Episode 135 - Ella Langley

Speaker 0 00:00:22 Right. It's called Speaker 1 00:00:26 Ella. Welcome to the Raise Rowdy podcast. Let's get started on this. Before we get too far out Speaker 2 00:00:30 All, I'm excited to be here. Ladies and gentlemen, Speaker 3 00:00:33 Us of all ages. Yes. Speaker 1 00:00:34 Welcome Speaker 3 00:00:35 To the Raise Rowdy podcast. I'm Nick e t. Speaker 1 00:00:38 I'm Kurt Ozan. This is an honor to have you, dude. Yeah. For the second time, right? Yeah. Speaker 3 00:00:42 This second. Kurt wasn't here the first time, so it didn't really count. Speaker 2 00:00:45 Oh. But I, Speaker 3 00:00:46 This is the official official, Speaker 2 00:00:47 How long ago was that first podcast? Speaker 3 00:00:49 Like a year ago. Speaker 2 00:00:50 A year ago. Speaker 3 00:00:50 Maybe a little more. Right. Speaker 2 00:00:52 Dang. A lot's changed. I know, Speaker 3 00:00:53 Right? Speaker 1 00:00:54 A lot about what has changed. Speaker 2 00:00:55 Everything. I feel like everything's been flipped on its head and spawned three times, you know? Yeah. Speaker 3 00:01:00 Um, the game, you had like cool tours on the books then, but you weren't like in 'em yet. Speaker 2 00:01:05 Yeah. Right. Had I not done Randy yet? Speaker 3 00:01:07 I think you were just doing Randy. That was on Randy that the Speaker 2 00:01:09 One you were on? Yeah. Yeah. And then we went, then we did co Yeah. And then Jamie. Yeah. And Cody. We did a couple days with Cody Johnson. It was, last year was crazy. I've always, last year was my year to learn how to be on the road. I feel like I keep saying, you know, it is like, it's such a different environment. Like I grew up playing cover shows and like even just that kind of in environment to the club shows. Yeah. Than, you know, we did some arenas with coa then figuring that out, like it's a different ballgame. Every type of show you play, it's a different energy. Mm-hmm. It's a different stage. It's a different way to interact with people. It's nuts. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:01:43 It's always such a trip. The first time you play an arena show. Yeah. And you're like all nervous and at least I was Speaker 2 00:01:49 Like, I up pee your pants or something. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:01:51 And then you do it 30 times in a year and you're like, eh, I guess I'll just play the show real quick. It's not a big deal. Speaker 2 00:01:56 Yeah. It is nuts. It is nuts too. Like when you take a break from playing shows for a couple months and then you come back and you're like, oh yeah, this is kind of what jitters feel like again. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know? Yeah. Those breaks Speaker 1 00:02:05 Were good. We played the CMA Fest like at the stadium and Jordan Davis guys were after us. And, uh, I talked to 'em afterwards and we're like, they're like, that was incredible. Do you ever get tired of playing stadium shows, <laugh>? I'm like, no. But it does become like more normalized at some point. It Speaker 2 00:02:22 Is crazy. What becomes normal in your head? Cuz whenever I feel like when I go home and people ask me about things and they're like, what's the coolest things you do? And I can't even tell 'em half the thing cuz it just feels like bragging. Yeah. You know what I mean? Because it's like, but it does feel like a normal thing. Like even when we were in the, all right, the locker room was different. That was the lot of cool people in there. Yeah. That was the Steeler's locker room we're in. Like, that's one of those moments, you look around and you're like, how did I, how did I get myself in here? Like, Speaker 3 00:02:49 Yeah, well you're good at singing. But I was in there too and I was like, how did I get myself Speaker 1 00:02:54 <laugh>? Yeah. Then we should have just done the podcast there. We, I wasn't in the mindset for that, but Speaker 2 00:02:57 That would've been a funny podcast though. Speaker 1 00:02:59 Yes. It would've been. So, just a little backstory. Ella played with us in Pittsburgh, which was a great show. The Speaker 2 00:03:05 Whiskey jam outside. Speaker 1 00:03:06 Yeah. The whiskey jam stage, which is sick. And then we all got the hang backstage in Luke's green room, which is the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room. Yeah. So I was like, Speaker 2 00:03:14 That was the first time I met Luke too. Out of I know, like you and then so many people Speaker 1 00:03:18 In his band and, and Bradley and everybody. Speaker 2 00:03:20 Yeah. Luke's just the one. I haven't, that was the first time I met him with a big pizza, pizza in my hand. That was funny. Speaker 1 00:03:25 Yep. And Ben Rothberg was there. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Did you get to meet him or no? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>? Speaker 2 00:03:29 No. No. It, yeah, it was definitely one of those that was a trip. Well, so his manager Kathy, they were trying to set it up where I could meet him during the day. And it's like always an interesting thing being marched up to an artist bigger than you that you're like, so it's, it's so awkward. Yeah. Like you're trying to be cool about it, but you're like, it's just never cool. I feel like, you know? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, like, I always wanna do it in a way where like we just bump into each other somewhere and then we get along cuz we get along. You know what I mean? But sometimes, I mean, obviously you wanna meet bigger artists than you. That's how you get on tours. I mean, me just shaking someone's hands how I've gotten on two different tours now. So, um, but I didn't think it was gonna happen cuz it was like supposed to be during the day before, after my set, before he played. It never happened. So then we got to go to the stadium show and watch everyone. And it was Riley and Laney and Brent and like all my favorite people. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> playing Luke and, and uh, I got beer drunk. I don't think I've been beer drunk. Like strictly beer Speaker 1 00:04:19 Drunk. It's on brand for Luke Holmes concert. Speaker 2 00:04:20 Yeah. Since at college maybe. I don't know. So like a couple months ago. Not really <laugh> a minute ago, but, uh, so I walk into Branch Brent's like, I got a big pizza in there if you want some pizza. And I was like, hell yeah. I some Speaker 1 00:04:34 Pizza. That such a good bread impersonation. Thank Speaker 2 00:04:36 You. Um, and it's still like the fact that Brent Cobb to me is like, you want some pizza in my green room? I'm like, yes I do. Brent Cobb, thank you Speaker 1 00:04:43 So much. You know, Speaker 2 00:04:44 Uh, when I walked in and I got a pizza, pizza, I didn't get a plate or nothing cuz I was just gonna eat it, you know, <laugh>. So I'm walking out, I have a beer in this hand and a pizza in this hand. And Kathy Luke's manager was like, oh, it's time you're meeting him right now. I was like, right now. He was like, yeah, right now. This moment right now. I was like, well, okay, I'm not gonna throw away this pizza. I desperately need this pizza. I am beer drunk. This is a sausage and cheese pizza with stuffed gross. Like, I'm not getting rid of it. So we walk up and I was like, well, I'll put my drink down at least. And I switched the pizza over. So I was like, I gotta shake his hand with my hands. So I'm like wiping off the grease on my pants. You know what I mean? Holding it in his hand. And Gabby's like, Hey, this is a, this is Luke Combs. I was like, I know you are Mel Langley, how are you doing? And he's like, looks at the pizza. And I was like, I just need this. I was like, but nice to meet you. And that was our first interaction I feel like. Speaker 1 00:05:33 Gets it. It was good. Gets it. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:05:34 Yeah, yeah, Speaker 1 00:05:35 Yeah. For sure. Yeah. PO show Grub is good. Grub. Oh, it's the best. It's, Speaker 2 00:05:39 Yeah. It's usually never good for you. Speaker 1 00:05:41 No, it's terrible. Cause it's like 3:00 AM and you're like all drunk and you're like, ah, time to eat some pizza, I guess. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:05:46 <laugh>. Yeah. But it is so wonderful in the moment, but the next day not as wonderful. Speaker 1 00:05:51 Not as good. Gut it up and beer. And what uh, what are you driving around in these days? Speaker 2 00:05:57 <laugh>? Uh, right now I'm driving a Nissan Rogue with a dent in the back cuz somebody hit me Oh. In Kayleigh's parking spot outside of her apartment. But a Nissan Rogue right now. Hell yeah. I'm working a, I'm working my way up. I really want a forerunner, but my business manager said, let's wait a second today. So I guess I'm gonna wait on that. Hey, Speaker 1 00:06:15 Smart. That's, and Speaker 2 00:06:16 Keep the on, Speaker 3 00:06:16 That's why you keep business managers around Speaker 2 00:06:18 Though. Yeah. They just really crush my dreams, but for a good reason. <laugh>. Speaker 1 00:06:21 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:06:23 What about when you're on the road? Are you guys rolling around? Speaker 2 00:06:25 Oh, in a van. And was that your original question? Yeah. Is that what you meant? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Not my personal car. No. It's cool. Yeah. All right. Well, cool. Uh, Speaker 1 00:06:33 <laugh> sick. Speaker 2 00:06:36 I'm crushing it all day. Um, no, we're in a van mostly mm-hmm. <affirmative> almost, actually. Yes. We're always in the van. We a, we did take a sprinter last year. We went out and did, um, we did three shows in Texas and then we were over in Wyoming and South Dakota. We did those with Cody Johnson. And we took a sprinter out. I'd be in a van before I'd stay in a sprinter because like I heard that they kind of swing by or like, all right, well we don't need hotel rooms since we have something to sleep on. But it's like a sprinter is not a Speaker 1 00:07:06 Bus. Speaker 2 00:07:06 No. And they try to make it seem like it is, but like, first of all, there isn't enough beds for everyone in there, so someone's sleeping on the couch. I didn't learn until the last two days that I prefer the couch more than, I mean, it's a van. You're sleeping in a bunk and like these bunks are like, they're not a Speaker 1 00:07:23 Bunk. They're Speaker 2 00:07:24 Coffins. Yeah, they're coffins. That's what me and Kaylee call them coffins. Yeah. And so you're sleeping kind of like this, the rumble strips are right under you the whole entire time. It's dirty in there. So I'd rather van, I love going into a hotel room and showering. Yeah. It's nice. Speaker 1 00:07:40 We're, we're splitting our time right now. At least. Luke's band is some shows we have a bus and some shows we fly, but the days we have the bus, we don't get hotel rooms. Yeah. So it's like, do I like staying up late Saturday night drinking and then just sleeping on the bus and waking up in Nashville and not having to get up for 6:00 AM flight. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's like nice to have your own personal space on the road is Yeah, it Speaker 2 00:08:01 Is. Yeah. That is one thing about the van. And I think that's what's so important about having guys out on the road that you love to be around and people out on the road. Cuz especially when we're in this fan, like there's no separation. We are in each other's business family all the time. And then, you know, our really, our only personal space is, especially when we're in a sprinter or something like that, whatever we're having to do out there is, is the green room and the showers in there. Usually if it's like an arena or something, they look like a prison shower. <laugh>, like how it bring, Speaker 1 00:08:29 It's like a minor league hockey team or Speaker 2 00:08:30 It's, you know, like the buttons that you push and you have so much water come out at a time and then you gotta like push it down again. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and keep going. It's just like a community thing that's fun. Um, but I mean, it makes for good memories out on the road, you know what I mean? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I'm not complaining about it, but, you know, a hotel room bed every once in a while. Sick Speaker 1 00:08:48 Money. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Um, I'm curious as to what it's like being on the road with co wetzel. Like, is that guy as crazy as he seems like I'm like afraid of that guy. I've never met him before. He just seems like wild. Speaker 2 00:09:00 Uh, he is and he isn't. Like he can be turned to 10 for sure. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, but he's also like, when it's just him and everyone hanging out, very chill. Very, very nice. Sweet. Just chill Cool. Kind of does his Speaker 1 00:09:14 Own thing. Cool. It's like, you know, he has has like the onstage persona and then like how he actually Speaker 2 00:09:18 Yeah. I mean he can get down for sure. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yes. I mean, he can have a good time as the rest of his band can too. Um, but can't, don't, we all do have a good time here and there, you know, I mean Yes, we did. Speaker 1 00:09:28 We that together recently. Yeah. Yes we did. It was fun. It Speaker 2 00:09:32 Was fun. We got beer, brother. It had a great time. Yeah. Um, but yeah, no, he's, I mean, he's very cool, dude. I mean, very sweet. I mean even that's how, I mean, me just getting the song with him, I just texted him the song. I mean, we'd only done eight shows together and we've hung out here and there, but that's just cuz we're kind of friends, you know? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But, you know, I just texted to him, I was like, Hey, it'd be really, really, really cool. You could totally say no and f off and not wanna do this, but it'd be really cool if you did, if you liked the song. Speaker 1 00:09:57 Well, tell us about the song a little bit. Speaker 2 00:09:59 Um, so I wrote the song with Joy Beth Taylor, David Garcia, and Brett Tyler. I remember walking in the right, I think I was wearing these jeans specifically, but I was wearing like a big oversized shirt and I walked in and um, I said, I'm gonna ride a rock. So I think I was listening to like butt rock the whole way there. Speaker 1 00:10:20 Hell yeah. <laugh>. Amen. Like Speaker 2 00:10:22 A lot of my, what I write that day is inspired, but by what I listen to on the way to the right mm-hmm. <affirmative> like, sometimes not, but sometimes. Yes. And I remember just being so jazzed that day and I was like, I wanna write a, my exact words is I wanna write a fucking rock song today. Does anyone oppose? And Brett Tyler was like, no, but you do look like you're kind of homeschooled at those jeans and those things. I was like, I was homeschooled for a couple years. Ass asshole <laugh>. Um, no. But, um, we didn't really have co in mind whenever we wrote that mm-hmm. <affirmative>. It was really just for me. And then, um, I got the demo back and I was showing Trey in his room at the old house. Um, I was like, dude, you gotta hear this song. Speaker 2 00:10:59 I just got back and after the first chorus he paused it and he was like, you, you gotta see if Cole will sing on that. And I was like, that's a phenomenal idea. So that was back in, I think we wrote it in November, maybe it was one of the last songs I wrote last year. And I knew as soon as he said that I immediately, like, you know, he's at Columbia as well. That's, um, one of my record labels that I signed to. Yep. Um, and I just had it in my brain of what I wanted to do, but I wanted to get it mastered first because there was a chance that he was gonna say no. And I was like, well, I'm still gonna put the song out right without him, you know, but it'd be dope if he wanted to do it. And then, you know, I don't want have to the whole EP not come out when I wanted it to because he didn't wanna do it. So we just got everything mastered and I honestly wanted it to sound the most badass it was going to sound before I sent it to him. And I did. And Speaker 1 00:11:52 Tell, tell our listeners the title since we haven't mentioned that yet. Speaker 2 00:11:54 And that's why we fight. Speaker 1 00:11:56 Why We Fight. That's the title. I could hear Coing on the first. Yes. That's why We Speaker 2 00:11:58 Fight. Yeah. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Well, it's funny, when we were going through titles that day, we were all just kind of looking for rock titles and uh, Brett Tyler was like, well I've got this title called, uh, that's Why We Fight. And I was like, yeah. I was like, I don't know what that's about, but I wanna, I wanna write that. Yeah. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But it's cool. It's, um, it's nice when a plan comes together the way you anticipated it, Speaker 1 00:12:24 It so rarely does in the songwriting rooms, I feel like. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:12:27 Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, and, and that song was just badass. I feel like in general. I was, I loved that song when we wrote it. I feel like it was like nailed the rock side of what I wanted to do, that sound. And uh, I think just having co on there, I mean, obviously you listen to it like that makes sense for him as well. So yeah, it's been cool. It's been cool to watch what it's done. Speaker 3 00:12:46 And that's on the highway right now too, right? Speaker 2 00:12:48 Yeah. We just learned this past weekend that it's, it's 25 on the hot, dirty Countdown. Awesome. So that's really cool. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Speaker 3 00:12:53 <affirmative> man. It's, it's awesome seeing like your stuff work and just like we've, I've, you know, been a fan since before I even moved to town, but like getting to watch it like actually bubble up and like actually like really get traction for you. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> so. Awesome. Dude. Speaker 2 00:13:07 Dude, thank you. Well, I mean, it's cool because I feel like a lot of what's cool about living in this town, I feel like is you kind of get to see what country music is gonna be before it is that, you know mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, at least what's coming out of Nashville, you know? And, um, I feel like I've just been doing so much underground work and everyone around town, all my friends have kind of known, they've known what I've been doing and the music that I've been doing. But to the general population, like I'm still kind of nobody right now, you know? And this is like, oh, I've had a lot of questions as like, why I haven't put out a project yet, or, you know, why I've only done singles and I just wanted to be so sure on these songs and what I wanted to say as an artist and a songwriter from the get go. Speaker 2 00:13:49 And I mean, I'm only 24, I just turned 24. I have, I have some time. You know what I mean? Absolutely. And I just wanna, I wanna make sure that these, the songs that I put out are songs that if none of this shit works, that I can still be proud of for forever, you know? Yes. And I've done the thing where I put songs out cuz I felt like I needed to, or this is a song that I think that people want for me. You know, instead of just putting out songs that I believe deserve, I believe deserve to be heard. You know? And that's really what this EP was for me. So I'm excited to grow off of that. Speaker 3 00:14:18 Absolutely. And Excuse The Mess is the name of the ep. Speaker 2 00:14:22 Excuse the Mess. Speaker 3 00:14:23 Yeah. Just dropped May 19th mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And, uh, it's been very well received from everyone that I've heard. Speaker 2 00:14:29 I love that. Yeah. It's, I'm excited. Speaker 3 00:14:32 It's great man. And it, I think it like gives you a lot of like range too. Like it has the like really rocking stuff and some of the, like, the more like inner looking like mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, emotional kind of things too. Right. You know what I mean? I think it gives a good representation of like who Ella Langley is. Speaker 2 00:14:47 Yeah. Yeah. And I think it, you know, the whole time I've been here, that's what I've been been trying to figure out. That's why I moved here. I didn't move here and know exactly who I was and these are the songs that I want and this is the sound that I want. You know, this is, this is like really moving here in your first couple years is kind of like college in a way where you're figuring that out. Like, I don't think anyone moves here and immediately knows exactly who they are. And if they say they do, then they're just fucking lying <laugh>. Because I mean the, that's what all that was figuring out and putting out the different kind of songs and writing everything that I could possibly write until I just decided like I had the hardest time describing what my sound was for the longest time of, you know, cuz it's like, it's not just one thing, it's not just one particular sound. Speaker 2 00:15:29 It's not just one little thing, but I think it makes sense altogether. Yes. If that's, you know what I mean? Absolutely. And so that's why I waited so long to put it out because I wanted one place where people, I could, people could say, what's your sound? Ask, what's your sound? I could say, here's the CP and that's it, you know? Yeah. And at least for right now. And it's gonna grow and evolve. And I hope it does because I think all phenomenal artists and legends, they grow and evolve and their music does with them. Speaker 3 00:15:51 Yep. A hundred percent. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it's a, it's, I remember like when I moved to town, I kind of like got the cheat code cuz I was like buddies with Bell, so I got to like hang out with you guys and I felt Speaker 2 00:16:01 Like I got the cheat code cuz I got to hang out with you. Remember when I hassled you to let me on the round? I was like, when are you gonna let me on your fucking podcast <laugh>? Speaker 3 00:16:09 Remember that? I remember, I remember when you were like, or maybe the Speaker 2 00:16:11 Round Speaker 3 00:16:12 You said, you were like, when are you gonna play? Let me play the writer's round. I'm like, you played like three weeks ago. But like right now, like when, when do you wanna play again? Oh shit. I forgot Speaker 2 00:16:21 Zoe. I forgot. Well thanks can play again. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:16:25 <laugh>. I was like, literally whenever you want and as often as you want <laugh>. That's awesome. Well that's one of the cool things too. And Matt and I have like talked about that when we're booking rounds where like, hey, if someone like, is this good and wants to play, we gonna let 'em play? They could play three times in a row. I don't care. Go ahead. Cause there's gonna be times where you're too busy and can't do it. You know what what I mean? Yeah. So like, some of our favorite people have played like bunches of times. Like, like Jenna La Masters played a bunch. Speaker 2 00:16:49 I say Speaker 3 00:16:50 Lover Ashlyn K Craft played a bunch, you know, and I'm like, as often as y'all wanna play, you are more than welcome to jump up here and play. You know? Yeah. Speaker 2 00:16:57 Jenna Masters's probably one of the funniest people I've ever met. I love like, like her Instagram stories just give me life. Yeah. She's hilarious. She, she's so funny. She's Speaker 3 00:17:06 Music. She's so nice too. Oh God. Yeah. She's working on it. Yeah, I know. Yeah. We, uh, hurry up though. It's funny because like we recorded her at, uh, like we had the, those mule house shows. We did a couple of down, like a little bit south of the city and we recorded her and uh, we played that on the radio one time. And, um, I think we did. And I was like, sounds like something we would do. Is this the first time that this was played on the radio? She's like, yeah, for sure. I don't even have any music out. I was like, oh, well. Yeah. Awesome. <laugh>. Yeah. Yeah. But it's, uh, it's interesting to like get to like see that stuff like you said, like happen before it happens, you know? Yeah. Like I remember a conversation you and I had when you moved to, or when I, when you were here, but I moved to town and you were like, yeah, I'm figuring out exactly what I, I wanna say. Yeah. And I think that's so important, you know? Yeah. It's like, it's, it's how you say it and it's what you want to say, Speaker 2 00:17:55 You know? Yeah. And it's just like, you know, I feel like too, and I get this because I have always been a music listener and I've been someone that has followed not just country music, but all kinds of music and different artists and you know, I feel like with someone being in the spotlight, it's really easy for them to be like, they've got it figured out. I know exactly what they're doing, you know? But it's like, for a lot of us, this is the first time we're ever doing any of this stuff. Yeah. This is the first time we're ever doing a radio interview or the first time we're ever going on the road or you know, this is all, we're just learning how to do it. Also human beings, you know? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And it is, it is challenging, but it is cool too. You know, you get to do shit that I can't, I mean, I feel like I've done more in my life than, I mean, I could, I've just done a lot of cool shit. You know, I've been to almost every single state in the us. I'm 24. Like who gets to say that? You know what I mean? Yeah. And who gets to be in the Steelers locker room with Luke Combs? Like Yeah. I mean, someone would cut off their left toe for that. Possibly maybe two. Speaker 3 00:18:51 Probably me. Speaker 1 00:18:52 Yeah. When I, when I was 24 years old, I was working for a sushi restaurant delivering food on a bicycle. Speaker 3 00:18:59 24. Yeah. What was I doing Speaker 1 00:19:01 At time? I didn't have my shit figured out. Oh Speaker 2 00:19:03 No, I do not either. Let me, but that's what, you know, that's kind of my point is like, I still feel like, you know, I'm just still trying to do that, you know? Yeah. And, and that's what I really want to portray my songwriting is I'm just a normal 24 year old. I'm still figuring out who I wanna be. I'm still figuring out who I wanna be with. And there's a, there's a, you know, and this is, even though it's a very interesting career, it is a career. Everyone has one, you know, hopefully. Yeah. And, um, you don't know how to do it right when you start it, you know, I still feel like I'm learning new shit every single day. And that's the cool part about getting to go on these tours. The one I'm going on with John party, you know, like my goal for that tour is to learn how to entertain a crowd the way that man does, to learn how to entertain the, his type of crowd. You know, cuz it's different from even somebody like Cody Johnson or Randy Hauser. It's a different kind of crowd, you know? And um, yeah, I'm just excited for this next year and to keep growing and figuring that shit out. But please excuse the mess. Speaker 1 00:19:59 That's true. Well, you're surrounding yourself with good people and Yeah. It seems like you're, you have your head screwed on Right. And you're seeing patient and hardworking, so Speaker 2 00:20:07 Thank you. I'm not, my patience is what I work on probably the most, which is I think a good and bad thing to be impatient maybe. Cuz it's like light keeps a fire line under my ass constantly. Right. You know, it's like I never, I'm never waiting on something to fall on my lap, I guess, you know, I feel like even as a kid, like with everything I've tried, I was never like good at it when I started it. I wasn't good at singing really when I first started. I just, it was something that I loved to do. I always had done it. It was something in my family, you know, that we all we've always done, or soccer. I was so bad at that at first, but, you know, I just had to learn how to do it. And I'm just kind of trying to apply those life lessons to this Speaker 1 00:20:47 <laugh> Yeah. Enjoying the ride too. Speaker 2 00:20:48 Yeah. And just turn around and be able to look at like, like when I did the Opry, you I turn around and be like, all right, this is something to be proud of. This is like, you don't have to worry about the next step today. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, today's not about the next step. Today is about today. And the gratitude I have for even being able to do this, you know, and that's something that I, I work really hard on the head space of being in that, you know? Speaker 1 00:21:12 Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I find like a lot of artists too, it's like they were write a song and it's like they're impatient with it. I love this song. I want to cut it right now mm-hmm. <affirmative> and I want to be out right now. But it takes time and it's like, yeah, you have to wait. Like I was talking with Keller, he is like, I've got all these great songs and I wanna put 'em out, but we can't put 'em out until February. Cause I have to talk with the DSPs and I gotta shoot content, photos, shoot so much photos. Oh my god. Marketing and it's just like, I just wanna put music out and I just want to, you know, I'm ready. But it's like, yeah. But Speaker 3 00:21:39 That's such a crazy thing because it's like, that's like one of the cool things that I learned from working under record label for a while was like, there's so much that goes into it. There's so much, it's a, Speaker 2 00:21:49 There's ridiculous amount. It's crazy. And this was my, the e p was my first real release being signed under a record label and mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it is, it is an amazing thing to have that big of a team and those type of resources, but it is a lot of hoops you have to jump through and a lot of stuff to figure out. I didn't even know what went into like half of these releases that, cuz we were just doing it as me and management and Megan and Bradley and my mom and Jim and Kayleigh just all, you know, figuring out what to do. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and now we have all these resources, but God dang. Is it a lot? Yeah. Is it a lot of hats you have to wear to get it out, you know what I mean? Speaker 3 00:22:23 Well, and, and that's it. Like the more there is, the more ways you're getting pulled. Like, I mean, you just went through CMA Fest week. You can, you can talk about that. Yeah. How many shows did you have during that? Speaker 2 00:22:34 I think I had nine events, nine to 10 events. I can't remember. Speaker 1 00:22:40 It was nine. Nine and then one got rained out. Right. Didn't you get Speaker 2 00:22:44 Uh, that was the one I was so excited. I mean, I was excited for all of them, but that was like our CMA Fest stage, you know, that was like, we went and soundcheck for that two weeks prior to like, our ears would be, I was like, my ears were gonna sound phenomenal for this show. Right. <laugh>. Um, but no, I mean it was, this was like my first CMA fest full on Speaker 3 00:23:02 Running, Speaker 2 00:23:03 Running, running. But I mean, that's another thing too. It's like just grateful for the team that I have. You know, like they had that shit in order. Like, I, I didn't, I try not to keep all that stuff in my brain because there's a lot of lyrics and other things and important stuff stuff, important stuff going on up there. So where and when I need to be somewhere is something I just leave up to whoever has to get me there because it's just too much shit on. And they, I mean, they crushed it. I couldn't have done it without 'em. But yeah, it's definitely a tiring week for sure. Speaker 3 00:23:29 Any like crazy stick out moments of that or anything that like, was super cool. Uh, Speaker 2 00:23:36 I, well first, so we, I played all Red, um, on Friday and it was, it went, uh, me, well, Mackenzie Carpenter, Josh Ross, me, Dalton, Dover, Reba, <laugh>, and holy shit. Yeah, exactly. That's what I said. And um, I was in the same green room as Reba. I gotta see her walk around and I just to let you like I, every day if I did not have a practice of some sort, I would go home, turn on CMT and watch Reba. I've seen every single episode. So that was cool to be able to watch her play. Um, we did the Neil Agency round on Wednesday. Mm-hmm. Tuesday I played, uh, the Nikki Mitchell. This wasn't even really a part of CMA Fest. I just booked it on the same week. Um, but Tuesday I did, um, a round with Rob Hatch and Jamie Johnson for the Nicki Mitchell Foundation and That's awesome. Speaker 2 00:24:28 Is badass. It was so cool. It's it was amazing. That man is so funny on stage, like when you get him, just him and a guitar Jamie Telling Yes, Jamie. Uh, just telling stories. Well, and him and Rob, you know, they used to live, they had like, they called it like the trailer park, something, I can't remember. Anyways, it was like Rob Hatch, Jared Neiman, Jamie Johnson. Um, and then, uh, after that, Kendall Marvel did that honky tonk Yeah. Experience at, um, the basement east. And um, Cameron Marlow was there, Aaron Ray Tierre, Stevie Wilson Jr. Um, Drake White, I mean it was just a badass lineup mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And then, um, I did, um, I've been cheated. Um, when Will I be Loved Linda Ronstadt? Yeah. Yes. And earlier that day I called Jamie and I was like, I'm excited to play the Round with you today. Speaker 2 00:25:14 And I was like, well, afterwards I'm doing this, uh, honky tonk experience with Kendall Marble. And he was like, yeah. He's like, uh, he asked me to come over there, I might ride over there afterwards with you. I was like, that'd be awesome. And I told him what song I was singing and he goes, well you better back the fuck up. And I was like, why? And he said, cuz I'm gonna cut a rug. And like, if you've ever met this man, he's just so dry until you get to like, know him. Yeah. It was so funny. Anyways, so, um, he ended up coming over there and, um, got on stage with me and sang it. So that was just dope. Mean. It was dope. That's killer. Yeah. I mean, he's just a hero for me. So Same. Yeah. I, it's just like, Speaker 1 00:25:49 Like that also sounds my favorite cartoon record of all Speaker 2 00:25:51 Time, dude. I mean, literally, you know, you know, he's a pilot as well. He flies himself around in his own plane. So when we were out on tour with him, he brought us out on the plane, flew us around to a couple shows, like the band would stay in the Sprinter. And I, I love you guys so, so much, but if I get to go home for a night and shower in my own shower, love you. But see you. Bye. You know, <laugh>. Um, and that was really, I mean, just like, imagine you're sitting in this tiny little plane and the first time we ever did it, we had to go pick up Randy Houser. So wherever he was playing, I think we were in Nebraska, we picked up Randy somewhere else, got gas, and then flew to Biloxi for another Nicki Mitchell Foundation. And, uh, I'm sitting there and me and Kaylee are, well, we get, he gets right off stage, gets in the car, drives us there, we load everything into this plane. Then Jamie Johnson, he's just, you know, Jamie Johnson? Jamie Johnson, right. He's like getting in between, he sits down, puts the things on, and he's like, like doing all the buttons. And I look over at Kaylee, I was like, Jamie Johnson's about to fucking fly this plane, <laugh>. And I remember like I <laugh>, no one else was putting their seatbelt on, but I was like, Speaker 1 00:26:58 You Speaker 2 00:26:59 Know, I don't know, I got scared. And then, Speaker 1 00:27:01 Um, it's like a prop plane, right? Speaker 2 00:27:03 Yeah, it's a smaller plane. Yeah. Yeah. But like still a plane and it's really high in the air, you know what I mean? It's fatal if you crash. Gotcha. Um, <laugh> and, uh, we, so we picked up Randy and Randy sits down, we load everything in there and Randy was like, man, he was like, I'm trying to figure this out, but I was just on one of these planes and it was this one or one other one and the little engine caught on fire. And I'm trying to remember, he was like, this is like two days ago. And me and Kaylee were like, awesome. And then he showed us a video of it, like we thought he was pulling it No. Showed us a video of it. And I was like, nice. Oh boy. Well, we didn't die though. I did think if we did, the headline would be phenomenal. If that's the way I was gonna go. Speaker 1 00:27:48 That's like top five ways to die though. For Speaker 2 00:27:50 Sure. Yeah. I mean, <laugh>, Speaker 1 00:27:51 I'm glad you didn't though. Speaker 2 00:27:52 Yeah, me too. Yeah, me too. But Speaker 3 00:27:56 You gotta live for a long time so that you can turn all of that debt into like actual money. Yeah, Speaker 2 00:28:00 That'd be sick. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:28:02 <laugh> really nice. That's really what you want, you know, Speaker 2 00:28:04 That'd be nice. Yeah. Oh Speaker 1 00:28:07 Man, I, I've, I flew in a, a really tiny prop jet one time. It was, I mean, it was like four people that could fit in it. And it was for a radio show when I played for Janet Kramer. It was so small that I sat in the co-pilot seat and we all had headphones on and we could talk to each other and she was super pregnant and she's afraid of flying anyway. Yeah. And we're flying from Nashville to Augusto playing some like radio show. And she's texting me, she goes, Kurt, do you think that pilot knows how to fly this plane <laugh>? And I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's fine. Like, he's a professional. And she goes, I don't think he know. He doesn't, he doesn't know what he's doing. Like, what's going on? I'm like, it's fine. And she's like, ask him if he knows what to do. Speaker 1 00:28:47 I'm like, no, I'm not gonna ask him. She says, just ask him. So I go, you know how to fly this thing <laugh>? And he's like, yeah, I have 10,000 hours, you know, studying, I've been doing it for 35 years or whatever. The guy was like in his fifties, you know, it's like a career professional pilot. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And she's like, I don't know, I think he made that up. Or it's like she was freaking out. And then we get up and the air, there's five of us in the plane total, including the pilot and it's alus illustrious day to say the least. And it was like the most turbulent flight I've ever been on in my entire life. And like, I don't get, I'm not afraid of flying. I've flown since I was a, a baby. Like, and I fly like every week with Luke and everything. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:29:25 You just have to accept it a little bit every time you get on there that this could go bad. And that's just it. Speaker 1 00:29:29 Yeah. And then she's in that thing like, we're gonna crash, they're gonna kill my baby. I was like, calm down, we're fine. Speaker 2 00:29:37 He's over there to himself like, I'm gonna piss my pants Speaker 1 00:29:40 <laugh>. Oh my God. And then we play the show and we're supposed to fly back and she's like, we're not doing it. And we rented, we rented an SUV and had, instead of a 45 minute flight, we had to do a six and a half hour drive in an SUV from Augusta, Nashville. Speaker 2 00:29:54 Did you wanna get back on the plane? Speaker 1 00:29:55 Yes, absolutely I did. Yes. Speaker 3 00:29:58 You're like, I'll go with this guy. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:30:00 I mean, Speaker 2 00:30:00 Just let me go. Speaker 1 00:30:01 Brutal. Those things are spooky sometimes though. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:30:04 I've never been on the plane that small. I've been on like smaller, like, you know, commercial flights, but never anything private. Yeah. Yeah. Well, sounds aggressive. Speaker 1 00:30:13 Being on a private jet is fucking awesome, dude. Speaker 2 00:30:16 Let me tell you, being able to walk off stage, get in a a van, whatever you're going in, get to your plane, fly home, and then fly back out to your next show like sick, sick. You gotta be rich to do it. Yeah. Rich, rich. It's like five grand I think for his plane. Like one way, just like fuel and shit. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:30:33 It's not even like paying him to fly, you know? Yeah, that's Speaker 2 00:30:36 True. He flies himself. Yeah. <laugh>. So they took, they took that cost out. He's like, we got it. But he has a guy that comes out with him the whole time and he just kind of hangs out there with him and then he has this co-pilot. Makes sense. Speaker 3 00:30:46 Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:30:49 I Speaker 1 00:30:50 You can't drink as much on Sage if you gotta fly afterwards. Speaker 3 00:30:52 Didn't No Speaker 2 00:30:53 <laugh>. He's sober now. Yeah. Good Speaker 1 00:30:54 For him. There Speaker 3 00:30:55 You go. Didn't Jamie intro you at Speaker 2 00:30:57 The Opry? Yeah. Yeah, Speaker 3 00:30:58 He did. Let's talk about Speaker 2 00:30:59 That dude. That was so cool. Well, the whole day was special. It was funny when, you know, obviously he is from Montgomery. Yeah, that's where I'm from. Montgomery. Yep. And, uh, he said, I, I don't know if there's anything in the water down there, but there's, so there must be something in the collards. And I remember my dad thinking that was the coolest shit he's ever heard in his song Entire life. It was awesome. It was just, well he actually had like laryngitis or something, so he almost didn't come. And I was like, I mean, the day was incredible. It would've been really hard to poo on this parade for me, you know what I mean? Like, it was really hard. I was having a great time. Um, but then I was very much looking forward to Jamie inter, you know, whenever they told me, I called him that day and I was like, Hey, guess he had just been inducted. And I was like, please come introduce me at the Opry. And he was like, I would love to. Um, so then they told me 15, 20 minutes before I went on, they were like, we don't know if Jamie's gonna be able to be here. He's sick or something. I was like, damn. And I kind of got over it. Then I walked outside and he was just standing there, man, could barely talk, but he did. He went out and introduced me and it was just, it was an awesome, awesome day. It was so cool. Amazing. Speaker 3 00:32:07 Yeah. And then you're, uh, you're playing the Opry again soon, right? Speaker 2 00:32:11 July 2nd. July 2nd, Speaker 3 00:32:13 Yep. Sweet. Right before the 4th of July. Yeah. America's Speaker 2 00:32:16 Birthday. Thank God. It's not the day, two days after, you know what I mean? Yes. Speaker 1 00:32:19 Two days. No doubt. It's good. Speaker 3 00:32:20 Yeah. You might be beer drunk again if it was Speaker 2 00:32:22 Probably <laugh> beer Drunk is a different kind of drunk. That's Speaker 3 00:32:26 My favorite kind. Speaker 2 00:32:27 Yeah. I forget. Speaker 3 00:32:28 Yeah. Speaker 1 00:32:29 I feel like it's, it's like the safest for me. Yes. Sam, Speaker 2 00:32:31 I get kind of feisty. Like I can drink whiskey and tequila and all that and just be, just happy. Go, I mean, I'm with 10 times nicer when I'm drunk, but, but beer, I'm, I'm not, not nice, but I'm just like, Hey, what are y'all doing? You know what I mean? <laugh>, y'all sh calm down. Speaker 1 00:32:49 Yeah. When I drink it, when I drink beer, it's like I don't get in trouble as much. Same. Unless it's like I'm drinking. Like I had this beer on Sunday, which I got in trouble on Sunday and uh, <laugh>, but uh, I was drinking like some, like, IPA was like nine and a half percent or something. But if I'm just drinking like light beer, then it's fine. Like, I get drunk, I just don't get in trouble. Speaker 2 00:33:10 I just feel like beer gives me that fuck it mentality more than any other alcohol. Like the fuck it. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, you know. Exactly. You're Speaker 3 00:33:19 Like, I'm gonna drink a lot of these at is. Speaker 2 00:33:20 Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm already in, so like, if I filled my stomach up this much, we're taking it all the way home Speaker 1 00:33:26 Baby. Let's go Speaker 2 00:33:27 Feel that. We went halfway through Speaker 3 00:33:29 <laugh>. I remember, uh, like, you know, when the world was opening back up after all of the nonsense and like you and Joy Beth would be at the bar and you guys would just be trying to get each other more drunk. Dude. Speaker 2 00:33:40 So Joy Beth, for people who don't know is, um, my sister main co-writer. She's not, we're not related, but we're both from Alabama, so probably somewhere down the line we are. Um, yeah, we had antagonize each other for, for sure. Oh, wild. Well we went to Key West this year and neither of us had boyfriends down there, so we were just, we just, just each other. No one's looking, no one's making sure we're fine. <laugh> like we're just by ourselves. For the first couple days we had one scooter and we were fit two acoustic guitars on the one scooter running around. Speaker 1 00:34:13 That's so funny. I love this idea. Speaker 2 00:34:16 It's, it was like, and if you've seen her, me and her intoxicated anywhere I have <laugh>. It is, it is like goofball central dude. I love it. Like we're just giggling, laughing, running around, but don't fuck with either one of us because the other one's gonna get really upset about it. Like, you can say whatever you want to me, but don't say anything about her and vice versa. Yeah. Especially her. She's got the Alabama crazy in her. Maybe a little bit more than I do, but I don't Speaker 1 00:34:39 Know yet. <laugh> that's saying something. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:34:41 <laugh>. No, I love it. And just like watching you guys, like I remember being out and you're like, Hey, go buy. Go buy Troy Beth a shot. I want to get her drunker <laugh>. And she's like coming over to me and she's like, goodbye Ella. A shot. <laugh>. Y'all Speaker 1 00:34:53 Are Nick. Nick's like, I'm fucking broke over here. <laugh>. Speaker 2 00:34:56 That's what we have Trey Lewis for now. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:34:58 God bless. Trey Lewis baby. Woo. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:35:01 That man's gotten all of us more drunk than anyone ever. Well he Speaker 3 00:35:03 Saves all of his money not drinking himself so he can get other people drunk and it's fine. Speaker 2 00:35:07 He spends more money on alcohol than I've, than than a lot of people that aren't sober. Speaker 3 00:35:12 <laugh>. Very true. You know, very, very true. Never Speaker 1 00:35:15 Drink. I love Speaker 2 00:35:16 Trey. I think he just likes to live vicariously through some people. Sometimes he does. Speaker 3 00:35:20 And honestly, like I, I tell people this all the time, I'm like, if you don't know Trey, you don't realize how good of a guy he is. Speaker 2 00:35:26 Oh no. Well, you know, he just celebrated the you're at the house. 16, you're sober. I mean, that's so amazing. It's wild. When I first met him, we played a, um, we played a writer's round in Huntsville, Alabama. And it was me, Trey Lewis, Reed Haughton and, and a couple other guys. And it was my first night meeting Trey Reed. Haughton was really the only one I knew, knew there cuz you know, he was at Auburn, he was gonna Auburn, I was gonna Auburn, he was ka I was a fine u we were the same age, whatever. And uh, after I met Trey, I walked out and I looked at Reed and I was like, he's got to be hammered dude. Like I just don't get it. And like the next few times I met him, I'm like, God, he's so drunk. Like that guy's just loose cannon. And finally someone's like, he's like 13 years sober. I was like, you're fucking with me dude. <laugh>. I was like, that's funny. Yeah, no, he really is. He's just like, he, he's just fun. He's just, yeah. I mean he has no filter but genuinely he is one of the best people I know mean that guy gets heart. That guy has my back. If there, I don't, that's one thing I've Speaker 3 00:36:29 Never back. Yeah, for sure. Speaker 2 00:36:31 I have Shave Speaker 3 00:36:32 Says <laugh>. Yeah. Y'all are like brother and sister and it's so great. I Speaker 2 00:36:37 Love it. Yeah. Yeah. We get on each other's nerves for sure. And he likes to say this thing called eggshell Sundays. It's been a thing they've done in all the houses we've lived in together. Everyone's caught onto it except for Joy Beth. Um, eggshell Sundays is like, Sundays is your reset day. That's the day you need to get your house back in order, load the dishwasher, do the laundry. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, if you don't do it on Sundays, you're screwed for the rest of the week. Just messed up. And so that's why they call out Sunday's eggshell sundaes cuz that's the day I want everyone to get up and get their shit outta the living room. You know what I mean? Yeah. That's just Sunday. Speaker 3 00:37:10 Makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. Well that's, are y'all still living together or no? Oh Speaker 2 00:37:15 Yeah. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Speaker 3 00:37:15 Yeah. Not too far from here. Speaker 2 00:37:17 No. We are still doing it. Speaker 3 00:37:18 Yep. That's awesome. Yep. I love it. Speaker 2 00:37:21 We've dwindled down to just me and him. We did four four, now it's just two me and Speaker 3 00:37:26 Yeah. Gotcha. Probably easier, you know. Speaker 2 00:37:29 Yeah. Less. Speaker 3 00:37:29 You guys aren't home ever anyway. Speaker 2 00:37:31 Less. Yeah. We're not home all the time. Yeah. That's, I don't know why we got such a massive house to never fricking live in it dude. But <laugh>, it's been really nice. Speaker 3 00:37:39 It's real nice though. Speaker 2 00:37:40 Yeah. Not on the bank account, but Yeah, it Speaker 3 00:37:42 Is. But on the looks. But on the looks. Speaker 2 00:37:44 Yeah. When I'm in there I like it a lot. Yeah. My closet. Big fan. Speaker 3 00:37:49 I remember like when I was a big loud too, like getting to hear all kinds of different things but like getting to hear your voice coming out of the meeting room when they were pitching songs. That's cool. Yeah. And it was just like, it just put a big smile on my face. And you've had some co co-writing success too, like Yeah. Talk about the uh, l King. Like how did you meet her and like how did that all kind of come to be? Speaker 2 00:38:07 Well, so how we got on writing for the record was, um, we had written out Yonder me, Matt McKinney, Bobby Hamrick mm-hmm <affirmative> and I had that song on hold and Sony, which is who my publishing is through, where they asked if they could pitch it. And I was like, yes, but it's, it's gotta be the right artist. Like it can't, it has to make sense cuz I love that song. I wasn't gonna let it go for anybody. And then they responded with L King and it's like X's and O's was the first song in my cover set list for like two years straight. Yeah. Like, I was like absolutely This is Badass. It's a perfect song for her. And uh, the way she tells the story is, is whenever she heard the song, she was like, I wanna write with these people who wrote this song specifically. Speaker 2 00:38:49 So, um, she put that song out, uh, as a single and then we went out on the road with her and we wrote, we were there for like, we wrote like kind of in the morning before her show, and then one more morning before her show. And we got five songs total, so Awesome. We were just determined to get as many as we could. And she ended up cutting four off from that weekend plus out yonder. So five total on that record. And me and her got really close. I mean, she's just one of those women that I think is not afraid to be who she is, no matter how wacky that is. Cuz I mean, I relate to that, you know, and yeah, she just, she's just just unapologetically herself and, and, um, it's really easy to write for somebody like that, you know, that you can dig in their brain a little bit and they're not, they're not hiding everything, you know, and we just connected in that way, man. It was a really, really cool experience for me to get out of my own head and write out of somebody else's. And, um, I, I mean it was just badass. I, the whole thing and she's done so many wonderful things for me and podcasts and different interviews. She's talked about it and she's like this girl outta Langley and it's just been, it's been really cool. She's been a big fan and supporter of what I'm doing and it's just been a cool experience to have as not just an artist but a songwriter with her. Speaker 3 00:40:02 I think that's great too. Like, uh, cuz again, like figuring out who you are, you can see that she's being exactly who she is. Yeah. And so like, that kind of like gives you a little more, more power of like, all right, I can do me. Speaker 2 00:40:14 Yeah. I can do me. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's something, you know, and even this Lauren Elena thing that I mean mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we just got a, I just got one on her and that was, I haven't even met her yet, but I think she's a badass. Yeah. I mean, I love her stuff. I think she's, she's another one of those women where she's, and now like, I feel like with this new record and what she's doing, she's kind of refiguring out what she wants to do, you know? Yeah. She's been in this business for a while and, you know, it's always funny to me when people think that artists need to stay with the same sound the whole time, or if they differ from that, then they're not the same as they are. But it's like, dude, have you been the same person from 20 to 40? No, absolutely not. No. You know what I mean? So it's like that evol that changes how you write songs, how you approach things, how you do everything. So that is something Yeah. With her, with l that is cool to look up to somebody like that. Yeah. And having my corner and being hers, Speaker 3 00:41:04 I think that's a thing too. It's weird because like the industry's a little bit weird with females. Like, they're like, uh, guys that kind of like, oh, he just does his own thing. It's whatever. They're a little bit weirder with girls. And I think it's silly. I'm like, like we should be embracing who these artists are as people. And like, it's, it's a strange thing like culturally for me that like men and female are treated differently, being a man my whole life and like, just not understanding that until you really like, look and you see it. Speaker 2 00:41:33 Yeah. Yeah. I, I mean I think it's like this in every industry. Yeah. And um, you know, I think it just takes women like l like Laney, like, uh, Miranda Lambert, you know, like multiple, like Brandy Carlisle, like multiple women that are not afraid to be who they are. Yeah. And to be those trailblazers for women like me and these younger women that are coming through to, to be able to do some of the stuff that we're able to do now. And like even Hardy when it comes to doing the rock stuff is the same thing. He's gonna step out a little bit further so other people can too. Yeah. You know, and um, and that's definitely what I wanna do as an artist and as a female, especially as, you know, I, I started out, like I said, playing the cover gigs. I did that. Speaker 2 00:42:12 I settled in the bar every night with all these guys. I, I did that. I had a full male band. You know, I'm, I've, and I've never been somebody that's like, oh, women get the shit end of the stick. You know what I mean? Like, I've just accepted it and figured out how to use it to my advantage, you know? Yep. But you know, it does suck in a way. And, and there's some parts that do, but um, it takes women fighting back. And even men too, it happens to them too. But you know, if we're just talking about women right now, it takes women like Laney, Miranda, and me and all these artists that are coming up to stand up and be like, yo, we're not gonna put up with this. Yeah. Type of shit. We wanna, we wanna say what we wanna say and not be ashamed for it, and sing what we wanna sing and not, and wear what we wanna wear. Like guys can. Yes, Speaker 3 00:42:54 Exactly. You know? Speaker 2 00:42:55 And so Speaker 3 00:42:56 It's, I think that's so important too, because like, if, if you think about it, even now more than ever, like social media and like that is so big in kids' lives. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. If they don't see that realness, if they don't see that, then they're gonna think that they can't be like that. Exactly. So I just think it's more important than ever to just be like really authentic and like, I mean, whether you realize it or not, like the next crew of young female artists are heavily paying attention to what you're doing. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:43:25 You know, it's really weird to think about it that way. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> too. It's different. It's, it's weird to think about people are watching what I'm doing now Yeah. Because I've gone so long where no one has known who I was. And, um, and now they kind of do. And that is something that I'm striving towards every day, is like how to step up the plate. So, you know what I mean? To be that trailblazer for women that are coming behind me that are younger, that, that don't know all the things that I know just from the few years that I've been in this town and learned. You know? So it, it's, it's cool and it's not, you know. Yeah. But it's also like, like you said there, this is a time of like AI and, and social media and all this fake shit that is exhausting to look at and to be around. Speaker 2 00:44:08 It's like, I don't even really want to go on my phone anymore because it's just so much of that. And I feel like the people that are standing out now, even in music, and this is why I think it's such a cool time in music, are the people that are being real, that are writing from the heart, that are being honest to human beings. And those are the people that are succeeding. Yeah. Because it's like, everyone's tired of it though. It's not just me, it's not just us three in this room. Everyone's exhausted with the bullshit. Mm-hmm. Yeah. They just wanna <laugh>, they just wanna hear what they're actually going through, which is real fucking life. Yep. You know, Speaker 3 00:44:37 And it's like, it's like you have to have struggles to get real stuff. Yeah. You know? Yeah. That's part of it. Yeah. You know, like life will come and kick you while you're down. But the key is how fast do you get up and how fast do you attack that problem? You know what Speaker 2 00:44:51 I mean? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I just always look at every, every mistake, every everything I guess you could say, I wish I hadn't done is, is a lesson, you know, I really try to pay attention. It's like, all right, what can I learn? And that sounds like the most cliche shit ever, but it's been something that has helped me a lot in this industry is like, really when I have done something that I wasn't proud of or I feel like I could have done that show better. And it's like, all right. Why, why do you think you could have played that show better? What could have you have done? Or in that riding room or wherever I feel like I made a mistake is really paying attention to like, how can I be better than that the next time? Yeah. Instead of being like, all right, suck. Speaker 2 00:45:26 You know, cuz it's easy. I was like that earlier today. Earlier today, I was going through a moment where I was like, I don't know if I can do this job. It's really fucking hard all the time. And I just wanna go sell soap in Montana and work on a ranch, and that's all I wanna do, but I'm in too far. Yeah. Um, but it's just about being like, all right, how do you, how do you turn it around from that? How do you Yes. How do you take the lesson out of that situation and just grow from it? Because no matter what job you're in, life's fucking hard. Speaker 3 00:45:52 It is. So, and it's a rollercoaster. There's ups and downs, Speaker 2 00:45:55 Ups and downs. There's Speaker 3 00:45:56 Highs and lows, there's a lot of medium. You know, it's a Speaker 2 00:45:58 Lot of medium. Speaker 3 00:45:58 There's a lot of just like, this is, I've been found Speaker 2 00:46:01 A little bit more medium. That'd be cool. Speaker 3 00:46:02 Medium's not bad. Speaker 2 00:46:03 Media's not bad. Speaker 3 00:46:04 It's not less, it's not great, but it's not bad. Speaker 2 00:46:06 I'd like to step in a little bit of media more often, you know what I mean? Speaker 3 00:46:09 <laugh>. Yeah. It's, and I think this town more than any Nashville, you know, is, is a rollercoaster. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And it's like there's gonna be ups and there's gonna be downs. And the key is finding people that will stay with you when that down happens. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and finding people that will help you get that up happening again. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And that's just, that's what it's about. It's finding, yeah. Finding your right folks to believe in you. And it's co-writers, it's friends, it's, you know, roommates, it's management, Speaker 2 00:46:36 It's family. You find family in this town. You really do because I mean, and you're not from here. I'm not from here. You're not from here. Not from here. Nope. No one's from here. So we all kind of have to, we don't get to see our families very often. We give up a lot to do this job. We give up a lot of going home and being around the people that we care about, you know? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So you kind of have to make your own little family here. And that is what, you know, when people, when new people move to town, I'm just like, go out and play every round you can play. Find people that you believe in as writers, as artists and, and stay with those people because it's crazy. I remember being told that. And it feels weird for me saying that now because I feel like I was just that kid that moved here at 20 years old that was like, what the fuck's going on? I don't know. Any, anyone here? I'm scared. I don't, I don't. I'm using my fake ID to get in places right now. <laugh>. I'm freaking out. Yep. Um, but I really do, I feel like I have this support system now that it's like I know if shit hits the fan that I have people behind me that I can call. I called Joy Beth today. I was like, I dunno if I can do this. She's like, yes you can. Yes you can. You're fine. I was like, you're right. Bye. You know, Speaker 3 00:47:39 She love that. She's great because she's like, she's not doing the artist's thing, but she knows everyone that is and she sees it. You know what I mean? Speaker 2 00:47:46 Yes. Yeah. And that's, and even Trey, like, you know, we don't talk about a lot of music stuff in the house. We kind of try to keep that as our place if we're not artists in that house. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we're very much human beings. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, and it's hard and it's weird saying that, but you, you guys know what I mean. There's, when you're an artist, you, you get treated like an artist a lot, not like a human being a lot. You know what I mean? And I think people forget that, that you are also have a human being with feelings and emotions and live a normal Yeah. Day-to-day life. And, um, that's, so that's something that we work really hard towards in the house. But it's also nice being able to walk in Trey's room and be like, I gotta tell you what, what's going on in my life? And I need you to tell me if I'm acting like a psycho about it or not. You know? And it's nice, it's nice to have people that keep you grounded and keep you, Speaker 2 00:48:33 Help you remember the person that you believe you are. You know what I mean? Yeah. When you, when you hear a lot of opinions and you hear all these things and people judging every song I turn in and every content thing I turn in and a, anything that I do is getting judged by someone on my team. And so it's easy to correlate that with who the artist Ella is to the human being, Ella mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know. And so it's, um, it's nice to have people around you that help you remember who that human being Ella is and not just the artist person. You know, I Speaker 3 00:49:00 Think that's super important. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and I mean, you have a crew. I'm a little bit biased cuz I love everyone that's in your, your family. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:49:08 They're pretty lovable. Yeah. <laugh>, I mean, you're just at the house eating hamburgers on something. Speaker 3 00:49:11 That's true. Yep. <laugh>. But it's, it's great to, to kind of watch that and man, like for me just coming from, you know, being a music fan and just getting to like belittle part of this like, like freaking New Year's at your guy's old house, like chaos. Oh boy. But Speaker 2 00:49:27 There's mud on the walls, Speaker 3 00:49:28 There's still mud on the walls I'm sure. Yeah. <laugh>, I'm sure Speaker 2 00:49:32 The whole deck moved down six inches. It was just Speaker 3 00:49:34 The house. Too many people. It's like this far security deposit. It was Speaker 2 00:49:38 Wet. We had to pay money when we left that house Speaker 3 00:49:40 <laugh>, it was wet. It was just muddy everywhere. Everyone was having the best time ever. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:49:45 It was the best time though. Like Speaker 3 00:49:46 It was so great. Speaker 2 00:49:47 Yeah. I mean and it's cool now too cuz like that's back when like, you know, when Dylan Marlow and all them, we'd all just, we had nothing else to do but sit around. We were all writing songs. We wanted to play our songs. We couldn't play rounds cuz no one will let us play rounds during Covid. Of course there's a disease. Yeah. And <laugh> there was a problem. Speaker 3 00:50:06 Yeah. Speaker 2 00:50:06 But it's cool now. It's cool seeing everyone like doing their shit and like level, if there's, if there's one thing I can say about at least the people that I've been surrounded by in this industry, and it's not just artists, it's people like you and you and, and everyone that I've kind of been around since I moved here is everyone works their ass off. You know what I mean? So it's hard to, it's hard to be in a group of people that work your ass off and not want to, you know? Yeah. It's hard to sit laying your bed one day when you're like, everyone else is right in a day. Everyone else is playing a show today. You know, so Speaker 3 00:50:38 It's, it is definitely motivating. But you also have to take the time to like really sit back and be like, all right, I need to chill for a day. Speaker 2 00:50:45 I need need to be, I need to do my laundry. Yes. Speaker 3 00:50:47 Yeah. Yeah. Sundays eggshell. Speaker 2 00:50:49 Eggshell Sundays. Yeah. That was my, that eggshell Sundays. That's actually, that was my Monday because we had CMA Fest on Sunday. Yeah. Yeah. And then I was sad because we didn't get to play our show. Yeah. Dang lightning. Speaker 3 00:50:59 Hey. But at least you got to have a little bit more time with friends, you know Speaker 2 00:51:02 That. That's fair. I did get to come home and do that and Wendy made a fire meal. She is the banana pudding. Have I? Very, very good. Have I have I been eating that at the house? Yes. <laugh>. Yes I have. Speaker 3 00:51:13 Hey. That's why we thought Speaker 2 00:51:14 It all the leftovers. Yeah. <laugh>. I was walking around just like hoping everyone would stop eating at some point so we could have some leftovers. No. Like y'all are full aren't you? Damn Speaker 3 00:51:23 <laugh>. She was like, you're not gonna eat at all. I'm like okay, I'll eat some. Yeah. <laugh>, Speaker 2 00:51:27 You can't, you can't come into a southern woman's kitchen and not eat anything. Sure. You cannot. <laugh>. And my dad will also have her temper tantrum about that. You're not gonna have seven ribs. Are you kidding? Speaker 3 00:51:38 Why? Like I made these ribs. I made Speaker 2 00:51:39 These ribs. I didn't even know you were coming but damn Speaker 3 00:51:42 <laugh> so great. But it's uh, it's so cool to watch your thing grow man. And I remember like watching you do cover videos and stuff online Yeah. And like, you know, being like, damn, this girl's voice is amazing. But now it's like, now you get to hear the songs that you wanna put into the world and like the emotions that you're feeling. Yeah. And the stuff that you think is your best stuff, you know. Speaker 2 00:52:02 Yeah. It's definitely a journey. That's just what it is. That's just the best way to describe it is it is such a journey. And um, this is something that Bradley's talked to me about since we started is the stepping blocks of each thing and you know, to build that foundation of you wanna do this for, I wanna do this for as long as I can. You know, as, as much as I bitch about it or I'm like, I need a day off. I wanna do this for the rest of my life. You know? And the end goal is as far as I can possibly take it, who knows where that's gonna be. But it's building that foundation where you, you have something solid to stand on, you know? Yep. So Speaker 3 00:52:36 I love that. Speaking of journey as far as you can take it, you're gonna be out on the road with another artist here soon, right? Speaker 2 00:52:41 Yeah. Mr. John party. Mr. Speaker 3 00:52:43 John party. Yeah. Tell us how you met John, cuz I know this a little bit. Speaker 2 00:52:46 All right. Uh, well we were cutting the EP at my publishing company, Sony Nashville. Yep. And he's also is a writer there. That's where his publishing is. And uh, the first day we cut the ep, we cut like fight make me wanna smoke and excuse the mess. We like kind of the upbeat rockier songs. And then the second day we Cut could have been her hell of a man and the acoustics and one other one and I'm, I think that's it. I'm probably forgetting one anyways. Um, so I was wearing all my rock shit for the first day on my country stuff for the second day. So the second day, this was the second day. I'm wearing my hat, my jean vest, jeans, boots, everything. You dress Speaker 1 00:53:25 The part for the songs you're cutting. Uh, Speaker 2 00:53:26 Exactly. I like that. Speaker 1 00:53:27 Exactly. It's like method acting. Yeah, Speaker 2 00:53:29 Exactly. Like I just, well I mean that's what I do on stage. I was excited. It was my first time. Like I've cut with a full band once or twice, but like this was my first legit time. I was excited about every song we're doing, you know, and I walked out because apparently I've read this that it's good to eat Lay's chips before you sing cuz the oils and stuff Speaker 1 00:53:48 We eat 'em on the road. Yeah, Speaker 2 00:53:50 Yeah. That might be true or not, but I will continue to do it cuz they taste good. Yes. Um, and uh, so I was walking around, I was, I was about to have to sing hell of a man with a band. These are some badass studio session players that were in there. And I was like, all right, gotta impress these guys. So I went in to where all the snacks are downstairs in the front lobby and they were playing, got a little dirt on my boots cuz I'm taking you downtown and that. But I was singing it like John Parti like I was playing the part, I was in a wonderful mood. I was like got a little dirt on my boots cuz I'm taking you damn down. Like I was looking at the ground and I look up while I'm singing it and John Part's sitting right there staring at me with his laptop with his hat on his whole cowboy Get Up <laugh>. And I was like, Speaker 1 00:54:37 <laugh>, Speaker 2 00:54:37 Hey. That's all I could do. Like, like I didn't know what else to do. I just waited. I said hey, I said my name's Ella Langley and I turned around, I don't even know if I said my name. I think I was so startled that I was like, hey, hey. And I turned around and I got the chips and I went back in and I remember texting Anna Wise Band was his publisher and I was like, uh, was anyone gonna let me know that John Part's gonna be in the downstairs lobby today? Because I just saw him. I was wearing a hat. He was wearing a hat. I think it might have been weird. I couldn't tell <laugh>. And uh, we went to Hawaii, we went to Maui to play that songwriter fest a couple days later. And she told me that he was like, he called her and he was like, who's that cowgirl? Speaker 2 00:55:16 I met downstairs And she was like, that's El Langley. And then uh, I think like two, three days later we were still in Maui. He asked us, um, he gave us the offer for the whole us part of the tour, which is like so badass to get on a whole tour. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. <affirmative> like, and I get why they wanna spread the love but like being able to be with one artist for that many dates to create that connection, to learn from that one guy to play those same shows. It's like the shit, you know? Yeah. Um, and then, um, yeah, now and then we uh, got on the Europe portion of the tour too and I'm doing that one acoustic just power acoustic. Me and Ben Flanders, my guitar player. Yeah. And I'm pumped, we're doing 11 different countries is what they call it over there. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:55:58 Okay. That's how it works. Yeah. Yep. That's all. Have you been over there before? Speaker 2 00:56:02 No. I just got my passport. Speaker 1 00:56:04 Make sure you get it in. You have it in hand? Yeah. Okay, cool. I only Speaker 2 00:56:08 Had to go back to Alabama to do it. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:56:09 Okay. I know cuz some of the flight line guys were like, Reed ordered his passport like six months ahead of like our Canadian dates and it, it didn't come to like a day. They had to like overnight it to like Montana or somebody. He had like dang. It was like very, they were like, Hey learn the set just in case. And I was like, okay. But good. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:56:29 I got it. Fun. We're gonna have so much fun. Well we're fun. We're going Cabo in July with Co Speaker 1 00:56:33 That sounds awesome. <laugh> That so much fun. That sounds Speaker 3 00:56:36 We dude Speaker 2 00:56:37 We're going. Yeah, Speaker 3 00:56:37 Well Speaker 2 00:56:38 It's like, um, Casey Donahue, uh, does that festival down there? Yeah. And um, in our weekend it's uh, me, co Colby Cooper, peku maybe one other person, but I think maybe like the floating Leaf guys. Yeah. And then me <laugh>. Oh Mike Ryan. I know one of the shows that which is cool Love cuz I know Mike Love. So I know one of my rounds I'm doing is me co and Mike in one round. So I'll just Sick. Speaker 3 00:57:06 Sick. Well you're one of those girls that can actually hang with the boys, you know what I mean? It's Cause Speaker 2 00:57:11 I'm all, that's who I'm always surrounded by. Yeah. That's just, just boys. But Speaker 3 00:57:15 That's like, I mean there's a lot of folks that like can't do that. Like when I got to see you interact with the band and Luke in the locker room I was like, was crazy. All right. Ella's holding her own like, I don't have to worry about this. No. And just being a fly on the wall for that was like freaking awesome. Speaker 2 00:57:30 I try my best, you know, honestly I don't, I just go out there and be weird as shit and they think it's funny. Yeah. Which is just been myself weird as Speaker 3 00:57:38 Shit. Everybody's weird as shit. Yeah. True. That's what, that's how it works, Speaker 2 00:57:42 You think? Yeah. You think we all decided to do this for a living and we weren't weird as shit when we were younger. <laugh>? No, we were not the cool kids in school. Not me. Speaker 1 00:57:51 I was the cool kid in the marching band. Yeah. <laugh>. Speaker 3 00:57:54 I played football but we lost every game, you know, Speaker 2 00:57:56 That's how I was with soccer. Yeah. Lost every game. We were so bad. Put my heart into it though. Every time. Speaker 3 00:58:01 Yeah. Hey, that's what it's about, you know? It's what Speaker 2 00:58:03 It's what it's about. Speaker 3 00:58:04 Yeah. Teamwork. Still Speaker 2 00:58:05 Teamwork. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:58:06 But I'm so excited for you sis like just getting to watch this whole thing grow. Like thanks dude. As I said the last podcast we did, you had like all this stuff like was happening but hadn't happened yet. And so now like to get you as you are on the path up and like starting to get all this work really working. Amazing. Speaker 2 00:58:25 Should we do it like a little over a year from now again and see what happens? Yes. Yes. Speaker 3 00:58:29 Absolutely. Speaker 2 00:58:30 We just keep it going. We can Speaker 1 00:58:31 Do it in Mexico. Speaker 3 00:58:32 Yeah. We're doing a Cabo please. Speaker 2 00:58:34 I need some sanity down there. I'm trying to Speaker 1 00:58:36 Survive. Jimmy's fly this down. Yeah. Speaker 3 00:58:37 <laugh> maybe that's a good idea. Maybe we'll try to figure that out. Speaker 2 00:58:40 We're actually right before uh, Cabo we're doing those. Whoop my bad. We're doing those whiskey jam. Uh, the whiskey jam in Tampa and then we're flying straight from that to Cabo and flying. We're doing the one in, uh, North Carolina. Speaker 1 00:58:54 Oh cool. That's gonna be, that's gonna be the best Speaker 2 00:58:56 One. That's the hometown show. Andrew Park. Well we're doing the whiskey jam, obviously outside and Drew Parker is the headliner. Right? I mean that's gonna be, that's gonna Speaker 1 00:59:03 Crush. Speaker 2 00:59:04 I'll have a great time. Probably get beer drunk again. Yes. Beer. Speaker 3 00:59:07 Let's for America. Speaker 1 00:59:09 We're doing two nights so hopefully you can come to both but yeah, Speaker 2 00:59:12 That'd be cool. Yeah, I'd like to. Yeah, I have a great time. Obviously <laugh>. Speaker 3 00:59:18 Well I remember like watching in the Pit like in Pittsburgh and you were like, like I'm in the pit and I was like, I'm on this side and like your videos, y'all were like right behind us but we didn't see each other cuz that pit's just Wow, dude. So much fun. Speaker 2 00:59:29 Blast. Speaker 3 00:59:30 Hell yeah. Such a good time. Here's the getting beer drunk at Luke Comb shows. Amen. Chris. Speaker 2 00:59:33 Getting beer drunk at Luke Comb shows. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:59:36 <laugh>. Um, before we wrap up, let's talk about the song that we played together. Cause we just played a song together. Yeah. Um, Speaker 2 00:59:41 Could have been her. Speaker 1 00:59:42 Yeah, I loved it. Speaker 2 00:59:44 Thank you. Um, I wrote that on a writer's retreat, um, back, um, my parents have a lake house in slap out Alabama. I think out that's where, where they're about to reside. That Speaker 1 00:59:54 Sounds made up. It's, that's Speaker 3 00:59:55 Where Tyler Braden's from. That's Speaker 2 00:59:56 Where Tyler Brad's from. If you know who the d y is, that's where he's from. Speaker 1 00:59:58 There must be something in the collards down there. Yeah. Speaker 3 01:00:00 <laugh> that's just Speaker 2 01:00:01 Yeah. Must be. Um, uh, but I went on a writer's retreat. It was last summer. It was me Will Bundy who produced the whole thing. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, Trane Anderson. She was a co-writer on a few. And then Joy Beth. She's great. Um, and um, man that song was one of those that just kind of fell out. It, it, it was, it's that, that song has been consistently one of my favorite songs to listen to and play since I wrote it. I think that song, um, says a lot, you know, so much. And, um, I think that it is, I mean it's just one of the, I mean, playing it live, I still get chills when the band comes in on that second verse. You know, it's just a special song to me. And, and the reaction I've gotten from it and the stories I've read from it and how many people that relate to that song and you know, that song's really about standing up for yourself. Not just in a relationship but you know, just in general. Just being like, Hey, I could have been that person that didn't set it up for myself, but I was, and this is the decision I've made, is to be who I wanna be and stand up for the shit I believe in. So. Speaker 1 01:01:01 Absolutely. I feel like we're talking a lot about being yourself. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and when it's not always the easiest. So that song just exemplifies that like a hundred percent. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, and if you're having younger artists or even like younger women look up to you, I think this is a perfect song for them to be listening to, right? Yeah, Speaker 2 01:01:18 I think so. Thank you. I agree too. Badass compliment. Thank you. Speaker 3 01:01:20 Yeah. For Speaker 2 01:01:22 Song. Speaker 3 01:01:22 Thanks you guys. Thanks for coming back on the raise Rowdy pod. I Speaker 2 01:01:25 Can't wait to see what's happening in a year and a half. I'm still Trucking's. Yeah, <laugh>. Speaker 3 01:01:29 Oh oh, it'll be trucking. Yeah. Oh yeah. Speaker 2 01:01:32 Well I love you guys. Thank you for having me here. We, me Jesus. Speaker 3 01:01:34 Love you too. We appreciate you for coming out here Five minutes from your house. Yeah. It's Speaker 2 01:01:37 Took forever Speaker 3 01:01:38 <laugh> to hang with us. Awesome. And uh, thanks Kurt for being on this one. We appreciate you. Speaker 1 01:01:42 Hey, anytime you can Speaker 2 01:01:43 Play, do bro for me. Anytime. Sorry Luke, you know what I mean? <laugh>. Speaker 1 01:01:48 Hell yeah. I'm into that. Speaker 2 01:01:50 Yeah. All Speaker 3 01:01:50 Right, well I'm Nikki T Speaker 1 01:01:52 I'm Kurt Ozon. And Speaker 3 01:01:54 Was And this is Ella Lane. This Speaker 2 01:01:55 Is Ella. I was ready to go. This is Ella Speaker 3 01:01:57 Lan and we'll see you in, in the front Speaker 1 01:01:58 Row. Speaker 3 01:02:00 That's it. Speaker 2 01:02:00 Awesome. Speaker 4 01:02:06 I have stayed back home, never spread my wings. Let you build that. And if I, that wouldn't be me. Yeah.