a major label and does not aspire to be signed. 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:31.839 Proudly writes all of her own music. She strongly wants 0:05:31.920 --> 0:05:35.320 to be able to heal others through her music, while 0:05:35.440 --> 0:05:38.599 unfortunately navigating an industry that has not made her feel 0:05:38.640 --> 0:05:40.800 safe or supported as a woman. 0:05:41.640 --> 0:05:44.559 Isn't that all the industries? But yes, very much. 0:05:44.960 --> 0:05:48.599 I am so excited about having this conversation. 0:05:48.240 --> 0:05:50.000 Especially with somebody I used to listen. 0:05:49.839 --> 0:05:51.159 To all the time. 0:05:51.880 --> 0:05:54.039 Is no excitement for sure. 0:05:54.160 --> 0:05:55.880 Well, when they told me that they hooked to you, 0:05:55.920 --> 0:05:59.440 I was super excited. So I'm so happy to be 0:05:59.480 --> 0:06:02.760 in community with both you ladies. Nikki, since you've had 0:06:02.800 --> 0:06:06.839 a career in music, I mean, really, it has taken 0:06:07.320 --> 0:06:14.600 such a turn. I remember when Walkman's were a big deal, yes, ma'am, 0:06:14.640 --> 0:06:16.479 And when CDs came out, I was like, but what 0:06:16.520 --> 0:06:17.680 are you going to do? Like how are you going 0:06:17.720 --> 0:06:19.480 to be able to be a bubble? And then there 0:06:19.560 --> 0:06:21.360 was sure enough you could have a Walkman and a 0:06:21.360 --> 0:06:24.599 CD player. And then after that it was like the 0:06:24.640 --> 0:06:28.359 whole industry changed. Napster came along, and everything changed. Yes, yeah, 0:06:28.600 --> 0:06:32.200 it really redefined the industry. But as an artist, because 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:35.360 I only experienced this as a consumer. As an artist, 0:06:35.960 --> 0:06:39.240 I'm curious, what was the state of R and B 0:06:39.440 --> 0:06:42.400 then in your heyday, and what is the state of 0:06:42.480 --> 0:06:43.719 R and B now in your opinion? 0:06:44.800 --> 0:06:47.200 I think the biggest difference in R and B ban 0:06:47.320 --> 0:06:52.680 and now is artist development, right. I think back then 0:06:53.279 --> 0:06:54.599 you had to know how to sing, you had to 0:06:54.600 --> 0:06:56.799 know how to write. Yeah, you had to really invest 0:06:56.800 --> 0:06:57.480 in your craft. 0:06:57.640 --> 0:06:57.880 Yeah. 0:06:58.480 --> 0:07:01.320 Now it's a numbers game, right, which you know, I 0:07:01.400 --> 0:07:05.320 understand people wont capitalized and monetize. But I think when 0:07:05.320 --> 0:07:07.440 you start talking about longevity and when you talk about 0:07:07.440 --> 0:07:09.640 being here thirty years later, which we will be next 0:07:09.720 --> 0:07:13.000 year for thirty years, the biggest thing is that artists 0:07:13.000 --> 0:07:17.480 development and having a real love for the craft, the music, 0:07:17.560 --> 0:07:20.400 the songs, the lyrics, all of it. 0:07:20.400 --> 0:07:22.520 It's kind of the thing of the past. It feels 0:07:22.600 --> 0:07:22.840 like that. 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:25.600 Yeah, well, I'm gonna shift to you, Samaia. So you're 0:07:25.680 --> 0:07:26.960 young and cool and independent. 0:07:28.480 --> 0:07:29.000 Thank you. 0:07:29.360 --> 0:07:34.320 Questions Come on, I can set a little cool cocktail 0:07:35.200 --> 0:07:37.000 for the folks listening to us. I put on my 0:07:37.080 --> 0:07:41.200 cool shade so I can talk to the cool hip artists. No, 0:07:41.320 --> 0:07:46.080 but seriously, you're entering this industry, you don't have a 0:07:46.120 --> 0:07:49.000 memory of what it was like, you know, walk in 0:07:49.200 --> 0:07:51.720 CD players, But who were like, like, what is even 0:07:51.760 --> 0:07:52.480 old school to you? 0:07:52.520 --> 0:07:52.560 Like? 0:07:52.600 --> 0:07:54.760 Who are some of the people that you wean you're 0:07:54.800 --> 0:07:58.160 weaned after, like your style that you were inspired by? 0:07:58.280 --> 0:08:01.280 Yeah, I would say I grew up listening to artists 0:08:01.320 --> 0:08:05.760 like h NB, I Re Music, Soul, Child, just Scot 0:08:06.840 --> 0:08:12.480 justone R and b Neo Soul. 0:08:12.600 --> 0:08:16.000 It was like that, Okay, okay, so all those sounds 0:08:16.040 --> 0:08:16.840 kind of influence you. 0:08:17.160 --> 0:08:17.720 Yeah. 0:08:17.760 --> 0:08:22.120 So this is the thing that I think as consumers 0:08:22.160 --> 0:08:24.960 we don't realize because we just like music, and so 0:08:25.640 --> 0:08:27.920 you know, I download music, I listen to it, I 0:08:28.000 --> 0:08:33.800 play it, But those streaming numbers are not necessarily profitable 0:08:33.960 --> 0:08:34.960 to the artists themselves. 0:08:34.960 --> 0:08:38.320 I don't even understand how that works. I don't think 0:08:38.360 --> 0:08:40.640 anybody understands how it works to really honest. 0:08:40.760 --> 0:08:42.959 Yeah, it's just something that literally came out of thin air, 0:08:43.080 --> 0:08:45.600 Like the music comes out of thin air, and it's 0:08:45.640 --> 0:08:48.360 just something that they sort of just decided this is blue, so. 0:08:48.280 --> 0:08:49.280 We're gonna call it purple. 0:08:50.559 --> 0:08:53.360 We don't know, And the truth is unless you are 0:08:53.480 --> 0:08:56.720 a streaming platform or you have access to the back 0:08:56.800 --> 0:08:59.720 door of the analytics. Nobody really knows what was making 0:08:59.720 --> 0:09:03.600 the money. Spotify is making the money, iTunes is making 0:09:03.600 --> 0:09:07.000 the money. The distributors that are in partnership with those streamers. 0:09:07.040 --> 0:09:09.960 I'm not the artists. No, they're now let me say 0:09:10.960 --> 0:09:14.800 they're recently Sony Music. Shout out to Sony. We had 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:17.760 conversations and they made a few changes, and those changes 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:20.520 are that most artists from the nineties did not have 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:23.280 any If streaming didn't exist in the nineties, how do 0:09:23.280 --> 0:09:26.120 you addressing in the contract, right? How do you say, hey, listen, 0:09:26.200 --> 0:09:28.080 we want this for your streaming. So I think that 0:09:28.160 --> 0:09:30.640 it was it was referenced as a digital file because 0:09:30.640 --> 0:09:33.000 they would send those over to Europe as opposed to 0:09:33.040 --> 0:09:36.080 actually sending records, right, because they had stuff like breakage 0:09:36.120 --> 0:09:38.679 and all the excuses for taking your money. Now, these 0:09:38.720 --> 0:09:43.480 digital files are the closest thing to streaming. So typically 0:09:43.520 --> 0:09:46.160 what happens with nineties and legacy artists is if you 0:09:46.240 --> 0:09:49.200 have a digital file, because they don't have to have 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:52.280 the breakage and the returns and all that other stuff, 0:09:52.280 --> 0:09:55.400 because you can't technically return a digital file right, Yeah, 0:09:55.480 --> 0:09:58.080 you get fifty percent. Right, So what they're saying is 0:09:58.120 --> 0:10:02.520 you're getting fifty percent of two dollars. Now, we get 0:10:02.559 --> 0:10:05.959 fifty percent, but we can't determine if that fifty what 0:10:06.040 --> 0:10:08.480 that number we're getting fifty percent of is actually an 0:10:08.520 --> 0:10:09.360 accurate number? 0:10:09.640 --> 0:10:09.920 Wow? 0:10:10.160 --> 0:10:13.520 Right, So there's always a way. Yeah, and look to 0:10:13.559 --> 0:10:14.040 be fair. 0:10:14.240 --> 0:10:19.000 I mean, I will say in the nineties, like TLC 0:10:19.960 --> 0:10:23.439 went broke, they filed bankrucy, Tony Braxton foiled Bankrancy. So 0:10:23.480 --> 0:10:26.720 the music industry has always been somewhat shady, I think, 0:10:26.800 --> 0:10:29.839 and like the deals that artists get first time deals. 0:10:30.160 --> 0:10:33.440 Why are you resistant to signing to a label? And 0:10:33.520 --> 0:10:35.840 would you as an artist starting out, would you make 0:10:36.520 --> 0:10:39.560 more money on the front end signing to a label 0:10:39.720 --> 0:10:41.920 or are you better off staying independent? 0:10:42.920 --> 0:10:46.160 I mean, I think with the money labels give, like 0:10:46.200 --> 0:10:49.480 you got to pay back, right, I feel like that's 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:51.560 you starting in a deficit now rather not. 0:10:53.160 --> 0:10:55.800 I think I'm more keen on being independent. 0:10:55.400 --> 0:11:00.199 Because I value creative control and kind of operating based 0:11:00.280 --> 0:11:03.079 on you know, what I think is best for myself. 0:11:03.360 --> 0:11:08.280 Don't necessarily want anyone controlling me. I appreciate guidance and 0:11:08.280 --> 0:11:11.120 and all those things, but I still want to be 0:11:11.320 --> 0:11:14.000 in control of my past. Yeah, I completely get that 0:11:14.440 --> 0:11:16.600 creative control is a big deal. And I know what 0:11:16.640 --> 0:11:18.240 you mean about like how deals are structured. 0:11:18.400 --> 0:11:23.280 Somebody get a little packer on the phone, relating to relate. 0:11:24.679 --> 0:11:27.839 I think that's that's an interesting take before we get 0:11:27.880 --> 0:11:30.319 too deep in the business though, just because I'm I'm 0:11:30.360 --> 0:11:33.040 in the mood, I'm feeling a babe, I just want 0:11:33.080 --> 0:11:36.880 to talk about the music itself, because when I think 0:11:36.920 --> 0:11:39.960 about good music, like there's music from my era, you know, 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:43.040 like definitely the nineties girl group, Like that was my era, 0:11:43.280 --> 0:11:46.120 you know, But then my mother's music was also kind 0:11:46.120 --> 0:11:49.080 of my music, you know, Like she my mother had 0:11:49.120 --> 0:11:53.320 amazing taste in music. She like has this huge album collection. 0:11:53.320 --> 0:11:55.920 She gave all those albums away, but had this huge 0:11:55.960 --> 0:12:00.400 album collection, and I mean from like Diana Ross, Billie 0:12:00.400 --> 0:12:02.120 Holiday and she. 0:12:02.520 --> 0:12:04.480 This is what I notice happens in every generation. 0:12:04.720 --> 0:12:06.360 And I feel like I'm becoming one of those people, 0:12:06.960 --> 0:12:11.120 one of those get off my launched. Every generation talks 0:12:11.160 --> 0:12:13.680 about how crappy. 0:12:13.120 --> 0:12:15.160 The next the next generation music. 0:12:16.480 --> 0:12:19.040 I find myself feeling that way, and I feel like 0:12:19.080 --> 0:12:21.160 I'm so lame feeling that way. But I remember my 0:12:21.200 --> 0:12:23.360 mother saying that to me, and she would talk about 0:12:23.400 --> 0:12:26.160 the vulgarity of it. I'm like, man, you want to 0:12:26.200 --> 0:12:34.440 go dipp into your Stashi records? Ut like she you know, 0:12:34.679 --> 0:12:43.200 I'm like, I remember being a little smelling at Resa party. 0:12:43.720 --> 0:12:47.000 I remember that music. But it's always been like that. 0:12:47.280 --> 0:12:49.079 But do you as an artist, like, do you hear 0:12:49.120 --> 0:12:51.200 some of the music today this trash? 0:12:51.360 --> 0:12:52.080 Yeah? 0:12:52.559 --> 0:12:57.520 You too, Auntie, who hasn't because for that very reason, Like, 0:12:57.559 --> 0:13:00.600 we've really become an industry that's based on numbers. So 0:13:00.640 --> 0:13:02.800 when you're based on numbers, it's just like, you know, 0:13:03.000 --> 0:13:06.520 let's just shake us, let's you know, drop a low 0:13:06.559 --> 0:13:08.800 spreaded wide, you know what I mean. It's not about 0:13:08.840 --> 0:13:13.400 the actual music the lyrics, right, And that's cool. 0:13:13.120 --> 0:13:14.920 Because I know that, you know, we have to evolve. 0:13:15.000 --> 0:13:17.199 Like you said that our parents thought our music was 0:13:17.240 --> 0:13:19.880 bad and it's nothing compared to this. But I do 0:13:19.960 --> 0:13:22.440 believe that the connection to your what you liked about 0:13:22.480 --> 0:13:25.160 your mom and the nineties music is that we were 0:13:25.200 --> 0:13:29.360 actually inspired by what we heard, right, right, heard great 0:13:29.480 --> 0:13:31.679 music and great lyrics, and we were inspired by that. 0:13:31.960 --> 0:13:34.079 And then there's this period between the nineties and today 0:13:34.120 --> 0:13:36.199 because I don't think there's been anything since the nineties 0:13:37.120 --> 0:13:39.040 where it's just been a whole bunch of like who 0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:42.720 shot John? That's not making a lot of it doesn't connect, 0:13:43.760 --> 0:13:47.920 and it's it's clear because nobody's going out. People are 0:13:47.960 --> 0:13:49.960 going to see ninety shows, but I don't know how 0:13:50.000 --> 0:13:52.360 many people are going out to see two thousands shows 0:13:52.440 --> 0:13:54.840 like that. Maybe, but maybe they are, and we just 0:13:54.920 --> 0:13:59.640 are not the drop it. Yeah, okay, yeah, well we 0:13:59.720 --> 0:14:00.880 will rise with. 0:14:01.880 --> 0:14:03.800 I mean, I literally I don't know. But I just 0:14:03.840 --> 0:14:05.000 don't think. I don't think. 0:14:06.000 --> 0:14:08.600 Yeah, I just I don't think anything sticks to your ribs. 0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:10.440 I think everything is like, you know, you're hungry, you 0:14:10.480 --> 0:14:12.800 throw something in the microwave to get sune quickly, right 0:14:13.200 --> 0:14:13.640 my taste? 0:14:13.679 --> 0:14:14.680 Okay, it's not good for you. 0:14:14.880 --> 0:14:15.200 Yeah. 0:14:15.320 --> 0:14:18.160 I think when you let them greens sit in there 0:14:18.200 --> 0:14:20.640 for a few hours and you cook it load. That's 0:14:20.680 --> 0:14:24.800 what good soul music is. Soul food, sol music. It's 0:14:24.880 --> 0:14:27.160 a thing. It's something that takes time to evolve and 0:14:27.200 --> 0:14:29.520 to develop. We used to have this thing called freshman 0:14:29.720 --> 0:14:32.080 Jitters on our second albums because there was always like 0:14:32.120 --> 0:14:35.840 competing with that first successful record. We really cared and 0:14:35.880 --> 0:14:38.400 we really worked hard to make sure that we could 0:14:38.400 --> 0:14:40.960 do album after album that would compete with the first one. 0:14:41.280 --> 0:14:43.520 Now it just doesn't matter the singles driven industry. 0:14:43.600 --> 0:14:45.800 I was going to say, you listen to songs for 0:14:45.800 --> 0:14:49.320 two minutes plenty Grapevine, it's five minutes and forty five seconds. 0:14:49.120 --> 0:14:50.080 That way too long. 0:14:50.560 --> 0:14:54.520 But you know, you know it's not too We love Grapevine, 0:14:55.200 --> 0:15:00.280 but for you, Like I said this one of our 0:15:00.400 --> 0:15:02.160 meetings that we had talked about this show, and I 0:15:02.200 --> 0:15:03.800 was like, I don't know, I just feel like all 0:15:03.880 --> 0:15:06.080 this new R and B is just about sex. 0:15:06.440 --> 0:15:07.960 And one of our producers, Mandy. 0:15:07.760 --> 0:15:10.680 Was like, how dare you there are great music that 0:15:10.720 --> 0:15:13.360 people talk about love and but I had to think 0:15:13.360 --> 0:15:15.000 about I had to consider her point because I'm like, 0:15:15.040 --> 0:15:17.280 you know what, I don't listen to a lot of 0:15:17.800 --> 0:15:21.160 new R and B, so just what I've heard doesn't 0:15:21.400 --> 0:15:23.760 necessarily speak to me. But school me like, you're an 0:15:23.800 --> 0:15:26.120 independent artist, so are there people out there? It's like, no, 0:15:26.400 --> 0:15:29.560 Like you were talking about her, the music artist her. 0:15:29.800 --> 0:15:32.200 I think it's a beautiful voice, super talented. I definitely 0:15:32.240 --> 0:15:35.040 like her songs. My friend Carrie Champion is like a 0:15:35.080 --> 0:15:37.240 huge TIMS fan, so she like is always talking about 0:15:37.280 --> 0:15:39.200 Tims outside of it. 0:15:39.240 --> 0:15:39.720 I don't know that. 0:15:39.760 --> 0:15:42.720 I have a lot of current people in heavy rotation. Okay, 0:15:46.200 --> 0:15:48.560 I mean I would recommend alex Eisley for sure. 0:15:48.800 --> 0:15:50.560 I think she would. I think she said. 0:15:51.840 --> 0:15:55.200 Out amongst a lot of R and B artists that 0:15:55.240 --> 0:15:58.680 are just like newer. I agree with y'all a lot 0:15:58.720 --> 0:16:00.640 of what you said. Like, I do think there's a 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:03.840 lot of music that is being amplified and promoted that 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:07.440 doesn't matter, that won't last past two seconds. 0:16:08.080 --> 0:16:09.760 But there are a lot of underground artists. 0:16:09.800 --> 0:16:11.160 There are a lot of R and B artists that 0:16:11.280 --> 0:16:14.280 are like, are out here, are promoting themselves, they just 0:16:14.320 --> 0:16:19.560 don't have the machine behind them making amazing music. Like 0:16:19.800 --> 0:16:25.520 there's another R and B artist India, Sean La, and. 0:16:25.360 --> 0:16:28.200 I mean her, like the soul in her voice is 0:16:28.280 --> 0:16:29.360 just it's beautiful. 0:16:29.440 --> 0:16:33.920 Really Okay, So I listened to a lot of different 0:16:34.000 --> 0:16:35.840 R and B artists because I'm just I love R 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:38.840 and B. So yeah, all day, how do we find 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:41.400 these people that, like when you say they're giving great music? 0:16:41.400 --> 0:16:43.640 I made the point of in the open saying people 0:16:44.000 --> 0:16:47.560 stars are discovered on Instagram, you know they're made on 0:16:47.640 --> 0:16:50.240 TikTok and so I'm not necessary. I don't live my 0:16:50.280 --> 0:16:53.480 life on these platforms. So how can I find like 0:16:53.680 --> 0:16:57.840 good young artists who are like true artists and support them? 0:16:58.480 --> 0:17:01.040 How do you find it? I were like you, I 0:17:01.080 --> 0:17:02.440 want to support you. 0:17:02.440 --> 0:17:04.640 Well, I think I'm a little different in the sense 0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:07.480 of like, because I create music, I don't go looking 0:17:07.520 --> 0:17:08.000 for music. 0:17:08.040 --> 0:17:10.320 I just allow it to just naturally come to me. 0:17:11.920 --> 0:17:12.359 If I know. 0:17:12.480 --> 0:17:15.520 Something I can passing and I'm like, oh, that piques 0:17:15.600 --> 0:17:18.760 my interest, Like let me like explore this artist and 0:17:18.800 --> 0:17:20.879 like what they have to offer. Like there's an artist 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:26.240 orian's son amazing but so underground, Like she's not well, 0:17:26.359 --> 0:17:30.360 like you know, she's not super amplified, but just super talented. 0:17:30.400 --> 0:17:32.560 And I think she's she did a colors. 0:17:32.800 --> 0:17:34.760 She did a colors. I'm not sure if you're familiar 0:17:34.760 --> 0:17:39.440 with that platform, but it's like, OK, I am not 0:17:39.680 --> 0:17:47.119 sure where they're so on YouTube kind of similar to 0:17:47.200 --> 0:17:49.480 tiny Desk, but I don't think they have. 0:17:49.520 --> 0:17:51.320 A wall, and it's different. 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:55.720 Artists from Like there are some major artists that have 0:17:55.800 --> 0:17:59.159 gone up there and some very underground. 0:17:58.680 --> 0:17:59.919 Artists that have gone up there. 0:18:00.000 --> 0:18:01.880 I think they do a really good job in digging 0:18:02.280 --> 0:18:04.439 and just trying to find But the internet is going 0:18:04.520 --> 0:18:06.600 to be your best friend. Yeah, Like I don't, I 0:18:06.600 --> 0:18:08.520 don't know where to tell you to go look because 0:18:09.080 --> 0:18:12.159 where we're promoting ourselves is on the internet, because I mean, 0:18:12.200 --> 0:18:14.840 how well to do people find us? That's I mean 0:18:14.920 --> 0:18:17.760 anytime I'm performing in Atlanta, it's because somebody found me 0:18:17.800 --> 0:18:18.560 through social media? 0:18:18.840 --> 0:18:21.960 Really and like where do you perform? Wherever? They ask me? 0:18:22.359 --> 0:18:24.399 But like venues yeah yeah, yeah. 0:18:24.160 --> 0:18:26.960 Different different venues, yeah, just around the city. I love 0:18:27.000 --> 0:18:29.480 what you said about you don't go looking for the 0:18:29.600 --> 0:18:33.280 mus like you create. You are are discipline, your you 0:18:33.359 --> 0:18:35.240 let the music come to here? Is that how the 0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:36.199 process wants for you? 0:18:36.960 --> 0:18:39.000 I think when you're real creative, you just have to 0:18:39.160 --> 0:18:41.080 find your own voice. And a lot of times, if 0:18:41.119 --> 0:18:42.879 you're going out and you're looking for other things with 0:18:42.960 --> 0:18:47.200 other people, you'll subconsciously even take something from somebody else 0:18:47.240 --> 0:18:49.520 without even realizing. Yeah, we're not talking about copyright in 0:18:49.520 --> 0:18:54.440 frins with that's but just being inspired, Yeah, being inspired, 0:18:55.280 --> 0:18:58.520 And yeah, I would say that a lot of times 0:18:58.640 --> 0:19:00.800 creatives tend to get into their own bubbles and create 0:19:00.840 --> 0:19:03.240 their own stuff and then sort of that's how you 0:19:03.280 --> 0:19:04.359 create a sound that works for you. 0:19:04.440 --> 0:19:07.000 So that's super powerful when people ask me like, who 0:19:07.040 --> 0:19:10.000 do you listen to me? Yeah, that's not that's not 0:19:10.280 --> 0:19:10.760 being vain. 0:19:10.920 --> 0:19:13.200 It's just not just like creating a lot, and it's 0:19:13.240 --> 0:19:14.960 like I do I need to listen to it over 0:19:15.040 --> 0:19:17.159 and over again and kind of sit with it and 0:19:17.240 --> 0:19:19.720 experience it so that I can figure out what I 0:19:19.760 --> 0:19:22.439 want to change or you know, yeah, I just got to. 0:19:22.400 --> 0:19:25.520 Sit the Yeah, I you know, I'm talking about how 0:19:25.560 --> 0:19:28.119 like the industry has changed, and it occurs to me 0:19:28.240 --> 0:19:31.320 the industry changed for you because like now I feel 0:19:31.320 --> 0:19:33.159 like you have to be a personality, you know, like 0:19:33.720 --> 0:19:36.879 your house and people see you before they hear you, 0:19:37.480 --> 0:19:39.800 and you have to have like stage presents all these things. 0:19:40.480 --> 0:19:42.040 But it was kind of the same for you because 0:19:42.080 --> 0:19:44.560