1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Podcast playground. Well, I'm buzz Night. I'm the host of 2 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: the Taking a Walk podcast series and I'm over the 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: moon thrilled to be here in Nashville for a series 4 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: of Taking a Walk episodes, and I hope you follow 5 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: us wherever you find your podcast Apple podcast or Spotify 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: or wherever. Today our guest is a singer songwriter who 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: is on a roll with his third release on Triple 8 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: Tiger Records, self titled LP three. Russell Dickerson is our 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: guest on Taking a Walk. Welcome Russell. Yes, sir, thanks 10 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: for having me man, thanks for being here. Now how 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: long do I have to know you before I can 12 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: say r D three seconds? I love it absolutely, just 13 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: like everyone in Nashville. You make me feel at home immediately. Yeah, 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: where are you from. I'm from the Boston area. I 15 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: hear it now. No, please, Just when you said Boston, 16 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: I didn't grow up there. Grew up in Stanford, Connecticut, 17 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: outside of New York. So it's still up there. Yeah, 18 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: still still up there, way up there. It's still considered 19 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: up there. So congratulations on the role you are on. 20 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: Do you feel the pressure of trying to top yourself 21 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: after your recent success and then when your next success happens. 22 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, I guess a little bit, but not 23 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: like like exciting pressure, you know, like if we never 24 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 1: hit the mark again, like we've had a great run, 25 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: but you know, it's there's definitely more to come, for sure, 26 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: and it's just it's just an exciting pressure to even 27 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: have this much success in the first place, you know. 28 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: So yeah, a little bit, but I like it. I 29 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: like pressure. I think people use that energy of pressure 30 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: mostly to their advantage. Some people freak out about it, 31 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: but I think it sounds like you've got it well 32 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: under control. Yeah, absolutely, I do. Yeah, indeed, indeed. So 33 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: you're a student of the nineties and the two thousand 34 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: Country Oh Stars, Absolutely tell me about some of those 35 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: influencers for you. I mean, first and foremost Garth Brooks, 36 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: you know, that's that would be my number one. Just 37 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: just the songs, the entertainment aspect, Like I love the 38 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: live show aspect of my career and put everything into that. 39 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: And I learned that from him, like to see his 40 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: tours and his his like just his theatrics and his 41 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: performances like that's I think that's why he's still selling tickets, 42 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: selling out stadiums to this day. Is that connection with 43 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: the fan in the in the live environment, and so 44 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: that's probably the most foundational influence in my in my music. 45 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: And then Tim McGraw is probably probably number two of 46 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: the songs and the the the voice, you know, like his. 47 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: I got to tour timocgral all summer this year and 48 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: just to watch him and to be on tour with 49 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: one of my heroes was insane. I learned so much. 50 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: And third would probably be I mean Michael Jackson what 51 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: I just I love Michael Jackson man. I love his 52 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: like the percussiveness of his music and his songs and 53 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: just the epicness of his songs. And obviously stage presence 54 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: as well. So in terms of performers though that you've seen, 55 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 1: obviously you'd rank Garth tim And then did you ever 56 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 1: see MJ in performing though No, never saw MJ live. 57 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: I wish stage presence, Yeah, I mean, Keith Urban is 58 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: way up there for me too, like the epitome of 59 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: entertainer for sure, and how he does it playing guitar 60 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: as well is like mind blowing to me. He does 61 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: such a great job. So when you were out with 62 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: Tim McGraw, what did you learn even by osmosis from 63 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: a guy like that while you were with him a lot? Oh? Man, Well, 64 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: first of all, he always said, it's all about the songs. 65 00:04:55,320 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: Songs are the first step to anything else, and that 66 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: really stuck with me. The second was me and my 67 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: wife talk about it. We call like Tim McGraw on stage, 68 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: he just sticks it, and because me, I'm I'm all 69 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: over the place, I'm over here, i'm over there, i'm 70 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 1: out front, i'm in the back, i'm on the drums, 71 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: you know whatever, And Tim McGraw just goes out there 72 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: sticks it. He'll just like not as cowboy hat or something, 73 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: and everybody just loses it, you know, And I'm like, dang, 74 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: there's something so powerful about just like owning the moment 75 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: and owning the song and just staying there. Because when 76 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: I first started performing, like nobody knew who I was, 77 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: nobody knew my song. So I had to go out 78 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: there and entertain them in some way. And so I 79 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: was like, all right, well, we're just going to put 80 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: on a great live show. And then you know, as 81 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: things build and people you know, start having as I 82 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 1: have a couple hits and stuff, I realized that like 83 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: I can just stick it now, like they know the song. 84 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: I don't have to you know, teach them the lyrics 85 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: or do anything to egg them on, like they're here 86 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: to hear these songs. And so I really learned that, 87 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: especially with like Yours and Love You, like I used 88 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 1: to more of the the ballad leaning songs, like just 89 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: stick it, man, let them sing it, sing to them 90 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: and just own that moment. Is it a bit like 91 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: the zone like athletes talk about when you're performing. Yeah? Yeah, 92 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 1: it really is. Like there's this just like adrenaline takeover 93 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: that happens. Do you ever get out there and then go, hmmm, 94 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: it doesn't feel completely right at this moment, but I'm 95 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: gonna pull it off. It's not gonna deter me. Is 96 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: there ever moments that you have to like call it audible? Yeah? Sometimes, 97 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: you know, we'll have dependent on crowds, and you know, 98 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: we've always got little like changes built in that we 99 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: can we can like, hey, let's skip, let's skip to 100 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,479 Speaker 1: this song because I feel like they would buy that, 101 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: or like, you know this song. Yeah, I don't know 102 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: like that. We have stuff built into our set to 103 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: where we can tweak on the fly, and you know, 104 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: call an audible and be like, oh, dude, what about 105 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: this song, Like we should let's pop this one in there. 106 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: I think they'd love it or yeah, yeah that And 107 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: there's enough of a camaraderie obviously with your with your 108 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: your band and the whole close knit nature that everybody 109 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: can kind of read the signs right, yeah, exactly. Yeah. 110 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: How much fun is it though? Being out there? Oh? 111 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: I love it. That's my favorite part about it, Like 112 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: just especially now, like having well, even with Tim McGraw, 113 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: we had a fifty minute set and this was the 114 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: first time ever in my career that I was able 115 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: to play a majority of my set was hits. That's 116 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: the first time that's ever happened for me. And it's 117 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: just a whole different ballgame now to go out there 118 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: and start off with home suite and then go straight 119 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: into every little thing and then you know, play a 120 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: couple of songs and then boom yours and then love 121 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: you like I used to Blue Tacoma. She liked like 122 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: just it was this new experience for me as a 123 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: performer to have a majority of my set songs that 124 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: people knew, because for so long nobody knew anything. Like 125 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: I said, it's like you just had to keep going 126 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: and teach it to them or or just play it 127 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 1: and hope they like it. But yeah, that was an 128 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: amazing experience with Tim McGraw that people knowing all the songs. 129 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: Do you remember your first performance and concert pool? The 130 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: first one, like full band, I think that I remember 131 00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: was playing my hometown's. I think that was the first 132 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: time I got a bunch of my buddies together. We 133 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: hopped in my aunt's RV. We drove three hours, We 134 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 1: piled everybody in the family, everybody and how many people 135 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: did you fit? Oh gosh, I mean probably at least 136 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: twelve sick. There was like six people in the band, 137 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: and we just played played the Yeah, the County Fair. 138 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: And you know, I had like three four songs at 139 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: the time, so we played a bunch of covers and 140 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: all that stuff, and that was like the first like 141 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: Russell Dickerson show. I think nobody would book me, obviously, 142 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: but you know, I knew people in my hometown that 143 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: would that would let me play the Fair. Did you 144 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: ever have doubts early on? No, not really. It was 145 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: never like it was never like is this ever gonna happen? 146 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: It was just like when, like how long? How especially 147 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: further down the road like before you know, like twenty fourteen, fifteen, 148 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: even sixteen, Like when you know we've been grinding, We've 149 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: been grinding and grinding, and like when is it gonna pop? 150 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: Like what's the tipping point? And you just got to 151 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: keep writing, keep playing, keep hustling. And then we had 152 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: yours come out and then it all changed from there. 153 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,199 Speaker 1: But as a man, a great faith. You know, if 154 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: there's low moments, you call upon faith, right, absolutely, Yeah, 155 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: gotta have faith in something greater than yourself, you know, 156 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: faith in God and faith in yourself. And that's what 157 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: I think kept me going this whole time. Well, let's 158 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: talk about a difficult time, the years of as we 159 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: would call it, the pandemic years. How difficult was that 160 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: as a creative artist? Yeah, I mean I think it 161 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: came at for me personally. It came at such a 162 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: there's two ways to look at it, like as I'm 163 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: on the rise, you know, as I'm coming up and 164 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: coming up, it's like boom shut down. But also I 165 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: think I needed it so bad because this was I 166 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: mean we started probably twenty thirteen fourteen, like touring all 167 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: the time, and so this is year seven, year seven 168 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: of just grind, and I didn't realize how much I 169 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: needed that, just to not be touring four days a 170 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: week and be home and just enough to do laundry, 171 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: and it really gave me time to think and reflect 172 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: and prepare and kind of catch my breath with this 173 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: new album. Honestly, to like this is I feel like 174 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: this is the first out where I really go back 175 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: in time and dig up old memories from high school 176 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:09,319 Speaker 1: and college and all that stuff. So it really did 177 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: give me time to reflect. And I mean, my wife 178 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: was pregnant all of twenty twenty. We had our son 179 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: in September, and it was just like such a perfect 180 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: time to be home and be there together and just 181 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: prepare for parenthood. Yeah, my sense is creatively, you really 182 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: used it during that time to your advantage. Yeah. Honestly, 183 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: I was finishing up Southern Symphony, my second album. That 184 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: was everything was already recorded, so we were just mixing 185 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 1: and mastering. So that was like the first part of 186 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 1: the pandemic. And then after that, man, I just just 187 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: really tried to I mean, yes, I did get start 188 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: crazy because we couldn't perform and it was frustrating, but 189 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: I knew. I kept telling myself, I'm like, dude, you're 190 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:09,839 Speaker 1: gonna wish you had this time off. It come twenty 191 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: twenty one, twenty two, and I do, like, I like, 192 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 1: I miss I would love a week off right now, 193 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: you know, I would love that. And so yeah, it's 194 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: just like it really, it really was a time to 195 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: just accept the fact that no one can tour, no 196 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: one can play, and just make the best of it 197 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: and really kind of hibernate and store up for, you know, 198 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,839 Speaker 1: for the years to come. So walk me through this 199 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: songwriting process. You had a lot of great collaborators on 200 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: well all your releases, but this one in particular, one 201 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: that I noted was Lori McKenna. Oh yeah right, so legend. 202 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:01,599 Speaker 1: So walk me through a typical day in the songwriting 203 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: process with somebody like a like a Laurie Maketta. What 204 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 1: does that look like? I mean, honestly, there, it's so different, 205 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: it's so varying. With Laurie, she lives and I think 206 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: she lives in Connecticut. She lives somewhere up northeast Boston area. Okay, 207 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: for a while. Yeah, yeah, So it was me and Casey, 208 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: my producer and we were at his house and she 209 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: zoomed in, and first time ever writing with LORI super excited, 210 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: kind of nervous, you know, and like I'm a I'm 211 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: a connection person, so it's like I never really got 212 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: down with the zoom rights and everything. I'm like, I 213 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: just I need to be in person. But she's just 214 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: so calming and so easy going and know like all right, 215 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: let's let's go, let's let's get this song whatever. She 216 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: just like just down with the process. And I don't 217 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: know who had the song title, but we just kind 218 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: of started playing. I started playing this progression on the guitar, 219 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: and somebody had maybe it was Casey had the title idea. 220 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: And I just that's that's just when I feel like 221 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: I kind of I if I catch onto a song idea, 222 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: I can sing a chorus, just just down like hopefully, 223 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: you know, with something worth saving. And yeah, we just 224 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: kind of started building, like thinking about all the little 225 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: cute things that my wife does and the things that 226 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: make me smile and that I love about her, and 227 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: we just like kind of just built this song obviously 228 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: from nothing, and yeah, I was like wow. After the writer, 229 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: I was like, Wow, she really is Laura McKenna, you know, 230 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: like she's she's just that good and it was so 231 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: easy and which song was that? Just like Your Mama, 232 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: the last one on the album? Yeah, yeah, And do 233 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: you think you'll collaborate with her? Absolutely? Yeah. What is 234 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: it about this this Nashville community that is so tight 235 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: knit and collaborative and welcoming. What makes it so special? 236 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: I just think how real everybody is. Like other places, 237 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: they're so self seeking, and I think the I think 238 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: Nashville is just like, yeah, we're we're songwriters, we're in 239 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: the business, and there's like that's not the ultimate achievement 240 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: in life, like kids and family and marriage and faith 241 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: and like all this stuff comes into play, and I 242 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: just feel like people in Nashville have realized that, like 243 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: a number one hit is not the end all be 244 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: all to happiness. You know, it's like having a having 245 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: a grounded life, having community around you. And I just 246 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: think there's a lot of humility in this in this 247 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: community that is appreciated and practiced. So there's a regular 248 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: listener of this podcast, and that is at the favorite 249 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: Italian restaurant in my hometown called Fiorella's. Her name is 250 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: Sheridan Sheridan. Yes, and Sheridan's a fan. Come on in particular, 251 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: she likes it. Yeah, loves that. So Sheridan got a 252 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 1: shout out. Shout out the beat. She's going to be 253 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: pretty thrilled. So tell me about that song and sort 254 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: of the collaboration on that one. Yeah. So I met 255 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,959 Speaker 1: Jake through Josh Kerr, who produced a third of this record, 256 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: and he posted a song that Jake him and Jake wrote. 257 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 1: I was like, dude, this is so good. We got 258 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: to write, and he came to town once we wrote, 259 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: great song, came back again and the second song we 260 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: wrote ever together was she likes it and it was 261 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: just like it's so easy and fun obviously just like 262 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: the song. And when we were done, so my studio 263 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: is just down the hill from our house and we 264 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: get we go back up to the house and my 265 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: wife never listens to music, like over the speakers and 266 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: like she's cooking dinner and we walk in and she's 267 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: playing John Denver on the speakers. Right after we wrote 268 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: this song, talking about playing John Denver on the speakers, 269 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,479 Speaker 1: Like I was like, what is happening? This is this 270 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: is not real? And so that was just a fun 271 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: like kind of confirmation of like, hey, this song might 272 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: be something, and that was say, yeah, wow, what a moment. Yeah, holy, 273 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: that is outrageous. Why is music so special? Why is 274 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: music such a unifying special force in our life? Can 275 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 1: you get to the bottom of this because I can't. 276 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know, man. I feel like music 277 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: is the only thing. Music and film, I think are 278 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:34,359 Speaker 1: probably the only two like consumable things that can give 279 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:40,399 Speaker 1: you like the chill, bumps and tears, and there's some 280 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 1: sort of like vulnerable storytelling aspect I think with music 281 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: that just like can can touch your soul that like 282 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: any other form of media can. I think that's pretty 283 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: pretty pretty right question. Yeah, well, I mean I often 284 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 1: think where would we be without it? You know, I mean, 285 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 1: as beings on this earth for as long as we've 286 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: been here, and it moves us, it shakes us. I think, Yeah, 287 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: I think it's just inside of every human Like if 288 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: you even go back to cave days, you know, they 289 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 1: were making drums and they were making music back then. 290 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: Like it's just something, it's something that has to come 291 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: out of us. And as an artist, like so many 292 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: guys have come up to me and like dude, yours 293 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: is exactly what I want to say to my wife, 294 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: but I didn't know the words to say, And there's 295 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: just like something inside of them that has led out 296 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:55,639 Speaker 1: through the music that I created. What would you have 297 00:20:55,760 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: done if you were as a musician, MM, probably be 298 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 1: a so I love wine that or just like a 299 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: serial entrepreneur. You didn't flinch when you said to so, 300 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: I'd yeah, I'd do something with wine. You would be 301 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 1: a wine maker or a that would be amazing. Just 302 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: live in Napa Valley, run a farm, make some wine, 303 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: have a have a black lab with me all the 304 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,640 Speaker 1: time running through the vineyard. Sounds like the light. Dude, 305 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: quite a scene, right. Top three John Denver songs. Oh, 306 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: you don't have to rank them just well, dude, I 307 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: will any song number one that's one of the best 308 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: songs ever. Then I'll go two is tough Sunshine on 309 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: my Shoulder. Maybe not a bad one. I'm just thinking 310 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 1: of the ones that give me the most feels. That 311 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: one and didn't leave it on a jet plane. Probably 312 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: my top three? All right, Yeah, I mean they're all 313 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,880 Speaker 1: it's hard. It's hard to you know. That's what wasn't 314 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 1: even in there. I know you could do five, ye 315 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: cut your road and then did I say Rocky Mountain 316 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: high yet? No, that's it Russell picks and thanks for 317 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: being absolutely thank you for having you. Yeah. Thanks. Taking 318 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 1: a Walk with Buzznight is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 319 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.