Episode Transcript
Speaker 2 00:00:04 You hear that Nikki? Yeah, they love us. Oh, go ahead. Stop. Stop guys. Take your seats.
Speaker 0 00:00:10 Thank you. Aw, thanks guys. Thanks. Thank you. Hey, welcome to the intro, to the Razor Rod podcast. And we had a really cool today.
Speaker 2 00:00:18 Yes, we had Kendall Ske and this episode was wonderful. I think it was one of the most unique ones that we've ever had.
Speaker 0 00:00:24 Yeah, it's a great episode. We get into a lot of stuff. We talk of course about her music, her journey through that. Um, some of the realness that she dealt with in life before getting to Nashville and just talking about how she can capture the room. So it's a super great podcast that you guys have coming up. And I would like to thank our sponsor, crown Heads Cigars.
Speaker 2 00:00:45 I love your crown heads. You guys make very excellent premium, uh, hand rolled cigars and they're based outta Asheville, so go support them.
Speaker 0 00:00:53 Yes, buy Crown Head cigars wherever cigars are sold, and send some to us also, cuz we love cigars, please. Um, but man, thanks to for jumping in. We have some other great content coming up. And guys, if you like listening to this and like me and Kurt just bantering with Charlie, say hi, Charlie. Hello. Uh, you can subscribe to our Patreon and you can hear some behind the scenes episodes of just us talking about random nonsense. But this is the Kindle Win podcast. Guys, thank you for listening.
Speaker 3 00:01:48 It's called Rady.
Speaker 0 00:01:52 Um, well welcome to the Razor Rowdy podcast guys. I'm Nikki t I'm
Speaker 2 00:01:55 Kurt
Speaker 0 00:01:55 Ozan. And we have a very special guest today. I'm Kinski. Hi. Thanks for coming. Woohoo. Um, we appreciate you being here with us.
Speaker 4 00:02:04 This is gonna rock.
Speaker 0 00:02:05 I'm really stoked. We, uh, the luxurious studio. It sounds better cuz we put sound treatments up. And also like, just think about like what you want behind you and we can make that happen.
Speaker 4 00:02:17 Uh, a duck and a dog playing with each
Speaker 0 00:02:21 <laugh> playing with each other. Let's playing. Go with each other. I love it. Yeah. Um, we're gonna, that's, isn't that cute work for Ike? It's so cute. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:02:27 What about in like a little
Speaker 0 00:02:29 Basket? A basket? Yes. Yeah. All right. Well, Ike, you got
Speaker 2 00:02:33 Work. There's our podcast budget for the
Speaker 0 00:02:34 Longest time. <laugh> <laugh>. But we've been talking about doing this for a while and I'm stok that it finally happened.
Speaker 4 00:02:39 I'm so excited. Yeah. I've been super, super busy, so I'm really happy that
Speaker 0 00:02:44 It, which is great. We could do. Yeah. Today it's, that's the best though. Like, that's what, like, Kurt, it's like Kurt's super busy, but it's the best to be busy. That means works
Speaker 2 00:02:54 If you too busy then not busy enough. Exactly.
Speaker 0 00:02:56 That
Speaker 4 00:02:56 Part. Yes. I like that part the most.
Speaker 0 00:02:58 Yeah. It's
Speaker 4 00:02:59 Like, it's better than just like wondering what's gonna happen. Yes. Having something to do.
Speaker 0 00:03:04 Yeah. You've been traveling more, right?
Speaker 4 00:03:06 Yeah, dude.
Speaker 0 00:03:07 Yeah. So you, in, you were up in New York and doing all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 4 00:03:11 Yeah, so I opened, I went on my first tour. Hell
Speaker 0 00:03:14 Yeah. And I was <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:03:17 Yeah. So I opened for Wild River. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> Wild Rivers. Um, they're so dope, dude. Like Yeah. Super. Like, I wanna say like indie pop folky type of band. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> like rad lyrics. So amazing. And it was, so I got, we went to 10 different states in two weeks. It was nuts.
Speaker 2 00:03:38 How many shows did y'all play?
Speaker 4 00:03:41 Ten Eight. Eight to 10.
Speaker 2 00:03:45 <laugh>. <laugh>. It does start to blur together.
Speaker 4 00:03:46 Yeah, it does. It really does. But like, so we started in Dallas, love Texas, um, and then made our way all the way to like, through Philly and Virginia, and then ended in North Carolina. Heck yeah. It was nuts. It was so sick. Like, it reminded me why I love performing. It reminded me like why I love what I do so much. The crowds were so freaking intimate. Like it was really special.
Speaker 0 00:04:15 What kind of cap rooms were you guys playing?
Speaker 4 00:04:18 Uh, there was one that was like, I wanna say like, there was a couple thousand people.
Speaker 0 00:04:24 Heck
Speaker 2 00:04:25 Yeah. I, I'm like the worst at like, guesstimating. How many people are
Speaker 4 00:04:29 Around <laugh>? Yeah. I could totally be like, it, it, but it, yeah, there was like a a thousand to 2000 per room, like Yeah. And sometimes it was like more intimate than other times. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But it was,
Speaker 0 00:04:39 It was tight, dude. Any, any just like crazy moments or like stuff that just threw you off?
Speaker 4 00:04:44 Yeah. So I played Brooklyn
Speaker 0 00:04:45 Bowl. Okay. Yeah. In
Speaker 4 00:04:47 Nashville. Yep. That was like, probably one of my favorite shows. I
Speaker 0 00:04:49 Love it there dude. Great venue. It's
Speaker 4 00:04:51 So cool. It's so cool. And I like, so it was me and my friend Gay Brard. He's a monster. And it was just kind of this like acoustic type set and the end song. It's called Growing Pains. It's gonna come out this year. But we were playing all unreleased music and stuff, like some released music, but mostly unreleased and Yeah. You could have heard a freaking pin drop and the entire place. And people were like, so there's this part in the bridge of that song where like, I'm like, sing this, sing this. And everybody was singing it. Like, it was, it gives me chills even thinking about it. It was so special, dude. It was like, it was, that was probably my favorite moment. And that happened like a lot.
Speaker 2 00:05:36 Also, Nashville's not an easy town to get people involved. It's not Mm. It's one of the harder for sure. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:05:43 Well, cuz I feel like there's like true music fans Yeah. In this city. Well, they know it. Or musicians
Speaker 0 00:05:49 Or it's like industry people where they're like, you know. Yeah. They're just like seeing so many shows. Yeah. That's what, uh, like for Razor Rowdy, we like try to do Rowdy on the Road, which is like going to other towns. Okay. And like, bringing our crew and like, getting to see an artist, hopefully like in their hometown love. Or like a venue that like they kill in, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And get to watch that crowd interact with it.
Speaker 4 00:06:11 What's your, where's your favorite place? Both of you? Where's your favorite place to play? Or like go? Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:06:18 <laugh>. Well, we talked about this last week, or the last podcast is how great Ohio is, just in general. Like, the fans are crazy. Um,
Speaker 4 00:06:26 Midwest is cool all around. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:06:29 Um, I played in Canada like the end of last year. Yeah. And I, and those motherfuckers are crazy <laugh>. Really? Yes. And it's, it is, it was almost like night and day since the last time I've played there. I feel like. Yeah. And they just love country music now. I love that. And they're just like so thankful and rowdy. Like, these people are crazy up there. It's, it was awesome.
Speaker 4 00:06:51 I love that. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:06:53 I'm
Speaker 4 00:06:53 Never been to Canada. Well,
Speaker 0 00:06:55 You probably, you probably
Speaker 4 00:06:56 Get there. I need to go. Yeah. I need
Speaker 2 00:06:59 To go. I don't know if, I wouldn't say this is my favorite. I, I don't know. I, I can never think of this. Always a tough, like, what's your favorite venue? You know, red Rocks was cool.
Speaker 0 00:07:09 That was awesome. <laugh>,
Speaker 2 00:07:10 You
Speaker 4 00:07:11 Said Red Rocks was cool. <laugh> Okay. Oh yeah. Thanks.
Speaker 0 00:07:16 I spent three grand to go out there and see you guys there. Yeah. <laugh>.
Speaker 2 00:07:19 Oh, that's
Speaker 0 00:07:20 Awesome.
Speaker 2 00:07:20 Yeah. Did I at least get you tickets? No,
Speaker 0 00:07:23 I bought 'em myself, but
Speaker 2 00:07:24 It was awesome. Oh, no. My mom was there. That's why I called me now. Okay. It was Mother's Day. We weren't as close.
Speaker 4 00:07:28 I wanna play Red Rocks one day. Oh yeah. That's a bucket list. I bucket list. I'm for sure.
Speaker 2 00:07:32 So I was gonna, actually gonna segue into that. My bucket list is Fenway Park. Like that's, that's, I wanna play that. And the station in, I've never played the station in. Okay. Oh. But, um, we're playing Gillette this year, which is the football stadium near Boston. Okay. But we're not playing Fenway, which sucks, I guess
Speaker 0 00:07:50 Maybe next year.
Speaker 2 00:07:51 Yeah, true. Yeah. But I think Gillette holds more people, so we kind of like leapfrog than I
Speaker 4 00:07:55 Think Oh, yeah. Heard that. But,
Speaker 0 00:07:57 Um, for me as a fan, like I really miss, like, those little roadside honky tonks, like the dusty armadillo in, in Ohio. Dusty, I love, it's just like, it's like little and crappy and awesome. And like, everybody's just really into it. Yeah. And it's, uh, like a low ceiling. It's just an interesting room. Very
Speaker 4 00:08:17 Low ceiling. Yeah. My favorite word to use about like any venue is like, it has to be an intimate Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, there's intimacy and there's like, just like hole in the walls, you know what I mean? Yep.
Speaker 0 00:08:28 I always talk about this. I'm like, everybody complains about the ticket prices, you know, on the big shows. It's like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, like Morgan, all that stuff. Yeah. I'm like, yo, go see the $10 tickets and get an experience. Oh
Speaker 4 00:08:41 My gosh. You know, you, there's so much talent too. Yes. Like, it's always like, on the up and up, everybody. Yeah. Like, and I feel like some of my favorite shows I've ever seen are undiscovered talents. Yeah. Like, ever
Speaker 0 00:08:54 When you see it happen, you know, like, it's just like, it, there's moments where you just don't know it's gonna happen and it wows you. Yeah. And, uh, I mean, the first time we saw you play mm-hmm. <affirmative> was in Key West at Songwriter's Fest. Yeah. We had an event, um, right. Directly after you or you guys were playing, but then you jumped in on that one set too. Oh yeah. And played. And my friend Megan, who, uh, now lives in Nashville, moved to town, but she was like pretty new to town at that point. Um, she's now married to one of our good buddies as a songwriter. Love. Um, she was down there with me and we Yeah. Watched you guys. Yeah. And we just like, both heard you sing and just like, looked each other and we were like, what is going on <laugh>? Because your voice is so distinct. Thank you. Acoustic. It's sometimes it's hard to take a room. Mm-hmm. But you can do it. Thank you. Absolutely. And thank you. It's, uh, another time. Like, I don't know. No, we kind of chatted about this via had text, but like, when we had that CMA Fest event that you played for us Mm. Um, at, at Live Oak. Yeah. And you just like, literally took the room <laugh>, you know, like with a song end game, which we're gonna have you perform with Kurt <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:10:08 I'm super excited
Speaker 0 00:10:09 For that. Um, but like that song, and it's not just the song though. It's, you know, how to take the room with the song, you know, and that's, that's not something you're born with. That's something you learn from like, working and like knowing what works for you Yeah. And how to do it. Yeah. So it's, you can't get that the first time you play, you know?
Speaker 4 00:10:30 Honestly, I feel like, thank you. Yeah. That's like, so kind. Yeah. I think a lot of it, it's a very spiritual experience. Yes. Like I feel like it's such a point of vulnerability and surrender that when somebody, and I know like that sound might sound like cliche or whatever, but like, what I mean by that is like, I feel like the only time I'm really able to just let go is on, is in a stage setting, whether it be around or like on an actual stage where I'm performing a set. It's just I don't have to think about anything. And I feel like people can gravitate towards that. Yeah. And like really respect and appreciate that, which is why I love
Speaker 0 00:11:17 It's and
Speaker 4 00:11:18 Relate to it probably too.
Speaker 0 00:11:20 Exactly. Yeah. It's powerful. Like, everybody goes to a show, a music show to escape, you know mm-hmm. <affirmative> and specifically, like a lot of the songs you write are like emotional Wow. And like, they're like, you can kind of feel yourself in that moment, you know? Even me, like some of that stuff, like from a girl's perspective, but like, I could feel it, you know? And I think that's what makes country music great, but just makes music great in general. Yeah. Is like, if you can bring emotion to someone and the song can do it, but a great artist can really do it. Like someone like Ashley McBride. Yeah. She'll gonna say that for sure. Yeah. She'll, she'll take you and she'll put the whole crowd in the palm of her hand. Yeah. And she'll raise you up and she'll bring you down. Yeah. And the best performers can do that. Well,
Speaker 4 00:12:07 I feel like people are just craving to feel something, especially like in the society we live in today. Like, I feel like the pH the phone especially. Yeah. It's this projected butterfly rainbow version of the human experience mm-hmm. <affirmative>, which is just not real at all. Yeah. And guilty of that. I'm not saying like, you know, we all do it, but in those particular settings, and especially with songwriting, like people crave just that somebody else feels the same stuff that they feel. Yes. You know what I mean? So, I don't know. It's cool. They,
Speaker 0 00:12:42 And it's real, like that's what makes it the thing. Yeah. You know, it's like it's raw emotion and it's, it's leaving yourself and being in that feeling for that three, four minutes. Yeah. Do you know? Yeah. And just, it's great to see artists that can do that, you know, because again, like how long have you been in town? Like, you've been in town for a while, right?
Speaker 4 00:13:07 I've only been, I've been in town for five years.
Speaker 0 00:13:09 Five years.
Speaker 4 00:13:10 So yeah. It feels like 17, but
Speaker 0 00:13:13 Five. But that's how it works. It's like you, you didn't learn that the first time you played in front of people. You know, I'm
Speaker 4 00:13:20 Hearing my mouth.
Speaker 0 00:13:21 Oh, you're good. <laugh> <laugh>. But that's where you get to, you
Speaker 4 00:13:24 Know. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:13:26 Is you get to a point where it's like, okay, I can take people on this journey.
Speaker 4 00:13:31 I feel like we're all going through it together. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like that's, that not only is it, oh, I can, you know, maybe help people feel something, but people make me feel stuff too. Yeah. Like when somebody is so engaged in something that I'm saying like that there's this reciprocal like emotion that
Speaker 0 00:13:53 It's like a feedback loop.
Speaker 4 00:13:55 Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. And it's, it's fulfilling. Yeah. It's reciprocal fulfillment. And that's why I love doing it. Yeah. Like, it's not here, let me give, it's almost somebody's giving back to the artist by, or songwriter by relating to what they have to say and feeling what they have to say just as much as, um, the same way. I dunno. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:14:22 Yeah. That's amazing.
Speaker 4 00:14:23 Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:14:24 It's, uh, it's one of those things where the, that's music is a language that everyone understands and music is a thing that can change someone's emotion. Yeah. There's not a lot of things that are like that. Yeah. You know, and it's a, it's a great thing to be able to do that. Yeah. Um, and like I said, like I really enjoy the stuff that you've been doing. Like, thank you. Well, let's, let's talk about the most recent single you just struck. Yeah. Friends of Kids just came out,
Speaker 4 00:14:51 Friends that Kiss just came out. I had been sitting on that for a minute. That's
Speaker 2 00:14:55 Such a great title. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:14:56 <laugh>,
Speaker 4 00:14:57 Thanks. Yeah. So I wrote that with AJ Perus and Brett James. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, and it was, it was really, really fun session. Um, I'd been sitting on it for a while before I released it. And of course as like, I feel like any artist does, they just wrestle with what am I gonna release? Yeah. What portrays me the best. Yeah. All this stuff. But yeah, friends at Kiss was cool cause Brett actually texted me and was like, Hey, I have a cool opportunity. And it was with the now 85 and he was like, pick like your fa it was on the spot, like, pick your fave right now. And I was like, this one,
Speaker 2 00:15:35 What's the now 85? So
Speaker 0 00:15:37 Now that's what they call music.
Speaker 4 00:15:38 This is in the
Speaker 2 00:15:40 Wait. Really? Yeah. Dude, that's still around. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:15:43 Yeah. Like I used to listen to that when I was a kid. Same. It's like the adult kids, Bob, you know? Right. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:15:50 For sure.
Speaker 4 00:15:51 I'm really stoked about it. So they, they add I think like Lauren TROs on there as well. Heck, it was, heck it was me and Lauren Weintraub. Um, and we're paired in this mix of like Taylor Swift and Lizzo and Morgan Wallen and like, and it's gonna be sold in Target.
Speaker 0 00:16:07 That's so sad. Like,
Speaker 2 00:16:09 Like an actual scene. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:16:10 Dude. <laugh> like the actual cd. So I was like, okay, pick this song. Like, it was just a cool little. That's nice. No, that's amazing. First release of the year, like, let's do it. Yeah. So, yeah.
Speaker 0 00:16:21 What are your plans with release? Like, do you have like a schedule or?
Speaker 4 00:16:25 So picture Perfect would be every six to eight weeks. Yep. Just dropping stuff. Yeah. I've been sitting on music for far too long and I'm just ready to send it. Yeah. Um, I am so over analytical about Absolutely freaking everything. So it's like, I'll get in these spurts of like, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. But it'll, it's kind of healthy for me to just be like, here we go. Let's do this, let's do that. Yep. Um, and what hits hits, like, there's no, I mean, I guess that's a game plan, but Yeah. It's gonna be cool. I'm excited.
Speaker 0 00:17:06 And, uh, are you coming back to Qs songwriter Fest this year? Cha? Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:17:10 Have to.
Speaker 0 00:17:11 Oh, homo. We're gonna make you play the razor rod happy hours if you're
Speaker 4 00:17:14 Down. Um, yeah, absolutely. Yes. I don't know if I'm gonna be drinking, but That's fine. It'll see, it's gonna be hard to go to Key West and not drink.
Speaker 0 00:17:23 I'll drink double for you. You know. Please do. That's what friends are for. Yeah. Dude. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:17:27 <laugh>. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:17:29 Uh, Kurt can't come this year either. He's doing the stadium stuff.
Speaker 2 00:17:32 I love Key West though. I'll be there in
Speaker 0 00:17:34 Spirit. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:17:35 Yeah. I've been every year for like, I think, well, the covid year, obviously nobody went, actually I did go the covid year. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:17:43 That was when
Speaker 4 00:17:44 We met you. Didn't that? I probably shouldn't say that on podcast, but
Speaker 0 00:17:46 Was it, was it, we were like the like, like end of Covid d like Oh, the year BMI wasn't
Speaker 4 00:17:51 There. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It was the year that everything was kind of shut down, so I guess No, it was fine. Yeah. Um, but yeah, we went that year. That's when we met. Yep.
Speaker 0 00:17:59 That's when we met. That's
Speaker 4 00:18:01 When we met.
Speaker 0 00:18:01 Yep.
Speaker 2 00:18:02 Fauci was gonna come get you. I
Speaker 4 00:18:04 Know <laugh>. I know. I'm like, actually can we cut that part out?
Speaker 0 00:18:06 You were, it was when you were like allowed to be out, but it was like still a little weird. Yeah. You know what I mean? It was, we were fine. Yeah. We didn't get any like
Speaker 4 00:18:15 There's enough alcohol Yeah. To absorb any germs. Yeah. It was fun. It was
Speaker 0 00:18:19 Great. What a mess up ear was. But it's funny, we were chatting, uh, with Rob Snyder that runs Revival and like Yeah. I
Speaker 4 00:18:27 Met him that year too.
Speaker 0 00:18:28 Yeah. So he was like, that was cool. Year. Told me this year, after this year, he is like, did the year before feel like better? I was like, it felt more intimate just cuz there wasn't as like much stuff going on.
Speaker 4 00:18:39 I was saying that too. Yeah. Because then the year af this past year mm-hmm. <affirmative>, there was just so many people. Yeah. And I met some new people and that was cool. But that there was something special about,
Speaker 0 00:18:50 There was a special year. Yeah. Plus
Speaker 2 00:18:51 Kurt Few was there Wait, I was there at the Covid year.
Speaker 0 00:18:54 Yeah. Really? Yeah. That was that one.
Speaker 2 00:18:57 Oh yeah. Damn. Fauci is gonna come and get us too then.
Speaker 0 00:19:00 <laugh>. <laugh>. That's why
Speaker 2 00:19:01 That wasn't a covid year. It
Speaker 0 00:19:02 Wasn't That was the end of
Speaker 2 00:19:03 It. Yeah. That wasn't Covid e Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:19:05 Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:19:05 Well there it was still shut down. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:19:07 It was like, oh,
Speaker 4 00:19:09 It was so Yeah, it was,
Speaker 0 00:19:10 I was, you had to wear a mask on planes and Oh yeah. It was that in between <laugh>. It was that in between time where like everything was still weird. But like, we were just so happy to be out doing stuff, you know?
Speaker 2 00:19:22 Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I guess my memory's a little fuzzy for some reason. <laugh>, thank
Speaker 0 00:19:25 You. Was that's from all the weed.
Speaker 2 00:19:26 Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:19:27 Yeah's, why your head's clear now?
Speaker 2 00:19:30 <laugh> Key West is so blessed. What
Speaker 0 00:19:33 Is man? It is it. It
Speaker 4 00:19:34 Is. It is. I like the, the locals are really sweet too.
Speaker 0 00:19:37 They are. They get it. Know they
Speaker 4 00:19:39 Deal with all of our shit. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:19:40 So, and
Speaker 2 00:19:41 They make money off of us, so that's why. Yes.
Speaker 4 00:19:43 Yeah. Probably. Yeah. A lot of money. I brought a lot of money. Yes,
Speaker 0 00:19:46 For sure. And it's one of those things too, where it's like, it's, you can network however you network, but like that is a place where you can be in the bar with a hit songwriter or you can be in the bar with like, the next big thing. Yeah. And like, you don't know it. You're just being a good person and having fun, you know, like
Speaker 4 00:20:05 There's like a family aspect to Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:20:09 When you go
Speaker 2 00:20:09 On, like, not like a rated G family aspect, no bunch. Definitely Bunch of generates that are <laugh>, like related.
Speaker 4 00:20:15 Definitely rated. That part. That part.
Speaker 0 00:20:17 Yeah. It's, it's one of the things that I like loved and I, it's so funny because like I go to festivals with like a crew of friends Yeah. And um, you know, we go to shows on the road Yeah. And all of those are great, but there's just something special about West Songwriters Fest. Yeah. It's, the songs are on display, but it's also like everybody's on vacation together. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:20:39 You know? Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:20:40 So cool.
Speaker 4 00:20:41 Yeah. It was, I, so one of my friends actually, do you know that karaoke bar that I'm talking about? Oh yeah. I'd never been. Do you know what it's called?
Speaker 2 00:20:51 The one in Key West?
Speaker 4 00:20:52 Yeah. That everybody goes to where
Speaker 0 00:20:54 It's like with the screen was in front of it. Yeah. Yeah. That
Speaker 2 00:20:57 Was, were we saying Weezer at like four in the morning? Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:21:00 Yeah. Where everybody goes at like three or four in the morning.
Speaker 2 00:21:02 It's just absolutely
Speaker 0 00:21:04 Snow Mac no knows the name of it because you can't read it. It's blurry by the time you go in, you know, <laugh> at
Speaker 4 00:21:09 Heart. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I would think I was like barefoot, just like, not Karen at all. And one of my friends were like, get on stage. And I was like, no. And she was like, yeah. So I like got on stage.
Speaker 2 00:21:20 Okay.
Speaker 4 00:21:21 <laugh>. Oh yeah, exactly. Naturally. But it's just,
Speaker 0 00:21:25 Do you remember what she sang?
Speaker 4 00:21:26 Oh, cha. Yeah. Always Love On the Brain by Rihanna. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:21:30 Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:21:30 Every single time.
Speaker 2 00:21:32 I dunno if I know that song. Really? How does it go?
Speaker 4 00:21:37 This be Love? I'm just kidding. I don't sing like that. I promise <laugh>, but it's like, you know, oh, you're being sarcastic. Yeah, it
Speaker 0 00:21:44 Was, that was,
Speaker 2 00:21:45 That was a
Speaker 4 00:21:46 Really good one. <laugh>. That was a really good one.
Speaker 2 00:21:49 Um, umbrella <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:21:51 I was like, how do you, are you living under a rock? Maybe. Um, okay
Speaker 0 00:21:56 Man. But I
Speaker 4 00:21:58 I What's your go-to songs?
Speaker 2 00:21:59 Okay, so mine used to be, uh, American Pie because like Okay. The Cho but it's also like seven and a half minutes long. Oh yeah. So I always like, when I'm remember my hammer, I'm like, this will be funny. I'll sing the longest song ever. Yeah. And then, so that would always sing that one
Speaker 4 00:22:16 Love.
Speaker 2 00:22:17 And then it, if I do like a country song, I sing in Color by Jam Johnson. Cause I just love that song. Not
Speaker 4 00:22:22 Mad. Nick, what's yours? Oh, I totally,
Speaker 2 00:22:25 But I was gonna, just kidding story.
Speaker 4 00:22:27 Okay. Your time is done. <laugh> your turn.
Speaker 2 00:22:29 Wait, who's hosting this podcast now?
Speaker 0 00:22:31 <laugh>.
Speaker 2 00:22:33 I was at, uh, Santa's one time and I was drunk also. That's weird. I was at Santa's. Yeah. <laugh>. I got a, I got on the mic and I'm like, I'm like, this is my fucking favorite contra song in color. And then he just
Speaker 0 00:22:46 Cuts the
Speaker 2 00:22:47 Mic. Yeah. Cuts the mic off. And he's like, Ooh. I'm like, what? And he goes, he points behind me and I turn around and there's a big sign that says no cussing on stage or else you can't sing. I was like, and so I didn't get to sing <laugh>. So I still have never done karaoke at Santa's.
Speaker 0 00:23:04 Uh, I think I have, I, if I recall correctly, I have done karaoke there.
Speaker 4 00:23:09 Mm-hmm. I, I haven't, I think I've only been to Santa's once.
Speaker 0 00:23:12 So it's no drinks on stage. Yeah. And no cursing. So if the song curses
Speaker 4 00:23:17 And everybody's Absolutely. You just have to prepare while they're there. Oh yeah. It's so, like, it's impossible.
Speaker 0 00:23:21 Yeah. It it, they're of multiple times a night where it doesn't happen like that. Oh yeah. <laugh>. Oh my gosh. <laugh>. She, she,
Speaker 4 00:23:27 But, um, what did you sing? Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:23:30 I,
Speaker 2 00:23:31 We did Weezer.
Speaker 0 00:23:32 Yeah, we did Weezer Say Saying So. Okay. Duet. Uh, when we were there, when we went to that bar, I was like, we should do Weezer and Kurt's. Like what song? I'm like, any of them. Yeah. <laugh>. Yeah. And he's like, okay. <laugh> <laugh>. And we didn't say it ain't so's. Oh yeah, I just did. Yeah. I just did some, uh, creed in, uh, Birmingham when we were out, like watching a Trey Loose show.
Speaker 4 00:23:57 You wanna give us a preview?
Speaker 0 00:23:58 Oh, I mean, listen, I'm not really a singer while I just heard That's it. That's all you got. <laugh>.
Speaker 2 00:24:06 Well, I'll Charlie tune it. Like, uh, TPA would be
Speaker 0 00:24:08 Funny. <laugh>. That's funny. But, uh, we've been doing those butt rock nights. Have you seen those butt
Speaker 4 00:24:13 Rock
Speaker 0 00:24:14 Nights? So we, uh, I'm
Speaker 4 00:24:15 Sorry. Can we like, explain
Speaker 2 00:24:17 Those? Like, wizards defines Butt rock as
Speaker 0 00:24:20 <laugh>. Uh, so Butt Rock is just like rock and roll music from like, maybe like 2000 to 2005. Okay. Early on. Specifically like butt rock. Yeah. It's, uh, and we call the Night Nothing Butt Rock Night. And it's Plug Creed's Nickelback. Okay. Cer Three Doors Downer, Evanescence, three Doors Down. Okay. Uh, buck Cherry, like all of those bands,
Speaker 4 00:24:47 The greats, the
Speaker 0 00:24:47 Classics, like the ones that you know, you shouldn't like, but you still do. Exactly. You know,
Speaker 4 00:24:53 Favorite Nickelback song. You have three seconds to answer. Wow. I really am taking control.
Speaker 2 00:24:57 No, I love this. This is <laugh>. Um, this is, don't wanna name Drop, but when we played in Vancouver, Chad Kroger came to our show with Luke. Okay. And, uh, Krieger Chad. Kruegger Chad. Yeah. And I was like, Hey man, I just, I wanna apologize for pirating all your music on Napster. Like back in the day when I was in middle school, <laugh>. And he, he's, he was like, you know, he's super smart and has a really quick wit. He goes, actually Napster gave me an award for the most pirated song for this is how you remind me. <laugh>.
Speaker 0 00:25:26 So that's funny. I mean, it's a classic. That might be my favorite Nickelback song That
Speaker 2 00:25:31 Is mine is,
Speaker 0 00:25:32 Yeah. Yeah. I mean, how You Can Get Better Hot,
Speaker 2 00:25:34 That song Breathe. It's got the Talk box in it. Oh, yeah. That's off their first record. So it's not a super popular,
Speaker 4 00:25:40 Obviously I like photograph, but
Speaker 0 00:25:41 Like Yeah. Great
Speaker 4 00:25:42 Song. Everybody knows that song. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:25:43 Okay. Well, um, well, what do you do in March 12th? You wanna come sing a butt rock song for my birthday? If you're in town
Speaker 4 00:25:51 March 12th,
Speaker 0 00:25:52 Come on out, let you check, check the cat off. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:25:54 <laugh>, let me
Speaker 2 00:25:55 Check the cat. This is like a big ass Nick. Yeah. <laugh> <laugh>. I'm
Speaker 4 00:25:58 Actually super down, but
Speaker 0 00:25:59 Just we, uh, so we did, uh, one night, uh, of Butt Rock and we had like Dean and Mikey and our boys, like as the like live band. Yeah. So it's full live band. Okay.
Speaker 4 00:26:12 Basically. Wait, that's probably a
Speaker 0 00:26:13 Blast. It's so good. Super fun. So each artist does one song and you just sing it like, like, just like the record. So you don't even have to like, oh, I'm excited. Like practice with I have to be there if you're, if you're in town. If
Speaker 4 00:26:23 I'm in town, I'll be there. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:26:24 It's, it's amazing. And we had such a good night, me and, uh, Matt co-hosted it. It was an in the Round Raise Roddy collab, and we went, wore Nickelback hockey jerseys have to, and like Jason Cross kicked the night off and
Speaker 2 00:26:37 Just, well did they, him and Mark did their makeup and everything like
Speaker 0 00:26:40 God. Oh, Eli, mark and Eli, yeah. Oh,
Speaker 4 00:26:42 That's painted. Their, their fingernails black. Oh,
Speaker 0 00:26:44 Yeah. And like, oh yeah. Yeah. It was magical.
Speaker 2 00:26:45 The band wore like jnco jeans. Yeah. Oh
Speaker 4 00:26:48 Dude, I'll bring my skateboard. It was,
Speaker 0 00:26:50 Yes. It was so great, but it was super fun. And so the bar was like, can we do that again? And I was like, yeah. And we've been planning it and we're doing it for my birthday. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:26:59 Wait,
Speaker 4 00:27:00 When's your birthday?
Speaker 0 00:27:00 March 12th. Yeah. So we're doing it March 12th for my birthday. It's
Speaker 2 00:27:04 Happy birthday,
Speaker 4 00:27:05 Nikki. Yeah. Happy early birthday.
Speaker 0 00:27:06 Yeah. Yeah. It's the 20th anniversary of my 21st birthday.
Speaker 2 00:27:10 Wow. That's, that's the way to celebrate it. Hey, you gotta really, really celebrate. Good. See on that for when I'm for, uh, 41. Yeah. All right.
Speaker 0 00:27:18 We're getting mash it, you know, 41. But, uh, it's, it's, it was so much fun and it was just everybody just like, it's like the joke you're in on, you know what I mean? Like, everybody had so much fun. Yeah. And, uh, I think we're doing it again this year. I think Grady Sackman and those boys are gonna put some more so we can do more songs. Nice. Because Dean and Mikey were like, dude, we can't learn like 35 songs. Right. You know? So, uh, I think we're like bringing in more musicians and stuff.
Speaker 2 00:27:42 Damn.
Speaker 4 00:27:43 It's gonna be fun. Let me know. Yeah. Keep me posted.
Speaker 0 00:27:46 Yeah. I mean, if you're in town, let's do it. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:27:48 <laugh>, I'll just, you can sing it The chick part to Evanescence. Yeah. <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:27:51 Absolutely. Are you kidding?
Speaker 2 00:27:53 I'll be like, can't wake up <laugh>. Wake me up. Nailed this <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:28:00 Yeah. That's
Speaker 2 00:28:01 Fun. You get it. Yeah. One rock in your heart for sure. Of course. <laugh>. Of course.
Speaker 0 00:28:06 But it went so well. So we were just, we're doing it again
Speaker 2 00:28:09 Now. That's Butt Rock 85.
Speaker 4 00:28:11 Thank you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:28:13 <laugh> <laugh>. That'd be funny. This is great.
Speaker 0 00:28:16 Um, and so any other songs that you have scheduled currently, or are you not sure on the next one? Yeah,
Speaker 4 00:28:23 Dude. So I actually have the next four planned out. Hell yeah. Um, yeah. So this next one is called If You Know, you know mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And it's probably one of the more like, simpler songs I've ever written. Like, it's very blunt. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I feel like I do that a lot with, like, writing is, I'll just like, I'm not really trying to be that much of a poet, but, um, it's basically like this, like emotional rollercoaster of the, so it goes from grief to like depression, to like peace and joy. And it's like, it's kind of cute. See, it's like if, you know, you know, and if you know I'm not alone, it's like, I don't know, it's, I feel like it'll reach who it needs to reach, if that makes sense, you know? Yeah. A little bit deep, but Absolutely. That's just me. Super deep
Speaker 2 00:29:12 <laugh>. Hell
Speaker 0 00:29:13 Yeah. Well, your songs are emotional like that. And again, I I think that's part of like your brand, right? Yeah. Like that's,
Speaker 4 00:29:20 I think
Speaker 2 00:29:20 It's just me. Yeah. Vulnerability and Yeah. For sure. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:29:24 I love that.
Speaker 4 00:29:24 I'm not good at like, not being myself. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:29:29 Well
Speaker 4 00:29:30 You shouldn't be. I've tried multiple, it's better times and it doesn't work,
Speaker 0 00:29:32 So Yeah. It's better to not be, yeah.
Speaker 4 00:29:33 You know? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:29:35 Um, well, how did you get to Nashville? Like what, like made you move here?
Speaker 4 00:29:40 Dude, you, you really ready for this story? Yes.
Speaker 0 00:29:42 Origin story.
Speaker 4 00:29:44 Oh, goodness gracious. Um, you want the longer and the short version? The best one. The best version. Yeah. Rocking. Yeah. All right, here we go. So, grew up in Indiana mm-hmm. <affirmative>, right? We're nothing in Is hey, west Baby, nothing is, but grew up in Indiana, uh, surrounded myself was quite the hellion of a child.
Speaker 0 00:30:09 A little bit rowdy maybe.
Speaker 4 00:30:10 Yeah. Little bit rowdy
Speaker 0 00:30:12 <laugh>. Just, just maybe raised, rowdy,
Speaker 4 00:30:13 A little bit rowdy. Yeah. Um, and ended up just like hanging around the wrong people, doing the wrong things, getting really deep into like bullshit. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> shenanigans. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And ended up going to Belmont for like a semester. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> same, possibly 60 days. Like, I don't even know how long it was, was not there. Couldn't tell you. And was just like, no, hate this, um, hate this. Like, I was commercial voice. And I remember going into like nothing against Belmont <laugh>, but like, I ju it just wasn't for me. And I also wanted to party more. And so I was like, all right, bet. Let's go to California. Cuz I just like, didn't wanna go back home. There was a bunch of stuff there and I was just like, this is not the shot, this is not what I wanna do. Um, ended up going to California, lived there for about two and a half years. What part? Hollywood. So I went from Indian, Indiana. Wow. I can't even say <laugh> my own town. Yeah. That's great. That's where I'm at today. Three Red Bulls in <laugh>, um, Indianapolis sub suburbs to freaking Hollywood, California. Complete, like
Speaker 0 00:31:41 Different
Speaker 4 00:31:42 Vibe. Like different vibe, man. Yeah. And lived a lot of life. Did a lot of things mm-hmm. <affirmative> and kind of got to this point. And I had always struggled with like depression and anxiety, like badly. And this was probably the worst. I've, I was in a relationship for like two and a half years, almost married the guy. Like, I'm like 19 a little baby until I'm 21. And then, um, lost it. Like, just lost my mind and like, stayed in bed for like two weeks. Not even kidding. Wow. Like, did not get up to do anything except for like, go to the bathroom and maybe smoke a cigarette, you know what I mean? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so it was like really, really low point for me. And I'd been at a low point before, but it was kind of this like really massive spiritual, spiritual experience and like, I totally am a woman of faith.
Speaker 4 00:32:42 Like I love, I love the Lord. Um, and I just knew in that moment that if I didn't get out of there, I'm in this like 600 square foot apartment in the middle of Hollywood, working my ass off trying to survive. Yeah. Had broken up with like my boyfriend and the whole world was caving in on me. Right. So I just felt this voice in me be like, you need to go back to Nashville. And then I called my mom. We're besties. Now, obviously you've seen us in Qs. Yeah. But like, at the time, like I wa like did not have a relationship with my parents very much. Like, was kind of just like, I'm doing my own thing. Yeah. And she was like, she kind of confirmed it. She was like, go to Nashville. And so I made the decision in that moment. I think I left like a week later and I was like, okay. Um, I left so many things in California, I was just like, we're going mm-hmm. <affirmative> and got here and made the decision. I was like, I'm actually gonna care about what I'm doing and I'm never gonna get to that place again. And so, you know, kind of let, let the Lord do his work, <laugh>. And it's been really special. So there's a lot of things in the nooks and crannies, but we can get to that at another point. Yeah. But that's the, that's the Cliff notes.
Speaker 0 00:34:04 So, and like where did you find your, like clique here? Like any specific bars or rooms or, yeah.
Speaker 4 00:34:12 Belfort Taps, man. Yep. One of the first bars that I ever played at. And within the first like two months of living here, I was playing there like four to six nights a week. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And that's, I mean, the bar scene in Nashville is a black hole of itself as well. So it's like, you know, you learn as you go. Yeah. You move as you go. It's not like one day you wake up and you're like, everything's changed. Like, it's definitely been a process. But yeah. Man, the family here that I have established, like the people, the, it's just, it's like nothing I've ever experienced before. I love Nashville. I will not go anywhere else. Maybe I'll have like a condo here and there one day <laugh>, but like, I wanna raise children here. Yeah. I love this
Speaker 0 00:35:03 Place. This town is special. Yeah. It's, it's community. Yeah. It's everybody pointing in the same direction. Yeah. You know, it's, it's bigger than just music too. Yeah. It's special. People change my life for sure. Yeah. Absolutely. I always talk to Kurt and I'm like, we're literally, we're in the matrix like
Speaker 4 00:35:24 1000%.
Speaker 0 00:35:26 Like we are a hundred percent like plugged in, you know, <laugh>. Yes. <laugh>. He just had some like crazy stuff. Like he always has crazy stuff happen to him. But like, uh, we were at, we were at smoking cigars with one of his good buddies and
Speaker 2 00:35:39 I don't know what story you're about to tell right now.
Speaker 0 00:35:41 <laugh> Eric with Eric down at the that.
Speaker 2 00:35:44 Oh, yeah, yeah,
Speaker 0 00:35:44 Yeah. Okay. And we were there. It was me and Kurt and his buddy Eric and our buddy Jade Eagleson and two of Eric's buddies. Yeah. And we were just at a table, just having a great conversation. And then like, when we left that night, I was like, literally everyone at that table had a dream job. You know, like Yeah. Where else in the world does that happen? Yeah. Nowhere. And not all of 'em are music related. Eric's professional wrestler. Kurt plays music. I That's so cool. I work for a labeled during the day, like, um, two of the other guys work for like comics.com, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like, and then Jade's a artist. You know, there's
Speaker 4 00:36:20 Just, there's so much opportunity and there's, so that's, that's the difference. I feel like esp like even between California and Nashville mm-hmm. <affirmative> is like not, well not even the opportunity, but the drive that is behind the majority of people you meet in this town. Yeah. Whether they're doing music or not. Right. They, I feel like people are just motivated here and, but also laid back and chill. Like it's not,
Speaker 2 00:36:45 I feel like the ceiling is lower in Nashville, but the bottom is much higher. That's great. Yeah. That makes sense. So it's like you're more likely to be able to pursue like your art Yeah. And like sustain yourself on it living here than you are in LA Yeah. But I mean like Beyonce to, you know, it doesn't tour out of Nashville, so you're never gonna like, play for Beyonce. Yeah. But like, you can still make a living with your own music. Yeah. Even if it's not like having number ones. It's like playing cool rooms and touring base outta here and writing and sync licensing and all these different avenues. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:37:18 Do y'all feel like it's like, I feel like you guys are the type of guys that like, it's not about the number ones or the this or the that. I mean it could be, but like I feel like it's so much more rewarding when we just make music to, because we love it and we're passionate about it.
Speaker 2 00:37:38 Yeah. I um, I think I was talking about this withdrew on our last podcast or somebody, but it was like, I've had to like change my life goals cuz my goals forever have been pay my bills with music. Sure. And that still is my number one like goal. Yeah. You know, but now it's like, maybe I do wanna play Fenway Park or maybe I do want to play at the station in or whatever. So,
Speaker 4 00:38:02 And those are cool goals to have. Yeah. Like obviously, but it's not like Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:38:08 For me, like I couldn't even have dreamed up what I'm doing now five years ago.
Speaker 4 00:38:12 That's so cool,
Speaker 0 00:38:13 Dude. Like I literally, I I couldn't even have dreamed it up. Yeah. You know, and like when I moved to town, I never thought a label would hire me for a day job. Like
Speaker 2 00:38:22 Yeah. Make memes, <laugh>. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:38:23 Like
Speaker 4 00:38:24 Run. I love that
Speaker 0 00:38:25 For you. Like, it's crazy. Like they saw the value in what I did and maybe even before I did almost, you know what I mean? Yeah. It's like, it's like that. And like with the success we've had with Ray Rowdy and like the events in town and just like random people walking up to me and be like, Hey, are you Nick from Ray Rowdy? And I'm like, you shouldn't know who I am. Like what? I'm like, what's going on? Like Yeah. It's just, it's a super strange world for me for a guy that literally just lived his whole life in Pittsburgh as a music fan. Yeah. You know? And then I moved here like two years ago and I feel like I'm in the Matrix. Dude,
Speaker 4 00:39:01 How cool is that
Speaker 0 00:39:01 Dude? It's been two years. Yeah. Over a little over two years it feels like.
Speaker 4 00:39:04 Wait, you've only been here for two years?
Speaker 0 00:39:06 Yeah. Like two and a half. Are
Speaker 4 00:39:07 You Josh?
Speaker 0 00:39:07 And No, that's it. Bullshit artist. Two and a half years. Really? Dude raise Rowdy's like five and a half years old and I'm like two and a half years into town.
Speaker 4 00:39:15 That's nuts.
Speaker 0 00:39:16 Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 4 00:39:19 Yeah. Class. It's Nikki. That's amazing. We
Speaker 0 00:39:22 Love you. It's uh, I love that it's Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:39:25 You deserve it. You Oh, you work your butt
Speaker 0 00:39:27 Off. We try.
Speaker 4 00:39:28 But you're Yeah. But you're also just a good human, so thank you. I feel like good things come to those who are good,
Speaker 0 00:39:33 But not in every town, but definitely in Nashville they do. Yeah. You know, and that's another thing that makes this area special is like, there's a lot of people that are good people, but there's a lot of people that aren't, but they really, you can see rewards coming to people here that are genuinely good. Yeah. You know, like
Speaker 4 00:39:50 People are deserving here. Yeah. Yeah. And it's, I mean, not to say nobody's deserving No.
Speaker 0 00:39:54 Yeah. But it's, it makes you feel good when people say you're a good person. And you know, like I remember before I moved here, um, I was doing like a writer's on takeover at what's now Live Oak, but I think it was then maybe still Frisky Frogs. Prisy Frogs, yeah. And this was Priscilla Block of course, before she was big. Yeah. Her friend was playing, so she was there. Okay. And she was just like chatting me up and she was like, I absolutely love the, you're as nice as everyone says you are. And I was like, I was like, that's like, that's so sweet. That's the nicest thing everyone anyone said to me because it's like, not only are you saying I'm nice, but like you're saying, everybody's saying I'm nice and I'm like, it just feels good. Um, and being a town like this where hard work, everybody's on the grind. Yeah. So like you being on the grinds another part of that. Yeah. Like when I was back in Pittsburgh, like I would get off work and I'd start working again. Yeah. And people were like, what are you doing? Like, you're not making any money doing that. Like, what are you doing? And I'm like, and I'm like, it's mm-hmm. <affirmative>, this is what I love. Yeah. And I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. And I still don't know if I have it figured out, but we're working on it every day.
Speaker 4 00:41:01 Nobody knows what they're doing. Yeah. They can pretend all day, but we
Speaker 0 00:41:04 Don't Now I tricked Kurt into doing this podcast with me. I tricked you into being guests on the podcast. Hey, gladly. We have Ike and Charlie <laugh> <laugh>, we have a whole team of degenerates that like no one's drinking right now, but maybe just <laugh>. <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:41:19 Hey man, day 42.
Speaker 0 00:41:21 That's so great. But like, it's, it's just such a special place and like people really respect, like, I talked to Graham Barham the other day, love him. And Graham was like, dude, I didn't realize you worked at a label. And I was like, yeah, it's like my day gig. He's like, it's so cool that you already have that and you're still doing this and grinding. Right. And I'm like, yeah man, this is what I want to do. Yeah. And God bless big loud for saying, Hey, I can still do this and do that. Yeah. You know, cuz a lot of labels wouldn't do that. Love that. You know, it's, uh, it's a blessing to be for a company that that's is that open-minded. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:41:58 You know, I just had lunch with Ava and Nate. I love them. They're so
Speaker 0 00:42:01 Sweet. Yes. Cool. Who's Ava and Nate? Uh, big loud A and r. Ooh. I
Speaker 4 00:42:06 Can tell you. Oh gosh. I, I not try. No, no. Yeah, I
Speaker 0 00:42:10 Can. Ooh. Whoa.
Speaker 4 00:42:12 Just a little bit of coffee. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:42:14 I can tell you that I have brought your name up there before. Wow.
Speaker 4 00:42:17 Yeah. Thanks man.
Speaker 0 00:42:19 Absolutely. And uh, I'd actually talked to Patch about you before too, who's like, but that's one of the neat things about being in the building there is like, I can help shine a, I I mean they're, they'd find it regardless, but like I can be like, yo, this is cool when it's happening right now. Yeah. You know, like, they're great with everything, great with data and everything cool. But it's like, yo, this is cool. Like when Austin Snell moved to town, like before it happened Yeah. With him. Yeah. I was like, there's this kid Austin that just moved to town and he's really, really good. He doesn't have a pub deal or anything and he doesn't have any music out yet, but he's awesome. And then when it happened, Patrick was like, oh, okay. He's
Speaker 4 00:42:57 Like, yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:42:59 Yeah, yeah. And I'm not always right, like nobody is Right. Like that's not how it works. But yeah. You can see when it's special. Yeah. Like there's a girl Shelby Ray that's in town and she's pretty new and she's really good. Why have I
Speaker 4 00:43:09 Heard, I've heard her name, she
Speaker 0 00:43:11 Play, she's putting playing rounds and stuff and she's really good. Show me Ray May maybe six months in town, but like, you hear it and you're like, this is cool. That
Speaker 4 00:43:20 Is almost my favorite time of like, like hearing an artist is when they're like super new. Yeah. Because just figuring it out, dude, the evolution of artists, like from when they first come to town Yes. And who they become, even in like a year, it might not even like stylistically it doesn't have to be that drastic. Yeah. But it's just like coming here and I mean, at least that's what happened for me, like coming here and like watching people and observing people in rounds and they're writing styles and like being in different rooms and like, it just kinda, it's special. It is.
Speaker 0 00:43:56 It's cool. I always say that too. I'm like, I love hearing a singer and then hearing 'em later and they like got their voice figured out or like, they know now how to do better with the crowd.
Speaker 4 00:44:07 It develops an artist. Yeah. Like, by not even like taking the time, like having to develop I feel like
Speaker 0 00:44:14 Just the reps Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:44:15 Practice.
Speaker 0 00:44:15 Yep, for sure. And that's, that's how you learn how to take a room. That's how you learn that this song is the one that if people are talking, you can shut em the fuck up with mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, like that's how that works. But it, it only works if you put in the work to do it. Yeah. That's not luck. Mm. That's a skill that you're
Speaker 4 00:44:32 Teaching
Speaker 0 00:44:32 Yourself. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:44:33 Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:44:34 That's awesome. Um, and then, so you grew up in Indianapolis suburbs, so just like, yeah. Did you go to any venues around there or were
Speaker 4 00:44:44 You I used to play at this place when I was, I was like 14 mm-hmm. <affirmative> when I first started like playing gigs mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it was called Detour Bar and Grill. And I was a hostess there and I ended That's cool. I got fired. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:44:58 <laugh>
Speaker 4 00:44:59 <laugh>. I didn't Chuck to work one day and they're like, sorry, you're fine. I was like, okay. Yeah. But yeah, I was cool. Like there's like little venues, like I never, I remember, what's this, what's that theater called? I think it's called, I could Be So Wrong, but it's like Emerson Theater or something like that in, in India. And I remember seeing a show there when I was probably like 16 and just being like, yeah, like I wanna be back on the stage and doing all the things, but not a lot until I, like Nashville really shaped me as an artist. Awesome. Especially in like a performance setting. Yeah. Like, yeah. It, and it's totally, totally helped me so much. The reps.
Speaker 0 00:45:49 Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:45:49 Yeah. I mean, I remember my first round was at Bel Court taps mm-hmm. <affirmative> during like, like at a 3:00 PM slot mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know what I mean? And so nervous, like could barely play the guitar and I mean, I could still barely play the guitar. I can paint <laugh>, but like, it's fine. Um, but I was so nervous and my songs were shit. And I mean, to me, I won't, yeah. I won't knock myself down that much, but like,
Speaker 0 00:46:16 Who did you co-write this with? <laugh> me. <laugh>. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:46:21 Um, but yeah, it was cool.
Speaker 0 00:46:23 Yeah. It's, it's special to see that stuff happen. And I remember like when we first talked, I was like, oh, you, you probably super young. And you're like, no, I'm like a little bit older than everybody else that did that. Yeah. But you lived life before you got here. Yeah. Dude. And you had those emotions, right? Yeah. I
Speaker 4 00:46:42 Do a lot of pain. But
Speaker 0 00:46:43 You, if you moved here at 18 and life was great this whole time, you wouldn't have that will to draw from. Yeah. You know, you'd have to get it from your co-writers, you know, <laugh>. Yeah. But, but like, you have that to draw from now, you know? Yeah. Life is about experiences and great songs are also about experiences. So true.
Speaker 4 00:46:59 Man. 1000%. Really
Speaker 0 00:47:00 Well said. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:47:01 I love it. 1000 thousand percent.
Speaker 0 00:47:03 Yeah. Do you have any more touring stuff scheduled or
Speaker 4 00:47:06 Hey man, we're hoping. Yeah, we're really hoping, but not, not yet.
Speaker 0 00:47:11 Not right now. Not
Speaker 4 00:47:12 Yet. Um,
Speaker 0 00:47:12 Once this podcast drops Yeah. <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:47:14 Yeah. Once this, once this podcast
Speaker 0 00:47:16 Drops, that'll be it.
Speaker 4 00:47:17 It's just gonna blow up
Speaker 0 00:47:18 For all of us. What, uh, do you have a full band put together? You play acoustic gigs? Mostly
Speaker 4 00:47:21 Working on it. Yeah. Um, hell yeah. I love, I love the feeling of an acoustic gig Yeah. But like of an acoustic set, but I love performing with full band also. Yeah. You know what I mean? And just like being able to be super carefree and just like mm-hmm.
Speaker 0 00:47:37 <affirmative> not have to play guitar in any, not
Speaker 4 00:47:38 Have to play the guitar and like shake while I'm like going on the stage. Yeah. Yeah. So actually I'm, I'm hoping, I was actually talking to my agent about that. They were like, we want you to do a, like your first show, like headlining show. Yeah. At like, I don't know if it's gonna be at like analog or Basement East or like whatever ticketed show. Yeah. So that's coming up. I love that. And that will be full band.
Speaker 0 00:48:08 Who do you look through?
Speaker 4 00:48:09 Um, I'm with uta. Cool. Awesome. Yeah, they're amazing. Yeah, absolutely incredible love. And
Speaker 0 00:48:15 You have pub deal too, right?
Speaker 4 00:48:16 Yeah. Yeah. So I'm over at Cornman. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and they're JV with Warner Travel.
Speaker 0 00:48:22 Yep. Did someone from there like see you play? Or like how did those meetings start? Dude,
Speaker 4 00:48:28 Actually, so one of the first friends I ever met in Nashville mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, she was like my bestie for a while. And actually we had been friends for like a really long time and she like invited me over to her mom's house and her soon-to-be stepdad's house. Well, I walk in and her soon Tobe stepped out is Brett James. Oh, alright. And I was like, okay. But like, not expecting anything of it. But, um, they were super awesome people and we just kind of sat down and ate dinner and like talked about life and then he like randomly he was like, I heard you like our musician. And I was like, no, <laugh>. Absolutely not. He was like, you wanna play something? And I'm like, no. Absolutely not.
Speaker 0 00:49:18 Two days literally. Wonderful.
Speaker 4 00:49:20 I'm wonderful. And I played a men game mm-hmm. <affirmative>, which is like one of the very first songs I even wrote in Nashville. And I love it, dude. And he, he was like, brought to tears and like one thing led to another and I was a published writer.
Speaker 0 00:49:42 Yeah. Wow. <laugh> How often do you get to write now? Because I know you've been, you know, doing more traveling and things.
Speaker 4 00:49:48 So I'm in the, like, in the beginning of, they actually just picked up my second option. Okay. Which is really, really special. Um, I love it there. And, but I've been writing, like before I was writing like three to five days a week mm-hmm. <affirmative>, so basically every day. But, um, I kind of chilled Yeah. With tour and stuff like that. Yeah. I'm trying to get back into it. Um, so there's an a and d there's, there's an artist development like with them as well mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, so that's been cool. They've kind of just put me in rooms where it's like, let's write for you, let's do all this stuff. But I really do wanna venture out into the, the songwriting world for like other people too. Yeah. Um, obviously I love being able to release music Yeah. But I wanna get back into the swing of things. Yeah. If that makes sense. I love writing. It's so special, but then sometimes it's like I, I don't feel like a lot of us really realize that we're putting all of our guts and soul into a three hour session of words and emotion and it's, it can wear you out sometimes. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:51:00 No
Speaker 4 00:51:00 Doubt. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:51:02 I think that's why like Nashville is a whole city, like kind of takes that Christmasy break dude, because it's like by the end of the year you're just worn. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, whether it's from touring or writing or like making memes, like whatever it is. <laugh>. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:51:17 And then the beginning of the year comes in, it's like, okay, get back. Get back. Yeah. Like couple days ago it was the first day in a, in a little bit where my cortisol levels were balanced again. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:51:29 <laugh> <laugh>.
Speaker 4 00:51:31 But that's great. Yeah. That's really cool.
Speaker 0 00:51:34 It's uh, it's cool. And then, you know, you've had some success on the internet. Um,
Speaker 2 00:51:40 Wait, what is this, you were talking about like Song House or something. What, what is, I don't know what that is. What do you teach me?
Speaker 4 00:51:45 Yes, of course.
Speaker 2 00:51:47 What to house
Speaker 4 00:51:48 Means you ask and you shall receive. Um, so Song House is obvious, a social media platform. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Okay. Um, Tyler Ward runs it mm-hmm. <affirmative> and it's basically what it sounds. So it's 30, 30 minutes, 30 seconds, uh, 30 minutes to write a hook. Okay. Like, and how many
Speaker 0 00:52:07 Of you
Speaker 4 00:52:07 Right there? Or a hook? So it's actually randomized groups. Okay. So there'll be like, it depends on how many people come that week. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, but they literally randomized groups. There could be from two to three to four. Okay. And you have 30 minutes to write a hook and a pre or just a hook or just a pre or whatever. Usually both. And you'll have a concept. And in the beginning, everybody kind of had, has to unanimously vote for what? Um, beat or
Speaker 2 00:52:47 Like genre. Or genre or
Speaker 4 00:52:48 Production style or whatever. Production, yeah, that was the word I was looking for. Thank you. Um, production that we wanna do. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and then we film it. We have two or three takes to do it and we post it on, they post it on the internet. If it reaches a speci, like a specific amount of streams or not streams, views on the internet or like goes viral or whatever, you finish the song. Yeah. And I kind of just walked in there. It was really the early stages of it and just like, it was a total God thing, man. Like went in there, wrote honest with some cool people, wrote Parachute with some cool people. Yeah. Honest has now like Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:53:30 Yeah. My girlfriend uses that song in her therapy classes.
Speaker 4 00:53:35 I love that. Yeah. Yeah. It was, that was a dark moment for me. But it was cool that other people were, and sad the other people were having like the same kind of experience. There's been, I think we're almost at like 41 million, so crazy all around, which is obviously nuts for like, I'm, I don't know, that's never happened to me before <laugh>. So, um, that was really cool. Cool. Little milestone and then parachute shortly after I feel like, so I quickly kind of in literally the most humble, I'm so grateful for it way I kind of became like the face of that platform. Yeah. Um, and just recently I decided no bad blood with anybody. Just decided like I've been sitting on music that I've been working my little booty off to make and it's time for me to like go into this as an independent artist. Yeah. And we'll see what happens. And Friends, that Kiss isn't at 41 million, but it's, you know, it's just, it's all a process and I'm kind of figuring it out that way. But yeah. Song House is
Speaker 0 00:54:45 Cool. Yeah. It's a, it's just an interesting concept. Like, and it just shows you like there's no right way to get people to hear your stuff. Right.
Speaker 4 00:54:54 It's a community too. Like Yeah. The people that I've met there will like some of them lifelong friends. Yeah. Like forever. Yeah. So it was, it's cool.
Speaker 0 00:55:02 Yeah. Neat experience and like when I saw that happening and I saw you were on it, I remember like, I ran into you, I'm like, I saw that you were on this thing and like, that looks cool. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And that was like before everything happened, you know?
Speaker 4 00:55:15 I mean, yeah. I met a lot. That's how I like, like Honest and Parachute really shaped where I am now. Yeah. Um, I'm really am grateful for those songs that, that we wrote. And I feel like they were like really powerful for people For sure. And impacted people. A hundred percent. Yeah. Which is like what I wanna do. Yeah. You know, it's
Speaker 2 00:55:40 Working
Speaker 4 00:55:40 For sure. Thanks. So, yeah.
Speaker 0 00:55:43 It's a, it's a cool thing to like get to see other people enjoy that. Right. And like, whatever I do, whatever form that comes in or
Speaker 4 00:55:51 People come up and like, cuz it's always, it's never been about just like, like I love music. It's been my passion since I was a kid, yada, yada y like mm-hmm. <affirmative>, literally everybody who's passionate about what they do is story. Yeah. But being able to relate to people and it's that, it's that reciprocity again, it's that like reciprocal fulfillment of just like, people will come up and be like, dude, your song. Like, oh my gosh, it was my sister's birthday. She's a Christmas Eve baby. We were at this restaurant in Indiana and like all over the, like the United States people have, I don't know, it's cool. It's freaking cool. It's gnarly. And we were out to to eat for my sister's birthday and the waitress, the server, she like recognized me and like broke down and was just like, this song has impacted my entire life.
Speaker 4 00:56:47 Like has, oh my God. Has like switched. I have goose bumps. Like, it makes me cry, like, like has impacted my entire life. And like, thank you for putting it out there and being vulnerable and being honest and like I'd hurt. I had heard, I've obviously heard the song 7 trillion times by now, so it's like it, you know, you don't always hold onto that, just specialness. And I just like hugged her and like, we talked about her story and it was just, that is what that song has been able to produce for me. Yeah. And that's so special and fulfilling and like, that's all I wanna do with my music. Yeah. It's, it's not about the listens and the, the plays and like I'll hold myself accountable to that one <laugh> <laugh>. Well you know, when I have a moment. Yeah. But it really is about like the souls that it's, that it reaches. So let me get deep and like sappy and whatever. But yeah man, it's just, it's cool. It's another language. Yeah. And it's a constant will never, ever die type of language.
Speaker 0 00:57:58 Yeah. Right. Musical is forever. Yeah,
Speaker 4 00:58:00 Dude. Yep.
Speaker 0 00:58:01 I love
Speaker 4 00:58:02 That for ever.
Speaker 0 00:58:04 Yep.
Speaker 2 00:58:04 <laugh> same rock
Speaker 4 00:58:05 Forever.
Speaker 2 00:58:07 <laugh> <laugh>. No doubt. Cool. I love it. I mean, like I said, my girlfriend was like, you know, doing it as a recreational therapist is like playing your music for her patience. I almost said students but you know, but like she would student patience. Yeah. So she would like play the song and have people journal about how it made them feel and all this and stuff like that. Are
Speaker 4 00:58:27 You kidding?
Speaker 2 00:58:27 Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:58:29 He's not kidding dude. Isn't that cool?
Speaker 2 00:58:31 <laugh>,
Speaker 4 00:58:31 That's really cool.
Speaker 0 00:58:33 It's, it's just shows you like, that's just Kurt's story of the same kind of thing. Yeah dude. It's affecting people and your art is, and it's not just the song, it's how you present that song too. Yeah. Because it is honest. It is like raw. Yeah, it is. And that style is one of the things that makes you special Thank you. Is that you can present in that way. Thank you. Where not everybody can.
Speaker 4 00:59:01 That's like total confirmation for me. Like I really appreciate you saying that.
Speaker 0 00:59:05 Uh, I wouldn't say unless a minute.
Speaker 4 00:59:07 I feel like it's easy, especially as somebody, like any artist that is comfortable be playing those acoustic, like I've developed my style by playing the rounds. Yeah. By being just me. Yeah. By like no production. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know what I mean? And I feel like sometimes it's easy to get into a place where you saturate stuff with, with production. Yeah. Which sounds freaking dope and crazy and awesome, but like that is something I've been juggling as well of like, I just want the stripped, just want the raw and like yes there is a time for a friends to kiss where it's like a B Yeah. And you can just like jam to it in your car, you know what I mean? Yeah. Or dance around in your room, in your underwear. I don't care. Whatever. But there's also something about like the honest where, and I sat on that too where we wrote in 30 minutes, I didn't have time to and neither did anybody else in the room have time to pick apart.
Speaker 4 01:00:12 Well it has to be a butt or an and or it has to be, we could use something better or we can put it or Yeah. Not married to that. Like this could be, this could be cooler. Like it was raw and like 41 million people appreciated that. Yeah. You know what I mean? Opposed to a song where you are in a right for four hours and it's because you can't decide whether or not, like I know I really appreciate the art of wanting to make it the best it can be. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I'm totally that type of writer as well. But I think there does need to be moments of just here.
Speaker 0 01:00:51 Yeah. And that's why like live records are powerful and like you get that experience and guys like Zach Bryan and like Charles Wesley Godwin,
Speaker 4 01:01:01 I'm in love with
Speaker 0 01:01:02 Him. Yeah. There that sound is working because it's raw. Yeah. And it's emotional. Yeah. You know, and it's cool to see music is always a swinging pendulum, you know, it's always, it's always going high on one way and high on the other. Right. And it's cool to see its swing reaction and reaction. Exactly. Excited. Yeah. It's cool to see it swing in a way where that like raw emotional thing is working even if it doesn't, like you hear the production and you're like, I don't know, you know, like sometimes you'll have that on songs and I'm like, but I still love it.
Speaker 4 01:01:34 Yeah. And it's timeless. Yeah. There's like, there's a timeless factor to it. Yep. Of like, oh my gosh, he could play this 7 billion times and I'd still love it. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 01:01:45 I love that. Well, uh, I requested you during this to play two events. <laugh>. We'll see. Hey, I'm down. Hey,
Speaker 4 01:01:54 We're checking the cow right after this. Yeah.
Speaker 0 01:01:56 <laugh>. I'm sorry for that. But uh, they'll both be fun, I promise. And if you are drinking at either I will pr help provide that for you
Speaker 4 01:02:03 <laugh> day by to day
Speaker 0 01:02:04 And if not, I'll get you some liquid desk.
Speaker 4 01:02:05 Hey, mocktails are cool.
Speaker 0 01:02:06 Yeah, absolutely
Speaker 4 01:02:07 Love it. A little cute little fruity
Speaker 0 01:02:09 Drink. Everybody has 'em now. <laugh>, um, tell people if they don't already follow you on socials where to do so.
Speaker 4 01:02:15 Yeah, so it's Kindle and Ske on all social platforms. K y mm-hmm <affirmative>, N D A L because that's just the best way to spell it. <laugh> and then Inskeep. I n s k e E p sme.
Speaker 0 01:02:30 That's it.
Speaker 4 01:02:31 Rocking.
Speaker 0 01:02:31 Yeah. Thanks for jumping on the pod with us. Oh, a great episode. It was, thanks for having me Mia. Yeah.
Speaker 5 01:02:37 Thanks for
Speaker 4 01:02:38 Being deep with me and
Speaker 0 01:02:39 It was fun. I love that honestly, talking about feelings real, you know, and that's, that's what a podcast is about is, is like being real, you know, <laugh>. It's hard to be that in a three minute radio interview, you know what I mean? Yeah
Speaker 4 01:02:52 Dude.
Speaker 0 01:02:53 So Well let's play the music. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Let's play music. Okay. Okay. Well um, guys, thanks for listening. If you like this, please rate and subscribe and we have a Patreon now. Woohoo. Where you can give us a couple dollars if you like it and see more fun content. Yay. Content <laugh>. Um, Kendall, thank you so much for being here. Thank you
Speaker 4 01:03:13 All so much
Speaker 0 01:03:13 For having me and Ben and your Saturday with us. And um, Kurt, thank you for being here too. You're welcome <laugh>. You're welcome. <laugh>. Hey Nick, thank you for being here at your house. Yeah. At my house. <laugh> Yeah. In the extra room. But um, it's been great to get to know you a little bit and get to have you play some of our events in town and just watch your star rise sis. Ah, it's awesome. Love
Speaker 4 01:03:34 You guys. You
Speaker 0 01:03:35 Guys rock. You too. Well I'm Nick t I'm Kurt os on and we'll see you, see you in the front row.
Speaker 5 01:03:53 You picked the ball of the pieces I left behind. Help me make up for time. New changed my mind. I get to thinking forever when you hold me close. I know I'm not always perfect. You don't think so? Let this heart of mine.
Speaker 3 01:05:17 Whoa. I love
Speaker 5 01:05:24 You baby. From the
Speaker 3 01:05:30 Beginning.
Speaker 5 01:05:33 Let's scroll side by side. This is
Speaker 0 01:05:42 Guys, if you like that live performance, you can see the full version and listen to it on our Patreon account. Go over to our Patreon account and subscribe. Link will be in Baia.
