From Womb Kicks To 90s Grit: LaureNicole’s Rock Story

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A name that sounds like a solo act but moves like a band: Lauren Nicole joins us to unpack how a family-first rock project found its voice in 90s alt grit, pop clarity, and the kind of bridges that turn songs into memories. From kicking in the womb to Springsteen’s beat to taking the stage at eleven, Lauren’s path blends fearless beginnings with a modern, DIY engine—co-producing with her drummer husband, Jim, and partnering with veteran producer Dick Hodgin to drop just the right “specials” where a track needs to snap.

We dive into the new EP, Preserve Love Here, and why each of its three songs stands alone while threading a bigger story: unapologetic self-love, intimate partnership, and protecting the spaces that keep you grounded. State of Preservation hits like a jolt of energy; Here With You glows with 90s DNA and a lyrical first line that opens the door to the whole emotional house. Lauren breaks down her process—mood first, chords second, words that arrive fast when the moment is real—and explains why she champions the bridge as the place where a song finally says what it’s been trying to say all along.

Expect talk of influences that actually shaped the craft: Christina Aguilera’s vocal athleticism, Jenna McDougall’s lyric reach in Tonight Alive, and a dream of a dark-acoustic collab with Meg Myers. We trade summer anthems, monster-truck bangers, and march-ready rally songs, then circle back to the heart of it all: a band that produces itself, protects its vision, and loves rock enough to keep it honest. If you crave big choruses, sharp metaphors, and a thoughtful studio process, queue this one up and tell us—are you Team Hook or Team Bridge?

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:39):
I'm the worst person to have a podcast.
I do fail.
What's up, everybody?
Welcome back to the show.
I am your host, Harley, joinedas always by my co-host and

(01:01):
little sister Taylor.
Hello, very, very super specialguest today.
I'm actually super excited forthis interview.
Up and coming artist.
The band is incredible.
I really love the like 90s likealternative sound that you guys
have mixed with like some popelements as well.

(01:23):
But your voice is incredible.
I'm gonna be honest with you.
I I should have asked thisbefore we started, and I feel
like such a jerk for not, butyou should.
I don't know how to pronouncethe name of the band.
I want to give it a shot though.

SPEAKER_02 (01:40):
Oh, give it a shot.
I just want to see what you comeup with.

SPEAKER_00 (01:43):
So so it's it's one word, but it's two names.
That's right.
So I'm gonna give it a go.
I'm gonna say Laura Nicole.

SPEAKER_02 (01:51):
Laura Nicole.

SPEAKER_00 (01:53):
Laura Nicole, okay.

SPEAKER_02 (01:54):
So basically, we kind of are going for like this
Van Halen daughter thing.
So Lauren Nicole is my first andmiddle name.
And uh being that all of theefforts that go into our
project, it's really uh a bandfamily, and everybody's role is
so important.
So I wanted it to not be justlike an artist name of Lauren

(02:18):
Space Nicole.
I wanted it to be a cohesiveunit, as uh, you know, that kind
of shows what the identity of ofour band is.
So yeah, you didn't.
Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_03 (02:29):
I definitely thought you were gonna ask how to
pronounce her name.
Like I thought that's where thatwas going, and I'm like, yeah,
take a shot.

SPEAKER_02 (02:39):
It wouldn't be the first time, so it's no no
offense.
It's it's no offense to me.

SPEAKER_00 (02:44):
Um, so we're gonna dive into the new EP uh
momentarily, but I do want totalk about uh a little bit of
like your music history.
So I know that you've kind ofbeen involved in music for quite
some time, some time now, but umI also know that uh when you

(03:05):
were still in the womb, you seemto also love music.
Uh you've told it before onother shows, but I I think it's
a fun one.
So go go ahead and tell us alittle bit about that.

SPEAKER_02 (03:17):
Oh yeah, I feel like this is like the story that like
never gets old.
So if people are new to me, likewatching this, then yes, this is
this is my my musical identitystory, honestly.
But um my mother was eightmonths pregnant, and she was
sitting in front of like theyhad like a big boom box stereo
system.
I have no idea.

(03:37):
This was the 90s, who knows whatthey had.
But basically, she was listeningto Bruce Springsteen's dancing
in the dark.
Ironically, I start dancing inthe dark, and I start kicking in
her stomach to the exact beat ofthe song.
Um, so she was like, there is noshe first she didn't believe it.

(03:58):
She was like, turn it off andsee if this see if she keeps
going.
Turn some music off, I stopkicking.
Turn some music back on, I startkicking again right to the beat.
She's like, There is no way thatthis is not a musical child.
So yes, it was definitely in theblood for sure, renewable.

SPEAKER_00 (04:18):
So I love that story.
I'm I'm a new father, so my sonis one year old.
Um thank you, thank you.
But I was insistent as amusician on involving music
throughout my wife's pregnancy,and as soon as he was born,
basically.
Um, so one of my one of myfavorite hobbies is to put a

(04:41):
vinyl on and listen to an albumfront to back.
So when he was born, that's whatwe would do.
I would hold him and kind ofrock and bounce around and throw
on different music, and he lovesstained.

SPEAKER_03 (04:54):
So I was really yeah, he loves stained and he
loves Snoop Dogg.
Oh, yeah, those are his two.

SPEAKER_02 (05:03):
Yeah, I love that.
That's a good appreciation ofmusic, is multi-genre faceted.
So that's good.
Big fan.

SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
The only thing I'm upset with is the Bruce
Springsteen.
There's so much music out there.
Bruce Springsteen is what youdance to.

SPEAKER_02 (05:19):
I have no idea.
I'm like, I'm like, this story,like it could have been any
song, but the fact that it waslike dancing in the dark, and
I'm literally in the dark, itwas just like the irony of that.
I'm like, you're right.
She's just like, no, I swear.
I'm like, okay, that's prettycool.

SPEAKER_00 (05:40):
Um, speaking of Daughtry, I recently went and
saw Daughtry last week.

SPEAKER_01 (05:45):
Nice.

SPEAKER_00 (05:47):
Incredible.
I was um so I was expecting thethe mom-loving Daughtree of
every mom loves Daughtree.

SPEAKER_02 (05:58):
Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (05:59):
I was expecting that, and I got a completely
different version of Daughtrythat I didn't know existed.
He has gone full metal, and I amhere for it.
I love it, it's incredible.

SPEAKER_02 (06:09):
It's the new album is incredible.
Yeah, like unleashed his likealter ego or something.

SPEAKER_00 (06:16):
Right.

SPEAKER_02 (06:16):
A totally different Chris than we've known before.

SPEAKER_00 (06:19):
So he also has like every muscle known to man in
that arm.
It's wild.

SPEAKER_02 (06:26):
Like how like how much work goes into that?
Like, honestly, that's a lot.
I I don't have patience enoughfor that.
Like, I'm like, nope, I'm good.
I'm A-OK.

SPEAKER_01 (06:37):
I'm A-OK.

SPEAKER_00 (06:39):
So I listened to your earlier stuff as well.
Um, and there's one song that Iwant to highlight that I
absolutely adore.

SPEAKER_01 (06:48):
Okay.

SPEAKER_00 (06:48):
It's called What's Next?

SPEAKER_04 (06:50):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (06:51):
Um, I think that is such a fun song.
Um tell me a little bit aboutlike the writing inspiration
because I know that you're likethe primary songwriter.
Um, but that that song is sovastly different than most of
your catalog.

(07:11):
Um is the story is the storydeep on it?
It feels like just kind of likeuh you were writing towards the
masses.

SPEAKER_02 (07:21):
So it's I really wasn't, it was kind of a weird
writing.
Um honestly, I didn't think thatsong was gonna make the album.
So it was one of those songs,and not because that it is like
I would consider one of like ourharder, edgier tracks.
Um, but it was a song it wasreally difficult to get an intro

(07:42):
for, number one.
I had no idea how I wanted toget into the song.
Um, and the first I think partof the song that was written was
the chorus.
So I kind of started with thehook and then kind of had to
like tiptoe around the verses.
And then the bridge wassomething that came, I think

(08:03):
almost a year later from when Ihad the idea of the yeah, like
it was something that was likevery much workshopped for a
while.
Um and my husband, who is thedrummer in the band, Jim.
Oh, nice, he yeah, he was veryinstrumental, I shall say.
Um nice pun, right?

(08:24):
Um, in keeping that song in thecatalog, he was like, We we have
to finish it, we have to makethat there's just something
special about the hook of thatchorus, and like we can't just
let it fall by the wayside.
So I kind of had it like in theback like burner running because
of that.
And um and yeah, it just kind ofmorphed into this really big,

(08:45):
epic, angsty track.
And um, I had not released musicfor like five years.
So when I wanted to release anew song, I kind of wanted to go
like balls to the wall.
And so that song was definitelya good, like, hey, I'm back.

(09:06):
You know what I mean?
Like, so um, but yeah, it and Ifeel like it it did it did its

(09:39):
job with this in the scope ofthe album, telling the
overarching story we were tryingto tell with with kind of like
where it falls emotionally, um,in the bigger, in the bigger
picture of it.
But um, yeah, it was definitelyuh single, single-worthy for
sure.

SPEAKER_00 (09:56):
Yeah.
Uh so are you involved uhheavily on the production side
as well?

SPEAKER_02 (10:02):
Yeah.
So everything that you've heardwith the new EP and the album
from within, um, that wasbasically all produced by me and
Jim, uh, the drummer.
Um, so when we go into studio,we basically like have already
cut a demo with the band beforewe go in.
And collectively as a group, wekind of sift through parts.

(10:27):
So when we go into studio, it'slike we already have done this
essentially.
Right, right.
Um, so it makes that that likeprocess a lot more smooth.
But I guess in a way, we're allkind of producing it because
we're all putting the layeringand knowing the layering that's
gonna kind of fit within thesong.
Um, but yeah, as far as likewhat needs to come up in like

(10:48):
the mix and things like that, wedo have a lot of say.
Um, we are fortunate enough towork with a producer here
locally.
His name is Dick Hodgin um atOsseola Studios.
And he is a great producer,sound engineer.
Uh, he's worked with majorartists like Hootie and the
Blowfish from like back in theday, like um so many others that

(11:12):
I can't even like name them all,honestly.
But he is also the type thatlets you drive.
Um a really great thing to findif you can, um, because it
allows you to kind of have yourown creative input.
But then also he has ideas thathe offers that once he kind of
gets a grasp for your vision,he's kind of like, hey, you know

(11:33):
what?
I hear a little bit of likethis, maybe and this little
special here that might justmake it pop a little bit more.
Um so like circling around, likewhat's next?
That little like cut action inthe bridge.

SPEAKER_00 (11:45):
That's that's what I was gonna ask.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (11:47):
That was uh that was a Dick Hodgin idea, a producer
idea that was just definitelyneeded.
And and he calls them specials,which I love because it is, you
know, you don't want to you putthat on every single thing in a
song, then it loses its magicand power.
So yeah, um, but yeah, so it'sfun working with him because he
has some really good ideas too.

SPEAKER_00 (12:08):
That makes so much sense, too, knowing that he's
worked with like Hootie and andis more of a 90s guy because
that's such a 90s move.
Like I assume he he did it withlike a like a toggle switch on
the guitar.

SPEAKER_02 (12:20):
No, um, I think that was like manually cutting, like
really yeah, like chopping itout.

SPEAKER_00 (12:26):
Yeah, that's impressive.
Yeah, that's time consuming.

SPEAKER_02 (12:30):
Yeah, and he's quick about it too.
Like, what was so weird is itwas he actually did that when I
was laying down my vocal, whichwe had like messed with like the
instrumentation.
So he's like, Hey, I know youjust like did the bridge, but
like hold up, I got like anidea, and so he's like over
there, like surgically working,and he does it in like 20
seconds.
He's like, Okay, all right, nowsing it.

(12:50):
And I'm like, Whoa, what isgoing on in my headphones right
now?

SPEAKER_00 (12:54):
Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.
Yeah, as soon as I heard that, Iwas like, I love this song.
I was like, I'm I'm such a 90skid, so immediately I was like,
Pearl GM audio slave.
This is like right where I wantto be.
Um so working with your husbandthat closely as somebody who
produces a show with his wife.

(13:15):
Tell me how that is working outfor you.

SPEAKER_02 (13:19):
Honestly, um, like he's my soulmate.
Like this, it doesn't feel likework.
It really doesn't.
Like, we do this because I'vebeen doing music since now, you
know, like literally before Iwas out the womb.
Um, and like he was the samewith drums.
Like there are videos, like babyvideos that his parents like

(13:40):
bought him these like littletiny Mickey Mouse kits, you
know, and he's just likestanding, not even like on a
throne, just like standing, likehitting the symbol, you know,
like hitting the snare at this.
And um, so yeah, it's it'sdefinitely like Kiss Mitt that
we work together and like welove what we do when we pour our
heart and soul into likeeverything with the project.
So um, for me it's a treatbecause it's just like not

(14:02):
everybody gets to have like ahobby with the person for sure,
you know.

SPEAKER_00 (14:06):
Yeah, oh yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, it's exciting.
How long have you guys beenmarried?

SPEAKER_02 (14:11):
We just celebrated our five-year wedding
anniversary.

SPEAKER_00 (14:14):
Oh, congratulations!

SPEAKER_01 (14:16):
Thank you.
Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (14:18):
I believe is this my fourth Taylor?

SPEAKER_03 (14:23):
Yeah, yeah.
This I also feel like you shouldknow that information.

SPEAKER_00 (14:27):
Well, you know.

SPEAKER_03 (14:29):
I just not here.
Um like I feel like maybe weshould stop asking me for the
important dates in your life,and you should know that.

SPEAKER_00 (14:39):
You know, you know how it is.
You're supposed to know like mymy birthday, wedding
anniversary, mom's birthday,Lindsay's birthday, Lindsay's
birthday, Adam's birthday.

SPEAKER_03 (14:49):
Yeah, Adam's son.
I do have a very important job.
I have to text him and remindhim to tell people.
Um, yeah, I think the 22nd,isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 (14:59):
No, the 23rd.
I know the day.
I know the day, October 23rd.

SPEAKER_03 (15:03):
Yes, it's four years.

SPEAKER_00 (15:05):
Yes, yeah.
Awesome.

SPEAKER_03 (15:06):
So congratulations.
That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 (15:08):
Thank you, thank you.
Um let's talk about the new EPreal quick.
Yeah, so what do you think islike the standout song?
Because I think I have adiffering opinion.

SPEAKER_02 (15:22):
Okay, well, the stand, so this is that's hard to
say, just because they are allthree very purposefully
different.
So being that they are on an EPall together, um, I feel like
they are all kind of standalonesin their own vein, but

(15:44):
collectively, it's so difficult.
Like I always crutch to state ofpreservation just because it's
very like in your face, again,you're out there, very catchy
chorus, you know, it's got astrong hook.
Um, but on the other hand, fromlike the commercialization and

(16:06):
this like cinematic feel, Ireally feel like here with you
is the strong song on the on theEP.
So I don't know, and I'm biased.
I wrote them all, you know, it'sit's tough.
They're all my little babies,yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (16:21):
So I I was thinking you were gonna go with
preservation, and my opinion wasgonna be here with you.
I think that song is incrediblywritten.
Wow, thank you.
It's so reminiscent of umironic.
Um yeah, as soon as it's as soonas it started, it was it was
like a mixture between ironic,Taylor.

(16:42):
You I know Taylor hasn't heardthe song yet.

SPEAKER_03 (16:45):
Um why are you calling me out like that?
That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 (16:47):
Well, anyway, well, because well, and it's not her
fault, it's not her fault.
She didn't know that we wereeven doing this show until
today.
That's on me.
That's on me.

SPEAKER_02 (16:57):
No, never.
Oh my gosh, are you kidding?
This is a blast.
I'm excited.

SPEAKER_00 (17:01):
Yeah, that's that's completely my fault.
Um, it's been a busy week, so Ididn't communicate very well.

SPEAKER_02 (17:07):
That's okay.
That's okay.
We're all here now.
Yeah, yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 (17:11):
But that song, Taylor, I think you would love
it because it also reminds me ofBreakfast at Tiffany's.

SPEAKER_02 (17:18):
Oh my god, I never got together.
But yes, I totally get it.
As soon as it starts.

SPEAKER_00 (17:25):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (17:26):
Oh, that's one of my favorite songs.
That is the prize.
Like, thank you, and thank youfor like bringing that to the
table.
Like, yeah, I can't wait to gotell that to the band and be
like, they're gonna be like,yeah, actually.

SPEAKER_03 (17:39):
Like, I'm honestly so excited to listen because
we've had a lot of guests on,but I've never heard Harley be
so genuine about being oh, canwe put that out?

SPEAKER_00 (17:51):
Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (17:52):
Okay, okay, but like so, like so genuine about loving
the music that I'm excited to golisten to things.

SPEAKER_02 (18:00):
Well, you'll have to tell me, you have to message me
on social media.

SPEAKER_00 (18:02):
Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 (18:04):
What you think about it 100%.

SPEAKER_00 (18:06):
It it's incredible.
And and I love um, likeobviously, uh the the three
songs in question are all lovesongs from different
perspectives, right?
It's um love yourself is righton the nose.
Right.
Um, I feel like uh Here With Youis kind of kind of on the nose
as well.
That's love yourself, love yourpartner.
Yep, and preservation is lovingyour surroundings.

(18:29):
Is that pretty close to yeah?

SPEAKER_02 (18:31):
Like I consider state of preservation like
self-love.
Like you're creating a happyplace and you are totally
unapologetic about that.
So it, you know, it's not likefear of missing out, you know,
you're like you're totally happywith the fact that I could be
like watching TV for like eighthours on a weekend, and all my

(18:52):
friends are outside and they'relike texting me, come out, and
I'm like, I'm not going to, andI'm like totally okay with that.

SPEAKER_00 (18:58):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (18:59):
Like I love that.

SPEAKER_00 (19:00):
And even though, even though here with you, I
would, I guess, consider it aballad, um, it's really
teetering a line.
It's not really, I mean, it'sit's it is, but it's not right.

SPEAKER_02 (19:12):
It's kind of yeah, it does kind of do this like
dance because it's likemid-tempo-ish, but it's kind of
like soft in a way that kind ofmakes it feel like it's a
ballad.
So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (19:22):
But the lyrics in that song are awesome.
I think the opening line is likeit starts with one chord, leans
into another.
Yep.
Let's walk through some of thewording that you choose.
Like, you are very talented uhas a writer, and and your word
choice is interesting.

SPEAKER_01 (19:39):
Thank you.
Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (19:40):
So, how do you how do you craft like the um what's
the word I'm looking for?
Uh, metaphors and similes thatyou choose uh specifically in
that song.

SPEAKER_02 (19:51):
So I have been a songwriter now for goodness a
long time.
And there is always somethingabout it that I can never really
put my finger on.
And like Hear With You is one ofthose songs where I was
completely alone, like in mylittle, we have like a little

(20:12):
silent rehearsal studio space,and so I was completely alone in
there.
I had my my headphones on, I hadmy guitar, I had a microphone,
so I could hear everything.
And the the song started with achord progression.
And depending on like my mood,it's always a mood.
It it is.
It's like I I start playing theguitar and then like something

(20:32):
just kind of like it hits me,and I'm like, it'll just start
flowing.
And not every song, like notevery time I write a song is
like that.
There, there's certain timeswhere I'm like, okay, it's been
a little while since I'vewritten a song.
Let's just get on the horse, seewhat happens.
A lot of times those sessionsare not very successful because

(20:53):
I'm just trying to pushsomething that's not necessarily
there, but it's kind ofstimulating those senses where,
like, maybe in a week or two,something that really is genuine
comes because I've already kindof been playing with that part
of the mind, you know.
But but for Here With You, I wasjust really like happy and

(21:14):
content, and the chords, theit's just a D major chord into a
C.
It was just really like speakingto me.
It was really, really vibingwith it with my energy that day.
And um I wrote that whole songin probably 20 minutes.
It's just like once I once youlike start going with it and

(21:37):
you're in that mindset andyou're feeling these things, I
don't even notice that I'm likedoing like a metaphor.

SPEAKER_00 (21:43):
Right.

SPEAKER_02 (21:45):
Like what you're saying.
Like I I'm just writing what Ifeel is speaking to me, like in
that in that very presentmoment.
Um, and I I do feel now doingthis for so long, I do feel like
those are when I write my bestsongs, is when I'm in that
special, it's like lightning ina bottle, but I have no idea how

(22:06):
to create the lightning.
It's just it has to strike atthe right time that I'm there
presently, waiting for it.
Um, and Here With You isdefinitely one of those
experiences.

SPEAKER_00 (22:15):
How do you how do you go um from writing um hold
on, I want to get the name righthere.
How do you go from writingsomething along the lines of uh
yeah, that's what I thought.
Um, along the lines of hatedfrom your last album to three
songs that are almost polaropposites, but like I I'm a

(22:43):
songwriter as well, and I findmyself unable to write from a
happy perspective.
Um, everything I write alwayscomes out dark.
Um so how do you how do you gofrom what is quite literally a
much darker series of music to amuch happier state of mind?

SPEAKER_02 (23:03):
Um, you and I are very similar in that regard.
I will tell you that.
Um, I have pretty much alwaysdanced in that darker music vein
until this EP.
Um I do think that kind of likeembracing my darkness a little
bit on this EP comes out andlove yourself.

(23:23):
Um, because it's kind of gotthat, it's like it's telling
somebody to love themselves, butit's almost like you're telling
them in a way where you're veryangry that you even have to tell
them that.
You're like, why are we havingthis conversation right now?
Like you should know better fromeverything we've been through.

(23:43):
You should know that first andforemost, you need to love
yourself before you can love me.
Um, so I very much empathizewith you when you say the dark
writing is kind of where youthat that is where I like to go
and veer um in my normalwriting.
Um, and it really wasn'thonestly, it was it was Jim.

(24:07):
I mean, he was truly a proponentbecause I told him that.
I was like, you know, I'm how amI how am I gonna like evolve as
like an artist out of thismindset when because I'm afraid
that I'm gonna write dark stuff,but it won't be genuinely dark
anymore because I'm not reallyin that same headspace.
So it's almost like writing thedark music out of a

(24:30):
comfortability and not fromactually what I'm experiencing
now.
And of course, his answer isalways the same thing to me.
It's always time, just give itsome time.
And eventually those emotionsend up becoming the forefront,
whereas maybe we're in somepretty significantly bad
situations that made thosedarker emotions and darker

(24:51):
feelings more of the prominentinner focus.
And that's why the writing wouldalways kind of lean there.
So uh I think that just youknow, with time and and now with
this EP, it just kind of showsthat inner shift that I've made
as an artist to be able to belike, you know what, I can write
in a positive way and and itstill be like authentically me.

(25:14):
Because that's part two with ahappy song.
You don't want it to be like,you know, cheesy, you know, like
like yeah, you know, it seemslike oh, she wrote a love song,
you know.
It it needs to be like it needsto take you there, just like a
dark song takes you there.
The happy song needs to take youthere too.
And um, I just chalk that up tothe emotional place that you're

(25:35):
in at the time when you writeit.

SPEAKER_00 (25:37):
Interesting.
Um, Taylor, do you have anyquestions you want to get to
before I move on?

SPEAKER_03 (25:44):
So I did, and then I got too engrossed in everything
that you guys are saying, and Iforgot my question.

SPEAKER_00 (25:51):
No worries, no worries.

SPEAKER_03 (25:53):
I'm sure it'll pop up.
So if I randomly am like, hey, Ineed this.
Time out, time out.
Um, I did, I did have one.

SPEAKER_00 (26:04):
Let's dive a little bit into the history.
So I know we briefly touched onit in the beginning, but you've
been doing a music for a longtime.
Um, your first album, I believe,was released in like 2018, 2019.

SPEAKER_02 (26:19):
Uh from within, yes.
So before that, I did manylittle album EPs that I kind of
like took offline.
Um, there's probably some tracesout there of certain things, but
uh none of those I call themlike versions of my artistry

(26:40):
weren't really, it was stilllike flicking ideas.
It wasn't like me.
So um, yes, so we we I mean, Iconsider the album we released
last year to be like my firstreal album.
Um, but I mean, when I I mean Iput my first real album out when

(27:01):
I was like 17.
Like so yeah, like I and thatwas a so that was actually
Lauren Nicole.
Like that was not a band, thatwas just me.
Um, I worked with a producer andI didn't meet a single person
who recorded the instrumentationon that album.
Um, he would just send the roughscratch track to people he had
in California or in London orwherever, and they would send

(27:24):
him the track back and he'd lineit up and then he'd call me in.
He'd be like, Hey, I got yoursong ready.
Come on over and do your vocal.
I'm like, oh, okay.
I'm like, who's on this?
He's like, don't worry about it.
I'm like, okay, all right.
So I had like a ghost band forlike my first album, and then
everything else after that, Ikind of like dallied in like

(27:45):
southern rock, and that wasdefinitely not me.
Like, I I was trying to likewrite music to help me get onto
like bigger like shows or likeyeah, festivals, you know what I
mean?
Like things like and it justwasn't accurate to me.
And so I I you know, I considerfrom within, I mean, we were

(28:05):
it's coming up on a year,October 12th.
It will be that we released it.
Um, yeah, I I consider that tobe like my first like real
album, and everything elsebefore was just kind of like
target practice in a weird way,like not to discredit like what
the musicians did and what wedid all together, but like in a
way for me, artistically, I feltlike it was like target

(28:27):
practice.

SPEAKER_00 (28:28):
Yeah, you know, absolutely.
Um, so it sounds like you had apretty supportive uh family as
far as your music goes.

SPEAKER_02 (28:37):
Yeah, yes.
My uh so I'm an only child andum I knew it.
Yeah, right.
Only child energy.
I'm glad I have a big sticker onmy fork.
Yeah, um, but yeah, so uh my myparents um had me a little older
in life.
So um my mom was almost 40 whenshe had me.

(28:59):
Um I was a child, yeah.
Um, she was told she wasprobably not gonna have kids,
and um then here I come.
And uh, but yes, they havealways been very instrumental in
just their support with me andand my my journey as an artist.
Um I mean, I don't think you'llhear too many stories of parents

(29:23):
taking their 11-year-old, who,mind you, was in private school,
on a Friday after they've done aweek of school to a smoky
karaoke bar.
And they're, you know, hey DJ,would would it be you know,
we're her parents, would it becool if you know she gets up
there and sings in front of allthese people, you know?

(29:44):
And he's just like, yeah, yeah,if you're staying, that's
totally fine.
So they're over here makingdeals with like a DJ for an
11-year-old to get up on stageand sing like a random Martina
McBride song, like, you know,like like because why not, you
know?
So I think it was like therethey wanted to see two things.
They wanted to see if I couldhandle it at a young age, being

(30:05):
in front of a crowd.
But they also wanted to see ifdo we have Rose colored glasses
on about this chick, or do wereally think that she can
actually sing?
So, you know, two birds with onestone.
But um, but yes, that was thebeginning of of their support,
you know, in my in my growththere with like stage

(30:25):
performance and things likethat.
So um, but yes, to this day,they are they come to most of my
shows, and they're always everytime I get in the car with them
if we're like going out todinner or something, I know that
they're gonna just immediatelyput on Spotify some of my stuff
or have the CD in their carplayer.
I'm like, here we go.

(30:48):
Oh so yeah, they're definitelymy biggest fans.

SPEAKER_00 (30:54):
With all of that being said, um what would you
say is like your inspiration?
Like what what's the what's thelike artist that you would say
you're inspired most by?

SPEAKER_02 (31:09):
So it changes of course with age.
Um absolutely I would say when Iwas a kid in my karaoke bar
days, um, I was very much aChristine Aguilera fan.
Um so I would get up there andjust start singing the voice
within and uh trying to take onall the divas of the time,
Whitney, Mariah, you know,trying to get up there.

(31:32):
It had to be like the biggestsong, like go big or go home
every Friday at this little bar.
Um, but but Christine Aguilera,I really appreciated not maybe
so much the music, but just thefact that she could really use
her voice as an instrument anddo all the runs and the range
and everything.

(31:52):
Um, but it wasn't until I gotolder that um I discovered
Tonight Alive.
Um, but Jenna McDougal is thelead singer, and she she is just
I I don't even know how to putinto words my respect that I

(32:14):
have for her vocal ability, buther her lyrical writing, and the
fact that she was able to makean incredible record with
Underworld with this pop punkelement and just such an
expansive vocal range, too, thatum is always just very
impressive.
And then she goes out and shedoes her solo gig called

(32:37):
Heaven's She.
And she base it's not really poppunk, it's more of like um, it's
got an alternative feel, butit's very original in the sense
that it's like it doesn't, it'sit's not confined to one
specific genre.
Um, and so that's that isdefinitely an inspiration for me

(32:58):
because I don't I don't want tokeep writing the same thing over
and over again.
I always want to try and writesomething different and be kind
of expansive and and push thelimits where I need to push them
and everything.
Um, and I I admire Jenna becauseI feel like she does that, and
she's done that with bothTonight Alive and then her solo
project, Haven's she?
So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (33:20):
Um, so we have two final questions for the
interview portion here.
We ask all of our guests.
Uh, my new favorite question isthis next one.
Um, what is an artist or band uhthat you feel would be like a
dream collaboration um thatwould fit your sound?

(33:41):
Maybe not somebody that youidolize per se, but like
somebody you think that if youwere to sit down and collaborate
with, you would put outsomething special.

SPEAKER_02 (33:51):
So um one artist that comes to mind um who is
another big inspiration for meis Meg Myers.

SPEAKER_00 (34:00):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (34:01):
I really love Meg Myers.
Um, I feel like she is veryauthentic and um she writes
music from that metaphor place,you know, that that I can tend
to do at times, but she's she'sgot this edginess and angstiness

(34:22):
with the way she delivers uh hervocal performances and choruses
that I feel really convey um thethe correct emotion for the
song.
And I I've always thought itwould be cool to like do like
this like dark indie acousticthing with her and like do some
cool harmonies or something.
Like that would be a and likeit, I I would I would settle for

(34:46):
like it us never necessarilyperforming the song, like just
like sitting barefoot,cross-legged on some living room
floor with guitars and just likemaking some like magic right
there, you know.
Yeah, yeah, but yeah, like thatwould that would be pretty
that'd be pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 (35:01):
I would so Taylor, I know you don't remember this,
but um Meg Myers did the coverof a song called Running Up the
Hill.

SPEAKER_03 (35:11):
Yes, yes, she did it.

SPEAKER_00 (35:14):
I thought that she was the original artist, and we
oh my god, yeah, and we had awhole thing on the show where I
tore down Kate Bush for herperformance on Stranger Things,
and everybody was obsessed withthat song from Stranger Things,
and I was like, Meg Myers didthis first.

(35:34):
I don't know why we're allobsessed with it.

SPEAKER_03 (35:37):
Yeah, had no idea it was a conversation, and then he
came back the next week andapologized.

SPEAKER_00 (35:43):
Yeah, so that did a great job.

SPEAKER_02 (35:46):
I mean, she she did, I mean, listening, was it
placebo that also did a yeah,yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (35:51):
Placebo also did a and she did a more placebo
style, and I loved that style,yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (35:58):
Yeah, because she's kind of that way in her music,
you know, with like rightlistening to songs like Desire
or my one of my favorite songsis Jealousy.
If you ever listen to Jealousyand it's jealous C, like S E.
Right.
Um it is just in the musicvideo.
Oh my gosh, it's so good.
Her acting in it, she does thislike weird, like snakey thing,

(36:20):
and I'm like, Oh, it's so darkand great.
I love it.
Like, oh my gosh, so good.

SPEAKER_00 (36:27):
Um, so yeah, that that's that was uh my Meg Myers
experience.
But this next question I'mactually really excited for as
well.
I don't normally enjoy askingthis question because we get the
same answer.

SPEAKER_02 (36:41):
Same answer.
I have all delivered not thesame answer.
Uh imagine.

SPEAKER_00 (36:45):
Well, you're one of the few artists that I know that
have been on the show recentlythat still do bridges.

SPEAKER_03 (36:52):
Yeah, and they're everyone, yeah.
Really?
Everyone's doing hooks.

SPEAKER_00 (36:58):
The question is we are called the hook and bridge
podcast for you are yes.
Um, I consider myself to be moreof like the hook of the show.
Taylor's more of the bridge ofthe show.

SPEAKER_02 (37:08):
I love this.

SPEAKER_00 (37:10):
So when you're producing music and writing
music, what is more important toyou as far as uh writing or
producing side, the hook or thebridge of a song?

SPEAKER_02 (37:21):
I I love this question.
I just have to say you need toask this to every person always.
Like this should be the staplemoment of the show.
Um so of course, a hook is veryimportant because that is the
catchy element of absolutely,you know, there's there's
importance.
But a bridge the bridge ismonumental in a song because it

(37:47):
is saying what the song is in away that has not been said yet.
And you've gone through two tothree verses to two chorses by
the time you get to that bridge.
That bridge has to summarize ina different way, and honestly,
in a way that should hit harderthan any other portion of the

(38:07):
song before you just sprinklethat hook right back on it.
So I think bridge is probablydepending on, of course, the
song, right?
Not every song needs a bridge,but the songs that need a
bridge, I think that that'swhere the real power is.
I love that answer.
That wasn't the answer somebodyelse did.

SPEAKER_00 (38:28):
No, well, so a lot of times we'll have artists on
and they just they don't dobridges really anymore.
A lot of people be like, Oh,it's obviously the hook.

SPEAKER_03 (38:37):
Yeah, the hook is the only important part to them.
Yeah, no, I'm very monumental.
Yeah, I love a bridge.

SPEAKER_00 (38:44):
I do the way I've always said it, and I've said it
several times on this show, isthat a bridge can take a song
from a great song to a legendarysong.
Yes, legendary song you've everheard has an incredible bridge.

SPEAKER_02 (38:58):
You got it.
Yep.

SPEAKER_00 (38:59):
Hotel California is always my main.

SPEAKER_03 (39:01):
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Classic.
Hi, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (39:06):
Um, so are we ready for this game?

SPEAKER_03 (39:08):
I'm so excited.
This is why I like to just showup because I don't know the
game, and it's a littlesurprise.
I don't know it either.
So we're both surprised.

SPEAKER_00 (39:18):
Well, you're gonna love this one because you are a
90s baby like me.
So are you familiar with a gamecalled Cards Against Humanity?

SPEAKER_02 (39:26):
Yes, but I never played.

SPEAKER_00 (39:28):
Okay, that's okay.
Yeah, so this this game thisgame is called Mixtape.
The reason I love doing thisgame with up-and-coming artists
is um it's a way for youraudience and my audience to get
to know your personality alittle more.
Um so basically, I'm gonna ask aprompt and you give an answer of

(39:49):
a title of a song.
So uh just for like a reallysimple one, just to get us
started here.
Like the best summer song.
What would you consider like thebest summer song?

SPEAKER_02 (40:03):
Man, I don't know why summertime sadness by Lana
Del Rey and that remix comes inmy head.
I don't know why, but like thatvibe, like when you're at the
beach and you're like, I justimagine everybody owns a core,
like a Corvette with aconvertible, and the top is

(40:23):
down, and everybody is vibing tothe same emotion when they hear
that song.
Um but man, uh 90s music, likeoh, what is the band?
I'm blanking on their name rightnow.
Um the song, the songironically, I think is called
Hook.

SPEAKER_00 (40:41):
Oh, yeah, blues traveler.

SPEAKER_02 (40:43):
Blues Traveler, like a whole blues traveler like
album is like a summer song.

SPEAKER_00 (40:49):
Like I'm I'm actually going to see them on
Sunday.

SPEAKER_02 (40:52):
Are you really?

SPEAKER_03 (40:53):
Yeah, aren't you supposed to be moving?

SPEAKER_00 (40:56):
Yeah, dude.
I do I do a lot of things.

SPEAKER_03 (40:59):
I would also I would like to point out that our mom
is literally on her way toVirginia to help him move.

SPEAKER_00 (41:06):
Yeah, she'll be here in like two hours.

SPEAKER_02 (41:09):
He's making plans.
You're like, I finished thepodcast, I was very productive
while you were driving.

SPEAKER_00 (41:14):
You know, well, you if you get a chance to see Blues
Traveler, you gotta go.

SPEAKER_02 (41:21):
My husband is a huge fan of them too.
So I'm like, you know, that weneed to make this happen.

SPEAKER_00 (41:24):
Like I actually originally, so our intro song is
uh ladies and gentlemen bysaliva, but my original plan was
hook, and I was going tore-record it, and the the hook
of the song was gonna be thehook and bridge podcast instead
of just the hook brings youback.

SPEAKER_02 (41:41):
I love that.

SPEAKER_00 (41:42):
I right it's a great idea.

SPEAKER_02 (41:45):
You know what?
Maybe since we're on the topicof summer, all of your summer
podcast interviews can just wecan change the intro.

SPEAKER_00 (41:52):
Oh, there we go.

SPEAKER_02 (41:53):
That would be so fun.
That would be cool.

SPEAKER_00 (41:56):
I the only reason I didn't do it was because it is
expensive.

SPEAKER_02 (42:00):
Yeah, yeah, that's fair.

SPEAKER_00 (42:03):
When we started looking into songs, um, Saliva
was surprisingly free.
Um that is surprising, yeah,yeah.
And and uh Hook by BluesTraveler was pricey.

SPEAKER_02 (42:15):
So I was about to say it was definitely not free,
definitely direction, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (42:21):
Um, all right.
Next one.
If you had one classic rock tolisten to while stranded on a
desert island, what would it be?

SPEAKER_02 (42:30):
Like a song or an album or just an artist?

SPEAKER_00 (42:32):
Um uh we'll go with an album.
You get an album because classicrock, an album's a far more
interesting answer.

SPEAKER_02 (42:40):
Yeah.
Oh my, I would say, oh man,everybody's gonna be like, Of
course she said that.
I've got to go with guns androses.
I like appetite for destruction,yes, because there's so much
like variety there.
Like, I just for some reasonwhen you said that, I was

(43:00):
thinking if album-wise, I gottado something that's got range,
and I just keep thinking of whenI listened to that album the
first time and I got topatience, and I was like, Yeah,
I'm sold, I am so sold on likethis whole vibe.
So, yeah, that's what I wouldsay.
Good answer.

SPEAKER_00 (43:17):
I could definitely pick a song, but if you said an
album, like I couldn't evenbegin to pick an album.
There are so many I mean thefirst one that pops in my head
obviously is uh uh Pink Floyd'sDark Side of the Moon.
I love that album.
But again, if I'm on a desertisland, do I really want to
listen to Pink Floyd every day?

SPEAKER_02 (43:36):
Like, like some days, like you might wake up and
it's like welcome to the jungle.
I'm on this island, oh yeah, andthen like there could be days
where you're soaking up the sunand it's like, all right, this
is you know, happy.
Like maybe I'm feeling sweetshot of mine.
Like, I don't know.
Right.

SPEAKER_03 (43:54):
Variety with your mood on that album.
Yeah, no, that's such a goodanswer.

SPEAKER_00 (44:00):
Um, best song to listen to while driving a
monster truck in a monster truckrally.
I saw this crop card andimmediately thought of my
answer.
Um but I don't want I don't wantto I don't want to stay before
hers because I don't I don'twant to take it in case it's I
got it, I got it.

SPEAKER_01 (44:21):
I'm gonna go with Hail to the King by Aveng
Sevenfold.

SPEAKER_00 (44:25):
Oh, what a great answer! Um can you believe in
four years I have interviewedprobably 75 plus people, and in
four years, you're the firstperson to ever bring up the word
Avenged Sevenfold on this show.

SPEAKER_02 (44:38):
Come on, isn't that crazy?
You're so right.

SPEAKER_00 (44:41):
I know I love Avenged Sevenfold.

SPEAKER_02 (44:44):
I feel like I now have to go buy a monster truck.
Like now we have thisdiscussion, like it has to
happen.

SPEAKER_00 (44:53):
It's crazy too because we've interviewed bands
like The Used and Drowning Pool.

SPEAKER_02 (44:58):
Yeah, how cool.
That's I love the used.
We actually we just went to themountains and we literally were
spinning.
Um, was it heartwork?
Like the whole yeah, yeah, yeah.
My god, I love his voice too.

SPEAKER_00 (45:11):
Like birds absolutely, um, but you would
think that one of them wouldbring up event centres.

SPEAKER_02 (45:16):
Yeah, yeah, that's crazy.
They're so right.
Let's go get some monstertrucks, y'all.
Let's jump.

SPEAKER_00 (45:24):
My answer, my answer is uh Dragula by Rob Zombie.
Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (45:31):
Yes, oh, love it.
Yeah, love that song.

SPEAKER_00 (45:35):
Um, best song for a snow day at school.
So back back when you were inschool.

SPEAKER_02 (45:44):
Okay, all right.
Oh, it's because I watched SnowDay, so it has to be There She
Goes by Sixpence.

SPEAKER_00 (45:51):
Oh, yeah.
I love that movie.
I haven't seen that movie in solong.

SPEAKER_02 (45:56):
When I think of Snow Day, I'm like, yeah, it's
definitely Sixpence, like it hasto be like Snow Day was the one
with uh where they make thesnowballs, right?

SPEAKER_00 (46:04):
They have like the fort and they have the
snowballs, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (46:07):
And like all I all I remember because I was like a
hopeless romantic, oh but like Ijust remember him like shoveling
out the little whale that was onher like uh bracelet, you know,
and yeah, I'm like, I thinkthat's like when when she like
left, leaves or whatever, andhe's like, there she goes, you
know, it's like like sixpence islike such a depressing moment

(46:28):
for that movie, and of course,me, the dark person, would be
like, that's a great snow.
That's a great snowday song forgetting the feels, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (46:36):
Totally great.
That's funny.

SPEAKER_00 (46:38):
Oh, here's an interesting one.
Best song for a woman's rightsmarch.

SPEAKER_02 (46:44):
Oh, ooh, that's tough.
We need like a real like strong,like like feminist song.

SPEAKER_03 (46:53):
Yeah, I was gonna say like roar by carry.

SPEAKER_02 (46:56):
Oh, I mean, I mean, I mean, you're gonna hear them
roar.

SPEAKER_03 (47:05):
Like they're I was gonna say woman by cash up, but
oh, okay, all right.
Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (47:11):
I was thinking hailstorm, anything by
hailstorm.

SPEAKER_02 (47:15):
Oh, I am the fire, yes.

SPEAKER_00 (47:17):
Oh, there you go.

SPEAKER_02 (47:19):
Yeah, that would be great.
Very helpful.

SPEAKER_00 (47:22):
Oh, I love I love hailstorm.

SPEAKER_02 (47:24):
Me too.

SPEAKER_00 (47:25):
Um if you had one country song to listen to while
on a desert island, oh you getyou get one.
We'll stick with song.

SPEAKER_03 (47:40):
Uh um deserted.

SPEAKER_00 (47:43):
Deserted.

SPEAKER_03 (47:44):
Okay.

SPEAKER_02 (47:45):
Yeah, that because it changes the song.
Um, what hurts the most byRascal Flats?

SPEAKER_00 (47:52):
Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_02 (47:54):
Because I mean, I'm in pain.
I'm on this island.
I'm like, I'm just gonna bedepressed and listen to his
voice the whole day on thisrepeat of this one song.

SPEAKER_00 (48:03):
Life is a highway, also.
The Rascal Flat is.

SPEAKER_02 (48:06):
That's gonna be a happier version.
Yes, but I'm dark, I'm messedup.

SPEAKER_00 (48:10):
That's just the movie cars on repeat.

SPEAKER_02 (48:13):
Yeah, I just like the first line of that song.
I can take the rain on the roofof this empty house.
There's no house, I'm on adesert island.
I'm already like, yeah, reallyyou're just taking the rain.
A house with a roof.

SPEAKER_00 (48:27):
Every time I hear that song, I just think of the
music video and how crazy themusic video was.

SPEAKER_02 (48:33):
I don't even remember it.
What is it?

SPEAKER_00 (48:35):
It's like it's like um it's it's about like
somebody's boyfriend dying in acar crash.

SPEAKER_02 (48:43):
I suddenly regret mentioning the song.

SPEAKER_00 (48:46):
It was crazy, it but it but it didn't have anything
to do with the song or thepremise of the song.
It was like, why why are weshowing like this tragic car
crash?

SPEAKER_02 (48:58):
You know, this is sounding very familiar now.
Does is it like like the bandshots?
Aren't they like performing inthe rain?

SPEAKER_00 (49:05):
Yes, yeah, yeah.
And then she's like in the houseand she's like staring at the
photograph, and like he gets inthis horrible car accident, and
it has nothing to do with thesong.

SPEAKER_02 (49:16):
That is wild.
That's uh yeah, the 2000s, dude.

SPEAKER_00 (49:22):
The 2000s, like CMT in the 2000s was wild.
It really legit was like we wereobsessed in the 2000s with Jack
Ingram's version of lips of lipson a uh lips of an angel.
Yeah, oh yeah, and it was just asong about cheating on your
wife, like full on like listento it today, actually.

SPEAKER_02 (49:41):
Yes, it's bad.
No, and then what about um whatwas the other one that Hinder
did?

SPEAKER_00 (49:46):
Um uh get stoned, better than me.

SPEAKER_02 (49:49):
Oh, better than me, yeah, about him with the chick
in the dressing room and stuff,yeah, yeah, yeah.
What you guys are like writingin this very very specific vein,
yes, like you know, expand yourrange just a little bit, very
niche population for very niche,yes.

SPEAKER_03 (50:06):
Yeah, well, some would argue maybe not that
niche.
That's fair.

SPEAKER_00 (50:13):
I wonder if he was married when that album came
out.
You know what I mean?
Like, if I was that wife, I'd belike, hey, we gotta we gotta
talk.

SPEAKER_02 (50:21):
It probably didn't pass very long after that.

SPEAKER_00 (50:23):
Like, yeah, that's a hell of a way to find out,
though.
Yeah, crazy.

SPEAKER_03 (50:30):
That is true, unless like I think she was just
oblivious.
She listened to the album, she'slike, ah, it's great.

SPEAKER_00 (50:39):
So, first song you knew that you would get in
trouble for listening to.

SPEAKER_02 (50:45):
So that's a difficult that's that's
difficult because my mother andmy father were very open with
what I could listen to.

SPEAKER_00 (50:55):
Really?
See, I was thinking with olderparents they would be much more
reserved.

SPEAKER_02 (51:00):
Yeah, they they so my my mom is a very creative
type.
So, like when I say creative,like she comes from background
of figure skating.
Like, she was a figure skater.
She that's awesome, yeah.
And so she would actually um mycousin was uh a national

(51:24):
medalist, and he did tours inEurope with like uh different
skating associations and teamsand stuff.
And she when he was younger andshe would bring him up, he would
do she would do his likechoreography for his skating
programs, and she'd like designhis like outfits and stuff.
So she has like a very likestrong appreciation for like the

(51:47):
arts, and like I feel like shesees through stuff, like and my
mom heard like a really dirtysong.
It was like the same answeralways.
It was like, well, they'relaughing to the bank.
Like she'd always say that everysingle one, she's like, they're
laughing to the bank.
I'm like, you don't really and Iwould I would question her.
I'm like, don't you think thatlike this isn't like great, like

(52:08):
of an image for them?
And she's just like, Nah,they're laughing to the bank.
Fine.
I'm like, all right, all right.
And like, so like for me, and Ithink like me and her are very
close.
And so, like, she knew who Iwas, and I was very like
grounded as a person, likemorally and everything.
So she's like, you know, listenaway, yeah, what you pick,
you're a sponge, you know, justallow your creative juices to

(52:32):
flow, kind of deal.
Um, so I I mean, I was listeningto Christine Aguilar's stripped
album, which I mean's like yeah,us down, and like I mean, she's
got some like Spanish songs inthere that are a little bit
spicy, like on the heavy spiceside, if you know what I'm

(52:53):
saying.
And I'm like, you know, overhere just like belting them out
in the car, just like vibingout.
She's just like, that's good.
Your your range is reallyimproving on that one.

SPEAKER_00 (53:05):
So now this isn't one of the prompts, but now I
have to ask.
Like, we've all been teenagersbefore.
Yeah, your mom was far moreopen-minded than my mom.
So now there has to be a moment,a song that your mom listened to
that she was definitely far tooold to enjoy that had to have

(53:27):
embarrassed you.
There's gotta be one that you'rejust like, oh no, mom, you can't
be into Tupac right now.

SPEAKER_02 (53:33):
Like, I think honestly, for me, like in middle
school, oh god, it was my humpsby black eyed peas.
I'm like, that's great.
That's great.
Like, gosh, she's like, but it'skind of catchy.
I'm like, oh god, help me.
Like, oh my god.

(53:55):
Like, I hated that song becauseall of my middle school friends
were just like, Yeah, this islike a dirty way for us to like
say dirty things without beinglike, you know, really overly
provocative about it.
And I'm like, no, no, this isnot good.
And then my mom's like I playedthe song for my mom, and she's
just like over here, like doublebarreled laughing, laughing her

(54:15):
butt off.
And like, and then and then wehave the same experience with uh
beep by pussycat dolls.
Remember that gem over here?

SPEAKER_04 (54:23):
Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (54:27):
So I would say definitely those were like,
okay, all right.
Well, that happened.
That just happened.

SPEAKER_00 (54:33):
That's like when uh Taylor, you remember when mom
got obsessed with whistle by uhFlorida Georgia line and had no
idea legitimately thought it wasabout whistling.

SPEAKER_03 (54:46):
Do you remember that when we had to have that
conversation that thought whatit was about?
She was like, What do you mean?
And I was in high school.
I was like, there's no way thatI have to explain this to you
right now.
Obsessed with that song.

SPEAKER_00 (55:01):
Speaking of uh embarrassing high school
moments, what was the mostembarrassing thing for you that
I listened to when you were inhigh school when I would come
and pick you up from school?
Oh, was there ever a thing whereyou were like, I don't want to
walk to the car right now?

SPEAKER_03 (55:16):
Um I'm I'm gonna say something, and I don't want your
ego to get big, okay?
Oh, collectively we should takea deep breath.

SPEAKER_00 (55:24):
Yeah, yeah, no, totally.
My head won't get any bigger, Ipromise.

SPEAKER_03 (55:28):
I wanted to be you so bad because you were the
coolest person to me, so I wasnever embarrassed.
I was like, Yeah, blare it.
Like the sweetest thing ever.
Yeah, I would because he wouldpick me up in his little what
was it?
What car was it?

SPEAKER_00 (55:46):
Uh it was a uh 93 Firebird.

SPEAKER_03 (55:49):
Firebird.
It was a two-door, and it sat solow, and he would be blaring all
kinds of music.
Nirvana, um, Here Come theMummies.
What's the other one?

SPEAKER_00 (56:00):
Electric Six, Electric Six, Metallica, heck
yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (56:05):
And I just thought you were so cool, and I was
like, This is awesome.
That this is my ride home.
Like, that's sick.

SPEAKER_02 (56:12):
You're like just like walking away from your
friends, and you're like, That'smy brother.
That's my brother.

SPEAKER_03 (56:17):
That's yeah, that's I also didn't have friends, so
like take that as you will.
You know what I mean?
Girl, you and me are the sameplot, legit.

SPEAKER_02 (56:28):
Like, yeah, the the I feel like the original people,
you know what I mean?
Yeah, we just you know, wherethe bridges are okay, you know.
There was like a few years wherewe were just like, you know,
it's a little sad, and thenwe're like, you know what, I
wouldn't have it any other waythough.

SPEAKER_03 (56:41):
Yeah, I enjoy I am unap unapologetically myself,
and I love that, and I love thatbecause I'm the same way.

SPEAKER_00 (56:49):
So exactly this is this is this is a great show.
I'm having a really good time.

SPEAKER_04 (56:54):
I know this spot.

SPEAKER_00 (56:57):
All right, we have one more.
Oh, oh wait, no, we already didthat one.
Oh, we're out.
That's it.
That was it.
I'm so sorry.

SPEAKER_04 (57:05):
That's so sad.

SPEAKER_00 (57:09):
I almost asked you what your favorite summer song
was again.

SPEAKER_02 (57:11):
Oh, we already knew Blues Traveler I got it right
this time.

SPEAKER_00 (57:18):
Well, Lauren, thank you so much for coming by and
hanging out with us.

SPEAKER_02 (57:21):
Um for having me.
This has really been a lot offun.

SPEAKER_00 (57:24):
Now, are you doing any any touring?

SPEAKER_02 (57:27):
No, we're kind of staying local to uh Raleigh,
Raleigh, North Carolina rightnow.

SPEAKER_00 (57:32):
I mean, if we You're Raleigh local, say that again.

SPEAKER_02 (57:35):
You're from Raleigh, yeah, she's so close to you.

SPEAKER_00 (57:39):
Like four hours away.

SPEAKER_02 (57:40):
Oh, wait, where are you?

SPEAKER_00 (57:42):
Um, like Virginia Beach area.

SPEAKER_02 (57:44):
Oh my gosh, yeah.
Like this is like great.
Yeah, we're gonna go rallyneighbors.

SPEAKER_03 (57:50):
Like yeah, I feel like my my two friends are being
best friends together, and I'min a different state.

SPEAKER_00 (57:56):
That's yeah, Taylor's in Florida.

SPEAKER_03 (57:58):
I'm in Florida.
Oh, you need to come up, come upthis way.

SPEAKER_02 (58:01):
I agree, yeah.
It'll be good, it'll be good.
But uh, but no, and like if wedo any touring, it would I would
say, you know, we all kind ofhave like day jobs and you know,
routes and stuff.
So our our passions are reallyjust putting out music that we
feel and getting into studio andreleasing stuff when we can.

(58:23):
And we of course performlocally, but like if we were to
expand, I think it would be moreon like a regional level, like
maybe coming to your neck of thewoods at some.
Um, but but yeah, and sky's thelimit, you know.
I I can never, it's such adifficult question to ask
because I never know where thiscrazy musical path will take me.

(58:44):
But um, we are we're soopen-minded to uh to and you
know the opportunities that maypotentially arise.
So nothing is limits.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (58:53):
Well, the EP is called Preserve Love Here,
right?

SPEAKER_01 (58:57):
Yep.

SPEAKER_00 (58:58):
And I absolutely love it.
I love all of your guys' work.
I I truly I I love the EP, but Ido think from within is such a
phenomenal album.
Um, we I know we didn't divesuper deep into it because I
wanted to focus on the EP, butif if you're listening,
definitely go check that one outbecause I think front to back,
that album's awesome.
So thank you.

(59:18):
Um thanks for keeping rockalive, by the way.

SPEAKER_02 (59:21):
Yeah, you know, absolutely.
That's what I'm here for.
I will never not do that.

SPEAKER_00 (59:27):
All right.
Well, it has been an absoluteblast.
Thank you so much for joiningus, Lauren.

SPEAKER_02 (59:32):
Thank you both.
Take care.

SPEAKER_00 (59:34):
All right, we'll see ya.

SPEAKER_02 (59:35):
See ya.
Bye.

SPEAKER_00 (59:42):
All right, buddy.

SPEAKER_03 (59:43):
That was so much fun.
Uh are you kidding me?
Guys, I had such a good time.
Um, before we end the show, wehave one minute.
Can I share with the class whatyou sent to my house?

SPEAKER_00 (59:56):
Uh yes, please do.

SPEAKER_03 (59:58):
So, can I first of all Can we cover this in a
minute?
Because no, it's gonna be alittle longer.
It might be like 105.
Okay, listen.
So Dylan texted me while I wasat work.
He said, Hey, by the way, apackage came for you and then
told me what was in the package.
I said, I didn't order that.
He was like, girl, it has yourname on it.

(01:00:19):
I said, Okay, I didn't orderthat.
So that's what I was thinkingabout it.
And I said, I think Harley orLindsay ordered that for me.
So for everyone listening, Itexted in the group chat.
We have a group chat with thetwo of us, and I said, Did you
guys send something to my house?
And Lindsay said yes, and thenHarley told me to learn how to

(01:00:39):
read.
They sent the story of my lifeby sent this to my house and I
said, I will gladly read Ann'sbook.
Also, we all have beef, and Ican share this with the

(01:00:59):
internet.
I'm sharing it.
Harley had the audacity to callone of my best friends.

SPEAKER_00 (01:01:06):
Oh, we're talking about the Taylor Swift thing?

SPEAKER_03 (01:01:09):
Called and then tried to bring up Helen Keller.
To which Miss McKenna Whitesaid, no, sir.
From my understanding.

SPEAKER_00 (01:01:20):
That is not how it went.
That is not how it went.

SPEAKER_03 (01:01:23):
Because she called me after and said, you'll never
guess what your brother justasked me.
Because her and I were alsotalking about it right before
you called her.

SPEAKER_00 (01:01:32):
I swayed her opinion back to no rooted in facts.
I did.
I absolutely did.

SPEAKER_03 (01:01:39):
I think you're lying because she would never lie to
me.

SPEAKER_00 (01:01:42):
Hey, I'm telling you the fact.
The fact is, she's she said, Oh,I didn't know that about her.
And then I gave her the wholespiel about everything.

SPEAKER_03 (01:01:52):
I I also she was talking to one of her friends
about it and just for fun, likebrought it up and was like, Oh,
how do you feel?
And her friend literally turnedaround, she took a video, turned
around, and got so animatedabout this, and was so
passionately on my side that Iwas like, Oh, that's so funny.
Because also, I need everyonelistening.
I just think it's a funny thing,and I like to understand

(01:02:14):
people's opinions.
Do you know what I mean?
Like, it's just a fun thing.
Like, yeah.
Anywho, no, so I think that's sofunny.
I was gonna start askingcustomers today at work, but I
don't know if it's appropriate.

SPEAKER_00 (01:02:26):
I also I have started asking everyone I during
the live show, it was the firstthing that I talked about in our
live show.

SPEAKER_03 (01:02:37):
Also, can we please talk about how this book is only
145 pages?

SPEAKER_00 (01:02:42):
Only give her a break, she couldn't see she did
or here, and she didn't writeit.
Hey, those are some strong wordsthere, buddy.
I'm I can't, I want to hash thisout.
I really do.

SPEAKER_03 (01:02:56):
No, I basically can't.
I'm so hungry.
Yeah, I'm so hungry.
We can't.
It's not even a hash out, it'sjust a fun little thing.
It's not that deep.

SPEAKER_00 (01:03:05):
Yeah, no, but we gotta we gotta keep it going for
the audience.
They love it.

SPEAKER_03 (01:03:08):
Oh, you're right.
You know what?
I like how it wasn't real.

SPEAKER_00 (01:03:12):
This is the the the the the breaking point of the
show.

SPEAKER_03 (01:03:15):
We should ask Lauren.

SPEAKER_00 (01:03:17):
Can we oh should we start doing that as a third
question?

SPEAKER_03 (01:03:21):
Can I ask?
Yes, it's like it's like thatthat one episode of um what is
it?
Ah um in practical jokers whenSal's interviewing his niece,
and she was like, So why haven'tyou enlisted in the um army yet?
Do you not want to defend thecountry or something like that?
That's how I feel.

SPEAKER_00 (01:03:40):
Like you ask one question, I'm like, How do you
literally, literally, I askedeveryone at the live show, do
you believe in Helen Keller?

SPEAKER_03 (01:03:50):
That's not that's not the question, though.

SPEAKER_00 (01:03:53):
And then and then this one uh this one lady goes,
Wait, like as a person, she wasa real person.
And I was like, No, do you thinklike all the stuff she did was
real?
And she was like, Oh, yeah, no.

SPEAKER_03 (01:04:06):
Anywho, we should ask Lauren.
That's crazy.
We'll have her back on just forthat question.

SPEAKER_00 (01:04:13):
No, Lauren was great, that was a fantastic
interview.
I had a blast.

SPEAKER_03 (01:04:17):
I loved her energy.

SPEAKER_00 (01:04:18):
Yeah, she's my girl.

SPEAKER_03 (01:04:19):
And I'm excited to listen to her music.

SPEAKER_00 (01:04:21):
Dude, I hope you love it.
I think it's super good.

SPEAKER_03 (01:04:24):
I I'm like genuinely like really excited to go listen
to it.

SPEAKER_00 (01:04:27):
Hell yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (01:04:27):
Um, anywho, okay guys, hope you enjoyed today's
episode.
Uh, give it a big thumbs up,subscribe, and don't forget to
hit that bell notification so wecan be notified every time you
post.
Wait, hang on, so you can benotified every time we post a
video.

SPEAKER_00 (01:04:42):
And as always, check out the Instagram, check out the
YouTube, check out our website.
We've got a merch page, all ofthe good things.
The merch page will be activesoon.
It hasn't been active this wholetime.
Um, that's funny because I wasbuying and selling a house, so I
couldn't set up a PayPalaccount.
So now all of that will be donehere soon, and I'll be able to
set up the PayPal account, andthen people can start buying

(01:05:04):
merch.

SPEAKER_04 (01:05:04):
That's really fun.

SPEAKER_00 (01:05:06):
Yeah, but also the next time we do this, I'll be in
a new location.

SPEAKER_03 (01:05:12):
Ah, so exciting.
Oh, I love that.
I I I heard that your baby wasbaffled that everything was out
of your house.
That's that's he came in, he waslike, ah, he came in, and
Lindsay said he kept going, ahword there.

SPEAKER_00 (01:05:31):
Anywho, he's gotten so fun.

SPEAKER_03 (01:05:34):
Uh he was really fun when she called me his little
face.
I said hi buddy, he went.

SPEAKER_00 (01:05:42):
He also has started saying no, but like like going
like this, like understanding.
Like, if I'm like, hey, do youwant this?
He's like, no, not really, dude.

SPEAKER_04 (01:05:51):
Uh he said chicken.

SPEAKER_00 (01:05:53):
Yeah, he's he's his vocabulary is getting pretty
good.

SPEAKER_03 (01:05:57):
I I think that's because of me.
Not to brag, but I talked toyour baby nonstop for eight
months straight.
I mean, time he woke up until hewent to bed, I talked to that
baby.
Um, yeah, he went chicken, and Iwent, huh?
That's a two syllable.
Anywho, all right, let's get offhere so you can go eat dinner.

SPEAKER_00 (01:06:18):
All right, buddy.
Thanks for hanging out.
I'll see ya.

SPEAKER_03 (01:06:22):
Goodbye.

SPEAKER_00 (01:06:25):
Thanks for listening to the Hogan Bridge Podcast.