May 5, 2025 • 38 mins
The Creative Journey with Aaron Lee Tasjan | Just Keep Talking Podcast with host Brother Love
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In this episode of the Just Keep Talking Podcast, host Brother Love delves deep into the life and experiences of Nashville-based artist Aaron Lee Tasjan. The discussion explores Aaron's musical journey, the impact of mental health on creativity, and the importance of inclusivity and connection through art. Aaron shares personal stories about his career, his struggles with societal challenges, and the profound moments that have shaped his artistic expression. This heartwarming conversation highlights the power of storytelling and the universal need to be seen, heard, and to belong. Tune in for an inspiring dialogue that underscores the importance of vulnerability, authenticity, and community in the creative process.
#mentalhealthpodcast #musicjournalism #musicianlife #yourstorymatters #nashvillemusicscene #aaronleetasjan #brotherlove #justkeeptalking #mentalhealthmatters #beseen #beheard #belong
00:00 Introduction to the Just Keep Talking Podcast
01:01 Live from Nashville: Brother Love Hosts
01:24 Introducing Aaron Lee Tasjan
02:49 Interview with Aaron Lee Tasjan Begins
03:40 Aaron Lee Tasjan's Musical Journey
05:41 The Impact of Music and Personal Stories
10:24 Creating Authentic and Simple Music
15:33 Reflections on Life and Art
17:41 Reflecting on Racism and Privilege
18:37 Personal Experiences with Racism
19:26 Creating Art to Combat Hate
22:26 Facing Discrimination and Danger
24:48 New Music and Collaborations
25:32 Challenges in Songwriting
27:16 The Importance of Community and Integrity
31:35 Emotional Struggles and Joys
37:31 Final Thoughts and Social Media
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Brother Love (00:00):
Telling our stories is the connective tissue of the
collective human experience.
The Just Keep Talking Podcast delvesinto the lives and stories of artists.
What is the impact ofmental health on creativity?
What does it mean to bea creative individual?
Someone who feels deeply, experiencesjoy and pain, intensely and
navigates the challenges of lifethrough the creative process.
(00:21):
With each story shared, we explore theauthentic experience of our basic need
to Be Seen, to Be Heard, and to Belong.
We're really not so different fromone another, nor are we alone.
Together we can inspire, encourage, andenlighten each other to find the true joy
and fulfillment that is within ourselves.
When we Just Keep Talking, we createthe space for gratitude, self-acceptance
(00:46):
and grace in everyday life.
In a world filled with divisiveness,fostering inclusivity and connection is
a powerful way to make a positive impact.
The Just Keep Talking Podcast with me,Brother Love, because Your Story Matters.
Lawrence Florman's screen-1: Welcome to Nashville Sunday Night (01:01):
undefined
Live from Third and Lindsley.
Tonight's concert isbeing Broadcast on 100.1
FM here in Nashville and aroundthe world at www.lightning100.com
and www.volume.com.
Ladies and gentlemen,my name is Brother Love.
How is everybody feeling?
That is right.
This is a live music experience.
(01:24):
Our headliner tonight isAaron Lee Tasjan and Friends.
This cat is an accomplished guitar player.
He's a singer, he is asongwriter, he is a producer.
Everything this man touchesshines bright with the love
of a thousand beating hearts.
He you, Aaron Lee, are one of thekindest, most generous and authentic
artists any of us will ever experiencein sound and in sight and in feel.
(01:51):
His latest album, Stellar Evolution,celebrates love and inclusivity,
reflecting the vibrant community that ishome, right here in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ladies and gentlemen, pleasewelcome Aaron Lee Tasjan!
Brother Love (02:10):
Thanks so much for tuning into the Just Keep Talking
Podcast with me, Brother Love.
As you just heard, I was hostingNashville Sunday Night on Lightning
100 here in Nashville, Tennessee,brought to you by Volume.com
and Lightning100.com.
Check out the full concert ofAaron Lee Tasjan and Friends
on volume.com/lightning100.
(02:31):
Aaron Lee Tasjan, is the guest today.
We actually recorded thisepisode in August of 2023.
Aaron Lee Tasjan issuch a force of nature.
He's an incredible guitar player.
He's an incredible singer, songwriterand producer, and he's just a
wonderful person within our communityright here in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now we'll get to my interviewwith Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Larry (02:51):
I am your host, Brother Love.
I am here today with Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (02:55):
Hello, hello.
Larry (02:56):
Hello, hello.
Tasjan, Tasjan, Tasjan.
Do I pronounce that correctly?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:00):
You're nailin it.
Larry (03:01):
Cause every time I say your name, I am afraid to say your name.
I, literally, for years, I'm like,yeah, you know Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Like, what?
I'm like, you know, you know,Aaron, Aaron Lee, right?
I figure, you know, there's nota lot of Aaron Lees in town.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:16):
It's part of the branding, instill fear.
Larry (03:19):
Well, that is, that's very true, but I don't know why.
Like a T A S J A N, like my wife's,family, her mother's maiden name is Vajda,
but it's like V A D J A or V A J D A.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:31):
It's beautiful.
Larry (03:31):
I should know.
Wow.
So I get, the J's make me nervous.
T A S J A N And I love your brandingbecause TASJAN, TASJAN, TASJAN!
So great.
You're a singer, a songwriter, aguitar player, a wonderful human being.
And thanks for having me.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:45):
Hey, thanks for having me
Larry (03:46):
We were scheduled to do this and like you're touring, musician.
Yes.
A few days ago and you said,Hey man, I'm at the airport.
I'm going.
I'm out of here man.
You ran me out of town,
man.
Tasjan out!
So where'd you go?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:59):
I went to Burlington, Wisconsin.
Some friends who run a very cool littlefestival there called the Tall Tales
Festival, which is funded by the cityand some wonderful sponsors, kind of
got a last minute notification that
they really needed to get a festival,
together or they were possibly in dangerof losing their funding from the city.
And, I was telling you earlier,I grew up in a small town
(04:21):
like Burlington, Wisconsin,
in Ohio.
and I know what a big dealit is when, when great music
and great art comes to town.
And so I was happy tobe able to help him out.
and we had a wonderful time.
Larry (04:32):
You said there's all kinds there.
Families, friends, kids...
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:34):
Yeah.
A lot of dancing, dancing in the street.
Right on.
All we were missingwas, was Mick and David.
Larry (04:39):
Yeah.
Well, that's right.
Because the budget wasn't as such.
But isn't that crazy howthat happens with budgets?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:45):
Yeah.
Larry (04:45):
Like for artists, for us, it's insane.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:48):
Yeah.
Larry (04:48):
Because all we try to do is get paid.
For what we do.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:51):
Yes.
Larry (04:51):
Honestly, some people want more.
Some people take less.
We just want to just compensatedfor doing what we love.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:57):
Yeah.
Larry (04:58):
And yet there's money that just gets thrown away almost.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:00):
Oh yeah.
Larry (05:01):
Like if they don't have this festival.
If you don't spend this money,they're begging, spend this money.
How about we save this money since wecouldn't make the thing happen and next
year we'll have the money towards it.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:12):
Absolutely.
Larry (05:13):
No, no, no, no, no.
If you don't spend it thisyear, it's not coming next year.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:17):
Arbitrary timelines.
Larry (05:19):
How stupid is that?
I mean, that's like ridiculous.
It's basically saying like, look,if I go to the supermarket, right?
And I don't spend a hundreddollars, well, that's it.
Just throw it away.
Well, I have the hundred in my pocket.
I'll use it.
at the store next weekand I'll have 200 dollars!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:34):
There you go.
Larry (05:35):
Wow.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:35):
Yeah.
Larry (05:36):
Look at all those groceries.
Nope.
Not for you.
Nope.
That's why I don'tunderstand anything in life.
But you mentioned before therewas a kid that came up to you.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:44):
Yeah.
Right after the show, man,I've, I finished and he was
probably, 11, 12 years old.
He tipped me a dollar.
I think it was his own dollar thathe gave and he said he wanted to
know how to start writing songs.
That's it for me, you know, becausebesides, just being able to have
a life playing music, and beable to live and exist doing what
I love and breathe every day.
(06:04):
My real goal is to write one song thatinspires one kid who'll come along and
just blow everything I've ever doneout of the water so that it continues.
That's what I'd love tosee is this go on forever.
Larry (06:16):
How would you know when that happens?
Do you think you could tell?
Cause you have a style,a very distinctive style.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (06:21):
Ah, yeah.
Well, thank you.
One of the things that I like toremind myself is you don't always get
to know the impact that you've had.
And the value, that you place on thework, is what creates the chance that
you will have that kind of impact.
So I, just, try to fall inlove with the work every day.
Larry (06:37):
That's great.
You're like Mean Joe Green.
Remember the commercial?
Hey kid, catch, you throw your guitar,smashes this kid right in the head.
You get sued.
No, the kid got rich.
Yeah, he got, yeah.
How'd you become so successful?
Well, I started with agreat bunch of seed money.
This guy Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Tasjan, Tasjan.
He threw a guitar right at my head.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (06:56):
Funded my whole album.
Larry (06:56):
Funded my whole album.
Yeah, it was great.
That's great.
Yeah, Tasjan.
Those things that happen, reallydo make such a difference because
you realize that like, we, I hateto say this, we make a difference.
That just sounds ridiculous.
You know, because I've beenaround enough artists are like,
Oh, I make such a difference.
I'm here now.
don't you feel different?
(07:16):
You know, like, Who the hell are you?
Please, you just sang a song.
Yeah.
You got a pretty voice.
Don't get too crazy.
My band was playing a festival,at Roscalusa in Florida, and
this kid came up afterwards.
Somebody said, Hey, Larry, can yousign an autograph, and I'm like, of
course I could sign an autograph,and this kid came up to me and I just
started chatting with him and he said,I wasn't going to come out tonight.
I remember seeing him dancing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (07:39):
Love it.
Larry (07:39):
Dancing, right?
And he danced like with complete freedom.
Like, it was an exorcism.
It really felt like that, you know?
And when we were younger I would havesaid, he's dancing like a crazy person!
Like your mother would say that.
My mother, ah, you're like a crazy person.
But that was meant withlove, you know what I mean?
Meaning like, you're just wild.
You're not of thought.
You're not of sound mind.
You're out of your mind, butthat can be a really good thing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:00):
Oh yeah.
Larry (08:01):
So this kid, I was like, I saw you dancing.
I was like, and thanks for that.
Like, you look like you had fun.
And he just, got serious.
He said, I wasn't goingto come out tonight.
I got really bad news today.
I was going to hurt myself
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:12):
Aw man
Larry (08:13):
I said, wow, I'm really happy you didn't.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:16):
Yeah.
Larry (08:17):
And thanks for coming here Thanks for being brave enough to
get out of the house and to comewhere there's a lot of people.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:25):
Wow.
Larry (08:25):
It's a festival.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:26):
Yeah.
Larry (08:26):
It's not a bar, he's a kid, but still, it's not a place
You're just gonna go sit in thecorner and be invisible, right?
He wasn't invisible.
He was dancing like he wasripping his clothes, like he
was ripping his old skin off.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:38):
Oh, I love that.
Yeah.
Larry (08:39):
And he just said, I'm so happy right now.
And I almost like started crying.
And he said it louder.
He said, I'm so happy.
And then he shook my hand,gave me a hug, he walked away.
I heard him.
All the way up the hill.
I'm so happy!
I'm like, oh my god, he's really happy.
I'm like, wow, he'sreally, really feeling.
He's feeling No past, nofuture, he's feeling right now.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:04):
The moment, yeah.
Larry (09:04):
The moment.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:05):
Oh, I love it.
Larry (09:06):
Wow.
That was instant.
We're all in this moment together.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:09):
Yeah.
Larry (09:10):
And how beautiful.
How beautiful.
Just incredible.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:12):
Powerful.
Larry (09:13):
Yeah.
Just amazing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:15):
Love it.
Larry (09:15):
I love your music.
I love it.
Adore your music.
I remember the day that I duginto your last record, TASJAN!
TASJAN!
TASJAN!.
Was that self released or youwere on a label with that?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:25):
New West put that record out.
Larry (09:26):
New West put that record out.
And I remember I was at the gym,and my wife, Sarah, takes videos
of me at the gym, I guess it'sthe endorphins and all that.
I groove and I move and people, likehug me at the gym that don't know me.
First of all, don't hugpeople at the gym, okay?
And number one, don't hug strangers, okay?
Just don't do it.
All right?
Like, You know what I mean?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:44):
Yes.
Larry (09:45):
I love you, but just go on your way.
And at the gym, people say,"Hey man, You inspire me."
They like fist bump me, like they know me.
I'm like, why?
Because I'm, listening toeither one of three things.
I say, Sarah, if you want to put a TikTokout of what I'm doing, I'm either A,
listening to classic Van Halen, ACDC.
B.
Funk, Sly and the FamilyStone, or C, Myself.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (10:04):
Yeah, I love it!
I love it.
I love it.
Larry (10:07):
Because I'm listening to like mixes,
I'm listening to work tapes, I'mtrying to get inspired for the
next things, you know, all that.
When I got to dig into your album,that was a day on the treadmill.
That was a great day!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (10:17):
Oh man, I'm honored.
Larry (10:18):
Your record is just, it's so cool.
You have zero pretense.
You have zero, zeropretense on this record.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (10:24):
Well, you know, I think like a lot of musicians, I got
my start in music however I could,so initially I always had this idea
of wanting to be a songwriter and tomake my own records and release them,
but it took me a really long time.
before I felt like I even had anythingthat was worth showing to somebody.
(10:45):
My career really started more asa, guitar player side man person,
while I was living in New York City.
Oh, and of course I had Semi PreciousWeapons in which I co wrote the
songs, but Justin Tranter, was ourfront man du jour and you couldn't
have had a better person for the job.
Semi Precious Weapons was the band.
Larry (11:03):
And what years?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (11:03):
That would have been Like not long after I moved
to New York City, so we stayedI think it was 2004 or 2005.
Larry (11:11):
That's correct, by the way.
Okay.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (11:13):
Yes.
Nailing it.
And so, I really, Ilearned a lot from him.
He was really the first person Iknew who had been comfortable enough
with who he was to be out, youknow, when he was still a teenager.
He really inspired me in that way of,if you're really being yourself, you
(11:37):
don't need to pretend to do anything.
But, the bravery that it takes todo that is, for me, that it took
a long time to build that up.
I felt like that last recordfelt like a particularly kind of
breakthrough moment in, just inmy own personal life in that way.
Larry (11:56):
That we're talking about now.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (11:56):
Yeah,
The TASJAN!
TASJAN!
TASJAN!
Record.
there was a lot of firsts on that record.
First times of, talking about certainthings about who I was and things that
I believed in that were always a partof my process in terms of my creativity
but I don't know that I just flatout said things like that previously.
Part of the goal was to try to shake awayany pretense that may have been there
(12:19):
previously and just stand in the centerof who feel like I am and who I was,
in that moment at that time.
Larry (12:26):
Were any of the songs written like a long time ago that you came back to?
Or was it all
sort of like a new chapter for you?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (12:32):
Yeah, I've, I have done that before.
I have, I'm sure just like you,
I have
Tons
of notebooks, you know, fullof stuff and I keep them all
because you just never know.
Yeah.
That's what I love aboutthe process of writing.
There are plenty of times whereI don't even realize what I'm
writing about until later on.
(12:52):
And so some of those things almostneed to, like, sit in those notebooks
and marinate until they're readyto come out, you know, when I
understand myself a little more.
Pretty much every song on thatrecord was a new, current song that
I wrote sort of in that moment.
Larry (13:09):
You're so approachable in that record.
I put the record on I listenUp All Night, Feminine Walk.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (13:14):
Yeah,
Larry (13:14):
I just thought to myself wow You know what?
There's a guy out therethat's I can relate to.
I felt like well, I'mnot alone in this world.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (13:22):
Yeah, Yes,
Larry (13:22):
That's really really important You're Not Alone.
It's one thing to say it it's anotherthing to just sort of create some art
that is just an expression of yourselfvery honestly that then translates to me.
I can just digest this so easily.
Because I get it.
You're really, really simply so simple.
That's the thing too.
You son of a bitch.
(13:46):
Well, and what I mean by that, isthat songs that sound so simple,
flows by me and then through me.
And then I listen again, I'm like,those are great choices chorderly
or production wise, or the lyrics.
Like,
" Broke up with my boyfriend to go outwith my girlfriend cause love is like,
love is like, love is like that."
He's just repeating love.
(14:06):
And I'm like, that's so ingenious.
Cause Love Is Like, LoveIs Like, Love Is Like That!
It's almost like it'smore work to be simple.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (14:14):
Yeah, that's how it always felt to me.
It felt harder to write somethingsimple that I could really stand behind.
Yet, that was really why I fell in lovewith music to begin with, is because
I think the songs that I was listeningto, when I was really falling in love
with music, they were simple enough,yet also creative enough and singular
(14:39):
enough that I could see myself in them.
And the power of that, of feelingseen within the context of a song,
it's just totally saved my life.
Larry (14:50):
We spend a lifetime putting the costumes on.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (14:53):
Yeah!
Larry (14:53):
We spent a lifetime armoring up right?
And I'm going to show you how smart I am.
Look at this song!
Big words I use and they rhyme, right?
Nothing rhymes with orange.
I've got a word that rhymes with orange.
Ha ha ha!
You know?
Totally.
And then you realize that when you breakyourself down, whether you break yourself
down or are broken down, two differentthings, but either way, you're And you
(15:15):
get to this sort of core, this silent,quiet place, it's all very simple.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (15:21):
Very simple.
Larry (15:22):
And you go, son of a bitch, it's been there the whole time.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (15:24):
Right, yeah.
Larry (15:25):
You seem to me to be somebody that is always working on getting to
yourself getting to some of the truth.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (15:31):
Yeah.
Larry (15:31):
This was a cathartic record.
Were you in a hard time and came out?
Is this sort of aculmination of ups and downs?
Because sometimes like I can saythat last year I had basically a
year of holding my head in my handsand my wife was on tour a lot.
So she didn't know if I wassitting at home and crying.
Watching, Whatever it was, that makesme cry, which is anything, by the way.
(15:52):
I watched Star Trek 2 Wrathof Khan a couple of weeks ago.
Nobody was home.
You know, In the end, when Spockdies, oh, sorry to spoil it,
but you know, when Spock dies,
"The Needs of the many outweighthe needs of the few or the one..."
I'm balling, man.
Put on the 86 Mets.
I'm crying.
You know what I mean?
Anything makes me cry.
But the sadness of, change inmy life and loss in my life.
(16:15):
And I'm a middle aged man and I don'thave enough money and all the things.
This show came out ofa culmination of that.
I was in a deeper pit than normal.
The ebb and flow of lifehas always been that way.
Depression runs in my family,and I just wasn't able to pick
myself up by my bootstraps.
I quit drinking, which saved mefor that but like, thank you.
(16:36):
For you for this record youreally shared a lot of yourself.
Were you in a dark placeand came to the light?
Or is it something
it's just normal flow of an artist's life?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (16:43):
Yeah, I think you know I was seeing firsthand like a
lot of people the other side of thecountry we live in a little bit of the
underbelly of what existed in America.
That for a certain generation offolks, I've had this discussion
with, with a few people, you know,I'm about to be 39 years old.
(17:04):
When I was in school, I sort of remembera lot of these issues sort of being,
taught or discussed in a way as thoughalmost like they had been dealt with.
Well we had racism in the60s and it was very bad.
And Martin Luther King had aparade, and unfortunately, he died
as a result, but now America's aless racist, place or whatever.
Larry (17:26):
That's what they taught you huh?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (17:27):
Yeah, I mean that's kind of what I remember feeling
like I was taken away from that.
And then when I was in high school,Dave Chappelle became a big star.
I was relating to him interms of some of his material.
It felt like it was sort of makingfun of the idea of being a racist.
Like this is an outdated thing, andthis was my own ignorance and privilege
(17:52):
speaking as a teenage kid or whatever.
You know, I really didn't understand.
And I had plenty of, friends whowere black, who were Asian, who
were Indian, who were Latino.
Um.
Larry (18:03):
But you didn't buy the, "I have black friends" t-shirt
that the Gap was selling.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (18:07):
Heavens no.
I don't think I really understood,what they were facing a lot in life.
I wish that I could have understoodthat more from a younger age.
You know, I think that wouldhave been a really great lesson.
I still learned the lesson,throughout my life, but it took
me time to understand all of that.
As I was growing up in that environment,there were things that I saw and
(18:30):
that I encountered that took meyears to be able to even completely
grasp what I was seeing and feeling.
Larry (18:37):
Seeing on tv or seeing it like first hand?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (18:39):
There was in 1999 when I was a freshman in high school, there was
a Ku Klux Klan parade in Columbus, Ohio
Larry (18:47):
Look at that
Aaron Lee Tasjan (18:48):
I knew I grew up in a house where my dad was a jazz
musician as a young man, and hegrew up in Wilmington, Delaware.
He had a young saxophone player by thename of Ernie Watts playing in his band,
and Ernie, of course, went on to bequite a prominent jazz saxophone player.
My dad would tell me storieslike, we went to play a dance
(19:10):
at the DuPont Country Club, andthey didn't want to let Ernie in.
And my dad was like, either heplays or you have no band tonight.
Larry (19:18):
Sinatra did the same thing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (19:19):
Right.
Yeah.
I was always taught to think thatway, to value the differences in
people and see that as a, strength.
So when I was making this record,or writing songs for this last
record, I was seeing some of theunderbelly of America that I still
didn't quite understand how manypeople, felt compelled to share their
(19:43):
sort of hatred of this group of peopleor that group of people or whatever.
And you know, I happened to be a Queerman, and I just thought, we can't allow
this to continue to bubble up without, asan artist, creating a piece of art that
helps to push back against that narrative.
It became really important for me to say
(20:03):
This is who I am, and Thisis what I have to say,
and I think this can inspire peoplemore than this sort of, fear based
mentality that one must, inhabit inorder to, express hate in that way.
Larry (20:19):
Yeah.
I think part of it islike Oh, that's out there.
Yeah.
That's somewhere else.
And I think during the last, bunchof years, it became frightening, the
division, the divisiveness, the hatred.
When I see now as a New Yorker,born and raised in New York
City, Queens is a melting pot.
Yes.
New York is a melting pot, as you know.
When I see stories swastikasin Brooklyn, in New York City?!
(20:42):
I used to think, wow, whenthese old fuckers die off.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (20:46):
Right.
Larry (20:46):
When these old coots die off, and I don't mean that like getting killed.
I mean, they're going to die.
And then the next generationis going to come and things are
going to get a little better.
Sure.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (20:56):
Yeah.
Larry (20:56):
No!
It doesn't.
It doesn't.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, it really doesn't.
Yeah.
Because you're taught this generationally.
How is it now 2023 we are readingabout swastikas, hate, in a
city that over 8 million people?
You hear stories of people talkingabout, like George Carlin would
speak lovingly about growing up inManhattan, where my father grew up.
(21:19):
This neighborhood was where the Irish,these five blocks, and then five
blocks away was the Italians, andthen five blocks away was where Puerto
Ricans, it was, everybody was there.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:29):
Mm.
Larry (21:29):
He goes, but it was our neighborhood.
And we all got along with eachother because you know why?
We had no choice.
We had to.
and so we we're all thrown togetherand yet we still have all this hatred.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:39):
Yeah
Larry (21:39):
And it's frightening.
It's absolutely frightening.
I was watching because I was in areal pissed off mood last night I
like spiraled out of my mind, right?
Things weren't flowing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:49):
Sure.
Larry (21:49):
Nothing was flowing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:50):
Yeah
Larry (21:50):
So what do I do?
I eat a bunch of food and I watch Hitler.
I watch World War II.
I figure, I do.
My wife thinks I'm out of my mind.
I watch anything World War II.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:01):
I love it.
Larry (22:01):
It's like, I know how it ends.
You know what I mean?
Oh, Hitler, a career.
I was like, Ooh, maybethey'll teach me something.
So I'm watching, and I know this,but he starts the kids out early.
You start the kids out early.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:12):
Yes.
Larry (22:13):
And that's the thing, these old coots don't die off and then
the young generation comes inand goes, Well, you know what?
We're gonna do somethingabout this climate.
We're gonna do something about racism.
No, they just come up.
They're younger.
They have more energy to hate.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:25):
Yeah.
Larry (22:26):
So Have you ever felt frightened?
For yourself, for your future?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:29):
I remember very well.
When the band Semi Precious Weaponswas happening, Justin and I shared
a loft, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
this was 2004, 5, 6, 7.
At the time, that neighborhood was,a little different, than it is now.
I remember one night, Justinalways, Looked incredible.
(22:53):
Every single day.
Decked out, full beat face.
Incredible hair, fantasticboots that came up past the
thigh with a high heel on them.
Larry (23:05):
It wasn't a costume for him.
That was who he was.
Which is a big deal.
Big distinction.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (23:10):
Big distinction.
You know, I was decked outtoo, but I was trying to find
who I was, you know, he knew.
And so that was inspiring.
But there were times where peoplewould just see us and just have
a physical reaction immediately.
I remember being chased down the street.
I remember, a guy chasing us in his car.
We were in a car as well, but theguy was like going backwards down the
(23:34):
street after us at like, it must havebeen 50 or 60 miles an hour, you know.
And this is just a littleneighborhood in Greenpoint.
Larry (23:41):
He's still going backwards, by the way.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (23:42):
I mean, that's poetry in real life right there,
literally going backwards.
We went to England for some showsone time that went really well.
Walking around in England,was not easy either.
I remember a security guardat a HMV record store, we were
browsing, looking at records, cameup and just asked us to leave.
No explanation, Youknow, you guys are weird.
(24:05):
Get out of here, basically.
I was 22, 23 years old whenthat was sort of happening.
And so I got this impression that it wasdangerous, sometimes, to be who you are.
And now, I'll even say at some of myshows, because of where things are
in the country currently, I'll evensay sometimes it's not even legal to
(24:28):
be who you are now in this country.
In some places.
So, all those things, were verymuch at the forefront of my thinking
when I was creating the last record.
I really wanted to, as I said, justcreate a piece of art that would push back
on the narrative that it wassuddenly acceptable to say
openly that you hated somebody.
Larry (24:48):
Where are you at now with material you writing or?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (24:51):
Yeah, really excited.
I just finished a record, now Ihave to figure out what it's called.
That's always the challenge, but, it'sgoing to come out in April on a very
cool label, that I'm super excited towork with called Blue Elon Records.
Larry (25:02):
Nice.
Where are they out
of?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (25:04):
They're out of Los Angeles.
I was listening to some mixes from therecord and kind of like what you were
saying at the gym, I'm never embarrassedto say that I listen to myself.
I know Prince did, because hefelt like no one else was making
the music he wanted to hear.
Yeah.
He was doing it,
so he wanted to listen to himself.
I love that.
And I was just tweeting, youknow, I said, Oh man, I'm really
excited about my new mixes.
And the next thing I knew, they DM'dme and said, Hey, we want to hear
(25:26):
this record that you're working on.
You know, we're interestedin listening to it.
And that's how it happened.
Larry (25:31):
That's so cool.
Did you write all the material yourself?
Do you co write?
I know, because we met.
in person, like for real, at a co write.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (25:38):
That's right!
Larry (25:39):
What an uncomfortable, weird day that was.
It was for me.
Let me just say every time I'm in a cowrite, I pray to God it gets canceled.
My anxiety goes through the roof.
I mean, like, Please!
Please let them cancel.
Please!
My wife's like, what happened?
It got cancelled.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm like, no, it's great.
Let's go have lunch.
My anxiety, my anxietyis through the roof.
(26:02):
You know what I mean?
And then you calm down and I learnto just go with it and co written a
lot of cool songs that have been cut,recorded, my own band and other cats.
It was you and I, Alex from ThemVibes, my band and Maggie Rose.
We were writing together, and Iremember you were saying like I'm
not much of a co writer or something.
I felt like we were just forcingsomething on you, I don't know.
I just want to apologize.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (26:21):
No, No, No, No, No, No!
Larry (26:22):
I felt like, man, this guy, he thinks we're a bunch of schmucks.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (26:25):
No way.
No, no, no, no.
I was very happy to be there.
I think for me, thatwas true at that time.
The only songwriting partnership that I'dever had that worked out was the one that
Justin and I had in Semi Precious Weapons.
Every other time I had tried todo it I just felt like man I guess
I just don't know how to do this.
Larry (26:42):
Right.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (26:43):
And so part of the impetus for me of accepting that
invitation was, even if I'm uncomfortableand I feel like I don't know what I'm
doing, this will be good for me becausethe only way that I'm gonna ever be
able to get better at it is if I try.
I was very grateful to have thatopportunity, so thank you, you know,
very much for giving me a chance.
(27:05):
Since then, I have repeated the processa number of times, and I've found a few
folks in town that I do write well with,and then I'm also just kind of trying all
the time writing with different folks.
And this latest record that I'vedone, it was really important to
me because I felt like the lastrecord was sort of like, okay.
I got the door cracked open to whereI could see through to the other side.
(27:28):
Now it's time to just pull thatdoor all the way back and just
walk through tall and proud.
And so I, wanted to bring inother people from the community.
Larry (27:37):
Yeah.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (27:37):
But then also just all kinds of folks and try to create a
piece of art that was true to who I am,that was supportive of my community.
But that also was, a model ofintersectionality, you know,
because I feel like that's reallythe way forward at this point.
And artists, we have such a valuableplatform to model who plays in our
(28:00):
band, who we co bill with, who wewrite with who we work with and record
with and all those kinds of things.
So I really wanted to be justpulling in women And trans people
and folks from all walks of lifeand older people and young people.
And I was able to accomplish thatand write a record that, really,
(28:20):
hit home for me in that way as well.
Because the important thing is tome is it's like, when you're doing
something like that, it can't justbe an exercise in, let me try to
show you, how many different kinds ofpeople I am friends with or whatever.
Larry (28:36):
You have integrity.
" Integrity is choosingcourage over comfort.
Choosing what is right overwhat is fun, fast or easy.
And choosing to practice our valuesrather than simply professing them."
Brene Brown.
I'm loving this.
I read her.
I feel like such a, an idiot fornot finding her until recently.
These are words now thatjust get thrown around.
(28:56):
Inclusivity.
Inclusive, right?
Diversity.
We're at this point where we throwthese words around, Mental Health.
My show is about getting to know theartists getting to know creatives,
but also peeling it back a littleand so that we can say I'm not alone.
You know Aaron Lee Tasjan is wadingthe waters and figuring himself out
and that there's a lot of hatredin the world and that You don't
want to be a part of spreading it.
(29:16):
You want to bring people together.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (29:18):
Yeah.
Larry (29:18):
I learned a lot about you.
I feel better about myself andI have a little bit more hope in
the world because of all of that.
And I really appreciate that.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (29:25):
I think like the intention is everything.
I have felt extraordinarily fortunateto be invited into spaces where
traditionally, people who look like Ido haven't always done the right thing.
And when I get to co write withan artist like Yola, who to me is
the epitome of musical excellence.
(29:48):
She can do anything andeverything, as well or better
than, anyone I've ever seen.
And for her to invite me into herspace to, be creative with her.
That's such a tremendous gift and anopportunity for me to really, reflect on
why, traditionally, folks like me who'vebeen in those spaces have caused harm.
(30:11):
And what are the ways that I canaffect change moving forward?
I can really do, my due diligenceto see her, to understand where
she's coming from, and what'simportant to her about what we're
doing, and to be in service to that.
There's no room for bullshit in that.
Like, whatever ego or whatever thatyou may have, you gotta let go of all
(30:36):
of that because you can't survive, youknow, in a space like that if you're not
coming to it with the right intention.
I value my friendship with herimmensely, but the opportunity, to
be creative with her is somethingthat, I hope it goes on forever.
because it's just always anopportunity for me to really consider
(30:57):
who I am and how I can use thatto help lift up somebody else.
That's one of the thingsthat I love about Nashville.
The music community in Nashville,I really see that happen.
I mean we just all did the Grace Bowersevent there at the Basement East, for
the Covenant School shooting benefit.
Larry (31:15):
She's 17 now.
Yeah.
You know, and you know,we've become friends.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:19):
Yeah, I saw that you guys were recording.
Larry (31:21):
Yeah, we wrote a song together, recorded.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:22):
And it's so cool.
Larry (31:23):
This community as you were saying is such a special opportunity
to continue to be more of a Community.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:29):
Yes.
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Larry (31:31):
You know?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:32):
You summed it up perfectly.
Larry (31:34):
Awesome.
That's great!
Does anything piss you off?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:37):
Yes!
Lots of things.
Larry (31:38):
You seem so even keeled.
Like, I'm trying my hardest to let go.
I'm trying my hardest to let things be.
Like, My wife and I are so uptight.
A lot of people I know that arewith their partner, one's chill,
man, and the other one's, ugh, andwe're both, ugh, we're both like two
people that are out of our minds,and it's hard, you know what I mean?
Hey, do you think you're being, Hey!
(31:58):
blarg!
blarg!
blarg!
We're just yelling at eachother, you know, so I'm like,
how do I be that chill person?
Does anything really piss you off?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (32:06):
Yeah, tons of stuff.
Larry (32:07):
What angers you?
Um What pisses you off?
By the way, this is the question segment.
I'm out of order with my questions.
Normally, the first question is different,but I just, I can't take this anymore.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (32:17):
I'll tell ya, what pisses me off lately is feeling like
I have, extraordinarily talented veryhard working friends who are regularly
saying that they're struggling veryhard to make a living doing something
that is clearly not only theirpassion in life, but their gift.
(32:38):
It upsets me that we live in asystem, in which words like, normal
are weaponized against anybodywho is doing something that, is
perhaps a little less conventional.
I think, if anything, we should bevaluing that kind of thinking and
(33:00):
using it as examples of, something to,aspire to, because it takes not only
a wise, studied mind to move in thatdirection, it also takes a big heart
and a brave soul to step up and dosomething that, is a little different.
And it's really through our differencesthat we see how much we have in common.
(33:22):
Until we have thebravery to express those,
It's not tangible.
You can't reach outand touch it quite yet.
It's not just that I feel likemusicians are having a hard
time and being treated unfairly.
It's that I know that we need this.
We need this music, we need theserecords, we need these performances, we
need these singers, we need these songs.
(33:44):
We need these folks, being ableto model individual thinking that
is not coming from a place of ego.
It's coming from a place of knowingyourself and being honest with
yourself and admitting your faults asmuch as celebrating, the things that
are, easy for people to get behind.
(34:05):
It's also about sharing the hard,truths of who we are as human beings
because we need these stories.
When I am encountering almost atevery turn these incredible artists
saying the music industry that I'ma part of is telling me that I'm
a failure or I'm trying to figureout how to get on food stamps.
And these are all very real thingsthat our peers are facing, you
(34:27):
know, myself included at times.
And, it does anger me because I feel likepeople want to believe things about the
systems that are in place for some reason.
A false sense ofPatriotism maybe sometimes.
Yeah.
A false sense of self.
The sort of reality of, trying to overcomethat feels like a massive uphill climb
(34:51):
these days, and that does piss me off.
Because like I said, we need this stuff.
Larry (34:57):
Yeah.
What brings you joy?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (34:58):
What brings me joy?
My friends, you know being happy.
I was just Texting with myfriend Yola the other night.
She was in New York for the 50thanniversary of Hip Hop, and having
a great time and feeling reallyhappy, and I just sent her a text.
I was just reflecting on the joythat we can bring each other just
sometimes by sharing a little moment.
You know, it doesn'thave to be a big deal.
(35:19):
It's just a little moment of somethingthat happened in our day that
brought us, closer to who we are.
Larry (35:24):
Doesn't that, doesn't that get overlooked All the time?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:26):
All the time.
Larry (35:26):
That is so huge.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:28):
Yeah.
Larry (35:28):
You share those little moments and then all of a sudden that little
kernel just opens up and it's a star.
And it's the brightness that shinesthrough that actually makes your day
and the person that you're sharing with!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:39):
Absolutely.
Larry (35:39):
I like that.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:40):
I said to her I said I want to let you know It makes
me really happy when you're happy.
Larry (35:44):
That's great.
What fascinates you?
Like, you know, WOW!
You know, universal signfor fascination is WOW!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:50):
Yeah, I mean, there's so many things that fascinate me these days.
I've been a long time advocate ofwe're not alone in the universe.
So the aliens thing hasbeen very exciting for me.
Larry (36:01):
You know, we just wrote a song yesterday.
We had a co write.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:03):
Yeah!
Larry (36:03):
And this young lady, she said, you know, I know this sounds weird,
but can we write a song about aliens?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:08):
Yes.
Larry (36:08):
And we said, yeah!
We wrote a song called, " Me and E.
T.
going honky tonking."
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:12):
Oh, I love it!
Larry (36:13):
"Me and E.
T.
going honky tonking."
I mean, and it was clever.
It worked out.
We were like, this is cool.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:18):
I love it.
Larry (36:19):
Yeah.
it's really cool.
A lot of people are,
very fascinated by this thing.
I mean, why not?
Come on.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:24):
I think it's an interesting time.
May you live in interesting times.
We certainly do.
Larry (36:28):
Exactly.
And why should we have all the sadness?
Yeah.
Bring them all in.
Come on, aliens!
Come on, you like racism?
We got plenty of racism, right?
You hungry?
We got tons of famine here.
You want sadness?
We got it all.
You want happy?
Man, we got some.
Now, we have a lot to begrateful, a lot to be happy for.
If you could fix one thing,like you had a magic wand, Boom.
Fixed.
Done.
I got this, says Aaron Lee Tasjan.
(36:50):
Like a Superhero Superpower.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:51):
That's such an interesting question.
I feel like one of the most overarchingproblems that exists in our world
today is the issue of wealth disparity.
I feel like it just causes a lot of stressand unnecessary anguish for people in
their life that affects them physically,that causes disease, that causes, mental
(37:12):
health issues and emotional health issues.
And so if we could live in a moreequitable world, I guess I mean
that just in every way that youcan, that's what I would go for.
Larry (37:23):
Right on, I like it.
Now the most important one of all.
Toilet paper over or under?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:29):
I, think
over.
Larry (37:30):
Yes, correct!
Ding!
Ding!
Aaron Lee Tasjan where can we find you?
Tell us just so the socialsare all intact, please!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:37):
Absolutely.
Larry (37:37):
Commercialize yourself.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:39):
Yes.
Facebook.com/TheRealAaronLeeTasjan.
I had to do that because of how manypeople on there make fake accounts
pretending to be you, even thoughI'm by no means a famous person.
It's hilarious.
Larry (37:54):
You're somewhat famous.
You're, you're
more famous than not.
I'll put it that way.
How about that?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:59):
Ha!
I Love it!!!
Larry (37:59):
That's your new t shirt.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (38:00):
Yeah, absolutely.
Larry (38:01):
Tasjan, more famous than not.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (38:04):
That's funny.
Larry (38:05):
I love you, buddy.
Larry (2) (38:06):
Recorded - 8/15/23
In East Nashville, TN
Telling our stories is the connective tissue of the
collective human experience.
The Just Keep Talking Podcast delvesinto the lives and stories of artists.
What is the impact ofmental health on creativity?
What does it mean to bea creative individual?
Someone who feels deeply, experiencesjoy and pain, intensely and
navigates the challenges of lifethrough the creative process.
(00:21):
With each story shared, we explore theauthentic experience of our basic need
to Be Seen, to Be Heard, and to Belong.
We're really not so different fromone another, nor are we alone.
Together we can inspire, encourage, andenlighten each other to find the true joy
and fulfillment that is within ourselves.
When we Just Keep Talking, we createthe space for gratitude, self-acceptance
(00:46):
and grace in everyday life.
In a world filled with divisiveness,fostering inclusivity and connection is
a powerful way to make a positive impact.
The Just Keep Talking Podcast with me,Brother Love, because Your Story Matters.
Lawrence Florman's screen-1: Welcome to Nashville Sunday Night (01:01):
undefined
Live from Third and Lindsley.
Tonight's concert isbeing Broadcast on 100.1
FM here in Nashville and aroundthe world at www.lightning100.com
and www.volume.com.
Ladies and gentlemen,my name is Brother Love.
How is everybody feeling?
That is right.
This is a live music experience.
(01:24):
Our headliner tonight isAaron Lee Tasjan and Friends.
This cat is an accomplished guitar player.
He's a singer, he is asongwriter, he is a producer.
Everything this man touchesshines bright with the love
of a thousand beating hearts.
He you, Aaron Lee, are one of thekindest, most generous and authentic
artists any of us will ever experiencein sound and in sight and in feel.
(01:51):
His latest album, Stellar Evolution,celebrates love and inclusivity,
reflecting the vibrant community that ishome, right here in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ladies and gentlemen, pleasewelcome Aaron Lee Tasjan!
Brother Love (02:10):
Thanks so much for tuning into the Just Keep Talking
Podcast with me, Brother Love.
As you just heard, I was hostingNashville Sunday Night on Lightning
100 here in Nashville, Tennessee,brought to you by Volume.com
and Lightning100.com.
Check out the full concert ofAaron Lee Tasjan and Friends
on volume.com/lightning100.
(02:31):
Aaron Lee Tasjan, is the guest today.
We actually recorded thisepisode in August of 2023.
Aaron Lee Tasjan issuch a force of nature.
He's an incredible guitar player.
He's an incredible singer, songwriterand producer, and he's just a
wonderful person within our communityright here in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now we'll get to my interviewwith Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Larry (02:51):
I am your host, Brother Love.
I am here today with Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (02:55):
Hello, hello.
Larry (02:56):
Hello, hello.
Tasjan, Tasjan, Tasjan.
Do I pronounce that correctly?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:00):
You're nailin it.
Larry (03:01):
Cause every time I say your name, I am afraid to say your name.
I, literally, for years, I'm like,yeah, you know Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Like, what?
I'm like, you know, you know,Aaron, Aaron Lee, right?
I figure, you know, there's nota lot of Aaron Lees in town.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:16):
It's part of the branding, instill fear.
Larry (03:19):
Well, that is, that's very true, but I don't know why.
Like a T A S J A N, like my wife's,family, her mother's maiden name is Vajda,
but it's like V A D J A or V A J D A.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:31):
It's beautiful.
Larry (03:31):
I should know.
Wow.
So I get, the J's make me nervous.
T A S J A N And I love your brandingbecause TASJAN, TASJAN, TASJAN!
So great.
You're a singer, a songwriter, aguitar player, a wonderful human being.
And thanks for having me.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:45):
Hey, thanks for having me
Larry (03:46):
We were scheduled to do this and like you're touring, musician.
Yes.
A few days ago and you said,Hey man, I'm at the airport.
I'm going.
I'm out of here man.
You ran me out of town,
man.
Tasjan out!
So where'd you go?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (03:59):
I went to Burlington, Wisconsin.
Some friends who run a very cool littlefestival there called the Tall Tales
Festival, which is funded by the cityand some wonderful sponsors, kind of
got a last minute notification that
they really needed to get a festival,
together or they were possibly in dangerof losing their funding from the city.
And, I was telling you earlier,I grew up in a small town
(04:21):
like Burlington, Wisconsin,
in Ohio.
and I know what a big dealit is when, when great music
and great art comes to town.
And so I was happy tobe able to help him out.
and we had a wonderful time.
Larry (04:32):
You said there's all kinds there.
Families, friends, kids...
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:34):
Yeah.
A lot of dancing, dancing in the street.
Right on.
All we were missingwas, was Mick and David.
Larry (04:39):
Yeah.
Well, that's right.
Because the budget wasn't as such.
But isn't that crazy howthat happens with budgets?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:45):
Yeah.
Larry (04:45):
Like for artists, for us, it's insane.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:48):
Yeah.
Larry (04:48):
Because all we try to do is get paid.
For what we do.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:51):
Yes.
Larry (04:51):
Honestly, some people want more.
Some people take less.
We just want to just compensatedfor doing what we love.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (04:57):
Yeah.
Larry (04:58):
And yet there's money that just gets thrown away almost.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:00):
Oh yeah.
Larry (05:01):
Like if they don't have this festival.
If you don't spend this money,they're begging, spend this money.
How about we save this money since wecouldn't make the thing happen and next
year we'll have the money towards it.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:12):
Absolutely.
Larry (05:13):
No, no, no, no, no.
If you don't spend it thisyear, it's not coming next year.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:17):
Arbitrary timelines.
Larry (05:19):
How stupid is that?
I mean, that's like ridiculous.
It's basically saying like, look,if I go to the supermarket, right?
And I don't spend a hundreddollars, well, that's it.
Just throw it away.
Well, I have the hundred in my pocket.
I'll use it.
at the store next weekand I'll have 200 dollars!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:34):
There you go.
Larry (05:35):
Wow.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:35):
Yeah.
Larry (05:36):
Look at all those groceries.
Nope.
Not for you.
Nope.
That's why I don'tunderstand anything in life.
But you mentioned before therewas a kid that came up to you.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (05:44):
Yeah.
Right after the show, man,I've, I finished and he was
probably, 11, 12 years old.
He tipped me a dollar.
I think it was his own dollar thathe gave and he said he wanted to
know how to start writing songs.
That's it for me, you know, becausebesides, just being able to have
a life playing music, and beable to live and exist doing what
I love and breathe every day.
(06:04):
My real goal is to write one song thatinspires one kid who'll come along and
just blow everything I've ever doneout of the water so that it continues.
That's what I'd love tosee is this go on forever.
Larry (06:16):
How would you know when that happens?
Do you think you could tell?
Cause you have a style,a very distinctive style.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (06:21):
Ah, yeah.
Well, thank you.
One of the things that I like toremind myself is you don't always get
to know the impact that you've had.
And the value, that you place on thework, is what creates the chance that
you will have that kind of impact.
So I, just, try to fall inlove with the work every day.
Larry (06:37):
That's great.
You're like Mean Joe Green.
Remember the commercial?
Hey kid, catch, you throw your guitar,smashes this kid right in the head.
You get sued.
No, the kid got rich.
Yeah, he got, yeah.
How'd you become so successful?
Well, I started with agreat bunch of seed money.
This guy Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Tasjan, Tasjan.
He threw a guitar right at my head.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (06:56):
Funded my whole album.
Larry (06:56):
Funded my whole album.
Yeah, it was great.
That's great.
Yeah, Tasjan.
Those things that happen, reallydo make such a difference because
you realize that like, we, I hateto say this, we make a difference.
That just sounds ridiculous.
You know, because I've beenaround enough artists are like,
Oh, I make such a difference.
I'm here now.
don't you feel different?
(07:16):
You know, like, Who the hell are you?
Please, you just sang a song.
Yeah.
You got a pretty voice.
Don't get too crazy.
My band was playing a festival,at Roscalusa in Florida, and
this kid came up afterwards.
Somebody said, Hey, Larry, can yousign an autograph, and I'm like, of
course I could sign an autograph,and this kid came up to me and I just
started chatting with him and he said,I wasn't going to come out tonight.
I remember seeing him dancing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (07:39):
Love it.
Larry (07:39):
Dancing, right?
And he danced like with complete freedom.
Like, it was an exorcism.
It really felt like that, you know?
And when we were younger I would havesaid, he's dancing like a crazy person!
Like your mother would say that.
My mother, ah, you're like a crazy person.
But that was meant withlove, you know what I mean?
Meaning like, you're just wild.
You're not of thought.
You're not of sound mind.
You're out of your mind, butthat can be a really good thing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:00):
Oh yeah.
Larry (08:01):
So this kid, I was like, I saw you dancing.
I was like, and thanks for that.
Like, you look like you had fun.
And he just, got serious.
He said, I wasn't goingto come out tonight.
I got really bad news today.
I was going to hurt myself
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:12):
Aw man
Larry (08:13):
I said, wow, I'm really happy you didn't.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:16):
Yeah.
Larry (08:17):
And thanks for coming here Thanks for being brave enough to
get out of the house and to comewhere there's a lot of people.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:25):
Wow.
Larry (08:25):
It's a festival.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:26):
Yeah.
Larry (08:26):
It's not a bar, he's a kid, but still, it's not a place
You're just gonna go sit in thecorner and be invisible, right?
He wasn't invisible.
He was dancing like he wasripping his clothes, like he
was ripping his old skin off.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (08:38):
Oh, I love that.
Yeah.
Larry (08:39):
And he just said, I'm so happy right now.
And I almost like started crying.
And he said it louder.
He said, I'm so happy.
And then he shook my hand,gave me a hug, he walked away.
I heard him.
All the way up the hill.
I'm so happy!
I'm like, oh my god, he's really happy.
I'm like, wow, he'sreally, really feeling.
He's feeling No past, nofuture, he's feeling right now.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:04):
The moment, yeah.
Larry (09:04):
The moment.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:05):
Oh, I love it.
Larry (09:06):
Wow.
That was instant.
We're all in this moment together.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:09):
Yeah.
Larry (09:10):
And how beautiful.
How beautiful.
Just incredible.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:12):
Powerful.
Larry (09:13):
Yeah.
Just amazing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:15):
Love it.
Larry (09:15):
I love your music.
I love it.
Adore your music.
I remember the day that I duginto your last record, TASJAN!
TASJAN!
TASJAN!.
Was that self released or youwere on a label with that?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:25):
New West put that record out.
Larry (09:26):
New West put that record out.
And I remember I was at the gym,and my wife, Sarah, takes videos
of me at the gym, I guess it'sthe endorphins and all that.
I groove and I move and people, likehug me at the gym that don't know me.
First of all, don't hugpeople at the gym, okay?
And number one, don't hug strangers, okay?
Just don't do it.
All right?
Like, You know what I mean?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (09:44):
Yes.
Larry (09:45):
I love you, but just go on your way.
And at the gym, people say,"Hey man, You inspire me."
They like fist bump me, like they know me.
I'm like, why?
Because I'm, listening toeither one of three things.
I say, Sarah, if you want to put a TikTokout of what I'm doing, I'm either A,
listening to classic Van Halen, ACDC.
B.
Funk, Sly and the FamilyStone, or C, Myself.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (10:04):
Yeah, I love it!
I love it.
I love it.
Larry (10:07):
Because I'm listening to like mixes,
I'm listening to work tapes, I'mtrying to get inspired for the
next things, you know, all that.
When I got to dig into your album,that was a day on the treadmill.
That was a great day!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (10:17):
Oh man, I'm honored.
Larry (10:18):
Your record is just, it's so cool.
You have zero pretense.
You have zero, zeropretense on this record.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (10:24):
Well, you know, I think like a lot of musicians, I got
my start in music however I could,so initially I always had this idea
of wanting to be a songwriter and tomake my own records and release them,
but it took me a really long time.
before I felt like I even had anythingthat was worth showing to somebody.
(10:45):
My career really started more asa, guitar player side man person,
while I was living in New York City.
Oh, and of course I had Semi PreciousWeapons in which I co wrote the
songs, but Justin Tranter, was ourfront man du jour and you couldn't
have had a better person for the job.
Semi Precious Weapons was the band.
Larry (11:03):
And what years?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (11:03):
That would have been Like not long after I moved
to New York City, so we stayedI think it was 2004 or 2005.
Larry (11:11):
That's correct, by the way.
Okay.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (11:13):
Yes.
Nailing it.
And so, I really, Ilearned a lot from him.
He was really the first person Iknew who had been comfortable enough
with who he was to be out, youknow, when he was still a teenager.
He really inspired me in that way of,if you're really being yourself, you
(11:37):
don't need to pretend to do anything.
But, the bravery that it takes todo that is, for me, that it took
a long time to build that up.
I felt like that last recordfelt like a particularly kind of
breakthrough moment in, just inmy own personal life in that way.
Larry (11:56):
That we're talking about now.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (11:56):
Yeah,
The TASJAN!
TASJAN!
TASJAN!
Record.
there was a lot of firsts on that record.
First times of, talking about certainthings about who I was and things that
I believed in that were always a partof my process in terms of my creativity
but I don't know that I just flatout said things like that previously.
Part of the goal was to try to shake awayany pretense that may have been there
(12:19):
previously and just stand in the centerof who feel like I am and who I was,
in that moment at that time.
Larry (12:26):
Were any of the songs written like a long time ago that you came back to?
Or was it all
sort of like a new chapter for you?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (12:32):
Yeah, I've, I have done that before.
I have, I'm sure just like you,
I have
Tons
of notebooks, you know, fullof stuff and I keep them all
because you just never know.
Yeah.
That's what I love aboutthe process of writing.
There are plenty of times whereI don't even realize what I'm
writing about until later on.
(12:52):
And so some of those things almostneed to, like, sit in those notebooks
and marinate until they're readyto come out, you know, when I
understand myself a little more.
Pretty much every song on thatrecord was a new, current song that
I wrote sort of in that moment.
Larry (13:09):
You're so approachable in that record.
I put the record on I listenUp All Night, Feminine Walk.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (13:14):
Yeah,
Larry (13:14):
I just thought to myself wow You know what?
There's a guy out therethat's I can relate to.
I felt like well, I'mnot alone in this world.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (13:22):
Yeah, Yes,
Larry (13:22):
That's really really important You're Not Alone.
It's one thing to say it it's anotherthing to just sort of create some art
that is just an expression of yourselfvery honestly that then translates to me.
I can just digest this so easily.
Because I get it.
You're really, really simply so simple.
That's the thing too.
You son of a bitch.
(13:46):
Well, and what I mean by that, isthat songs that sound so simple,
flows by me and then through me.
And then I listen again, I'm like,those are great choices chorderly
or production wise, or the lyrics.
Like,
" Broke up with my boyfriend to go outwith my girlfriend cause love is like,
love is like, love is like that."
He's just repeating love.
(14:06):
And I'm like, that's so ingenious.
Cause Love Is Like, LoveIs Like, Love Is Like That!
It's almost like it'smore work to be simple.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (14:14):
Yeah, that's how it always felt to me.
It felt harder to write somethingsimple that I could really stand behind.
Yet, that was really why I fell in lovewith music to begin with, is because
I think the songs that I was listeningto, when I was really falling in love
with music, they were simple enough,yet also creative enough and singular
(14:39):
enough that I could see myself in them.
And the power of that, of feelingseen within the context of a song,
it's just totally saved my life.
Larry (14:50):
We spend a lifetime putting the costumes on.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (14:53):
Yeah!
Larry (14:53):
We spent a lifetime armoring up right?
And I'm going to show you how smart I am.
Look at this song!
Big words I use and they rhyme, right?
Nothing rhymes with orange.
I've got a word that rhymes with orange.
Ha ha ha!
You know?
Totally.
And then you realize that when you breakyourself down, whether you break yourself
down or are broken down, two differentthings, but either way, you're And you
(15:15):
get to this sort of core, this silent,quiet place, it's all very simple.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (15:21):
Very simple.
Larry (15:22):
And you go, son of a bitch, it's been there the whole time.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (15:24):
Right, yeah.
Larry (15:25):
You seem to me to be somebody that is always working on getting to
yourself getting to some of the truth.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (15:31):
Yeah.
Larry (15:31):
This was a cathartic record.
Were you in a hard time and came out?
Is this sort of aculmination of ups and downs?
Because sometimes like I can saythat last year I had basically a
year of holding my head in my handsand my wife was on tour a lot.
So she didn't know if I wassitting at home and crying.
Watching, Whatever it was, that makesme cry, which is anything, by the way.
(15:52):
I watched Star Trek 2 Wrathof Khan a couple of weeks ago.
Nobody was home.
You know, In the end, when Spockdies, oh, sorry to spoil it,
but you know, when Spock dies,
"The Needs of the many outweighthe needs of the few or the one..."
I'm balling, man.
Put on the 86 Mets.
I'm crying.
You know what I mean?
Anything makes me cry.
But the sadness of, change inmy life and loss in my life.
(16:15):
And I'm a middle aged man and I don'thave enough money and all the things.
This show came out ofa culmination of that.
I was in a deeper pit than normal.
The ebb and flow of lifehas always been that way.
Depression runs in my family,and I just wasn't able to pick
myself up by my bootstraps.
I quit drinking, which saved mefor that but like, thank you.
(16:36):
For you for this record youreally shared a lot of yourself.
Were you in a dark placeand came to the light?
Or is it something
it's just normal flow of an artist's life?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (16:43):
Yeah, I think you know I was seeing firsthand like a
lot of people the other side of thecountry we live in a little bit of the
underbelly of what existed in America.
That for a certain generation offolks, I've had this discussion
with, with a few people, you know,I'm about to be 39 years old.
(17:04):
When I was in school, I sort of remembera lot of these issues sort of being,
taught or discussed in a way as thoughalmost like they had been dealt with.
Well we had racism in the60s and it was very bad.
And Martin Luther King had aparade, and unfortunately, he died
as a result, but now America's aless racist, place or whatever.
Larry (17:26):
That's what they taught you huh?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (17:27):
Yeah, I mean that's kind of what I remember feeling
like I was taken away from that.
And then when I was in high school,Dave Chappelle became a big star.
I was relating to him interms of some of his material.
It felt like it was sort of makingfun of the idea of being a racist.
Like this is an outdated thing, andthis was my own ignorance and privilege
(17:52):
speaking as a teenage kid or whatever.
You know, I really didn't understand.
And I had plenty of, friends whowere black, who were Asian, who
were Indian, who were Latino.
Um.
Larry (18:03):
But you didn't buy the, "I have black friends" t-shirt
that the Gap was selling.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (18:07):
Heavens no.
I don't think I really understood,what they were facing a lot in life.
I wish that I could have understoodthat more from a younger age.
You know, I think that wouldhave been a really great lesson.
I still learned the lesson,throughout my life, but it took
me time to understand all of that.
As I was growing up in that environment,there were things that I saw and
(18:30):
that I encountered that took meyears to be able to even completely
grasp what I was seeing and feeling.
Larry (18:37):
Seeing on tv or seeing it like first hand?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (18:39):
There was in 1999 when I was a freshman in high school, there was
a Ku Klux Klan parade in Columbus, Ohio
Larry (18:47):
Look at that
Aaron Lee Tasjan (18:48):
I knew I grew up in a house where my dad was a jazz
musician as a young man, and hegrew up in Wilmington, Delaware.
He had a young saxophone player by thename of Ernie Watts playing in his band,
and Ernie, of course, went on to bequite a prominent jazz saxophone player.
My dad would tell me storieslike, we went to play a dance
(19:10):
at the DuPont Country Club, andthey didn't want to let Ernie in.
And my dad was like, either heplays or you have no band tonight.
Larry (19:18):
Sinatra did the same thing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (19:19):
Right.
Yeah.
I was always taught to think thatway, to value the differences in
people and see that as a, strength.
So when I was making this record,or writing songs for this last
record, I was seeing some of theunderbelly of America that I still
didn't quite understand how manypeople, felt compelled to share their
(19:43):
sort of hatred of this group of peopleor that group of people or whatever.
And you know, I happened to be a Queerman, and I just thought, we can't allow
this to continue to bubble up without, asan artist, creating a piece of art that
helps to push back against that narrative.
It became really important for me to say
(20:03):
This is who I am, and Thisis what I have to say,
and I think this can inspire peoplemore than this sort of, fear based
mentality that one must, inhabit inorder to, express hate in that way.
Larry (20:19):
Yeah.
I think part of it islike Oh, that's out there.
Yeah.
That's somewhere else.
And I think during the last, bunchof years, it became frightening, the
division, the divisiveness, the hatred.
When I see now as a New Yorker,born and raised in New York
City, Queens is a melting pot.
Yes.
New York is a melting pot, as you know.
When I see stories swastikasin Brooklyn, in New York City?!
(20:42):
I used to think, wow, whenthese old fuckers die off.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (20:46):
Right.
Larry (20:46):
When these old coots die off, and I don't mean that like getting killed.
I mean, they're going to die.
And then the next generationis going to come and things are
going to get a little better.
Sure.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (20:56):
Yeah.
Larry (20:56):
No!
It doesn't.
It doesn't.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, it really doesn't.
Yeah.
Because you're taught this generationally.
How is it now 2023 we are readingabout swastikas, hate, in a
city that over 8 million people?
You hear stories of people talkingabout, like George Carlin would
speak lovingly about growing up inManhattan, where my father grew up.
(21:19):
This neighborhood was where the Irish,these five blocks, and then five
blocks away was the Italians, andthen five blocks away was where Puerto
Ricans, it was, everybody was there.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:29):
Mm.
Larry (21:29):
He goes, but it was our neighborhood.
And we all got along with eachother because you know why?
We had no choice.
We had to.
and so we we're all thrown togetherand yet we still have all this hatred.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:39):
Yeah
Larry (21:39):
And it's frightening.
It's absolutely frightening.
I was watching because I was in areal pissed off mood last night I
like spiraled out of my mind, right?
Things weren't flowing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:49):
Sure.
Larry (21:49):
Nothing was flowing.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (21:50):
Yeah
Larry (21:50):
So what do I do?
I eat a bunch of food and I watch Hitler.
I watch World War II.
I figure, I do.
My wife thinks I'm out of my mind.
I watch anything World War II.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:01):
I love it.
Larry (22:01):
It's like, I know how it ends.
You know what I mean?
Oh, Hitler, a career.
I was like, Ooh, maybethey'll teach me something.
So I'm watching, and I know this,but he starts the kids out early.
You start the kids out early.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:12):
Yes.
Larry (22:13):
And that's the thing, these old coots don't die off and then
the young generation comes inand goes, Well, you know what?
We're gonna do somethingabout this climate.
We're gonna do something about racism.
No, they just come up.
They're younger.
They have more energy to hate.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:25):
Yeah.
Larry (22:26):
So Have you ever felt frightened?
For yourself, for your future?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (22:29):
I remember very well.
When the band Semi Precious Weaponswas happening, Justin and I shared
a loft, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
this was 2004, 5, 6, 7.
At the time, that neighborhood was,a little different, than it is now.
I remember one night, Justinalways, Looked incredible.
(22:53):
Every single day.
Decked out, full beat face.
Incredible hair, fantasticboots that came up past the
thigh with a high heel on them.
Larry (23:05):
It wasn't a costume for him.
That was who he was.
Which is a big deal.
Big distinction.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (23:10):
Big distinction.
You know, I was decked outtoo, but I was trying to find
who I was, you know, he knew.
And so that was inspiring.
But there were times where peoplewould just see us and just have
a physical reaction immediately.
I remember being chased down the street.
I remember, a guy chasing us in his car.
We were in a car as well, but theguy was like going backwards down the
(23:34):
street after us at like, it must havebeen 50 or 60 miles an hour, you know.
And this is just a littleneighborhood in Greenpoint.
Larry (23:41):
He's still going backwards, by the way.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (23:42):
I mean, that's poetry in real life right there,
literally going backwards.
We went to England for some showsone time that went really well.
Walking around in England,was not easy either.
I remember a security guardat a HMV record store, we were
browsing, looking at records, cameup and just asked us to leave.
No explanation, Youknow, you guys are weird.
(24:05):
Get out of here, basically.
I was 22, 23 years old whenthat was sort of happening.
And so I got this impression that it wasdangerous, sometimes, to be who you are.
And now, I'll even say at some of myshows, because of where things are
in the country currently, I'll evensay sometimes it's not even legal to
(24:28):
be who you are now in this country.
In some places.
So, all those things, were verymuch at the forefront of my thinking
when I was creating the last record.
I really wanted to, as I said, justcreate a piece of art that would push back
on the narrative that it wassuddenly acceptable to say
openly that you hated somebody.
Larry (24:48):
Where are you at now with material you writing or?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (24:51):
Yeah, really excited.
I just finished a record, now Ihave to figure out what it's called.
That's always the challenge, but, it'sgoing to come out in April on a very
cool label, that I'm super excited towork with called Blue Elon Records.
Larry (25:02):
Nice.
Where are they out
of?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (25:04):
They're out of Los Angeles.
I was listening to some mixes from therecord and kind of like what you were
saying at the gym, I'm never embarrassedto say that I listen to myself.
I know Prince did, because hefelt like no one else was making
the music he wanted to hear.
Yeah.
He was doing it,
so he wanted to listen to himself.
I love that.
And I was just tweeting, youknow, I said, Oh man, I'm really
excited about my new mixes.
And the next thing I knew, they DM'dme and said, Hey, we want to hear
(25:26):
this record that you're working on.
You know, we're interestedin listening to it.
And that's how it happened.
Larry (25:31):
That's so cool.
Did you write all the material yourself?
Do you co write?
I know, because we met.
in person, like for real, at a co write.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (25:38):
That's right!
Larry (25:39):
What an uncomfortable, weird day that was.
It was for me.
Let me just say every time I'm in a cowrite, I pray to God it gets canceled.
My anxiety goes through the roof.
I mean, like, Please!
Please let them cancel.
Please!
My wife's like, what happened?
It got cancelled.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm like, no, it's great.
Let's go have lunch.
My anxiety, my anxietyis through the roof.
(26:02):
You know what I mean?
And then you calm down and I learnto just go with it and co written a
lot of cool songs that have been cut,recorded, my own band and other cats.
It was you and I, Alex from ThemVibes, my band and Maggie Rose.
We were writing together, and Iremember you were saying like I'm
not much of a co writer or something.
I felt like we were just forcingsomething on you, I don't know.
I just want to apologize.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (26:21):
No, No, No, No, No, No!
Larry (26:22):
I felt like, man, this guy, he thinks we're a bunch of schmucks.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (26:25):
No way.
No, no, no, no.
I was very happy to be there.
I think for me, thatwas true at that time.
The only songwriting partnership that I'dever had that worked out was the one that
Justin and I had in Semi Precious Weapons.
Every other time I had tried todo it I just felt like man I guess
I just don't know how to do this.
Larry (26:42):
Right.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (26:43):
And so part of the impetus for me of accepting that
invitation was, even if I'm uncomfortableand I feel like I don't know what I'm
doing, this will be good for me becausethe only way that I'm gonna ever be
able to get better at it is if I try.
I was very grateful to have thatopportunity, so thank you, you know,
very much for giving me a chance.
(27:05):
Since then, I have repeated the processa number of times, and I've found a few
folks in town that I do write well with,and then I'm also just kind of trying all
the time writing with different folks.
And this latest record that I'vedone, it was really important to
me because I felt like the lastrecord was sort of like, okay.
I got the door cracked open to whereI could see through to the other side.
(27:28):
Now it's time to just pull thatdoor all the way back and just
walk through tall and proud.
And so I, wanted to bring inother people from the community.
Larry (27:37):
Yeah.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (27:37):
But then also just all kinds of folks and try to create a
piece of art that was true to who I am,that was supportive of my community.
But that also was, a model ofintersectionality, you know,
because I feel like that's reallythe way forward at this point.
And artists, we have such a valuableplatform to model who plays in our
(28:00):
band, who we co bill with, who wewrite with who we work with and record
with and all those kinds of things.
So I really wanted to be justpulling in women And trans people
and folks from all walks of lifeand older people and young people.
And I was able to accomplish thatand write a record that, really,
(28:20):
hit home for me in that way as well.
Because the important thing is tome is it's like, when you're doing
something like that, it can't justbe an exercise in, let me try to
show you, how many different kinds ofpeople I am friends with or whatever.
Larry (28:36):
You have integrity.
" Integrity is choosingcourage over comfort.
Choosing what is right overwhat is fun, fast or easy.
And choosing to practice our valuesrather than simply professing them."
Brene Brown.
I'm loving this.
I read her.
I feel like such a, an idiot fornot finding her until recently.
These are words now thatjust get thrown around.
(28:56):
Inclusivity.
Inclusive, right?
Diversity.
We're at this point where we throwthese words around, Mental Health.
My show is about getting to know theartists getting to know creatives,
but also peeling it back a littleand so that we can say I'm not alone.
You know Aaron Lee Tasjan is wadingthe waters and figuring himself out
and that there's a lot of hatredin the world and that You don't
want to be a part of spreading it.
(29:16):
You want to bring people together.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (29:18):
Yeah.
Larry (29:18):
I learned a lot about you.
I feel better about myself andI have a little bit more hope in
the world because of all of that.
And I really appreciate that.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (29:25):
I think like the intention is everything.
I have felt extraordinarily fortunateto be invited into spaces where
traditionally, people who look like Ido haven't always done the right thing.
And when I get to co write withan artist like Yola, who to me is
the epitome of musical excellence.
(29:48):
She can do anything andeverything, as well or better
than, anyone I've ever seen.
And for her to invite me into herspace to, be creative with her.
That's such a tremendous gift and anopportunity for me to really, reflect on
why, traditionally, folks like me who'vebeen in those spaces have caused harm.
(30:11):
And what are the ways that I canaffect change moving forward?
I can really do, my due diligenceto see her, to understand where
she's coming from, and what'simportant to her about what we're
doing, and to be in service to that.
There's no room for bullshit in that.
Like, whatever ego or whatever thatyou may have, you gotta let go of all
(30:36):
of that because you can't survive, youknow, in a space like that if you're not
coming to it with the right intention.
I value my friendship with herimmensely, but the opportunity, to
be creative with her is somethingthat, I hope it goes on forever.
because it's just always anopportunity for me to really consider
(30:57):
who I am and how I can use thatto help lift up somebody else.
That's one of the thingsthat I love about Nashville.
The music community in Nashville,I really see that happen.
I mean we just all did the Grace Bowersevent there at the Basement East, for
the Covenant School shooting benefit.
Larry (31:15):
She's 17 now.
Yeah.
You know, and you know,we've become friends.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:19):
Yeah, I saw that you guys were recording.
Larry (31:21):
Yeah, we wrote a song together, recorded.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:22):
And it's so cool.
Larry (31:23):
This community as you were saying is such a special opportunity
to continue to be more of a Community.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:29):
Yes.
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Larry (31:31):
You know?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:32):
You summed it up perfectly.
Larry (31:34):
Awesome.
That's great!
Does anything piss you off?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (31:37):
Yes!
Lots of things.
Larry (31:38):
You seem so even keeled.
Like, I'm trying my hardest to let go.
I'm trying my hardest to let things be.
Like, My wife and I are so uptight.
A lot of people I know that arewith their partner, one's chill,
man, and the other one's, ugh, andwe're both, ugh, we're both like two
people that are out of our minds,and it's hard, you know what I mean?
Hey, do you think you're being, Hey!
(31:58):
blarg!
blarg!
blarg!
We're just yelling at eachother, you know, so I'm like,
how do I be that chill person?
Does anything really piss you off?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (32:06):
Yeah, tons of stuff.
Larry (32:07):
What angers you?
Um What pisses you off?
By the way, this is the question segment.
I'm out of order with my questions.
Normally, the first question is different,but I just, I can't take this anymore.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (32:17):
I'll tell ya, what pisses me off lately is feeling like
I have, extraordinarily talented veryhard working friends who are regularly
saying that they're struggling veryhard to make a living doing something
that is clearly not only theirpassion in life, but their gift.
(32:38):
It upsets me that we live in asystem, in which words like, normal
are weaponized against anybodywho is doing something that, is
perhaps a little less conventional.
I think, if anything, we should bevaluing that kind of thinking and
(33:00):
using it as examples of, something to,aspire to, because it takes not only
a wise, studied mind to move in thatdirection, it also takes a big heart
and a brave soul to step up and dosomething that, is a little different.
And it's really through our differencesthat we see how much we have in common.
(33:22):
Until we have thebravery to express those,
It's not tangible.
You can't reach outand touch it quite yet.
It's not just that I feel likemusicians are having a hard
time and being treated unfairly.
It's that I know that we need this.
We need this music, we need theserecords, we need these performances, we
need these singers, we need these songs.
(33:44):
We need these folks, being ableto model individual thinking that
is not coming from a place of ego.
It's coming from a place of knowingyourself and being honest with
yourself and admitting your faults asmuch as celebrating, the things that
are, easy for people to get behind.
(34:05):
It's also about sharing the hard,truths of who we are as human beings
because we need these stories.
When I am encountering almost atevery turn these incredible artists
saying the music industry that I'ma part of is telling me that I'm
a failure or I'm trying to figureout how to get on food stamps.
And these are all very real thingsthat our peers are facing, you
(34:27):
know, myself included at times.
And, it does anger me because I feel likepeople want to believe things about the
systems that are in place for some reason.
A false sense ofPatriotism maybe sometimes.
Yeah.
A false sense of self.
The sort of reality of, trying to overcomethat feels like a massive uphill climb
(34:51):
these days, and that does piss me off.
Because like I said, we need this stuff.
Larry (34:57):
Yeah.
What brings you joy?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (34:58):
What brings me joy?
My friends, you know being happy.
I was just Texting with myfriend Yola the other night.
She was in New York for the 50thanniversary of Hip Hop, and having
a great time and feeling reallyhappy, and I just sent her a text.
I was just reflecting on the joythat we can bring each other just
sometimes by sharing a little moment.
You know, it doesn'thave to be a big deal.
(35:19):
It's just a little moment of somethingthat happened in our day that
brought us, closer to who we are.
Larry (35:24):
Doesn't that, doesn't that get overlooked All the time?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:26):
All the time.
Larry (35:26):
That is so huge.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:28):
Yeah.
Larry (35:28):
You share those little moments and then all of a sudden that little
kernel just opens up and it's a star.
And it's the brightness that shinesthrough that actually makes your day
and the person that you're sharing with!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:39):
Absolutely.
Larry (35:39):
I like that.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:40):
I said to her I said I want to let you know It makes
me really happy when you're happy.
Larry (35:44):
That's great.
What fascinates you?
Like, you know, WOW!
You know, universal signfor fascination is WOW!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (35:50):
Yeah, I mean, there's so many things that fascinate me these days.
I've been a long time advocate ofwe're not alone in the universe.
So the aliens thing hasbeen very exciting for me.
Larry (36:01):
You know, we just wrote a song yesterday.
We had a co write.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:03):
Yeah!
Larry (36:03):
And this young lady, she said, you know, I know this sounds weird,
but can we write a song about aliens?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:08):
Yes.
Larry (36:08):
And we said, yeah!
We wrote a song called, " Me and E.
T.
going honky tonking."
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:12):
Oh, I love it!
Larry (36:13):
"Me and E.
T.
going honky tonking."
I mean, and it was clever.
It worked out.
We were like, this is cool.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:18):
I love it.
Larry (36:19):
Yeah.
it's really cool.
A lot of people are,
very fascinated by this thing.
I mean, why not?
Come on.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:24):
I think it's an interesting time.
May you live in interesting times.
We certainly do.
Larry (36:28):
Exactly.
And why should we have all the sadness?
Yeah.
Bring them all in.
Come on, aliens!
Come on, you like racism?
We got plenty of racism, right?
You hungry?
We got tons of famine here.
You want sadness?
We got it all.
You want happy?
Man, we got some.
Now, we have a lot to begrateful, a lot to be happy for.
If you could fix one thing,like you had a magic wand, Boom.
Fixed.
Done.
I got this, says Aaron Lee Tasjan.
(36:50):
Like a Superhero Superpower.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (36:51):
That's such an interesting question.
I feel like one of the most overarchingproblems that exists in our world
today is the issue of wealth disparity.
I feel like it just causes a lot of stressand unnecessary anguish for people in
their life that affects them physically,that causes disease, that causes, mental
(37:12):
health issues and emotional health issues.
And so if we could live in a moreequitable world, I guess I mean
that just in every way that youcan, that's what I would go for.
Larry (37:23):
Right on, I like it.
Now the most important one of all.
Toilet paper over or under?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:29):
I, think
over.
Larry (37:30):
Yes, correct!
Ding!
Ding!
Aaron Lee Tasjan where can we find you?
Tell us just so the socialsare all intact, please!
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:37):
Absolutely.
Larry (37:37):
Commercialize yourself.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:39):
Yes.
Facebook.com/TheRealAaronLeeTasjan.
I had to do that because of how manypeople on there make fake accounts
pretending to be you, even thoughI'm by no means a famous person.
It's hilarious.
Larry (37:54):
You're somewhat famous.
You're, you're
more famous than not.
I'll put it that way.
How about that?
Aaron Lee Tasjan (37:59):
Ha!
I Love it!!!
Larry (37:59):
That's your new t shirt.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (38:00):
Yeah, absolutely.
Larry (38:01):
Tasjan, more famous than not.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (38:04):
That's funny.
Larry (38:05):
I love you, buddy.
Larry (2) (38:06):
Recorded - 8/15/23
In East Nashville, TN
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