Eyedress (Rerun)

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I don't know your whole story, but I know enough of it to know like, it's probably one of the more interesting stories in music. It is what it is man, yeah, I don't know, where should we start? I think. So one of the things I love about you is your family. You're like this amazing dad, amazing partner. You put your family first and it's almost like, it's like this part of you that like, you're one of the only artists that I feel like I see that shares their real life with people. Yeah. But it's natural. It happened naturally. I mean, the timing of it was literally around the time like my music was getting discovered and at the time we had a son and you know, I wasn't about to like, hide it or anything. And I was so proud of it so I was like, this is a good thing like, so it just became natural that I was just sharing what I always, you know, it's what I love. Yeah. So I don't know man, that's how the family is just, you know, that's why they're in the picture, they're in all the videos and, yeah, you can feel it. You feel like the thing I see sometimes, even me, like, you know, like, we don't ever plan. Like, you don't have this master plan. I feel like anyways for me, I didn't have a master plan of how I was going to have a family. It just happened. You fall in love with someone and then all of a sudden, oh, you've got the kid and then save my whole family and it does save your life, like, I mean, I wasn't like a perfect person before I met LVS so I think meeting her, like, at that time was just like perfect timing, like, you know, I could have had all these bad things happen to me but she was like, I'll just stay home with me and, you know, let's have a family, it's not like, be out there. Keep you out of the streets. Yeah, you know, you don't get caught up in no drama. So I thought that was nice because, you know, when I first moved here, I was like, oh, it's crazy out here. So I was just like, you know, I don't really know if that's what I want. Like, my life was already crazy. So when I got here, I was like, I want quiet, like, not the party LA life, but is it possible that like, that like part of, like, it's interesting, right, because like, you're an incredible artist. You make really great art. A lot of people connect with it. It also feels different from everything else. It feels like, again, like, I'm always looking for artists that feel like they don't, they're not trapped in the, in the box. They're not trapped in the way that everyone else has to do everything. They're not like, they're not subscribed to anyone else. They're just doing their thing. You're just making it's if you were a painter, you would just be in your studio painting and not looking outwards at like, what everyone else is painting. That's how I feel about your music. I feel like you make your music. You don't ask for permission and not checking in with the mass of people going, hey, what do you want to hear or you're not following any trends? And I'm trendy, but you know, I'm like, I just make what I like and I think I just paint homage to all those things that I'm obsessed with in every day or week, you know, maybe not every week, but every day, but you know, every now and then I'll find some new stuff to get obsessed with and then I just kind of soak it up and I need to hear everything that I'm into at the time and I need to watch everything and, but yeah, you know, then I'm a Gemini. So it gets old, but it doesn't mean that, you know, like all my albums, like I don't, I don't know, I don't listen to that many more. Right. You're waiting for your next one. Yeah. I'm just like making a new shit. I'm always looking at the next thing and that's what's exciting about living really. It's just like what happened I covered yeah, and like today, not yesterday, yeah, I'm just trying everything, you know, like trying to soak everything up like a sponge living in America is like a privilege for me. So I'm, you know, I don't want to waste any time. So you came to LA from Arizona from the Philippines, you know, so you were in the Philippines. Yeah. Before that I was in, I was back here, I was in a Saint Climini. Oh, wow. And then before that I was in Arizona. So how did you end up back in the Philippines? Because I know you were born in the Philippines, yeah. Well, my dad, yeah, I was born in the Philippines. He got drafted by like 20th Century Fox and I was like five or six. So that, you know, got us to move to Arizona. Okay. And then in Arizona is just rough. What was that like? What was it like being? How old were you when you moved to Arizona? It was like five or six. And what was that like, I had to learn English within a year and I just had to get on my feet, you know, because it wasn't like, I didn't live in a safe neighborhood. Right. So, you know, you'd walk down the wrong street and then you get chased by a bunch of kids and they jump you and then, yeah, I just, I had to grow up like kind of, I don't know, I just had to be aware of my surroundings. Pretty fast. I had a lot of like gangs around and I was just like, this Filipino kid like, just like, I was happy to be out of the slums and be in America, you know, but I didn't realize America was also this whole dangerous place and but, you know, I got used to it and I was just like, I'm not trying to be gangsta or anything. So I just like skated and got into music and every time I'd experience something bad, you know, I'd be an instant regret, but like, you know, those moments changed me and it made me like, want to be into art and music like I was in a drawing when I was a kid, I used to tag. I didn't want to, you know, like, join like their graffiti gangs, I just wanted to like tag on ice cream trucks and walls, you know, like, I didn't want to do anything like super bad because my mom would just be like, you didn't get deported and, you know, shit like that. All right. Like, that's crazy to think about like that as a fear, like to hang over your head as your kid who's like, where most kids don't have to worry about that. So they are getting in trouble because that's what kids do. We like, we go out and we find other kids and we end up getting in trouble and then in some neighborhoods, it's, it's gangs or graffiti gang or sometimes it's just kids being stupid that are every kid has a, they're a little gang of some kind, right? Like every neighborhood, whatever. And so to come here as a young kid, not speaking the language, then you get thrown into probably the school system. Yeah. I went to public school. So yeah, everyone was just, you know, everyone is a character. You'd see how some kids are raised by Cholo's and you see just some like, I went to school with, and when I lived in Orange County, they're like neo-nazis in my school and it was great. I feel like I've seen every type of click and I've just been like, I don't know, it should be neutral. Like I don't really have problems with nobody. It feels like, like you're, it's interesting because I, I see you move and I know you, you, you're cool with everybody. Like you have friends and you, but it feels like you and your family are moving through the world together. It's like, it looks like this little trio of like, it's, it's amazing. By the way, as someone who always wanted a family, I always like find myself kind of like gravitating towards family. So when I see families that are functioning, that functional in their own way, like we all, the lie is is that every family should be like this, right? Yeah, it's like we're our own family. But were these like living organisms that grow and like every single family is different? I'm like you're like the it's so cool to me you're like the You're like this example of like when I also think of like like and let me use words that for lack of a better But like when I think of success I Don't think of success as like this or that or that. I think of success as like happiness and Functionality and I just saw like all like I think a lot of the rock stars I I looked up to were family men and like I Did like all those like crazy junky dudes too, but I was also like I Came to a point in my life where I was like I don't think I'm cut out for Being up till 12 the next day because I was going hard all night like yeah I was just like I want to have nice things like I want to work and really hard and Not burn my whole brain Yeah, cuz I went through that phase soon. I was like yeah, I really I should just be like a family man It's like this is what I want, you know, it's like I feel safe this way and So yeah, it just happened, you know fell naturally and Imagine setting your makeup then forgetting it's even theirs meet new grippy setting mist from Maybelline New York Gel to miss technology locks in your look for up to 24 hours with flexible all day comfy grip No tightness, no stickiness, no residue just plum do we hydrated skin that still feels like your skin try new Grippy setting mist from Maybelline New York Maybe it's Maybelline But it's funny because if you go out in the world, right? You you're not met with like I Feel like anyways like people wouldn't look at maybe either of us and go like that's a fucking. That's a good dad Yeah, that's a family man, you know what I mean like look at that family man They would maybe see us in like the funniest thing happened to me the other day. I won't get into it, but Something happened in my neighborhood and it was a guy with tattoos or something and everyone like called And was like we don't want to Say anything, but there was a thing with a guy of tattoos and I'm like it wasn't me. I wasn't I wasn't here Yeah, but the fact that we have to have that conversation with people because you have tats Because you look a certain way, you know what I mean or you give off a certain vibe or you they have an idea that maybe you behave a certain way and like We've been crazy, right when we were young. We had our moments, but no more than any college kid or any other person out in their first few years of Locked up, you know, and exactly got, you know, God forbid I ever get into anything, but it's like I just I think I'm just protective, you know, yeah, I've seen a lot of stuff been in a lot of violent situations where I Was you know, I had to man up and be like some of these things you can walk away from and you're not a coward You're just you're protecting your family. Yeah, you're protecting your family your name you're walking away from protection to put them first You know, I just yeah, I feel like I give off that vibe to like I have tattoos Don't smile, but I'm happy and I have my family. I just I don't want to be that like I'm so happy guy either Because it's real like you're like I get bummed all the time like and not because You know life's bad. It's just, you know things happen and I'm human. It's like we're not perfect. So I don't know Just try to I think the family is the like a really solid foundation that should still be Recognized with like especially, you know for a lot of kids look up to me. I don't want them to View this whole family thing is like it has to be perfect has to be like this Instagram like yeah, everything looks perfect. It's like it looks perfect because though we're just showing you like When we're happy. It's like that's what I want people to know family is happiness and yes There's you know episodes with family where it's not so happy, but it's like you work through Yeah, like I've never seen my parents give up like they've been married all their lives and they've had tough times They've argued but they make up so I think That's why like I don't want to share like when I'm going through something. It's like it's no one's business Let me resolve it first, you know, like yeah, it's no one. I was saying that the other day too. I was like, you know Of course when I show people something on Instagram. I'm gonna show them the best picture. I took And if if I show them my family, it's gonna be a smiling I'm not gonna show them the moments where we're like bickering over something where we're like You know because we all do we all like they're good to acknowledge just so people Of course we go through it. You guys are perfect, but it's like Yeah, it's like I don't need to share this with nobody. It's like this is just between me and the fam But like what you're actually modeling in my opinion is how I feel is like you have You have a real fan base, dude. You have people out there who who look at you as You know for me you're this modern artist who's making Music on their own terms and having great success doing it Which is a rare thing most people have to buy into some kind of system usually So like have that success and you're doing it on your own terms You say what you think you say how you feel you say when you think something's right you say when you think something's wrong And you have people looking at you and your family and going that's possible for me to because you probably have kids out there who Again, like I always say the people that Reach for art. It tends to be their way of Getting out of something Making it better making a better life Healing something going through a traumatic childhood and coping right and like so they look to your art to help them do that And then they start to maybe imagine that they could do it and they become a graphic designer or they become a music A producer or they become an artist. That's literally everything I am. It's like you could do all of that like graphic design Family music and and have a family and have a family and still do what you want like it's so dope to me though because And I'm just saying as a fan when I see you on stage when I see you in your videos You have this thought you have your own style you have a way of like Your your lens on things is really unique to you and like it's super. It's cool It makes you go like damn that's fucking cool, man How did how did he think to Like it just feels like you're just being you but who you are is cool, right? And I know you probably don't even feel that way you're just being you But at the end of the day the people that watch we are we watch music fans we watch and it informs us how to dress how to How to like like that's where we get stuff from is like we watch our favorite artists, you know and it's cool to me that you're doing this It feels Naturally just following how you feel every step of the way making the record you feel like making and Saying what you feel like saying and you have your family and you're you're just It's honest, and it's kind of not it's kind of refreshing when you live in a world full of Instagram Like where people are trying to present something that they think everyone wants to see and I understand that too I'm not like hating on anyone for trying to succeed in the world any which way they do But like we all do get kind of like tired of seeing like what we're supposed to see and then we have someone like come along like you who's Literally you came here from the Philippines. Then you had to go back, right? Yeah My dad just missed home and thought like we'd be okay like living out there and how was that how old were you when you went back? I was like 16 or 15 is like a culture shock well people out there would kind of laugh at me for having an American Accent so I was like bro like what do I gotta do to fit in like I'm Well, I was born here like right you go home. There's just always ways like for people to like divide you from the equation So it was tough, man. That was like not gonna lie. That's the hardest that was the hardest part of my life But getting out of there was always a goal because like right before I left I was playing in bands here and I got a glimpse of you know, I like I went to this smell I watch the show I chain reaction. I was like maybe one day like I could do this But like now that I'm in Manila. I have to figure out how to even get my music out So luckily we had the internet and you know kids like Tyler were blowing up at the time and that was like What was inspiring me because I was like well? I'm all the way over here like how do I get heard so I just Would make videos and upload them on YouTube send them to all the blogs I followed and Some of them replied so from that, you know, I would just kind of build Reputation with these people. I don't really know. I just you know share my my music always and be nice to them and just be real and be like, "How are you?" Yeah, I just don't want them to just put me on. It's like, I want to also be like, "Yeah, you're going to do all this for me, I'm here for you too, so that's how I've gotten so far, I think I've always just been cool with everybody." You haven't forced me thing, you've been like, "Yo, if you fuck with it, look at that." Yeah, I mean, I don't know, I don't want anything, if someone wants to do something nice for me, then it's like eternally grateful and I'd return the favor anytime, so it's, you know, like in the music industry, I think that's what it's like when people show you love, you just respect that and treat them the same way, I don't know, it's been good, man, living out here, there's a lot of musicians and a lot of them are very prominent artists, so it's good to move here and people like yourself would help someone like me, just still starting out figuring this out, and we're just as lucky, though, because we get to be around really cool, special, special, you know, I always say special, because like there's people that stand out, and when I hear your story, it makes total sense, I'm like, "Of course he has an interesting story because you're interesting, it's interesting, everything you do to me is interesting." I'm like, "How do you think of that?" I didn't even want life to be this way, man, and it's tough, it's just like, you know, like I think it was around high school, I didn't even finish high school, so like, it felt like a super loser, and then all my friends already went to college and had jobs, and I was like, "What do I do?" Like, I don't have money to go to college, I didn't even finish high school, so I was like, my best friend Joyce was like, "You should just take music seriously since that's the only thing you're good at." And he was being real with me, he's like mean as fuck, he'll be like, "You suck at everything, but when he said that about the music, I was like, "Oh, well, okay, like I'm just going to not party with y'all every freaking weekend, and stay home and record." And that's where it started really like getting focused, because you know, I'd see these guys like getting paid, and I was just like, "How do I get, how do I have anything in my life?" So I was like, "I have to create something, I have to create music, like, what are my favorite bands do? They made songs, they made videos." Yeah, so you build it, they come, so I was like, "How much do I got to build, and how many years will this take, took 10 years to, you know, go viral or whatever?" Yeah. Wow, 10 years. Yeah, it was amazing. I got my first deal, and I was 22, and nothing even happened, you know, I just got signed, they brought me on tour with a bigger band, and I would see how things went, and I'd just be like, "Well, I'm not ready, but just started learning." That was your college, you know, when you started getting your degree, because I didn't go to college, I was like, "Great, full that I got to move to London, and, you know, meet bigger artists and just hang out with them, and that's cool." That's cool. I didn't know that that was even a thing, like, "So you went to London?" Yeah, because in Manila, the industry there is, it's really based around showbiz, so it's like very pretty boy, pretty girl, like, they can dance, like, "I'm not going to dance." You know, like, I'm here to play a guitar, like, you know, like, and, so you went, "Okay, so you're in Manila, you're like, I'm going to focus, I'm going to start making music." Making songs that I knew, like, would do good, like, overseas, and I would just upload them online. And to be fair, you came from overseas, so you were probably more at that age, you were probably dug in here, and then you're getting informed, you're playing in those bands, you're learning how music works, how to make music, then you have to go to Manila, and it's a, you're back there after that stage was it's 10 years, you weren't, since you moved, you moved back 10 years later, and then I've been to Manila. It's a beautiful, I mean, it's a great place, the people are really nice, but it's crazy there. Yeah, the poverty still. It feels totally, definitely, it's real. Everyone's really nice, and it's like, the Philippines are a great place up to visit, and there's, we, we got to go play shows, and we had amazing shows there. I mean, just a mate, like, the music fans there, there's a real culture there for music, but it's a big ass city with a lot of people, and it is real, it's a real city. And to think about, like, being a kid that's 15, like, it's taken out of what he knows for the last 10 or 11 years here, yeah, put there, and then I just had to start over. It was like, you know, I was already playing, like, backyard shows out here, and it just felt like it was going to go somewhere, and then bam, my dad's like, let's move back. And I was just like, all right, it might be cool. Well, here we, yeah, I mean, what can you do at that age when your dad says you got to move somewhere, so it was about a band and then be like, no, but I'll bet when you go back to the Philippines to play, when that day comes, and I don't know if you have yet, but like, you will one day, you're going to go back there and play a show, I guarantee you, like, there's a very special relationship with the music, with the music fans there that you'll have, because I think when it started, man, yeah, I think they'll embrace you because of that. It really did start there. When I lived here, dude, like, I thought I was just going to graduate high school and work at Starbucks. Yeah. When I moved out there, I was like, I was like, maybe I'll get signed one day. I was just imagining all this wild shit, like, why all the stuff that happened. And my dad also, you know, would feed these ideas into my head. I remember we'd go on these family trips, and he'd be like, you know, son, maybe one day you can sign in toward the world. And I'd just be like, people do that, like, you know, like, that's real. That's interesting though, because like, I always talk about manifesting and create a visualization and how we imagine our future, and that's the future, like, some version of that future is actually what we end up having. My dad definitely manifested it, man. He would say, like, wild shit, like, you're going to be like, you know, bigger than I could imagine, and I would just be like, mm-hmm, I mean, it's crazy though, because some, something he saw, and you know, like, we always kind of dismiss our parents when they're like, complimenting us, because like, my kids do it when I'm like, you're really good at that. They aren't really good at what I'm saying, but they are like, dad, whatever. You always, like, you think I'm good at everything, and I'm like, yeah, not really actually. I actually think you're good at that when we get into these little arguments, but I can see actually what they're good at. And I also think, like, not biased either. But also, your dad did something at a high level, right? He worked for an entertainment company, and he understood, like, I think he had an ability to understand, like, things at levels, so when you get to a high level, to a high level, you start to understand, like, when someone's competent at something and when they're not. And I think he probably identified in you, like, that there is this, like, I think, this, like they say, like, the, the, the X factor or the thing, like, there is something special about artists when you notice, like, man, that kid's different. All these other ones that are trying, I don't see, but then that kid stands out, and he hasn't even sung yet. It's like the first time I saw you, I, when you, you noticed the dude who walks in there, and they're like, who's that guy? This fucking cool shit. What's he doing? He's an artist, and you're like, of course he is. And then you hear their music, and you're like, fucking, of course he is. Like, that's how it feels when you see, like, someone who's meant to be. And like, whether you're, I mean, your dad had to see it. You could say, it's just because he's my dad, and he loves me, and you're like, no, he probably didn't say that about. Like when he was saying that dude, I could barely, like, do guitar solos. Exactly. You know, I was like, but he saw it. I sucked that guitar, it's like, but yeah, I mean, he would be like, but you know, these Nirvana songs are just like two chords, and I just be like, yep, he was right. Same guy who, yeah, I don't know, it's weird. Does he ever say I was right? I think he could say that all he wants now. Yeah. He's super proud. And I signed to RCA. He even made his profile pick the old RCA logo. I was like, oh my god. That's great. But that's great. That's what dad's supposed to do. Yeah. It was cute. Yeah. It's like, how I am with my kids, I'll be like, putting their little league picture or something up. And I love it, man. Yeah. To them, like, we're always going to be the dads, we're always going to be corny to our kids. It doesn't matter. I just never thought it happened. But that's because I was born in the slums, like, I didn't think, like, there was. Possibilities for doesn't feel very possible there. Yeah, I mean, I you know when I was like I told you when I was in high school I thought I just like where I got Starbucks and Play in these underground I know like I didn't think Anything like all the stuff I've done lately like that's This legendary it is do you feel like? I I feel like you're just getting started exactly. Yeah, no like That's what I say to a lot of people now like the world's just getting to know you can scratch You did it. I'm like dude. I still have 10 more years of like, you know being fit and able to do this like I'm just starting like I still want to make this like a living year. Yeah and Yeah, I don't think like I've even reached like my peak. I just Just got to keep working really. It's freaking hard Yeah, do you do you make music all the time? Yeah, yeah, it's like battling with myself every day doubt fear anxiety horse even like before I play shows Yeah, then like when I know that when everyone's there, I'm like what the fuck is going on? It's like I'm just freaking out all the time like I can never have peace Even if I go on vacation man, like I'll just your brain always goes always thinking the worst Yeah, but like what if Is it I mean the the way I what I hear when I'm positive, right? But I'm like Inside of me is like There's like a voice that's always like but what I think that is just from being like older than you right? And I'm just sharing you know take it for what it is I actually think creatives because because I I I've dealt with that for a long time And I think that we're we are driven by imagination We you we had to imagine our life, right? You you imagined all this somewhere you imagined it and then you're living it now And now you're imagining what's ahead of you the the further we get down the road it starts to get a little hard to imagine what what's beyond this because I think it takes us a minute to take in where we're at to actually own it and to go like no This is my real life my real life is not there where I was in the slums My real life is now here. I can go and get $100 out of the ATM and take my family to dinner and drive my car Where I couldn't do that there? None of this existed and now it exists and I think it takes a minute to like take that in and actually Physically be in the present because we we're catching up, you know, and then we While we're doing that, we're trying to imagine the future and the next thing so we can keep climbing the mountain because we at the end of the day You didn't do this because you were like, yeah, whatever You saw something you said I bet I could climb that and then you started climbing right? Yeah, and it's like the the the good part of us Right like the child part of us that likes to have fun and play and be cool with everyone Is actually the best part of us that's like the true part of us the part of us I think that we have to defend ourselves against the world because it's a tough place is actually the less true part of us because Those moments where we have to defend ourselves are actually like kind of few and far between in reality But they damage us so much that they cause us to kind of like always be on the guard And then if we're always on guard We actually are taking that fun part of us and shoving it here to protect it And I think it's like that constant struggle between the past the present What we have what we didn't have always jumbled up and then what we want for the future because we're never going to stop dreaming Anyone that tells you to be satisfied is wrong Yeah, it's the only way you're going to make art is by dreaming and going forward I think and so we always have to want more we always have to want to achieve more So only we're going to create anything worthwhile and It's just who we are. It's our lot in life right as artists and I think that like it's all from imagination And that's the struggle is even when you go on vacation even when you're just chilling playing with your son even when you're at dinner with your wife And thank God they don't have to like go through this as well Like my my wife. Thank god. Seriously my wife has to deal with me That's what that's because she's calm. That's why I'm like I all praise to them because I'm like a bomb But they understand that we're these like What I would say dynamic right? Mm-hmm imaginative. Yeah, my imagination is too much. I think that's why even the like That's why it can go wild sidetrack like can sidetrack you from Just focusing on what's in front of you like So yeah, and that's how I struggle with you know like But you know what dude like I think that we all do like I think that like what you're going through is is like interesting to hear that because I'm sitting here going like Ah, you know I'm not alone Well, yeah, man It's like I don't want to be the guy who makes a cry for help because it's like I just Want to also prove to myself that I can get through this and I see everyone around me Still here, so I'm like let's just keep pushing because everyone's standing strong and yep I feel like and you're leading your family like that's what that's what you're doing. You're you're going forward but but also The all the stuff that comes with having Also like what you would say is ADD. I always think like we're we're actually just hyper focused Oh, yeah more hyper and when we're hyper focused on the wrong thing It's not good. Yeah, but when we're hyper focused on the right thing It's it's it's a stroke of genius. It's a it's a piece of art, right? And so we look at like These moments and go like why am I so anxious? What I learned how to do as I got older was was actually Stop and I recognize when I was feeling anxious and go I wonder why I'm feeling anxious take a minute with it It took me like many years to like learn how to to like get that that Kind of wild animal in my control Because my imagination a lot of times felt like a wild animal It felt like it was running all over the place and sometimes it was in a good place where I would create shit things All the good things I've ever created in my life whether it's music I think or a company or a friendship or anything good in my life Came from my imagination the good part True and all the problems I've ever had I think came from my imagination on the bad side So it's like which which side am I going to focus my energy on trying not to manifest Any more bad things, but no, yeah, I don't think I have for like a long time It's but that's just the battle, you know, I just like constantly try to stay away from Anything I feel could disrupt my peace and yeah negative disruptive things or even things that happen and you know my In Elvia's life like if she is going through things I try to be the wise one to be like you're gonna get through this This is just for now, you know like I don't know Yeah, like family is the The number one thing in my life and then Yeah, I just try to skate when I when I need to like Because that's what I need to um stop thinking that like that right just go skate I just go skate and or anything like physical where you don't like Have to think for a second. Yeah, you get you play video games even you get in your body Mm-hmm And you're just thinking about skating or you're thinking about whatever the physics whatever you're Just living in LA. I think you just got to Step out the house right go for a walk. Yeah Everyone needs that because like if you're working all the time it's like You get in your head too much. Yeah, you just kind of need a break and too much of anything's bad. So do you think your parents? How did big influence on your Your love of family? Yeah, cuz um I always wanted a love like that where they never gave up no matter how annoying They were to each other, you know, they'd always be loyal and just just make up and um Yeah, it could be a little toxic, but I think It's a healthy thing where Especially if you have a family like I'm not against people splitting up. Yeah, sometimes it goes it happens, but Yeah, you know as much as possible. I I respect when people just keep it together and I think that's a beautiful thing It's like we get all just wild out and just not care about each other, but I think it's some it's really deep when just put all that aside and Value like family and I don't know those are just the kind of that's what I always wanted those are the ethics that I always thought were like You know golden, so I just Where are your parents live? They're in Manila. Oh cool. Yeah, trying to get them out here just takes a while. Yeah. Yeah, they're good. I think they're healthy now. Yeah, hopefully. I always kind of wanted that too. I just thought, I mean, my parents split up when I was young. But it was one of my goals always was like, when I get, when I settle down, I want to just be with one person. And try to build a family that where we're the moment, where we're me and my wife are always together. I want to be a grandpa. Exactly. With a grandma. Yeah. And then you go through it. I've been married for 12, 12 years. And I've been with Nicole for 16 years. And like you realize, like why people split up, you get it. Like it's a real life you're building. And there's moments where like, no one's perfect. And like people have their moments. Like people have moments where they're, it's a season of life or it's a moment of life. And you have to like, it becomes deeper than just like the idea that we're a couple. It's deeper than that. Like you become, I think like, real family. You become best friends. You become dependent on each other in a way that's, it's deeper than I think than just a love relationship. It's a, it's a high, it's way deeper than that for me. It feels like, it feels like family. It feels like, this is the person I want to have my back. Sometimes people award it like, co-dependency. And I'm like, what the way you get to be is it's like. It feels really negative. Yeah, I'm like, you know, like some people just want a solid person in their corner for life. And all the time. And some people want to be players all their life. And, you know, there's no right or wrong. But I just ended up being the guy who wanted to just be, you know, married and have family. Like, that's chill to me. Look at all, look at John Lennon and Yoko. And I mean, they're still in love. And he's not even here. Yeah. Like, I could feel their love. I don't know. Yeah. It's in all his music. Everything left behind. Family. I mean, if I go, like, I hope I leave that behind. Like, all that love between us. And, you know, it's better than my old music. It's just about like, doing drugs. It's not that cool. You know, it's like. It's so cool. You know, people burn themselves out and need to go to rehab. It's like, that stuff's sad. That's what made me want to change. Because you saw a lot of that happening. Yeah, it's sad, man. It's like, you'd never expect it to happen to anyone. But it don't happen, you know? Some people just love getting messed up all the time. Imagine setting your makeup. Then forgetting. It's even theirs. Meet new grippy setting mist from Maybelline, New York. Gel to mist technology locks in your look for up to 24 hours, with flexible all-day comfy grip. No tightness. No stickiness. No wrist. No stickiness. No residue. Just clump, dewy hydrated skin. That still feels like your skin. Try new grippy setting mist from Maybelline, New York. Maybe it's Maybelline. Yeah, I think that they're like, medicating some pain that they can't. Yeah, usually a lot of my friends that are like that have like, crazy family issues. That's why I think the family thing is important. It's like, that's all it starts at home. Yeah. And the proof of, and the proof like is always your kid, right? When you see if he's acting up, it's probably my fault. So I'm just like, I got to get it together. I feel that way. I feel like if I, if the calm home creates the calm kids, right? The peaceful home creates the peaceful vibe with the kids. The home that where you feel like everyone's cheering each other on and supporting each other, you see that. And then you may meet someone and you think like your first judgment is like, "Oh, this person is really negative and they're really this or they're really that." But then you, if you go and look behind like you go and look at the home leg grew up in, maybe they were getting criticized all the time. Maybe they were just getting, not getting support. And then we don't actually live in a world where it's like cool to sit there and talk about like, "Hey, so when I was growing up, my family was really not supportive. They were critical of me all the time that made me feel really bad about myself." I could go on about that too with my life, but I've learned to like, forgive my parents. Yeah. Because now that I'm a parent, I'm like, "Okay, can't give you guys shit because I'm. " Because we're all just trying our best to do that now too. So yeah, literally every choice you make reflects on your kids. And yeah, I don't blame my parents being the way they were. Me either by the way, trying their best, you know? Especially at the time with the tools they have, with the information that is not like we had, my parents didn't have the internet to go on and go, "Google, like, what's the best way to teach your kid, how to, whatever?" Like, I literally will Google shit. I'll literally Google everything. I'll be like, "Best way to build confidence in a teen." And then I'll read like 50 things, and I'll actually find one that I go, "You know what? That guy looks like that doctor or so and so." He actually feels like he knows what he's talking about. And then I'll go down a rabbit hole. I'll research the doctor and say like, "Who is he?" And then you'll find out it's some real therapist who's done tons of research and you agreed with his point of view, and then you take a little piece of that back and you apply it. Even if it's just a little piece, it actually affects in a positive way, whatever it is you're trying to do as a parent. Our parents didn't have shit. Yeah. They were not like, "Let me just check that out before I make a decision here. I'm gonna Google it." They were only telephones and mail. You call your aunt or your uncle or whoever and be like. You remember meeting up with your friends and just hoping they show up in a hour. Yeah. Like, "Yo, I'm gonna be at this 7-11. You better be there, man." And they're like 30 minutes late and you think they died. You're sitting on the curb waiting. She's like, "Man, are we gonna skate or what?" This person probably got ran over. Yeah, it's crazy. My parents would always tell me that too, like, "I know. I'm nothing for Christmas." Yep. I'd be like, "Okay." And then. And then. And then. As I got older, like, I remember we hit tough times when I was a teenager and I'd have those Christmases where I didn't get nothing. I was just grateful for other things, which was like the family. They were there for me. They'd make us food and we'd spend time watching a movie. It was better than getting a present. Yeah. Sometimes you just get a present and then you don't even hang out. Yeah. That's true. You know, I had every experience. I wasn't rich, but I'd been middle class and then we lost money and whatever. Yeah. I just tried to keep it real and it's not about that stuff anyway. Where's your favorite place to live in the world? Here. Billy. Yeah. It's nice, huh? I can't complain. I don't know, man. I have nothing bad to say about LA. My whole life. You know, got better when I moved here. Yeah. America's nice. I went to Miami recently. That's cool. That's a nice vibe. Maybe one day I'll be able to live there. Yeah. I mean, you will. Yeah. LA's nice. Miami's nice. I live in New York. New York's cool. I mean, I like everywhere I go, but yeah, America is the place in my head. I've lived in London, you know, before. So I don't know. It's just nothing like America. It is pretty. It is. It's weird how it feels that way, right? Like you always get back here and you're like, especially when I get to LA. I can get tired of LA, but then I'll go. I love New York. I'll go to New York for like a couple of weeks and come back here. And I'm when you land, you're happy. Yeah. I don't know. There's just this late. I don't know. I wouldn't say it's laid back either. But LA's got like a sneaky hustle to it because it feels laid back. But everybody is working and everybody's doing stuff. It's just different. It's aggressive. Yeah. Like the driving and. And it's it's it's it's it's it's it's a very like. It's a crazy city. There's all these different pockets in different places and like. Don't want to end up in the wrong place. You don't want to end up in the wrong neighborhood in LA. You have to really like it is like a city like that where it's to a little deceiving when you see it on TV or whatever. And then you you think you're just driving through Hollywood and you make a right turn and you're on the wrong neighborhood or you go through. Everyone's here. That's the thing. It's like all the dangerous people are here. All the good people are here that everyone's here. And the levels and angels there. They're all in the same city. I think every city is like that. Yeah. Every city has its stuff. And it's things. I just like the beach and being able to go to the snow in an hour, that's something you don't experience anywhere. - You snowboard? - No, I just haven't yet. I don't either, I hope this year will be the first year I go. - I never could get it. I just, I didn't grow up skiing or snowboarding was like kind of, and I'm not categorizing it now. It's different, but when I was a kid, it was like a rich sport. - That's a rich thing. - I don't trust me dude, like imagine buying a snowboard. - Who has a couple extra thousand dollars to buy a snowboard? - The jack at the pants, the helmet, the gloves. - Get a spot in the woods, like the ski pass and then go there, when get off work and go there or how many days, okay, wait, we're flying. Like it always seemed like to me when I was growing up, that was like, oh, that's what rich people do. They go skiing and snowboarding and that's cool. And then so when I got older and I actually had the means to go snowboard, I never, for whatever reason, it didn't live in my soul until I learned, I tried once or twice, I fell down a bunch of times. It's like, I'm terrible at this, it doesn't live in me, it's not a part of my history. - You're like sledding? - I love sledding, I'll do the tubing in the sled. - That thing is fun. - That's what I do. So now, every couple of years, we'll go up to the mountains somewhere and my kids are actually like, we don't ski every year, but we've been a few times, enough times, from when they were little to now. My son can snowboard, he can kind of shred, and my daughter skis, my wife skis. - Have you gone skiing? - Me? I tried, I was a mess. It looks scary. - And they all make fun of me the whole time 'cause I'm falling down the whole time. It's pretty scary, and then the lift is really scary 'cause you're just sitting there. Anyway, so now when I go, I've resigned myself to like, look, you guys go ski for a day or two, and then one day, one of the days we're going sledding, we're gonna go to the, there's like these mountains where you can just tube or sled or whatever, and then that's what we do for me. And the rest, I'm just hanging and just like, taking pictures before they go out, and then I'll just chill. - Taking the dead thing. - Yeah, it's like the beach, 'cause I didn't grow up near a beach either. - Yeah, I hate going into the ocean, honestly. - I can't go into the ocean, I'm too scared, so I don't surf, I don't do any of that. - I'm not an extreme guy. I just like jump enough stuff when I skate, but yeah, the ocean, no thanks. - Yeah, I had to swim in the 100 islands one time in the Philippines, and my friends were like, "Yo, let's go swim to this island." So we hopped off the boat, and we swam to this wooden thing that was floating in the middle of the ocean, and on the way to this wooden platform, I just froze up, and I looked down, there's jellyfish, and I'm like, "Oh my God, I have to get out of here, dude, like." - Yeah, you have a peanut attack, I would too. - It's too deep. - I'll go fishing, that's as far as I'll go. I like to fish, I like to fish. But I won't go in the ocean, I won't swim in the ocean, I won't do any of that. All the money I make, like surf rock songs, and I think is skating, not surfing. - Because I see you, like, when I hear your music, I do relate it to skating, it's not all skating, but yeah, it's like, fully, I got into music. Like the niche stuff that I found, we're in skate videos, like all the cool, weird songs. - The stuff he thought was cool. - Like black flag songs, like you would never. Oh, I mean, that was the first place I discovered it. So, yeah, and then you guys were on TV when I was growing up, so I was like, "I wanna do this, but I don't know how." - And then you did it. - Yeah, that's how we were the same way. We were just like, who were your idols when you're like, you know, it was the '90s, and what we had access to was the radio and magazines, and I'd watch MTV when I went to a friend's house, we didn't have cable, but at the time, whenever I was at a friend's house, I would turn on MTV and just watch it for an hour. - It would be the one, though, like, artists you'd get. I would, I loved the video, I used to record the TV on VHS when I'd see, like, Puff Daddy. - I like Nirvana, I like you guys. - I liked all that, I loved, I loved Tupac, I loved Big E, I loved Jay-Z, I loved Nas, I loved the Beastie Boys. - I saw all that growing up. - Yeah, and I loved, and then I loved Rancid, and I loved, I loved Green Day, I loved all the punk stuff coming out of the bay, I would just kinda eat it. I would just kinda look in magazines and find anything that was coming out of California, social distortion, anything that was not, you know, for me, it was like the dream was to get out of where I was from, so I always had this dream of going to California, 'cause I'd never been, I didn't even been on a plane 'til I was 19, so I was kinda like, just the, the first chance I get to go, I'm going and I'm never coming back, and that's kinda how I felt about. I think it was just a rough childhood, I wanted to escape from, became a fantasy of like leaving, and music was the vehicle, right? - Yeah, there's a spaceship. - Exactly, but then, you know, like I think the important part of the journey was like learning that I actually, I think the most important part was learning my own value, I didn't place a high value on myself when I was young, I just wanted to get out of where I was from, 'cause I think I hated my life. - Yeah. - And then I got into music, and I never took myself that seriously, I kinda just making music, and it felt like I was the luckiest guy in the world, didn't feel like I was like, no one cared what I was saying. I was just, that's how I felt, right? - You guys were saying stuff. - But we were, we were kinda saying stuff, without even knowing we were saying stuff, we were definitely just being subconsciously making music. We didn't really think too much about what we were saying, we were just saying it. - Yeah. - And then you listen back and you're like, oh damn, you had some stuff to say, you were a little, you were working some stuff out in those songs, and now like, I've had a lot of time to think about it, probably too much time to think about it. I'm probably more cerebral than I should be, but like, that's just where I'm at, and that's how I like to be. But I like to, I love to listen to music and dissect what someone's feeling, and like maybe, even if they're not aware of like, maybe, 'cause sometimes as artists, we just, we just kinda like stream a consciousness, let out whatever comes out, and it feels good to sing. And then you listen back and you're like, oh damn, like that's, I'm saying something there. - You guys had songs about like, classism, I don't know, I think it was, but at the time it was this as simple as, it was like pop punk at the time was like, the thing, you know, and, but I don't know, like, but for us at the time, I think the classism thing was literally just, we didn't have money. And we literally said, we wrote a song about, if you don't want it, we'll take it. And then everyone turned it into like, kind of like, eat the rich type thing, which is cool, but it wasn't that cool, like, it wasn't that complicated when we wrote the song, we were just like, hey, if you don't want to be rich and famous, give it to me, 'cause I do, 'cause I got nothing. And it wasn't saying that rich and famous is bad. It was saying, no, there's a lot of bands I think, even I grew up with, they were like, fuck famed, and I've always been like, hey, that doesn't look good. - That just means you're bad to me. Like, famed looks kind of sick. - You're like, doesn't that just mean that everybody fucks with your shit or like that you're doing well in my mind that when I was young, that's what it meant. - It still does, man, it's like, I like don't wanna be poor, so it's like, I just, I look at success, and I'm like, man, can a guy like me who had nothing? Like, live that life? Like, that's what you know. - The answer is yes. - And then, you know, you just can't forget that this thing is about just loving what you do and having fun. - Mm-hmm. And finding the balance of like, what I feel like we probably agree on, at all costs I'm going to take care of my family. - Mm-hmm. - And I'm never going to go back. I'm never going to go backwards. I'm never going to go. - Yeah, I never looked back like ever since I came here. That's funny, you guys, like, where my parents are, and if I'd ever go back there, I don't, I really have no plans of going back. I think like, you know, doing it here is the only place you can really do it like. But I want people to know that like, you can be from there, and you can come here, and you can change your whole life. Like, you don't have to be. Like, you know, like, you got out of your town, like you want, you know, it doesn't matter what town - It doesn't matter. - You come from just like as long as you make that move, that big leap, that big leap is the, - Probably the hardest thing too, 'cause like, you have people, people around you that are be like, maybe it's actually not such a good idea, but if you feel it deep down, like it is, it's the best idea probably. And hopefully, you know, people are just fearless. I think that what you're saying is you just summed up how I feel. You really did. And I think that, like, but I, listen, I think that you'll probably end up going back to Manila one day on your own terms because you have to, because your music has to be, you have to go play there because you're, I would love to. You know, like you're fit, you're, you're, you're what you're building with your music around the world is like, I mean, look at your Spotify followers, dude. Look at the, look at how much of a, like, you have this music that is unique to itself. And it's, it's reaching masses of people. It's not just a little group of people, it's building this large group around the world of people who believe in you, who fuck with you, who love your art. And it's inevitable that you're going to have to go all these different places in the world and, like, and play for the people that love your music. But I think it's cool to go to, to be, when, every time, I mean, you've been back to London and you went back on your own terms, you, you're, when you go to Japan, when you go to Manila, when you go to wherever your music takes you in the world, it's going to be on your terms, which is also to me, like, the best part of the story. Like, I guess I always wonder, like, I always kind of think of, like, life, if we were watching a movie, how would we want the movie to, like, if you, like, when I think about your story, when you tell me the things that you've, like, the journey you've been on, I go, well, how else would I want the movie to be? It sounds, like, it, it's hard to go through. But as a fan, you watch something and go, I wouldn't want this movie to be playing any other way. Like, that beginning of the movie was fucking great. But now we're here, and it's great, you know, so, like, I always imagine, like, well, what's the next part of the movie? I think you're in, like, a really great place. I'm excited for the new music. Thanks, man. I'm excited to watch the family grow. They're growing. Yeah. Yeah, he's growing so fast. Crazy. L.V. is just becoming more of a mom and it's lovely to see him and, like, it's all we wanted. Yeah, we're lucky. We were just talking about this, like, when we would be in bed, be like, oh, like, we're gonna be nice. We had a family. Here we are. And here we are, like, we're gonna be nice to get some sleep. I'm just kidding. Yeah. Exactly. That doesn't happen for years. No. Yeah. I'm still waiting. I got a couple more years. Yeah. You're in the trenches right now. Yeah. It's all good, though. It's 20 seconds to end up for it. Thanks for coming and talking. Thank you.