Leon Bridges

[0] Surrender to the good floor You know wipe your sleaky Tame me to your river I want to go Welcome welcome welcome to armchair expert That was a little taste of something that's coming up in this episode A taste of something tasty Oh my gosh If you're a Leon Bridges fan like us And if you're not Fuck you get on board he is so good get on the back of his motorcycle so leon bridges is the guest today we're still the same people and i'm going to skip that part okay still miniature mouths you're cool on average oh my gosh so leon bridges who if you guys recall we kind of went on a little love fest with him about i don't know seven months ago in a fact check because we're just obsessed with him and we played some of the songs and i got back to him and then on twitter he said i would love to come on your show and he came in you guys oh my god what i don't think we've had a good boy he's a good good boy and he he might be the sweetest guess we've ever had yeah and when you well him and tony hale they're tied oh my god you're right that's a great reference but when leon left this would probably normally be in the fact check but again if you don't like leon bruges fuck you he left and monica we looked at each other and we both basically said at the same time i want to keep them like i want to invite him to live at the house and I want to take care of him.

[1] Yeah, I want him to hang out with us and I want to rub his back.

[2] Yes, and nurture him.

[3] Yeah.

[4] We want to nurture him.

[5] His new album, Gold Digger's Sound, is out now and it is awesome.

[6] So make sure you get that on your playlist ASAP.

[7] Please enjoy Leon Bridges.

[8] Wondry Plus subscribers can listen to Armchair expert early and ad free right now.

[9] Join Wondry Plus in the Wondry app.

[10] or on Apple Podcasts, or you can listen for free wherever you get your podcasts.

[11] Where do you live?

[12] Living Fort Worth.

[13] Oh, you do still?

[14] Uh -huh, holding it down.

[15] You've been out there?

[16] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[17] I used to work for General Motors.

[18] Okay.

[19] And we used to, I bet once every two years we'd have some stupid car show event at Billy Bob's.

[20] Yeah.

[21] Mm. And then we would stay at this.

[22] what a hotel i wish i could remember the name it's like fucking carpet was just soaking wet with water cockroaches everywhere yeah it was like oh my god you know my story about going into the burger king with the dudes all had their shirts off oh yeah yeah and they were swearing in the microphone that was fort worth fun what a good first impression we loved it i'm from detroit and so yeah we felt very at home yeah we went into this burger king it was hot as fuck it was like a hundred it was the only place that was open we go in there and like i don't know there's maybe five dudes working behind the counter and three of them no shirt yeah i'm like here we go and then i order i'm like yeah can i get a um you know wopper extra mayonnaise yeah yeah can i get this kind of then my buddy he's like one wopper fucking extra manis but he throws a fucking in there i was like oh my oh let me see how you feel you know swearing over the speaker fucking extra mayonnaise did you get down on some water burger i mean that's like absolutely is that classic fort worth yeah that's like the texas equivalent of in an house but you can't even compare them though so i did a movie in austin 16 years ago and i can't wait to see how this is going to play out oh yes we got it we can make it want to make it work This is my dilemma every time I wear a hat.

[23] Are we in there?

[24] Oh, my God.

[25] You look totally in there.

[26] Oh, my God.

[27] That's good.

[28] First of all, you came here.

[29] This is so thrilling.

[30] You're in the attic.

[31] Yo, this is surreal.

[32] Like, it's crazy.

[33] Like, I had a whole bunch of friends that were just, like, blasting my phone up.

[34] Just like, oh, yeah, Dax just was shouting you out in the podcast.

[35] Illegally playing your music, too.

[36] Yes, we were.

[37] Hey, go ahead.

[38] Get it.

[39] Get it.

[40] Afterwards, we were like, is that what we get sued for?

[41] Or is that like, that's just love.

[42] Like, that's just snippets.

[43] I played it through the phone.

[44] We were singing your praises.

[45] I mean, I've liked you, what, 15 coming home came out?

[46] Totally.

[47] So six years I've liked you.

[48] But something about quarantine this year, you became the theme.

[49] The soundtrack.

[50] Yeah, the soundtrack for our whole pods last year.

[51] We play spades four days a week.

[52] Do you play spades?

[53] I don't.

[54] I never got down with the cards.

[55] I just can't count fast enough.

[56] It's not your thing.

[57] Dude, we sat in the house for a year playing cards and listening to, they do a good job with the Apple Essentials playlist.

[58] Right.

[59] Fuck, I got to back up.

[60] When it really kicked into another gear with you was when I heard your Spotify pony.

[61] I was like, oh, my God.

[62] I was obsessed, annoyingly so, making everyone listen.

[63] Is this not the fucking sexiest version of this song that could possibly have been made?

[64] Oh my God, is it good?

[65] Yeah, I don't know if I did it all the way justice, but Genuine, that's my guy.

[66] That's your dude.

[67] When I was younger, I mean, he was the guy that I would try to emulate as far as like the dancing thing.

[68] Yeah, for sure.

[69] Where's he from?

[70] Genuine, I think he's from Baltimore.

[71] I might be wrong.

[72] Yeah, he's got an East Coast feel, I guess.

[73] Yeah.

[74] Now, Fort Worth, hold on, I'm getting distracted.

[75] What I want to tell you is that I was on this TV show and every morning, this wouldn't be a complaint on their end, but every morning when I got my makeup done, I wear makeup, by the way, you should know now.

[76] I'm not wearing it now, but at work, I do.

[77] Make it was great.

[78] Okay, good, good, good.

[79] Every morning getting makeup on, we would listen to Pony on repeat.

[80] When I was in there, everyone knew, we're going to listen to Pony on repeat, and that's how it was.

[81] Leon's Pony?

[82] Yes, Leon's Pony.

[83] That's where I became obsessed with it.

[84] Wow.

[85] Oh, my God.

[86] It was weird to start the morning with that big of a sex charge.

[87] Yeah.

[88] You're coming down all day then off of a time.

[89] Yeah, it's hard to keep that flow going.

[90] I mean, it's good to get it started.

[91] You know what I'm saying?

[92] Okay, so Fort Worth.

[93] Now, the only band I associate with Fort Worth is ghetto boys.

[94] Yeah, Fort Worth.

[95] The scene is kind of predominantly country, but I look at it just like, like myself as a small speck amongst such a dope lineage of musicians.

[96] Yeah, who else is from?

[97] You look at Towns Van Zant, you look at Bob Wills, and even from the south side where I grew up, you got guys like King Curtis, you got Cornell Dupree, and then you got Kirk Franklin, and then here comes along, little O Me amongst all those greats.

[98] Okay, did you like country growing up?

[99] I didn't.

[100] I didn't either growing up.

[101] I'm only, I'm I mostly gravitated towards R &B music.

[102] My father was really into Curtis Mayfield.

[103] Oh, yeah.

[104] And Sam Cook and my mother was into Anita Baker in Shade.

[105] Oh, I could have taken your mom on a hell of a date.

[106] I know love to Luxe Inside Now.

[107] I know what I would have loved it.

[108] He still will, perhaps.

[109] Yeah, I still will if she's up for it and your dad signs all that.

[110] Mama.

[111] And so it wasn't until I picked up the guitar and started writing was when I started discover Rolling Stones and Van Morrison and country music through the kind of songwriting.

[112] Yeah, because if I have it right and I won't have it right, but my understanding is Keith Richards was obsessed with blues, right?

[113] And he learned to tune his guitar and all these blues settings, which no one was doing in rock and roll.

[114] And that's how he got all those amazing riffs, right?

[115] They're kind of easy once you see them play them, but it's all about the tuning.

[116] So it's weird.

[117] It all kind of goes in a circle, right?

[118] Like it started with them, then it goes to, and then somehow you listen to Rolling Stones, and then it comes back to this.

[119] Right, right.

[120] It's really interesting.

[121] Like, I love those guys, like the Van Morrison's and the Neil Youngs.

[122] I love how they interpreted soul music, essentially.

[123] You can hear it in the music.

[124] Well, the only other person that makes me feel as horny as your songs do is Van Hunt.

[125] Were you ever into Van Hunt?

[126] Mm -mm.

[127] Oh.

[128] We love it.

[129] Oh, oh, oh, oh.

[130] I'm missing out.

[131] Do you remember that song?

[132] seconds of pleasure Life's little treasures Oh my God It was big ones First of all I'm a great singer right We both agree on there You're in there, dude I like those lyrics We have never interviewed a singer In which Dax doesn't sing Every time we interview a singer You find a way to sing Which is confidence Leon's gonna make jokes Yeah it's not the same It's not the same Oh my God, I want you to be into Van Hunt so much.

[133] Well, I'll table the Van Hunt thing for a minute, but couldn't be sexier.

[134] Now, how did you, the aesthetic that you have, which is incredible, I fucking love it.

[135] In fact, I wanted an act of solidarity to, like, somehow dress like you today.

[136] Oh.

[137] I don't have anything to do it with.

[138] Yeah.

[139] I looked in my closet, and this is the one era I couldn't match you on.

[140] You can get down with it.

[141] Oh, I love it.

[142] You have this 50s soul R &B, 56.

[143] when did you start becoming interested in that so before i kind of embarked on the songwriting thing i was pursuing dance oh okay at this little community college called tcc and each piece we had to it's sort of like emulate a certain era and so right there was this one 70s piece that we did and i had to pull like this outfit for it and it just kind of kind of stuck with me and i and i I kind of gradually saw I did bring in those pieces home.

[144] I was essentially stealing.

[145] Yeah, yeah.

[146] And that kind of became my style.

[147] What age is this?

[148] I was a good old, like 22 or something like that.

[149] Okay, okay.

[150] It was like five minutes ago.

[151] Yeah, it's not that long.

[152] You're younger than even me. Yeah, I know.

[153] I didn't want to bring up, but I knew you were bringing up.

[154] It's going to start happening to you, you know, as you age.

[155] Over the years, just kind of like with my music as well, like my fashion has evolved.

[156] Uh -huh.

[157] It's like, even when I initially started writing music, it was more so of like a folk R &B thing.

[158] And then I transitioned into this kind of 60s aesthetic.

[159] And for me, I just wanted to kind of in some way keep the history alive within the music.

[160] And so I wanted to outfit some of my narratives with the 60s thing.

[161] Yeah, yeah.

[162] And now it's like all about embodying the whole Texas culture.

[163] And it's like, you know, you see the boots.

[164] Oh, I see.

[165] Yeah, we see the boot.

[166] They're so gorgeous.

[167] And I left my Stetson at home for show.

[168] You put that on, too.

[169] And these are Wranglers?

[170] No, I think these are Lees.

[171] Oh, those are Lees.

[172] Okay.

[173] They're fucking fantastic.

[174] Shout out to Wrangler.

[175] Trusted.

[176] Very trusted brand Wrangler.

[177] Now, but your hair, especially in motorbike, that's very 60s.

[178] I fucking love it.

[179] Is that a pain in the ass to get that perfect wave?

[180] Man, it's actually not all that hard.

[181] It just involves like a little curling iron.

[182] Yeah, that was a style that certain guys, black men wore in the 60s and all the way up into the 80s.

[183] And I know there's like this certain stigma around it, but that's what I love about from the 60s to the 80s era.

[184] Black men dictated what the vibe was.

[185] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[186] So what is the stigma like, oh, back then guys were relaxing their hair to make their hair straight, which is to make it like white people's?

[187] And basically, yeah, just like this stigma of.

[188] of black men trying to emulate white hairstyles.

[189] It's so different.

[190] It's not like you ever look at those 60s.

[191] There's so many musicians that had that.

[192] Not once did I look at those, like, well, this guy's trying to act like a white dude.

[193] There's no confusion at all.

[194] To me, it was still very signature black culture all the way.

[195] It aesthetically looks dope.

[196] Oh, I love it.

[197] You know, we're going to roll with it.

[198] Okay, now I do have a sensitive question now.

[199] So I was married to a black woman on TV for six years and her hair.

[200] I learned all the intricacies of a black woman's hair.

[201] Number one, like, don't fucking touch it.

[202] That was made very clear to me. Absolutely.

[203] It's a very sacred thing.

[204] And not don't touch it in the way that, like, white people touch black people's afro, like weirdos.

[205] No, just don't fuck this up.

[206] I had it done Monday.

[207] Totally.

[208] And it's got to last till third.

[209] That kind of don't fuck it up.

[210] And kind of both.

[211] I see some people very intrigued by our hair styles.

[212] This was, though, let me just say.

[213] These were like love -making scenes.

[214] And she'd go, look, everything's cool.

[215] Just don't touch my hair.

[216] That makes sense.

[217] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[218] I might have touched her hair.

[219] I know.

[220] I'm glad she told you not.

[221] I know, I am too.

[222] But anyways, so she, of course, sleeps in a headscarf.

[223] Mm -hmm.

[224] And she told us that when the scarf's off, her husband knows, like, it's time to party.

[225] Because I'm not sleeping in the head scarf tonight.

[226] That's funny because I can totally relate to that because I wear a little bonnet or du rag going to sleep.

[227] and they just like happen to slip off during the night and you just wake up just depressed because your hair is a damn mess.

[228] I don't understand this like white proclivity to touch black hair.

[229] Oh, I do.

[230] So if you're white and you've grew up with only white people, you've only seen like straight hair or minimally wavy.

[231] Occasionally like carry head curls, very rare.

[232] No white person has a afro where you could touch it and it feels as an afro feels.

[233] It's totally wrong that people do it.

[234] But I see why.

[235] They've not seen it and they want to know what it feels like.

[236] It's totally inappropriate.

[237] A redhead, you don't see that often.

[238] And I don't think people are like, can I touch your red hair?

[239] But there's nothing tactile about touching red hair.

[240] The afro's very tactile.

[241] I don't know.

[242] You weigh in.

[243] You're right.

[244] I'm getting scared.

[245] Yeah, I just think some white people are just intrigued by it.

[246] And like, we can do so much to our hair.

[247] It's like my hair is like super malleable.

[248] So like you can kind of do whatever with it.

[249] And it's, I don't know.

[250] Sky's the limit.

[251] Yeah.

[252] I can part mine on the left or the right.

[253] That's what I can do with mine.

[254] Nothing like good old part.

[255] Okay, so an Anderson -Pack directed motorbike.

[256] So my other great obsession is Anderson Pack.

[257] Oh, fuck.

[258] What do we think about Anderson Pack?

[259] How'd you come to know him?

[260] He must have just dug your shit.

[261] And did he reach out to you?

[262] Pretty wild.

[263] So I first discovered Anderson Pack through one of my homeboys, Sam Anderson.

[264] Funny enough, he was one of the guys that allowed me to play some music on his platform and that ultimately turned into my success in a way.

[265] Is this one of the guys in white denim?

[266] Yeah, for sure.

[267] Okay, okay.

[268] But yes, my homeboy Sam Anderson put me on an Anderson pack and at the time, I mean, like, I had never really heard anybody do soul music in the hip -hop realm like that.

[269] Fast forward.

[270] It was kind of something my manager brought to the table about Anderson directing the video.

[271] And I was a little reluctant at first because...

[272] You'd love him to play drums on one of your songs.

[273] I'm like, yeah, let's sing song.

[274] I didn't know how he was on his directing tip.

[275] So I checked out some of the other stuff that he shot.

[276] And honestly, I was like, okay, I think doing this collab would definitely put some more light on the single motorbike.

[277] Yeah, for sure.

[278] I first ran into him at the Roots Picnic.

[279] Literally, DMX was performing rest in peace.

[280] Oh, wow.

[281] And one of my homeboys was recording a video of me, like, dancing and stuff.

[282] And Anderson, like, walks into the video, and I like, I'm like, oh, hey, what's up, man?

[283] And so, yeah, we've kicked it at, like, various times.

[284] But, yeah, he was dope to work with, man. Yeah.

[285] Super hilarious dude, like, quick and efficient.

[286] He's pretty genius level.

[287] He's tapped into some print stuff or something.

[288] Totally.

[289] I love his most recent stuff with Bruno Mar. Yes, super cool.

[290] Have you watched by chance there's this NPR video series called Little Desk Concert or something?

[291] Yeah, Tiny Desk.

[292] Yeah, have you done it?

[293] I have.

[294] Oh, you have?

[295] Yeah.

[296] Oh, I can't wait to watch that.

[297] It's funny when I was kind of on the verge of signing with Columbia Records, they asked me kind of what did I want to do.

[298] And the first thing I came to the table was like, I just want to do a tiny desk concert.

[299] Oh, no shit.

[300] Wow.

[301] And I can go home.

[302] Call it.

[303] Oh, wow.

[304] Wait, I haven't even heard.

[305] Okay, so I discovered Tiny Desk because Mac Miller died.

[306] I'm friends with Talib Queli.

[307] He had posted something about Mac Miller.

[308] I was like, oh, if Talib likes him, maybe I should check him out.

[309] I check him out.

[310] The first thing that I stumble upon is him on the Tiny Desk thing, which I didn't even know about.

[311] But NPR does this cute little thing.

[312] They're literally about the size of this attic.

[313] Oh.

[314] And big groups come and put on a little concert around this tiny desk.

[315] Oh, cute.

[316] And so then I saw Anderson Pax, and that's again how I fell in love with him because he's playing the drums and he's playing 16th notes and he's singing and he's nasty and he's joking.

[317] And I'm like, oh, the fucking comfort level this dude has in his own skin is just so appealing.

[318] He has such an infectious kind of energy.

[319] Yeah.

[320] And his performance is deemed as kind of one of the best on that whole thing.

[321] Oh, I totally believe it.

[322] I've probably watched it 25 times.

[323] I'm always like, yeah, yeah.

[324] Oh my God, I can't wait to watch yours.

[325] What did you play?

[326] Coming home?

[327] Yeah, that was right out the gate, 2015.

[328] But yeah, I did some records off of coming home.

[329] And so you were dancing, but then you were also doing music, and then you started kind of performing around Fort Worth at smaller little venues, right?

[330] Yeah, it was initially dancing.

[331] And kind of how I fell into music, there was this group of people that would, like, on campus that would have these kind of jam sessions.

[332] I always loved to sing.

[333] I would kind of hang with them, improv and that was kind of how I first started like writing and singing and then these two dudes from white denim whose names I forget yeah Austin Jenkins and Josh Block they're from Austin yeah they're actually from Fort Worth oh they are yeah they live now in Austin I guess totally I think at that time they kind of had a little break from tour uh -huh I met Austin Jenkins at this bar I used to frequent called boiled out I was wearing some Wrangler jeans and he and that's kind of his thing He noticed that.

[334] Fast forward, he pulls up randomly on this open mic that I was doing.

[335] And after my set, he was like, oh, did you write those songs?

[336] I was like, yeah, these, you know, some tunes I've been working on.

[337] And he's like, I'm here in town for a little bits.

[338] Let's set up and make some music.

[339] Yeah, but do you have a voice in your head like me?

[340] Like any possible good opportunity for me, I'm like, someone's trying to fuck me or something.

[341] Someone's, there's some weird.

[342] There's no way someone would be helping me. Right.

[343] I wasn't really skeptical.

[344] Okay, that's great.

[345] in that way.

[346] At that moment, I definitely sensed that he was genuine.

[347] Uh -huh.

[348] And so we met up at his spot and we kind of did some demos of just like me playing acoustic and he took that and wrangled up the band and went for it.

[349] How long into open mics was that?

[350] At that point, I'd been playing open mics about maybe a year.

[351] Okay.

[352] I was prepared for him to say two weeks.

[353] I mean, yeah, it feels like, it feels fast.

[354] I mean, the timeline of it is pretty crazy.

[355] Yeah.

[356] I mean, it's funny because 2014, I got my first car.

[357] The top of 2014, fast forward, August is when I made Coming Home, and then December is when I signed with Columbia Records.

[358] Wow.

[359] Yeah.

[360] And then playing crazy.

[361] Unreal.

[362] And you didn't even know you were a dancer just a month before that.

[363] I was a D -D, a dancer and a dishwasher.

[364] A D -D.

[365] Oh, double D -squared.

[366] Yeah.

[367] Okay.

[368] 2014, I guess, right?

[369] You record coming home with these gentlemen and then get signed to Columbia.

[370] And then 15, the album comes out.

[371] The album then is nominated for a Grammy for Best R &B album.

[372] And then December of 15, he's at Saturday Night Live.

[373] Wow.

[374] Oh, my God.

[375] Can you even process?

[376] Not at all.

[377] You can't, right?

[378] That was a wild year because I think the first thing I did was before the album came out, I was invited to sing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[379] Uh -huh.

[380] And then there was the Met Gala opportunity.

[381] Oh, my God.

[382] Took an S &L and, like, man, just so wild.

[383] There's no time.

[384] Like, where did you build your confidence?

[385] Because how nerved up were you to fucking walk?

[386] By the way, I've been to SNL a couple times.

[387] When you see the stage, you're like, oh, my God.

[388] Like, it's like.

[389] Paralyzing.

[390] It's like, oh, my God, I've been watching this stage for me, 30 years.

[391] Right.

[392] All the faces that are.

[393] walked out of those doors and done the monologue and all the bands yeah it's crazy totally i mean everything was so new at the time like i was just so excited for all those opportunities i i didn't really dwell on the fear of playing on that SNL i was still nervous but yeah did you have any like imposter syndrome complex with it because it was all happening so fast like this can't i've not even heard this story how could this be happening to me another part of this story generally is like you would have moved to New York, Nashville, or L .A. And you're just still at home.

[394] Yeah.

[395] And taking planes out of fucking Dallas to go to L .S .N. That part's wild, too.

[396] Yeah.

[397] I mean, even now, with all the accolades, I always ask God, just like, why did I get this opportunity?

[398] Uh -huh.

[399] I mean, it's just wild.

[400] I mean, transitioning from the normal life that I had to whatever this is now.

[401] What was the first car in 2014?

[402] This is going to tell me a lot about you.

[403] It was a Ford Fusion.

[404] Okay, a Ford Fusion.

[405] Can I tell you what I want you in?

[406] I want you in like a 1976 F -150 with the two -tone, and I want white in the middle and red on the outside.

[407] Wow.

[408] Funny because I have a 78 Bronco.

[409] Yeah, you do.

[410] In the works, white and black.

[411] Okay.

[412] Two -tone.

[413] Okay.

[414] You know.

[415] I do know.

[416] I do know.

[417] I do know very well.

[418] Is it already been painted?

[419] It has.

[420] Okay, too late.

[421] I mean, what were you thinking?

[422] They had a fucking green scheme in 78.

[423] That's off the charts.

[424] It's too funky.

[425] It would never be out now.

[426] It was like a light green and a forest green on the outside.

[427] And for your whole rhythm, I think it would have been you popping out of that green thing.

[428] It fits it.

[429] You know, because I initially was kind of rocking with the G -wagons.

[430] And I fell in love with that.

[431] And then I kind of caught wind of those little, what is it, the Land Rover Defender 90s?

[432] For sure.

[433] Yeah.

[434] And I was like, what car embodies Texas?

[435] And like the Bronco kind of felt that.

[436] Absolutely.

[437] This could be another car for you.

[438] Get so many.

[439] Yeah, you can have too many.

[440] I have too many.

[441] All I do is think about what needs to be repaired.

[442] It's only fun once in a while, but it's worth it.

[443] So just keep mine.

[444] This is my next pitch for you because the quintessential Texas vehicle is the suburban.

[445] Right.

[446] And if you could get yourself into like a 70, oh, the fucking lines on it.

[447] I'm going to take my pants off while I just ride it.

[448] Gorgeous.

[449] Anyway, so we'll just think about that.

[450] We'll stay in contact.

[451] We'll do this together.

[452] This would be something I'd like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[453] Because also, I might even buy it for you this F -150 because it's not on your radar, but I know what you would look like in it.

[454] Hey, I'm not opposed to that.

[455] Let's just keep accumulating cards.

[456] Okay, so Saturday at Live, do you think in some way when you look back on it now, like, I have this thought sometimes, like, I thought I could do stuff just because I didn't know I couldn't do stuff, like stuff early in my career for sure.

[457] I'm like, oh, yeah, I'll try that.

[458] Yeah, I can play a Scottish guy.

[459] I can't play a Scottish guy.

[460] But I would have had to because I said I could do it.

[461] You know, like, do you ever look back and go like, oh, wow, now I guess I'd be nervous to walk into S &L and do that show.

[462] I think now if I was to have that opportunity again, I would be hell and nervous.

[463] Isn't that weird?

[464] Yeah, I mean, I think when you look at it, just looking back in hindsight, just like everything being so new.

[465] Yeah.

[466] And then just me being so ecstatic about everything.

[467] Yeah.

[468] But just like the whole concept of S &L is like, yeah, go.

[469] It's live.

[470] Yeah.

[471] Who are we talking to, Monica, that they were saying like the beginning when they start singing they're off?

[472] Oh, it was Sean Mendez.

[473] He said when he's walking to stage, his ego is saying like, you got to give these people a great show you're either i'm the king like all these people here or i don't deserve this one of the two like the ego is really busy and he said always the first two notes blow and then he just fucking finally that shit just goes away and then he remembers he just likes playing guitar and singing and then the rest of it's like easy and i was wondering if you have any like ups and downs when you first start a song live man it's so weird like i can play a tune all day just like me and my guitar when the cameras are on I have so much just self -doubt even in the middle of my performances have you ever taken beta blockers no okay so beta blockers are things that like many people take in the performing arts I know that they're pretty regularly used for people auditioning for like symphony orchestras right where they have so much anxiety about it it it prevents your blood pressure from getting to a certain level and your heart rate so you never really start getting too nervous about it.

[474] My wife takes them when she has to sing and do big shows for people and they work amazingly for her.

[475] I wonder if you'd be worth their experiment.

[476] You'd have to do a show you didn't care about.

[477] Like, oh, I don't really care if I fuck this one up.

[478] No one's there.

[479] You could give it a shot.

[480] I mean, I could go get my wife's bait -uponkers.

[481] I mean, I was high -key, like, nervous before stepping into this situation.

[482] I appreciate y 'all for being so rad.

[483] What kind of kid were you, like, in school?

[484] Were you shy?

[485] I was really bashful and quiet as a kid.

[486] Do you have siblings?

[487] I do.

[488] One brother and four half -sisters.

[489] Okay.

[490] The brother, older or younger?

[491] He's older.

[492] Did he look out for you?

[493] He did.

[494] Sounds like he could have done a better job.

[495] That was a notable pause.

[496] It's okay.

[497] I didn't look out for my little brother.

[498] Now my brother, he could fight.

[499] It's kind of like natural fighting ability.

[500] He always had my back whenever I'd get to sit.

[501] situation, yeah.

[502] Yeah, yeah.

[503] Now, when you're shy, I imagine once you take that road, like, I'm shy, then then girls just start kind of coming to you.

[504] I've seen that work.

[505] I've seen that work.

[506] I went the other way.

[507] I was like, look at me, look at me, look at me. But then I noticed, why this shy guy?

[508] He's a boy, he's got a lot of attention.

[509] Because they feel safe.

[510] Yes, they feel saved.

[511] And then the women want to protect the person.

[512] And I don't know, there's something about it.

[513] Yeah, I see that.

[514] Honestly, I think that's a quality that resonates with women sometimes.

[515] Yeah.

[516] I mean, because, I mean, because, my whole vibe is when I'm out, I never really try to spark Convo with women.

[517] Because I never really try to lean on my fame leverage to get with girls.

[518] Yeah.

[519] Well, you should do it for a little while.

[520] Okay.

[521] But were you, like, artistic in high school?

[522] Were you athletic?

[523] Were you, like, what was your click that you were in?

[524] Mostly the dance thing.

[525] Because, like, I started dancing when I was like 11, 12 years old.

[526] I remember seeing, I think it was the Michael Jackson 40th anniversary show or something like that.

[527] And I remember trying to study like his gliding, sliding, or whatever you call it, and using those moves at the school dance the next day.

[528] So isn't that wild though that you would be shy and then also want to dance?

[529] Because those things are like diametrically opposed.

[530] Right.

[531] Funny thing is like I was known as the quiet kid.

[532] Nobody knew.

[533] It was kind of a thing I only did at home.

[534] And in my senior year, I signed up for the senior show, which is essentially like talent show, whatever.

[535] Yeah.

[536] And I got together with some homies, and we danced to, this is why I'm hot.

[537] My whole class, like, their reaction was just crazy.

[538] Like, no one knew, you know, had a It was a secret.

[539] You were like the girl with glasses on and her hair was up, and then she took the glasses off and let the hair down.

[540] And I was like, oh, my God.

[541] Right.

[542] Yeah, totally ten amounts to that.

[543] No, it was dope.

[544] I had my little bit of fame.

[545] So I'm like, felt good.

[546] It's fascinating because that's hard to get up in front of your school and you've been quiet and then you're like, oh, P .S. I do this.

[547] Check this out.

[548] It's just a big swing.

[549] I'm glad it went well.

[550] And it's like, now I wonder what those guys think about kind of where I'm at currently.

[551] Yeah.

[552] Because I didn't really have too many close friends in high school.

[553] Yeah, like the people you think will become.

[554] successful in show business.

[555] It ain't always that people.

[556] We interviewed a ton of people, right, that are like, they're movie stars, but they're shy and they're not extroverts by any measure and they're not the life of the party or they don't want to be the center of attention.

[557] Well, also, you weren't singing.

[558] So if they're like, wait, that person from our high school, they didn't sing, they didn't do anything.

[559] Now they have a Grammy and they're on SNL.

[560] Like, how bizarre is someone from my high school who didn't do anything like that.

[561] was now hugely successful, it would be hard for me to wrap my head around.

[562] For sure.

[563] I would dig it if I were you.

[564] Like, it makes sense if you're a theater kid and then you become an actor.

[565] Yeah, totally.

[566] Oh, they were trying even then.

[567] But, yeah.

[568] Although I'm going to argue, since they already had the experience of the kid they never heard talk once, get up and fucking break out like that.

[569] That's true.

[570] They were probably like, don't count him out of anything.

[571] He's full of secret.

[572] Yeah.

[573] Like if you're on the next space shuttle, they'd be like, yeah, I guess that's what he did that too.

[574] Totally indicative of like, yeah.

[575] where I was heading in the way, you know.

[576] Stay tuned for more armchair expert, if you dare.

[577] What's up, guys?

[578] This is your girl Kiki, and my podcast is back with a new season.

[579] And let me tell you, it's too good.

[580] And I'm diving into the brains of entertainment's best and brightest, okay?

[581] Every episode, I bring on a friend and have a real conversation.

[582] And I don't mean just friends.

[583] I mean the likes of Amy Polar, Kell Mitchell, Vivica Fox.

[584] The list goes on.

[585] So follow, watch.

[586] listen to Baby.

[587] This is Kiki Palmer on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcast.

[588] We've all been there.

[589] Turning to the internet to self -diagnose our inexplicable pains, debilitating body aches, sudden fevers and strange rashes.

[590] Though our minds tend to spiral to worst -case scenarios, it's usually nothing, but for an unlucky few, these unsuspecting symptoms can start the clock ticking on a terrifying medical mystery.

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[596] Prime members can listen early and ad free on Amazon Music.

[597] Okay, so, like, when does it settle in?

[598] How long can you enjoy coming home before you're like, oh, I got to do it again?

[599] And then do you have any fear of like, fuck?

[600] I guess, like, I compare it to Tarantino, like, directing Pulp Fiction.

[601] Now it's like, oh, fuck, I got a, I got to make another one of those masterpieces.

[602] Yeah, man. Transitioning into making my second album was a rough process.

[603] It was.

[604] Because coming home was like all the songs I accumulated over the years and was just like writing in my mother's garage and my bedroom and all those tunes.

[605] And moving forward and just like figuring out how to push my sound forward without like alienating my fan base.

[606] Yeah.

[607] And that was hard because I was so used to like creating music with Austin Jenkins and Josh from white denim.

[608] my management and encourage me to maybe go out to LA and work with this guy named Ricky Reed who's now, I mean, he's my good friend now, but I was super apprehensive.

[609] Yeah, for sure.

[610] Making that change.

[611] The label itself, they didn't want you to like, because I could see where there would be pressure.

[612] Like, you got to do the same thing.

[613] Like, it's got to feel like we found this album no one ever heard.

[614] Because the first time I heard coming home, I was like, could this have escaped my perusal of that?

[615] era like is this an old you know like before it was explained to me i was like wait a minute did this exist like it's authentic enough that you think that right luckily the label they encourage me to not stick with the same thing and i personally wanted to keep evolving in my sound i just feel like we both would like this song do you love sorry monica but i've been love with leon and i want to Go ahead.

[616] Diamonds in the back, sunrooftop, digging the scene with the gangstalline.

[617] Ooh.

[618] Devon?

[619] Was it William Devon?

[620] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[621] Well, it's funny because, like, a lot of heads think that that's Curtis Mayfield.

[622] Oh, really?

[623] It sounds like you.

[624] It sounds very Mayfield -y, yeah.

[625] Oh, I love Curtis Mayfield, too.

[626] Oh, man, that's underrated songwriter and R &B guitarist for sure.

[627] Yeah.

[628] Yeah.

[629] What was the soundtrack he did?

[630] Oh, is Superfly?

[631] The Superfly soundtrack.

[632] Oh, my goodness.

[633] My favorite song, Think.

[634] Have you heard that one?

[635] It's kind of like an instrumental kind of vibe, but it's rad.

[636] I know I have it.

[637] Sorry, Monica.

[638] Don't worry.

[639] We'll become best friends.

[640] Think.

[641] Think.

[642] Yes.

[643] Curtis Mayfield.

[644] Another song we're going to steal.

[645] Thanks for the McCowlin.

[646] Is that your jam?

[647] What's your jam?

[648] Man, I've mostly been like a bourbon dude, but I'm kind of switched to the tequila.

[649] It's a little bit more refreshing than bourbon.

[650] Bourbon is kind of when it was like.

[651] Heavy.

[652] I'm an alcoholic, and mine was Jack Daniels.

[653] I just fucking love Jack Daniels.

[654] You mix it with Coca -Cola.

[655] Boy, you got a real cocktail there.

[656] I couldn't get down with Jack much like that.

[657] What were you drinking, Jim Bean?

[658] What bourbon?

[659] Woodford Reserve.

[660] I love Blantons.

[661] Oh, these are all like artisanal.

[662] I haven't heard of that either of those.

[663] Yeah, totally.

[664] I mean, this is like really good quality whiskey.

[665] I think Jim Bean's a little.

[666] Oh, it's garbage.

[667] Yeah.

[668] I mean, I love it.

[669] It's fucking great.

[670] Certain things pair well with others, right?

[671] So Jim Bean, you're not from Apple Country, but I am.

[672] The move during Apple Cider season, which is fall, where they make all the apple cider, is a barrel of the cider and then dump in a handle of Jim Bean.

[673] And that mixture, I'm not pitching Jim Beam on its own, but I am pitching cider with Jim Beam, buckle up.

[674] I mean, what a ride, what a ride.

[675] So very fall.

[676] Yeah, very autumnal.

[677] No, I love it.

[678] Did you get it?

[679] All right, let's see.

[680] Okay, let's hear it.

[681] He's tickling the guitar, isn't he?

[682] He has such a unique way of playing.

[683] And I would, I mean, it's totally like the pop.

[684] pioneer of all the freaking R &B licks that we hear in today.

[685] It's like music.

[686] Okay, now I'm recognizing that.

[687] Oh, it's so 70s.

[688] Right.

[689] I can see like an album cover.

[690] It's just getting painted in my head.

[691] I can also totally see that that's your favorite.

[692] Like there are definitely through lines, I think, to your music.

[693] Man, the 70s era is kind of one of my favorite eras for R &B music.

[694] Yeah.

[695] But I'm a little particular when it comes to it because there was a lot of...

[696] Garbage?

[697] Jim Bean.

[698] Well, just like...

[699] I don't dig the R &B stuff that sounded like a shaft soundtrack.

[700] Yeah, like generic funk.

[701] Basically.

[702] Yeah, yeah.

[703] And when I listened to this and like Bobby Womack, they definitely had kind of a unique thing going on.

[704] What about the meters and the Isley brothers?

[705] How do we feel about them?

[706] They're dope.

[707] I don't listen to them enough.

[708] Because sometimes I get stuck on one artist and...

[709] Oh, I can relate.

[710] I'm stuck on this guy.

[711] Leon Bridges, I could have a solid year.

[712] Okay, I want to talk about one song in particular.

[713] And if people told you what we were saying on the podcast, you may be already aware of this.

[714] But Shy, you channeled something with Shy.

[715] I don't know what happened with Shy.

[716] Oh, my God.

[717] Oh, my God.

[718] I mean, it is.

[719] It fucks me up.

[720] When did you write Shy?

[721] What was happening?

[722] The angels that visited you, what they look like.

[723] Right.

[724] To be totally transparent, like, that was a very collaborative tune.

[725] So there's a writer named Dan Wilson who wrote Closing Time.

[726] Oh, right, right, yeah.

[727] So just kind of wanted to, in a way, kind of tear the narrative of like a sentimental booty call.

[728] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[729] That's the thing, though.

[730] There's a couple people, oh, John Legend, when we talked to him, I was like, you really somehow rode the line of being sexy.

[731] And yet you didn't get into the creepy territory.

[732] It's really a hard line to ride.

[733] Same with Van Hunt where it's sexy as fuck, but yet there's no disrespect within it.

[734] Right.

[735] I mean, you look at a lot of R &B music from the 90s, and the message of getting down was so straightforward.

[736] So it's all about telling that story in a way that poetic.

[737] Uh -huh.

[738] Although I have this song, I absolutely, probably my favorite Anderson -Pack song is Swade.

[739] Yes.

[740] I mean, that song has got, oh, my God, so much stink on it.

[741] It's so good.

[742] And I tried to get Monica to fall in low with it.

[743] And understandably, she doesn't like it.

[744] No, it's not that I don't like it.

[745] I just, it's not my favorite.

[746] And I do think it is because there's some misogynistic stuff in there that I'm just like, okay, like, I'm not going to choose this song because it reminds me of misogynistic stuff.

[747] So why would I pick it?

[748] I like, the sound is fantastic.

[749] Yeah.

[750] There's moments in that song.

[751] Oh, because I just want to justify that I still love it.

[752] And so my argument was, are you getting nervous?

[753] No, we've already talked about it on here.

[754] You can talk about it again.

[755] I'd love to hear Leon's opinion.

[756] No, me too, me too.

[757] So my opinion was this, just to remind people, if I call you a bitch, it's because you're my bitch.

[758] And as long as no one else calls you a bitch, then there won't be no problemin.

[759] So that's the main issue Monica has.

[760] It's the main problem.

[761] Problemin.

[762] That's your number one problem ends with it.

[763] And I said, maybe you should think about it this way.

[764] Like when black dudes started calling each other the N word, there were white dudes on the outside going like, that's a disrespectful, the history, you shouldn't say that.

[765] That's derogatory.

[766] And black folks were like, shut the fuck up.

[767] This is our word now.

[768] Fuck you.

[769] You don't get to tell us how to use it.

[770] I love that.

[771] Yeah.

[772] And so my argument to Monica was it is possible that the people Anderson's singing to Who he's singing to, bitch isn't the same thing that it is to you.

[773] And maybe it's not for you to decide if those women who he's singing to have a positive association with it or a negative.

[774] Maybe it's not our position to judge it because we're not in his world.

[775] Right.

[776] I hear it.

[777] And honestly, like the vibe and aesthetic and energy in the song for me outweighs that little moment.

[778] Like I personally like wouldn't call the woman a bitch.

[779] Yeah.

[780] What if she was your bitch?

[781] See, this is very, this is exactly, this is exactly you.

[782] There ain't no fucking problem.

[783] There ain't no problem in this.

[784] That's player music.

[785] Like, play, yeah, not player.

[786] It totally paints a picture of just like catty vibe.

[787] Yeah, for me, it's like, it's okay if people have a little microculture that they all live in and they all know the rules of it.

[788] And that what is being said isn't disrespectful if you're in their culture and know their rules.

[789] But I'm not saying that's not true.

[790] But I'm saying that I For you.

[791] And if he is not, in your words, he's not singing for me. So then I guess he's not singing for me. So I am not going to pick it.

[792] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[793] I'd rather pick Leon's song.

[794] Shy?

[795] Shy, river.

[796] Any of them.

[797] Any number of them.

[798] Yeah, we are fans.

[799] Okay, now what's great, though, is that when I heard, You can be shy with me. At one point you go, I can be shy too.

[800] Right?

[801] Baby come over.

[802] I can be shy.

[803] I can be.

[804] You can be shy with me. Do you say I can be shy to or I'm shy to?

[805] Oh, and I'm kind of shy too.

[806] Yes, I'm kind of shy.

[807] Oh my God.

[808] I just sang a little of me too.

[809] I got goosebumps.

[810] I got, oh my God, I'm fucked up.

[811] Okay.

[812] It's like, yeah, we're in the same predicament.

[813] Yes.

[814] But when I heard it, of course, my assumption is Leon Bridges isn't shy.

[815] Like his fucking, well, now I know.

[816] But then when I heard it and fell in love with it, I was like, his aesthetic, everything about him.

[817] He's so out loud.

[818] This dude's not shy.

[819] And then I thought, was he just telling her he's shy because so they can relate?

[820] But what I love now is like meeting you.

[821] That's such a sincere part.

[822] Yo, I mean, I'm trembling.

[823] I mean, as I'm in this interview.

[824] Don't, please don't.

[825] What would make you comfortable?

[826] Do we need Rob to take his shirt off or anything?

[827] You know what?

[828] That could definitely break the ice.

[829] Or maybe I should take my shirt off.

[830] Yeah, let's all drop our shirts.

[831] Yeah, so now I like the song even more, which I didn't think was possible.

[832] Yeah, I'm shy to the core.

[833] But I've had to grow to be, I guess, extroverted.

[834] It's painful, though, right?

[835] My wife's kind of introverted.

[836] And it takes a shitload out of her.

[837] Like, if she can do it and she can click into it.

[838] But whereas I get energy from that, it exhausts her.

[839] Do you feel exhausted after you have to do that stuff?

[840] like press stewers it's it's definitely draining and for me I recharge in the solitude but it's funny because I can turn it on and off it's like when I'm in my element on stage I have a whole different persona right it's like an alter eagle like that totally y 'all definitely got to come out to a show yeah oh we're gonna be it I don't play around it when it gets you know yeah oh my god how fun and I guess there's more dancing than I would have guessed there is there is Yeah, because that was my whole thing is, like, when I first jumped off, I was dancing, but I tried to avoid just how people would expect me to dance in this kind of 60s aesthetic.

[841] It's not, you know, it's like, it didn't match up.

[842] Yeah, so, like, when I would be on stage, I would incorporate some of, like, the more modern and, like, a little hip hop in there in this kind of, like, 60s context.

[843] Yeah.

[844] Yeah, the only guy that was, like, breaking out was James Brown.

[845] James Brown was the only guy in the 60s that is, like, lighten the stage up on fire, dancing.

[846] I might be wrong about that.

[847] Everything else to me, like, temptations and stuff.

[848] It was all choreographed.

[849] Everyone did the same thing.

[850] No one just, like, lost their shit, Tina Turner style, except for him.

[851] Totally.

[852] I mean, yeah, he was definitely kind of unmatched in that way.

[853] Like, there weren't any heads around that time that we're dancing in that way.

[854] And I mean, and the music was a reflection of, yeah, of that as well.

[855] What was the first song you wrote?

[856] And were you just, like, in your room and it just, how did it happen?

[857] So the first song I wrote was this song called Conversion.

[858] And this is before I started playing guitar.

[859] And I remember I would go on a site called Band Camp and search beats.

[860] Oh, wow.

[861] And so I remember sitting in my car and just writing the tune.

[862] Conversion is a song I wrote in, like, 2011, and I was able to release under this collab with this band called Corrugden recently, but it's basically about when I first kind of transitioned into Christianity and just talking about, like, my experience.

[863] Were you late to go into the church?

[864] It's not something you grew up with immediately, or?

[865] So I grew up going to church.

[866] Okay.

[867] It wasn't until, like, I was about 18 to when I developed, like, a personal relationship.

[868] When it was a decision you made and not your parents made for you.

[869] Exactly.

[870] Did something precede that?

[871] Was there like an event?

[872] Was there soul searching?

[873] Was there sadness?

[874] What led to that commitment?

[875] Man, it's going to sound like such a minuscule thing, but I remember the time that I turned my life around.

[876] So silly.

[877] But that time I had like left my MySpace account on.

[878] This is when I was way younger.

[879] I left my MySpace account on, and my mother, she, like, found it and just, like, saw that I had this whole separate life from what lines up with how a Christian to live.

[880] Yeah, by the way, I was doing the same thing on MySpace, just solidarity.

[881] And it wasn't nothing crazy.

[882] And so my mother was like, you need to turn your life around.

[883] I don't know.

[884] At that moment, I just felt compelled to just, okay, I'm going to get serious about my faith.

[885] and study the Bible and turn away from how I was living.

[886] What do you pick up from that process?

[887] Like, do you feel less alone?

[888] Do you feel, like, connected in a way that, like, there's safety?

[889] Man, I feel like my relationship with God has diminished pretty significantly, but I kind of don't even know where I'm at right now.

[890] Yeah, that's fine.

[891] But if it wasn't for that moment, I would have never wrote songs like River or, you know.

[892] Yeah, yeah.

[893] It served you.

[894] Do you remember how it felt, though?

[895] I guess here's why I'm asking.

[896] When I first got sober, you're obliged to believe in a higher power.

[897] And I was always an atheist.

[898] And I'm like, I don't want to fucking believe in a higher power.

[899] And I'm like, and I don't want to die smoking crack.

[900] So I'm going to choose the thing I want to do less, which is like, give this a shot.

[901] And I had a moment.

[902] Like, I really gave it my all.

[903] I gave it my all.

[904] I was on my knees doing the same prayer over and over.

[905] over again.

[906] I did start to feel some weird thing that I was like, like there were moments where I felt safe.

[907] Right.

[908] I've accepted this thing in me and it's making me feel safe.

[909] That dissipated for me as well, but there was a moment where I really enjoyed that feeling for sure.

[910] Definitely.

[911] I think it's pretty rough to kind of navigate through life without believing in some higher power.

[912] Some meaning, yeah.

[913] Definitely.

[914] That's kind of how it was for me and kind of what pushed me away from it, was kind of starting to see the division within Christianity.

[915] Yeah, the politics of religion would get a little rough.

[916] And then kind of when I started doing the music thing, and I would say that's kind of when my faith started to decline in a way.

[917] Perhaps it was a placeholder of purpose, and then you actually started finding your purpose and finding your outlet to feel connected to something, and that that felt good as well, or similar?

[918] No. No, no. I mean, you're allowed to say no. Not at all.

[919] I don't know.

[920] Like, I mean, music was definitely something that I could cling to, but I wouldn't say, like, that necessarily superseded, like, the bigger feeling.

[921] Yeah.

[922] Now, back to your second album.

[923] It was rough because you knew you were going to evolve.

[924] And, yeah, the famous saying I've heard a million times is, like, Artist's first album, they've been writing their whole life.

[925] So for you, like, 22 years or 23 years, and then now, in 16 months, you've got to have a whole new other life to talk about.

[926] Right.

[927] And that whole life is just on a stage, basically, if things are working.

[928] I felt like an all love to my label, because they've given me the room to just make the music that resonates with me. I felt a little pressure during that process.

[929] I felt like the label just holding a gun to my head and just like, okay, give us a second album.

[930] We love you, but you will have to turn in an album someday.

[931] And so the process was a little different because my first album, we set up makeshift studio, recorded all analog equipment, and my songs were pretty much already realized and done.

[932] Yeah.

[933] And the second process was different because I went out to L .A. to collaborate with Ricky Reed.

[934] And the whole vibe was how, like, a lot of artists make music.

[935] but he would basically show me like a library of beats and I would pick what beat resonated with me and we'd take that and just like write a song to that.

[936] Work it.

[937] Yeah, that feels like a lot of pressure.

[938] Like, okay, go.

[939] You said you like this beat.

[940] What's going to come out now?

[941] And it's also like a crazy concept to just throw an artist in a room with strangers you know and expect them to dig for the song well exactly yeah you're so exposed you're like you're going to fail a bunch of times before you come up with the thing that works and you're going to fail in all these strangers by the way that's the one thing I relate to as an actor which is like you go to the set everyone works for an hour to get it ready and then you step onto it and then all hundred people just look you're staring at you and you fail you do it wrong you get the words wrong you don't get the emotion right and everyone watches you fail like eight times and then they now they start worrying like god i hope he gets we gotta move on you can you can feel it from everyone too like oh no like i'm wasting people's time seriously yeah yeah and then you do it and then of course that has its own elation which is like oh that was really hard so that's cool this feels good that i did it and this time like i'm collaborating lyrically with people with something i'd never done before yeah and so during the whole process I'm fearful of like giving any input on a certain song in fear of like it being deemed as a dumb thought or yes or whatever and so I was dealing with that during the process what I mentioned too I'd be afraid that I'm going to lose my voice like I'm not going to I don't want conflict I don't want to battle them they all love that I don't like it and I don't really want to say anything and oh my God they're about to take my voice from me that's what I would feel like definitely fearful of like them or Ricky that's That's my guy, I love him, I'm the death, fearful of him making my sound too polished.

[942] Yeah.

[943] And my second album was, it was a polished R &B record.

[944] That I love.

[945] I'm glad I made that move.

[946] Yeah.

[947] Because it pushed me out of kind of pigeonhole land.

[948] Yeah, also, it's hard to know as a human when the discomfort's good, if it's growing pain.

[949] Like, who is uncomfortable because it's new for me, but that's not to say that it's not good for me. versus this is uncomfortable because I'm not getting to do the thing I wanted to do.

[950] That's a much different pain and hard to know in the moment, which it is.

[951] Definitely had to learn to kind of embrace that discomfort.

[952] Uh -huh.

[953] Just knowing that ultimately, like, this is going to be beneficial.

[954] Yeah, you got to believe that in the back of your mind.

[955] I can't imagine you like conflict, though.

[956] I mean, I definitely try to avoid it.

[957] Yeah.

[958] You can bring in your older brother for the car.

[959] Yeah, you should have him around, you whispered as you're like, I don't like that at all.

[960] That's a stupid lyric.

[961] Tell them that's so stupid.

[962] I would never say that.

[963] I don't want to, you know, step on anybody's toes.

[964] It's also tricky because I think they're being presented to you as experts.

[965] Like, they're being presented as they know what they're doing, but it's you.

[966] Like, ultimately, you know the most about what you want.

[967] And he's there for doing something that wasn't what everyone was doing.

[968] Exactly.

[969] But I think it's hard to tell someone who.

[970] quote, more experienced or something, like, actually, I'm not crazy about that, or it's just a hard position to be in.

[971] Yeah, you would not do well.

[972] I would have a hard time with that.

[973] Yeah, it definitely was kind of a bit of a conundrum because you have these musicians and producers who've had success in the past and they know what they're doing.

[974] And at the same time, just accepting that just my shortcomings.

[975] Right.

[976] And just understanding, like, this is healthy.

[977] Yeah, it's a chance to grow.

[978] the right attitude yeah the first screenplay i ever sold the production company was really successful and at one point the guy was like you need a monkey in this uh script and i was like a monkey this is real yeah we put a monkey in this movie and it uh tested yes it tested blah blah blah we put something in this other movie then we tested it he's like just start with a monkey you got to figure out how to put a monkey in there and by god i did you did it i did it That's the first thing I sold.

[979] I try to do the best version of putting a monkey in the movie that I could.

[980] And that's...

[981] And then that movie did not get made, I was saying.

[982] It didn't get made.

[983] That's kind of, I mean, that's kind of tantamount to, like, the music industry in a way, like, how some heads try to follow the formula.

[984] Yeah.

[985] Yeah.

[986] I'm lucky to where I can deviate from that in my music.

[987] But, see, I really love, like, shy would have never been on the first album.

[988] Not at all.

[989] And yet, I fucking love that song.

[990] It is so good for that...

[991] Do you like that song?

[992] You guys, there's this new song I really like.

[993] For what box it's fitting in, it's still incredibly authentically you.

[994] And yet it's in this box that I love that box.

[995] I love tons of music that's in that box.

[996] And yet it still has your fingerprint all over it.

[997] So it's all good.

[998] I'm happy you see it that way, man. There's so many dope elements in that song.

[999] And that's kind of how I look at music is, like, when I approach writing, I was like, how would Al Green sing over this modern production?

[1000] Yeah.

[1001] And I think that's what worked for me. I'm glad it translated as, this is still Leon, this is still authentic.

[1002] Yeah.

[1003] So were you as proud of that second album?

[1004] Or did you have, like, fear or misgivings or?

[1005] I'm proud of it now.

[1006] In the middle of it, it was pretty rough.

[1007] Yeah, yeah.

[1008] And who were you with out in L .A.?

[1009] Do you have a girlfriend or anything at the time?

[1010] No. Oh, it's just you.

[1011] Yeah.

[1012] And you're going back to wherever you're staying.

[1013] Yeah.

[1014] Oh, my God.

[1015] I haven't been in a serious relationship in a minute.

[1016] Nor has Monica.

[1017] Oh, Dax is trying to match.

[1018] Here we come.

[1019] She's not that shy, but she could probably play show.

[1020] No, I'm not.

[1021] So now your new album, which is Gold Digger Sound.

[1022] Yes.

[1023] This may be really weird.

[1024] this has no business on the podcast but it started to occur to me when I was reading about the new album was it recorded at Gold Diggers yes so yeah Gold Diggers is kind of this like multi -faceted complex in East Hollywood I think it was once used as a sound state for some like 1940s movie I heard it was a strip club at one point I think what resonated with me about it was just like the aesthetic because this was going to be a place that I was going to ultimately, like, live in and make music.

[1025] And so, like, there's this dope hotel, and it's totally unassuming.

[1026] From the outside, you would never think that it is what it is.

[1027] Yeah.

[1028] And so I was definitely drawn to, like, the aesthetic of the rooms and the decor that's important, like, while making an album, would be in a place that inspiring.

[1029] Yeah, visually.

[1030] Totally.

[1031] Yeah, if it's the same place, and I've seen pictures of it, it's, like, very era, right?

[1032] It looks 60s in there or something.

[1033] Oh, totally.

[1034] I mean...

[1035] It's totally parallel with my whole thing.

[1036] Uh -huh.

[1037] I mean, I had been working on this album over the course of two years.

[1038] Mm -hmm.

[1039] And we felt like there was something missing.

[1040] And so we felt like the only way to unlock what we needed was to kind of sit up at night and create this totally, like, immersive experience to where we're inviting some of our favorite musicians and writers and literally, like, making it a party.

[1041] Yeah, yeah.

[1042] Come in at midnight.

[1043] Exactly.

[1044] Check in late.

[1045] We got the tequila's out and the coffee and just going at it.

[1046] Oh, man. And it was, this album process was almost a homecoming for me because I was able to come back to, like, the whole live recording process.

[1047] And so a lot of these songs were derived from improvisational jams.

[1048] Really?

[1049] Uh -huh.

[1050] Yeah.

[1051] So this will bore you, because you already know it.

[1052] But up until, I guess, maybe the 70s, they could only record on, like, two channels when they, they record it.

[1053] So the singers in some instruments would all have to play perfectly at the same time.

[1054] And then you'd have the drummer and the bass on some other track.

[1055] And then they learned to ping pong.

[1056] Now there's infinite tracks.

[1057] So they isolate everybody.

[1058] But it must be cool to go back to the like, oh, no, this has to work.

[1059] Yeah.

[1060] Real time.

[1061] Absolutely.

[1062] Back then, like you had to be cold at what you did.

[1063] Yeah.

[1064] Yeah.

[1065] Now we can kind of rely on the modern way of recording things and stuff.

[1066] slideness of micro hair this way it's kind of like theater versus film yeah during that time it's like if you fuck up it's like well let's start that over again and uh yeah that was sixty eight worth of tape right so we got to put a whole new reel on that's going to take 20 minutes right so the new album but we got to go back we got to go back to the real quick why do you think you haven't been in a relationship for a long time oh great question really good question I mean, you're obviously busy.

[1067] Right.

[1068] That is a factor, for sure.

[1069] But you're great looking.

[1070] You got a great style, and you got some papers, so I don't get it.

[1071] Right.

[1072] You know, I mean, nah.

[1073] I mean, the gals, they don't love me like that, man. I can't be sure.

[1074] Okay.

[1075] It's possible.

[1076] You know, I'm all about, like, dating with the purpose.

[1077] Like, I've had opportunities to be in something serious.

[1078] But just, like, understanding, like, what I want and what I don't want.

[1079] I love singleness.

[1080] And my whole thing is, like, if I, I do enter into like a serious relationship.

[1081] I want that to ultimately be the whole thing.

[1082] Yeah.

[1083] I know it sounds crazy, but no, no, no. You're 32, 31?

[1084] Yeah.

[1085] When I was 32, I met Kristen.

[1086] And I was like, I can't just date people anymore because I want to be a dad by the time I'm 38.

[1087] I don't want to be a dad at 48.

[1088] So I got to like be really clear about what I'm looking for.

[1089] A year after you, yeah, I was thinking that way as well.

[1090] So I don't think that's crazy.

[1091] Right.

[1092] What are we looking for?

[1093] What kind of gale are we in the market for?

[1094] Man. You get to design her in the laboratory.

[1095] I definitely hope she's a Texas gal.

[1096] There we go.

[1097] I think it's refreshing to date women who see past the notoriety.

[1098] Uh -huh.

[1099] You think that's easier in Texas?

[1100] Oh, for sure.

[1101] Really?

[1102] Sure.

[1103] Because I'd imagine here you're like hot shit, but guess what?

[1104] There's hot shit like on every block.

[1105] So it might just be like, yeah, yeah, I get it.

[1106] Time a dozen.

[1107] Yeah, you're hot shit, and so is your neighbor and his neighbor.

[1108] her neighbor man i don't know i'm not i'm not even popping like that you know so i got to really bring some game here you know oh i don't think you have to do much to be honest but it's more than the fame i feel like there's something about a singer big time like it's not even famous but someone who's like talented in that realm well we feel like we know your soul i feel like i know your soul i don't know you but i feel like i know your soul which is crazy but i do it's interesting because, like, when you look at the music, I think women can have this, like, idea of who you are.

[1109] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1110] Super romantic.

[1111] Like, every time they're with you at sunset.

[1112] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1113] Where were you, honey?

[1114] Oh, I was just writing a beautiful song about you.

[1115] Or, like, oh, was that about me?

[1116] Was that?

[1117] No, I took bits and pieces from, you know.

[1118] Well, the other thing is, And I've always thought this.

[1119] So you even said it.

[1120] Like you go on stage and that's a Leon Bridges.

[1121] Like that's the Liam Bridges that can deliver to an audience.

[1122] That's not you per se.

[1123] That's not you at home.

[1124] And I would have some fear that anyone that got attracted to me watching that version of me is going to be disappointed when they get in the house because that's not me. Definitely.

[1125] I feel like it's still a part of me, but like outside of the stage, I mean, I'm a pretty low -key.

[1126] Yeah.

[1127] Kat, I honestly love being alone.

[1128] Uh -huh.

[1129] Stay tuned for more armchair expert, if you dare.

[1130] Now, are you excited for the new album releasing and then all the work that'll accompany that?

[1131] Because now you've got to go out on tour and stuff, all the traditional stuff.

[1132] Obviously, probably your Jones into play, huh, after quarantine for a year?

[1133] Honestly, you loved quarantine, I can tell you.

[1134] Man, if it could have stayed that way.

[1135] way out of and totally content.

[1136] I didn't hate it out there.

[1137] Yeah, we didn't hate it too.

[1138] Yeah.

[1139] I mean, now that everything's kind of gradually getting back, I'm definitely looking forward to it.

[1140] I'm really excited to see what Gold Digger Sound is going to do.

[1141] I love saying unpredictable.

[1142] Yeah.

[1143] And I think this is a new thing and it still feels like me. Well, I've only heard motorbike and I love motorbike.

[1144] I love it.

[1145] Did you think it was about you?

[1146] Written for you?

[1147] Worse.

[1148] I was like, oh, he wants to be like me. Oh, my God.

[1149] God.

[1150] Even Leon Bridges.

[1151] He wants to be a motorcyclist.

[1152] Man, that's a good one.

[1153] Do you ride a motorcycle?

[1154] Yeah, it's funny because I'm terrified of motorcycles, but I'm going to learn ultimately.

[1155] It was a moment during the writing process where I was like, oh, yeah.

[1156] I mean, that just feels good.

[1157] Yeah.

[1158] But it represents kind of the unspoken chemistry between, you and your lover.

[1159] Yeah, when you're riding a motorcycle, you're not like turning a steering wheel.

[1160] You are infusing with it and making it go where you want to go.

[1161] It's more like riding a horse, I guess.

[1162] I don't write horses, but do you write horses?

[1163] No, I don't.

[1164] Your Wranglers begging to go for a horse ride.

[1165] I grew up in the city, man. You know, I'd say, I never stepped foot in the country.

[1166] But yeah, man, I mean, heads like, they say, oh, it's similar to riding a bike.

[1167] And I'm like, well, motorcycles are significantly heavier than bikes.

[1168] Yeah.

[1169] Yeah, yeah.

[1170] More power.

[1171] Totally.

[1172] Yeah, there's a lot more going.

[1173] on right now do you have a tour already planned yes i'll be doing some festivals kind of sporadically and then touring starting september okay do you tour on a bus or do you fly everywhere man i i'm i'm not that popping to be in a PJ yet at a yeah we mostly tour in a bus like everybody else i wouldn't fuck the PJ you see the bus my bus when you walk in yeah you i'm all about the bus life i'm trying to be like you i'm hopping on with you you too yeah I'll drive you anywhere.

[1174] Let's go.

[1175] Guaranteed.

[1176] I hope you don't mind listening to your own music the whole fucking ride on repeat.

[1177] All right.

[1178] I'm all good.

[1179] So Gold Digger Sound is available for pre -order now.

[1180] It doesn't come out until June.

[1181] It'll be out like end of July.

[1182] End of July.

[1183] But you can pre -order it now and the single motorbike is already out.

[1184] What are the odds that you would sing for us?

[1185] I got it.

[1186] You got it?

[1187] Oh my gosh.

[1188] The tiny hint.

[1189] that you've been kind of singing.

[1190] It's crazy what can come out of people's mouths.

[1191] What song?

[1192] Oh, fuck.

[1193] Do we have six songs in them?

[1194] Do we have six hours with you?

[1195] Well, first of all, you tell us, like, there's got to be songs that lend themselves better and worse.

[1196] Okay.

[1197] Do you have a guitar?

[1198] Oh, God, I should have brought my freaking guitar.

[1199] I got a guitar.

[1200] Oh, whoa.

[1201] I'll go get it.

[1202] Amazing.

[1203] Let's go.

[1204] Oh, this is so exciting.

[1205] If you have a capo, you have a, you have a guitar.

[1206] of Capeo?

[1207] I do.

[1208] I hope it's still on there.

[1209] Okay.

[1210] My kids play with it.

[1211] Ooh.

[1212] Yes.

[1213] Yay.

[1214] Oh, yes.

[1215] Go time.

[1216] I'm leaning towards doing something new, but I don't know.

[1217] Okay, yeah.

[1218] So I'm music playing with a capeo?

[1219] I get.

[1220] Oh, I feel terrible.

[1221] No, no, no, no. Uh -uh.

[1222] Loved you at the peak.

[1223] Adored you in a valley.

[1224] Ultimately.

[1225] A wild flame can be contained You wanted longevity I wasn't ready To go there with you Brown ice turned to fire blue But I'm grateful for the times that we had I didn't mean to leave you sad I was playing with your heart like a child But I'd rather rain than tears fall down So fun for us I know I know I've been traveling each white rose So long My heart's been for 10 ,000 miles gone Oh I want to come to And give every part of me With his blood on my hand In my lips I run clean In my darkness, I remember Mama's words When you're calling me Surrender to the good Lord And I wipe your slate please Tame me to your river I I want to go take me to your river in your smooth waters I go in as a man with many crimes come up for air as my sins float down the Jordan oh I want to come near and you every part of me but there's better on my hand And my lips are one clean Take me to your river I take me to your river We are so lucky We are lucky as humans on planet earth Thanks for Oh my God Thank you, what a gift Is it going to weird you out if I smell the fretboard afterwards?

[1226] No, no, just see if I can pick up some of your set Yeah.

[1227] Oh, my Lord.

[1228] That was incredible.

[1229] Yeah, that was transcendent.

[1230] Thank you so much.

[1231] It's bonkers what a human can do.

[1232] I know.

[1233] Well, what some human can do?

[1234] Why can't we?

[1235] It's not fair.

[1236] But it makes me like us as a species more.

[1237] The aliens love this part.

[1238] This is the aliens' favorite thing, Liam, when they're watching us from their spacecraft, they're trying to figure out what the fuck we do.

[1239] We're very confusing.

[1240] We're zipping around in cars, going where, who knows?

[1241] What's the point of it?

[1242] And then every now and then someone like, you does that.

[1243] And they go, oh, my God, these.

[1244] They do it.

[1245] Yeah, really?

[1246] They're cool.

[1247] Yeah, humanity's cool.

[1248] Yeah.

[1249] Is there a song on the new album that you would want to play?

[1250] Mm. Or are they too guitar heavy?

[1251] You're really, really handicapped right now.

[1252] Yeah, I'm so fucking mad my capo.

[1253] I said it brought my capo.

[1254] Here's the thing.

[1255] My kids think that capo is a toy.

[1256] And so.

[1257] Right.

[1258] God knows where it's at in the house.

[1259] Let me see, like...

[1260] We don't stop with the time do.

[1261] Love is in another life.

[1262] Let me remind you.

[1263] Look back, see me behind you.

[1264] When it feels good, you don't have to drive.

[1265] And if you say so, say so, let's go.

[1266] I know you all that I want is sins.

[1267] I bet you.

[1268] What do I got to do, get you?

[1269] On the back of my motorbike, switch lanes, 29, oh girl, it's whatever you like.

[1270] Oh, on the back of my motorbike, write your name in the sky.

[1271] Oh, girl.

[1272] I have this finger -picking thing that I do to it.

[1273] Just need the capo.

[1274] That was kind of a...

[1275] Oh, that was great, though.

[1276] That works.

[1277] Oh.

[1278] How do you...

[1279] Okay, so when you first start singing, are you like, be good?

[1280] Like, do you know a meeting?

[1281] Like, I just can't...

[1282] I can't imagine not having done it and that being in your body.

[1283] Yeah.

[1284] And then being in your 20s and, like, just kind of trying it.

[1285] But no one's told you you're good.

[1286] good at it because you haven't done it.

[1287] That's also kind of seal story, if I remember correctly.

[1288] Do you know his story?

[1289] No. Seal started very late as well.

[1290] Like, that wasn't his thing.

[1291] And then he just started it.

[1292] And then he was fucking seal.

[1293] It's an impossible question.

[1294] Because we basically said, like, how do you know you're great?

[1295] Well, are you just singing?

[1296] And like, I guess I could keep.

[1297] I mean, obviously something in you said, like, I'm okay.

[1298] Or you wouldn't have kept going with it.

[1299] Right.

[1300] I think in a way would, gave me a little hope early on was when I was rocking the open mics and just like the feedback.

[1301] And I kind of understood at that time of being somewhat of an anomaly in Fort Worth because like the scene is predominantly country.

[1302] And there weren't a lot of like singer -songwriter R &B type thing going on in there.

[1303] Yeah.

[1304] Because when you look at the R &B spectrum in, let's say, DFW, Fort Worth, Dallas, you look at like Erica Badu.

[1305] There's a lot of music that's kind of derived from that sound.

[1306] Yeah, which is like Neo Soul, you would say, right?

[1307] And for me, it's great music.

[1308] I just wanted to take a different path with it.

[1309] Like, for me, it's like kind of doing the R &B thing from a Texas lens.

[1310] And when I say that, it's like, it's R &B music with like country and folk nuances.

[1311] oh man well Leon this has been like a for real made my year kind of thing I'm so happy you came dude thanks for freaking having me oh yeah oh my god anytime we love you so much oh my god I mean well I'll speak for my taste there's not a ton of music where I'm like oh yeah I see their soul yeah yeah yeah there's a lot of shit that's good but not like I'm like oh yeah yeah I can feel what this person's heart feels like yeah yeah And you do that, man. It's so good.

[1312] I'm so happy it resonates.

[1313] Oh, yeah.

[1314] Couldn't be more obsessed.

[1315] Really quick.

[1316] L .A. it just doesn't infect you at all, right?

[1317] You can't wait to get back to Fort Worth?

[1318] Not at all, man. It's like I can dip in and out of it.

[1319] But I'm at the core footwork.

[1320] Do you think maybe it also keeps your songwriting better?

[1321] In that, like, Chappelle, he's like, I can't write about what's funny if I'm in the center of what's funny and I don't have an outsider's perspective.

[1322] I need to go back to Ohio to have the outsider's perspective that helps me synthesize it all.

[1323] Right.

[1324] For me, I just think if I lived here, I would easily kind of get lost in the mix.

[1325] It's really grounding to live in Fort Worth and to be in the place where I grew up and my family's there.

[1326] My friends are there.

[1327] And I need that for my peace of mind.

[1328] Well, also it kind of helps him being humble.

[1329] Yeah, for sure.

[1330] Yeah, like if you lived out here, you could start believe in your own shit like i have right and then but if you're like you got a new walk and all your friends and your parents are like what is this what are you doing yeah well leam man so much luck with gold digger sound thank you let us know when you have a show here we'll be there i gotcha we'll be there we'll be there pull up we can party it out yeah we'll be the two people exploding in the office that's how you'll know who we are is what we're going to vaporize it hop on stage you know When you play shy and you dedicate it to Monica and I, I'm going to vaporize.

[1331] I got you.

[1332] We're going to have to drive Big Brown there, even though there'll be no parking, no nothing.

[1333] We'll have to bring the bus.

[1334] To the Greek five minutes away.

[1335] I think me 40 minutes to put the pop -outs in and 40 minutes to put them back out.

[1336] Well, Leon, again, man, a million thanks.

[1337] So happy you came in in person.

[1338] It was so, what a privilege to see you sing.

[1339] To have your vocal cords, your vocal cords, vibrate my ears, not through a fucking intermediary.

[1340] It was as tasty as you'd imagine.

[1341] All right, man, good luck with everything.

[1342] My man, thank you.

[1343] And now my favorite part of the show, the fact check with my soulmate Monica Padman.

[1344] Damn, those are cool.

[1345] I'm kind of jealous.

[1346] I don't have that color.

[1347] Get them.

[1348] Fuck, those are really cool.

[1349] I really like the mic on it.

[1350] The black.

[1351] Yeah, but it's like iridescent.

[1352] Oh, he's he's iridescent.

[1353] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1354] Oh, man. What a tope?

[1355] Is this the fact check?

[1356] Yep, yep.

[1357] Oh, great.

[1358] Oh, this is perfect.

[1359] I have new shoes.

[1360] We can't even, like, start the fact check because I'm fucking mesmerized by Moni's new Jordy's.

[1361] They're really cool.

[1362] They're like a toad.

[1363] Is that the right color?

[1364] Yeah, I would call it a tope or a, a, Deep sand.

[1365] Deep sand.

[1366] And black.

[1367] That's right.

[1368] And like kind of, also kind of gold.

[1369] Yeah.

[1370] It gives the illusion of black and gold, which are your colors.

[1371] That's my, yeah, my thematic colors.

[1372] And then the mic on it, the Michael Jordan on the Jordan is like an iridescent, almost pinky black.

[1373] Do you know my favorite, not my favorite, one of my favorite JZ lyrics.

[1374] Tell me. is N -word, I am the Mike Jordan of recording Andward you might want to step back from recording Say it again?

[1375] Well, I'm saying N -word Instead of the real lyric.

[1376] Oh, oh, oh, thank you.

[1377] I've really had to practice at that Because it's hard to get it to sound in the same cadence.

[1378] I'm glad, thank you.

[1379] And word I am the Mike Jordan of recording Andward you might want to step back from recording.

[1380] Wow.

[1381] But he says Mike Jordan, which I fucking love.

[1382] Of course he does.

[1383] They're probably best friends.

[1384] I don't know.

[1385] I just feel like all the coolest people are best friends, you know?

[1386] I sometimes think that, but then I also sometimes think there's not room in the rooms for those people.

[1387] Yeah, but Jay Z and Mike, Jay and Mike, they're so cool.

[1388] They're so cool.

[1389] They're in another echelon.

[1390] Stratosphere.

[1391] They don't suck up any energy.

[1392] Like they just sit and they're so chill.

[1393] Well, again, that could be a problem.

[1394] Like, both of them are just used to probably sitting in the room and being adored.

[1395] But if they're both there, who's doing the adoring?

[1396] But I guess they probably adore each other.

[1397] I'll be there.

[1398] If Mike Jordan doesn't adore Jay, he does.

[1399] Ding, ding, ding.

[1400] What if this leads to, in the way that Liam Bridges ended up, what if this leads to them?

[1401] Listen, Mike or Jay, hit me on Twitter.

[1402] I'm never there, but hit me there.

[1403] M or J. I'll find it.

[1404] Em or J. And we'll do this dang thing.

[1405] We also just had Tim Grover on earlier.

[1406] So, like, we really put in a lot of Mike Jordan out there right now.

[1407] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1408] And I just believe in putting stuff out there.

[1409] Yeah, you too.

[1410] We do.

[1411] We just had a guest on today that, you know, by all accounts, dismissed Monica and I's belief in kind of, like, for lack of a better, like, the secret.

[1412] Yeah, she doesn't believe in it.

[1413] She was amazing.

[1414] I can't wait for you guys to listen to that one.

[1415] I know.

[1416] It was so good.

[1417] And then there's a lot of, like, a lot of teasing.

[1418] Yeah, a little CT.

[1419] But so what's crazy is yesterday we had a guess that Monica was a fucking dish towel on her seat.

[1420] She was so crazy about the guest.

[1421] I can't.

[1422] I mean.

[1423] You can't.

[1424] I think you'd tip your car.

[1425] I want to say so much and I can't say anything.

[1426] But I was.

[1427] In a love bubble.

[1428] I kind of still am.

[1429] Yeah.

[1430] I keep thinking about it.

[1431] Yeah.

[1432] And it's doing something to me. But it's not.

[1433] I mean, this.

[1434] Tell me what it's doing to you.

[1435] Okay.

[1436] It is making me feel so grateful for my life.

[1437] Oh, good.

[1438] That I don't want to give it away.

[1439] I'll have to cut all this.

[1440] Can I just say, though, so I witnessed you in this love bubble yesterday.

[1441] And I was so, I was happy for you.

[1442] I was proud of you.

[1443] Thank you.

[1444] And, you know, I don't like to be proud of anyone.

[1445] I know, which I give me permission.

[1446] Yeah, I want you to be proud.

[1447] Yeah, so, and then I was very vocally proud of.

[1448] you and I'm a little bit jealous of the fun love bubble because I know what that's like.

[1449] Yeah.

[1450] And then today we had a guest where I kind of got in the love bubble for a minute.

[1451] You did?

[1452] No, not nearly in the level.

[1453] No, just I was like, I was titillated with the person's whole thing.

[1454] You could not be.

[1455] You were too.

[1456] Yeah.

[1457] Yeah, yeah.

[1458] But anyways, no, it's not the same.

[1459] But I just, we both had fun, like, guest experiences in the last.

[1460] 24 hours.

[1461] Sure did.

[1462] Sure did.

[1463] Okay.

[1464] Well, we've talked a long time about things people are just agitated.

[1465] We won't know anything about.

[1466] But okay, so upward and onward.

[1467] But, oh, can I add one thing about the Jay and Mike thing?

[1468] Yeah.

[1469] J &M.

[1470] J &M.

[1471] So we, we, Rob, not we, or maybe, I thought it was Rob, maybe it was you.

[1472] Someone asked, and I think it was Rob, asked someone on Leon's team, does he like anything to drink?

[1473] And so Rob found out that he liked this one kind of You found out that he liked whiskey, and then you delivered.

[1474] Yeah, I asked what he prefers to drink.

[1475] Oh, wow.

[1476] And then I just found a nice whiskey for it.

[1477] Yeah, so Rob got his hands on a really nice bottle of whiskey that was just kind of sitting next to the couch.

[1478] It looked, it was like madman.

[1479] I liked it.

[1480] It was very sexy.

[1481] Yeah.

[1482] And he's sexy.

[1483] And so I wonder what your thoughts on this.

[1484] What if we had a guess that we found out loves a drug?

[1485] No. Uh -oh.

[1486] A legal drug?

[1487] An illegal drug?

[1488] No. Look, drugs are drugs.

[1489] Alcohol is the same as drugs.

[1490] But it's legal.

[1491] Oh, who cares?

[1492] No, I can't.

[1493] But that's the part that I feel we can't do.

[1494] Yeah, it's not the drug necessarily.

[1495] Because we'll get arrested?

[1496] I don't know.

[1497] We didn't do it.

[1498] We just bought it.

[1499] I guess buying it's illegal.

[1500] Yeah, buying it's bad.

[1501] We're going to have to get an armchair to donate it then.

[1502] I would feel so uncomfortable if I knew someone was like on Coke in trying to talk to us.

[1503] Like, but first of all, anyone on drugs, I'm sorry.

[1504] If you're on like Molly or Coke or opiates.

[1505] I don't think you can say that.

[1506] Yeah, because you're still better without it.

[1507] Hold on a second, though.

[1508] You're probably right that you're better.

[1509] But I also think that you might have a little bit of like a TV perspective on what someone on Coke's like.

[1510] No, I've been around people on.

[1511] You have.

[1512] Yeah.

[1513] Because.

[1514] They want to talk and talk.

[1515] Well, that's what we want from our guests.

[1516] No, then they'll be rambling.

[1517] Then I'll be in my head about editing.

[1518] Okay.

[1519] I won't enjoy it.

[1520] All right.

[1521] I just thought it'd be kind of cool if like we found out someone, they love PCP, right?

[1522] And they sat down on the couch and they looked to the right and there was like a little.

[1523] Baggy?

[1524] What does it come in?

[1525] I don't know.

[1526] They lace dubies with it.

[1527] I think it's a powder.

[1528] Yeah.

[1529] Angel dust.

[1530] But whatever their thing, their kink is, it's just sitting there on a little like a silver platter.

[1531] No, I'm not comfortable having drugs in this attic with an addict, yes.

[1532] Although that Jack Daniels is my other thing.

[1533] It wasn't Jack.

[1534] Well, no, but whiskey for me is tied with cocaine.

[1535] For tempting.

[1536] Well, then Rob, that was a bad job.

[1537] God damn it, Rob.

[1538] Sorry.

[1539] No, cocaine would be worse.

[1540] Anywho, what I, all right, let me back up.

[1541] What if we found out, Mike Jordan would love to come on.

[1542] He would prefer to be rolling.

[1543] while he's here.

[1544] So could he be on Molly?

[1545] You'd say yes, right?

[1546] No, Molly?

[1547] Yeah.

[1548] That's a really bad one to have.

[1549] Why?

[1550] People are not coherent on Molly.

[1551] Yes, they are.

[1552] They use it in therapy.

[1553] Because what happens is all the insecurities you would normally have about being vulnerable and loving are gone.

[1554] So you're just loving and vulnerable.

[1555] The other day, there was a birthday party.

[1556] And apparently...

[1557] Oh, yeah.

[1558] The person was on...

[1559] This person was on Molly and was out of their mind.

[1560] I heard that too, and what I pointed out when I heard it was, if it had been Kristen that was like that or you that was like that, it'd probably be a really cute, fun story.

[1561] I think it's being a little bit shaded by the fact that they don't like that person, and I don't either.

[1562] Listen, we're talking too much about things that no one understands.

[1563] I know, you're right.

[1564] It's a theme of this fact check.

[1565] The frustrating fact check.

[1566] Yeah, I'm so sorry.

[1567] Welcome back to the frustration check.

[1568] I'll cut this.

[1569] Okay.

[1570] Oh, no. No, my legs look.

[1571] I hate to admit it.

[1572] What?

[1573] They look dry because I've been washing it.

[1574] Oh, yeah.

[1575] And guess what?

[1576] It's skirt and swimsuit weather?

[1577] Yeah.

[1578] So, you know, now would be the time to try that experiment.

[1579] I can't see the dryness from here if that makes you feel me better.

[1580] Oh, that does.

[1581] All I see is these banging fucking Jordy's.

[1582] Yeah.

[1583] Well, good.

[1584] They're a good distraction.

[1585] I mean, I guess if Michael Jordan wants to do Molly here, I'll let him.

[1586] Michael Jordan and Jay Z are Michael B Jordan, are good friends all three of them no no not not the basketball player but there's lots of photos of jacey and michael b jordan oh get out and i'm friends with michael b jordan that's right ding ding ding although i invited him on the podcast and he never talked to me again we used to text this is the truth was that roly on in the podcast i'll cut that i wonder no keep that um no but yeah i asked him to come on and normally when i would text him he'd respond right away by the way let me say i love michael b jordan i'm a huge fan he's fucking awesome he was so fun to have around on parenthood and we got along so well yeah I was so interested in his whole life as you'd imagine because he was young gorgeous yeah that's your favorite that's kind of my favorite thing to talk to people about but yeah I hit him up about coming on and then it just I haven't heard from him since all right this podcast is both created tons of friendships and it's ended a couple no it has not you could check back in I also emailed Vince Vaughn like three times and then was it three I think it was two and then he just stopped responding I mean, good for him, you know.

[1587] Like, he already told.

[1588] He's like, I never told me no. He just never responded.

[1589] Yeah, that's fine for you to check back in.

[1590] Okay.

[1591] Maybe, you know, they're doing fucking wedding crushers too.

[1592] No. Yes, Penae is producing it.

[1593] Oh, well, then Penae can hook us up.

[1594] We got to get both those fuckers on.

[1595] Yes, together.

[1596] Oh.

[1597] That'd be fun.

[1598] You know, I was thinking, I'll cut this, you know.

[1599] But there's nothing in this factor.

[1600] We're not going to.

[1601] I want to start a new podcast called We've got to cut this.

[1602] Yeah.

[1603] When the new movie comes out in October, we should have both of them on.

[1604] Do you want to do that or do you want to have just one?

[1605] I want to have separately and then them both on.

[1606] Yeah, man, yeah.

[1607] Because can you imagine that picture?

[1608] Oh, my God.

[1609] It would be a picture of you orgasming.

[1610] Oh, my God.

[1611] It might be the last frame that exists of you before you exploded in ecstasy.

[1612] your eyes just watered like you just had a physiologic like you just went somewhere oh my god monica this is what's so likable about you your face betrays you your face betrays you your face betrays you oh my god it's so wonderful i wish everyone could see that monica's eyes are watering and she's fucked up like she looks like she just left the bedroom with both of them why i have to edit this in a way This was useless fact, I guess.

[1613] Okay.

[1614] Leon.

[1615] Leon Bridges.

[1616] The good thing is there's not very many facts with Leon.

[1617] Because he's just a sweet boy.

[1618] He's a sweet boy.

[1619] He wasn't like dropping a lot of data.

[1620] No. He wasn't trying to like impress us, which I liked.

[1621] No. Genuine.

[1622] That's a hard name to say.

[1623] Genuine.

[1624] Is from Washington, D .C. Oh.

[1625] And.

[1626] He's dead?

[1627] No. He's 50.

[1628] He's 50.

[1629] 50s, 50.

[1630] What if we started thinking we couldn't talk about anything?

[1631] And, like, you said, Jenra, I was like, we got to cut that.

[1632] Okay.

[1633] When you, because you talk about what car that you thought Leon would have.

[1634] Oh, right, right, right, right.

[1635] So I think we should play a game, right?

[1636] Like, I say a person, and then you say the car.

[1637] Oh, okay, that's great.

[1638] Okay.

[1639] Okay, I should have wrote some people.

[1640] Well, we'll cut this up.

[1641] Okay, what about MJ, Michael Jordan?

[1642] He loves, right?

[1643] What I would put him in.

[1644] I would put Jordan in probably the AMG GT, which is like it's the German Corvette.

[1645] It's got that cool bubble back end.

[1646] It's a two -seater.

[1647] It's fast.

[1648] It's sexy.

[1649] I'll show you pictures of it.

[1650] I'd like to see him in a black version.

[1651] Okay.

[1652] How about Ashton?

[1653] You know, Ashton, he drives what he's supposed to, which is a Tesla.

[1654] because he's all about tech.

[1655] Exactly.

[1656] And he, too, is rich, so he's going to have a nice version.

[1657] Yeah.

[1658] But I do think I'd rather see him in the TACAN, the Porsche TACAN, which is all electric.

[1659] And I think it's more in the vibe of him because he's athletic.

[1660] Yeah.

[1661] You know, yeah.

[1662] Okay, Meryl Streep.

[1663] Oh, great.

[1664] Yeah.

[1665] Oh, man. This is too much, but I mean, I saw it right away.

[1666] Do you remember the Mercedes you decided you loved?

[1667] which is like a 60s Mercedes Goldwing.

[1668] It had gallwing doors.

[1669] Can you imagine Merrill Street pulled up in that?

[1670] Like a 60s Mercedes going like so much character so much history so much so fancy yet so sophisticated but cool.

[1671] Yeah, because it's retro.

[1672] Fuck, that's weird.

[1673] I did three Mercedes.

[1674] I know I did it.

[1675] I put a portion there too.

[1676] What would you give me?

[1677] You have a wife.

[1678] She is not a wallflower.

[1679] She's a powerful woman.

[1680] We like powerful women.

[1681] This is great.

[1682] So I have to, I had to factor in, like, what you're going to get away with, basically.

[1683] Like, I can't buy you a fucking two -seater sports car.

[1684] She's got an SUV now, though.

[1685] Yeah, not comparable.

[1686] She's got a family machine, and I'm going to get you a fucking...

[1687] This is getting confusing as to what we're asking.

[1688] Like, what's practical for Rob versus what you think, like, is him personality -wise.

[1689] Yeah.

[1690] Exactly.

[1691] Like, so there's, like, what I think Rob should drive.

[1692] Yeah.

[1693] That's what we're playing.

[1694] Yeah, that's what we're playing.

[1695] Irrelevant to his life.

[1696] Mm -hmm.

[1697] Makes you so uncomfortable when I stare at you like this, doesn't it?

[1698] A little bit.

[1699] Imagine if he did an impression right now, Rob.

[1700] I know.

[1701] All right, so Rob's going to pull up in this thing, and when he gets out, I'm going to be like, boom, that is, that's his car.

[1702] That's him.

[1703] I got it.

[1704] I got it.

[1705] Use your computer.

[1706] Okay.

[1707] I'm going to go to Google.

[1708] This is Rob.

[1709] BMW 2002.

[1710] Oh, I already liked it.

[1711] I like the sound of this.

[1712] Wait, this boxy thing?

[1713] Very Midwestern looking.

[1714] Let me see it.

[1715] This?

[1716] Yeah.

[1717] That.

[1718] Wow.

[1719] That or you're not impressed.

[1720] Well, I'm just saying, if Rob got out of that, does that not look like him?

[1721] It's kind of punk rock, but it's German.

[1722] So he's like, oh, I'm kind of have a Euroflare.

[1723] I'm edgy.

[1724] I'm of means, but I want to have something that's unique and not cookie cutter.

[1725] All right.

[1726] And he's not going to have a big, like, if Rob rolled out of a big -ass fucking car, you'd be like, why is he driving that big -ass car?

[1727] If you rolled out of like a Lamborghini, be like, that is not for Rob.

[1728] Right.

[1729] This thing is like, it's got so much personality, it's got history.

[1730] Let me hit you with one other one that I also think you'd look radical coming out of.

[1731] And that is a BMW CSI 3 .0.

[1732] And you've got to put the period in there, 3 .0.

[1733] Okay, similar -ish.

[1734] Nice looking car.

[1735] Yeah.

[1736] Those are really cool.

[1737] Those have started to get really crazy.

[1738] that's a cool car isn't that a cool car yeah yeah it's one of the sexiest BMWs ever made i could see rod in the 2002 is really cool if you do it right i'll just say it's kind of like this car but it's a more a little more obtainable okay what color for rob yeah i think an off white wow what do you think i can't say blue i already said blue i was gonna say i want to see blue but i already said blue for that caught in my way i want you to be honest okay yeah Then there's this very thin, slightly metallic light blue that that car came in.

[1739] Yeah.

[1740] That's the fucking car.

[1741] That's the color and that's the car.

[1742] I like it.

[1743] It's a really cool car.

[1744] Yeah, it looks cool.

[1745] Oh, I have one more.

[1746] Okay.

[1747] Forest Whitaker.

[1748] Great.

[1749] Really great.

[1750] So easy.

[1751] Like three or four are coming to mind right away.

[1752] Okay.

[1753] It's a Cadillac.

[1754] Again, this is like the car pulls up.

[1755] You get your attention.

[1756] And then when the person steps out, you're like, boom.

[1757] That looks exactly like the person that should own that car.

[1758] That's what I'm saying.

[1759] Exactly.

[1760] So if you put Forrest Whitaker in like a 72 Cadillac Fleetwood.

[1761] Oh, that's cool.

[1762] And he rolls up and it's like...

[1763] It looks like you're Lincoln.

[1764] Yeah.

[1765] But assume it's perfect and it pulls up and then he gets out, you're like, fuck, man, he nailed it.

[1766] That's so cool.

[1767] And he can pull that off.

[1768] I think he's in a white one.

[1769] Does he drive that in a movie or Godfather of Harlem, I think maybe he'd drive something like that?

[1770] Does he?

[1771] I've never seen that.

[1772] But that'd be great.

[1773] Show me a picture of it, Monica.

[1774] I want to make sure I got the right car.

[1775] Yeah, I fucking enforced Whitaker got out of there.

[1776] You'd be like, God, he slayed it.

[1777] He picked the perfect car for his.

[1778] He's a big guy.

[1779] He's smooth.

[1780] Yeah.

[1781] It all works.

[1782] This is a fun game.

[1783] It is for us.

[1784] I won't ever if anyone.

[1785] But I will cut this, but I am curious.

[1786] I will cut this.

[1787] I want that to be a podcast.

[1788] Because it worked out so perfectly.

[1789] I think it's the best color for me is my, Blue.

[1790] But what would you say if you didn't, if you had all the color options?

[1791] I had all the color options.

[1792] Oh, I thought they only had the blue that day.

[1793] No, they had like four different C -43s.

[1794] Yeah, I like that.

[1795] And I wanted the blue.

[1796] Well, mostly I was, I got to be honest, I was more driven by what I wanted the interior of that carbie for you.

[1797] I wanted to be tan.

[1798] Yeah.

[1799] I get so many compliments on the interior.

[1800] The interior is dope.

[1801] Uh -huh.

[1802] And I needed you in that color.

[1803] Correct.

[1804] Yeah.

[1805] Okay.

[1806] Okay, well, that concludes the game show portion of this fact check.

[1807] Okay, one thing, the difference between his guitar and what he played.

[1808] Oh, that's really important.

[1809] Yeah.

[1810] It actually wasn't the guitar, wasn't the issue.

[1811] The guitar was fine.

[1812] It was that he needed a capo.

[1813] And I have a capo, but my kids fucking play with it.

[1814] And I couldn't find it.

[1815] And I was like, panicked running around the house and I was screaming.

[1816] I don't know what my kid.

[1817] The kids don't even know what that thing is.

[1818] Like, I'm describing it, and they don't even know what the fuck I'm talking about.

[1819] And how do you describe it?

[1820] So a capo is this device that you can put across all six strings on a given fret.

[1821] And what that allows you to do is quite often, many of the chords you're playing, you would be hitting the same two frets anyways.

[1822] So you put it there permanently and you no longer have to use those two fingers to hit that.

[1823] So you can just concentrate on the other parts.

[1824] Oh, that makes sense.

[1825] Yeah.

[1826] He did such an insane job even without his capo and his guitar that he's used to.

[1827] It was, can we all add to that, like, we always are in this.

[1828] precarious position when we have musicians on, which is like, we want them to fucking sing.

[1829] Yeah.

[1830] But it's also like having to stand up on and like, do some of your sad.

[1831] I know.

[1832] That feels a little rude that we asked.

[1833] Yeah.

[1834] But we asked and immediately it was like, oh, I'd love to.

[1835] It was so sweet.

[1836] If you could only listen to one Leon's song for the rest of your life.

[1837] Shy.

[1838] Yeah.

[1839] Yours would be shy.

[1840] Although, man, motorcycle's growing on me a lot.

[1841] It's so good.

[1842] The more I hear it, the Moray.

[1843] I think I would have to pick River.

[1844] That one is more timeless than all the others.

[1845] What a dreamboat.

[1846] God.

[1847] We want to nurture him.

[1848] I want in my house to be him, and then the next room over, Robert Durst.

[1849] Oh, God.

[1850] And take care of both these boys.

[1851] I'll take and protect them and I'll feed them and I'll bathe them and I'll clothe them.

[1852] And I'll take care of those little boys.

[1853] Okay.

[1854] That's all.

[1855] Okay.

[1856] Love you.

[1857] Love you.

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