January 22, 2025 • 27 mins
Leon Bridges made perhaps the coolest record of 2024 with the stunning 'Leon.' Now as he takes it on the road in 2025 he joins Steve Baltin and Sage Bava to talk touring, his home state of Texas, his purpose in life and his favorite ice cream. In this wonderful conversation they cover it all.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
In this episode was real to sit down with the
incomparable Leon Bridges, the Grammy winning artist whose soulful sound
has redefined modern R and B. We dive deep into
the inspiration behind his latest album, questions like what's the
purpose of life? And what does it feel like to
be a conduit? Join us for this intimate conversation with
one of music's most amazing voices.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
What are you doing in Nashville?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, so I'm out here doing some rehearsals, getting ready
for tour.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
We both absolutely love the album. It's incredible. Yeah, because
Brandy Carlisle is a friend, right, and she and I
talked about it when she produced Brandy Clark's album, which
is incredible, and Brandy said, as a producer, it was
the biggest compliment to her to have Brandy Clark's self
titled the album because that meant that she felt the
(01:17):
album was the closest to her and so reflective, obviously
titled Leon, Do you feel the.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Same for sure? You know, I felt like, you know,
for from from a moment. You know, I'm always like
kind of in a state of like reimagination, like always
trying to like always like try to reinvent myself with
each album, and you know, this album was just about
(01:44):
you know, kind of just embracing my my singularity as
an artist, you know, and you know, I wanted to
give you know, people just like more of a window
into who I am, which is what inspired the Leon.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
It feels like a different side of you that we
haven't heard before. Curious now that you're like in the
middle of turning this music live for your tour, I'm
curious what that experience has been.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Like. Yeah, I've been lucky enough to like work with
some really top tier musicians, and I think, you know,
the music is always gonna you know, have a different
like interpretation live, but you know, the whole goal is
(02:31):
to like try to keep this the live versions of
these songs as close to the record as as we
can as we can, you know. And so I love
that we're you know, a majority of the set list
will be songs from the Leon album and but also
like kind of sprinkling sprinkling in some of the some
(02:52):
of the oldest stuff as well.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So exciting. I absolutely love the world that you created
for this. Can you talk about the creative process and
how it differed from previous albums and what it was
like to choose these songs and put them together.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
M Yeah, So I started working on this album like
five like five years ago, and at the time, I
was kind of like simultaneously working on my album gold Diggers,
and you know, just kind of night and day as
(03:29):
far as like the aesthetic, you know, and I you know,
gold Diggers just like more of a bravado, just kind
of like me just making a statement of like I
wanted to flex my R and B muscle on that one,
and the songs just didn't fit in the context. So
(03:49):
I kind of put everything on the back burner and
and tried to ignore these songs, but they just you know,
kind of kept coming back to haunt me, and you know,
just had to listen to my intuition and revisit everything.
But I guess it was just like kind of the
most liberating experience because I guess normally, like in the process,
(04:12):
you know, it's all about chasing that hit, and man,
it's you know, just having the freedom just to just
to create, you know, and not really trying to chase
a certain aesthetic and sound. I guess, you know, and
(04:32):
that was kind of was different.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Well, you know, it's funny too, because I think that
for every artist I talk to, which is eight million,
six hundred and twenty seven thousand artists who ever lived
pretty much. I mean, you know, there is a comfort level.
As you get older, you get more comfortable going for
that intimacy. You also understand that there's like a quiet
(05:01):
that's more powerful and softer, and speaking simpler has more effect.
Do you feel like you've kind of entered that PiZZ
as an artist as well? Where Like I always us
the example of Luve Man. I love John Lennon Plastic
in a band to me punk rock out've ever made,
because it is so fucking raw, and you know there's
(05:24):
something about that. I feel like you're at that space
now totally. You know.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I think every time like I've tried to shape the
music in a way that you know, in my mind,
I'm like, Okay, yeah, this is going to be really
successful and like kind of a pop thing. I've always
feel like those songs kind of fill on deaf ears
(05:53):
with my audience, and so I think that's what inspired Leon.
It was just like the thought of you know, how
can I I need the type of music where I
can just pick up a guitar, go into a room
and play them, and you know, just wanting to really
(06:16):
chase that simplicity again and just get back to the
reason of like why my fans fell in love with
me in the first place, and you know, just having
that storytelling vibe and and you know, the songs just
like with the production of the production, Like I was
really adamant about that just being like really organic and
(06:40):
with some of those like country and folk elements.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Well, I mean it's funny when I think of like
great albums like Well on the Tracks or Journeying It's
for Blue, or you know, there is that like simplicity
to it, or there albums that really inspired you for
the way that like again, like I say, I think
that I was look at again going back to John
Lennon look at a song again in my life as
a song that every person in the world think they
(07:05):
could have written, and only fucking John Lynne told do it.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
There's something about that simplicity in writing that's so beautiful
that inspired you. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I love I'm a big Van Morrison fan. And and
Astra Weeks that's that's a really rad that's a rap
one and and I love that he people. He gave
people a glimpse into into his hometown, and you know,
just like sonically, you know, like you know, it's like
(07:43):
so warm and inviting and and and I always always
love like his cadence and phrasing on on on a
lot of that stuff. And so yeah, I think a
lot of that stuff is like kind of lives in
the subconscious, you know, and you know, and it's kind
of pours out when I when I write. But he
(08:04):
is one one cat that I reference, you know, And
and I think the cool thing is, like, you know,
this album is kind of reflection of like, you know,
just my pantheon of of of those like great like
the records from the from the seventies, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Especially with real instruments. I was curious what rituals, if any,
you kind of adapted for this creation.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Mm hmm. Man. I think you know what was really
really awesome is it's just like going going out to
Mexico City to really bring this album home, and it
was just you know, just amazing just to be disconnected
(08:54):
from just all distractions and uh, you know, and I
guess my schedule is always just like so sporadic. It
was nice to have a little bit of a just
a routine of kind of getting up and and going
for a little run and you know, just hitting the
(09:18):
studio and and and working on the songs. And it's
it's also to bring like real instrumentation, like in that
musicality and the music, because I feel like you don't
really see a lot of black musicians like frontman with
(09:45):
a guitar, you know, and and hopefully you know, with
you know, with through my own thing, you know, I'll
you know, be able to inspire some of you know,
the youth to you know, pick up, pick up instrument
and get after.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Something Steve and I love talking about is how music
is a form of service. And with so many artists,
it's like one of their core inspirations is service. And
it means a different thing to the different artists, but
for you what does that mean?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Mm hmm. Man. You know, I feel you know, with
you know, with our platform, you know, we kind of
have almost this obligation too, you know, just to feed
you know, to feed the people like with with music
(10:44):
that of integrity and and and in positive music, and
that that's just kind of my thing. You know. There's
so much music out there that I think it's cool,
you know, for you know, it's always a time and
play for everything. But I feel I feel like we
have a duty too. Yeah, just make music that's uplifting.
(11:09):
I think we we all, we all need that right now.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So what's the music that uplifts you? And it's interesting
when you were starting to make this record and you
said the songs kind of dictate for you, were there
songs on this album that really set the tone for
the fact that this was going to be uplifting?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Yeah? Man, it's crazy because like I've never really felt
like this connected two you know, to to to my music.
And I mean, every every song on this album is
just like I mean, it brings me to tears, you know.
(11:50):
You know. But there was one one song called Simplify
that you know, it kind of became the north star
are as to how we shape this album and what
the meaning of the album is, you know, I just
think that's you know, And as as as as the
(12:13):
more we climb the ladder and just like the weight
of it's kind of dealing with like fame and all
and all that other stuff. Like you know, we all all,
I think all artists kind of desire just getting back
to a more you know, simpler life, you know, and
(12:34):
and that's kind of what that song is about, and
and and and that's what I wanted to chase on
this album. Just like that's simplicity with with with the
production and the songs. M h.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Well, it's interesting too because Sage and I hasp so
many artists about this, and it's like, you know, Jimmy
Cliff told me that many verbs across he wrote in
ten minutes. On the way to the studio. Neil Diamond said,
Sweet Caroline came from God, And so often when a song,
there's like the feeling that artists get where they're channeling
and the song just comes out of the sky and
(13:18):
you're like, I don't even know where the hell that
came from. Were there songs on this album for you
that were just like thunderbolts?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah, totally, man, you know it. I guess like there's
those moments where like the song is kind of like
rights itself. And there's a specific song called Ivy, which
is it's a song about my my little sister and
totally a serendipitous moment like I was in La and
(13:51):
my two of my best friends, Abraham Alexander and Brandon
Marcel happened to be there and we were kicking in
that Soho had had the guitars out and was like, yeah,
it was right, a song about my sister, and it
really just flowed out, and you know, he really means
so much to all of us, you know, you know,
(14:15):
and so yeah, that's that's one that really flowed you know.
You know, I'm just a conduit, you know that, you know,
God just kind of you know, works works, works through
you know, and in my music.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
But yeah, I was just asking you before Save finishes off,
and you were saying about being a conduit. And it's
really interesting because we talked to people like cap Power,
you know, other people who like they found that from
such a young age and you learners. It's a really
interesting thing, right because I just just tap in differently
with the world, right, Like we were just I was
(14:55):
adding an interview we just did with Ohani, who used
to be Anthony and Johnson Transit, a fucking amazing singer. Anyways,
she's talking about the privilege of being an artist. And
what's interesting is I think every kid has that connection
to the beyond, and then what happens is most people
lose it because it gets censored in some way, but
(15:17):
as an artist, you keep it so you find from
a very young age that you have that, like Sean
Capira was telling she had a protector.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
M hmm, man, you know, I mean, I think, you know,
I'm definitely kind of living, you know, in my purpose.
I just like I think about my trajectory in the
(15:47):
way everything's unfolded, and you know, I mean, yes, it's
the reflection of talent, but I think it's it's just
one of those things that was always just written in
the stars. And you know, I don't take I don't
kind of spend a lot of time like really trying
(16:09):
to like emulate one artist or one one one thing,
you know.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I guess, yeah, I know that was a fucking deep question.
I didn't mean to go, but.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Now yeah, but yeah, I mean I feel like, you know,
I'm definitely doing what I was, you know, what I'm
meant to be, what I'm meant to be doing. I guess.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Did you know that?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
When?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Did you figure that out?
Speaker 3 (16:48):
In in college, I thought I thought I was supposed
to be a backup, like a background answer. I thought
I was supposed to be a choreographer. That's what I mean,
that's what I wanted to do initially, and I started
(17:09):
to get into like these little jam sessions that my
friends used to like throw on on campus, and I
mean just getting that affirmation from the people around me
were just like, yeah, you you sound good. I mean,
that's kind of what gave me feel to keep going
on the music.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
It's kind of an impossible question, but how would you
synthesize what it feels like to be a conduit in
the moment?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Mm hmm, oh my god, no, no expert, Yeah, man,
I don't know. I think it's I think it's yeah.
(18:04):
I guess it's a kind of a humbling you know,
a humbling thing, that very humbling that I guess at times,
like I like, I'm so disconnected from how I guess
the weight of my music and my impact. But I
(18:26):
think it's humbling that God, you know, still uses me,
you know, being so frail and a finite person, you know,
you know, and uses my music to like be healing
to other people.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Such a beautiful answer.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Thank you for that.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
That's very thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
You can hear it in your music. I so appreciate
the amount of soul and depth that you bring.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
We also we really like going to dude, We're not
going to do like your favorite fucking ice but what actually,
now I'm curious because I'm ver asked it, but that
what's the favorite ice cream?
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Oh? Man, I mean, I'm I mean, I'm just like
playing Jane Vanilla all day.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
But on a more musical note, you know, it's interesting.
I know you've done this album a few times live
in like intimate settings, but you know, it's always a
fascinating thing because when you do something live, audience makes
their own and you can have an idea of like, Okay,
this is my favorite song, and then they may say
Ivy's the best, or someone else may say, uh, Leota
(19:34):
is like my favorite. So for you, have you been
surprised and in a good way, by the way that
the audience respawnded to certain songs?
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Totally totally? You know, Yeah, this leon is one of
those things that you know, it should be kind of
listened to as a it's just a body at work.
And I honestly I was I'm really surprised that. I mean,
because I love every song on there, but yeah, the
(20:07):
fact that people gravitated towards thereto and even you know,
playing snippets of this one called Panther City, you know,
and seeing people just like respond to that has been
such a blessing, you know. But yeah, it's just one
of those albums you just gotta press play, you know.
(20:28):
But I can't wait to see, you know, which, which
songs on the album are gonna be people's favorites?
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Would you ever do the album?
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Y life. We're gonna play a good portion of it
on on this upcoming tour. You know, it's like their
main focus is the Leon album, but also like incorporating
some of the older stuff in there too. But hopefully, yeah,
(20:59):
I guess once to kind of I think next year,
you know, we'll be able to play more of it
once people kind of start to know all the songs.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
All right, I want to ask one more questions. I'm curious,
and then I'm gonna let's say it trainished it off.
But you mentioned Van Morrison, who I got to interview
last year for the first time. He doesn't know anyone.
That dude's a freak in a good way, but he's
also one of the greatest songs for you. Who would
be the artist that you would most love to just
sit with and like play a show with, pick their
(21:31):
brain and just have fun.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Him mm hmm. It would be mm hmm. Man, it'd
be cool to Yeah, it'd be cool to have a
combo or make music with James Blake. I mean, you
(21:58):
know he you know, I feel like he's kind of
a pioneer, you know, and it's all right. And I
mean that, I mean that that guy really embodies the
R and B and and you know, but it's totally his,
you know, his his own thing.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
I'd love to ask about the first song. It's just
so beautiful.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I need to know more.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Can you give us a little golden nugget about either
the writing of or what it means to you?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
M man? Yeah, I mean with figuring out like I
guess when we were trying to figure out the sequencing,
I mean, there was talks of like, oh, simplify, I
should go first, you know, but I was like, nah,
when a man cries, I love that being the opener.
(22:47):
And you know, it's it's a song that I initially
started started writing with John Mayer. And it's funny because
I went on Instagram live and I was and I
was like doing assession with some friends and John Mayer
was like, Yo, send me the address, I'm gonna pull up.
I was like, no way, but he actually came through
(23:09):
and that's like how this song transpired. But yeah, when
a man cries is you know, like it's about like
mental health. I feel like in the black community, you know,
we don't really have a space to express our emotions
out out of fear of being deemed as as weak.
(23:30):
And I just love that that that that statement of
like when a man cries, you know, like the tears
falling and you know, being a metaphor of just letting
go and kind of showing like you know, there's there's
definitely bravery, you know, and and the vulnerability. And yeah,
(23:53):
it's the modern the modern blues.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
So now I gotta ask, sorry, is there one song
that makes you cry?
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Man? Ivy? That's that's the one Ivy in Panthers City,
you know. But I mean, I'm gonna I'm gonna have
a hard time playing live without crying during the whole
whole damn set.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
I don't believe that ship anymore.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Man.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Because I interviewed a Dalla for twenty one, we did
aol sessions. She did someone like You and she's like,
I can never play that song. It's too emotional, makes
everything like and then she ended up playing the song.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
A song in the world.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Anymore.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
But yeah, casual you know.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Quote one more podcast question what is And he kind
of answered this before, but you know, you alluded to
it in one of you talking about your music? But
what is your purpose as an artist or as verson?
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Yeah? My purpose, man, it's it's too It's super simple.
I mean, make make good art and uh, you know,
and take care and take care of my family. I mean,
I mean leon is you know. I think what people
(25:17):
could take away from it is, you know, to focus
on the things that are meaningful to you, you know,
and that's uh, you know for me, that's you know,
home and it's family. And yeah, it's kind of what
(25:37):
what what I want people to take away from from
the album?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
It's interesting, is there one artist for you that you
really admire for the way they molded their career and
the way they did things. And it's funny, I think
now because I was working on a project about Christopher
now and definitely you have some of that same mentality
of like being true to the art being true to
the music and everything and everybody else. Chris was a
(26:04):
badass man. I have his emails and stuff. It was like,
I'm if you're cool to me, I'm cool to you.
But it's all about the work first always.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Yeah, yeah, man, I really I have a lot of
respect for for three Stacks, you know, how how you
know he was a pioneer in the rap game, you know,
but also you know, didn't give a fuck about how
(26:37):
people perceived, you know, his kind of artistic expression. And
I love that it was like so outside the box
and and then and now he's just like chilling, you know,
and so I hope, you know, I can you know,
have longevity as as an artist and ultimately, you know,
(26:58):
kind of be a little bit under the radar them.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Ooh lean anything you want to add we didn't ask.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
You about mm hmmm.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I mean we went from the purpose in life to
your favorite ice cream, so we governed a lot of ship.
The alum is incredible, dude, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Good talking to y'all.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Yeah, okay, thanks him.
In this episode was real to sit down with the
incomparable Leon Bridges, the Grammy winning artist whose soulful sound
has redefined modern R and B. We dive deep into
the inspiration behind his latest album, questions like what's the
purpose of life? And what does it feel like to
be a conduit? Join us for this intimate conversation with
one of music's most amazing voices.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
What are you doing in Nashville?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, so I'm out here doing some rehearsals, getting ready
for tour.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
We both absolutely love the album. It's incredible. Yeah, because
Brandy Carlisle is a friend, right, and she and I
talked about it when she produced Brandy Clark's album, which
is incredible, and Brandy said, as a producer, it was
the biggest compliment to her to have Brandy Clark's self
titled the album because that meant that she felt the
(01:17):
album was the closest to her and so reflective, obviously
titled Leon, Do you feel the.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Same for sure? You know, I felt like, you know,
for from from a moment. You know, I'm always like
kind of in a state of like reimagination, like always
trying to like always like try to reinvent myself with
each album, and you know, this album was just about
(01:44):
you know, kind of just embracing my my singularity as
an artist, you know, and you know, I wanted to
give you know, people just like more of a window
into who I am, which is what inspired the Leon.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
It feels like a different side of you that we
haven't heard before. Curious now that you're like in the
middle of turning this music live for your tour, I'm
curious what that experience has been.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Like. Yeah, I've been lucky enough to like work with
some really top tier musicians, and I think, you know,
the music is always gonna you know, have a different
like interpretation live, but you know, the whole goal is
(02:31):
to like try to keep this the live versions of
these songs as close to the record as as we
can as we can, you know. And so I love
that we're you know, a majority of the set list
will be songs from the Leon album and but also
like kind of sprinkling sprinkling in some of the some
(02:52):
of the oldest stuff as well.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So exciting. I absolutely love the world that you created
for this. Can you talk about the creative process and
how it differed from previous albums and what it was
like to choose these songs and put them together.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
M Yeah, So I started working on this album like
five like five years ago, and at the time, I
was kind of like simultaneously working on my album gold Diggers,
and you know, just kind of night and day as
(03:29):
far as like the aesthetic, you know, and I you know,
gold Diggers just like more of a bravado, just kind
of like me just making a statement of like I
wanted to flex my R and B muscle on that one,
and the songs just didn't fit in the context. So
(03:49):
I kind of put everything on the back burner and
and tried to ignore these songs, but they just you know,
kind of kept coming back to haunt me, and you know,
just had to listen to my intuition and revisit everything.
But I guess it was just like kind of the
most liberating experience because I guess normally, like in the process,
(04:12):
you know, it's all about chasing that hit, and man,
it's you know, just having the freedom just to just
to create, you know, and not really trying to chase
a certain aesthetic and sound. I guess, you know, and
(04:32):
that was kind of was different.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Well, you know, it's funny too, because I think that
for every artist I talk to, which is eight million,
six hundred and twenty seven thousand artists who ever lived
pretty much. I mean, you know, there is a comfort level.
As you get older, you get more comfortable going for
that intimacy. You also understand that there's like a quiet
(05:01):
that's more powerful and softer, and speaking simpler has more effect.
Do you feel like you've kind of entered that PiZZ
as an artist as well? Where Like I always us
the example of Luve Man. I love John Lennon Plastic
in a band to me punk rock out've ever made,
because it is so fucking raw, and you know there's
(05:24):
something about that. I feel like you're at that space
now totally. You know.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I think every time like I've tried to shape the
music in a way that you know, in my mind,
I'm like, Okay, yeah, this is going to be really
successful and like kind of a pop thing. I've always
feel like those songs kind of fill on deaf ears
(05:53):
with my audience, and so I think that's what inspired Leon.
It was just like the thought of you know, how
can I I need the type of music where I
can just pick up a guitar, go into a room
and play them, and you know, just wanting to really
(06:16):
chase that simplicity again and just get back to the
reason of like why my fans fell in love with
me in the first place, and you know, just having
that storytelling vibe and and you know, the songs just
like with the production of the production, Like I was
really adamant about that just being like really organic and
(06:40):
with some of those like country and folk elements.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Well, I mean it's funny when I think of like
great albums like Well on the Tracks or Journeying It's
for Blue, or you know, there is that like simplicity
to it, or there albums that really inspired you for
the way that like again, like I say, I think
that I was look at again going back to John
Lennon look at a song again in my life as
a song that every person in the world think they
(07:05):
could have written, and only fucking John Lynne told do it.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
There's something about that simplicity in writing that's so beautiful
that inspired you. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I love I'm a big Van Morrison fan. And and
Astra Weeks that's that's a really rad that's a rap
one and and I love that he people. He gave
people a glimpse into into his hometown, and you know,
just like sonically, you know, like you know, it's like
(07:43):
so warm and inviting and and and I always always
love like his cadence and phrasing on on on a
lot of that stuff. And so yeah, I think a
lot of that stuff is like kind of lives in
the subconscious, you know, and you know, and it's kind
of pours out when I when I write. But he
(08:04):
is one one cat that I reference, you know, And
and I think the cool thing is, like, you know,
this album is kind of reflection of like, you know,
just my pantheon of of of those like great like
the records from the from the seventies, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Especially with real instruments. I was curious what rituals, if any,
you kind of adapted for this creation.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Mm hmm. Man. I think you know what was really
really awesome is it's just like going going out to
Mexico City to really bring this album home, and it
was just you know, just amazing just to be disconnected
(08:54):
from just all distractions and uh, you know, and I
guess my schedule is always just like so sporadic. It
was nice to have a little bit of a just
a routine of kind of getting up and and going
for a little run and you know, just hitting the
(09:18):
studio and and and working on the songs. And it's
it's also to bring like real instrumentation, like in that
musicality and the music, because I feel like you don't
really see a lot of black musicians like frontman with
(09:45):
a guitar, you know, and and hopefully you know, with
you know, with through my own thing, you know, I'll
you know, be able to inspire some of you know,
the youth to you know, pick up, pick up instrument
and get after.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Something Steve and I love talking about is how music
is a form of service. And with so many artists,
it's like one of their core inspirations is service. And
it means a different thing to the different artists, but
for you what does that mean?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Mm hmm. Man. You know, I feel you know, with
you know, with our platform, you know, we kind of
have almost this obligation too, you know, just to feed
you know, to feed the people like with with music
(10:44):
that of integrity and and and in positive music, and
that that's just kind of my thing. You know. There's
so much music out there that I think it's cool,
you know, for you know, it's always a time and
play for everything. But I feel I feel like we
have a duty too. Yeah, just make music that's uplifting.
(11:09):
I think we we all, we all need that right now.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So what's the music that uplifts you? And it's interesting
when you were starting to make this record and you
said the songs kind of dictate for you, were there
songs on this album that really set the tone for
the fact that this was going to be uplifting?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Yeah? Man, it's crazy because like I've never really felt
like this connected two you know, to to to my music.
And I mean, every every song on this album is
just like I mean, it brings me to tears, you know.
(11:50):
You know. But there was one one song called Simplify
that you know, it kind of became the north star
are as to how we shape this album and what
the meaning of the album is, you know, I just
think that's you know, And as as as as the
(12:13):
more we climb the ladder and just like the weight
of it's kind of dealing with like fame and all
and all that other stuff. Like you know, we all all,
I think all artists kind of desire just getting back
to a more you know, simpler life, you know, and
(12:34):
and that's kind of what that song is about, and
and and and that's what I wanted to chase on
this album. Just like that's simplicity with with with the
production and the songs. M h.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Well, it's interesting too because Sage and I hasp so
many artists about this, and it's like, you know, Jimmy
Cliff told me that many verbs across he wrote in
ten minutes. On the way to the studio. Neil Diamond said,
Sweet Caroline came from God, And so often when a song,
there's like the feeling that artists get where they're channeling
and the song just comes out of the sky and
(13:18):
you're like, I don't even know where the hell that
came from. Were there songs on this album for you
that were just like thunderbolts?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yeah, totally, man, you know it. I guess like there's
those moments where like the song is kind of like
rights itself. And there's a specific song called Ivy, which
is it's a song about my my little sister and
totally a serendipitous moment like I was in La and
(13:51):
my two of my best friends, Abraham Alexander and Brandon
Marcel happened to be there and we were kicking in
that Soho had had the guitars out and was like, yeah,
it was right, a song about my sister, and it
really just flowed out, and you know, he really means
so much to all of us, you know, you know,
(14:15):
and so yeah, that's that's one that really flowed you know.
You know, I'm just a conduit, you know that, you know,
God just kind of you know, works works, works through
you know, and in my music.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
But yeah, I was just asking you before Save finishes off,
and you were saying about being a conduit. And it's
really interesting because we talked to people like cap Power,
you know, other people who like they found that from
such a young age and you learners. It's a really
interesting thing, right because I just just tap in differently
with the world, right, Like we were just I was
(14:55):
adding an interview we just did with Ohani, who used
to be Anthony and Johnson Transit, a fucking amazing singer. Anyways,
she's talking about the privilege of being an artist. And
what's interesting is I think every kid has that connection
to the beyond, and then what happens is most people
lose it because it gets censored in some way, but
(15:17):
as an artist, you keep it so you find from
a very young age that you have that, like Sean
Capira was telling she had a protector.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
M hmm, man, you know, I mean, I think, you know,
I'm definitely kind of living, you know, in my purpose.
I just like I think about my trajectory in the
(15:47):
way everything's unfolded, and you know, I mean, yes, it's
the reflection of talent, but I think it's it's just
one of those things that was always just written in
the stars. And you know, I don't take I don't
kind of spend a lot of time like really trying
(16:09):
to like emulate one artist or one one one thing,
you know.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I guess, yeah, I know that was a fucking deep question.
I didn't mean to go, but.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Now yeah, but yeah, I mean I feel like, you know,
I'm definitely doing what I was, you know, what I'm
meant to be, what I'm meant to be doing. I guess.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Did you know that?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
When?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Did you figure that out?
Speaker 3 (16:48):
In in college, I thought I thought I was supposed
to be a backup, like a background answer. I thought
I was supposed to be a choreographer. That's what I mean,
that's what I wanted to do initially, and I started
(17:09):
to get into like these little jam sessions that my
friends used to like throw on on campus, and I
mean just getting that affirmation from the people around me
were just like, yeah, you you sound good. I mean,
that's kind of what gave me feel to keep going
on the music.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
It's kind of an impossible question, but how would you
synthesize what it feels like to be a conduit in
the moment?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Mm hmm, oh my god, no, no expert, Yeah, man,
I don't know. I think it's I think it's yeah.
(18:04):
I guess it's a kind of a humbling you know,
a humbling thing, that very humbling that I guess at times,
like I like, I'm so disconnected from how I guess
the weight of my music and my impact. But I
(18:26):
think it's humbling that God, you know, still uses me,
you know, being so frail and a finite person, you know,
you know, and uses my music to like be healing
to other people.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Such a beautiful answer.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Thank you for that.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
That's very thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
You can hear it in your music. I so appreciate
the amount of soul and depth that you bring.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
We also we really like going to dude, We're not
going to do like your favorite fucking ice but what actually,
now I'm curious because I'm ver asked it, but that
what's the favorite ice cream?
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Oh? Man, I mean, I'm I mean, I'm just like
playing Jane Vanilla all day.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
But on a more musical note, you know, it's interesting.
I know you've done this album a few times live
in like intimate settings, but you know, it's always a
fascinating thing because when you do something live, audience makes
their own and you can have an idea of like, Okay,
this is my favorite song, and then they may say
Ivy's the best, or someone else may say, uh, Leota
(19:34):
is like my favorite. So for you, have you been
surprised and in a good way, by the way that
the audience respawnded to certain songs?
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Totally totally? You know, Yeah, this leon is one of
those things that you know, it should be kind of
listened to as a it's just a body at work.
And I honestly I was I'm really surprised that. I mean,
because I love every song on there, but yeah, the
(20:07):
fact that people gravitated towards thereto and even you know,
playing snippets of this one called Panther City, you know,
and seeing people just like respond to that has been
such a blessing, you know. But yeah, it's just one
of those albums you just gotta press play, you know.
(20:28):
But I can't wait to see, you know, which, which
songs on the album are gonna be people's favorites?
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Would you ever do the album?
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Y life. We're gonna play a good portion of it
on on this upcoming tour. You know, it's like their
main focus is the Leon album, but also like incorporating
some of the older stuff in there too. But hopefully, yeah,
(20:59):
I guess once to kind of I think next year,
you know, we'll be able to play more of it
once people kind of start to know all the songs.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
All right, I want to ask one more questions. I'm curious,
and then I'm gonna let's say it trainished it off.
But you mentioned Van Morrison, who I got to interview
last year for the first time. He doesn't know anyone.
That dude's a freak in a good way, but he's
also one of the greatest songs for you. Who would
be the artist that you would most love to just
sit with and like play a show with, pick their
(21:31):
brain and just have fun.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Him mm hmm. It would be mm hmm. Man, it'd
be cool to Yeah, it'd be cool to have a
combo or make music with James Blake. I mean, you
(21:58):
know he you know, I feel like he's kind of
a pioneer, you know, and it's all right. And I
mean that, I mean that that guy really embodies the
R and B and and you know, but it's totally his,
you know, his his own thing.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
I'd love to ask about the first song. It's just
so beautiful.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I need to know more.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Can you give us a little golden nugget about either
the writing of or what it means to you?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
M man? Yeah, I mean with figuring out like I
guess when we were trying to figure out the sequencing,
I mean, there was talks of like, oh, simplify, I
should go first, you know, but I was like, nah,
when a man cries, I love that being the opener.
(22:47):
And you know, it's it's a song that I initially
started started writing with John Mayer. And it's funny because
I went on Instagram live and I was and I
was like doing assession with some friends and John Mayer
was like, Yo, send me the address, I'm gonna pull up.
I was like, no way, but he actually came through
(23:09):
and that's like how this song transpired. But yeah, when
a man cries is you know, like it's about like
mental health. I feel like in the black community, you know,
we don't really have a space to express our emotions
out out of fear of being deemed as as weak.
(23:30):
And I just love that that that that statement of
like when a man cries, you know, like the tears
falling and you know, being a metaphor of just letting
go and kind of showing like you know, there's there's
definitely bravery, you know, and and the vulnerability. And yeah,
(23:53):
it's the modern the modern blues.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
So now I gotta ask, sorry, is there one song
that makes you cry?
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Man? Ivy? That's that's the one Ivy in Panthers City,
you know. But I mean, I'm gonna I'm gonna have
a hard time playing live without crying during the whole
whole damn set.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
I don't believe that ship anymore.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Man.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Because I interviewed a Dalla for twenty one, we did
aol sessions. She did someone like You and she's like,
I can never play that song. It's too emotional, makes
everything like and then she ended up playing the song.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
A song in the world.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Anymore.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
But yeah, casual you know.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Quote one more podcast question what is And he kind
of answered this before, but you know, you alluded to
it in one of you talking about your music? But
what is your purpose as an artist or as verson?
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Yeah? My purpose, man, it's it's too It's super simple.
I mean, make make good art and uh, you know,
and take care and take care of my family. I mean,
I mean leon is you know. I think what people
(25:17):
could take away from it is, you know, to focus
on the things that are meaningful to you, you know,
and that's uh, you know for me, that's you know,
home and it's family. And yeah, it's kind of what
(25:37):
what what I want people to take away from from
the album?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
It's interesting, is there one artist for you that you
really admire for the way they molded their career and
the way they did things. And it's funny, I think
now because I was working on a project about Christopher
now and definitely you have some of that same mentality
of like being true to the art being true to
the music and everything and everybody else. Chris was a
(26:04):
badass man. I have his emails and stuff. It was like,
I'm if you're cool to me, I'm cool to you.
But it's all about the work first always.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Yeah, yeah, man, I really I have a lot of
respect for for three Stacks, you know, how how you
know he was a pioneer in the rap game, you know,
but also you know, didn't give a fuck about how
(26:37):
people perceived, you know, his kind of artistic expression. And
I love that it was like so outside the box
and and then and now he's just like chilling, you know,
and so I hope, you know, I can you know,
have longevity as as an artist and ultimately, you know,
(26:58):
kind of be a little bit under the radar them.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Ooh lean anything you want to add we didn't ask.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
You about mm hmmm.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I mean we went from the purpose in life to
your favorite ice cream, so we governed a lot of ship.
The alum is incredible, dude, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Good talking to y'all.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Yeah, okay, thanks him.
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