1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:24,076 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Since the release of her twenty thirteen Dan Arbach 2 00:00:24,116 --> 00:00:27,836 Speaker 1: produced album Pushing Against the Stone, Valori June has become 3 00:00:27,876 --> 00:00:32,276 Speaker 1: a critics Darling Rolling Stone praised the Tennessee born soul 4 00:00:32,316 --> 00:00:36,836 Speaker 1: singer's unique voice as vinegary and slightly oddball, writing that 5 00:00:36,876 --> 00:00:49,876 Speaker 1: she's equal parts Diana Ross and Dolly Party on AKA. 6 00:00:56,676 --> 00:01:00,036 Speaker 1: With every subsequent release, Valor June has helped widen the 7 00:01:00,036 --> 00:01:04,396 Speaker 1: scope of contemporary Americana music. She's one of few African 8 00:01:04,436 --> 00:01:09,076 Speaker 1: American women working in the genre today. Her unique combination 9 00:01:09,156 --> 00:01:12,796 Speaker 1: of gospel with appellation folk is a shimmering example of 10 00:01:12,796 --> 00:01:17,556 Speaker 1: what's possible in the roots music tradition. Broken Record producer 11 00:01:17,636 --> 00:01:20,196 Speaker 1: Leah Rose caught up with Valerie to talk through her 12 00:01:20,196 --> 00:01:23,916 Speaker 1: stunny new album. They also talk about Valerie's new collaboration 13 00:01:24,156 --> 00:01:28,396 Speaker 1: with the legendary Stack singer Carla Thomas and the mystical 14 00:01:28,516 --> 00:01:32,556 Speaker 1: muse who inspires the chorus of voices that Valerie hears 15 00:01:32,596 --> 00:01:39,156 Speaker 1: in her head. This is Broken Record Liner notes for 16 00:01:39,156 --> 00:01:47,316 Speaker 1: the digital age. I'm justin Richmond. Here's Leah Rose and 17 00:01:47,436 --> 00:01:50,996 Speaker 1: Valerie June. Valerie starts off by singing a song off 18 00:01:50,996 --> 00:01:55,556 Speaker 1: her brand new album, The Moon and Stars Prescriptions for dreamers. 19 00:02:05,116 --> 00:02:12,356 Speaker 1: No very is a place for me. Help me to 20 00:02:12,596 --> 00:02:18,316 Speaker 1: crowl that I'm a leaving See a stream that flows well. 21 00:02:18,436 --> 00:02:24,636 Speaker 1: Knowing to find battles the key and steals my chattering man. 22 00:02:26,396 --> 00:02:32,636 Speaker 1: I know there is a harm inside window too saw 23 00:02:33,236 --> 00:02:40,116 Speaker 1: every dreamer bite each bread is goldey, pathway, lightay, guide, 24 00:02:40,916 --> 00:02:46,436 Speaker 1: garden to crowl, keep on the sun easide some Collie 25 00:02:46,556 --> 00:02:51,916 Speaker 1: prayers and sea. Should n see some sitting breathe, some 26 00:02:52,156 --> 00:02:57,076 Speaker 1: fallen being dead knees. I'd be a food to let 27 00:02:57,236 --> 00:03:01,956 Speaker 1: it have a name. Earth is a school to shine. 28 00:03:02,156 --> 00:03:08,156 Speaker 1: Is why you came. Some Collie person Cey is shot nice. 29 00:03:09,516 --> 00:03:14,556 Speaker 1: I must agree how I find my peace. I'd be 30 00:03:15,036 --> 00:03:19,636 Speaker 1: food to let it have a name. Earth is a 31 00:03:19,756 --> 00:03:26,756 Speaker 1: school to shine, is why you came. I know there 32 00:03:27,036 --> 00:03:31,436 Speaker 1: is a place for me and me too grow that 33 00:03:31,796 --> 00:03:37,396 Speaker 1: I'm a living See a stream that falls well, knowing 34 00:03:37,796 --> 00:03:43,956 Speaker 1: too fine, that's a key. It steals my chattering mind. 35 00:03:48,156 --> 00:03:52,356 Speaker 1: It's beautiful. Thank you. So what inspired that? Did that 36 00:03:52,516 --> 00:03:57,076 Speaker 1: start with the idea of trying to calm the chattery mind? Well, 37 00:03:57,516 --> 00:04:02,036 Speaker 1: it started like most of the songs, where like it 38 00:04:02,196 --> 00:04:06,316 Speaker 1: just came. The first thing I heard was, I know 39 00:04:07,316 --> 00:04:12,196 Speaker 1: there is a place or me, and then I waited 40 00:04:13,436 --> 00:04:17,516 Speaker 1: and then the rest started coming and it said helped 41 00:04:17,556 --> 00:04:23,836 Speaker 1: me to grow that I'm living see, and I was like, whoa, okay, 42 00:04:23,956 --> 00:04:27,636 Speaker 1: what am I growing for? And then it said a 43 00:04:27,796 --> 00:04:33,396 Speaker 1: strength to flow well, knowing to fine that holds the 44 00:04:33,596 --> 00:04:39,156 Speaker 1: key and steals my chattering mom and I was like, oh, okay, 45 00:04:39,236 --> 00:04:42,036 Speaker 1: I'm in now. So I wanted to know more after that, 46 00:04:42,476 --> 00:04:45,116 Speaker 1: and that's when it said there's a home inside and 47 00:04:45,236 --> 00:04:48,436 Speaker 1: it's a window to your soul where every dream abites 48 00:04:48,596 --> 00:04:52,156 Speaker 1: and each breath is gold, a pathway alight in the God. 49 00:04:53,076 --> 00:04:56,076 Speaker 1: And I was like, okay, well, I guess I needed 50 00:04:56,116 --> 00:04:59,676 Speaker 1: to hear that. It's always like the song comes to 51 00:04:59,796 --> 00:05:03,996 Speaker 1: me and it's medicine that I needed in that moment. 52 00:05:04,516 --> 00:05:06,956 Speaker 1: It's like they're little gifts for me. And that's why 53 00:05:06,996 --> 00:05:10,836 Speaker 1: I call it prescriptions for dreamers, because they're like little 54 00:05:11,076 --> 00:05:14,676 Speaker 1: messages from I don't know, maybe it's my ancestors, or 55 00:05:14,756 --> 00:05:18,916 Speaker 1: maybe it's God or the Goddess or Buddha or whoever 56 00:05:19,116 --> 00:05:21,916 Speaker 1: else we wanted, the universe, whatever we want to call it, 57 00:05:22,796 --> 00:05:26,636 Speaker 1: giving little seeds of messages that I need. You know. 58 00:05:27,516 --> 00:05:30,436 Speaker 1: In twenty thirteen, I read that you labeled your style 59 00:05:30,836 --> 00:05:34,476 Speaker 1: organic Moonshine roots music. Does that so hold true for you? 60 00:05:35,556 --> 00:05:39,996 Speaker 1: I stopped using the name organic Moonshine Roots music because 61 00:05:40,836 --> 00:05:43,956 Speaker 1: I'm overusing that name. I don't even need a name anymore. 62 00:05:44,516 --> 00:05:46,836 Speaker 1: At the point that I needed a name, it was 63 00:05:47,916 --> 00:05:51,676 Speaker 1: I was playing music a lot down in Helena, Arkansas, 64 00:05:51,836 --> 00:05:57,036 Speaker 1: and Clarkstone, Mississippi, and busking and all around Memphis in 65 00:05:57,436 --> 00:06:00,396 Speaker 1: that area in the region, and people would hear my 66 00:06:00,556 --> 00:06:02,916 Speaker 1: music and they would say, what kind of music is that? 67 00:06:03,156 --> 00:06:04,996 Speaker 1: And I'd say, what kind of music do you think 68 00:06:05,076 --> 00:06:07,756 Speaker 1: it is? And some people will say blues, and some 69 00:06:07,836 --> 00:06:11,396 Speaker 1: people would say gospel, some folk, and some he obili music. 70 00:06:11,476 --> 00:06:14,996 Speaker 1: And I was just like, gosh, I'm just gonna think 71 00:06:15,076 --> 00:06:19,836 Speaker 1: of a magical name for my music and and let 72 00:06:19,956 --> 00:06:24,596 Speaker 1: that name be what I call it, because I want 73 00:06:24,636 --> 00:06:27,796 Speaker 1: it to be able to just be made and not 74 00:06:27,996 --> 00:06:31,076 Speaker 1: have all of those rules. And I still feel like that, 75 00:06:32,356 --> 00:06:36,396 Speaker 1: like it's ethereal, it's magical, it's it's what do we 76 00:06:36,556 --> 00:06:40,476 Speaker 1: call music. It's really really hard for musicians unless they're 77 00:06:40,516 --> 00:06:43,676 Speaker 1: in a pure form and studying that. Yeah, And it 78 00:06:43,796 --> 00:06:47,116 Speaker 1: seems like the only place those labels really matter are 79 00:06:47,436 --> 00:06:49,596 Speaker 1: you know, when you're being classified on Spotify in a 80 00:06:49,676 --> 00:06:53,156 Speaker 1: certain playlist or even in like an old school record 81 00:06:53,236 --> 00:06:55,316 Speaker 1: store where you have to be within a certain genre. 82 00:06:56,116 --> 00:06:58,756 Speaker 1: But besides that, it's like it's what you know, it 83 00:06:58,796 --> 00:07:02,476 Speaker 1: doesn't even really matter. Yeah, And I find that many 84 00:07:02,636 --> 00:07:07,156 Speaker 1: listeners they don't much need the label title for the 85 00:07:07,316 --> 00:07:10,236 Speaker 1: genre or whatever. They like the song and it feels 86 00:07:10,276 --> 00:07:12,716 Speaker 1: good tunes, they respond to it, and that's the whole 87 00:07:12,916 --> 00:07:16,076 Speaker 1: area is two. And it's almost even better because if 88 00:07:16,116 --> 00:07:18,436 Speaker 1: it's a song, if it's somebody who has like a 89 00:07:18,596 --> 00:07:21,396 Speaker 1: clear parameter, like you know, you hear people say I 90 00:07:21,516 --> 00:07:25,596 Speaker 1: like everything but country music. M And it's almost better 91 00:07:25,716 --> 00:07:28,356 Speaker 1: because then if you don't know what it is, you 92 00:07:28,436 --> 00:07:30,196 Speaker 1: can like it and then you find out, oh no, 93 00:07:30,356 --> 00:07:34,556 Speaker 1: it's actually country music. Yeah, because I guarantee you that 94 00:07:34,756 --> 00:07:37,196 Speaker 1: for people who do say that, because I used to 95 00:07:37,276 --> 00:07:40,556 Speaker 1: say that, Like as a teenager, I would say, I 96 00:07:40,716 --> 00:07:44,276 Speaker 1: like everything but country music. But I loved country music 97 00:07:44,396 --> 00:07:48,596 Speaker 1: because I like old country music. What I didn't like 98 00:07:49,076 --> 00:07:54,076 Speaker 1: was modern, polished country music. And I like the country 99 00:07:54,156 --> 00:07:56,596 Speaker 1: music that came out of my grandmother's church, which was 100 00:07:56,716 --> 00:07:59,876 Speaker 1: just a bunch of old black folks singing at Highway 101 00:07:59,956 --> 00:08:04,916 Speaker 1: forty five bypassed Church of Christ and singing with their 102 00:08:04,996 --> 00:08:08,396 Speaker 1: Southern accents as loud as they could with no instruments 103 00:08:08,596 --> 00:08:11,636 Speaker 1: and had a twine. And that's what I was writing, son, 104 00:08:12,076 --> 00:08:15,796 Speaker 1: So you're probably still drawn to that. Oh yeah, voices 105 00:08:15,836 --> 00:08:20,476 Speaker 1: in the pure raw form, and especially voices that are imperfect. 106 00:08:20,836 --> 00:08:23,676 Speaker 1: I love that. If a voice breaks or cracks or 107 00:08:23,796 --> 00:08:27,436 Speaker 1: crib quivers, I love that. So who are some artists 108 00:08:27,436 --> 00:08:29,916 Speaker 1: that you love who have that characteristic with their voice? 109 00:08:31,036 --> 00:08:34,796 Speaker 1: Karen Dalton has it with her voice. It's such an 110 00:08:34,836 --> 00:08:39,556 Speaker 1: imperfectly perfect voice. Billy Holliday's voices like that, they have 111 00:08:39,796 --> 00:08:42,836 Speaker 1: these breaks, Eddie James or here points where her voice 112 00:08:42,916 --> 00:08:46,716 Speaker 1: has this rust on it. It's just rusty, like a 113 00:08:47,156 --> 00:08:50,156 Speaker 1: galvanized ten that's been out in the sun in front 114 00:08:50,196 --> 00:08:53,676 Speaker 1: of a trailer all day and for years and years 115 00:08:53,716 --> 00:08:57,956 Speaker 1: and years. So voices that have that to it, you know, 116 00:08:58,716 --> 00:09:03,836 Speaker 1: on a ball she sang with her husband ec Ec 117 00:09:04,036 --> 00:09:07,316 Speaker 1: and on a ball her voice is so imperfect. Memphis 118 00:09:07,436 --> 00:09:10,796 Speaker 1: Manny Best c Smith and my Rainy, any of the 119 00:09:10,996 --> 00:09:15,196 Speaker 1: old sounds. When you listen to that, it doesn't sound 120 00:09:16,036 --> 00:09:19,916 Speaker 1: clear and perfect all the way through. You know, there 121 00:09:19,996 --> 00:09:24,876 Speaker 1: are points where you just hear raw emotion. And then 122 00:09:24,956 --> 00:09:27,756 Speaker 1: how did you settle on your sound? Was there a 123 00:09:27,876 --> 00:09:30,996 Speaker 1: certain point when you were just starting to play music 124 00:09:31,636 --> 00:09:33,756 Speaker 1: where you felt like you had to pick a lean 125 00:09:34,156 --> 00:09:37,676 Speaker 1: in a way. Did you experiment a little bit at first? Well, 126 00:09:38,436 --> 00:09:43,156 Speaker 1: this is a not a ending question, it's an ever 127 00:09:43,356 --> 00:09:48,356 Speaker 1: present question. And basically what I did was I was 128 00:09:48,476 --> 00:09:52,156 Speaker 1: in a band went after I moved to Memphis, and 129 00:09:52,956 --> 00:09:56,036 Speaker 1: I sang only. I didn't play any instruments. But when 130 00:09:56,036 --> 00:10:00,236 Speaker 1: the band broke up, I was just singing. And I 131 00:10:00,676 --> 00:10:03,756 Speaker 1: worked really hard building a following for this band, and 132 00:10:04,396 --> 00:10:05,996 Speaker 1: people would be like, where are you going to play? 133 00:10:06,316 --> 00:10:09,436 Speaker 1: What's going on? When's the next show? And it was 134 00:10:09,516 --> 00:10:11,956 Speaker 1: over and I was like, you know what, I never 135 00:10:12,076 --> 00:10:15,596 Speaker 1: want to experience this again in my life. I want 136 00:10:15,636 --> 00:10:18,956 Speaker 1: to be able to accompany myself and do shows just 137 00:10:19,236 --> 00:10:23,996 Speaker 1: me with an instrument, no matter what. And so my grandfather, 138 00:10:24,196 --> 00:10:26,756 Speaker 1: when I was fourteen, he'd given me a guitar and 139 00:10:26,916 --> 00:10:29,596 Speaker 1: I told him I promised him that I'd learned to play, 140 00:10:30,236 --> 00:10:32,716 Speaker 1: but I never did. So I was in my early 141 00:10:32,876 --> 00:10:36,636 Speaker 1: twenties and when the band broke up and I said, well, 142 00:10:36,676 --> 00:10:38,156 Speaker 1: I might have to sit down and learn how to 143 00:10:38,196 --> 00:10:41,516 Speaker 1: play this guitar, and so I got a chord book. 144 00:10:41,836 --> 00:10:44,796 Speaker 1: And when you get a chord book, they show folk 145 00:10:44,916 --> 00:10:48,156 Speaker 1: songs in their crowdad song which I was raised don 146 00:10:48,556 --> 00:10:52,236 Speaker 1: Tom Dooley and the songs like that. So you learn 147 00:10:52,756 --> 00:10:56,756 Speaker 1: the root, you learn the basic chords, you learn the 148 00:10:57,436 --> 00:11:03,716 Speaker 1: foundation of music. And everyone who's anybody had to do that, 149 00:11:04,436 --> 00:11:07,876 Speaker 1: from you know, John Herd to Hendrix. It didn't matter 150 00:11:07,916 --> 00:11:10,196 Speaker 1: what style you play. I had to learn that route. 151 00:11:10,956 --> 00:11:15,396 Speaker 1: And so when I started to explore even further, because 152 00:11:15,436 --> 00:11:18,396 Speaker 1: the books only have twenty or so pages, I was like, 153 00:11:18,436 --> 00:11:22,476 Speaker 1: I want to learn more songs more. So that's when 154 00:11:23,196 --> 00:11:25,556 Speaker 1: musicians that were around me, because as a singer, I 155 00:11:25,676 --> 00:11:28,076 Speaker 1: had a bunch of musicians around me, they'd be like, 156 00:11:28,196 --> 00:11:31,196 Speaker 1: listen to this, listen to the listening to these Memphis musicians, 157 00:11:31,876 --> 00:11:34,996 Speaker 1: and I've gravitated towards things that reminded me of what 158 00:11:35,116 --> 00:11:38,436 Speaker 1: I was raised on. And I was raised on like 159 00:11:38,716 --> 00:11:45,076 Speaker 1: just southern gospel and country and folk and blues and 160 00:11:45,676 --> 00:11:48,636 Speaker 1: R and B and stuff. And so when I heard 161 00:11:48,676 --> 00:11:54,236 Speaker 1: the Carter family, those songs were accompanied by guitar, but 162 00:11:55,436 --> 00:11:57,636 Speaker 1: they were the same songs that I was raised singing 163 00:11:57,676 --> 00:12:00,356 Speaker 1: a cappella in the church. So it blew my mind 164 00:12:00,436 --> 00:12:03,036 Speaker 1: to hear them play that way, because it was against 165 00:12:03,116 --> 00:12:05,676 Speaker 1: the rules of the church to have instruments in the church. 166 00:12:05,756 --> 00:12:08,596 Speaker 1: You'd go to hell for that. And so I was 167 00:12:08,676 --> 00:12:11,196 Speaker 1: just kind to like, well, I want to learn how 168 00:12:11,236 --> 00:12:15,116 Speaker 1: to play these songs with and with the instrument. I 169 00:12:15,236 --> 00:12:18,556 Speaker 1: know how to sing them. I know a thousand songs. 170 00:12:18,676 --> 00:12:21,876 Speaker 1: The books full of like songbooks at church, they're about 171 00:12:22,196 --> 00:12:25,276 Speaker 1: nine hundred two a thousand songs in there. So I 172 00:12:25,356 --> 00:12:29,636 Speaker 1: had all of these melodies and lyrics and things floating 173 00:12:29,676 --> 00:12:32,356 Speaker 1: around my head, and I just took them and started 174 00:12:32,396 --> 00:12:35,596 Speaker 1: putting them to basic chords and creating my versions of them. 175 00:12:36,076 --> 00:12:38,556 Speaker 1: And so the songs have always just told me what 176 00:12:38,716 --> 00:12:40,916 Speaker 1: to do. They're the boss. If they want to be 177 00:12:41,116 --> 00:12:43,276 Speaker 1: a blue song, they're a blue song. If they want 178 00:12:43,316 --> 00:12:44,996 Speaker 1: to be a country song, they're a country song. If 179 00:12:45,036 --> 00:12:46,676 Speaker 1: they want to be a rock and roll song or 180 00:12:46,756 --> 00:12:49,476 Speaker 1: something I want to be on your Mind or Astraplane, 181 00:12:49,956 --> 00:12:52,836 Speaker 1: which is kind of dreamy stuff, then they'll be that. 182 00:12:53,116 --> 00:12:57,276 Speaker 1: They're the boss. I get told what to do basically, Well, 183 00:12:57,356 --> 00:12:59,476 Speaker 1: that's nice because then you don't have to wrestle with 184 00:12:59,556 --> 00:13:01,636 Speaker 1: it in your head. It sort of takes some pressure 185 00:13:01,636 --> 00:13:05,076 Speaker 1: off it does. The hardest part is when a song 186 00:13:05,196 --> 00:13:07,236 Speaker 1: tells you what it wants, but you can't afford to 187 00:13:07,316 --> 00:13:12,276 Speaker 1: do it. So you started playing guitar in your early twenties, 188 00:13:12,316 --> 00:13:15,036 Speaker 1: you said, and then you switched over to banjo. Was 189 00:13:15,076 --> 00:13:19,036 Speaker 1: that a hard transition to make? Well, like the guitar 190 00:13:19,196 --> 00:13:22,316 Speaker 1: being given to me by my grandfather, my first banjo 191 00:13:22,516 --> 00:13:24,516 Speaker 1: was given to me, and I was like, what the 192 00:13:24,596 --> 00:13:27,596 Speaker 1: hell am I supposed to do with this? Isn't it 193 00:13:27,676 --> 00:13:30,516 Speaker 1: way more difficult to play banjo than a guitar? I 194 00:13:30,716 --> 00:13:33,836 Speaker 1: think it is. Yeah, it is if you want to 195 00:13:33,876 --> 00:13:37,116 Speaker 1: play it in a traditional way. Otherwise, if you play 196 00:13:37,156 --> 00:13:39,196 Speaker 1: it like I play it, which is whatever way you 197 00:13:39,316 --> 00:13:41,756 Speaker 1: feel like it, then you just make it your own. 198 00:13:43,396 --> 00:13:45,716 Speaker 1: But if I'm trying to like go by the book 199 00:13:45,756 --> 00:13:49,316 Speaker 1: on the banjo, yeah, there's no comparison to the going 200 00:13:49,396 --> 00:13:54,476 Speaker 1: by the book on the guitar versus banjo. But yeah, 201 00:13:54,636 --> 00:13:57,636 Speaker 1: it was given to me, and like the guitar, I 202 00:13:57,756 --> 00:14:00,236 Speaker 1: let us sit around and collect us for a few years, 203 00:14:01,036 --> 00:14:03,996 Speaker 1: and then it started calling me. It said, I have 204 00:14:04,116 --> 00:14:06,716 Speaker 1: a song. I have a song. And so the first 205 00:14:06,796 --> 00:14:09,756 Speaker 1: time I sat with it was just writing a song. 206 00:14:10,396 --> 00:14:12,676 Speaker 1: I think I could write a song on almost anything 207 00:14:12,756 --> 00:14:17,076 Speaker 1: that makes sound, but actually knowing how to play that 208 00:14:17,236 --> 00:14:20,036 Speaker 1: instrument up and down. That's the life's work for me, 209 00:14:20,316 --> 00:14:22,756 Speaker 1: and I work on that every day now now that 210 00:14:22,916 --> 00:14:24,956 Speaker 1: I have this life where I don't have to get 211 00:14:25,036 --> 00:14:26,916 Speaker 1: up and go work three jobs. It's what I do. 212 00:14:28,756 --> 00:14:30,956 Speaker 1: Do you take lessons or are you completely self taught? 213 00:14:31,556 --> 00:14:34,716 Speaker 1: Self talk? Do you do like YouTube tutorials or do 214 00:14:34,756 --> 00:14:36,996 Speaker 1: you just sit with the instrument and figure it out. 215 00:14:37,636 --> 00:14:40,276 Speaker 1: When I want to learn a cover song, I'll watch 216 00:14:40,516 --> 00:14:43,196 Speaker 1: videos on it on YouTube. And I think that's so 217 00:14:43,476 --> 00:14:47,836 Speaker 1: amazing about this technology in our time that we can 218 00:14:48,076 --> 00:14:51,036 Speaker 1: learn anything we want to learn. And I think that 219 00:14:51,236 --> 00:14:56,236 Speaker 1: contributes to artists not having limited limits as far as 220 00:14:56,276 --> 00:15:01,516 Speaker 1: what they create. It being inspiration from artists from India 221 00:15:01,636 --> 00:15:05,876 Speaker 1: or Africa, Ireland, you know, you can just go all 222 00:15:06,076 --> 00:15:09,396 Speaker 1: the way into Brazilian music or anything you want to learn, 223 00:15:09,636 --> 00:15:12,116 Speaker 1: right at the click of a finger tip, you know, 224 00:15:12,276 --> 00:15:19,116 Speaker 1: on a button. So I lean on the the internet 225 00:15:19,196 --> 00:15:22,516 Speaker 1: quite a bit, and and I kind of trust my 226 00:15:22,676 --> 00:15:26,916 Speaker 1: ear some now, but really I just trust my ear 227 00:15:27,036 --> 00:15:30,756 Speaker 1: with singing. So sometimes I can pick out a part 228 00:15:30,956 --> 00:15:34,476 Speaker 1: and I'm like, oh yeah, I'm proud of myself because 229 00:15:34,676 --> 00:15:39,196 Speaker 1: when I first started in my early twenties, I could 230 00:15:39,276 --> 00:15:44,436 Speaker 1: not tell you what a saxophone was or a berry 231 00:15:44,516 --> 00:15:48,036 Speaker 1: sex compared to any of the other horns. The only 232 00:15:48,076 --> 00:15:52,596 Speaker 1: one I really knew was blaring saxophone clearly and trumpet 233 00:15:53,356 --> 00:15:56,476 Speaker 1: if trumpet is my favorite arm. But I couldn't distinguish 234 00:15:56,676 --> 00:15:59,996 Speaker 1: which was what in music. I listened to music as 235 00:16:00,036 --> 00:16:02,756 Speaker 1: a whole versus getting inside of it and being able 236 00:16:02,796 --> 00:16:04,436 Speaker 1: to say that, right there is the base, and then 237 00:16:04,636 --> 00:16:07,316 Speaker 1: underneath that came this, and under behind that came that. 238 00:16:07,716 --> 00:16:10,196 Speaker 1: And so I had to learn how to hear like 239 00:16:10,356 --> 00:16:13,636 Speaker 1: a musician, and I'm still learning that. Can you now 240 00:16:14,236 --> 00:16:18,076 Speaker 1: write music or can you direct players to play certain 241 00:16:18,156 --> 00:16:21,156 Speaker 1: parts that you hear in your head? Yes, that is 242 00:16:21,236 --> 00:16:24,276 Speaker 1: how I do the songs. I can't write music, but 243 00:16:24,396 --> 00:16:27,796 Speaker 1: I humm it, you know, And I'll just be like, Okay, 244 00:16:28,076 --> 00:16:29,916 Speaker 1: what I hear in my head, I know is a 245 00:16:29,996 --> 00:16:34,516 Speaker 1: horn and it goes like this Dada adopted data, do 246 00:16:35,076 --> 00:16:38,356 Speaker 1: do do do, And I'll just be like, that's what 247 00:16:38,476 --> 00:16:41,636 Speaker 1: the horn is supposed to do. And you're a horn players, 248 00:16:41,676 --> 00:16:48,356 Speaker 1: so how can you translate that? Can do the drum 249 00:16:48,476 --> 00:16:52,956 Speaker 1: part and the bass and guitar everything, the feel of it. 250 00:16:53,276 --> 00:16:55,996 Speaker 1: But I'm not so good at drums. I'm getting better 251 00:16:56,076 --> 00:16:58,436 Speaker 1: at that, but I'm not so good at that. But 252 00:16:58,836 --> 00:17:02,756 Speaker 1: with my songs, there's all the layers of voices because 253 00:17:02,796 --> 00:17:07,036 Speaker 1: I hear it in voices. So I'll just sing the 254 00:17:07,196 --> 00:17:10,516 Speaker 1: home like the line and put that in there and 255 00:17:10,636 --> 00:17:12,836 Speaker 1: be like, this is what I hear as a horn 256 00:17:12,996 --> 00:17:15,876 Speaker 1: or whatever. And a lot of times, like say, working 257 00:17:15,916 --> 00:17:20,076 Speaker 1: with Jack, I would say, I hear something that's going 258 00:17:21,916 --> 00:17:25,956 Speaker 1: and it's a drum, and we will like get the 259 00:17:26,036 --> 00:17:28,876 Speaker 1: drummer to play that, you know, just get them to 260 00:17:28,956 --> 00:17:32,036 Speaker 1: play that part. And so that makes it easier because 261 00:17:32,076 --> 00:17:34,836 Speaker 1: when I first started, I would hear it and I 262 00:17:34,876 --> 00:17:38,116 Speaker 1: would know how to talk to the musicians because I 263 00:17:38,236 --> 00:17:41,916 Speaker 1: was intimidated because they knew real coordinames like eat sharp 264 00:17:42,036 --> 00:17:47,556 Speaker 1: flat blood ever right right right, I want to talk 265 00:17:47,636 --> 00:17:51,036 Speaker 1: about it's so intimidating. Da da da da, And got 266 00:17:51,116 --> 00:17:56,876 Speaker 1: got Google with the baby talks. So is it Does 267 00:17:56,916 --> 00:17:58,996 Speaker 1: it usually happen that the melody comes first to you? 268 00:17:59,156 --> 00:18:01,196 Speaker 1: Or do the voices? Do you hear the voices first 269 00:18:01,356 --> 00:18:04,916 Speaker 1: and then you put a melody under the voices. It's 270 00:18:05,316 --> 00:18:10,156 Speaker 1: melodies and then the words start to morph. And sometimes 271 00:18:10,316 --> 00:18:13,236 Speaker 1: I don't even get words, Like it'll just stay like 272 00:18:14,036 --> 00:18:17,796 Speaker 1: a chant almost, you know, so it'll just stay at 273 00:18:17,876 --> 00:18:20,716 Speaker 1: home and a chant. And I really feel like sometimes 274 00:18:20,796 --> 00:18:23,276 Speaker 1: I actually need a producer to be like, nope, don't 275 00:18:23,316 --> 00:18:26,556 Speaker 1: put that voice down, Like you already put down five hundreds, 276 00:18:26,636 --> 00:18:30,876 Speaker 1: so like that's enough voices. Like as soon as one 277 00:18:30,916 --> 00:18:33,076 Speaker 1: comes in, another one comes in, another one comes It's 278 00:18:33,116 --> 00:18:36,076 Speaker 1: like a symphony or something to where do you think 279 00:18:36,116 --> 00:18:38,476 Speaker 1: that comes from hearing a chorus of voices in your head? 280 00:18:39,196 --> 00:18:42,276 Speaker 1: I don't know, but it does. It's like such an 281 00:18:42,356 --> 00:18:46,716 Speaker 1: iridescent thing to me. Like it's like I love it 282 00:18:46,836 --> 00:18:48,916 Speaker 1: and I'm glad I get to go there, and I 283 00:18:48,996 --> 00:18:52,316 Speaker 1: want to take my listeners there, Like it's a space 284 00:18:52,396 --> 00:18:54,596 Speaker 1: where we can walk in there and we can sit 285 00:18:54,716 --> 00:18:56,236 Speaker 1: there and we can be in it and let the 286 00:18:56,356 --> 00:19:00,196 Speaker 1: voices swirl around it. How often does the final product 287 00:19:00,316 --> 00:19:02,596 Speaker 1: reflect what you first heard in your head? Do you 288 00:19:02,676 --> 00:19:07,596 Speaker 1: ever actually get there? I never do ever, And that 289 00:19:07,716 --> 00:19:10,436 Speaker 1: can be a little bit fresh, But also at the 290 00:19:10,516 --> 00:19:14,836 Speaker 1: same time, I'm marvel at whatever it is. It's bigger 291 00:19:14,876 --> 00:19:21,036 Speaker 1: than us. We're like always just inspired by something bigger, 292 00:19:21,236 --> 00:19:25,636 Speaker 1: and you know, it's more real in the dream in 293 00:19:25,796 --> 00:19:28,356 Speaker 1: the voice that I heard on my head. If I 294 00:19:28,436 --> 00:19:32,396 Speaker 1: can live there, then I don't get frustrated because it's 295 00:19:32,956 --> 00:19:35,556 Speaker 1: never the same as what I heard in my head. 296 00:19:35,836 --> 00:19:38,956 Speaker 1: It always comes out different, and sometimes it comes out better. 297 00:19:39,476 --> 00:19:44,076 Speaker 1: That's good. Yeah, So at least there's that. Yeah, so 298 00:19:44,276 --> 00:19:47,956 Speaker 1: he does. It happens all kinds of ways. It must 299 00:19:47,996 --> 00:19:51,676 Speaker 1: be frustrating if you don't have the language to express 300 00:19:51,756 --> 00:19:54,116 Speaker 1: what you're hearing. You're trying to put this thing together 301 00:19:54,236 --> 00:19:56,436 Speaker 1: that only you're hearing. And if you're working with someone 302 00:19:56,516 --> 00:19:59,276 Speaker 1: like Jack Splash, how do you communicate that to him? 303 00:19:59,316 --> 00:20:02,636 Speaker 1: Do you play him samples of other music? Do you 304 00:20:02,756 --> 00:20:05,036 Speaker 1: just sort of like sit and hum in front of him? 305 00:20:06,356 --> 00:20:09,236 Speaker 1: Which does sound funny, didn't it. Yes, I have to 306 00:20:09,316 --> 00:20:12,116 Speaker 1: be working with someone that I feel comfortable enough to 307 00:20:12,836 --> 00:20:16,196 Speaker 1: sing the baby talk too. And Jack is certainly a 308 00:20:16,316 --> 00:20:22,116 Speaker 1: person like that because he makes everyone feel so safe 309 00:20:22,156 --> 00:20:27,076 Speaker 1: and comfortable with their form of creativity. And then also, yes, 310 00:20:27,516 --> 00:20:31,636 Speaker 1: I would play him like samples of things, and he 311 00:20:31,796 --> 00:20:35,076 Speaker 1: would play me samples of things, just to be sure 312 00:20:35,316 --> 00:20:37,876 Speaker 1: that what I describe to him is the same as 313 00:20:37,956 --> 00:20:41,036 Speaker 1: what he's receiving. Because when you're in the room with 314 00:20:41,156 --> 00:20:44,196 Speaker 1: another person and y'are getting ready to make music. You 315 00:20:44,236 --> 00:20:48,796 Speaker 1: could say, play a drum role that sounds cloudy like 316 00:20:48,996 --> 00:20:54,116 Speaker 1: a thunder like the back rolls of thundery drums on 317 00:20:54,396 --> 00:20:57,356 Speaker 1: some of the t Rex stuff that Tony Visconi produced, 318 00:20:58,196 --> 00:21:01,196 Speaker 1: but they might hear that differently, So how you land 319 00:21:01,276 --> 00:21:04,156 Speaker 1: at it, It's just like there's got to be something 320 00:21:04,316 --> 00:21:09,156 Speaker 1: that's marvelously bigger than you. That God's that. Yes, I 321 00:21:09,156 --> 00:21:11,596 Speaker 1: don't know what to call it, but maybe the music, 322 00:21:11,756 --> 00:21:15,436 Speaker 1: mystical music music, there's something that's guiding the whole process, 323 00:21:15,556 --> 00:21:18,996 Speaker 1: a little fairy coming and guiden it to make sure 324 00:21:19,076 --> 00:21:23,196 Speaker 1: that everyone hears the song the right way. Do you 325 00:21:23,276 --> 00:21:27,076 Speaker 1: ever worry that you're gonna get cut off from that source? No, 326 00:21:27,596 --> 00:21:31,436 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't worry because it's been with me 327 00:21:31,596 --> 00:21:34,996 Speaker 1: since I was a little kid, like since before I 328 00:21:35,076 --> 00:21:40,516 Speaker 1: can remember, and I know that, you know, there are 329 00:21:40,556 --> 00:21:43,316 Speaker 1: other forms of art that I love and I do 330 00:21:43,716 --> 00:21:47,556 Speaker 1: like I draw, and I write poems, and I don't 331 00:21:47,636 --> 00:21:50,796 Speaker 1: just hear the singing voice. Sometimes I hear speaking voice 332 00:21:50,956 --> 00:21:54,996 Speaker 1: where it'll be like tips reading me a poem. So 333 00:21:55,516 --> 00:21:57,676 Speaker 1: I try not to limit it. And one of the 334 00:21:57,756 --> 00:22:00,076 Speaker 1: girls of my life is one of the people I 335 00:22:00,196 --> 00:22:02,636 Speaker 1: worked with. Who I thought was such a brilliant person 336 00:22:02,796 --> 00:22:06,276 Speaker 1: was Richard Swift. Because he was he would paint, he 337 00:22:06,356 --> 00:22:09,476 Speaker 1: would produce, he would play every single instru man and 338 00:22:09,556 --> 00:22:13,716 Speaker 1: on something. I mean, he just he loves photography. He 339 00:22:13,916 --> 00:22:17,036 Speaker 1: didn't have like a limit to his creativity. And a 340 00:22:17,156 --> 00:22:21,236 Speaker 1: lot of musicians are creative outside of music. Many of 341 00:22:21,316 --> 00:22:24,836 Speaker 1: them paint like I think Amanda Shires does, and Margot Price, 342 00:22:25,036 --> 00:22:30,356 Speaker 1: my Joan Baiaz, yeah, Joan Bayaz and Johnny Mitchell. As 343 00:22:30,436 --> 00:22:33,316 Speaker 1: long as you're just staying in the flow and keeping 344 00:22:33,396 --> 00:22:36,556 Speaker 1: that creativity, the voice will always come back around. It'll 345 00:22:36,556 --> 00:22:39,476 Speaker 1: always come back. We'll be back with Valerie June and 346 00:22:39,556 --> 00:22:46,756 Speaker 1: le A Rose. After the break, We're back with more 347 00:22:46,796 --> 00:22:50,636 Speaker 1: from Valerie June. You took four years between the last 348 00:22:50,676 --> 00:22:54,476 Speaker 1: album and this album. Was there some sort of pivotal 349 00:22:54,636 --> 00:22:57,636 Speaker 1: moment where you thought, Okay, I'm ready to start this 350 00:22:57,756 --> 00:23:02,116 Speaker 1: whole creative cycle over again. No, I don't really stop 351 00:23:02,796 --> 00:23:07,876 Speaker 1: four years. That record came out in March twenty seventeen, 352 00:23:08,356 --> 00:23:11,196 Speaker 1: and then I tour for three years and then we 353 00:23:11,436 --> 00:23:15,236 Speaker 1: hit coronavirus last year, so that was me stopping. But 354 00:23:15,356 --> 00:23:17,636 Speaker 1: I really don't stop. What I do is I just tour. 355 00:23:18,836 --> 00:23:21,436 Speaker 1: I tour on a record for a long time, which 356 00:23:21,516 --> 00:23:24,036 Speaker 1: in the if you can bless you're coming to shows, 357 00:23:24,156 --> 00:23:26,956 Speaker 1: then you would think, yeah, what's thou doing? You know? 358 00:23:27,156 --> 00:23:30,276 Speaker 1: But it was really something to be home actually, because 359 00:23:30,276 --> 00:23:32,636 Speaker 1: that's been more days gone and I do it home. 360 00:23:33,316 --> 00:23:35,596 Speaker 1: Is it harder for you to rate when you're on 361 00:23:35,716 --> 00:23:40,596 Speaker 1: the road. No. I usually write no matter what. Songs 362 00:23:40,636 --> 00:23:43,436 Speaker 1: come in dream so I write sometimes in my sleep, 363 00:23:43,636 --> 00:23:47,116 Speaker 1: like on this record, Why the Bright Stars Glow came 364 00:23:47,756 --> 00:23:50,996 Speaker 1: in a dream. So I just my biggest thing is 365 00:23:51,036 --> 00:23:53,316 Speaker 1: just to be open to the song whenever the song 366 00:23:53,436 --> 00:23:56,436 Speaker 1: wants to come, and ready to capture it in some 367 00:23:56,676 --> 00:24:00,396 Speaker 1: form on my cell phone or rolling over and scribbling 368 00:24:00,436 --> 00:24:04,876 Speaker 1: it down or whatever it is. While I'm cooking. Sometimes 369 00:24:04,916 --> 00:24:07,796 Speaker 1: the songs will come. I'll have to be like I 370 00:24:07,916 --> 00:24:10,476 Speaker 1: gotta kick. I'm getting a song that got to capture 371 00:24:10,756 --> 00:24:13,236 Speaker 1: just to the little snippet and I can go back 372 00:24:13,396 --> 00:24:18,436 Speaker 1: later and continue with it or whatever. So it sounds 373 00:24:18,476 --> 00:24:21,596 Speaker 1: like it almost comes when you're focused on something else. 374 00:24:22,076 --> 00:24:24,276 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah. If I sit down and try to 375 00:24:24,316 --> 00:24:28,396 Speaker 1: write a song, it's over. I cannot I mean I 376 00:24:28,476 --> 00:24:30,716 Speaker 1: can do it. If I have a songwriting session with 377 00:24:30,836 --> 00:24:32,796 Speaker 1: someone and we say we're going to write a song, 378 00:24:32,956 --> 00:24:36,276 Speaker 1: but even then it's hard. I do not like it. 379 00:24:37,076 --> 00:24:39,036 Speaker 1: I want to learn how to like it. I want 380 00:24:39,076 --> 00:24:42,236 Speaker 1: to learn how to write songs about blue cars when 381 00:24:42,316 --> 00:24:44,356 Speaker 1: someone asked me to write a song about a blue car. 382 00:24:45,796 --> 00:24:48,756 Speaker 1: But yeah, Like, the hardest part about the writing and 383 00:24:49,276 --> 00:24:54,196 Speaker 1: stuff is that it's just making a record, is getting 384 00:24:54,236 --> 00:24:57,236 Speaker 1: in the studio with the musicians and having the time 385 00:24:57,356 --> 00:25:01,916 Speaker 1: and knowing the right producer. Like with this producer search, 386 00:25:02,276 --> 00:25:05,516 Speaker 1: I met so many amazing producers that I loved, And 387 00:25:05,756 --> 00:25:10,956 Speaker 1: that alone took about six months to Nashville and different 388 00:25:10,996 --> 00:25:13,716 Speaker 1: cities and heaving tea and trying a little demo with 389 00:25:13,876 --> 00:25:16,756 Speaker 1: someone and seeing how it felt and if they were 390 00:25:16,876 --> 00:25:20,556 Speaker 1: right for these particular songs and stuff. So all of 391 00:25:20,636 --> 00:25:23,796 Speaker 1: that stuff takes time. But the writing of the actual song, 392 00:25:24,076 --> 00:25:28,036 Speaker 1: that song where I'm able to play just acoustic guitar 393 00:25:28,196 --> 00:25:30,996 Speaker 1: and sang it no matter what layer of production I 394 00:25:31,076 --> 00:25:36,236 Speaker 1: put on it, that comes when it wants to. So 395 00:25:36,396 --> 00:25:39,396 Speaker 1: you settled on Jack Splash for the new album. He's 396 00:25:39,396 --> 00:25:43,196 Speaker 1: worked with Kendrick Lamarge on Legend Alicia Keys. What was 397 00:25:43,236 --> 00:25:49,356 Speaker 1: it about his sensibility that you really liked? I loved 398 00:25:49,876 --> 00:25:54,436 Speaker 1: working with Jack because he's like a kaleidoscope in the 399 00:25:54,556 --> 00:25:59,796 Speaker 1: way he appreciates music and art, and I just wanted 400 00:25:59,836 --> 00:26:03,436 Speaker 1: to be working with someone who saw the world magically 401 00:26:03,596 --> 00:26:07,556 Speaker 1: and like, similar to what I described about Richard, had 402 00:26:07,636 --> 00:26:10,636 Speaker 1: no limit to their appreciation of whatever it is that 403 00:26:10,836 --> 00:26:15,796 Speaker 1: makes us creative, whatever the thing is, just loves and 404 00:26:15,876 --> 00:26:20,756 Speaker 1: appreciates it, from fashion to art in his house, to 405 00:26:20,996 --> 00:26:26,156 Speaker 1: books in the studio to everything. Just is filled with 406 00:26:26,636 --> 00:26:30,436 Speaker 1: inspiring moments no matter where you look in his space. 407 00:26:30,636 --> 00:26:33,596 Speaker 1: So I just wanted to work with him because of that. 408 00:26:34,356 --> 00:26:36,636 Speaker 1: You want to work with people that you feel like 409 00:26:37,356 --> 00:26:39,836 Speaker 1: you're going to ask him to your tribe and there 410 00:26:39,916 --> 00:26:42,316 Speaker 1: yet to be a part of your family, because it's 411 00:26:42,316 --> 00:26:47,356 Speaker 1: such a vulnerable process. It is thinking baby talked to 412 00:26:47,996 --> 00:26:52,116 Speaker 1: just anybody. No, it doesn't work. Even around the house 413 00:26:52,196 --> 00:26:55,316 Speaker 1: with my boyfriend, he's like, is it over again? You 414 00:26:55,436 --> 00:26:58,156 Speaker 1: just thank the same thing like again and again for 415 00:26:58,316 --> 00:27:03,156 Speaker 1: like freaking hour. You're like, thanks for the encouragement. Now, 416 00:27:03,236 --> 00:27:05,956 Speaker 1: he's super sweet. He produced the last record. But I 417 00:27:06,116 --> 00:27:08,716 Speaker 1: do know that living in a tiny New York apartment 418 00:27:08,916 --> 00:27:13,676 Speaker 1: and the same thing I'm getting again can drive anybody crazy. 419 00:27:13,796 --> 00:27:18,596 Speaker 1: But the person's doing it did you assemble some sort 420 00:27:18,636 --> 00:27:21,916 Speaker 1: of audio moodboard for the new album. Did you go 421 00:27:22,036 --> 00:27:23,916 Speaker 1: in there with a set of sounds that you played 422 00:27:23,996 --> 00:27:30,436 Speaker 1: for Jack? I created a document and it had songs 423 00:27:30,516 --> 00:27:33,116 Speaker 1: that inspired so he could get the vibe that I 424 00:27:33,276 --> 00:27:35,916 Speaker 1: was trying to create with the song. And then it 425 00:27:36,036 --> 00:27:39,996 Speaker 1: also had like quotes and poems so that he would 426 00:27:40,436 --> 00:27:42,916 Speaker 1: be in the headspace for what I was trying to create. 427 00:27:43,836 --> 00:27:47,196 Speaker 1: And it also had words. Do you remember what any 428 00:27:47,236 --> 00:27:51,676 Speaker 1: of those words were? Yeah, let's see cinematic. That was 429 00:27:51,716 --> 00:27:54,196 Speaker 1: a word that I wanted it to be. And Oh, 430 00:27:54,436 --> 00:27:57,116 Speaker 1: I loved what he'd worked on with Tanking the Bangas, 431 00:27:57,316 --> 00:28:02,516 Speaker 1: especially the song Colors Change and the vintage sounds and 432 00:28:02,596 --> 00:28:05,596 Speaker 1: the reverb on Teenage Love Affair that he did with 433 00:28:05,676 --> 00:28:09,716 Speaker 1: Delicia Keys, and the raspiness of the drum song Full 434 00:28:09,796 --> 00:28:12,396 Speaker 1: for You that he did with Celo. So I went 435 00:28:12,436 --> 00:28:17,716 Speaker 1: through everything he did and I extracted like things that 436 00:28:17,836 --> 00:28:20,596 Speaker 1: I knew I was already hearing all my songs, and 437 00:28:21,556 --> 00:28:24,236 Speaker 1: just so he could know in relation to stuff he's 438 00:28:24,276 --> 00:28:28,356 Speaker 1: already done, like sounds that he's already captured that I 439 00:28:28,556 --> 00:28:32,156 Speaker 1: love that I'm like, this is the one that has 440 00:28:32,196 --> 00:28:35,196 Speaker 1: to be on that particular song. Too, that feel or 441 00:28:35,396 --> 00:28:39,876 Speaker 1: that reverb or that tone or whatever. So that and 442 00:28:40,076 --> 00:28:45,036 Speaker 1: then oddn't dreamy sounds? I said, I want some vibraphones, 443 00:28:45,116 --> 00:28:50,076 Speaker 1: some xylophones, some birds, some chimes, some planes, harps. I 444 00:28:50,196 --> 00:28:53,116 Speaker 1: was just like I was going name it, all of it. 445 00:28:53,676 --> 00:28:59,116 Speaker 1: And then the words are ethereal, dreamy, magical, otherworldly, flowing, 446 00:28:59,916 --> 00:29:09,636 Speaker 1: multi era, multi genre, soul, heart colors, consciousness, adventurous, stimmering, space, gozong. 447 00:29:09,916 --> 00:29:12,236 Speaker 1: I mean, the man probably thought I was freaking nuts. 448 00:29:15,196 --> 00:29:17,836 Speaker 1: Let's talk through some of the songs. Is there anything 449 00:29:17,876 --> 00:29:20,756 Speaker 1: in particular, any song that you want to start with 450 00:29:20,996 --> 00:29:23,436 Speaker 1: or you want to break down for us. We can 451 00:29:23,516 --> 00:29:26,356 Speaker 1: start with calling me a fools with Carla Thomas. Yeah, 452 00:29:27,476 --> 00:29:32,596 Speaker 1: oh my goodness, how did that happen? So? I lived 453 00:29:32,636 --> 00:29:36,236 Speaker 1: in Memphis for ten years and I'd sing Carla all 454 00:29:36,316 --> 00:29:40,236 Speaker 1: around and people would be like, she doesn't really play 455 00:29:40,396 --> 00:29:43,356 Speaker 1: much anymore or go out, and I didn't feel like 456 00:29:43,516 --> 00:29:45,556 Speaker 1: she was someone that I could just walk up to 457 00:29:45,796 --> 00:29:50,156 Speaker 1: and approach. So I reached out to Boo Mitchell, who 458 00:29:50,916 --> 00:29:58,076 Speaker 1: runs Royal Studios, which is Willie Mitchell's studio, and I said, Boo, 459 00:29:58,276 --> 00:29:59,716 Speaker 1: do you know how we can get in touch with 460 00:29:59,916 --> 00:30:02,716 Speaker 1: Carla because I got a song and I would love 461 00:30:02,836 --> 00:30:04,596 Speaker 1: to have her to sing on it, and he was 462 00:30:04,636 --> 00:30:07,156 Speaker 1: like yep, and he got me in touch with her sister, 463 00:30:07,916 --> 00:30:13,356 Speaker 1: the niece, and Vanisim got me in touch with Carla 464 00:30:13,396 --> 00:30:17,316 Speaker 1: because Carla doesn't have a phone, and so she lives 465 00:30:17,396 --> 00:30:20,876 Speaker 1: in a different like her time, and everything is just 466 00:30:21,076 --> 00:30:24,876 Speaker 1: so great. It's so different, and so Boo was able 467 00:30:24,916 --> 00:30:28,396 Speaker 1: to organize that for me and I went into his 468 00:30:28,516 --> 00:30:32,156 Speaker 1: studio and we had we met it about ten am 469 00:30:32,676 --> 00:30:35,956 Speaker 1: and we did the song and then after that we 470 00:30:36,116 --> 00:30:38,876 Speaker 1: hung out till about twelve am. We went to see 471 00:30:38,916 --> 00:30:41,356 Speaker 1: a show in Memphis. So we didn't have any of 472 00:30:41,436 --> 00:30:44,716 Speaker 1: this planned either. It was just like kids in college 473 00:30:44,836 --> 00:30:47,436 Speaker 1: or something goring and like, let's do this now, let's 474 00:30:47,476 --> 00:30:51,036 Speaker 1: do that now. Having one and talking and listening to 475 00:30:51,196 --> 00:30:57,396 Speaker 1: stories about Rufus times, it was amazing. Oh she is, 476 00:30:58,356 --> 00:31:00,996 Speaker 1: she's a star. So what did you ask her or 477 00:31:01,036 --> 00:31:03,356 Speaker 1: do you remember anything specific that you wanted to know? 478 00:31:03,516 --> 00:31:07,876 Speaker 1: Once you all were out and comfortable and talking, I 479 00:31:08,076 --> 00:31:13,636 Speaker 1: really just listened because she has so many stories and 480 00:31:13,916 --> 00:31:18,396 Speaker 1: I think that, I mean, I hope that people start 481 00:31:18,516 --> 00:31:21,636 Speaker 1: to interview her to get some of these stories captured, 482 00:31:21,836 --> 00:31:25,556 Speaker 1: because she was there, you know, she was with Otis. 483 00:31:25,796 --> 00:31:27,596 Speaker 1: I did ask her about that. I was like, what 484 00:31:27,756 --> 00:31:30,116 Speaker 1: was it like? Yeah, in the room with Otis. She 485 00:31:30,276 --> 00:31:33,236 Speaker 1: just I mean, it was as powerful and magical as 486 00:31:33,276 --> 00:31:35,716 Speaker 1: you could have thought it would be. And she has 487 00:31:35,836 --> 00:31:39,596 Speaker 1: countless stories. Well, that's cool. That sounds like such an 488 00:31:39,596 --> 00:31:43,756 Speaker 1: amazing experience it was. Is it important for you to 489 00:31:44,036 --> 00:31:47,956 Speaker 1: record music in Memphis and using Memphis players and just 490 00:31:48,476 --> 00:31:51,996 Speaker 1: sort of like carrying on a Tennessee tradition. I think 491 00:31:52,316 --> 00:31:59,076 Speaker 1: unconsciously it is because with everything I've done, there's been 492 00:31:59,276 --> 00:32:02,476 Speaker 1: some home in it. Like my last record, my father 493 00:32:03,476 --> 00:32:07,636 Speaker 1: and my brothers were on it, and you know, just 494 00:32:07,956 --> 00:32:11,116 Speaker 1: I feel like I've always got to have home in 495 00:32:11,316 --> 00:32:15,076 Speaker 1: what I'm doing. Yeah, talk a little bit about your 496 00:32:15,116 --> 00:32:18,276 Speaker 1: household growing up, what you learned about music as a 497 00:32:18,356 --> 00:32:20,996 Speaker 1: young girl, and how your family sort of came together 498 00:32:21,356 --> 00:32:25,756 Speaker 1: and how music was a part of the family. Well, 499 00:32:26,356 --> 00:32:30,716 Speaker 1: I have two brothers and two sisters, and I'm the 500 00:32:30,796 --> 00:32:37,076 Speaker 1: oldest girl. So we were always singing around the house, 501 00:32:38,116 --> 00:32:42,396 Speaker 1: being that our church was a church where no instruments, 502 00:32:42,476 --> 00:32:46,036 Speaker 1: only voices, and we all knew as many songs as 503 00:32:46,116 --> 00:32:50,356 Speaker 1: I told you earlier, And so if somebody started a song, 504 00:32:51,716 --> 00:32:55,076 Speaker 1: then everybody else would just jump in on it, you know, 505 00:32:55,516 --> 00:32:59,436 Speaker 1: and harmonize and started doing that part while we were 506 00:33:00,116 --> 00:33:02,996 Speaker 1: on our way to school or working in the yard, 507 00:33:03,356 --> 00:33:07,236 Speaker 1: or cleaning up the dishes after making dinner. I mean, 508 00:33:07,356 --> 00:33:09,396 Speaker 1: it was like the sound of music and a lot 509 00:33:09,476 --> 00:33:13,036 Speaker 1: of ways, you know, because if somebody started a song, 510 00:33:13,796 --> 00:33:16,796 Speaker 1: you won't gunning in until we sang the hell out him. 511 00:33:17,916 --> 00:33:22,156 Speaker 1: And so my mom and dad they My father was 512 00:33:22,236 --> 00:33:26,156 Speaker 1: a music promoter, and he also had a construction business, 513 00:33:26,276 --> 00:33:29,596 Speaker 1: which helped him on the times when the music business 514 00:33:29,836 --> 00:33:36,556 Speaker 1: wasn't as prosperous, and we all helped in his businesses. 515 00:33:36,676 --> 00:33:39,796 Speaker 1: We worked in all his businesses. So I learned a 516 00:33:39,876 --> 00:33:43,196 Speaker 1: lot about promoting music from being with him, and I 517 00:33:43,316 --> 00:33:48,476 Speaker 1: think he was one of the greatest inspirations for me 518 00:33:48,636 --> 00:33:52,156 Speaker 1: when I moved to Memphis, being able to share my 519 00:33:52,436 --> 00:33:55,996 Speaker 1: music and promote it with people, like hanging flowers on 520 00:33:56,156 --> 00:33:59,996 Speaker 1: poles and making up these flowers and handing them out 521 00:34:00,036 --> 00:34:03,356 Speaker 1: and be like, come to my show, gum, fearlessly promoting myself. 522 00:34:05,076 --> 00:34:07,556 Speaker 1: I was able to do that, and I think that 523 00:34:07,876 --> 00:34:11,436 Speaker 1: all my brothers, insists, got a little bit of that 524 00:34:11,676 --> 00:34:15,916 Speaker 1: hustle from being a part of my parents' businesses, and 525 00:34:16,516 --> 00:34:19,516 Speaker 1: you know, it was a good, good time singing with them. 526 00:34:20,996 --> 00:34:23,156 Speaker 1: Do you think being the oldest of five kids does 527 00:34:23,236 --> 00:34:26,676 Speaker 1: that give you sort of like an inborn confidence? Do 528 00:34:26,756 --> 00:34:29,036 Speaker 1: you think there's something to birth order and the way 529 00:34:29,076 --> 00:34:33,436 Speaker 1: that people hold themselves in the world. My friend, one 530 00:34:33,476 --> 00:34:36,476 Speaker 1: of my best friends, she says that theory is my 531 00:34:36,716 --> 00:34:39,876 Speaker 1: brother is one brother older than me and then all 532 00:34:39,916 --> 00:34:43,436 Speaker 1: the rest. But what I found is that it makes 533 00:34:43,516 --> 00:34:50,596 Speaker 1: me bossy. I have to like tell myself sometimes like nope, nope, 534 00:34:50,756 --> 00:34:54,796 Speaker 1: just stop, don't be bossy, because I'm really bossy. I 535 00:34:54,956 --> 00:34:57,156 Speaker 1: get that though, because you have a little a little 536 00:34:57,276 --> 00:35:00,156 Speaker 1: army of people under you and you need to order 537 00:35:00,196 --> 00:35:04,876 Speaker 1: them around. Yeah. So that's the biggest thing, because confidence 538 00:35:04,956 --> 00:35:07,796 Speaker 1: is something I totally have had to work on over 539 00:35:07,956 --> 00:35:12,876 Speaker 1: years of my life. Steel dudes, do you remember the 540 00:35:12,916 --> 00:35:14,836 Speaker 1: first time you got up and played in front of people? 541 00:35:15,556 --> 00:35:20,036 Speaker 1: I do this. Usually what would happen is at the holidays, 542 00:35:20,156 --> 00:35:24,316 Speaker 1: we'd all get together during the you know, say it 543 00:35:24,436 --> 00:35:27,636 Speaker 1: was Christmas. During the day, I'd say to my siblings, 544 00:35:27,716 --> 00:35:30,156 Speaker 1: let's have a show. Let's put on a show. And 545 00:35:30,396 --> 00:35:34,196 Speaker 1: so after we'd opened the presents and everyone at eaton 546 00:35:34,356 --> 00:35:36,956 Speaker 1: then we'd say, Grant and all my hunts and uncles 547 00:35:36,996 --> 00:35:39,836 Speaker 1: and all the kids, we're gonna do a show. And 548 00:35:40,236 --> 00:35:42,636 Speaker 1: we'd go to the living room and we would get 549 00:35:42,676 --> 00:35:44,836 Speaker 1: in front of everybody and we singing like we were 550 00:35:44,956 --> 00:35:49,676 Speaker 1: Jackson five, and of course everybody else felt the infectious 551 00:35:49,796 --> 00:35:52,196 Speaker 1: nature of music and they join in. So the whole 552 00:35:52,236 --> 00:35:55,396 Speaker 1: family would just be getting down at the holidays. So 553 00:35:55,756 --> 00:35:58,676 Speaker 1: that was me and my brothers and sisters promoting little 554 00:35:58,756 --> 00:36:02,196 Speaker 1: shows in the family. And then in the fourth grade, 555 00:36:02,556 --> 00:36:07,196 Speaker 1: mister Wallace in Humboldt, where I went to elementary school, 556 00:36:08,436 --> 00:36:11,276 Speaker 1: we were stud He had a witty Guthrie and I 557 00:36:11,436 --> 00:36:14,036 Speaker 1: love the song this Land is Yerland. And I said, 558 00:36:14,116 --> 00:36:17,196 Speaker 1: mister Wallace, when we come back after lunch, can I 559 00:36:17,276 --> 00:36:19,556 Speaker 1: get in front of the class and sang this Land 560 00:36:19,596 --> 00:36:22,276 Speaker 1: is yeer Land? And he was like can you sing? 561 00:36:23,076 --> 00:36:26,556 Speaker 1: I was like yeah, and I said, yeah, I can 562 00:36:26,636 --> 00:36:28,556 Speaker 1: do it. So he let me get up and sing it. 563 00:36:28,676 --> 00:36:31,196 Speaker 1: And I don't think they much like my voice, but 564 00:36:31,516 --> 00:36:34,836 Speaker 1: I did it. Anyway. You have to be confident to 565 00:36:34,916 --> 00:36:38,596 Speaker 1: do that. Yeah, it didn't stop me. You know, they 566 00:36:38,756 --> 00:36:40,476 Speaker 1: might have called me a fool, but I went and 567 00:36:40,716 --> 00:36:44,676 Speaker 1: did it. And I always wanted to sing, like you know, 568 00:36:44,996 --> 00:36:47,676 Speaker 1: in high school, they'll choose the best singer to sing 569 00:36:47,756 --> 00:36:50,316 Speaker 1: the national anthem. Oh, I really wanted to do it, 570 00:36:50,476 --> 00:36:52,276 Speaker 1: but I knew I didn't have the voice that was 571 00:36:52,396 --> 00:36:56,796 Speaker 1: pleasing to everyone. So did you do theater and stuff 572 00:36:56,796 --> 00:36:59,076 Speaker 1: like that in high school? Um? No, I was a 573 00:36:59,236 --> 00:37:03,116 Speaker 1: cheerleader and then I became a captain of the cheerleading squads. 574 00:37:03,156 --> 00:37:08,076 Speaker 1: So that was me being a bossy person. Bossiness just 575 00:37:08,316 --> 00:37:11,956 Speaker 1: running the comment would you do like flips and everything? 576 00:37:12,036 --> 00:37:14,196 Speaker 1: Like were people throwing you up in the air. I 577 00:37:14,356 --> 00:37:18,956 Speaker 1: was too heavy for that. I was a base I 578 00:37:19,036 --> 00:37:22,396 Speaker 1: would throw people up. It was fun. I really enjoyed it. 579 00:37:22,636 --> 00:37:25,036 Speaker 1: And I think I'm kind of like a cheerleader now 580 00:37:25,516 --> 00:37:30,076 Speaker 1: for other musicians in some ways, you know, Like I 581 00:37:30,196 --> 00:37:33,236 Speaker 1: did a play list recently. It's young, gifted and black, 582 00:37:33,356 --> 00:37:37,036 Speaker 1: and it's just all these musicians that we have around 583 00:37:37,276 --> 00:37:43,436 Speaker 1: us that are multi genre, that are amazing that you know, 584 00:37:43,636 --> 00:37:47,116 Speaker 1: we need to celebrate who they are and just like 585 00:37:47,556 --> 00:37:52,676 Speaker 1: lift everyone up, just keep everyone inspired to dream. We'll 586 00:37:52,716 --> 00:37:59,036 Speaker 1: have more Valerie Leo Rose. After a quick break, we're 587 00:37:59,076 --> 00:38:01,636 Speaker 1: back with Valerie June singing an acoustic version of her 588 00:38:01,676 --> 00:38:08,476 Speaker 1: song Astral playing. What is there a lie? You haven't shot, 589 00:38:09,396 --> 00:38:19,396 Speaker 1: You can't touch a looking glass, You can't only shine 590 00:38:20,116 --> 00:38:30,636 Speaker 1: you so much. If you follow the sun slowly the standy, 591 00:38:31,996 --> 00:38:41,276 Speaker 1: don't rush, then the day will come when you ready, 592 00:38:42,596 --> 00:38:49,436 Speaker 1: Just try. You'd be dancing on the astral plane and 593 00:38:49,556 --> 00:38:55,316 Speaker 1: holy water cleansing rain flowing through the stratosphere. Blind, but 594 00:38:55,396 --> 00:38:59,316 Speaker 1: yet to see so clear? Where is there a way 595 00:39:01,116 --> 00:39:10,276 Speaker 1: for you to shine out? Fear you from other words, 596 00:39:11,796 --> 00:39:19,556 Speaker 1: but you can't see He would keep shoot here dancing 597 00:39:19,596 --> 00:39:24,876 Speaker 1: on the astral bline and only water cleansing, rain flooding 598 00:39:24,916 --> 00:39:30,236 Speaker 1: through the stratosphere blind, be yet to see shawcliff dancing 599 00:39:30,316 --> 00:39:35,716 Speaker 1: on the astral blind and only water cleansing, raining flowing 600 00:39:35,756 --> 00:39:41,036 Speaker 1: through the stratosphere blind, be yet to see saw clear? Blind, 601 00:39:41,196 --> 00:39:46,596 Speaker 1: yet to see blind, be yet to see blind, be 602 00:39:46,676 --> 00:39:53,396 Speaker 1: yet to see blind, be yet to see side clear? 603 00:39:58,276 --> 00:40:03,476 Speaker 1: Is there a way for you to give it? You're 604 00:40:04,036 --> 00:40:14,236 Speaker 1: all you dreaming, and dream a street of things, things great, 605 00:40:14,956 --> 00:40:22,356 Speaker 1: things small, dancing on the astral fly and all the 606 00:40:22,476 --> 00:40:28,156 Speaker 1: water cleansing, rain and flooding through the stratosphere blinder, yet 607 00:40:28,236 --> 00:40:32,916 Speaker 1: to see shark clear, dancing on the astra flind and 608 00:40:33,076 --> 00:40:38,716 Speaker 1: know the water cleansing rain, floating through the stratosphere. Blind 609 00:40:38,796 --> 00:40:41,836 Speaker 1: be at to see shark clear blind be at you 610 00:40:41,956 --> 00:40:47,556 Speaker 1: see blind yet you see blind be yet you see 611 00:40:49,276 --> 00:40:58,796 Speaker 1: blind me at you see shine clear? Well, there is 612 00:40:58,836 --> 00:41:06,196 Speaker 1: a light that you haven't shot, you can't touch m 613 00:41:11,156 --> 00:41:15,876 Speaker 1: It's so beautiful. It always reminds me that you know 614 00:41:16,676 --> 00:41:19,036 Speaker 1: of the light that I came to be in the world. 615 00:41:19,236 --> 00:41:22,556 Speaker 1: So hopefully it'll do that for other people too. And 616 00:41:22,636 --> 00:41:24,716 Speaker 1: it almost feels like you're trying to protect that light 617 00:41:24,956 --> 00:41:31,116 Speaker 1: in the song most definitely. That's why dreamers neat prescriptions 618 00:41:32,436 --> 00:41:36,116 Speaker 1: for protection of the loving kindness and the sweetness of 619 00:41:36,196 --> 00:41:40,436 Speaker 1: their hearts and the dreams that they want to share. 620 00:41:41,236 --> 00:41:43,556 Speaker 1: A lot of the imagery is, you know, floating above 621 00:41:44,116 --> 00:41:47,436 Speaker 1: the earth, blind but you can see. Do you feel 622 00:41:47,476 --> 00:41:49,876 Speaker 1: like you need that to protect yourself from from the 623 00:41:49,956 --> 00:41:53,796 Speaker 1: harsh reality of the world. Yeah, But I think at 624 00:41:53,876 --> 00:42:00,516 Speaker 1: the same time what's happened is that I understand the 625 00:42:00,636 --> 00:42:05,436 Speaker 1: blues and the happiness of it and the joy of it, 626 00:42:05,876 --> 00:42:10,396 Speaker 1: and the processing of the harshness and like not running 627 00:42:10,436 --> 00:42:13,356 Speaker 1: away from it but walking right through it and looking 628 00:42:13,436 --> 00:42:16,316 Speaker 1: at the world and sending the astral world within this 629 00:42:16,556 --> 00:42:20,716 Speaker 1: physical world and it's all here, and how wondrous and 630 00:42:20,836 --> 00:42:24,036 Speaker 1: amazing all of that is just being here on earth 631 00:42:24,836 --> 00:42:27,396 Speaker 1: and the magic of us being here. I mean we 632 00:42:27,596 --> 00:42:32,276 Speaker 1: have like trees, for example, we can hug. This stuff 633 00:42:32,436 --> 00:42:36,516 Speaker 1: is really a gift, you know, the full moon tonight, 634 00:42:37,396 --> 00:42:40,836 Speaker 1: the stars, all of these things. I saw three shooting 635 00:42:40,956 --> 00:42:44,916 Speaker 1: stars the night I finished working with Chat on this record. 636 00:42:45,836 --> 00:42:48,076 Speaker 1: And just like those things, you don't have to go 637 00:42:48,276 --> 00:42:51,516 Speaker 1: far to see what I would call something bigger than you. 638 00:42:51,956 --> 00:42:54,796 Speaker 1: And some people might call it God or something else, 639 00:42:54,956 --> 00:42:58,796 Speaker 1: but I call it just beautiful and so you don't 640 00:42:58,836 --> 00:43:01,636 Speaker 1: have to go far for it. How have you because 641 00:43:01,636 --> 00:43:04,756 Speaker 1: you faced a lot of adversity in your life. There's 642 00:43:04,796 --> 00:43:06,516 Speaker 1: a period of time when you were very sick for 643 00:43:06,636 --> 00:43:09,676 Speaker 1: a number of years, how have you been able to 644 00:43:09,756 --> 00:43:14,636 Speaker 1: get through seriously trying times like just having a practice 645 00:43:15,316 --> 00:43:22,116 Speaker 1: of light and that being danced, that being music, baths, poem, 646 00:43:22,436 --> 00:43:26,036 Speaker 1: joga mantras. Like some days I just have to say 647 00:43:26,156 --> 00:43:29,076 Speaker 1: again and again to myself all day from the moment 648 00:43:29,116 --> 00:43:31,556 Speaker 1: I get up, thank you for this life, Thank you 649 00:43:31,676 --> 00:43:34,716 Speaker 1: for this life, Thank you for this life. And like 650 00:43:35,716 --> 00:43:38,276 Speaker 1: just I have to say that again and again and again, 651 00:43:38,756 --> 00:43:41,956 Speaker 1: because you know, I mean there are days when I 652 00:43:42,036 --> 00:43:48,076 Speaker 1: just don't feel good, like physically, like being dealing with 653 00:43:48,236 --> 00:43:51,356 Speaker 1: the diabetes. It's like every day it's a different day. 654 00:43:51,516 --> 00:43:53,596 Speaker 1: Like some days I feel like I have the energy 655 00:43:53,676 --> 00:43:55,996 Speaker 1: for the world and other days I don't, And I 656 00:43:56,156 --> 00:43:57,716 Speaker 1: just have to work on that, and I have to 657 00:43:57,796 --> 00:44:01,356 Speaker 1: be in it and not fight it and just be like, Okay, 658 00:44:02,316 --> 00:44:05,356 Speaker 1: I see the body doesn't want to do that much today, 659 00:44:05,436 --> 00:44:07,876 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna gently tell it to dance to this 660 00:44:08,076 --> 00:44:13,796 Speaker 1: swamp Talk song real quick, you know. So you just 661 00:44:14,076 --> 00:44:16,556 Speaker 1: meet it where it is every day, just like with 662 00:44:16,716 --> 00:44:19,876 Speaker 1: the voice. Sometimes the voice is able to hit super 663 00:44:19,956 --> 00:44:22,916 Speaker 1: high notes and then sometimes it sounds like, oh, like 664 00:44:23,076 --> 00:44:25,236 Speaker 1: it in the morning when you first wake up. You 665 00:44:25,356 --> 00:44:27,356 Speaker 1: meet it where it is until it's ready to be 666 00:44:27,676 --> 00:44:30,116 Speaker 1: beautiful and clear, like Allison Kraus at the end of 667 00:44:30,156 --> 00:44:33,116 Speaker 1: the day in the morning and Salent Woof at the 668 00:44:33,196 --> 00:44:37,756 Speaker 1: end of the day Allison Kraft. Do you look back 669 00:44:37,796 --> 00:44:42,636 Speaker 1: at old songs, listen to lyrics and think, Wow, I've 670 00:44:42,716 --> 00:44:46,796 Speaker 1: come a long way, or I completely don't agree with 671 00:44:46,956 --> 00:44:49,796 Speaker 1: that whatever I was saying wherever I was back then, 672 00:44:50,476 --> 00:44:56,236 Speaker 1: I've moved on. Usually don't look back much, but when 673 00:44:56,316 --> 00:44:59,276 Speaker 1: I do, like when something makes me look back, Like, 674 00:44:59,516 --> 00:45:02,196 Speaker 1: for example, with the song Shotguns, someone wanted me to 675 00:45:02,316 --> 00:45:05,316 Speaker 1: be on a podcast dealing with murder ballots, and there 676 00:45:05,436 --> 00:45:07,316 Speaker 1: was a time in my life where I did study 677 00:45:07,436 --> 00:45:10,876 Speaker 1: murder ballots. But I felt like, after all the things 678 00:45:10,956 --> 00:45:14,516 Speaker 1: that happened in our nation with you know, gun violence 679 00:45:14,556 --> 00:45:18,156 Speaker 1: and things, and even in African American communities, how we 680 00:45:18,516 --> 00:45:20,836 Speaker 1: struggle with that, that I didn't want to sing that 681 00:45:20,996 --> 00:45:24,356 Speaker 1: song ever anymore. It can be on a record, but 682 00:45:24,476 --> 00:45:26,356 Speaker 1: I just don't feel like, I feel like, you know, 683 00:45:26,636 --> 00:45:28,836 Speaker 1: when a song is right for a time and when 684 00:45:28,956 --> 00:45:31,796 Speaker 1: it needs to just like that came out and it's out, 685 00:45:31,996 --> 00:45:35,756 Speaker 1: and that's that. It doesn't need to go. If people 686 00:45:35,796 --> 00:45:37,356 Speaker 1: want to hear it, they could put the record on. 687 00:45:37,716 --> 00:45:40,636 Speaker 1: You know. I was wondering how you felt about working 688 00:45:40,796 --> 00:45:43,756 Speaker 1: women blues. I ain't fit to be no mother, ain't 689 00:45:43,756 --> 00:45:46,276 Speaker 1: fit to be no wife. If that's something that still 690 00:45:46,356 --> 00:45:48,876 Speaker 1: holds for you, or if that's just not even really 691 00:45:49,196 --> 00:45:51,596 Speaker 1: a proclamation from yourself, that's just part of the song. 692 00:45:52,356 --> 00:45:56,036 Speaker 1: It's part of the song, and it's really just dealing 693 00:45:56,116 --> 00:46:00,396 Speaker 1: with like women feeling free enough to be what they 694 00:46:00,476 --> 00:46:03,836 Speaker 1: want to be. And I have to find any kind 695 00:46:03,916 --> 00:46:06,196 Speaker 1: of set way to be. But if I look at 696 00:46:06,236 --> 00:46:10,596 Speaker 1: it personally, I tried to be a why twice they 697 00:46:10,716 --> 00:46:14,876 Speaker 1: didn't work, So maybe I think maybe that's one of 698 00:46:14,876 --> 00:46:20,676 Speaker 1: the imprimnation sounds. Wish you wouldn't because Lord knows I 699 00:46:20,876 --> 00:46:25,756 Speaker 1: love a good love story. But yeah, Madden are not 700 00:46:25,916 --> 00:46:27,996 Speaker 1: getting married. I think I missed it up a couple 701 00:46:27,996 --> 00:46:31,356 Speaker 1: of times. Well, thank you so much for taking the 702 00:46:31,396 --> 00:46:33,356 Speaker 1: time to talk with me. I wish you so much 703 00:46:33,436 --> 00:46:35,916 Speaker 1: luck with the new album super exciting. I hope you're 704 00:46:35,956 --> 00:46:39,436 Speaker 1: able to get out and perform once everything hopefully writes 705 00:46:39,476 --> 00:46:47,156 Speaker 1: itself in the world. Thank you, I hope so thanks 706 00:46:47,196 --> 00:46:49,916 Speaker 1: to Valerie June for singing and sharing her journey with us. 707 00:46:50,436 --> 00:46:52,956 Speaker 1: Valerie put together a playlist for us of her favorite 708 00:46:53,036 --> 00:46:55,876 Speaker 1: imperfect voices. You can find a link to it an 709 00:46:55,916 --> 00:46:58,996 Speaker 1: episode description, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube 710 00:46:59,076 --> 00:47:03,076 Speaker 1: channel at YouTube dot com slash Broken Record Podcast, where 711 00:47:03,116 --> 00:47:06,076 Speaker 1: you can find extended cuts of new and old episodes. 712 00:47:06,716 --> 00:47:09,956 Speaker 1: You can follow us on Twitter at broken Record. Broken 713 00:47:09,996 --> 00:47:12,956 Speaker 1: Record is produced with help from Leah Rose, Jason Gambrel, 714 00:47:13,316 --> 00:47:18,556 Speaker 1: Martin Gonzalez, Eric Sandler, and Jennifer Sanchez, with engineering help 715 00:47:18,756 --> 00:47:22,916 Speaker 1: from Nick Chafe, Our executive producer is Mio. Label Broken 716 00:47:22,996 --> 00:47:25,716 Speaker 1: Record is a production of Pushkin Industries. And if you 717 00:47:25,756 --> 00:47:28,156 Speaker 1: liked the show, please remember to share, rate, and review 718 00:47:28,276 --> 00:47:31,636 Speaker 1: us on your podcastle our theme music Spectkenny Beats, I'm 719 00:47:31,716 --> 00:47:32,956 Speaker 1: justin Richmond Peace