Bona Fide: Fresh Finds Podcast Season 6 Episode 2 w/ Virtual Nobodies

Hello, and welcome back to the Fresh Finds podcast. I'm Ryan, and joining me this episode are Jeremiah and Xavier of the California Band Virtual Nobody. How are we doing, guys? Welcome to the show. Let's go on. Stuff like that. Thanks for having us. Happy to have you guys on. Before we get too much deeper, can you guys each introduce yourselves a little bit so people who aren't watching and are just listening can put a name to the voice and just kind of introduce yourself and what you do in the band. Cool. I'm Xavier. How does? A singer-songwriter. I'm company, my friend right here. We're both bass players, but we switch off bass and guitar depending on the song. Depending on the song. We're from Newberry Park. Newberry Park locals, but singer-songwriter, singer-songwriter, and yeah, and I'm the friend. I'm Jeremiah Gray, the other half of the virtual "Nobody's" and yeah, it's super cool to be doing this. And yeah, we fight over the bass actually. We're both bass players and kind of ask guitar players, so. That's so funny. It's usually the opposite way around where it's like two guitar players and it's like, well, I guess I'll play the bass, but yeah. We're strong number two's, man. It's like, you know, the two sidekicks who are somehow both front and center figuring it out. Well, and the interesting thing is, you guys actually just let into one of the first things that I was going to ask about, which is that the first song that you guys officially put out or at least that I could find on streaming. It was featuring you as opposed to just being, like, a member of the band, so that was something that I thought was interesting. I was curious about, like, how the project came together as a whole and, like, where do you originally not going to be a core member of the band and then you just kind of fell into it or how did all of that come to be? I think the idea was that we were going to do this sort of as more of a side project, so I think there was an idea of, like, if we both had our names there, somebody could look, my name up or somebody could look his name up, and then eventually, like, once the song was out, the first song we put out just so you know, you know, we came to an agreement that is, I don't think, I think it looked way better if it was just a strong unit instead of just, like, this complicated, something you didn't need. Yeah, essentially, we were both, like, solo artists. He had been doing it for longer than I had. Again, both bass players, we played different groups in our county. Yeah, I don't know. He was like, I felt like I was on an episode of the freaking bachelor's, trying to play with this dude. Everybody wanted to play with him, and nobody wanted to play with me. I don't know. Something about my life. He eventually gave you the ring, or that's how the bachelor goes, right? I just played hard to get, and I won. You know, it was funny, at the time, I was being, like, kind of led by these two producers, and then they ended up being busy for different reasons. Okay. So Jeremiah ended up, you know, he wasn't going to stop, and that's what I, like, just really, really valued about him. So he asked me to play guitar and his solo project, and I had all this free time anyway. Yeah, and then I just realized what we were playing. One of his shows, like, oh my god, we kind of, we sound good harmonized, and we sound good playing together. And I think it was fun. I had products, and like, what if we did, like a show here? Why don't we just do version of these here? Actually, this venue called Aviation. We jumped up a big show that we could eventually play there, and we're playing there next month. It's a mall. Oh, nice. So, yeah, we kind of just came to that agreement, let's really take this thing, hit on with each other. Yeah. I mean, we played one show where I got him on. I just wanted to play. I think him too. He had, again, all these kind of cats around him, but you're in the music world. You know, stuff can move really slow. Egos get involved. For sure. I think we just wanted the right music and play. And time is of the essence, for sure. Like, it's a hustle, trying to book shows and get music out. And he sent me this demo. That's our very first song that you're referencing just so he has both her names on it. And he was like, yeah, I was just kind of tossed it. And I just was like, this is an insane rip. Like, this is such a cool tune. And so, that was our first time just sitting down, sculpting a song together. It was really like, I think we used this garbage microphone for the vocals. We like, we didn't retract stuff. And we did it. DIY is hell. That's true. Yeah, we started retracting it and it lost all the vibes. So, we're like, let's just keep it. And so that's such a thing, though, isn't it? We're like, sometimes the demo, even if it's not as good of a recording, there's like something about the vibe of the performance or whatever that it's like, if you can't get that right the second time, then like, what's the point of re-recording it? Yeah, totally, man. And that's been his strength so much is like, he really has a, creates such a cool vibe with his production. And it doesn't need a lot. And so some of the, you know, other cats, maybe he's worked with her or whatever, like, no shape, like, but when you move away from like, what's really just you, you know, and it might not be the most glamorous mics and plugins and whatever, you kind of lose that authenticity. So, this project started by just like us kind of teaming up on a lot of his initial production ideas. We did that one. We're like, this is being very well received, it's a great tune. How can we not see what else is? Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And what were you guys doing with your solo projects before? Was it a similar type of music or was it something that was kind of like a little bit different from that? Yeah, pretty different. I am. Okay. I'm classically trained, so I was, oh, interesting. I was singing opera and all that stuff in school, which is-- Hell yeah. So, I loved, you know, I had that background, so I was writing music that was just stupid trying to play live, like, just didn't like, like, okay, yeah, people are not going to-- So, yeah, man, I mean, that was kind of my thing. It was very, you know, interesting music, kind of like classical pieces condensed into like a four-minute attempt at a rock song. Okay. That's what I was in a proud of it, for sure, but-- Almost like neoclassical, in a sense. Yeah, man, I loved the band, yes, kind of. Okay, yeah, hell yeah. I love Muse too, so real, but so that's a bit of what I was doing, and-- I was doing a lot of just-- I got in very heavily into the indie stuff, so I was like-- I just, like, the atmospheric sounds that these indie songs could make, and I wanted to do that, but I didn't want to have, like, these, like, super washed out lyrics, but you can't understand what anybody's singing, or, you know, like, I hated that, as I did it all, so, like, I wanted to find a balance of doing the two, and mixing, because I love beats, and I love incorporating beats with drum loops, because I think it just adds that much more flair or something, so-- Yeah. I was trying to find that, and admiring what he was doing, because, you know, we're in the same town, so, like, I just remember, like, we would have demos on our phones, and we would, like, go over to this one area over here called Trailhead, where, like, all these kids go out and, you know, drink on, like, whenever-- at this time, you know-- Yeah. Not us, not us. [LAUGHTER] And we would-- You were good kids. [LAUGHTER] We would be in the car, like, okay, listen to this, and listen to this, and just kind of-- Yeah. Like, I showed my indie stuff, you showed me his stuff, he's been working on, it's this-- yeah, kind of very, very opposite sounds, but somehow, I think-- I think what made-- or blended us together was our love for, like, really personal, introspective lyrics, our hard-hitting riffs, or-- because, you know, we both kind of grew up on loving Arctic Monkeys' album, AM. Yeah. That-- I love-- and I still love that album. I think it's incredible, and we always just, like, are so annoyed of what they have become. [LAUGHTER] So, you know, we both agree on very similar things, but what we created at separate times is very different. Sure. I'm curious if that's what Drew U2 production initially, too, was your sort of idea of, like, having these sorts of sounds that you were talking about, but, like, the vocals often kind of not exactly being the style that you liked, where you preferred them to be a little bit more intimate and a little bit more-- what would be a good word? Understandable? Right. I suppose, as opposed to, like, washed out, is that kind of what drew you towards the production was so that you could do that sort of thing for yourself? Yeah. Well, I only started because I left my previous band as a bass player, and so, when I first started, I didn't know how to sing, so I had to, like, learn how to do that. Oh, sure. It's important in my room, and I drove myself insane doing that. Once I got the hang of, like, little things here and there, that's when I felt confident enough to show other people demos and stuff like that. Yeah. And I guess that totally makes sense as to why the band's sound is so eclectic is the fact that you guys come from such vast different backgrounds and are kind of just putting it all together and seeing what makes sense, right? -Yeah. -Yeah. -Yeah. -I'm curious as to what your live show looks like, considering that primarily you're a duo, but you play these very expansive songs that, I mean, you've had saxophone solos, you've obviously got, you know, drums and all that, like a full band and everything. So what is your live show set up typically look like? Do you have a regular backing band that you call on? -We really do, yeah. We have, I mean, two main guys who are really, you know, they should be front and center with us and everything, like their contributions are massive and we're so lucky to play with them. Lyle Mauricio is our lead guitar player and saxophone player. -Okay. -And also play drums and saying he's just that annoying guy who can play whatever you're playing. -He can just do anything. -Yeah, he picks up your instrument and just plays it better and you're like, okay, this is the last rehearsal. And then our drummer Sam Campbell, who's, I mean, I've played with a lot of guys and he's just an absolute unit of a person, but also just as a drummer, like he's so charismatic in every way. So those are our two guys. -Right on. -Yeah, I met Sammy playing in church with a rhythm section. I was bass, he was drums, and then X and Lyle go way back. So we were definitely like, we love a big sound. He and I do all the writing. I mean, we're the executors. We put everything forward. It really is our project that we make the calls on. And I think some of the way we've marked it is just consistency. I mean, it's really, he and I have such a shared vision, but those two guys bring a ton of fire and life into it and they're really irreplaceable. Like, I don't know how we got so lucky to play those two. So when we play live, you know, where it's a big sound for sure. And he and I do play duo acoustic shows and we can play two or three hours and we have a great time. And the songs feel very different when it's stripped down. They have a new life almost for sure. We play with those. When we play with those two, now we can, yeah, stadiums. We got that sound, especially with Sammy behind the kid. It's a big boy. And do those two play on the upcoming record as well? Or did you guys get set? Okay, cool. Yeah. So you did have some session guys, but there are some session guys too. Okay. Yeah, that was one of the things that I was noticing is back in 2023, you put out an EP called Coastal Desert Melancholy, which first off, incredible title to a project. I just want to say that right away. But so was that something that you guys produced independently like on your own? Yeah, we actually, you know, after we would meet up and made a pack together. Like really, and I always reference it. Like we just, it was like two silver bullets, finally meeting. Okay. Clashing. We just just went like that with each other. And so we, we went, our favorite thing to do is have these riding excursions and we go to 29 palms. Because we're kind of like right in the middle of like, it's a desert, after New Joshua tree. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, so that's where, like, maybe three hours away from there and we're like 45 minutes from the beach. So it's kind of what the Coastal Desert is to us. You know, we can, we can go three hours as we're right. Like we feel like in this western, e type of feel town. And with Coastal Desert Melancholy, we had a collection of songs. And the first time we went out there for our riding thing, we've just, we just got to work. We, we brought our laptops, bought our gear, bought our equipment and, and promised to finish these songs, write lyrics and write things that we actually mean, track, make dinner, drink, mezcal, you know, do everything. Yeah. It's just, it was just an amazing time. And so the entire project was recorded during that excursion. I'd say we had ideas and yes and no, because we had more songs. Okay. It's, it's a blend between their ideas already brought and ideas finished there as well. Oh, sure. Yeah. Yeah. So some were written out there. I got there six. So I think they were all pretty much written out there either before. Yeah. And then we did some recording, which are the guy who mixed that just gave us so much shit for it because it sounded so bad. So we had to do a lot of re-track. Yeah. We did. But that was it. It was a start of the fun tradition then. Yeah. Like you said, we went out to the desert, got an Airbnb. We had these ideas. And so much, you know, music, everyone has ideas, you know, any sort of creative endeavor. So it's really important to find a space where you go if you dispute yourself and go, Hey, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. We're working on music. Maybe we go away for an hour and write lyrics and come back, but bring something like you. Just shut out the rest of the world. We're just going to work on this and lock in. Yeah. The way you go. At the end of men and there's, you know, there's, there's, we love our craft and we're very intentional with it. And so we've done it three times now. Yeah. We've done it. But Coastal Desert Melancholy was our first one. And it was really cool to go out there and come back with six songs. Well, and there's so many classic stories of writing excursions from various different bands, you know, where they go out somewhere and, you know, make this whole project. And I think that you're really just pulling on the, you know, such a rich history of tradition in doing that. Being intentional with it. Our producer who did this supposed to use analogues, he was, yeah, but I don't know. I think the whole creative process, it's so fun to like see the finished product, but the stories of how it was made, which you don't always get. Our producer did a boys of summer with Don Henley, the lead singer of the Eagles. Yeah. And dude, he just all his stories about like them being out in some hotel in Mexico, like just on some continuous bender and them tracking that song and then like fudging it up in the record label, being all like pissed because the recordings are garbage. And like just all the stories behind it. And you're like, it's, it sounds so fun. Like, oh my gosh, the creation. You know, so if you get lucky enough to find your people, man, go, go make stuff and time is always worth it. And that's something that I'm always super interested in. And part of the reason why I continue to do this podcast is to, you know, kind of get those stories, that sort of background stuff. So kind of moving forward into that, you guys starting with, I believe this most recent single, which as of recording, came out 10 days ago. You guys are starting to work towards releasing your first full length album, which you worked with Nico Bullis for that. What was it that kind of pushed you in the direction of working with somebody a bit more established this time around instead of, you know, kind of keeping it in house. What was the, was there a specific thing that pulled you in that direction? And kind of how was that experience? Yeah, it was, it was luck. Okay. 10 years of, in my mind, like working towards that. So I'm Greek, Nico's Greek. He actually grew up like as a friend of my mom's family, like, forget the exact correlation. But I always knew of Uncle Nico. And I knew he was in music. And then as I got more serious, like I started sending him stuff. And we would go grab lunch whatever once a year. And I'd send him something I made. And he'd like, this is shit. Be better. Just, just real art, or I remember what time he brought me into his studio. And he's like, here's all the reasons why this song you did is so mediocre compared to what it could be. But it was all fantastic. It's like very, I mean, he's the man. You know, so anyway, yeah, all these years, and he and I just, I don't know, I feel like if you really want to create, and if you love it, it's like water on rock. It's just, whatever, 10 years of dripping. And you're going to bore a hole in that thing. For sure. Yeah. And not that, you know, you're begging people for anything. I love Uncle Nico. We built a relationship. And then finally, we cut a live song of a live version of one of our songs, "Love Birds." It was the second song they ever put out. And our drummer's mom, Linda McCrary, is saying on it. And she's sung with Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. And we just got, again, lucky, the result was awesome. And I sent it to him and he was like, really into it. We were talking. He was like, what else are you working on? And so this single that came out 10 days ago, bonafide, I showed it to him. I showed him how I was, we were self-producing it. We just kind of got it off the ground. And he was like, no, this is a great song. Can we cut some of this podcast? Go ahead, Kyle Meads. You're fucking it up. And he immediately did. It was like a dream come true, man. I mean, I, you know, I read the old Johnny Cash and Elvis biography. He's like, he called the studio. I was like, I'm bringing some kid in. He's got a great voice and a great song. I will be that Thursday, not everyone there. And man, we cut the track. And one day, you know, I'll tell you more in a little bit. But so that's how that came about working with somebody like him. And it went so well, Ryan. He was like, you know what, we're going to do next. We're going to cut off full record. So kind of similar to that parallel of how X and I did just so you know. it was like this is great let's keep going and see what else is there just if you can stay consistent and God willing you're making quality stuff you know I think maybe Niko was like I want to see what else you guys can do and so we did nine more so we have 10 total and a year later it's done in a way it seems like you guys are kind of magnetic to the for these people who have been you know a big part in helping advance your career whether it's you know the the two of you Niko or you know anybody else it seems like you just seem to have that sort of like right place right time thing that's been going for you would you get lucky yeah we're just lazy man like we're really like people know like don't ask us about anything else this is what we do and this is he and I have become really symbiotic and I don't know I think Robbie or Robbie was one of the other producers who helped on a bit Niko especially man I don't know I think those cats can tell when it's like a fellow addict or something yeah it's like oh these guys are just they're in it for better or worse like ginger spirits and I think that's also helped because you just want to make the music we don't have an angle we just want to have this song be as great as it can and bona fide is one of those where it was like I'm horrified at how it almost turned out versus where it ended up yeah so that's that's just pure thankfulness take something good at well and that's such an interesting song because like you know you guys have done a little bit of like funky stuff with your your single before that with posh apex you guys have done some stuff you know in a few other different directions as well and it seems like this is kind of almost like a country western ballad or like a waltz almost which I think is a really cool really cool direction to take yeah oh yeah I think honestly for both of us too since we were like even when this product started we've been going to the desert we just love the desert and I think and I think that the album just kind of encapsulates because there's a lot of different sounding songs on the album and it's just because it is a good representation of both of us of how eclectic we can be but it also has a good overall style of like you know this desert thing that we tapped into and we continue to tap into and riding more like that too as well because when you know we've been going like here and here and here but then still narrowing our sound down to things that we like slash things that we don't really stand by anymore yeah so you know it's it's very exciting really is and so like moving forward like what's the plan for the release are you planning on like water falling several tracks and like doing it that way or you kind of think in like you know two or three singles and then the album is going to come out like like do you have a plan for that that you want to like announce to to the people yeah we do have a plan for the first time our careers we have something of a plan yeah word album will be out this year for sure we haven't set the date just yet but I think we know what it is and I'm sure there will be three to four singles in that time we've already got a music video done for one we have a bona fide music video coming out Friday so we're really excited for that and we yeah we're excited we're kind of creating a thread and we've filmed we have a great friend named time at calf he's a company called tangelo vision okay incredible cinematographer and I think we both really value the cinematic as well I mean if we could oh cool yeah again being strong number two's we don't even need to be in our music videos of you know we're just about the song so with tie we're filming an episodic series where we're kind of the album is very bona fide's light and kind of dreamy but the album is pretty dark at times and it felt very twilight zone s like it's sort of interesting and our genre is so we don't even know what to call it because we saw by song we would never go like oh great let's do nine more country valid like yeah i think i think the next song on it is like just a heavy rock song so it's it's just song based on so this album we're rolling it out episodically like you would want to watch a tv show everything is every episode is very different um almost like a limited series in that way that's how the song I like that yeah yeah and so is the is the plan for the music videos to have kind of like an interconnected like theme running through all of them or like an interconnected storyline so far now the gears are turning now it's not a concept album there isn't quite that through thread but each each video um i mean the two that we've done we went out to Las Vegas and you can say more about this and we have a song on the album called of the essence okay and we just shot in two days and then the vatted desert music video for that and it's um again the pairing of music with the strong visual to really like look at our lyrics look at our music as if it was written for a video i'm trying to find the most powerful element in there so that song is time is of the essence it's about time it's about you know saying what you mean while you still can and um so all that to say there's not a through if there's a through thread it's that each song and each video is really about coming clean yeah it's it's it's all very intentional like you know we're not going to put anything out that we don't stand behind in obviously yeah just to put something out and we like we really beat ourselves up about that because we really want something to be so good you know yeah it's released so it was making me think of i don't know if you guys are into like like like you know metal metal core type of stuff at all or anything like that but there's a band called ice nine kills who for a project that they put out a while back they did a number of music videos that were all this like interconnected storyline along with the with the music videos and so when you first started talking about like kind of the connection between it like that was the thing that was coming up in my head and I was like oh this is like a cinematic universe almost this will be cool you know I think maybe the next album the next album we've actually already got planned yeah and that one yeah that one will be again this this album in a way it was like we didn't expect this to happen with Niko we're like working on a separate album and then we're like oh snap and so we really geared our songs towards his recording style oh sure it was kind of like what songs could we just not produce on our own but what songs do we really have to take advantage of this this opportunity and this this the quality of production so but the episodic i'm with you man I love that I love the concept because it makes everything more powerful that one thing needs to be next yeah I love the high concept stuff just because it's so interesting and takes so much effort but that is the thing as well it takes a lot of effort to do well and so you have to really be thinking about it from the get go I'm curious with you talking about going back to doing some of your own production for whatever next project ends up happening what are some of the things that you've that you learned from the process of working in this more I guess potentially formal studio setting or whatever you would want to say that you are trying to like incorporate into your workflow moving forward with your other production I think I think with what Niko taught me is that you know you better come with something that you believe in and you also got to come prepared so you got to work on yes you got to really really work on it and and establish it within yourself and be confident about it as well otherwise you know otherwise Niko wants nothing to do with it which yeah I totally agree I would uh you know unless it's him and I work well together and and I can show my deals but we have to have a completed idea before yes you know we present something so you know that that's something I I definitely learned and you know and I love the way that process goes as well because like I just remember we're recording one day in the studio and I I had a little base little riff thing I was doing and I was kind of messing around and Niko just stops me he's like you you you get one of those get one of those and that's it and I'm like okay keep it simple stupid yeah so I think it's just coming prepared and and you know just having confident in what you're saying we're singing I do think that that's one of the biggest pitfalls that a lot of people who get started in like you know home recording and stuff like that often experience when they get their first shot at a you know a more formal like studio sort of session is not knowing how prepared you need to be because you know you're so used to like oh we'll figure out the arrangement we'll figure out this that or the other like while we're recording because we've got when you're in a bedroom or you know whatever else you've got a basically unlimited time to just like mess with stuff and figured out and you really have to be a lot more organized going into the studio like that. Yeah yeah you really do and I mean it's also it's an expensive process man. That's true as well. You know it's but what was cool about Nico style was everything on the album really is like it's not that we only did one take but it's one take. Oh sure it was like take four that was the one I thought the most moved by it and it was never like oh you guys played it perfectly or you sung it right it was just that shit moved me. The best performance yes now let's layer like whatever other instruments that weren't being played at the time yeah and what Xavier said is exactly right it's I get anxious now with how many options there are like okay AI yeah you know more and more you can kind of keep the training wheels on forever and like how how much of a powerhouse like baseline or vocal taker you're gonna give sitting in a chair in your room like when you're trying to like be quiet maybe because there's a neighbor around or you're just you have no incentive so yeah to be you know not that it has to be done that way but I totally agree with acts even if you are alone in your home studio you've got to coax yourself into what am I singing about and be in that space and not be like I'm just gonna make it all better later you know and figure it out down the road it's just show up and kick ass or and with these guys we're working with like Nico's old school and they reported on tape very unforgiving you can't go back and fix things it was cool to be with a kind of a dying breed of people who were like if you're not that impressive you're not worth my time and money like and that's that's good that brings a better performance out of the band and the players and it is like can we create a moment so when you hear our album that's coming out and modified you're hearing a lived moment in a studio not like oh take 37 with take two and take nine it's it's one thing that happened and pressure makes diamonds at the end of the day right it does and I I do feel like I'm a maybe a pureist but I do feel like music is moving away from that where you can just take anybody and make them sound and so I do think this album is a bit of a rebellion it's pushing back into like this is real people living in a real moment one real take no no making anybody sound better than they were at that time and that's and that's something that I appreciate and I feel like we're kind of seeing the pendulum swing back a little bit you know with you know the rise of AI in the last several years and things like that I feel like people are looking for the cracks in the seams people want to hear that real human element of you know like oh maybe there was this weird thing that happened but everybody like reacted to it in a certain way live on the floor you know just like small little thing even like just the you know when you're sliding on an acoustic guitar and the weird like little slide sound and stuff like that it's like that people are gravitating towards because AI is making all of this stuff that feels fake and you're not getting that human element I mean there there's so many classic examples too like you think about like what is it at the beginning of Roxanne I think it is when Bono sat on the piano and then you like chuckles and they just left it in the take you know little things like that the other one name guy yeah yeah he felt and then he laughed and then he just left it in there exactly yeah just like small little things like that and it really like you know kind of brings out the human element of it which I do enjoy that all of that is kind of coming back and I feel like you're seeing more bands do the live off the floor recording thing for that reason as well which I think is super cool yeah not to get too existential but it's it sounds like you said just nailed it it sounds more human so yeah it just it just happens to be music pick a medium but mistakes mistakes like our doorways you know into things that you weren't that you would never have known were there and when we completely get rid of mistakes it doesn't act no human is like that we all walk around caring like I can't believe I said that dumb thing I can't believe I I forgot this like we're just constantly caring that so when if we become a culture that's watching and listening to things that are sleek and flawless and inhuman I don't I don't know why I don't know what that's going to do for us really yeah here's something where somebody's voice cracks there was it one of our songs on the album called Achilles my voice cracked royally at this I know and I have to fight you know he's like duck staying on and I'm a you know a diva singer and I was like no it's not there's no way to hell but he was like put it was real and happy I totally know that conversation though because I've had it a million times with different people that I've helped produce as well so yeah I get it but the mistakes are good man that what's gonna save us and I do I agree with the pendulum swinging and people want to hear like that sounds like me that sounds like there's mistakes that sounds real and also impressive like people who can tell they worked for that result and yeah I do think that that's another part of it too is it's kind of like you know things aren't impressive if you know that they can be faked or that they were faked and so I think that that's another part of it too is people are like well I see this thing but am I allowed to be impressed or is it fake and I feel like yeah it's just another thing of like a lot of people or you know just kind of going back in that direction and I think that that's a cool thing kind of wrapping up this part of the episode is there anything that you guys want to shout out that you've got coming up any sort of announcements or anything these can be for right now we're live on April 20th but the episode will come out in a few weeks so you can say stuff that's coming out coming up now stuff that's going to be coming up a little bit later you know you have the floor whatever kind of announcements or anything you want to do we have that bonafide video on Friday it might be a little bit before this episode is out so but anybody who's watching live will know oh that's right bonafide out the video the song is out right now it's it's doing pretty well for us on spot if I got got kind of picked up and we're just been monitoring it is a spot if I has like live feed and it just shows you how many people are listening so I just woke up one day and we're just like what the hell's going on we thought it was a pot that took one of our songs but it's been all organic all radio stuff so I'm curious what kind of playlists it's getting added to right now it's on the radio so like it's it's presenting itself on like discovery weekly or on the least they are and it's putting it in front of rotations of a lot of these other songs and it's just really cool to see right now just I bet yeah picking numbers we are weird then in that way where we have and do have like songs that are on rock stations and then the country station and then we it's kind of scattered bit I think it's funny if people find the song that they like and then they check out the other songs and they're like yeah I'm expecting more of the same which I I think we'll live and die by that hill it's just press like I think genre being boxed in is just a coffin it's like it gives a shit man it's been done before if it's like yeah you're a this band but we just go by the song like melodies paramount but to yeah to answer your question you know bonafide is that go listen to it man that song has been such a blessing I'm so it gave us our album and it means everything to us so people at least just give it 10 seconds see if you like it see if you like the vibe and the rest of the album is it's so cool I mean I'm biased but I you know we listen to it still and it's like man this is a journey and it's it's the water just gets deeper as the album goes the songs get bigger and more cinematic but there is a through thread which is that it's us all playing yeah and there's no tricks and it's the same instrumentation but it's a journey and the bonafide music video will be out this Friday it's a bitch in like we shot it like an old TV show like Johnny Carson sort of like I'm coming up next we have a fantastic team led by Justin Alpern out in Culver City and it's a really cool music video and so that'll be out what's this Friday April 24th I think yeah that sounds right and then in a few weeks when you hear this we also performed that jam in the van which is a pretty big platform I love that show I've seen a few different bands play that that's always super fun that's coming out the end of the this month actually oh hell yeah so April 30th we performed three songs including Achilles which is will probably be song 2 off the album which nobody has heard anything of so that'll be your first taste of song 2 - Yeah. - And do you have any live shows coming up locally that people can catch you at? And the next, we'll say month or so? - Next month, we've got a deer lodge. For no, I'm just sorry. Next month, we've got aviator nations and deer lodge. Deer lodge is on the second and aviator nation is on May 15th. Yeah. - So if you're in Southern California, oh hi. It used to be a Hell's Angels Clubhouse. And it's just this real eclectic biker bar. That's a great venue. Bans stop in who are doing their California tour all the time. Yeah, it's a funny little spot. John Bernthal, I don't know if you know who that is. He's played Shane in the walking dead. - Oh, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. I know who that is. - He's in Ohio, local, and I think he does his podcast there. - Oh, really? - It's way out in the boonies, but it's such a vibe. So we'll be playing there in May 2nd. And then, yeah, May 15th, aviator nation, which is right across the street from the pier and Malibu. So if you're happy to be in that area or in Los Angeles, hits our favorite venue. Honestly, from the stage, you can see the ocean, the sound is-- - Oh, that's awesome. - Yeah, there's just such a vibe in there. So we're playing with some other great acts, but it's our first headline there. And we've never had a bad time. So May 15th, May 2nd, come see us. - Hell yeah, congratulations on your first headline or at that venue, too, by the way. - So moving on to the second part of the episode, this is where we're gonna share some new music, some fresh finds, if you will. I'm gonna go first and then we'll go around. I believe that you guys have chosen the final song together, right? - Yeah, before we do. - Yeah, go ahead. - Question for you, season six of your shows. What are you looking forward to this season? I'm genuinely curious to see how many you have. And it sounds like it's probably started in COVID. Like, what are you looking forward to? Any changes, anything you're excited for, anything you're mixing up? - The biggest thing that I'm really stoked about is the live stream, because I just switched to this other software that makes it so much easier on everybody that I have come on, because it was so janky before I was having people record their own audio and their own video locally on their computer, and then email it to me over Google Drive. It was always like 20 gigabytes or something like that. So it took forever to download, and all of that. It was such a pain. So this is so much easier to do it this way, and it gave me the opportunity to try live streaming as well, which I've been finding really interesting. And I think that that's the biggest thing that I'm the most excited for is getting a little bit deeper into that, I'm hoping that I can maybe start getting some custom pop-ups and stuff like that for when people subscribe and all that stuff, but I haven't looked too deep into that yet. - Hmm, oh yeah. Cool, man. - All right. - Keep it going, dude. - Thank you, I appreciate it. - Yeah, thank you. - We'll see you adapting too. I mean, I don't know anything about podcasting, but this is a really nice interface. - Yeah, you know, if you'd like. - Well, and that was the thing. It started out audio only, then I switched to video, then, you know, it's just kind of snowballed, and I think that my main strength is just trying to ride the wave of momentum that I happened to find myself on, you know? - Hell yeah. - It should be sick. - Hell yeah. So the first song that I'm gonna play is one that, I don't do this as much anymore, but it's a song that I found on TikTok when I was just scrolling through about a week and a half ago, and occasionally you'll just hear a song that just really grabs you. And this one was by a band called Mel Bryant and the Mercy Makers. They are from Nashville, Tennessee, and this is from their album that came out last July called Every God for Sick and Morning. This is, I don't wanna live like this. (upbeat music) ♪ I saw my therapist yesterday morning ♪ ♪ I told him I'll be fine until we meet for next week ♪ ♪ And I'm glad he didn't ask me to define what fine means ♪ ♪ To me 'cause right now it's looking pretty bleak ♪ ♪ When I can't brush my teeth without turning on the TV ♪ ♪ And I haven't really slept in a week ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this anymore ♪ ♪ So don't tell me that I'm doing better ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like I'm keeping score ♪ ♪ I'm sick and for bad you will leave us ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this ♪ ♪ Before I open my eyes I open my iPhone ♪ ♪ Checking all the red dots until they're gone ♪ ♪ And I'm refreshed and I'm refreshed until I'm so ♪ ♪ God damn depressed 'cause I don't know how to accept that and move on ♪ ♪ And I've been told that I should work harder ♪ ♪ And I'm told I need to give myself a fucking break ♪ ♪ And I don't know who to believe ♪ ♪ Because I sure as fuck can't trust me ♪ ♪ You would not believe of this I'm fucking me ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this anymore ♪ ♪ So don't tell me that I'm doing better ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like I'm keeping score ♪ ♪ I'm sick and for bad you will leave us ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this ♪ ♪ So the passing thought of death leads me into such a panic ♪ ♪ So ecstatic and chronic I could cry ♪ ♪ My therapist says that it's good I wanna live so bad ♪ ♪ It's so oxymoronic I could die ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this anymore ♪ ♪ So don't tell me that I'm doing better ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like I'm keeping score ♪ ♪ I'm sick and for bad you will leave us ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like this ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live like I don't wanna live ♪ - Cool, Alia. - Yeah. - That's sick. - I really love that sort of like, you know, Roots Rock, you know, pouring on country kind of sound. And I know that you guys have kind of done a little bit of like that type of stuff too. So I thought that it was a good fit to kind of start us off, you know? - Alia. - It was that before I opened my eyes, I opened my iPhone line. I was like, that's what got me the first time. I was like, all right, I get that, you know? Everybody's so phone addicted these days. Including myself, you know? - Thank you all, dude. For my eyes, you feel like you're fumbling, dude. You're just like, oh, my precious, Twitter, what, (laughs) - That gets on, strong performance, dude. Like, to rip it in the old time. - Oh yeah, and she's got an incredible range across this entire project too. Another thing that I kind of found a little bit of a parallel, they stay a bit more in like the rock direction, but they also kind of play with a few different sounds, like the song before this on the project, it's called Mad About. And it's like bordering on pop punk almost. Like, there's a total like break sort of section thing. It's basically a rip off of a Green Day song and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's great. So they're super cool. I don't know too much more about them 'cause I couldn't find much online, but this is, I think they're third album that they've put out, so they've got quite a bit of stuff that they've done. - Oh yeah, touring band? - I think so, but I'm not entirely sure. They definitely play around the Nashville area. I know that for sure, yeah. What do we have up next? - It goes to me, right? - The next one that we had was blur. I just, just give me a quick little introduction. - Yeah, actually, I've never met this dude in person, but I know it's my friend, friend. His name is Kobe J, years ago when I was a student. my solo project. I saw an ad of this kid. He was like in high school and he was making an EP, and it was like a sponsored ad. I was like, "All right, let's see this." Like an Instagram thing? Yeah, yeah. And I clicked on it and I was like, "Oh shit, actually, just like the weird eclectic shit that he was doing." And I followed him. We started having a conversation. I reached out to him and I'm like, "Hey man, I like your stuff." You know, it's like, "I'm doing solo stuff, too." I didn't know how young he was. And it was weird because we get a lot of troll comments on Instagram. And I think he was getting some, but I was like, "What the fuck? He's doing this is cool." This is like, "Yeah, it's fun." We don't know. Everyone loves us. We'll put up a short-- I'm fact checking real quick. We know where people are jerks YouTube. YouTube. That's true. Yeah. Everyone on YouTube is such a dick. It's so funny. Well, it was the same thing on TikTok. They're like, "We love it." YouTube would be like, "Well, a virtual bed. See me, Rich." What's the most creative, like, solo stuff? Anyway, so I've known Kobe for a long time, not for years. And he's a pretty eclectic artist. He's more recently diving into-- it seems like a much more gritty or sound. I just listened to this song that he just put out, part of, like, I think a three-song UP. But this one in particular stood out to me. It's called "Lear." It's kind of heavier than anything I've heard him do. So I was really actually impressed. Yeah, it's a good song. I'm always a fan of some heavier stuff, so you got me stoked. , so. Can you see my time? So I'm thinking too quickly. I don't have full hands. I don't just care too much for you. I won't leave these place. I'll follow where there's some new horizons. Here's all your ways. There's no stopping till you die. Time is my way to life. Save me for you. I don't give a fuck if this is the end. I'll pull the lines of people like to get. I don't give a fuck if this is the end, I don't give a fuck if this is the end. So I'll follow this thing. Finding ways to change my name. Oh, my stack is so great. I just think this should be good. Save me for you. Dude, that is so riff-y and hooking at the same time. I love that. He reminds me of us. Honestly, he's just once he started doing music, he's just never stopped. And I know he really, really believes in it. Because he's constantly experimenting. Just trying different things. I really respect that kid. Yeah, he's cool. He's cool shit. Yeah, I love the sound of it, too. I was kind of surprised to see that that was the last song on that project. I heard the little. There was some sort of little silence with some sounds and I thought that it was going to like cross-fade into the next track or something like that. But like, I, yeah, I like that a lot. If you're looking for anything with a similar sound, ironically we just talked about these guys on the last episode that I recorded that hasn't officially been put out, but we strained it, which is a band called Potion Cellar from Grand Rapids, Michigan. They have a very similar sound to that and my ears kind of perked up when I heard it because I was like, oh yeah, I really like this sound when they do it. So this is similar sound and I still really like it. That was also the first live ad to likes that we've had on any of the Twitch streams. I dig that one a lot. It's so cool. How long did you say he's been releasing music for? I found him in 2019, 2020 and at that time he released an EP. So he was living in Vegas at the time and I think he's going to school up here now or in college. So we would talk about like, hey, how do we get like more streams? How do we do this? We would just like, I don't know, he was just trying. He was just trying everything. I was trying anything as well and we would just have conversations and like, yeah, I just really ran him. I found him, he threw an ad, I found you, it's just like just organic kind of. It's a beautiful thing. Well, and that's something that I've talked about so much before too is like, you know, if you're trying to get into doing music or, you know, even podcasting or anything like that, anything where you're like wanting to work with other people, like just reach out because though everybody's just some guy at the end of the day, the first thing that they can do is say, no, you know, and I think that that's, you know, one of the best ways to make connections is just like, hey, I fuck with what you're doing. You want to just like chat some time or, you know, whatever. So you want to cue up the next one for us? Yeah. Do we have look for me? Is that our next one? Yep, cool. Shout out my baby sister. She's a Gracie Gray. She is way more accomplished than any and all of us. She is a certified badass. Yeah, man, she, a classical singer, like she went to Long Beach Conservatory, was their top dog soprano, but she's just an unreal songwriter. I mean, you'll hear the music, you'll make the connection. She definitely has a style. She's self-produces. She really wants it to just sound as much like her as she can. She's about to go on tour on the whole East Coast with an artist named Emily Yassina. I think she's a doctor today. She just thought to take off. That's awesome. She's played the Greek theater in LA, like she's played with, she's great. She's really great. And as a vocalist, I just, she does a cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that we were at a venue in LA when she was playing hundreds of people. You couldn't, like, you couldn't, you could have heard a pin drop. It was just, just her solo, like, she does stuff locally, these vocal runs that are, you know, really impressive. So this is her most recent release. That's called "Look For Me" and that gives you good idea of who she is and what she's about. Don't hurt me as there's enough on a complex god-of-fit fairway. We're on tonight, gonna fulfill me All we're on tonight, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Dream, dream, dream, no hope in, is that way to figure out what it is? All of your emptiness, gonna fulfill me All of your emptiness, gonna fulfill me Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream Dream, dream There's a Q-F-D-O-D-N-F-O-T In the age of four things absolute There's a key in the box that is locked When you pour my name, my fate sure Offer the drop to the ground Tell the teacher in a state sure This is the foundry sound It's not like a slap bass in that chorus That was something that I was just thinking about As I saw you guys start to air along Oh shit, both of these guys are primarily bass players I didn't even think about that when I chose this I like that song If the song doesn't surprise you That's definitely how I was like Oh got a rock almost The second verse when the ooze came in I was like oh shit Every section is something new I can chew it I think that's really how you keep people interested You've got to have some sort of thing that changes a little bit Along the way The biggest thing that I think about when I hear this song is I would love to see it performed live And I would love to see how they do that Because it's got such an energy to it That it just makes you want to dance So I could imagine how crazy it would go live If there were some people who were willing to move their feet a little bit I don't know too much more about those guys That was most of the info that they gave me That was what I thought at first when I read it It was "Wussy Bam Busy" and I was like I don't think that I listened to it Bam Boosie sound and then I'm like I feel like it has to rhyme Or else maybe So I'm sticking with "Woozy Bam Boosie" For now until proven otherwise Yeah Until "Portagerne" Exactly If they leave a comment Then I will post in the "Dendum" "Bam Busy, god damn it" Yeah Like "Bus but plural" Yeah I would kill for that kind of engagement So what do we got up next here? Up next we've got friends of ours Spector Jones We've just played a show with him Not that long ago Over at what was the place called again? Gangus Cohen in LA And when we were doing rehearsals Or like not rehearsing Soundcheck Wilson, I think the bass player He was leading this song Called "All My Love" And a big thing that Jeremy and I Are into melody Like melody melody is just like so strong And you know that's always the first thing That you remember other than the words Maybe you remember a word or two To kick off a melody that you remember And definitely you know You always feel a melody When they're doing Soundcheck They were performing the song And that just immediately sat with me And after the soundcheck I was like "Hey who's saying that song?" Like "What's that song?" I just had to know So I finally heard a recording It's been a good song Like I really really love hearing it It's groovy It's always great when you hear a song live The first time And then the recording lives up to your expectations Exactly, yeah, yeah Because I know there's definitely been a time or two That I've seen a band and been like "Oh this is so good" and then you listen to it You're like "It's missing just a little something" I don't know what it is They played it just how I thought The recording would be And it goes hand in hand So it's a good song Alright So once again that is "All My Love" "All My Love" (Music) And then in the dark I can tell you heaven Gone too far (Music) It's a work of art Counting all the ways You stole my heart (Music) Like a delian star Shining bright enough To fall apart (Music) "All My Love" "All My Love" (Music) "All My Love" "All My Love" "All My Love" "All My Love" (Music) (Music) I can feel it now With them sitting near Go up my house (Music) You don't wanna found Finally let my feet continue to count (Music) "All My Love" "All My Love" "All My Love" "All My Love" "All My Love" "All My Love" "All My Love" (Music) "All My Love" (Music) "All My Love" "All My Love" (Music) "All My Love" "All My Love" (Music) "All My Love" (Music) I like that It sounded like a slap bass in that chorus Yeah That was something that I was just thinking about as I saw you guys start to like err along too Yeah, and I was like Oh shit, both of these guys are primarily bass players I didn't even think about that when I chose them (Laughter) I like that song and I feel like if a song doesn't surprise you you know, if you had a chorus definitely I was like oh, got a rock almost And yeah, the second verse when the news came in Yeah, that was like a whole shit and every section there's something new and that I can chew it Exactly, and I think that that's really like how you keep people interested some sort of thing that changes a little bit along the way and the biggest thing that I hear when or that I think about when I hear this song is I would love to see it performed live and I would love to see how they do that because it's like it's got such an energy to it that it just makes you want to dance so like I could imagine how crazy it would go live if there were some people who were willing to move their feet a little bit too much more about those guys that was most of the info that they gave me That was what I thought at first when I read it, I thought it was "Wussy Bam Busy" and I was like "I don't think that that I listened to it" "Bam Busy Sound" and then I'm like "I feel like it has to rhyme" or else maybe so I'm sticking with "Woozy Bam Busy" for now until proven otherwise "Bare" until "Port of Gern" Exactly if they leave a comment then I will post in the "Dendom" "Bam Busy Goddamnit" "Bam Busy Goddamnit" Like "Bus But Plural" I would kill for that kind of engagement So what do we got up next here? Up next we've got friends of ours Spector Jones What did you play the show and not that long ago over at what was the place called again? "Gangus Cohen" in L.A and when we were doing rehearsals or like not rehearsing on a soundcheck Wilson, I think the bass player he was leading this song called "All My Love" and a big thing that Jeremy and I are into melody And you know, that's always the first thing that you remember other than the words. Maybe you remember a word or two to kick off a melody that you remember indefinitely. You know, you always, you always feel a melody. And so when they're doing, when they're doing sound check, they were performing the song and that just immediately started with me. And after the sound check, it's like, "Hey, who's saying that song?" Like, "What's that song?" You know, I just had to know. So, I finally heard it recording. It's been a good song. I really, really love hearing it. It's groovy. It's always great when you hear a song live the first time and then the recording lives up to your expectations. Exactly, yeah, yeah. Because I know there's definitely been a time or two that I've seen a band and been like, "Oh, this is so good." And then you listen to it and you're like, "It's missing just a little something. I don't know what it is." No, they played it just how I thought the recording would be and it was hand-in-hand, so it's a good song. Alright, so once again, that is all my love by Spectre Jones. , and I'm so happy to hear that. I'm so happy to hear that. Everything you made in it, I had it. It was hand-in-hand for you. (Music) (Music) Everything you made in it, I had it. (Music) Everything you made in it, I had it. (Music) That is super cool. I feel like I'm back in Mexico. I always find that type of music so interesting to think about from like a production standpoint, because like coming from somebody who like plays an instrument and like does that sort of thing, like the just the approach to everything is so different and I always am fascinated by it. Yeah, me too. Yeah, I don't understand it fully, but I know it's a real, it's a real crucible, because you're there to make people move and dance. Like it's, you know, with me playing an instrument, you could be, let's take people down, let's make them set. And that music you do too, like you have your. Oh yeah, it's just so compressed, where it's like we're going to really bring you down and then bring you back up again and then like I imagine for him you're watching people's reactions and I mean really in real time. It's because I don't know, people are either dancing or they're not. They're starting to move and getting engaged or not and so I'm with you. Like it's not a medium I'm familiar with, but I imagine it's like it almost reminds me of a comedy in the way where like you either know if you're killing it or you're not. Yeah. And so when I'm think like this being his most recent release, I'm like I want to talk to him like how does it, how does it do? Because you immediately will go take it out and like see how people respond and I'm sure it's different on different nights. And I always wonder with that type of stuff too, how much you're able to do like on the fly because I've talked to a lot of you know DJs and producers and stuff like that who have told me like oh yeah, you know most of the set I make you know beforehand and then I'm just doing like you know little adjustments here and there. And so I wonder you know when you do big long sets like that if there is something where it's like man they're really just not moving to this the way that I want. If you have any sort of like escape button to like the next part or anything like that or if it's just like we're just going to let it roll and hope that the next part hits you know when it needs to. Well I'm always curious about that. But great question. I mean it's that medium those killing it man. I mean these guys are high and high to man. He's crushing it like really connected and just moving up his you know his ladder and his genre and it's cool to see but I'm I hear you it's it is like okay cool this is working maybe we stay here it's like just on for I don't know or if it's like you know maybe this isn't like how can I and I think that's where they really do their magic is like I'm gonna get us into something new and you're gonna like it's like a magic trick you're gonna yeah here we are in a new space and I've seen him do that live and it's it is thanks a lot of finesse and skill so. When I've only really gotten into that type of stuff like I listen to you know a little bit of EDM when I was in like high school and college and stuff like that but I've only really gotten into sort of like the um I get the culture of it a little bit more and like actually going to like shows or raves or whatever you want to call it because I have a friend who DJs so I've started going to summer her stuff and it's been really interesting sort of the difference in culture between that and like you know I'm typically more of like a punk type guy so like the difference in culture between like a punk show and like a rave is very interesting to behold from the outside it's I always thought it was funny because like a punk show it's like oh yeah the last band's gonna go on it like 11 or something like that and it's like oh it's maybe the second act is gonna go on it 11 o'clock at like a rave and like the headliner's not gonna go on until like 3am or something like that you're like man you got to be in it. Exactly. A few uppers ought to do the trick right? I do appreciate that you decided to kind of switch up the vibe a little bit because I have a little bit of a vibe switch for my last song too uh which is a band from Chicago called football head and uh I only just found out about them because they were opening for another band that I saw on a tour that I went to and these guys are really interesting because they are kind of a eight Arnold reference. I think so I'm not 100% sure but I think so. Sounds like it is. they're kind of like an emo punk type band but on this new album that this song was a single from they started leaning really heavy into early 2000s like radio rock but rock type of stuff and and it's really cool because it brings back a vibe that I haven't heard a modern band do well in a really really long time. It kind of reminds me of like Lincoln Park a little bit and like some other you know hard rock bands of that era and this is my favorite song off of the entire project this song is called "Diversion" how do you wake up at last noon was it a big room that's dressed the sun from your eyes or sin because I want to see my face in real I want to pull up that and now I fly lesson number 10 to give me some room tell me are you scared to be your own diversion and let's place at your pace perceive it all first person are you scared to be your own diversion place at your pace perceive it all first person are you scared to be your own diversion I'm under the weather, never the matter, feeling the rough feeling, all I'm I wish I could make you our best I want to fill your world with color maybe tell it to your moon are you scared to be your own diversion and let's place at your pace perceive it all first person are you scared to be your own diversion display at your pace perceive it all first person are you scared to be your own now morning clips where did you listen to me? How do I go half past there to easy? I feel you though easy but man like as soon as I hear that song it's like you know you're back in 2003 yeah yeah so some of these songs have put on my playlist actually tell yeah so yeah I'm loving it yeah yeah for me it's like I'm playing SSX tricky or something like one of those early games like and like these guys are just so cool it was it was kind of funny because when I first had heard about them I there was a little bit of buzz going on with like the first couple of singles that they released which this was one of them and when I heard the name based on like the community of people that were talking about it I was kind of thinking it was gonna be like some Midwest emo like kind of soft emo type of stuff and like I could kind of take or leave that not really my biggest thing I do enjoy some of it but you know that was what I assumed it was based on the people who were talking about it and then I saw them live because they were opening up for another emo band called Ben Quad who are from Oklahoma and they played and I was just immediately like okay I have to listen to everything this band has ever put out like immediately after they said it was so good I always love when you have those experiences of like you know you see a band for the first time and you're like okay I know that I'm gonna be hooked on this for the next month yeah kind of similar to what you were talking about with the the last one that you played too of like you heard it in the sound check and then it was like oh yeah I have to check this out of course I know all right so what do we have up next up next we should have come hurt it's actually this artist is a friend of ours the project name is days and writing but we know him by high okay he's Armenian he's coolest okay probably the most insane insane guitar player and and vocalist as well like he's just he doesn't need a band okay it would be cool to see him with like full production like a full band and everything but everything he does in his songs he does solo does he play live yeah he does yeah did does he do like a live looping thing or just completely like yeah yeah he does a live okay hell yeah everything that he does live like you know sounds like what you're about to hear so he doesn't he really doesn't need anybody but like you know I'm curious to see how a band would be with him but like yeah I also in the same breath have to think that they have to be just as good as him to perform with him because you cannot like once you see him play live you'd be like okay I get it like there's this guy this guy is just like a comet you know like right in front of your face and he's so good his good friend I you know I've met him years and years ago when I was working at the gym and I would see him high come into the gym any I'm in on his shoulder he has a blue rose guitar tattoo okay and I and you know like you see like dudes with guitars and whatever and like I kind of that in it or I kind of like you know I was like what's up what's your deal you know like I was sitting around the desk and he the cat play guitar I mean mug him a little bit yeah a little bit like yeah I play guitar I do this and I'm like oh yeah you play guitar let's jam some time so he like invite him you over to his place I got I brought my bass I got sweat that that day we I was just like sitting there embarrassed to even play like I couldn't even touch my instrument and and you're sitting there in awe almost yeah yeah I would hear him speak about like music much how I would hear Jeremiah speak me about music now it's just like I just so committed to his craft and more recently he's been focusing on like really diving deep within himself creating a sound that he's always wanted and this is one of my favorite songs of what he just released recently he's a he's intense in the best ways he's been through a lot I love this dude this is come hurt by days and writing I chose to love your hatred time broke the walls so sacred you ♪ Reminds of love ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Every thing I hear ♪ ♪ Every thing I hear ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ You're the one ♪ ♪ You're the vehicle ♪ ♪ You feel trained to shine ♪ ♪ You're standing down on the internet ♪ ♪ You feel there all I need to know ♪ ♪ For you to give me a hand on your hand ♪ (upbeat rock music) (upbeat rock music) (upbeat rock music) - That is so sick. - Yeah, dude, he's a really just developed the sound from, you know, I've heard his earlier stuff or I've been there when he's done his earlier stuff, but he just, I love that he always wants to get deeper and deeper of who he is and just the sounds. And in this particular song, he didn't really put a solo, like what I'm used to, but this man's solo is like just nobody's business. You're walking, it's like nothing for him. Did you say that he was Armenian? - Mm-hmm. - I feel like I can kind of hear that in the vocal phrasing a little bit, like there's something about his melodic choices that I can kind of hear that influence and it's super cool. - Yeah, he's super, super dope. - I also just love how dark this track is. It's just like so brooding. Like I feel like it is cinematic. It is the only like word that I can really think of. Like it feels like it belongs in a movie where somebody's just been beaten down to nothing. And this is like their redemption or something. That's like exactly what's in my head this entire time. - Totally, totally. - It's so cool. I'm curious about 'cause you said that he does sort of like a live looping thing. Like are there any videos of his performances on like YouTube or anything like that that I can check out? - If you could look up his Instagram, I think he has it more on his Instagram. Just look at days in writing. Just like that, you see that artist name or you can look up Hig Missy. - I feel like I have heard that name. Did he ever release music under that? - He used to, yeah, he used to be under H-Y-G, which Hig H-Y-G underscored music, but his main project is called Days In Writing. - Okay. - Oh, he's bad ass. He's the super, super bad ass. - The best live guitar player you'll. - Yeah, seriously. - And the only basic acoustic in the sound of the track. - Oh, really? - Yeah, that's sick. - He'll bring his electric, which he rips, but like his main power is just in the acoustic guitar. When he plays sometimes, it sounds like, he's playing a sixth string, but he makes it sound like he's playing a 12 string. It's so weird. - Oh, that's so cool. You're just saying ever, like nobody, I know it can do that, but it sounds like he's playing a 12 string, the way he plays it. It's just the picking sound, the way his choice is. It's just like, how do you make a six string sound? Like the 12 string? Well, he can do it. (laughing) - Really, really interesting. - Does he play in any bands, like aside from his solo project? - No, he's, right now he's creating actually with our friend Ty, who films with us. He's been creating new things for his new music, so I think he wants a backing band, but like I said, he needs a band that is as good as him to like keep up with his- - For sure. - But from what we've seen, he's just done solo and he's done looping, and he's just phenomenally killed it. - He doesn't need a band, yeah, he's one of those guys who, like, I feel like a band almost take away. - Yeah, a little bit. - Yeah. - You know, our strength is our, we're not great on any instrument. We're good, but like, he's great on his guitar, and so his music's like really good too, but just him playing, and how into it, he gets like- - Yeah, it's hypnotized, yeah, it really is. - I mean, yeah, I think about those guys who are like, like, not that he, you know, I don't want to say like a street corner, but like somebody who's like like a, doing something so impressive, where everyone walking by is gonna stop. If we're like to sing in a song, you might be like, okay, it's gonna sing in a song. But like, him playing, and doing what he does, with stopping your tracks. - Yeah. - So he's just being up there. It's because everyone in the room knows, and a lot of people pick up the guitar. You're like, I can't do that. That's actually beyond my scope. - I feel like it almost starts to border on like performance art in a way too, where it's like, you know, different from performing a song, but almost like, you know, the entire creation of the thing from scratch. There's something very hypnotic about all of that to me, and I always find it super cool. - If I could do it, I would, you would not be together. (laughing) - I'll tell you one thing, I'll tell you one thing. - He'd replace you with a looper pedal so fast. - I know. Five beats. - What I can do, like for any gig is such a contrast to, where once I'm him and I were playing a duo show at this one brewery years ago, and we were setting it, we were just trying to sing songs. We felt like fucking mosquitoes. We're just like, like, sing it into this bike, and like these people are trying to like, "Trick, can you turn this down?" And we were just like, "Wait, go in the song." - So, that's the difference, you know, like, it's as high as the mid. - Yeah, hell yeah. All right, moving on, what do we have up next? - Yes, next up is a song called "I'm Still Here" by Barry Ugo. Barry is a phenomenal musician. I was in a one band with my sister a long time ago. For the fire day, Thanksgiving is a weird day. - Very fire, dude. - Oh, that was brutal. (laughing) - Me too. - Yeah. - But a phenomenal songwriter, one of my favorite human beings that I've had the pleasure of knowing, we were in a collegiate music program together, travel the world, singing, inquire, outstanding tenor, and similar to Gracie, put out an album, fully self-produced, plays every instrument on it. You know, that's not how I like to approach music, but for both of them doing that, I have a ton of respect. Look, you know, it just sounds exactly like how they want it to sound, mixing it themselves. It's-- - Yeah. I think it depends on the person when it comes to that. You know, there's some people where it's the song is the thing, and so you know, perform in the song as a band, versus like some people where it's like, sonically what this entire production is, is the thing. And I feel like that's the difference between people who can pull off the like bedroom producer playing all the, you know. - Oh, yeah, oh it. So this song is on their debut album, I guess, this self-produced one, and it stuck in my head all the time. I love the chorus, the shift that happens. And for being one, one person, it's really hard to tell. The production quality is pretty great. And I just love this song, so shout out, hey. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) ♪ Hey, day after day, I feel low down ♪ ♪ Many prayers, I'm so stressed, I think it's high time ♪ ♪ I make this account, I'm not nothing to prove ♪ ♪ To lose, I'm in love ♪ ♪ I see down the road, my plan ♪ ♪ My plan will be a marriage, a man ♪ ♪ But I still fight ♪ ♪ With all of my might, there is no doubt ♪ ♪ That I'll make it out because I'm scared ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I go nowhere ♪ ♪ ♪ You reach me ♪ ♪ The one you can count on me ♪ ♪ Your biggest fan, I'm your man ♪ ♪ But in the mirror ♪ ♪ He won't hear me preach ♪ ♪ I must teach him to reach ♪ ♪ And cast out his demons ♪ ♪ A good man ♪ ♪ I won't so hard to find you ♪ ♪ I ain't well ♪ ♪ And create a sequel ♪ ♪ But I still fight ♪ ♪ With all of my might, there is no doubt ♪ ♪ That I'll make it out because I'm scared ♪ ♪ Me ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'm going nowhere ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ [music] [music] Dude, that was incredible, man. All right, talk about an anthem. For real. Ah! Well, you were talking about, dude, that's just one guy. That sounds like a seven-piece band, just like Letner Rip. That's so sick. Yeah, incredible, incredible frontman. Just the badass, badass. So when I was really just playing bass and singing harmony, which I did in both previous acts, it was just the most fun. I was Barry and I, and our friend, Vickin on drums. And we felt like cream, dude. Like the old '60s band, just a lot of improvisation. Yeah. And an incredible, incredible live performer. And that song, you know, such a big part of what we do, our crucible, is many. It's just, did it stick with you? Flip genre, who cares about anything. It's just, what is the melody? What's the part that's going to stay with somebody? And that song, I have found since it's come out, comes in my head very often, that I'm still here. And I, you know, I'm very one of my best friends. And just that. I love an anthem that is, it's kind of like, it can almost have been like a really sad song. Like I'm still here. But then trying that into this triumphant, like I'm still here, mother fucker, like that kind of. Yeah. That was the brass section. It gets a rise out of me, man. And I, yeah. Well, the crazy thing to me is the slow down into the chorus, which, like you said, really does catch you off guard the first time. Like not at all expecting that. But it's also crazy how it still continues to keep the momentum of the song going, even though they slow down for the chorus. It's like they slow down, but like it becomes, you know, it hits twice as hard almost. Great. Yeah. And yeah, again, would not have guessed that that was one dude. The bass playing was incredible. He's got some real tasty licks in there, man. One of those musicians who does it all again, they pick up which meant they sing and you're like, that's annoying. All right. Guess I'm throwing this in the trash. One man, especially when they play it on your instrument. You're like, I think this is just yours now. Like I can't, I can't do that. Seriously. Seriously. Oh, yeah. It's by the other boss. Yeah. It lives up to the name. I think we got one more here. Yeah, final track. And you guys chose this one together, right? We did. All right. I had another one in mind. Okay. No, no. This is actually been one of my favorite songs. When I heard it actually a while ago. It happens to be his brother. It's a cool nepotistic. I know. The only thing that I find so annoying is that the entire the entire great family is so phenomenal at singing songwriting. It's just like without like, you know, everybody has it tries and to a certain degree, but it just it just feels like water. Like the way I see it just like just flows out of them. Yeah. And it like this is me off. It's like, you know how many times I had to suck just a suck. You know, like I keep sucking and you guys have these phenomenal songs. Jeremiah Gracie. They're older sister Mary and Joseph. They have phenomenal songs. Jesus. And Jesus. I just like, you know, I'm always in awe. And this has been one of my favorite songs by Joseph. It's called sinking. He just released this EP not even that long ago. This is his first music he's ever put out. Yeah. Oh, really? Yeah. As a solo artist. Yeah. And it looks like this came out. Oh, yeah. Back in November. So not that long ago at all. It's got great voice and I hope everybody likes it. And I'll never be the one to love someone. I'll never be the one to save a woman. 'Cause I can't bear to be loved by someone while I'm sinking. Oh, while I sink. Oh, while I'm sinking. Take me home. You'll never feel so at home without me. You'll never feel, you'll never feel my touch. 'Cause I can't take away the people I loved and the things I felt when I stayed. Oh, when I stayed. Oh, when I stayed back in that place. Take me home. ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Take me home, home, home, home ♪ ♪ And I'm too hard to feel ♪ ♪ So low again, I'm too high ♪ ♪ And I won't let you be too much for me ♪ ♪ All at myself feel like I can't hide it all ♪ ♪ When I know who I am ♪ ♪ Who I am the fool ♪ ♪ Take me home, home, home, home ♪ ♪ Take me home, home, home, home ♪ - That was beautiful. - Yeah. - He's all right. (laughing) - He's all right, I guess. (laughing) - Those vocal runs were really good. That was more what I was expecting when you were talking about the professionally trained, or classically trained, like singers sort of thing. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - We both, he played with us for a second. - We did, yeah. - At the privilege of hearing him that song go through different iterations. - Oh, yeah. - Final mix, and I don't know if I helped him a little bit, I just was tracking, but I don't think I did with that one, 'cause when I heard that, ♪ Take me home, home, home ♪ That little thing, I was like, "Oh, shit!" - Yeah, that's some fucking soul, like, yeah, yeah. It's a real nice hook. - Yeah. - I was gonna say, 'cause that hook is gonna be stuck in my head the rest of the night. I can already tell. - He sort of reminds me of Leon Bridges in a way, just like that. - Yeah. - Just a little bit, you know, he's got that, and he kinda got that soul, yeah, yeah. - Yeah. (laughing) - Saying skin tone or anything. (laughing) - That was a soulful singing, like, yeah. Similar to Gracie, you know, he really tracked all that on his own, or all bedroom style, you know, and wanted to feel real authentic, and deliver to great performance, and for his first run, I mean, that's those most people out of the water. - Yeah. - Well, and it's very minimalist in the arrangement, but I feel like the arrangement was used to the maximum of what you could use it for, for that type of song, like, just even the, just like the bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb. - Yeah, exactly. - Like that sort of, like, build, like, that's all you need to get that little bit of momentum into the chorus, and it's like, you don't need anything more than that, necessarily, and so it was just the perfect amount of spice on it that, you know, really, really lends to that song turning out. - Everything you just said is what I taught him. - Hell yeah. - That's his big brother. (laughing) - So what you're saying is, so what you're saying is, really, you can take credit for all of this. (laughing) - That's, those are your words. (laughing) - I don't want to, but I won't deny them. - I don't want to argue with you. (laughing) - No, you're, I mean, it's a very, it's a very stripped down song, there's, you know, and there's something so beautiful about that, which has been my song forever, you know? We have a song called Circus Zoo that Xavier brought. It's on our Coastal Desert Melancholy, and it's two chords, and I'm the cat who will be like, let me see how many chords I can throw in the song, it's like, you know, and I've just gotten my shit torn up by Nico and everyone like being complicated, keep it simple, stupid, you know? - Yeah. - And so I really look up to Xavier and Joseph for it is an intentional like, look, it's not about the busyness, it's just about what I'm saying or what I'm singing, and I don't need a lot to move you. And yeah, that's a great example of it, that's all. - I have a tendency for maximalism as well, so I get it, you know, there's kind of something that just like keeps drawing you to add a little bit more to it, yeah. (laughing) - And you go play live, and you're like, (laughing) - Why do I need a 17 piece band to play every part of it? Yeah. (laughing) - So it's self-assembly. (laughing) - All right, so before we sign off on the episode, do you guys want to, one last time sort of tell people where they can find you, what you got coming up, everything like that? - Yeah, we just want to say to you, thank you so much, man. Thank you for having me so close. - Of course. - This has been such a lovely evening. - I appreciate you guys reaching out, it's been a blast. - I appreciate you, you know, we're honored. You know, we started this, just like how you started your project, just like with the tenacity to want something, you know, this is something a little bit more and greater and to share this with people and we appreciate that. And again, we're the virtual nobodies. We sing to the nobodies, or if they feel that way, to themselves, you know, we've definitely gone through our own, trauma in our lives and we just want to be, I guess that band that sends a message of, you know, it's okay to feel that way and we love you anyway. It's really what we stand by, we just want to sing to that. We want to stand by that and write to that as well. So, you know, if anything, thank you. It's been a pleasure. - Thanks for the kind words. - Yeah, of course, dude. - Yeah, man, I think just echoing everything except, like creativity is best when it's cultivating community. Like when we play a show and we get to see make new friends, you know, or CR, people we know fans who are having a night, you know, it's kind of a part from us. We have a job to do, but I love this podcast because you're also, you take the bulk of the time to highlight other people, let's talk about it. Let's like, I mean, it was really exciting for us to do, I think. - That's the idea, yeah. - Yeah, and like, just people who we want to celebrate and that mutual celebration is, you know, kind of a wind in people's wings, you know, in a way that, in a greater way than we might fully understand, and it just takes a word, you know, especially now with creativity. It's going in such a weird way. - Yeah. - Just having your name out there, be like, look at these people who are in season six, you know? - Yeah. - You're putting it, you know, like where we're at, too, it's like, we've been out this for a couple of years, and it's a community. That's the biggest part, - Exactly. - And our, you know, the name, too, I meditate on it a lot. Like, it just sounded cool, initially virtual, nobody's, but-- - It does. - You know, more and more, it's grown into this thing of, I don't know, man, like, man, it's just totally space, right, as I was about to start, maybe that's beauty of it, but in a culture that really values like, which we all want, like we want engagement, we want to make my, we want to have nice streams, we want to have nice followers, but it's a number, and the number is almost replaced your name, where it doesn't matter how good you, how well you run a podcast, or what you're talking about, or how good your music is, we just kind of look at a number, and it's like-- - Yeah, that's kind of low. I'm not even gonna look. And then somebody who has a very, so the idea with virtual, nobody's, is just, fuck that number. Like, you know, - Yeah, I did, I didn't want that. - We want to keep elevating. We want to keep, you know, playing bigger stages and to bigger crowds, because that'll demand more of us, like, being in the studio for this new album, has demanded of us. But outside of pushing us to excellence, it's just like, I love the platform that you have, man, 'cause it's just like, cool, Nico, and some of the other producers on this album, they just raised this up, man. They've been doing it for 30 to 50 years, and they're like, I get, I get you. Like, come on, let's do something. We, let's see what you guys are about, and, you know, we gotta keep doing that. So, your platform props you man, fresh fines, like, there's a lot of people out there really working hard, and, you know, money's not the thing, it's the thing between the thing, and if it's creating something, some sort of medium to have community, we need to fight for these things, because it is getting rougher out there for, you know, to find reasons to congregate, and people who tune into this, they found what? people who come to your show. They found the reason to meet new people and to experience community. So I guess I'm just kind of backslaping all of us, aren't we so great? We're all amazing, man, but yeah, but I completely agree with you. You know, at the end of the day, it really is all about community and kind of, you know, getting to know other people and, you know, working with other people on your creative projects and things. Always remember to, you know, reach out to people even if you think they might be above you because, you know, everybody's just some guy at the end of the day. And on that note, make sure you listen to the new song Bonafide. Out now, album coming later this year. This has been the Fresh Fines podcast, the show about discovering new music with good people. Fresh. I'm a Bonafide believer in the midnight sky I need it. Then wanderin' about there, wanderin' which way, yeah, leads home. The moon is red and high, but I'm running low on time to call you mine. And holding on for dear life, just be the one holding you. 'Cause I'm a Bonafide believer in the midnight sky I need it. And I cross my heart and hope to die across the stars I need it. But if I found the world where they did the same, as above, this is too good to be true. And I've run along till I knew you. Holding on for dear life, just be one holding you. 'Cause I'm a Bonafide believer in the midnight sky I need it.