Interview with MOD SUN

What is going on? It is Adam. Welcome back to bringing it backwards. A podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieve stardom. On this episode, we had the amazing opportunity to hang out with MOD SUN. Over zoom video MOD SUN was born and raised in Bloomington, Minnesota, and he talks about how he got in a music. He got a guitar really early on, but never played it. He was fascinated by the drums. So he just played drums all day. Every day, he ended up telling us about the first performance he ever did, which was at an eighth grade talent show. They did the song Adam song from blink 180 2. He has a funny story about doing that song. 3 (2m 38s): From there. He continued to play in different bands. He lived in long beach for a while. He moved to long beach live with his dad, and that's where he really embraced the skate punk pop punk culture. He talked about his time in the band for let her lie. They ended up getting signed to victory records. He was the drummer of that band and he talks to us about how was formed. Really. It was formed when he was drum tacking for scary kids, scaring kids. They ended up needing someone to fill in on drums. He wasn't in the band for letter lied anymore. He said, yeah, I'll play with you guys if I can open up. So he would open up as mod son and then hop on the drum kit for a scary kid, scaring kids. 3 (3m 20s): He told us about the moment he learned how to play guitar and really embraced his singing voice. We learned about how he changed his sound from more of that hip hop vibe to what he's doing now with his current records, he tells us about meeting Travis Barker and not only meeting Travis Barker, but jumping on Travis Barker's drums to play Adam song to see if he's playing it correctly, or if he, if he knew how to play correctly, which is another hilarious story he talks about. We learned about how he met John Foreman, working on his record, internet, killed the rock star, the success of the song, karma, the tour he's currently going on with Avril Levine and all about the new music he has coming out, as well as the brand new song, rich kids ruin everything. 3 (4m 4s): You can watch our interview with Matson on our Facebook page and YouTube channel at bringing it backwards. It would be rad if you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and tick-tock at bringing back pod. And if you're listening to this on Spotify or apple music, Google podcasts, it would be amazing if you follow us there as well, and hook us up with a five star review. 4 (4m 25s): We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts, wherever you listen to podcasts, 3 (4m 31s): We're bringing it backwards with mods son. I'm great, man. How are you? 5 (4m 37s): Wonderful. I'm wonderful. This is my last day in town. Getting ready to leave for a month and a half long little journey on the road, man. I'm excited. 3 (4m 48s): That'll be amazing, dude. That's that's amazing. I love your new record too. 5 (4m 53s): Yeah, 3 (4m 54s): Yeah, no, I truly do. It's awesome. 5 (4m 56s): Thank you. Thank you. The new song. 3 (4m 58s): Yeah, the new song. 5 (4m 59s): Oh fuck. Yeah. I love that. I love when people call a song record. I do that too, but I can never tell if they're talking about like an album. 3 (5m 5s): It's 5 (5m 6s): Like, yo, you do rec is fire. They're like my album came out like two years ago. What are you talking about? 3 (5m 11s): No, no, no. I come from the radio world. So <inaudible> but I can get you, it can get confusing for sure. Yeah, 5 (5m 21s): We're playing, we're playing it on this tour. And like, I, I like really like flex the musicality of it and like did some special things in it. It's really fun. It's probably the most fun to play in my set. 3 (5m 31s): I love that song, dude. And I appreciate you doing this. Thank you so much. My name is Adam by the way. 5 (5m 37s): All right. Thank you for having me bro. Come 3 (5m 39s): On. Of course, of course. This is a podcast about you and we'll talk about your journey in music a little bit, if that's cool. And then obviously the new record, 5 (5m 47s): Of course. 6 (5m 51s): I don't know. 3 (5m 53s): Cool, cool. It's a little better. Well, first off, talk me about where you were born and raised. 5 (6m 1s): Oh, I am from Minnesota, Midwest boy from Minnesota. I was born on a farm in the city called Corcoran, Minnesota. That was where I spent like the first like five years of my life. So it was literally on a farm with no neighbors 3 (6m 20s): Born on the actual farm. 5 (6m 22s): I, well, like, no, I was 3 (6m 25s): Born at the hospital. I was like, damn, 5 (6m 27s): I was born in a barn. That would be so 3 (6m 33s): No, I would 5 (6m 34s): Definitely probably make a whole different genre of music if I was born in. So, so spent like the first five years of my life on farm, not so, so surrounded by like no neighbors playing by myself, super living in an imagination. And that kinda stuck with me forever. Then my parents got divorced when I was six years old and we moved to a suburb called Bloomington, Minnesota where I spent pretty much like the majority of schooling life in that suburb. And then towards the end of high school, I started getting like in a lot of trouble. 5 (7m 17s): And my mom sent me to live with my dad for a little bit. My dad had moved to long beach California, so there's a tiny bit of my upbringing that happen and long beach. 3 (7m 26s): Okay. That was probably some pretty formative years though. High school. 5 (7m 30s): Oh my God. Yeah. And like, definitely. Well, yeah, towards the end of it, when I did go out to long beach, I mean, that was when I was at the peak of like, I'm a skateboarder, a musician, you know? So like, like that was my whole life was skating and music. So at that point, when I was in long beach, it was like heaven on earth. Yeah, 3 (7m 52s): Sure. I mean, I'm from San Diego originally. I re within the last year I moved to Nashville, but that was my life too. I didn't, I don't play music. I can play guitar, but like it was skateboarding and then listening to the records and songs that were in the skateboard videos at the time <inaudible> 5 (8m 9s): That was a whole, that was a whole era dude. Like, and then when like skate videos slowly started like putting like backpack, hip hop shit in the videos like Jurassic five was like, 3 (8m 21s): Oh man. Yeah, golden was a massive. 5 (8m 26s): And then like, there was so much of like, there was so much of like that backpack, rap that was in skate videos. That's what like really like opened up the door to me in, into like rap a lot, you know? 3 (8m 40s): That's right. Yeah. That's where I learned about so many artists. I mean everything from like misfits to far side. Right. I mean there so many Finger, right? Yeah. So crazy. I mean, 5 (8m 53s): We all remember, we all remember listening to playing Tony Hawk, pro skater. Like I think 3 (8m 58s): There is another one from that record that was on a skate video. Like it might've been like a foreign one. Remember the foreign one V like 5 (9m 6s): I referenced those all the time 3 (9m 9s): Set. 5 (9m 10s): That's what I'm talking about. <inaudible> there's this spot, like you'll probably know this, but cherry park. Do you remember what cherry park is? 3 (9m 19s): If I saw it in a video, I bet I would. 5 (9m 21s): Jerry Park is in long beach. Okay. I don't think it's a thing anymore. I'm pretty sure they demolished it, but like 3 (9m 27s): Most also 5 (9m 28s): Every 4, 1, 1 had a section of cherry park. And so my whole growing up, I was looking at this place and then all of a sudden, like I got to skate it every day. It was so crazy, bro. 3 (9m 38s): That's so cool. That is so cool. Yeah. Nothing to prove. I remember that was in a foreign one and I'm like, who is this band? And then I liked 5 (9m 46s): Long live this skate video soundtracks, like change the game, dude. 3 (9m 50s): So good. Well, so you were playing music before you moved to long beach. I did watch your documentary, which I think is so amazing, man. What a, what a cool thing to have 5 (9m 60s): And thank you. I, I, I'm in like a tennis match with myself of like, especially right now. I don't know what's in the atmosphere, but I'm in like this tennis match where I'm just like, fuck, did I like overshare? Like I, you know, I just feel it's like so important. You know, when you're, when you're entering in area of something that causes some kind of fear, I feel like you're usually headed in the right direction and like sharing that much of your life, especially, you know, especially when people put it on you that like, you're like, you're not supposed to release a documentary about yourself until you're like fucking 90 years old or dead or something. 5 (10m 43s): You know, that's like typically when the, the world that we live in. So I just feel really good because the feedback that I get from that thing is like down to down to obviously like my core fan base that has seen it, you know, I think they, they definitely have taken something from it, but also just like my peers in the world of being an artist, I think like so many artists hit me up about that. And they're like, dude, I just got just reinspired to do this by watching that. So I feel really good about it, bro, as scary as it is to like have all that information out there, you know, there's a reason I did it and there's a reason I wanted to do it. 5 (11m 24s): So I'm just like going by that and floating by the winds of that right now, you know? 3 (11m 29s): Yeah. I mean, it was definitely a vulnerable move for sure. But I mean the, the, the whole documentary is so good. I just watching it. I was like, I was able to relate to so much stuff. Like <inaudible> I love the part where you're skateboarding and like, you just do like a 180 off this like little ledge slash ramp. And like you fall, I think your sister's talking about it. Like he still skateboards in the house to this day and I'm like, dude, that was me as a kid. I got think that's so cool. I mean, I know, like I said, you did a fantastic job on the documentary and everything you're doing, but I love in the, in the video, you're talking about how you, you played this township, you played Adams song, right. When you were in eighth grade, I believe. Was that the first time he had ever played like a show in front of people? 5 (12m 14s): Yes. So, so it was like, I guess it was, it was right before high school. I think I cited it wrong in that, but yeah, it was right before high school and it was, it was definitely when I entered high school, that was when I started playing like shows in front of people for real. So this was like, when we did the Adam show, the Adam show, the Adam song, talent show performers. That was like seventh grade, I think, seventh or eighth grade. And yeah, that would have been my first official time playing drums in front of someone. Yeah. 3 (12m 45s): Wow. And did you start on drums? Is that the very, very first instrument you learned? 5 (12m 48s): Well, I had a guitar my whole life and I am a, you know, now that I get older, I'm definitely more open to like entering the side of my brain of being able to be taught by someone in the room. But as a kid, I was super walking the path of being self-taught and like, if I couldn't see it and make it out visually about how to do it, like I'm such a visual learner. If I couldn't do it, it wasn't going to click for me. So like I had a guitar forever. I always was like staring at it being like, I'm going to figure you out. But you know, just watching someone do this super hard to figure out when 3 (13m 33s): You can't figure out exactly how 5 (13m 35s): You look at drums, you're like, okay, you're hitting these things, you know, it's so such a visual thing. So essentially yes, drums would be the first instrument that I like dove in on. Like I held a guitar many times in my life, but it just never clicked. You know, 3 (13m 51s): When did you start trying to guitar? Was that much later? 5 (13m 56s): Like truly trying to play guitar? 3 (13m 58s): Yeah. Like were like, I'm going to use this as like an instrument. 5 (14m 1s): So it was like 2014, 2015. When, you know, I, there's a really funny story. I was actually in the desert. I was in Joshua tree, creative directing the album general admission for machine on Kelly. I was like doing creative direction for the booklet. And there was a guitar on set and this was in my super crazy days of substance abuse. We'll just call it that. I picked up the guitar and wandered into the desert and I like hit this like dried up river ravine area. 5 (14m 41s): And I was like, well, this is like fucking desolation row right now. And for some reason do like a spirit jumped inside of me and I could play guitar. And I went home and I made this whole entire project hotel motel it's me and black bear. It's out there for it, for anyone who wants to listen to it. This was like the start of, you know, it's very funny that we bring this up. This was kind of the start of where my music has come to now because this was like the first project that I started singing on, but I produced it all with Blackberry. I played guitar on everything and I had never played guitar before I come home. And all of a sudden it's, it's clicking, you know, for some reason it's just making sense. 5 (15m 22s): And I made a, you know, all these songs of me singing over guitar and like, I was super inspired by like shoegaze music and was just like putting down these like drum loops, like got to do to get you to get to, and just putting these ambient chords over everything. And I started singing and that was when I really, really found my singing voice. That was when I started to be like, you know, my whole life, I'm not gonna, I'm just being honest. Like my whole life, like I was kind of pushed into the realm of being like told I can't sing. I'll never forget when I was listening to like a newfound glory song with one of my friends of like the very first band that I was in, which it was such a first band that we didn't even have a name, but anyways, this kid was kind of a guitar virtuoso. 5 (16m 9s): Right. And he's sitting there and I'm singing. Like, I don't know, maybe it was like hit or miss or something. And I'm like singing. And I'm like, yo, like, and this is me not even understanding music yet. I'm like, yo, what key am I at? And he's like, bro, you're not even in a key. You can't sing. And like, I'll never forget, like someone saying that to me, like you can't sing. And like it kills it. It's like water being thrown on a flame, you know, so much of, I mean, okay, so much of life is about confidence with so much of singing. If not, almost all of it is about confidence. I mean, there are no keys in this world right here, right? The fact that you can get on stage and be like I'm singing an E major is pretty much a miracle. 5 (16m 54s): It's pretty much a miracle that you can just do that because there is no key here. I get it. You can sit down on a piano and play it. And you major chord. The fact that you can do that with your voice is a miracle. And a lot of it comes from before the note comes out of your mouth of being like, I'm about to hit this note, you know, so 3 (17m 14s): Interesting to, just to comment on that real quick. Well, first off it's, it's wild to think. I mean, it's human nature, right? I mean that kid or whoever said that to you, like that's such a deep cut, right. That you're even remembering it now. And you're like, ah, and like that kid probably has no clue. He even said that to you. Right. I mean, that's so bizarre, like how you can take these little things and you're like, oh, like I have things that have been said to me like that too. And it's just like, ah, well, I, I, it just blows your confidence and something maybe you thought you could do. And then you're like, oh, well I guess again, I shouldn't even try it. 5 (17m 45s): I condition, like you said, it's really strange how, like, you can carry these things with you, your whole life that like people that have no idea. And you know, a lot of them will be like, dude, I'm so sorry. 3 (17m 57s): I didn't even mean to do 5 (17m 59s): It on, you are going to be carrying this around with you. Like, yo, I have this, I have this saying like a lot of my, my new album that I've been working on. When I go into a new project, I like to have, if it's not like the album name telling me it, I like to have like a phrase that is telling me what the album is about. And like this whole album has been about like trading the suitcase of trauma for a toolbox. And it's like, so many people carry this, like suitcase filled with trauma of all these things over the years. And you're leaving the house every day with this suitcase filled with all this trauma. And it's like, I'm trying to trade that suitcase for a toolbox and figure out how to have all these tools with me of how to maneuver in this world. 5 (18m 41s): You know? And like that, that is, that is exactly like, you know, I mean, just I'm going off on a tangent, but so sad, like eight, you know, we carry around so many things that, that, that essentially, you know, it's kind of reverse engineering. It's like, yeah, those kids, if they had any idea that it would have meant that to you, you know, they would have never said that. Well then there's like the other beauty where it's like, you know, that comment kind of, as much as it put out the flame on the other side, it lit the flame to 3 (19m 14s): Your point, you prove them 5 (19m 15s): Wrong. My God, I mean, so much of look, man, the word revenge has been horribly misused, I'm sorry, misinterpreted and thrown through the trash. Like, so I'll say, I'll say redemption revenge kind of sounds negative. Whereas redemption sounds a little more positive. So much of my career is about redemption and, and, and proving to maybe just that kid or the, the, the, the band that I was in that was like, you're not good enough to play drums for us. Like just proving that I could make it, you know? 3 (19m 52s): Yeah. Just having that fight and that fire in you to be like, no, I'm going to show you. I was going to tell me I can't do it now. I'm going to definitely do it. Right. Yeah. And it's with the voice to my last comment on that. It's just, it's something that you can't change about yourself. You know what I mean? Like if you suck the guitar, you could spend the next six months religiously trying to learn how to play it. And eventually you might pick it up. But if somebody is telling you, you know, you can't sing, then it's like, oh, like, oh, that's Mike, my voice that I use all the time. Like, how do I, how do I change that about myself? 5 (20m 23s): That's why I like in this generation, you know, as we get it, every generation gets for me every year, we get further away from my personal idols. So like, I try to, as much as I can scream from the top of the buildings, like people like Bob, Dylan, you know, because that is one of the reasons why I held any confidence throughout my life is like Bob Dylan, you know, famously was told over and over that he can't sing by people. You know? And, and this is a guy who was like, the times they're changing. It's like playing and half he's. 5 (21m 3s): So polarizing that half of the world is like, oh my God, this is the greatest song ever written. And the other half is like, I can't even get to the words because I hate this person's voice. And it's like, I've always just felt this really deep connection to that of being like, yeah, I was told that I can't sing too, but I have something to say, you know? 3 (21m 24s): Right, right. And it, and it all, not that he can't sing. Cause I, I love his voice. Some people don't like you said, but it also comes down to like the song and the lyrics and the message that he had behind it. It all like held up to where you couldn't help. But listen to what he was talking about 5 (21m 42s): A hundred percent. 3 (21m 44s): I'm curious. So you obviously played drums, you played drums in a handful of bands, and then you end up what playing with a band and telling them like you won't fill in full time with them unless you get to open up. And is that where Matson started or like w when did, when did this project kind of began? 5 (22m 4s): So I was in a band called four-letter lie, and we were assigned to a label. We had just put out like our second record through that label and me and the guitar player. At that time, we were doing a majority of the music, making, making the music together, you know, me and him would get together and kind of work out the songs. And, you know, there was this moment where we had gone down to visit our record label down in Chicago. We were both like, took like the, the mega bus. It was those times like broke as hell and bolt just like took the mega bus down to Chicago, to like, have a talk with our label and be like, really like, analyze, like, if this is going to go anywhere. 5 (22m 50s): And I'll never forget him looking over at me. And I had, I had, you know, where Matson was born, was really on the road with four-letter lie. Like after the show is staying at kids' houses and me just like freestyling in front of people. And I had worked that muscle, you know, of just like getting in front of people and just like rapping and then being like, yo dude, like, you're actually can do that. Like, you're not like, yo, here I am in here, go 3 (23m 23s): Out 5 (23m 23s): To spit a flow. Like I was like putting like forming ideas and, you know, it was kind of born on, on the nights of staying at kids' houses. And so there was already like an idea going on, but then I was really like, considering, you know, I had always wanted to, I always felt like I really had this, something inside me to say that I couldn't just be held accountable to say it with my hands and my feet, you know, like I really want it to be in the front. And he looked over at me and he was like, yo, I think I'm going to quit. Then I was like, you know what? I think I'm going to quit too. Like, especially when you're going to quit, I'm going to quit and I'm going to go full out on mine. 5 (24m 3s): He ended up playing for a day to remember he's still in a day to remember to this day. Wow. And, and I went on my way to start playing my son. And I basically was like, I'm done playing drums. You know, I, I, you know, I basically was like, I'm retired from drumming. I'm going full on mud son. And then scary kids came along and they were like, yo, we need a drummer right now for letter Leia toured was scary, kids carrying kids. And they were just like, yo, you're incredible drummer. We watched you play drums. And I was like, dude, there's no way I'm doing it unless I can open up the show's Matson. So that would be getting my first tour. And by the way, yeah. 5 (24m 45s): Right. That was such a, you know, like always such a hustler. And those were, those would turn into my first shows, which was basically me getting on stage first every night. And I don't know, it was probably like now keep in mind. I had been playing drums my whole life. So my first shows as a drummer, I did a thousand shows already playing in front of 10 people playing in front of five people playing in front of just my mom and my sister at this point. Now my first show is my son, basically what my first tour is Matson. I'm playing in front of like a thousand kids. And I'm getting like completely booed by everyone. You know? 5 (25m 25s): Like I'm not even kidding, like completely boot because I'd come out on stage and I'm like, I'll never forget it. Hilarious choice of mine, but I'd come out, rapping over party in the USA by Miley Cyrus. This was so like, I'm like, this is like DatPiff mix tape days of rap. Right. And I had like put out a mix tape and I'm like coming out, rapping over party in the USA. And it was just like 25 minutes of people being like, fuck you literally like you fucking suck, get off stage. And I want to leave. I'd be, I'd get right up in their face and it go even harder. But then the craziest thing would happen is that all of a sudden I'd get up and play drums for scary kids an hour or two later. 5 (26m 11s): And I'd finished that set and run from the drums to my Matson merge table. And everyone going out would be high five in me. Yo, I fucking loved it, man. You're actually really cool. Like I really loved it by and merge all this stuff because they saw me, you know, do this one thing that they hated and then go to this one thing that they loved. And they were just like, mind, fuck. They were like, I guess I have nothing. I can't do anything, but like give you love and respect for, for doing that. So it was this crazy four hours every night where everyone in the room hated me. And then at the end, they're all high five in me. And like that, that just, you know, it always stuck with me that like the best advice I can ever give to artists that ask about like getting on stage or anything is like, it is a boxing match. 5 (26m 59s): Every boxer wants to come out, knock you out first swing every single one. But if they don't, if you knock them out with one second in the last round, it's still a knockout. And like, you gotta go all the way to the end. You know, you see so many artists get up in front of a crowd and the crowd is not feeling them. 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Call 1 805 2, 2 4700. 5 (28m 16s): They, they die in front of you. You know, it's like, you gotta, you gotta go all the way to the end because you never know when you're going to be able to knock them out. 3 (28m 23s): I love that. I love that you actually took it as like you were cool with the people. Like instead of being like, wait a minute, like I was up here, you're booing me. And now that you know that I was drumming with scary kids, now we're all set in life <inaudible> 5 (28m 39s): And you know what? Like I'm about to go out, you know, the same thing is going to happen because like that, that feeling will never kind of die. Like as long as you're going out and being like someone who opens for other artists, like I haven't done a tour opening up for someone in a, in a pretty long time. Like, it's been probably like five, six years. I honestly can't remember the last tour that I was opening for someone or direct support for someone. And I'm about to go play first on this Avril tour. Shout out Amber, that I have a baby. 3 (29m 14s): And by the way, 5 (29m 16s): Thank you so much. I have no idea what to expect. Like yes. Are most of your listeners probably familiar with who I am at this point? Maybe probably do. They like, know my music? I have no idea. I'm about to find out how, you know, and, but like, there's this great thing inside me that like, I just know how to be an entertainer. So I'm actually looking forward to going out and being in front of people that may not have any idea who the fuck I am, you know? 3 (29m 45s): Yeah. Well, yeah. And I love, like you say, you kind of went back to more of the pop, pop punk scene when you put out what the, the internet killer internet killed the rocks that are I'm sorry. That was kind of when it switched back from the hip hop, right? 5 (30m 0s): Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. As a full project. Yeah. I would say like kind of an in maybe like 2018, I kind of started to make this switch and we'll buy dropping singles. Like I had a song called I remember way too much that that was kind of the pinnacle, like turning point into the new era. Yeah. 3 (30m 19s): Okay. And are you, are you playing all these songs from that era forward? Are you still doing some of the old songs 5 (30m 26s): On a headliner? I'll do like a few of the older songs. You know, I have some classics that like, I would never want to deprive my listeners up, but for the most part, like looking at the graph of my career, you know, it's been a, it's been a steady incline with the release of the last album, internet killed the rockstar. It's kind of gone like this. So following that, I'm like, oh my gosh, I have like this whole new audience of listeners. So yeah, for the most part, it's a lot of just the newer music. 3 (30m 57s): Okay. Yeah. I was just curious. I mean, I love what you're doing. I even love the old stuff that you did, man. It's, I'm a, I'm a huge fan. And again, with, with the new sound that not new sound, but like what you're doing now is, is so cool. And I love to see this kind of resurgence of this pop punk movement happening again, like with the, when we were young festival and just these bands that I grew up with and seeing out of like a 300 club venue that are now, you know, kind of getting this re resurgence 5 (31m 26s): Amazing. And like, like I give so much love to bands, like new found glory or taking back Sunday. And that, that never actually disbanded in the, in the last 10 years of it being kind of a forgotten art, you know? And now you're seeing all these, these bands doing like 20 year reunion tours 3 (31m 47s): That did feel so 5 (31m 49s): Yeah. That had this bandaid and we're like, no, one's listening to shit anymore. We're done. And now they're like, oh my God, they're back. And let, let's go back on tour. All love to that. But I have a special piece of my heart for the bands that were like, fuck that, like, we know what this music holds and we're going to keep doing this. So like I said, found glory, especially like, especially new pond glory. Cause they never changed a bit like their last four records that came out sound exactly like self-titled and sticks and stones and all that. It's crazy, you know? 3 (32m 19s): Yeah. It's, it's, it's really cool. And it's crazy. Yeah. Like I saw on Instagram or something, Thursday posts like full collapse was 21 years old. I'm like, God, I'm old 5 (32m 32s): I will never forget listening to that shit in high school and being like, just like discovering those bands, especially those like east coast bands that were, were a little bit off the beaten path of like the, you know, I mean Thursday was definitely not pop punk, but like, it was like the thrice Thursday kosher Era. And it was like getting into those bands and being like, Ooh, like I'm, I'm even like I'm even crazier now, like listening to Thursday, Jeff Wrigley's voice is so haunting and you're just like, dude, I'll never forget those times, like sitting in science class and being like, yeah, I'm weird. 3 (33m 12s): Right. Right. Oh, that's awesome. Well, so you said you have a whole record ready or have you been working on like a full album obviously with, 5 (33m 21s): By the way, I have nothing to do right now too, so we can go, we can go along and whatever, just letting you know. 3 (33m 27s): Oh really? Okay. Yeah. I didn't want it. I was trying to, yeah, no, 5 (33m 31s): I have a, I have a hard time, not speaking and fucking paragraphs when I could just say a sentence. So I go tend to go a little long, but I have nothing. No, 3 (33m 39s): No, no dude, thank you so much. That means a lot to me. Cause that's what I love about doing this as opposed to when I did the radio where I had to show up in like 45 seconds, They 5 (33m 50s): Don't pay, they don't pay you in words over there. So you're trying 3 (33m 53s): To know 5 (33m 55s): Little as possible. A new, a new record. Yeah, dude, I have, I have a new record and 3 (34m 3s): Sorry, I don't want to interrupt you, but do you, can I back up a half a second knowing that you have a little bit more time? 5 (34m 8s): Yes, yes, 3 (34m 9s): Please. Okay. Tell me about, you know, from doing the hip hop stuff, what made you like, what was the song that kind of bridged that gap and change the sound for you, but and how did that all happen? 5 (34m 22s): Well, here, here's what it is. It's like I have been, I'm a very big like research and development kind of person that being said, I have a firm belief in studying all the things that came before you. So like I love the history of music and I love the history of art and I've been studying art for as long as I can remember. Probably since before I was making music, I was into art, like painters and all that. 3 (34m 52s): Yeah. You've you have sick art too, man. I mean your, your, yeah, your art is amazing. 5 (34m 57s): Thank you so much. I appreciate that. So like there is a statement in the world of painting that is every 10 years you recreate yourself. And I took that into music with me and I kind of made a plan since I was a drummer that I was like every 10 years, I want to recreate myself just like that. And this is how I had a plan for longevity, you know? So for the first 10 years of my life, I was a drummer, you know, from age 13 to 23, pretty much I was playing in drums. I think, I think maybe like it was like 13 to 22. So I might've ended that era just a year early. 5 (35m 39s): And then from 22 to like start of my thirties, I was rapping. And then I knew that I wanted to change into singing for the next 10 years. So I'd always planned that like in a way of changing and like, I know what I want after this era to be, you know, I want to go to my like real Bob Dylan inspired me with an acoustic guitar kind of kind of era, but definitely my song, I remember way too much is like where I've felt loved for being able to sing and, and definitely produced, but like singing over definitely like more guitar driven, like in, in, in the rap days of Monsanto, I was always including your guitar. 5 (36m 30s): Cause that was kind of like my way of doing something different. I always, whenever people are running this way, I tend to run that way. Right. So it was like, I want to make really, really positive rap music. That's, that's focused around the law of attraction and like the secret and manifestation all that. And I want it to sound like the roots of where I came from, which would be like derivative of guitar, some real drums here and there. You know, I had a song with Travis marker in 2015 called never quit. That was like real guitar and drums and me like rapping over it with melody and singing in the hook. So when I did that project, the hotel motel that I was telling you about with black bear, that was when I really fell in love with my singing voice. 5 (37m 15s): So like that was kind of the nudge to be like, okay, like, yeah, like I really love, like this makes me feel good. Like this moves me. I always try to go with my heart on things of what moves me. And then I remember way too much, totally was the turning point into going for singing. And then, and then what started this, this whole album will be karma. Like I'm, you know, me and John Feldman, we made karma and bones on the same day, the first day that we ever worked together. And it was just like, yeah, it was just like, that was the moment that I was just like, okay, like, this is definitely where I'm moving to. 3 (37m 53s): And in that, in your documentary that you, you know, you're, you're filming outside of his house and you're like, you know, w Dave, what was it like day three of lockdown. Where were, where you were recording with him when that when the world shut down and then it became that, that record with karma on it. 5 (38m 9s): Yeah. Yeah. It was a, I was on tour when the, when the pandemic started and I had to come home, I was headed to Cleveland, Ohio. I'll never forget it. I had just played Chicago. It's headed to Cleveland, Ohio. And the, the news hit that everything was canceled, go home. So right when that happened, I went home. 3 (38m 28s): You seen your shows like dwindled down at anything as far as tickets, are people showing up? 5 (38m 32s): No, not at all. Not at all. Because it happened just like that. It was literally like, I would say on the way to Chicago, we heard a rumor, like y'all, everything's getting canceled and you're like, yeah. Right. And then after we played Chicago, it was like, no, it's done like go home. It was crazy. I went home and I had had this song stay away that I made right before, right before, or, and it just so happened. Like stay away from me, stay away from me and I'll stay away from you. It's like fucking in that moment when the world shut down and it was like everyone away from each other, I was like, whoa, this is fucking weird. 5 (39m 14s): I was like, let's drop this. So I released that song and that took off. And that was, that was one of the reasons things started going on, on the upward, upward incline. And then I did a session with this band called girlfriends who was assigned to the, yeah. They're signing the same label as me. 3 (39m 37s): I certainly interviewed the, the both of them. Yeah. The traveler. 5 (39m 40s): I love them. I've known, I've known Travis for like, for like 15 years. 3 (39m 46s): Yeah. You reminded me of him real quick. It's I don't want to interrupt you. But like he told me a story about when he would, he was on warp tour, like selling t-shirts 5 (39m 55s): Selling merge, and I was drunk. I was drum tacking for scary kids. That's how we met. 3 (39m 59s): Well, yeah. So he would have just put up a boom box and start rapping. He wasn't even like on the, on the warp tour, 5 (40m 5s): Exact same thing, bro. We did the exact same 3 (40m 7s): Thing. Use it. Yeah. And you were doing that. You were like, I'm going to open up if you want me to play drums. 5 (40m 13s): I was drum tacking for scary kids. So this was actually before they asked me to play drums for, they came to Minnesota on warped tour and they're like, what are you doing right now? And I was like, nothing. I just quit my band. And I'm like selling weed and rapid they're like, yo, come on tour with us. I had just watched yes, man with Jim Carrey. And I was like, I'm going to say yes to everything for like a month. And I was like, all right, I'll come on tour with you. And the first person that RFP, my good friend, Tyson singer, scary kids who passed away first person on the first day that I was on warped tour that he introduced me to was Travis mills. And we became friends right there. 3 (40m 49s): It's crazy. Fast 5 (40m 50s): Forward. Travis mills hits me up and he's like, yo, we're making an album come in and do a writing session with us. Cause he had heard that I've been writing for some people. I go in to do a writing session, which was with John Feldman. And that is how I met John Feldman. Yeah. And John Feldman saw me go get behind the mic and do what I do, which is kind of just from the world of rap. Like I said, I've done my 10,000 hours of freestyling. I'm bringing that into what I do now. And I go behind the mic and I freestyle and just sing melodies and let words come out. Feldman saw me do that. And he was like, dude, I want to work with you a hundred percent. Like I'll have to work with you. And that's what, that's what started our journey of working together was right there. 5 (41m 32s): So shout out Travis mills. I've said this a hundred times, but forever man, like he was the one that really got me in the studio, John Feldman. 3 (41m 39s): Wow. And then John Feldman, what produced internet killed the rockstar. Oh my gosh. So you are now like, so what timeline wise were you on tour when you and you came back and then that's what that thing came together with girlfriends? Or 5 (41m 56s): I would say like, I would say like, I dunno maybe like three months after, after the lockdown started. 3 (42m 3s): Okay. So the lockdowns was already in place. So this is in 2020 when this was all happening, 5 (42m 8s): But yeah, the whole album was made in the like wear a mask era, you know, everything and same, same with same with the Avril album. Like it was all made like in those times, like I'll never forget like recording, doing admirals album with Feldman and we're all like wearing masks. You know what I'm saying? Like it was crazy times 3 (42m 28s): That is crazy. And then obviously that record does immense and numbers and it doesn't incredibly well. And now you have rich kids ruin everything that it's out when it's part of a new record that you have. And that was all done with Feldman as well. 5 (42m 42s): Yup. Yup. Yup. So like rich kids were, and everything was kind of, it's kinda like a bridging the gap of being like, all right, I'm going to release something to like, just get this going and, and like make a statement record of where like music is right now and all that stuff. And yeah, I've been working on this album, which I'm really kind of, you know, it is much as I love just like pushing music out. I'm really kinda like also taking my time with this one to be like really wanting to take this, to continue going on that uphill climb and not just kind of throw things out and, and follow the momentum, but keep building it. 5 (43m 24s): So yeah, I've been working on this record for like the last year now I would say like here and there, and then we've done like a three week stint and now I've made like, probably like 30 songs for this album. And for throughout the summer, I'm going to make a few more and then decide when it drops. It's either going to be like at some. Yeah. I really don't know. I'm kind of following I'm following instincts of when I feel like it's the right time, you know, 3 (43m 53s): That's cool that you can, I mean, obviously some people don't have that luxury, right? Like they're kind of like on their gun held to their head saying you got to get a record out or you don't, or the, it must be nice to have that kind of freedom. 5 (44m 6s): I, a big noise is like the label that I'm signed to. They are my biggest supporters. And they also have given me the most freedom I've ever had. Like even like more than, I mean, when I was independent, I didn't even have as much freedom for real. It was really like having someone that's like, so down for making this, what we all think it can be, you know? And what's great. Is that like I have, I have a lot of songs that I really love. I mean, my favorite songs I've ever made are on this upcoming album, but I have one that I've held for a little bit. Like I, I had it, I've had it for a little bit and I've been holding it for the right time and it's finally going to come out soon. 5 (44m 50s): And this is the one that we're like, just, we just feel like it's worth betting everything on. So, you know, building up to that is, is kind of where my head's at and getting that one to, to land at the right moment. And you know, no one has a crystal ball of like seeing the future, but the best thing you can do is like, try to give a song like this, that I've held on for a while. Like it's best scenario. So yeah, we're working up to that. 3 (45m 17s): And did you write, or when was it a song written? Was it something that was done Years ago 5 (45m 23s): For, yeah, it would be years ago. This was like, this was like pre pandemic. Yeah. 3 (45m 29s): Okay. Wow. Yeah. Okay. And then you obviously held it and you just knew there was something special about it and you just didn't want to blow it or just put it out there or put it on 5 (45m 40s): Just like, just like my last record had so many amazing moments that it was like, all right, let's hold this and give it its right. You know, every song is like a child, you know, for an artist. So it's like wanting to see them all grow up the right way. And when you finally give it to the world, you want it to be at the moment that the world needs it the most, you know, 3 (46m 0s): I love it. I love it. What would you say was different on this record this time around versus the first time you worked with, with Feldman on that? The other album? 5 (46m 10s): That's a great question. I would just say like where, where my life is at is kind of, I'm the kind of artist that maybe to a fault only writes about what's currently happening in my life. So the, you know, some artists quote, unquote, play pretend, and they're like, yeah, I'm in a great relationship, but I'm going to write this fucking record about hooking up with other people or breaking up or whatever. And it's nice because it's like, okay, you can go to a different place. You can be in a different place, but with this record, like I'm really in an amazing relationship. So there's a lot of like celebrating love in this album, which I think is great because my last album was a lot of a breakup record, you know? 5 (46m 58s): Cause that was kind of where my head was at at that time. And like I said, there's this one song that I've had for awhile that kind of is from a different part chapter of my life. So it's a rounded record, you know, it's not just about one thing, but yeah, there's a lot of really, really classic like love songs on this one, which I think is great. Like I think that's something that the last record was missing a little bit. 3 (47m 25s): I love it. And I love how you said earlier about having the trauma toolbox or you know, suitcase and then kind of finding different tools to, you know, that was kind of the premise as you said or theme of the, of the record. I think that's awesome. 5 (47m 40s): Yeah. 3 (47m 42s): I just have a couple more questions because I'm curious in the documentary, you said the first time he ever met Travis Barker, you played Adam song on the, on his drum set. Yeah. That again, this is just speaks to your personality, just like such a bold move. Like you're like you just met him. You're like, I'm going to get on her. Not only am I going to get on your drums and play something, I'm going to play a song that you like specifically like wrote and recorded. Was that like a, I mean, tell me about that. 5 (48m 8s): It's so funny too. Cause like this was 2014 probably. And I'm like, we have a song together. So he's like come to my studio, I'll record it. I'm like out in California just to do that. I didn't even live in California and I'm walking through a studio and he has drum sets set up everywhere around and I'm like, oh that's the drum set from this video. That's the drum set from this video. And he's like, okay. He's like, goddamn. You really are like a super fan dude. Like that's so fun. And I see one of his kids and I'm like, yo, that's fucking kid late, blah, blah, blah. And he's like, yeah dude. I was like, what are you? And I'm like, dude, check this out. I was like, someone told me that I couldn't play this. 5 (48m 49s): Like tell me, tell me if I'm playing this right. <inaudible> and he's like, yeah, he's like good job. You know, I did it. I did it basically because it was one of those things about like proving, you know, it's almost like I was pretending the kid that told me that I couldn't play at him song was in the room. And I'm like looking at the ghost of him in this corner. Like 3 (49m 14s): Not only am I going to show you, but Travis bargain is going to co-sign that I'm playing it correctly. 5 (49m 19s): Probably exactly. 3 (49m 21s): Oh, that's so cool. And then I did read also, and I don't know if it's true, cause the Internet's burden me before that you grew up your, your dad's house was next to bud from sublime. 5 (49m 30s): It was, it was so it was not, not, not bud. It was, it was an earlier drummer. Maybe, maybe it was playing like Tim Bali's or something, but it was his claim to fame and he was like, he was like an unofficial member of sublime and best friends with all those guys and yeah. Yeah. That's who my dad lived next door to this famous character. His name was mark. He owned this company called long beach chronic. He was like the first person that like introduced me to the world of fucking marijuana. Pretty much. 3 (50m 4s): Yeah, of course. Okay. So the internet is wrong and I'm like, oh wow, that's crazy living next to the button from supply. But it wasn't actually him. It was another guy affiliated with their crew. 5 (50m 14s): Yup. 3 (50m 15s): Gotcha. Right on man. Well, again, I love the song. Can't wait to hear this song that you've been talking about, the one that you've held on to, and the record obviously, and dude so stoked for you for this tour. And that must be awesome to, you know, obviously tour with, with your lady. 5 (50m 30s): Yes, bro. It's like a dream. It's literally a dream come true. I mean like for both of us to be on the road and like working is, I don't know, bro. I've never experienced something like it before. So as much as I'm like, it's amazing. Like I can't wait to actually experience it. And you know, I'm also just really looking forward to watching her perform because I haven't, you not seen her play a couple of shows, but that's like a whole different side of someone where it's like, I've gone on tour since we've been together and she's been able to come out and like see me on stage. And she kind of like met, met me through my music. So she's kind of been there where, as I've gotten to really know her through making music in studio, but like I've never got to see her onstage, which is like a whole other side of someone, you know? 5 (51m 11s): Like I can't wait to see her like do it in her element in front of her people. Like it's going to be amazing. I'm really looking forward to it. 3 (51m 17s): That's cool. I never had a chance to see her live either. I've bombed the, I actually did see her perform once in San Diego, she came out with Taylor swift on Taylor swift to the 1989 tour. She came on and saying complicated, like as Taylor swift was bring some it out at each, each show and I'm like, it's San Diego. Who is she gonna pull? Like Jason morass or something? You know like Switchfoot guy or, I mean, I don't know who she would bring out. And then it's Avril Levine who had no tie to San Diego as far as I know, maybe she does. But then I was like that just made the, yeah, it was, it was so sick. 5 (51m 51s): That's so cool. 3 (51m 52s): But cool man. We'll again, congratulations on all that. And I appreciate your time. You did answer this question earlier, but I'm going to ask it again because why not? If you have any advice for aspiring artists. 5 (52m 4s): Yeah. Well, I would say that going, going with where, where I'm at right now, there's this great. There's this great saying? That's like, if you can learn how to maneuver in the valleys, if you can learn how to do Val, do great in the valleys and the peaks are gonna take care of themselves. And it's like, everything is in the ebbs and flows, you know, and when you're in those valleys, don't be so hard on yourself and don't give up in those valleys. You know, there's ever a time to give up, do it at the peaks. Don't do it in the valleys because really that is the time for growth, you know, and certain things bloom at different times. 5 (52m 53s): So like in this generation is very hard. It's a lot easier said than done, but just comparison will be the death of your art. You know, do not compare yourself to your neighbor, do not compare yourself to your favorite. Artists do not compare yourself to your peers. Literally do this for the people who listened to you and allow them to enjoy what you do and allow them to take you to the next level. You can't really force yourself to the next level. You have to do this from a pure place and allow the people that love you to take you to the next, you know, word of mouth is a motherfucker. It'll really work, you know, and you just can't force this shape, man. 5 (53m 34s): You just have to do this from a pure place.