1 00:00:10,204 --> 00:00:13,484 Speaker 1: My Heart podcasts here, more gold one on one point 2 00:00:13,524 --> 00:00:15,204 Speaker 1: seven podcasts. 3 00:00:14,604 --> 00:00:17,724 Speaker 2: Playlists and listen live on the free iHeart app. 4 00:00:18,084 --> 00:00:20,644 Speaker 3: You're listening to the Jonesy and Demanda podcast. 5 00:00:20,764 --> 00:00:22,524 Speaker 4: Who Doesn't Love Brett McKenzie. 6 00:00:22,684 --> 00:00:24,764 Speaker 1: He is, of course, one half of the Kiwi musical 7 00:00:24,884 --> 00:00:28,004 Speaker 1: comedy duo Flight of the Conchords. He's also the songwriting 8 00:00:28,084 --> 00:00:33,164 Speaker 1: powerhouse behind the movies The Muppets. I found one of 9 00:00:33,164 --> 00:00:34,723 Speaker 1: the songs in the Muppets. That's the one he want 10 00:00:34,763 --> 00:00:37,564 Speaker 1: an Academy Award for Man or Muppets so moving. I 11 00:00:37,604 --> 00:00:40,364 Speaker 1: wept during it. Imagine crying in a Muppets movie. He's 12 00:00:40,403 --> 00:00:43,564 Speaker 1: also done the music for Minecraft, the movie. He is 13 00:00:43,604 --> 00:00:46,804 Speaker 1: a genius. Will Brace Yourself Soon. He's heading across the 14 00:00:46,844 --> 00:00:49,204 Speaker 1: Tasman to us to bring his tour to our shores, 15 00:00:49,244 --> 00:00:49,844 Speaker 1: and he joins us. 16 00:00:49,884 --> 00:00:51,564 Speaker 4: Now Brett mackenzie, Hello. 17 00:00:52,244 --> 00:00:53,764 Speaker 3: Hey Jones, Hey man, thanks for that. 18 00:00:54,124 --> 00:00:55,524 Speaker 5: I was going to do a roll call. I was 19 00:00:55,524 --> 00:00:57,084 Speaker 5: going to say, I can't, let's do a role call, 20 00:00:57,164 --> 00:00:57,844 Speaker 5: but I thought. 21 00:00:57,604 --> 00:00:59,804 Speaker 2: You know, Brett's here. 22 00:00:59,924 --> 00:01:03,764 Speaker 5: That's right, Jones, Murray, we can we can start the 23 00:01:04,204 --> 00:01:05,203 Speaker 5: we can start the interview. 24 00:01:05,204 --> 00:01:06,284 Speaker 2: But it's so great to talk to you. 25 00:01:06,324 --> 00:01:08,964 Speaker 5: I must say, Flight of the Conchords was something that 26 00:01:09,084 --> 00:01:11,484 Speaker 5: bonded me with my son and my nephew or anyone 27 00:01:11,524 --> 00:01:13,404 Speaker 5: around that age. It was something that we could all 28 00:01:13,404 --> 00:01:15,924 Speaker 5: share as far as you know, just phrases from the 29 00:01:15,964 --> 00:01:17,364 Speaker 5: show and things like that. 30 00:01:17,764 --> 00:01:19,444 Speaker 2: It was such a such a great show. 31 00:01:20,203 --> 00:01:22,524 Speaker 3: Oh thank you. Yeah, we were so lucky. A few 32 00:01:22,564 --> 00:01:24,124 Speaker 3: people have come up to us over the years and 33 00:01:24,164 --> 00:01:26,044 Speaker 3: said that it was one of those shows they could 34 00:01:26,084 --> 00:01:29,324 Speaker 3: watch with their teenage kids or the kids. And then 35 00:01:29,924 --> 00:01:32,324 Speaker 3: now those kids are adults, they've all grown up. But 36 00:01:32,524 --> 00:01:35,324 Speaker 3: there was quite a cool show for connecting people. And 37 00:01:35,364 --> 00:01:37,124 Speaker 3: I've got that. I've got young kids now, and so 38 00:01:37,524 --> 00:01:39,084 Speaker 3: I do know what they mean. Like when you find 39 00:01:39,084 --> 00:01:41,844 Speaker 3: a show that everyone can watch together, it's such a 40 00:01:41,884 --> 00:01:42,844 Speaker 3: win for the family. 41 00:01:43,244 --> 00:01:43,484 Speaker 2: Yeah. 42 00:01:43,644 --> 00:01:45,764 Speaker 4: What are the phrases that people most quote to you 43 00:01:45,924 --> 00:01:46,564 Speaker 4: from the show? 44 00:01:47,764 --> 00:01:51,204 Speaker 3: Britt, You've got it going on? Often shouted across the 45 00:01:51,244 --> 00:01:52,004 Speaker 3: street at me. 46 00:01:54,244 --> 00:01:57,964 Speaker 2: Because as long as it's not it's business. 47 00:01:57,644 --> 00:02:01,284 Speaker 3: That's right. And then often sometimes you know my name 48 00:02:01,364 --> 00:02:03,964 Speaker 3: Brett when the America, you got called brit in America 49 00:02:03,964 --> 00:02:07,004 Speaker 3: because the accent and everything. And sometimes in America I 50 00:02:07,044 --> 00:02:09,444 Speaker 3: go into a cafe and order a takeaway coffee and 51 00:02:09,483 --> 00:02:11,603 Speaker 3: they say what's your name? And I say Brett, and 52 00:02:11,644 --> 00:02:13,764 Speaker 3: they got someone goes Britt and I don't know Brett. 53 00:02:13,844 --> 00:02:17,483 Speaker 3: And then it continues to play out and you see 54 00:02:17,564 --> 00:02:20,324 Speaker 3: someone on the line who's a conference fan can't believe 55 00:02:20,324 --> 00:02:21,684 Speaker 3: that this is happening in real life. 56 00:02:23,603 --> 00:02:26,404 Speaker 4: There's such a look at your big, open, beautiful face. 57 00:02:26,603 --> 00:02:29,484 Speaker 1: Is it fun to play gormless or is gormless also 58 00:02:29,564 --> 00:02:30,844 Speaker 1: part of your personality? 59 00:02:32,444 --> 00:02:35,483 Speaker 3: I definitely lean into the TV show. We lean into 60 00:02:36,043 --> 00:02:39,163 Speaker 3: being naive and not knowing what's going on. I think 61 00:02:39,204 --> 00:02:43,204 Speaker 3: I am pretty open minded to being so naive is 62 00:02:43,204 --> 00:02:47,004 Speaker 3: not the right word, you know, but I'm open to think. 63 00:02:47,124 --> 00:02:49,484 Speaker 3: I try to stay open and kind of I haven't 64 00:02:49,483 --> 00:02:51,924 Speaker 3: gone down the rabbit hole yet. I'm still, you know, 65 00:02:52,324 --> 00:02:53,404 Speaker 3: believe in humanity. 66 00:02:53,724 --> 00:02:54,163 Speaker 2: Yeah. 67 00:02:54,284 --> 00:02:56,924 Speaker 5: But also, you've composed so many I didn't realize I 68 00:02:57,004 --> 00:02:59,844 Speaker 5: was just reading here that you composed from The Simpsons 69 00:02:59,844 --> 00:03:02,404 Speaker 5: that Homer goes through the windshield. 70 00:03:02,043 --> 00:03:04,684 Speaker 3: And the Simpson. Is so fun writing for The Simpsons 71 00:03:04,724 --> 00:03:06,883 Speaker 3: because you do the demo and then you email it 72 00:03:06,923 --> 00:03:09,044 Speaker 3: off and then and then it comes back and it's 73 00:03:09,043 --> 00:03:13,764 Speaker 3: got the Simpson singing it. Yeah, it's a really cool 74 00:03:13,803 --> 00:03:14,284 Speaker 3: gig here. 75 00:03:15,204 --> 00:03:19,124 Speaker 1: You've won an Oscar, You've won a Grammy, which is 76 00:03:19,163 --> 00:03:21,444 Speaker 1: the one that's that people are most impressed by at 77 00:03:21,444 --> 00:03:22,124 Speaker 1: a barbecue. 78 00:03:23,764 --> 00:03:26,483 Speaker 3: I would recommend winning an Oscar if you're looking for 79 00:03:26,524 --> 00:03:28,284 Speaker 3: barbecue credibility. 80 00:03:28,444 --> 00:03:30,643 Speaker 2: Yeah, because i'd imagine handy one. 81 00:03:30,684 --> 00:03:31,244 Speaker 3: It's a good one. 82 00:03:31,284 --> 00:03:32,884 Speaker 2: And it'd be like that scene from Notting Hill. 83 00:03:32,923 --> 00:03:35,004 Speaker 5: You're standing there and someone says, so what do you 84 00:03:35,044 --> 00:03:37,244 Speaker 5: do and you say, well, I'm you know, I'm in 85 00:03:37,363 --> 00:03:42,084 Speaker 5: I'm in the arts, and I go, good for you, 86 00:03:42,604 --> 00:03:43,044 Speaker 5: that's right. 87 00:03:43,124 --> 00:03:45,444 Speaker 3: I remember one time when i'd left. I did a 88 00:03:45,444 --> 00:03:47,564 Speaker 3: lot of theater at school and was in bands at school. 89 00:03:47,764 --> 00:03:49,364 Speaker 3: And I remember I went to like a kind of 90 00:03:49,684 --> 00:03:52,604 Speaker 3: a sort of traditional boys college, you know, like we 91 00:03:52,644 --> 00:03:56,924 Speaker 3: were uniforms and and and I remember when I was nineteen, 92 00:03:57,044 --> 00:03:58,364 Speaker 3: I was at university and I got one of those 93 00:03:58,363 --> 00:04:01,964 Speaker 3: student jobs. And the job I got was wearing a 94 00:04:02,004 --> 00:04:06,364 Speaker 3: costume of a boat to promote the local theory. And 95 00:04:06,404 --> 00:04:08,803 Speaker 3: I was standing down in the business district in Wellington 96 00:04:08,924 --> 00:04:11,764 Speaker 3: ending out flyers for the Fury and I was I didn't. 97 00:04:11,964 --> 00:04:13,563 Speaker 3: I was like, oh that's not bad, you know, twenty 98 00:04:13,604 --> 00:04:15,564 Speaker 3: five an hour or something. This is a good Saturday 99 00:04:15,564 --> 00:04:18,724 Speaker 3: morning job. And then this guy walks up in a 100 00:04:18,764 --> 00:04:22,563 Speaker 3: suit and he's like, bread, how's it going? Didn't see 101 00:04:22,564 --> 00:04:25,644 Speaker 3: me at school? And he was like, he's like, are 102 00:04:25,684 --> 00:04:27,444 Speaker 3: you're still You're still doing the theater? 103 00:04:28,244 --> 00:04:31,123 Speaker 4: Yeah, at least you got a little tug. 104 00:04:33,924 --> 00:04:35,924 Speaker 5: I haven't think about that here. You know, you go 105 00:04:36,004 --> 00:04:38,404 Speaker 5: down a circular key in Sydney and there's a dude. 106 00:04:38,604 --> 00:04:40,884 Speaker 5: He was dressed up as Captain Cook for Captain Cook 107 00:04:40,924 --> 00:04:43,364 Speaker 5: Cruisers and many time after a few drinks I have 108 00:04:43,444 --> 00:04:45,964 Speaker 5: gone past and I said, are you actually a mascot or. 109 00:04:46,044 --> 00:04:47,444 Speaker 2: You indeed Captain Cook? 110 00:04:47,524 --> 00:04:49,844 Speaker 5: And you're trying to get back to your time a 111 00:04:49,844 --> 00:04:51,124 Speaker 5: bit like Kate and Leopold. 112 00:04:51,444 --> 00:04:53,564 Speaker 4: Now he's a nighter graduate who's cranky as hell. 113 00:04:53,604 --> 00:04:55,003 Speaker 2: The Nike shoes gave that away. 114 00:04:55,084 --> 00:04:57,443 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, excuse me with your show? 115 00:04:57,564 --> 00:05:00,444 Speaker 1: I mean you're you're a comedian, you're a musician, you're 116 00:05:00,444 --> 00:05:01,164 Speaker 1: a storyteller. 117 00:05:01,204 --> 00:05:03,684 Speaker 4: What what kind of what breat do we get at 118 00:05:03,684 --> 00:05:04,084 Speaker 4: the show? 119 00:05:04,564 --> 00:05:04,804 Speaker 2: Show? 120 00:05:04,924 --> 00:05:07,324 Speaker 3: Yeah? Well the tour, I'm bringing a giant band, an 121 00:05:07,364 --> 00:05:10,444 Speaker 3: eight piece band from museum and the show is a 122 00:05:10,524 --> 00:05:13,484 Speaker 3: kind of live mixture of a music gig. So when 123 00:05:13,484 --> 00:05:16,444 Speaker 3: the band kicks in, it's a full sounds awesome I've 124 00:05:16,484 --> 00:05:19,724 Speaker 3: got like horns and backing singers, and the band's really cool. 125 00:05:20,124 --> 00:05:23,244 Speaker 3: And then in between songs, I start telling stories from 126 00:05:23,364 --> 00:05:26,524 Speaker 3: TV and film and you know, traveling and you know, 127 00:05:26,724 --> 00:05:29,724 Speaker 3: anecdotes and stuff. And then I play a mixture of 128 00:05:29,804 --> 00:05:32,444 Speaker 3: new songs from the records I've done, and then songs 129 00:05:32,484 --> 00:05:36,324 Speaker 3: from Simpsons and Concords and Muppets, and the show really 130 00:05:36,404 --> 00:05:38,844 Speaker 3: ends up being kind of a mixture of music. It 131 00:05:38,884 --> 00:05:40,964 Speaker 3: really is a mixture of music and comedy. Like the 132 00:05:40,964 --> 00:05:44,484 Speaker 3: audience is laughing, but then they're also being swept away 133 00:05:44,524 --> 00:05:46,884 Speaker 3: by music. So that's that's the kind of world where 134 00:05:46,924 --> 00:05:48,244 Speaker 3: I love to play. 135 00:05:48,724 --> 00:05:50,964 Speaker 1: Yeah, with the Muppets, I mean, you've worked with Celene 136 00:05:51,004 --> 00:05:54,484 Speaker 1: Dion and obviously Kermit and Tony Bennett, who was the 137 00:05:54,524 --> 00:05:56,924 Speaker 1: most impressive the one you went, you know, the pinch 138 00:05:57,004 --> 00:06:01,044 Speaker 1: me moment, someone who lived up to being a hero. Ooh. 139 00:06:01,684 --> 00:06:06,044 Speaker 3: I did a session with Mickey Rooney Uppets and that 140 00:06:06,204 --> 00:06:09,164 Speaker 3: was kind of that was crazy because he was in 141 00:06:09,204 --> 00:06:11,884 Speaker 3: his nineties and we had this one line. We needed 142 00:06:11,924 --> 00:06:14,204 Speaker 3: him to come to the studio and sing this one line. 143 00:06:14,324 --> 00:06:17,964 Speaker 3: And I mean, that's just someone who is so part 144 00:06:18,004 --> 00:06:21,404 Speaker 3: of Hollywood history, that's like so deep you know, it 145 00:06:21,484 --> 00:06:24,444 Speaker 3: was amazing. He walked in and what was bizarre was 146 00:06:24,484 --> 00:06:27,644 Speaker 3: he also had he couldn't sing the part. His daughter 147 00:06:27,764 --> 00:06:29,964 Speaker 3: was like looking after him and he had to take 148 00:06:29,964 --> 00:06:32,764 Speaker 3: his false teeth out because they were creating a weird 149 00:06:33,644 --> 00:06:37,484 Speaker 3: harmonic sort of tone in the recording. So it was 150 00:06:37,564 --> 00:06:38,164 Speaker 3: kind of amazing. 151 00:06:38,204 --> 00:06:38,724 Speaker 2: And then I. 152 00:06:38,684 --> 00:06:40,404 Speaker 3: Remember we did the take. We did a couple of 153 00:06:40,604 --> 00:06:42,604 Speaker 3: takes and you know, you're a studio. You go, Okay, 154 00:06:42,604 --> 00:06:43,844 Speaker 3: that sounds great, Now could you do it with a 155 00:06:43,884 --> 00:06:46,284 Speaker 3: bit more energy or give it something? And then and 156 00:06:46,284 --> 00:06:48,964 Speaker 3: he goes, oh, no, I think you've got it. I mean, 157 00:06:49,724 --> 00:06:51,724 Speaker 3: and then he stepped away from the microphone. Was like, yep, well, 158 00:06:51,764 --> 00:06:54,924 Speaker 3: if Mickey Rooney thinks he has done, then you've done. Yeah. 159 00:06:55,044 --> 00:06:57,084 Speaker 4: Sometimes teeth back in and had on out. 160 00:06:57,884 --> 00:07:01,924 Speaker 2: Yeah he's you go, yeah. He was great. 161 00:07:01,964 --> 00:07:04,044 Speaker 3: And then I did a session with Lizzo that was 162 00:07:04,084 --> 00:07:07,444 Speaker 3: also really cool. She's so funny. She was doing The 163 00:07:07,484 --> 00:07:11,244 Speaker 3: Simpsons doing a song on Thissen's and she's super funny, 164 00:07:11,244 --> 00:07:15,204 Speaker 3: but also just sings like you'd imagine and sounds you. 165 00:07:15,284 --> 00:07:17,524 Speaker 3: Sometimes you write a song and someone who's like that 166 00:07:17,724 --> 00:07:20,524 Speaker 3: sings it, and it's so cool hearing something that you've 167 00:07:20,524 --> 00:07:24,284 Speaker 3: written transcend with an amazing singer like that. That's cool. 168 00:07:26,244 --> 00:07:27,724 Speaker 2: It's just cool just to even talk to you. 169 00:07:27,844 --> 00:07:30,524 Speaker 5: And of course the new album freak Out City is 170 00:07:30,564 --> 00:07:32,884 Speaker 5: out and you come into town, it's just going to 171 00:07:32,924 --> 00:07:34,644 Speaker 5: be it's just gonna be great to see you. And 172 00:07:34,684 --> 00:07:37,644 Speaker 5: you've got your band. The band's not split ends, is it? 173 00:07:37,684 --> 00:07:38,844 Speaker 5: By any chance you could kill two? 174 00:07:40,364 --> 00:07:42,884 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's a couple of other New Zealand beds. 175 00:07:43,204 --> 00:07:45,284 Speaker 4: We will claim them as our own if you don't mind. Brett, 176 00:07:45,284 --> 00:07:47,484 Speaker 4: Thank you, Yeah, yeah, great, Brett. 177 00:07:47,524 --> 00:07:50,204 Speaker 2: It's so good to talk to you. For tickets and 178 00:07:50,244 --> 00:07:53,724 Speaker 2: tour information, head to tag dainty dot com dot are 179 00:07:53,764 --> 00:07:56,724 Speaker 2: you Brett McKenzie, thank you for joining us, Thanks for 180 00:07:56,724 --> 00:07:58,124 Speaker 2: having me here. 181 00:07:58,164 --> 00:07:58,724 Speaker 4: Thanks Brett.