October 29, 2024 • 31 mins
In this episode of The Load Out, Ashanti Abdullah sits down with Lalin St. Juste, the lead vocalist of The Seshen. Lalin takes us through her musical journey, starting with busking at BART stations in Oakland to becoming a key voice in modern electronic soul music. They dive deep into her creative process, how she balances her individuality while collaborating with her band, and how her personal experiences shape her art. With discussions on self-discovery, vulnerability, and the emotional power of music, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the deeper layers of the artistic process.
Follow Lalin St Juste:
@lalin_music
Produced by: @probablyashanti for @Ternwheel
Mixed by: MMYYKK- @mmyykkvibes
Music by: MMYYKK - @mmyykkvibes
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ashanti (00:08):
Welcome to the loadout. I'm your host, Ashanti Abdulla.
In each week, we take you behindthe scenes of the live music
industry From touring tips andindustry insights to candid
conversations with artists,managers, and music
professionals, we uncover thestories and strategies that make
live performances unforgettable.Whether you're an artist, a tour
manager, or just a live musicenthusiast, this podcast is your
(00:32):
backstage pass to the world oftouring and live events. On
today's show, I'm really excitedto sit down with the incredibly
talented La'Lynne Saint Juste,the lead vocalist of the
session, and a solo artist inher own room.
Lalin's unique voice andcaptivating presence have helped
shape the sound of modern soloand electronic music. We'll be
(00:52):
talking about her journey, lifeon the road, and what inspires
her deeply personal approach tomusic. Let's get into it. Laline
Saint Juste. Did I say thatright?
Lalin St Juste (01:04):
Mhmm.
Ashanti (01:05):
I know everyone gets it wrong.
Lalin St Juste (01:06):
Good job. I'm surprised.
Ashanti (01:10):
I mean, I think I always knew you as La la,
though. Like, I never knew youas La la. That's Mhmm. Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (01:16):
Now you're gonna confuse even more people.
Ashanti (01:19):
I know. You're right. My bad. My bad. I'm so excited
to have you on.
How are you doing?
Lalin St Juste (01:26):
Yeah. I'm well. I'm well. I'm glad to be on.
Ashanti (01:28):
That's amazing. I'm, like, I'm glad you were so quick
to to respond and and wanna jumpon. You're one of my favorite
people. So I'm also excited toget a chance to talk to you.
Yeah.
But let's just jump into it. Howhow'd you get started doing
this? Doing this music stuff?
Lalin St Juste (01:44):
Music stuff. Wow. I mean, it started a long
time ago, and it started with mebusking on the street, like,
playing music on the street.
Ashanti (01:56):
I can't see it. Yeah. Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (02:00):
Just, you know, getting some dollar bills and
change.
Ashanti (02:04):
No, man.
Lalin St Juste (02:06):
You know, just to build my confidence to, like,
have a place that's no pressureto explore and strengthen my
voice. And and then I was, like,doing cafes and, you know, just
various things like that. Andthen eventually, I met people
who I would form a band with
Ashanti (02:26):
Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (02:27):
And it just took off from there.
Ashanti (02:30):
Got you. That's that that's wow. Were you were you
doing this in Oakland? Or
Lalin St Juste (02:34):
I yeah. Actually, I did busk at the
MacArthur BART station, AshbyBART station.
Ashanti (02:42):
That takes a lot of, like, metal right there.
Lalin St Juste (02:46):
Yeah. Yeah. It was a trip, and then you'd be
you would see people who areregularly doing it. You gotta
make sure you're not, like,taking anybody
Ashanti (02:54):
else's feet. Space. Yeah. That's hilarious. No fist
fights?
Lalin St Juste (03:01):
No. No. Okay. But I legit, I would work in the
morning and then, you know, getmy guitar and go in the
afternoon to spend, like, anhour or 2, playing music. So
Ashanti (03:13):
Wow. That's unbelievable. And then you and
then so then you ended up withthe band. That was, like, the
first foray, or did you doanything solo at first or was it
just straight into the back?
Lalin St Juste (03:23):
The solo stuff was the cafes and
Ashanti (03:26):
Gotcha.
Lalin St Juste (03:27):
But nothing serious. I had done, like, some
recordings, and I had beenwriting songs. But then when I
met Aki, we realized we had somuch in common and, you know, we
had been in a romanticrelationship and were working on
(03:49):
some of my solo songs, but theneventually that morphed into us
having this jam session andreconnecting with various people
from his previous life of likegrowing up and all this stuff.
And from that we formed thesession, which became, you know,
(04:10):
this beautiful project that isstill ongoing all these years
later.
Ashanti (04:15):
Yeah. Amazing. Your your your voice is, like, it's
incredibly unique. Like like,what inspired you? Like, why did
you why did you start?
You know what I mean?
Lalin St Juste (04:26):
I mean, it was things beyond me that made me
start to sing. Like, my firstmemory of singing was when my
grandma passed away.
Ashanti (04:35):
Oh, okay.
Lalin St Juste (04:35):
And she was my maternal grandmother, and we had
spent a lot of time together.And I was devastated. I was
grieving. And so I have my veryfirst memory of making music was
for her. And ever since thatmoment, I found that this was a
way that I could exist in theworld, you know, especially as
(04:58):
someone who's more on the quietside.
You know, I've been, you know,kind of on the shy side and, you
know, and also sheltered growingup, you know, Haitian, strict
Haitian upbringing. And that wasmy vehicle, my way of connecting
to the world and to myself, youknow, outside of spoken
(05:18):
language. You know? And so it'sjust always been with me.
Ashanti (05:23):
So that makes sense then of why, like because
there's no way if you've everbeen to a a La'Lynne show or a
session show that you would everthink that you, at any point,
were, shy in any way, shape, orform. But I so so I'm guessing
the busking really kinda got youout of the show.
Lalin St Juste (05:44):
Yeah. But I guess performance wise, you
know, I'd break out of it. Mhmm.
Ashanti (05:48):
Right. Definitely. Pretty crazy. Obviously,
collaborating is a is a big partof your work with the session.
How do you maintain, like, beingan individual while while you're
working within that collective?
Lalin St Juste (06:01):
That's a great question. I think, really
spending time with who I am asan artist and what my vision is,
what my voice is, understandingthat, you know, it's amazing to
collaborate and compromise. Andthen also what's your own unique
(06:23):
take or what's, what are thingsthat you yourself can bring to
the table and yeah, not allowingmyself to get lost. And I think
it's something that I've, I'vehad to develop over time.
Ashanti (06:39):
You know?
Lalin St Juste (06:40):
I think like, you know, and when I think back
to starting this band, you know,I think about just, you know,
being in my my twenties and,like, never starting a band
before and and really wantingto, like, do the right thing.
You know?
Ashanti (06:57):
Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (06:58):
And and so and as you're collaborating, it's
like, okay. Well, I'll just I'llgo with this idea because I
wanna, you know, do the rightthing. And and that's amazing.
And also over time, it's like,okay. Well, what do I also feel
Ashanti (07:13):
Right.
Lalin St Juste (07:13):
Would be good for this? And trusting that
that's okay and trusting thatit's a good idea, you know, and
standing up for idea and allthose things.
Ashanti (07:24):
Yeah. That kind of brings me into, like like, a
creative process. Like, yourlyrics, they often touch on
things of self discovery,vulnerability, social justice.
Like, how do you approachsongwriting?
Lalin St Juste (07:39):
A couple of different ways. I have the
channeling way where if I hear apiece of music or I'm either
maybe it's something someone hasproduced or I've made, I allow
improvisation to tell me where Iwant to go. You know, like what
(08:02):
is in my subconscious that comesout when I improvise? And maybe
that gives me a clue about whatthis song could be about.
Ashanti (08:13):
Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (08:14):
But then sometimes that's not really
clicking, and other times I needto come from it from sitting and
writing different things out,you know, and, like, listening
to the music and writing andjust seeing what comes from that
way. You know? Sometimes it'sthe melody that comes to me, and
(08:38):
it's a a dope melody, but Idon't have any words to it. And
so it's gibberish. And then inthat gibberish, I find what the
song might be about.
You know? And, but, yeah, thatthat also in terms of, like,
creating music, I think justplaying is is the central theme.
(09:01):
It's just Right. Whether it's,like, playing on the instrument
and just seeing what comes orplaying melodically or playing
lyrically.
Ashanti (09:09):
Yeah. I I mean, I get so jealous of you and artists
like yourself. I I mean, it it'sfunny when you don't have that
kind of talent in your body. Notone bone of I can't even draw a
straight line. But but, like,being able to write, that's just
unbelievable to me.
You know what I mean?Unbelievable. Mhmm. Moving into,
like, touring, overall, justkinda touring. I know it's
(09:35):
excite it can be exciting butexhausting.
You've been you've been touringquite some time. Like, how do
you mentally and physicallyprepare for it?
Lalin St Juste (09:44):
Yeah. I I mean, it's something I would
definitely still wanna dial inthe more I get to do, but I
think it can have, a toll onyour body, on, you know, just
like your sleep cycle and thingslike that. And so I think for me
(10:06):
and this just goes aroundperformance in general, ideally,
that I'm, like, conditioningmyself to
Ashanti (10:13):
Right.
Lalin St Juste (10:13):
Be ready to withstand, especially now as I
get older. I think that's evenmore important, you know, like
long car rides, you know, andmaking sure you have the tools
to for your stretching and, haveyour journal to, like
Ashanti (10:30):
Chains for tires just in case, you gotta go
Lalin St Juste (10:33):
to the bathroom. Exactly. There's so many things
I dislike.
Ashanti (10:44):
That was so fun. Full disclosure. I went on, one date
with, you guys to Boise, and,that was really funny. As we're
driving along, Lalaine had beenquiet pretty much the entire
time. So I thought you wereasleep, but you so weren't.
You still were just awake. Justlisten to everybody be idiots.
That was awesome.
Lalin St Juste (11:07):
Right. Yeah. A whole lot of that.
Ashanti (11:09):
A whole lot of it. Your favorite place? Where's your
favorite? Like, what's the placethat left a lasting impression
on you on the on touring?
Lalin St Juste (11:18):
Oh, wow. You know, I'm gonna say the first
time I played in London, and it,you know, it was a really good
turnout. And, you know, it wasmy first time being overseas to
play my music, and people someof the people knew the words,
(11:41):
and it just felt so it has asentimental feeling because
Ashanti (11:47):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (11:48):
I was so far away from home, and people were
resonating with this music, andI was able to connect with some
black women there at the showtoo who were fans. You know? So,
yeah, that was really sweet.
Ashanti (12:02):
I was just yeah. That's actually you know, touring, it
requires a lot of connectionwith fans. I'm curious how you
balance maintaining that, likethose connections while also
protecting you. Like, you gottaprotect your energy and your own
well-being.
Lalin St Juste (12:15):
Yeah. It's true. I mean, people want to, like,
hug you and touch you. You know?They wanna be close to you.
This is true. And I do I havegenerally been pretty open. I'm
really grateful that for themost part, it's been really
(12:38):
chill, you know. And but I do,you know, have certain
boundaries, and and I readenergy, and, you know, I'm
cautious around certain people.
Ashanti (12:55):
Yeah. Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (12:57):
You know?
Ashanti (12:58):
Oh, they're out there. You know, they're out there.
Lalin St Juste (13:01):
Yeah. Yeah. And and I've that's something I've
had to tap into later in myjourney, and I'm still
developing also. Because I thinkin the beginning, I was just
like, okay. You can have me.
You know? But but, you know, nowit's like, oh, wait. No. I get
to also keep keep keep myself.Yes.
(13:22):
Yes.
Ashanti (13:23):
Yep. A 1000%. Mhmm. You're be like, it's kind of
outside of music. I know you'reyou're definitely into, like,
the social aspect of life,obviously.
And, it can be a reflection ofof, you know, life at times, the
music side of things. How do yousee like, how's your work fit
into the larger cultural andsocial landscape?
Lalin St Juste (13:43):
My I'll start
Ashanti (13:45):
with the moment. Yeah. Well, though your how does your
music fit into it? Like,specifically in this moment?
Lalin St Juste (13:51):
Oh, yeah. I mean, I just did a performance
where I didn't do any of mysongs. Wow. I didn't do any of
my songs. I just I given themoment of everything, I just
(14:14):
created a space to feel andexpress.
Ashanti (14:18):
And I
Lalin St Juste (14:19):
mean, it was still music and but like know, I
sang my Haitian Vodou songs,which is what I normally include
these days. But then I also likeread poetry. Marcellus Williams,
had just been executed. So Iread his words and brought him
(14:41):
into the space. And so using themusic to address the moment, you
know, to, and so many peoplecame up and were like, thank
you.
I've had a really busy week. Ihaven't had time to sit and
process everything. Yeah. Youknow, all of that. There were
(15:02):
tears.
Yeah. And it just like and it'sthe first time I actually did
something like that where I waslike, okay, I'm not doing any of
my, my songs,
Ashanti (15:13):
you know?
Lalin St Juste (15:13):
And, and for me, it just, it's what I felt also
that I had to do. And so, yeah,I'm always responding to what is
felt energetically or or what'shappening socially, you know, in
my in my landscape. You know?
Ashanti (15:32):
Yeah. I mean, I'm I totally agree with that. I think
it's a very much a part of,like, my day to day. You know,
I'm like a unbelievable ad avidreader and and stupidly keep up
with every detail of the news ofthe world. And so I don't I mean
and then I wonder why, like, Ican't sleep or, like, my brain
doesn't work right all the time.
(15:53):
It's like, you know, I'mlistening to all this dumb
stuff. So yeah. No. I totallyget it. And it it it affects it
definitely affects work.
I know for sure. I think the thething that happened at home for
me in Minneapolis affected meprobably the deepest to the
point where I was, like, kindaover it for a while, like, kinda
over everything. Yeah. That waswild. And I think just mainly
(16:16):
because my daughter, you know,is, like, blocks away from,
like, where they you know, whereall this was happening and
things were burning down.
Lalin St Juste (16:23):
Yeah.
Ashanti (16:24):
And just knowing that my parents, my family are at
home and I wasn't there, it waspretty wild. It's like a wild
thing to kinda, kinda come toterms with. But, the city has
now. It's well, they're stilltrying to anyway. I was just
there, for a week, and it's beenreally interesting watching, the
city both be sorry for howracist they are, but at the same
(16:46):
time, kind of ignore it too.
I don't know. It's just likeWhat? Like, what? Right. It's
pretty wild, man.
You've you've performed in a lotof diverse spaces, like intimate
stuff and then larger festivals.Like, what which one do you
prefer usually?
Lalin St Juste (17:07):
Oh.
Ashanti (17:10):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (17:11):
I mean, I love a nighttime hot sweaty club
situation. But I also love beingon a big festival stage.
Ashanti (17:27):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (17:28):
And, like, being outside and feeling the wind and
seeing people.
Ashanti (17:33):
Yeah. You gotta move. You need space.
Lalin St Juste (17:36):
Yeah. You need space, you know? But there is,
you know, special shout out to,like, intimate shows too.
Ashanti (17:44):
Yeah. For sure. Mhmm. How's your personal growth
influenced your music?
Lalin St Juste (17:52):
Oh, they're hand in hand.
Ashanti (17:55):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (17:56):
They're hand in hand. My music reflects my
personal growth, and, you know,it's like all these changes and
stages of my life and who I amas, like, a a black woman and a
Haitian person, a a daughter,whatever. Like, all these things
(18:19):
come through in my music, and,you know, it's a way it really
is a personal way for me to healand to process and to, exist.
Ashanti (18:33):
Yeah. No. I mean, I can definitely tell that for sure.
If you oh, I got a random onefor you. If you could curate
your own, like, your dream tourlineup, who would it be?
I mean, obviously, includingyourself, but who else would you
have on?
Lalin St Juste (18:48):
Oh, wow. Oh, okay. If it's for the session,
gosh, I would say just for,like, our, you know, the the
(19:11):
history of the session
Ashanti (19:12):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (19:13):
It would be really powerful if we, were on
the road with Little Dragon justbecause that was such a big
influence for us, and it'd belike an honor, you know, paying
homage.
Ashanti (19:24):
Right. Right.
Lalin St Juste (19:27):
And then also, why am I I just feel like I'm
drawing a blank, but I reallylove, I was just listening to
someone named Niecy Blues theother day. So, having her like,
maybe she opens and then, like,for the middle slot and then
little dragon head one.
Ashanti (19:47):
Do you do you feel like you, you know, you play with
Fantagram? I can't remember whenthat was. Was that last year? Is
that earlier? I can't rememberwhen it was, but you guys opened
for Fantagram.
Do you feel like you guyscrushed them that day? Because I
did.
Lalin St Juste (20:02):
Oh my god.
Ashanti (20:04):
I'm just kidding. I'm totally kidding. I'm totally
kidding.
Lalin St Juste (20:07):
I would never.
Ashanti (20:08):
No. They're awesome. They're great people. Great
band. Great band.
Great band. Great people. Verynice. No. That that show is
insane.
Yeah. It worked really well onthat stage too. That was just
That
Lalin St Juste (20:23):
was fun. Yeah.
Ashanti (20:25):
That was super fun.
Lalin St Juste (20:26):
It's a great stage.
Ashanti (20:27):
If you had to pick your favorite festival, which which
one would that be?
Lalin St Juste (20:32):
Oh, that I played at?
Ashanti (20:34):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (20:35):
Oh, I guess I would go with the one I've
played at the most Yeah. Whichis Tree Fort. You know, it's so
sweet. It's small. I don't feeloverwhelmed.
They've supported us so so much,and, like, we've had such sweet
(20:57):
interactions in that town, youknow, when we go and stay. So
yeah.
Ashanti (21:03):
Yeah. I mean, I definitely I had never been, or
no. I had been, but I hadn't Ijust it'd been so long. My my
memory did not serve me right.And I was very surprised at how
good the food was in, Boise.
Oh. Very, very surprised. I wasnot expecting that. But it was a
fun time too. Very fun time.
(21:25):
What was I gonna say? I if itwhen it comes to touring,
there's gotta be, like, you haveto have some sort of crazy
there's gotta be a story of somesort. There's gotta be something
I can jog out of your memory ofyou being like, oh, yeah. This
stands out to me. Oh,
Lalin St Juste (21:44):
in touring. I mean
Ashanti (21:49):
Besides white white knuckling it through the,
through the Sierra NevadaMountains.
Lalin St Juste (21:54):
Right. That was pretty scary. I would say, you
know, speaking about, like,being overseas earlier, and,
this was the second time we wentto the UK, and we're driving
ourselves out there. And we,like this time, we're in a van
(22:16):
for 3 vans, so it's like a 12passenger or I don't know. It's
some kind of big van.
Yep. And one of the other bandpeople, you know, one of the
other acts was like, okay. I'llfinally take a turn trying to
drive this big ass van. So we,like, practice in the parking
(22:37):
lot, and, you know, that seemedto go alright. And then as soon
as we left the parking lot, wesideswiped another vehicle.
Oh, no. And lost the side viewmirror of the van.
Ashanti (22:53):
Oh, no.
Lalin St Juste (22:54):
And then we had to go and find a mechanic.
We're, like, in, you know, Idon't know what kind of UK town
we're in, and we have to, like,go to a mechanic and, you know,
get a whole new mirror and,like, all the things. And, yeah,
that that was just, like,stressful and Definitely. Yeah.
(23:14):
And we just I would love toeventually not ever have to
drive myself ever.
Ashanti (23:20):
I mean I mean, you know, honestly, once the guy I
keep referring to it because itit there's some moments about it
that cracked me up. You know, Ididn't even know you drove
before, before Boise and beforeeveryone had been drinking and
so you drove. Remember when youpulled up on me and I had, like,
left, I don't know, keys or aphone or something, And you were
(23:43):
driving the van, and I was like,wait. You drive? Like, I had no
idea.
Lalin St Juste (23:48):
Yeah. I do. But that one, I told everyone, I'm
not
Ashanti (23:52):
It wasn't happening. Yeah. It's not happening. Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (23:54):
It was, like, 6 weeks out from donating a
kidney. I was like, I'm gonnachill and sleep.
Ashanti (24:00):
True indeed. True indeed. True indeed.
Lalin St Juste (24:03):
But I will pull up as a DD for sure for the
boys.
Ashanti (24:08):
For sure. If you if you had, like, what I've asked you a
couple of questions that arekind of around the, like, what
would you impart, you know, toother people, the wisdom side of
things? First is just like onthe general music topic. What do
you have to say to people thatlook like you? Maybe do well,
that'll just be very hard forsomeone to sound like you.
(24:30):
But I look like you and aregetting into this and they wanna
do this. What what is your,like, kinda main theme that
you'd like to, to get to them?
Lalin St Juste (24:40):
To just keep persisting that, you know, it's
like it is it is hard,especially, you know, I'm I'm a
dark skinned black woman, youknow, and I grew up in a time
where, you know I mean, and it'sstill not the coolest thing to
(25:04):
be. And, you know, I've had tojust see my worth and
acknowledge my worth. There havebeen times I've even been, you
know, criticized, you know, formy appearance and all these
things. And it's like, it'sreally about what you're trying
to put out into this world. Andso I think just persisting
(25:27):
because it is hard.
It you know, the society doesn'tvalue it. You're trying to make
some money. You're trying to doyour thing, and and it's so
discouraging. And so the mostpowerful thing I think anyone
can do is just to stick with it.
Ashanti (25:41):
Yeah. Yeah. I I totally agree. I I mean, obviously, I
can't speak on that behalfbecause I'm not a black woman,
but I Mhmm. I hear you a 1000%.
If you when it comes to touring,for people that are just getting
out there and just starting totour, what are your what would
you say to them? Like, what'sthe one piece of wisdom that you
(26:02):
would wanna impart on them?
Lalin St Juste (26:07):
I mean, just be ready for to do a lot of work.
You know? It takes
Ashanti (26:12):
a lot of work.
Lalin St Juste (26:14):
Don't get discouraged. You know? Like, it
it takes time to, like, buildduring history. I'm still
working on that myself. And, youknow, I think just making sure
that you're ready, that all thethings are in place to make it
successful, as successful as itcan be.
(26:34):
You know? Like, do you have theright, promotional plan? Do you
Ashanti (26:39):
have, you
Lalin St Juste (26:39):
know, ways to generate buzz so that you can
promote the shows? You know? Areyou playing? You know? Are the
bills strong so that, you know,it's all the attendance can be
there?
You know? There's just reallynot rushing into it and planning
ahead to make sure that it canbe something that hopefully is
(27:00):
profitable.
Ashanti (27:02):
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's that's the reason why I
build turn, Will, is to helppeople be profitable. That's,
like, the main thing is forpeople to come back profitable,
And and for people that arekinda young and starting to
learn as well as people that arealready moving and grooving or
and are a part of it to be ableto really organize themselves.
(27:23):
But, yeah, I mean, I agree withyou.
Profitability is a big part ofit. Yeah. I've so many people go
out and lose money and are like,I'm good. Not doing it again.
You know what I mean?
Actually, I was just I was justlistening to this, man. I think
that's I don't even know who Iwho it was, but I was listening
to someone saying how theyweren't making any money, and
they were the touring's dead,and they were just annoyed with
(27:45):
it. And then they were talkingabout the cost of their bus, and
I was like, well, that's thebiggest reason why you're not
making any money. Like, why areyou on a bus? You know what I
mean?
Like, understanding what youreally need. You know? You don't
need
Lalin St Juste (27:57):
a bus.
Ashanti (27:58):
You're right. It's $25. Like, what are you thinking? Of
course, you can't make anymoney. Yeah.
So yeah. Like, totally. Itotally agree with you.
Lalin St Juste (28:06):
Yeah.
Ashanti (28:09):
As far as, live shows, what what do you have to say
about that as in in parting? Oh,you know, really, I'm more
interested I think I'm way moreinterested on you know, I mean,
you you tour with a band mostly.Sometimes you don't, but mostly
with a band. Mhmm. And being afemale, how does that how is
that?
And, like, what do you have toshare about that?
Lalin St Juste (28:32):
Yeah. I'm I'm in a band with 5, guys, cishet
guys. Yeah. And, and, you know,luckily, we're all one big
family. It is different in thesense of, like, yeah, you know,
(28:55):
sense of humor.
And, I mean, they're a whole lotof fun, and, they look out for
me, and, I look out for them.And, you know, it doesn't it's
not it's not too big of a deal.You know? Like, at this point, I
get to sleep in my own bed,which is great. Right.
(29:18):
If we have to share beds, theydo that. So, yeah, it's it's
it's been okay. Sometimes it'snice to have, like, a little
balance of energy, but
Ashanti (29:27):
Definitely. Definitely. I can only imagine. I mean, I do
imagine. I was just in, Duluthwith my mom, my pregnant sister,
my daughter, and my wife.
And so and I had to drive themall around. It was quite the,
experience for sure. But, no, Imean, obviously, touring's a
(29:48):
little different, especiallywith guys. Guys are annoying as
hell. So Oh, yeah.
I can only imagine. Yeah. I youknow, thank you so much for
taking the time, to come on andspend some time, like, chopping
it up with me. Like I said,you're one of my favorite people
ever. Probably one of the mosttalented people I know too.
(30:08):
Oh, awesome.
Lalin St Juste (30:09):
So I
Ashanti (30:09):
was really, really excited to get a chance to talk
to you. Anything you wanna sayabout Turnwheel?
Lalin St Juste (30:16):
Oh, I'm just really excited that it exists. I
think we need things like that.And, yeah, I I haven't started a
tour with it yet, but I can'twait to use it because I think
it'll be super helpful and haveeverything organized, and I'll
(30:37):
learn more. You know? But so Ijust, yeah, like, in the user
experience of it, I I'm lookingforward to seeing how it
supports us.
So
Ashanti (30:48):
Awesome. How is your, how's your kidney doing?
Lalin St Juste (30:52):
Oh, it's doing good. I just gotta drink my
water.
Ashanti (30:55):
Or should I say lack thereof for me?
Lalin St Juste (31:00):
It's good. It's good. I gotta write some songs
about it still.
Ashanti (31:04):
Yeah, man. What the hell? Write some songs. Cool.
Well, I appreciate I reallyappreciate you taking the time
again.
Always a pleasure to talk toyou, and, I will talk to you
soon.
Lalin St Juste (31:17):
Okay.
Ashanti (31:18):
Thank you. Take take it easy. Thanks for tuning in to
the load out. This episode wasproduced by me with music by the
incredible Mike and additionalediting and mixing also by Mike.
If you enjoyed thisconversation, don't forget to
subscribe and rate the podcast.
Follow me at probably Ashanti onall platforms. Until next time,
(31:38):
keep buying those tickets.Peace.
Welcome to the loadout. I'm your host, Ashanti Abdulla.
In each week, we take you behindthe scenes of the live music
industry From touring tips andindustry insights to candid
conversations with artists,managers, and music
professionals, we uncover thestories and strategies that make
live performances unforgettable.Whether you're an artist, a tour
manager, or just a live musicenthusiast, this podcast is your
(00:32):
backstage pass to the world oftouring and live events. On
today's show, I'm really excitedto sit down with the incredibly
talented La'Lynne Saint Juste,the lead vocalist of the
session, and a solo artist inher own room.
Lalin's unique voice andcaptivating presence have helped
shape the sound of modern soloand electronic music. We'll be
(00:52):
talking about her journey, lifeon the road, and what inspires
her deeply personal approach tomusic. Let's get into it. Laline
Saint Juste. Did I say thatright?
Lalin St Juste (01:04):
Mhmm.
Ashanti (01:05):
I know everyone gets it wrong.
Lalin St Juste (01:06):
Good job. I'm surprised.
Ashanti (01:10):
I mean, I think I always knew you as La la,
though. Like, I never knew youas La la. That's Mhmm. Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (01:16):
Now you're gonna confuse even more people.
Ashanti (01:19):
I know. You're right. My bad. My bad. I'm so excited
to have you on.
How are you doing?
Lalin St Juste (01:26):
Yeah. I'm well. I'm well. I'm glad to be on.
Ashanti (01:28):
That's amazing. I'm, like, I'm glad you were so quick
to to respond and and wanna jumpon. You're one of my favorite
people. So I'm also excited toget a chance to talk to you.
Yeah.
But let's just jump into it. Howhow'd you get started doing
this? Doing this music stuff?
Lalin St Juste (01:44):
Music stuff. Wow. I mean, it started a long
time ago, and it started with mebusking on the street, like,
playing music on the street.
Ashanti (01:56):
I can't see it. Yeah. Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (02:00):
Just, you know, getting some dollar bills and
change.
Ashanti (02:04):
No, man.
Lalin St Juste (02:06):
You know, just to build my confidence to, like,
have a place that's no pressureto explore and strengthen my
voice. And and then I was, like,doing cafes and, you know, just
various things like that. Andthen eventually, I met people
who I would form a band with
Ashanti (02:26):
Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (02:27):
And it just took off from there.
Ashanti (02:30):
Got you. That's that that's wow. Were you were you
doing this in Oakland? Or
Lalin St Juste (02:34):
I yeah. Actually, I did busk at the
MacArthur BART station, AshbyBART station.
Ashanti (02:42):
That takes a lot of, like, metal right there.
Lalin St Juste (02:46):
Yeah. Yeah. It was a trip, and then you'd be
you would see people who areregularly doing it. You gotta
make sure you're not, like,taking anybody
Ashanti (02:54):
else's feet. Space. Yeah. That's hilarious. No fist
fights?
Lalin St Juste (03:01):
No. No. Okay. But I legit, I would work in the
morning and then, you know, getmy guitar and go in the
afternoon to spend, like, anhour or 2, playing music. So
Ashanti (03:13):
Wow. That's unbelievable. And then you and
then so then you ended up withthe band. That was, like, the
first foray, or did you doanything solo at first or was it
just straight into the back?
Lalin St Juste (03:23):
The solo stuff was the cafes and
Ashanti (03:26):
Gotcha.
Lalin St Juste (03:27):
But nothing serious. I had done, like, some
recordings, and I had beenwriting songs. But then when I
met Aki, we realized we had somuch in common and, you know, we
had been in a romanticrelationship and were working on
(03:49):
some of my solo songs, but theneventually that morphed into us
having this jam session andreconnecting with various people
from his previous life of likegrowing up and all this stuff.
And from that we formed thesession, which became, you know,
(04:10):
this beautiful project that isstill ongoing all these years
later.
Ashanti (04:15):
Yeah. Amazing. Your your your voice is, like, it's
incredibly unique. Like like,what inspired you? Like, why did
you why did you start?
You know what I mean?
Lalin St Juste (04:26):
I mean, it was things beyond me that made me
start to sing. Like, my firstmemory of singing was when my
grandma passed away.
Ashanti (04:35):
Oh, okay.
Lalin St Juste (04:35):
And she was my maternal grandmother, and we had
spent a lot of time together.And I was devastated. I was
grieving. And so I have my veryfirst memory of making music was
for her. And ever since thatmoment, I found that this was a
way that I could exist in theworld, you know, especially as
(04:58):
someone who's more on the quietside.
You know, I've been, you know,kind of on the shy side and, you
know, and also sheltered growingup, you know, Haitian, strict
Haitian upbringing. And that wasmy vehicle, my way of connecting
to the world and to myself, youknow, outside of spoken
(05:18):
language. You know? And so it'sjust always been with me.
Ashanti (05:23):
So that makes sense then of why, like because
there's no way if you've everbeen to a a La'Lynne show or a
session show that you would everthink that you, at any point,
were, shy in any way, shape, orform. But I so so I'm guessing
the busking really kinda got youout of the show.
Lalin St Juste (05:44):
Yeah. But I guess performance wise, you
know, I'd break out of it. Mhmm.
Ashanti (05:48):
Right. Definitely. Pretty crazy. Obviously,
collaborating is a is a big partof your work with the session.
How do you maintain, like, beingan individual while while you're
working within that collective?
Lalin St Juste (06:01):
That's a great question. I think, really
spending time with who I am asan artist and what my vision is,
what my voice is, understandingthat, you know, it's amazing to
collaborate and compromise. Andthen also what's your own unique
(06:23):
take or what's, what are thingsthat you yourself can bring to
the table and yeah, not allowingmyself to get lost. And I think
it's something that I've, I'vehad to develop over time.
Ashanti (06:39):
You know?
Lalin St Juste (06:40):
I think like, you know, and when I think back
to starting this band, you know,I think about just, you know,
being in my my twenties and,like, never starting a band
before and and really wantingto, like, do the right thing.
You know?
Ashanti (06:57):
Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (06:58):
And and so and as you're collaborating, it's
like, okay. Well, I'll just I'llgo with this idea because I
wanna, you know, do the rightthing. And and that's amazing.
And also over time, it's like,okay. Well, what do I also feel
Ashanti (07:13):
Right.
Lalin St Juste (07:13):
Would be good for this? And trusting that
that's okay and trusting thatit's a good idea, you know, and
standing up for idea and allthose things.
Ashanti (07:24):
Yeah. That kind of brings me into, like like, a
creative process. Like, yourlyrics, they often touch on
things of self discovery,vulnerability, social justice.
Like, how do you approachsongwriting?
Lalin St Juste (07:39):
A couple of different ways. I have the
channeling way where if I hear apiece of music or I'm either
maybe it's something someone hasproduced or I've made, I allow
improvisation to tell me where Iwant to go. You know, like what
(08:02):
is in my subconscious that comesout when I improvise? And maybe
that gives me a clue about whatthis song could be about.
Ashanti (08:13):
Mhmm.
Lalin St Juste (08:14):
But then sometimes that's not really
clicking, and other times I needto come from it from sitting and
writing different things out,you know, and, like, listening
to the music and writing andjust seeing what comes from that
way. You know? Sometimes it'sthe melody that comes to me, and
(08:38):
it's a a dope melody, but Idon't have any words to it. And
so it's gibberish. And then inthat gibberish, I find what the
song might be about.
You know? And, but, yeah, thatthat also in terms of, like,
creating music, I think justplaying is is the central theme.
(09:01):
It's just Right. Whether it's,like, playing on the instrument
and just seeing what comes orplaying melodically or playing
lyrically.
Ashanti (09:09):
Yeah. I I mean, I get so jealous of you and artists
like yourself. I I mean, it it'sfunny when you don't have that
kind of talent in your body. Notone bone of I can't even draw a
straight line. But but, like,being able to write, that's just
unbelievable to me.
You know what I mean?Unbelievable. Mhmm. Moving into,
like, touring, overall, justkinda touring. I know it's
(09:35):
excite it can be exciting butexhausting.
You've been you've been touringquite some time. Like, how do
you mentally and physicallyprepare for it?
Lalin St Juste (09:44):
Yeah. I I mean, it's something I would
definitely still wanna dial inthe more I get to do, but I
think it can have, a toll onyour body, on, you know, just
like your sleep cycle and thingslike that. And so I think for me
(10:06):
and this just goes aroundperformance in general, ideally,
that I'm, like, conditioningmyself to
Ashanti (10:13):
Right.
Lalin St Juste (10:13):
Be ready to withstand, especially now as I
get older. I think that's evenmore important, you know, like
long car rides, you know, andmaking sure you have the tools
to for your stretching and, haveyour journal to, like
Ashanti (10:30):
Chains for tires just in case, you gotta go
Lalin St Juste (10:33):
to the bathroom. Exactly. There's so many things
I dislike.
Ashanti (10:44):
That was so fun. Full disclosure. I went on, one date
with, you guys to Boise, and,that was really funny. As we're
driving along, Lalaine had beenquiet pretty much the entire
time. So I thought you wereasleep, but you so weren't.
You still were just awake. Justlisten to everybody be idiots.
That was awesome.
Lalin St Juste (11:07):
Right. Yeah. A whole lot of that.
Ashanti (11:09):
A whole lot of it. Your favorite place? Where's your
favorite? Like, what's the placethat left a lasting impression
on you on the on touring?
Lalin St Juste (11:18):
Oh, wow. You know, I'm gonna say the first
time I played in London, and it,you know, it was a really good
turnout. And, you know, it wasmy first time being overseas to
play my music, and people someof the people knew the words,
(11:41):
and it just felt so it has asentimental feeling because
Ashanti (11:47):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (11:48):
I was so far away from home, and people were
resonating with this music, andI was able to connect with some
black women there at the showtoo who were fans. You know? So,
yeah, that was really sweet.
Ashanti (12:02):
I was just yeah. That's actually you know, touring, it
requires a lot of connectionwith fans. I'm curious how you
balance maintaining that, likethose connections while also
protecting you. Like, you gottaprotect your energy and your own
well-being.
Lalin St Juste (12:15):
Yeah. It's true. I mean, people want to, like,
hug you and touch you. You know?They wanna be close to you.
This is true. And I do I havegenerally been pretty open. I'm
really grateful that for themost part, it's been really
(12:38):
chill, you know. And but I do,you know, have certain
boundaries, and and I readenergy, and, you know, I'm
cautious around certain people.
Ashanti (12:55):
Yeah. Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (12:57):
You know?
Ashanti (12:58):
Oh, they're out there. You know, they're out there.
Lalin St Juste (13:01):
Yeah. Yeah. And and I've that's something I've
had to tap into later in myjourney, and I'm still
developing also. Because I thinkin the beginning, I was just
like, okay. You can have me.
You know? But but, you know, nowit's like, oh, wait. No. I get
to also keep keep keep myself.Yes.
(13:22):
Yes.
Ashanti (13:23):
Yep. A 1000%. Mhmm. You're be like, it's kind of
outside of music. I know you'reyou're definitely into, like,
the social aspect of life,obviously.
And, it can be a reflection ofof, you know, life at times, the
music side of things. How do yousee like, how's your work fit
into the larger cultural andsocial landscape?
Lalin St Juste (13:43):
My I'll start
Ashanti (13:45):
with the moment. Yeah. Well, though your how does your
music fit into it? Like,specifically in this moment?
Lalin St Juste (13:51):
Oh, yeah. I mean, I just did a performance
where I didn't do any of mysongs. Wow. I didn't do any of
my songs. I just I given themoment of everything, I just
(14:14):
created a space to feel andexpress.
Ashanti (14:18):
And I
Lalin St Juste (14:19):
mean, it was still music and but like know, I
sang my Haitian Vodou songs,which is what I normally include
these days. But then I also likeread poetry. Marcellus Williams,
had just been executed. So Iread his words and brought him
(14:41):
into the space. And so using themusic to address the moment, you
know, to, and so many peoplecame up and were like, thank
you.
I've had a really busy week. Ihaven't had time to sit and
process everything. Yeah. Youknow, all of that. There were
(15:02):
tears.
Yeah. And it just like and it'sthe first time I actually did
something like that where I waslike, okay, I'm not doing any of
my, my songs,
Ashanti (15:13):
you know?
Lalin St Juste (15:13):
And, and for me, it just, it's what I felt also
that I had to do. And so, yeah,I'm always responding to what is
felt energetically or or what'shappening socially, you know, in
my in my landscape. You know?
Ashanti (15:32):
Yeah. I mean, I'm I totally agree with that. I think
it's a very much a part of,like, my day to day. You know,
I'm like a unbelievable ad avidreader and and stupidly keep up
with every detail of the news ofthe world. And so I don't I mean
and then I wonder why, like, Ican't sleep or, like, my brain
doesn't work right all the time.
(15:53):
It's like, you know, I'mlistening to all this dumb
stuff. So yeah. No. I totallyget it. And it it it affects it
definitely affects work.
I know for sure. I think the thething that happened at home for
me in Minneapolis affected meprobably the deepest to the
point where I was, like, kindaover it for a while, like, kinda
over everything. Yeah. That waswild. And I think just mainly
(16:16):
because my daughter, you know,is, like, blocks away from,
like, where they you know, whereall this was happening and
things were burning down.
Lalin St Juste (16:23):
Yeah.
Ashanti (16:24):
And just knowing that my parents, my family are at
home and I wasn't there, it waspretty wild. It's like a wild
thing to kinda, kinda come toterms with. But, the city has
now. It's well, they're stilltrying to anyway. I was just
there, for a week, and it's beenreally interesting watching, the
city both be sorry for howracist they are, but at the same
(16:46):
time, kind of ignore it too.
I don't know. It's just likeWhat? Like, what? Right. It's
pretty wild, man.
You've you've performed in a lotof diverse spaces, like intimate
stuff and then larger festivals.Like, what which one do you
prefer usually?
Lalin St Juste (17:07):
Oh.
Ashanti (17:10):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (17:11):
I mean, I love a nighttime hot sweaty club
situation. But I also love beingon a big festival stage.
Ashanti (17:27):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (17:28):
And, like, being outside and feeling the wind and
seeing people.
Ashanti (17:33):
Yeah. You gotta move. You need space.
Lalin St Juste (17:36):
Yeah. You need space, you know? But there is,
you know, special shout out to,like, intimate shows too.
Ashanti (17:44):
Yeah. For sure. Mhmm. How's your personal growth
influenced your music?
Lalin St Juste (17:52):
Oh, they're hand in hand.
Ashanti (17:55):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (17:56):
They're hand in hand. My music reflects my
personal growth, and, you know,it's like all these changes and
stages of my life and who I amas, like, a a black woman and a
Haitian person, a a daughter,whatever. Like, all these things
(18:19):
come through in my music, and,you know, it's a way it really
is a personal way for me to healand to process and to, exist.
Ashanti (18:33):
Yeah. No. I mean, I can definitely tell that for sure.
If you oh, I got a random onefor you. If you could curate
your own, like, your dream tourlineup, who would it be?
I mean, obviously, includingyourself, but who else would you
have on?
Lalin St Juste (18:48):
Oh, wow. Oh, okay. If it's for the session,
gosh, I would say just for,like, our, you know, the the
(19:11):
history of the session
Ashanti (19:12):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (19:13):
It would be really powerful if we, were on
the road with Little Dragon justbecause that was such a big
influence for us, and it'd belike an honor, you know, paying
homage.
Ashanti (19:24):
Right. Right.
Lalin St Juste (19:27):
And then also, why am I I just feel like I'm
drawing a blank, but I reallylove, I was just listening to
someone named Niecy Blues theother day. So, having her like,
maybe she opens and then, like,for the middle slot and then
little dragon head one.
Ashanti (19:47):
Do you do you feel like you, you know, you play with
Fantagram? I can't remember whenthat was. Was that last year? Is
that earlier? I can't rememberwhen it was, but you guys opened
for Fantagram.
Do you feel like you guyscrushed them that day? Because I
did.
Lalin St Juste (20:02):
Oh my god.
Ashanti (20:04):
I'm just kidding. I'm totally kidding. I'm totally
kidding.
Lalin St Juste (20:07):
I would never.
Ashanti (20:08):
No. They're awesome. They're great people. Great
band. Great band.
Great band. Great people. Verynice. No. That that show is
insane.
Yeah. It worked really well onthat stage too. That was just
That
Lalin St Juste (20:23):
was fun. Yeah.
Ashanti (20:25):
That was super fun.
Lalin St Juste (20:26):
It's a great stage.
Ashanti (20:27):
If you had to pick your favorite festival, which which
one would that be?
Lalin St Juste (20:32):
Oh, that I played at?
Ashanti (20:34):
Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (20:35):
Oh, I guess I would go with the one I've
played at the most Yeah. Whichis Tree Fort. You know, it's so
sweet. It's small. I don't feeloverwhelmed.
They've supported us so so much,and, like, we've had such sweet
(20:57):
interactions in that town, youknow, when we go and stay. So
yeah.
Ashanti (21:03):
Yeah. I mean, I definitely I had never been, or
no. I had been, but I hadn't Ijust it'd been so long. My my
memory did not serve me right.And I was very surprised at how
good the food was in, Boise.
Oh. Very, very surprised. I wasnot expecting that. But it was a
fun time too. Very fun time.
(21:25):
What was I gonna say? I if itwhen it comes to touring,
there's gotta be, like, you haveto have some sort of crazy
there's gotta be a story of somesort. There's gotta be something
I can jog out of your memory ofyou being like, oh, yeah. This
stands out to me. Oh,
Lalin St Juste (21:44):
in touring. I mean
Ashanti (21:49):
Besides white white knuckling it through the,
through the Sierra NevadaMountains.
Lalin St Juste (21:54):
Right. That was pretty scary. I would say, you
know, speaking about, like,being overseas earlier, and,
this was the second time we wentto the UK, and we're driving
ourselves out there. And we,like this time, we're in a van
(22:16):
for 3 vans, so it's like a 12passenger or I don't know. It's
some kind of big van.
Yep. And one of the other bandpeople, you know, one of the
other acts was like, okay. I'llfinally take a turn trying to
drive this big ass van. So we,like, practice in the parking
(22:37):
lot, and, you know, that seemedto go alright. And then as soon
as we left the parking lot, wesideswiped another vehicle.
Oh, no. And lost the side viewmirror of the van.
Ashanti (22:53):
Oh, no.
Lalin St Juste (22:54):
And then we had to go and find a mechanic.
We're, like, in, you know, Idon't know what kind of UK town
we're in, and we have to, like,go to a mechanic and, you know,
get a whole new mirror and,like, all the things. And, yeah,
that that was just, like,stressful and Definitely. Yeah.
(23:14):
And we just I would love toeventually not ever have to
drive myself ever.
Ashanti (23:20):
I mean I mean, you know, honestly, once the guy I
keep referring to it because itit there's some moments about it
that cracked me up. You know, Ididn't even know you drove
before, before Boise and beforeeveryone had been drinking and
so you drove. Remember when youpulled up on me and I had, like,
left, I don't know, keys or aphone or something, And you were
(23:43):
driving the van, and I was like,wait. You drive? Like, I had no
idea.
Lalin St Juste (23:48):
Yeah. I do. But that one, I told everyone, I'm
not
Ashanti (23:52):
It wasn't happening. Yeah. It's not happening. Yeah.
Lalin St Juste (23:54):
It was, like, 6 weeks out from donating a
kidney. I was like, I'm gonnachill and sleep.
Ashanti (24:00):
True indeed. True indeed. True indeed.
Lalin St Juste (24:03):
But I will pull up as a DD for sure for the
boys.
Ashanti (24:08):
For sure. If you if you had, like, what I've asked you a
couple of questions that arekind of around the, like, what
would you impart, you know, toother people, the wisdom side of
things? First is just like onthe general music topic. What do
you have to say to people thatlook like you? Maybe do well,
that'll just be very hard forsomeone to sound like you.
(24:30):
But I look like you and aregetting into this and they wanna
do this. What what is your,like, kinda main theme that
you'd like to, to get to them?
Lalin St Juste (24:40):
To just keep persisting that, you know, it's
like it is it is hard,especially, you know, I'm I'm a
dark skinned black woman, youknow, and I grew up in a time
where, you know I mean, and it'sstill not the coolest thing to
(25:04):
be. And, you know, I've had tojust see my worth and
acknowledge my worth. There havebeen times I've even been, you
know, criticized, you know, formy appearance and all these
things. And it's like, it'sreally about what you're trying
to put out into this world. Andso I think just persisting
(25:27):
because it is hard.
It you know, the society doesn'tvalue it. You're trying to make
some money. You're trying to doyour thing, and and it's so
discouraging. And so the mostpowerful thing I think anyone
can do is just to stick with it.
Ashanti (25:41):
Yeah. Yeah. I I totally agree. I I mean, obviously, I
can't speak on that behalfbecause I'm not a black woman,
but I Mhmm. I hear you a 1000%.
If you when it comes to touring,for people that are just getting
out there and just starting totour, what are your what would
you say to them? Like, what'sthe one piece of wisdom that you
(26:02):
would wanna impart on them?
Lalin St Juste (26:07):
I mean, just be ready for to do a lot of work.
You know? It takes
Ashanti (26:12):
a lot of work.
Lalin St Juste (26:14):
Don't get discouraged. You know? Like, it
it takes time to, like, buildduring history. I'm still
working on that myself. And, youknow, I think just making sure
that you're ready, that all thethings are in place to make it
successful, as successful as itcan be.
(26:34):
You know? Like, do you have theright, promotional plan? Do you
Ashanti (26:39):
have, you
Lalin St Juste (26:39):
know, ways to generate buzz so that you can
promote the shows? You know? Areyou playing? You know? Are the
bills strong so that, you know,it's all the attendance can be
there?
You know? There's just reallynot rushing into it and planning
ahead to make sure that it canbe something that hopefully is
(27:00):
profitable.
Ashanti (27:02):
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's that's the reason why I
build turn, Will, is to helppeople be profitable. That's,
like, the main thing is forpeople to come back profitable,
And and for people that arekinda young and starting to
learn as well as people that arealready moving and grooving or
and are a part of it to be ableto really organize themselves.
(27:23):
But, yeah, I mean, I agree withyou.
Profitability is a big part ofit. Yeah. I've so many people go
out and lose money and are like,I'm good. Not doing it again.
You know what I mean?
Actually, I was just I was justlistening to this, man. I think
that's I don't even know who Iwho it was, but I was listening
to someone saying how theyweren't making any money, and
they were the touring's dead,and they were just annoyed with
(27:45):
it. And then they were talkingabout the cost of their bus, and
I was like, well, that's thebiggest reason why you're not
making any money. Like, why areyou on a bus? You know what I
mean?
Like, understanding what youreally need. You know? You don't
need
Lalin St Juste (27:57):
a bus.
Ashanti (27:58):
You're right. It's $25. Like, what are you thinking? Of
course, you can't make anymoney. Yeah.
So yeah. Like, totally. Itotally agree with you.
Lalin St Juste (28:06):
Yeah.
Ashanti (28:09):
As far as, live shows, what what do you have to say
about that as in in parting? Oh,you know, really, I'm more
interested I think I'm way moreinterested on you know, I mean,
you you tour with a band mostly.Sometimes you don't, but mostly
with a band. Mhmm. And being afemale, how does that how is
that?
And, like, what do you have toshare about that?
Lalin St Juste (28:32):
Yeah. I'm I'm in a band with 5, guys, cishet
guys. Yeah. And, and, you know,luckily, we're all one big
family. It is different in thesense of, like, yeah, you know,
(28:55):
sense of humor.
And, I mean, they're a whole lotof fun, and, they look out for
me, and, I look out for them.And, you know, it doesn't it's
not it's not too big of a deal.You know? Like, at this point, I
get to sleep in my own bed,which is great. Right.
(29:18):
If we have to share beds, theydo that. So, yeah, it's it's
it's been okay. Sometimes it'snice to have, like, a little
balance of energy, but
Ashanti (29:27):
Definitely. Definitely. I can only imagine. I mean, I do
imagine. I was just in, Duluthwith my mom, my pregnant sister,
my daughter, and my wife.
And so and I had to drive themall around. It was quite the,
experience for sure. But, no, Imean, obviously, touring's a
(29:48):
little different, especiallywith guys. Guys are annoying as
hell. So Oh, yeah.
I can only imagine. Yeah. I youknow, thank you so much for
taking the time, to come on andspend some time, like, chopping
it up with me. Like I said,you're one of my favorite people
ever. Probably one of the mosttalented people I know too.
(30:08):
Oh, awesome.
Lalin St Juste (30:09):
So I
Ashanti (30:09):
was really, really excited to get a chance to talk
to you. Anything you wanna sayabout Turnwheel?
Lalin St Juste (30:16):
Oh, I'm just really excited that it exists. I
think we need things like that.And, yeah, I I haven't started a
tour with it yet, but I can'twait to use it because I think
it'll be super helpful and haveeverything organized, and I'll
(30:37):
learn more. You know? But so Ijust, yeah, like, in the user
experience of it, I I'm lookingforward to seeing how it
supports us.
So
Ashanti (30:48):
Awesome. How is your, how's your kidney doing?
Lalin St Juste (30:52):
Oh, it's doing good. I just gotta drink my
water.
Ashanti (30:55):
Or should I say lack thereof for me?
Lalin St Juste (31:00):
It's good. It's good. I gotta write some songs
about it still.
Ashanti (31:04):
Yeah, man. What the hell? Write some songs. Cool.
Well, I appreciate I reallyappreciate you taking the time
again.
Always a pleasure to talk toyou, and, I will talk to you
soon.
Lalin St Juste (31:17):
Okay.
Ashanti (31:18):
Thank you. Take take it easy. Thanks for tuning in to
the load out. This episode wasproduced by me with music by the
incredible Mike and additionalediting and mixing also by Mike.
If you enjoyed thisconversation, don't forget to
subscribe and rate the podcast.
Follow me at probably Ashanti onall platforms. Until next time,
(31:38):
keep buying those tickets.Peace.
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