1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:01,320 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 2: Welcome to Taking a Walk, the podcast where we explore 3 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: the stories, passions, and journeys of fascinating people one step 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 2: at a time. I'm your host, Buzznight, inviting you to 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 2: join me for an audio diary of insightful conversation and 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 2: music history on Foot. Today, we're going to be talking 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 2: with the truly dynamic artist Lana Love. Known for her 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 2: genre blending sound, fearless creativity, and deeply personal songwriting, Lana 9 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 2: has quickly become a standout voice in today's music scene. 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 2: Whether she's performing on stage or crafting songs that resonate 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: with listeners around the world, Lana brings a sense of 12 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 2: honesty and artistry that's impossible to ignore. On this episode, 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: I'm going to dive into Lana's creative process, the stories 14 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 2: behind her music, and the moments that have shaped her 15 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 2: unique journey. 16 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 3: So let's settle in right now and talk to Lana 17 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 3: Love on Taking a Walk. 18 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 2: Well, Lena, thanks for being on Taking a Walk. It's 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 2: an honor to be with you. 20 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 4: Yeah, thanks for having me appreciate it. 21 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 2: So, since we call this show Taking a Walk, and 22 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 2: even though we are virtual, I do want to ask 23 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: you the opening question here, which is if you could 24 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: take a walk with somebody living or dead. Doesn't have 25 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 2: to be someone musical, but it's nice if it is. 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: But it's your walk. Who would you take that walk with? 27 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 4: I'd take that walk with you. Wow, yeah, we're here 28 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,279 Speaker 4: right now. I wish we could be in person. 29 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 2: Oh that's so nice. I love it in person walk. 30 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: I love a virtual meetup. But that would be so 31 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: nice to take that walk. Where would we walk? 32 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 4: Well, I'd like to go to your hometown because I 33 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 4: haven't spent much time in Boston, and I think you 34 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 4: could probably show me around and teach me a little 35 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 4: bit about what goes around there. 36 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: All right, there's a lot of great places to walk. 37 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: It's a great walking city, and great walking cities are 38 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 2: great places to just disappear and take in the history. 39 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 2: So we'd have a great walk. So let's let's do it. Sometimes, 40 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 2: let's do that, and if not, we'll do it in 41 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: to New York. We'll pick one of your favorite spots 42 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 2: in New York City. So an amazing story that you have. 43 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 2: You are one of the most fascinating people I have 44 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: spoken to in terms of your diversity of styles and 45 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 2: the work that you do. Uh, it's it's a fascinating story. 46 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 3: Where will begin? 47 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: I think, is that infamous moment that you knew that 48 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: you were deeply connected with music? 49 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 3: What was that moment you know? 50 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 4: I think the first I like to say when I 51 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 4: popped out of the womb, but the first memory that 52 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:04,519 Speaker 4: I have I was four or five years old and 53 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 4: we had a piano that was gifted to us, and 54 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 4: it was in our living room and I would always 55 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 4: just go tinker on the piano as a child, So 56 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 4: I think I was always drawn to music. And my 57 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 4: mom used to play Fan of the Opera and hold 58 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 4: it up to her belly when she was pregnant with me, 59 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 4: And when I was five, I ended up picking out 60 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 4: music of the Night on the piano by year. So 61 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 4: I think I was just always naturally drawn to melody, 62 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 4: and to specifically fam of the Opera when I was 63 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 4: a kid, but just anything with a real melodic presence. 64 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 4: I think I always wrapped my head around that and 65 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 4: wanted to explore that within my own work. But that 66 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 4: was really the first moment that I knew that music 67 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 4: was going to be a big part of my life, 68 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 4: or it is my life. 69 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 3: Did you have a plan B. 70 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 4: I tried. I tried so many times. I have a 71 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 4: plan B, but it just always knocks on my door. 72 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 3: What would do plan be have been? Though? What would 73 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 3: it have encompassed? 74 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: You know? 75 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 4: I thought I was going to be a doctor for 76 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 4: a while, and I wanted I was very you know, 77 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 4: drawn to the body and how it works. But it 78 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 4: just did not happen that way. I went originally to 79 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 4: University of Florida for I was going to go to 80 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 4: med school or wanted to do that pre med, and 81 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 4: then I got into the musical theater program there and 82 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 4: my life just took me totally different direction. 83 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: And who are the folks that had incredible influence on 84 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 2: you that really shaped your desire and your passion for music? 85 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 4: You know, I have to say it's fun but John 86 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 4: Legend really did as a young child, I was twelve 87 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 4: years old when his song Ordinary People came out, which 88 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 4: is one of the best written songs of all time. 89 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 4: I'm convinced, and I learned how to play it, and 90 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 4: I would just play it over and over and over 91 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,679 Speaker 4: and over again. And it's funny because years down the line, 92 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 4: I ended up meeting him while I was serving champagne 93 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 4: at an event in Harlem, and then a couple years 94 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 4: after that, I ended up meeting him in person again 95 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 4: and he picked me to be on his team on 96 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 4: the Voice. So I think he's been really instrumental in 97 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 4: my progress and has inspired me many different ways. 98 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: Was it instilling confidence? Was it certain words of encouragement? 99 00:05:54,200 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: Can you identify particularly what that aura of John Legend 100 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 2: really did for you? 101 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 4: You know, I think he's a really solid and grounded guy, 102 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 4: and he showed me that there's a way to do 103 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 4: this business without going crazy and by staying really just present. 104 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 4: He was really present with me both times I met him, 105 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 4: and he showed me that there is another way to 106 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 4: do this, that you can just be really good at 107 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 4: your craft and love the craft and not get into 108 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 4: the hooplah of like press and the debauchery of the 109 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 4: entertainment industry, which I think takes so many people down. 110 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 4: So I really wanted someone to show me that there 111 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 4: is another way, and he certainly did. 112 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 2: And the influence that your parents had as well, I 113 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 2: have to think had some meaning and purpose. 114 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, parents, My parents were not in the industry, and 115 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 4: I was I'm kind of like black sheep of the 116 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 4: family in a sense. Because not that they're not supportive, 117 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 4: but they will never fully understand what I'm doing because 118 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 4: they went took totally different paths. And that's fine, but 119 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 4: I really had to find it on my own, and 120 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 4: I think actually the fact that they weren't like holding 121 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 4: my hand through it made me fight even more so 122 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 4: in a way, it was influential for me to go 123 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 4: my own direction and just be very strong willed and 124 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 4: independent in my thought process. 125 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: But what's so fascinating about your story. It ranges from 126 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 2: your musical path, and then it also is your advocacy 127 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: on behalf of artists as well, which is pretty crucial 128 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: and important. Talk about your work on copyright boards and 129 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: what that has meant in terms of your passion for 130 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 2: your craft and your fellow artists. 131 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, thank you for saying that, and it's something that 132 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 4: I'm very passionate about. And to your point, with my parents, 133 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 4: because they weren't in the industry, I really had to 134 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 4: find my own way, and I didn't have anyone telling me, hey, 135 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 4: don't go this direction, or hey, maybe you need to 136 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 4: get a lawyer here, Hey maybe you need to learn 137 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 4: about this specific part of the industry. And I just 138 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 4: didn't have anyone doing that. So I fell on my 139 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 4: face a lot. And one of those things I fell 140 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 4: on my face with and we'll call it a failure, 141 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 4: but it just really a stepping stone because it happens 142 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 4: with everyone. But I had a major copyright issue that 143 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 4: would have changed my life financially come up that I 144 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 4: did not understand as a young twenty year old. And 145 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 4: I had written something that ended up taking off and 146 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 4: I had my name where on it, And so I 147 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 4: think a lot of artists get into copyright after it's 148 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 4: too late, and I didn't want another artist to go 149 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 4: through what I went through. So I took it upon 150 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 4: myself to learn as much as I could and to 151 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 4: each one teach one so that other young people, you know, 152 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 4: had an easier goal of it. 153 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 2: And how long did it take you to sort of 154 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 2: learn that part of the business. 155 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 4: I'm still learning. I think I'm always learning that, and 156 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 4: the structures are changing all the time, which is great, 157 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 4: but at the same respect, I feel like we're always 158 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 4: playing catch up. So I would say I took a 159 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 4: solid two years to learn as much as I could, 160 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 4: and I would just do an hour a day on 161 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 4: YouTube and educate myself. 162 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 2: Twenty twenty one was a big year for you. That 163 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 2: was the moment where you broke out with the song 164 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 2: American Love. 165 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 3: Can you talk about that song. 166 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: The creation of it, take us sort of behind the 167 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 2: curtain on how that came to be such an important 168 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 2: step in your career. 169 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, thank you. I love that song still to this day, 170 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 4: and I think it was my favorite off of my 171 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 4: first EP, so that one I wanted all live instruments on, 172 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 4: and I was very adamant about that. I actually recorded 173 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 4: it in analog, so I just really wanted it to 174 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 4: feel Americana and real and from the grassroots that I 175 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 4: came up in. As I mentioned to you before off 176 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 4: this club, I'm from Hotlanta, Georgia, so you know we 177 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 4: are we love real music and we love to play 178 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 4: and the folk element, and I think there is like 179 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 4: a hard folk element to that song, and I really 180 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 4: wanted that to be present. And I actually put a 181 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 4: big kind of fanom of the opera choir at the end, 182 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 4: so there's a lot of melody involved with that. And 183 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,719 Speaker 4: I wanted to meld these different genres that I grew 184 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 4: up and that I love all into this one song, 185 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 4: and I was I think I was able to do 186 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 4: that and have live strings and real keys, real guitars, 187 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 4: like just everything real, because what I was experiencing in 188 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 4: my personal life was so not real. It was not 189 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 4: what I thought it would be. I'd kind of quote 190 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 4: unquote like made it in a certain way, and it 191 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 4: just wasn't what I thought it would be, And so 192 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 4: I wanted my music to be real when what I 193 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 4: was living felt really fake. 194 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: And you ended up headlining a one hour solo live 195 00:11:55,720 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 2: PBS special before the audience there at the the red 196 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 2: Lands Bowl Amphitheater, and it was a tribute to somebody. 197 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 2: I want you to talk about your late mentor Frank Fetta. 198 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, Maestro Frank Fetta. He was really the first person 199 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 4: I ever truly loved, and I knew that I loved 200 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 4: him when he passed. It was the first time someone 201 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 4: in my life really close to me passed and his 202 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 4: last wish was to put me on And so Reland's 203 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 4: Bowl did a full hour on PBS and I got 204 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 4: to sing every genre from opera to rock to original 205 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 4: music to jazz, everything, and it was just such a 206 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 4: wonderful experience and I think will always be one of 207 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 4: my favorites. He's real special, how special? 208 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 3: How special? Thank you for sharing and that. 209 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 4: Thanks. 210 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: So tell me about what you've been up to lately 211 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 2: and what you're working on and putting out and that 212 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 2: you're excited about. 213 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 4: Well. I just had a song come out with Ghost 214 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 4: Vace Killer a couple of days ago, so that was 215 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 4: really exciting. It's called Lost Boys with a Z and 216 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 4: I met him a couple of years ago and I 217 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 4: it's just playing keys at a bar and he quote 218 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 4: unquote found me, so to speak, and from there we 219 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 4: developed a friendship and he's he's a dear mentor to me. 220 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 4: And so we have this song that just came out, 221 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 4: and I have an EP coming out on August twenty 222 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 4: second called Sorry I'm Human. I'm really really excited for 223 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 4: y'all to hear that. 224 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 2: Oh that's great. I heard the Atlanta and you came out. 225 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 2: He came out. Now, how long does a project felt 226 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 2: like that? And you know, from start to finish, you know, 227 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 2: take to come together. 228 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 4: Well, in all honesty, I'll say two solid years for sure. 229 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 4: I had started writing some of the songs many many 230 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 4: years prior, but they just saw the light of day now, 231 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 4: So in totality, probably about five years from you know, 232 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 4: top to bottom. 233 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 2: And there's obviously trial and error in terms of some 234 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 2: of the writing, some of the way you'd sort of 235 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 2: view it in terms of you know, orchestration and everything. 236 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 2: So I'm assuming there's a fair amount of experimentation that 237 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: is going on in that process. 238 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 4: For sure. It takes a long time to find a 239 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 4: cohesive sound without everything sounding the same. So I certainly 240 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 4: sat in the studio for you know, sometimes three hours 241 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 4: for one sound. So it's it's yeah, it's a laborious process, 242 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 4: but it's fun and when you find it, it's like 243 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 4: you just get so excited because the whole thing kind 244 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 4: of just comes together. And I always start writing on 245 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 4: the keys. That's where I start all of my songs, 246 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 4: and if it doesn't work on the keys, it's not 247 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 4: going to work in production because you can add a 248 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 4: bunch of fancy stuff, but if the song isn't there, 249 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 4: then what do you really have? So everything that I 250 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 4: on this record really translates to keys and is key based. 251 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 3: Those hands look very powerful there. 252 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 4: I'm like, where are you from? 253 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 3: They really do? They're delicate too, they are for sure. 254 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll be right back with more of the taking 255 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:53,119 Speaker 1: a walk podcast. Welcome back to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 256 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 2: I love in a world where we frequently talk about, uh, 257 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 2: you know, busting genres. I love in terms of your 258 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 2: you know, genre breaking. You're classically trained, you've got roots 259 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 2: in opera, jazz and theater and heano, and you've got 260 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 2: a pop side, you've got a rock side. It's so diverse. 261 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 2: Where did this curiosity and diversity come from? 262 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 4: I think again, it kind of stems from your first 263 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 4: question of like, what was the moment that you fell 264 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 4: in love with music? And I love so many different genres. 265 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 4: And I think because I was in musical theater for 266 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 4: a long time, I had to play so many different 267 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 4: roles in different styles, like one, you know, one month, 268 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 4: I'd be doing a rock show and then the next 269 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 4: I'd be doing an opera show. So I had to 270 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 4: constantly bounce back and forth between all these different genres. 271 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 4: And they sit in a different place in your voice 272 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 4: when you sing. So I had explored all of these 273 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 4: i'll say, different vibrational places within my facility, and at 274 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 4: one point I had kind of lost my true voice 275 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 4: because I was putting on all these characters. And so 276 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 4: it's been a really great development to undevelop that and 277 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 4: to kind of pull away from the I'm ex genre 278 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 4: and just mix them all into who I am now. 279 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 4: So I think it all kind of ties in at 280 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 4: the very end. 281 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 2: How do you approach vulnerability in your lyrics and your performances? 282 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 4: You know, I don't even think I really think about vulnerability. 283 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 4: I always try to get to the truth of what 284 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 4: I'm feeling and right from a place that I've already 285 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 4: had the answer to the question that I'm asking, So 286 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,959 Speaker 4: I think it just comes out naturally. I'm a pretty 287 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 4: passionate person in general, and I always speak from my 288 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 4: heart no matter what, and I always try to cut 289 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 4: straight to the truth. So I think I'm just always 290 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 4: searching for that. 291 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 2: What are the themes or messages that you hope listeners 292 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 2: take away from your newest work. 293 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 4: I like to talk about Sorry I'm Human as like 294 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 4: a thorn in your side that you just left there 295 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 4: and you keep bumping up against things, but you never 296 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,399 Speaker 4: took the thorn out, so you never really took a 297 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,239 Speaker 4: look at what's inside. And I like to think of 298 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 4: this album as taking that arrow out and looking at 299 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 4: it so that it can actually heal and not shaming it. 300 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 4: But really looking at the dark parts and being okay 301 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 4: with them, or at least saying hello to them, and 302 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 4: you know, wishing them well so that you can heal, 303 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 4: because that's what makes us human. And for a long 304 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 4: time I just masked the parts of myself that I 305 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 4: didn't think people would like. And now I'm like, here's 306 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 4: a bright, shiny light here all the parts that I'm 307 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 4: not cool with, because I gotta get cool with them 308 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 4: so that I can heal. 309 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 3: It's an outlet to sanity. 310 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 4: Totally. It's like therapy, you know, music is it's like 311 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 4: therapy for me, so well it. 312 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 2: Is for us too, right, think of all that it 313 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 2: does for us. It's for an artist's standpoint, it's therapeutic, 314 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 2: and for us as an audience it is as well. 315 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's like we connect through shared experiences and hurts 316 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 4: and also joys and and I really I think, deep inside, 317 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 4: I just want to connect with people. 318 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 2: Do you worry sometimes in the chaotic pace of today 319 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 2: that people lose some of that joy as at least 320 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 2: not from the artist's standpoint, but as fans sometimes. 321 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 4: You know, I just think as people we do it 322 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 4: just goes so fast that it's hard to stay present. 323 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 4: It's really hard. I mean, I think we're all over stimulated, 324 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 4: and again we're all searching for the same things, which 325 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 4: is love and truth and resonance and connection and music 326 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 4: has a way of bringing us all in the same room. 327 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 2: You've had some great collaborations. I want you to talk 328 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 2: about them. Obviously, your new work is a collaboration that 329 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 2: you spoke about. But who are some of the other 330 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 2: collaborations that you would like to talk about that you've 331 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 2: that you've been part of, And what do you look 332 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 2: for in a creative partner. 333 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 4: It's a great question. Well, I collaborated with Ray Scabo 334 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 4: on this this piece. Sorry I'm human, and he and 335 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 4: I spent a lot of time together and it was 336 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 4: it was really cool the way it developed. He is 337 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 4: ghost Face Killa's head engineer and producer, and I met 338 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 4: him through ghost and ghost said, hey, I like one 339 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 4: of your songs you lost boys when you heard the 340 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 4: keys just my key and vocal, and he said, would 341 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 4: you like to produce this out? I said, yeah, I 342 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 4: would love to, and and so from there he put 343 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,239 Speaker 4: me in touch with Ray and then Ray and I 344 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 4: hit it off and made this piece. So I think 345 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 4: in terms of what I look for. It kind of 346 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 4: finds me wherever I'm at and whatever I need in 347 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 4: the moment. And I think that we find each other 348 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 4: as collaborators. 349 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 3: You know, it just happens. 350 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 4: Yeah, it really does. It's all organic serendipity totally. 351 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 2: Who are some of the folks you haven't collaborated with 352 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 2: that you can dream about and think, Man, it wouldn't. 353 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 3: That be awesome? 354 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 4: Well, aside from taking a walk in the park with you, 355 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 4: what Dad would love to do and whenever you're in 356 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 4: New York, let me know, we'll do that. 357 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 3: Got it. 358 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 4: But I'm a huge, huge, huge Lady Gaga man, and 359 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 4: I would just love to have a coffee with her. 360 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 2: I mean, you've been it's been described. When they talk 361 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 2: about you, they say, I think Lady Gaga meets Phantom 362 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 2: of the Opera. 363 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 4: I think Moya came up with that. It's a good one. 364 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 2: It's good, but it's but you know, I envision this 365 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 2: meeting with you and Miss Lady probably happening quicker than 366 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 2: you even think. 367 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 4: I would be honored. I would be so honored. She's 368 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 4: you know, she's also musical theater, so she's a storyteller. 369 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 4: She loves these wild concepts and just bringing you into 370 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 4: her world visually and sonically. And I'm a huge proponent 371 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 4: of that and I try to carry that within my 372 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 4: own work too. Well. 373 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:35,400 Speaker 3: It occurs to me too. 374 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 2: One of her talents, among her musical talents and beyond, 375 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 2: is obviously you know, she's been successful at acting as well. 376 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 2: Would I ever see a world with Lenna love taking 377 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 2: you know, a. 378 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 3: Crack at acting? 379 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, I've actually been in a couple a couple of things. 380 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 4: I played Gwen Stefani on a TV show Once You Did. 381 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 4: It was funny because I ended up meeting her later 382 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 4: in life and that was cool. So yeah, I love 383 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:18,959 Speaker 4: it all and I'm open to all of the above. 384 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 4: I'm very curious to see where my life's gonna lead 385 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 4: me because I feel like I have my hands in 386 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 4: so many different honey pots and I'm so curious about 387 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 4: different parts of the entertainment world. And I really do 388 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 4: love it all. 389 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 3: And if you're curious, then that opens doors. 390 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,159 Speaker 4: It does. I feel like I'm no longer in a 391 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 4: narrow stream. I feel like I'm in the ocean. 392 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: Wow, outstanding. I take me back to singing for tips 393 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 2: at Coldstone Creamery. 394 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 4: You know, I've always been singing for tips. That is 395 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 4: not the first time I've sunging for tips. Yeah, that 396 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 4: was my first job, and I gained twenty five pounds 397 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 4: because it was I love Reese's Cups so much. No, 398 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 4: but it was. It was a great job. It was 399 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 4: really fun, and I have I've had so many different 400 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 4: like catering jobs, and yeah, I've done it all in 401 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 4: that sense. 402 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 2: Well, but you're instantly connecting with the audience too, which 403 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 2: obviously you you have mastered how to do that, you know. 404 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,639 Speaker 4: Well, I thank you. I think there's always further to 405 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 4: go there. But I did enjoy just meeting people and 406 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 4: singing to them whenever they would, you know, hear me. 407 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 4: Some people didn't want to I do. 408 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 3: It anyway, Oh I don't think they. I doubt that seriously. 409 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 3: They would. 410 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 2: They would want to hear you, and and they would. 411 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 3: They would grow to. 412 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 2: Love you quickly for your for your work and your 413 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 2: your style and your personality. 414 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 3: You know, well, thank you and your talent so well. 415 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 3: I want to close with this. 416 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 2: You mentioned continuous learning and your curiosity and how this 417 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 2: has sort of brought you to where you are today 418 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 2: with the new work and everything. But when you envision 419 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 2: what else you'd like to learn that would shape you 420 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:25,360 Speaker 2: as a person and an artist. What do you think 421 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:25,880 Speaker 2: that is. 422 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 4: It's a really great question, you know. When we think 423 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 4: about the future, we can only see so far in, 424 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 4: you know, And I try to visualize what I want 425 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 4: to experience in my life every morning when I wake up, 426 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 4: every night before I go to bed, and for the 427 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,679 Speaker 4: first time in my life, I can't see what's next. 428 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 4: And it's kind of a cool place to be in 429 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 4: because I know I've got this project coming out. I 430 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 4: know that I love music more than my life itself. 431 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: And. 432 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 4: I don't I truly don't know what's next, and I'm 433 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 4: okay with it. So I think I'm just staying open 434 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:18,439 Speaker 4: in that ocean of possibility to what comes in, and 435 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 4: I'm staying positive and staying on the growth path and 436 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:29,880 Speaker 4: just an expansive path of wanting to connect with people 437 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 4: and connect with myself more so, if anything, I would 438 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 4: say that it's kind of like a broad general way 439 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,159 Speaker 4: to look at it. But I'm just trying not to 440 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 4: give myself an x Marx to spot anymore and just 441 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 4: let life take me down the current that I'm supposed 442 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 4: to be on and trust that. 443 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 2: I also take from this. You do all this with 444 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 2: an incredible sense of gratitude. 445 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:03,159 Speaker 4: I do. I have been through a lot for a 446 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 4: person of my age, and I see that it was 447 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 4: all for something and it's making sense. And I think 448 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:16,239 Speaker 4: for many years I questioned what was happening, and now 449 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 4: I'm just kind of like, stop questioning, Appreciate where you're at, 450 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 4: Appreciate what you've been given. I've been given so much 451 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 4: and I have so much love to give back, and 452 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 4: so I'm really in the receptive mode right now and 453 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 4: very grateful for this conversation and for my team and 454 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 4: what I've been able to develop and who I am now. 455 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 3: Leanna Love. It's so wonderful to be with you. 456 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:48,719 Speaker 2: I just can't wait till the next time, the in 457 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 2: person or the virtual or both. 458 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 3: This has really been a joy. 459 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 2: And congratulations on the new work, and I know we'll 460 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 2: be continuing to hear great things from you and your future. 461 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 4: Thanks, bus, I appreciate it. 462 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 463 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 464 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 465 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts 466 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts