Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to another episode of Sunnyside with Ashley. Sorry, I
left to hang in for a couple of weeks and
not gonna lie. Life got a little crazy and busy
and it happens, so I appreciate you coming back to listen.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I am excited for this episode.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
A little behind the scenes here of in my industry
what I do for work. I do work for a
radio station, specifically country radio, and we get to talk
to artists pretty frequently, and over the last seventeen years,
I can tell you I've met a lot of artists,
interviewed basically every major country artist there is out there
between Vegas and Nashville and the ACMs and the CMA Awards.
(00:35):
So that being said, I'm so excited for you to
hear this conversation. I will tell you it's a brief one,
so not too long of a listen today. It is
a brief one because this is what we call a
phoner in our line of work, and it's usually just
kind of a quick phone call where the artist calls
in when they got something coming up in town, and specifically,
Cole Swindel is going to be in town October twenty fifth,
(00:58):
here in Clearwater at the Bak Sound and leading up
to a show, we're getting to catch up with him.
So that is what you're hearing here. But I was like,
this is a Sunnyside episode, just everything Cole had to
say about being a dad, life perspectives. This episode makes
me super happy to share and very grateful for Cole
(01:18):
for being so open and honest during this conversation. Here
we go another episode of Sunnyside with Ashley.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Hello, Hello, Hi, it's Cole. How the heck are you?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
I am great? Life is great.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Just I'm enjoying the tour and missing home every time
I leave, but it's going great.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I cannot complain well.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
I can only imagine, you know, every time I talk
to you and every time I see you, I think
about it's now probably like over eleven years ago that
it was both of our ACM awards, and I don't
know why. Maybe it's a core memory for me because
it was like my first time ever going out there
as a personality and doing interviews, but it was your
first time as an artist, and I always remember that
because I was like, oh man, okay, it's his first
(01:57):
time too, Like this is good.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Maybe we're both nervous.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Absolutely, that's you know, you're always kind of looking for,
you know, people that you can relate to and connect with,
and that was you know, think about now how we
look at it as opposed to then you know, it's, oh,
I still love it, but it's we're not nervous. It's
just kind of you know, we've got to prepare. That's
about it. It's not your first time, so it's that
was especial that how long we've been in this business together.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
So absolutely, and I know, like I always tell people,
friends and family will ask them like.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Oh, the artists remember you. I'm like, well, there are certain.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Ones that you kind of come up with at the
same time, and then you get to have these conversations
again and you do get to catch up on life.
And that's why I'm just so happy for you because
I do know, I feel like you've been so open
with fans too about you know, you wanted to get married,
you wanted to have kids, and now you have a
little baby girl, and it's just like perfection.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yeah, it's I know, that's why it's so people told
me that it was going to be life changing, and
I already knew that, but it's one of those things
until you experience it's just experienced it.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
It's crazy. So I'm I don't being the dad is
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
She's changed my life, and you know, I'm so glad
that it was her that did it.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
And of course, yeah, well obviously we're excited because you
are coming to town. You're coming to Clearwater, which is
one of our little outskirt areas, and it's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It's a great venue. The water's right behind you.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And also I think on behalf of our listeners and
your fans, thank you for coming in a time where
it's not one hundred and five degrees.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Hey, I would love to take the credit for that,
but my agent did that. So I'm excited. I'm excited
to be down there, maybe get some golf in.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I love me some Florida, so oh yeah, we'll have
to get you in. You will you have time? Do
you even know? Sometimes? Because I know a lot of
times you just pull in and you're like where am I?
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Yeah, that's kind of anytime we're coming down there, I
might look at the schedule see if I can figure
it out. So I'm going to be trying to play
for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, it should be pretty nice.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
I know you've been posting to a lot to social recently,
just sharing different things, and you went to Brandon Lake.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
And I love that because I kind of went back.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
To like life stages and just different things. You know,
I've also seen and done through the years. You just
kind of have these life stages of maturity and music
and things that you finally feel okay singing about like
you just released Make Heaven Crowded and right.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
That just comes with time, right and growth. I feel
like us as humans.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, absolutely, and I've been I'm so thankful that any
of my fans and people that come to the shows
allow have allowed me to grow and allowed me to
get to a place where I've never.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Been this happy.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
And I think, you know, being a dad, I think
looking at my daughter and knowing I have a platform
and knowing that I.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Can share my heart through my lyrics.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
And you know, if this song helps one person, if
it changes one person's mind, or helps one person be
good to one another whatever it may be, or leads
them to the Lord, I mean that's you know, I
just feel like I have to take a stand, and
especially when it's that when you're I'm so blessed and
I'm just never felt more convicted to share that. And Youah,
(05:01):
hearing Erica Kirk talk about Charlie and say he was
doing what he always wanted to do just wrecked me
because I thought about my life and I looked in
the mirror and I told Brandon like that, it's just,
you know, I would Courtney say that about me if
I left to mar and knowing how I was raised
and in church, and I just you know, there's never
(05:23):
never a bad time to you know, make a change
and to start trying to do better. And I think,
like I said this song, I couldn't write it if
I didn't have that little in the first verse talking
about you know, it's almost like a look in the mirror.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Just not judging anybody. I'm I've got.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Work on myself to do, but I think we can
all do a little better and be good.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
To each other.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I've always said that if people would just be good
to each other, this world would be an unbelievable place.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, so true.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I mean, and I've always You've always been one of
the good guys. And not to even say that, like, oh,
I've met any in the business really that are bad,
you know, but you just have always been so true
to yourself and all of us. I mean, I think
we all get to a point where we finally are
comfortable being a little more like that in our skin.
And I like you said, your fans allowing you to
do that, but your fans are going through those same
things too, So you're amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
We're excited to see you.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
I think you're at that point in your career too,
where people are going to come out to your show
and they forget, like how many hits you have because
I do.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
That and I'm like, oh my gosh, I forgot I
love this song.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
So are you loving playing so many of the songs
now that are gold?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
They're huge hits.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, it's you know, to me, it's great having the
music out and getting to play new songs live just
for us and kind of not you know, we've been
playing these other ones for so long. But I'm I
would be lying if I didn't say how thankful I
was for them. If I didn't have those hits, there
wouldn't be nobody.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
In there, you know.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
It's just the Yeah, but it's kind of that's rehearsal
and just trying to figure out different ways to put
the songs in the set, and whether it's intros or whatever,
it might be, just you know, the ones that people
have heard for a long time, but they've also are
the ones that got a serious so and you've seen
every one of those.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
That's so cool that we get to play.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Those and then also mix in the new album and
songs like make Kevin Crowded that I had.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
No idea I would be releasing.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
You know, it's just a special thing getting to play
the ones that got you here and then also the
where you are now in life.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
You know, absolutely one hundred percent, And you know a
little interesting tidbit about that, and you're gonna have to
tell me the story.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But Make Kevin Crowded.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
The artwork for that is actually one of my former
colleagues in radio that I worked with previously. Chase designed it.
He shared that and I was like, oh my gosh,
that's so cool.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
How did that come about?
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Like did you did he create it and did it
catch your eye or were you working with him before?
Speaker 4 (07:41):
No, I don't know how. I'd love to meet him.
I guess my team that's just who they got to
work on the artwork. But me and I think Graylan
James we were texting. He was like, man, cause I
was wondering. I had like pulled up an image on
then and of like a street of gold and it
was like cobblestone gold that that was the first idea.
And then grayln so what if it was like on
a church sign And I'm like, Mike, I was like,
(08:03):
that's it, that's gotta be it.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I have to give him a shout out. Then Chase Paito,
his wife Jenna. Yeah, she's in Radio two, so they're there.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
They've got little babies and they're amazing.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So I love that that our artwork is great.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And then hey, I want to talk real quick, just
because obviously you've got songs that are out and all
the new music, But is there anything that you've written
lately that hasn't been released or and artists has got
their hands on it that you're excited about?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Because songwriting is really where you started.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I know.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
I that is a goal of mine, hopefully, is to
get some of the songs I've written recorded by other artists,
especially just me being in a different place right now,
and maybe there's some over the years that fit. But
then also my ideas are pretty much all about my
daughter right now.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
So h hey, but that's I don't.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Know, I've always kind of been where I am like singing.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
About that or I mean, and that's just natural.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah, I think it. I think it is. I mean,
that's even Kevin crowded.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
It isn't about her, but it was it came from
her and looking at her and knowing that, you know,
this world's a scary place and we you know, to
try to share some lyrics to help people. Yeah, She's
inspired me every day. And I feel like in this business,
you know, I'll tell you this, I haven't even told
anybody this.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
We spend so much time.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
You feel like trying to make a name and get
your music out there and trying to be somebody is
kind of way I thought of it, and then so
I jotted down this idea that I feel like I'm
finally somebody now being her dad.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Like, it's just I just don't I think that'll be
probably one of the first ones I.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Write for her. So you heard it first. You always
hear the news first.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
So I love it.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, absolutely, that sounds amazing as a as an only
daughter with tow older brothers, like the relationship with my dad,
like he still calls me his sweetheart, princess baby, and
you know that is amazing.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
I can already tell I'm going to be that way
and my wife her and her dad. That was I've
said this when I asked him to marry, or how
nervous I was because I couldn't imagine.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Being in his shoes.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And that's you know, one day, I don't even want
to think that far ahead, right, Just joy that I
can understand. I can just from having my daughter for
two months. I can't imagine how much your dad loves you.
So that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah. Well, I'm so happy for you, Cole, all the things.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
I'm so glad, and I'm so excited we get to
see you here October twenty fifth at the Bake Hair
Sound in clear Water. I'm excited for all the new
music and everyone to get to see you, and we
will see you then. Thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
You're the best, Ashley. Thank you