0:00
I was so happy to know you and to come and see us again, man. >> Come on now.
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0:03
You know I got to come see you.
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>> It's been a minute though and I really appreciate your energy and your time, your music as always. >> Thank you. >> Staying productive.
0:10
Bryson Tiller, welcome back to Apple Music, man.
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And uh >> we have a lot to talk about and but but first of all, let's just focus on where you stand today, man.
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Things are great, >> right?
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I mean, you just did a you got to play with someone who you obviously have huge admiration for. >> Absolutely.
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>> Chris Brown, >> be a part of the Breezy Bowl, which is out there doing stadiums right now.
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and just making a lot of people very very happy.
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How was that experience man? >> Amazing man.
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I just get to learn from him every night and just to see so many people come out and support the guy like you know he's been in the game for a very long time >> and he's been amazing and you know >> his talent is just extraordinary and u >> just being able to see so many people come out to be like yo we still love him no matter what and uh yeah it's just great to see.
0:52
It's beautiful for you to be able to have that experience, you know, to be able to play these kind of shows, large large shows, you know, reach out to to to an audience on that scale in one go and realize what your music means to people as well, especially 10 years on from this incredible introduction that we all just embraced and continue to love to this day in Trapsole.
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And then, you know, you've continued to make great great music ever since, including this double album, which we're going to talk about very, very soon.
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But, you know, have you been in a reflective mood?
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because these anniversaries roll around, life continues to go, and if you're blessed enough to celebrate one, why not experience it again through a new lens?
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How has it been to kind of think about 10 years?
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>> I'm big on holidays, anniversaries, >> nostalgia, all of that.
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So, um, every time this date comes around, I like to c I mean, my I think my third studio album was called Anniversary, which was celebrating the my 5year anniversary of Trap Soul.
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So, >> we'll be celebrating 10 years of Trap Soul, 5 years of anniversary cuz they dropped on the same day.
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And you know, Solace will be born on um on October 2nd, which is also the anniversary of those two.
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So, >> Solus, part one of a two-part album.
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And interestingly, you gave us the vices first.
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So, you took us to to a place where there's it's got it's dynamic and there's tempo and his pace and even in your delivery, you know, you're leaning into a space that we know you can, but you are wholesale in that space.
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It doesn't change the fact that Solace is a very different experience and we're going to get to that.
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But why go with the vices first? Why take us to the end?
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because uh you know it was the summer time and like I had Solace ready for a while.
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Um I did update one song or whatever, but I had it ready for a while and I think um that that project to me always started as a fall project.
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>> I mean even with the cover, you know, we went back to Kentucky during the fall time and shot it um shot the cover of it.
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>> You can see the color of the leaves behind you.
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It's beautiful shot, man. >> Yeah. Thanks.
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And we um went back to shoot that and you know, I don't know.
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I just that is the time where my life changed.
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Um you know I just get this drive like during the fall time of like man I got to change something and and and change my life.
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And um back then that was yeah that was literally the time everything changed for me like just driving around Louisville and you know it being fall time and listening to all my favorite uh songs from the fall and just >> um I think a lot of my favorite projects.
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I think Drake had dropped something in the fall time >> and uh that's just my season man.
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It's like coming up on uh cuffing season and um cuddle season, whatever you want to call it.
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You know, you're starting to think of during this time, you start to think about that person you're going to end the year with.
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>> Well, you're racing to the end of the year, too.
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So, you're starting to take stock for the first time.
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What have I done this year?
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And and and how do I want to change my position going forward? >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.
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So, um you know, the reason why I was like Vic's first is like, let me just get the fun out of the way.
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This is like my summer, you know, and I actually created Vice's second um after Solace and um because, you know, I was talking about >> a lot of my feelings on on Solace and you know, I was like, man, I I need to this is depressing.
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It was like going to I treated Solace like really like a therapy session.
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And >> you say in the first song, you talk about music as the therapy. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly, man.
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And I want I want I really wanted I really want people to listen to it that way.
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like almost as if I'm sitting on a couch and then you know you're just listening to what I'm saying.
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Like don't listen to it as songs.
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So don't even think of it as like what's going to be the song that we all listen to.
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Like I don't want anybody to listen.
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Just listen to just listen to me speak like >> I know and and I want to honor that intention, but then you play me star signs and it's hard for me not >> you know what I mean?
4:16
So I mean it's it's not like you know you can you can sit there and and um deny yourself or anybody else you know your natural inclination to to to to build form around these thoughts but they have very beautiful thoughts.
4:26
Can we talk a bit about solace?
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I know we're a little out of schedule but um to your point it starts with a pretty open and honest you know uh admission.
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Um you've always I feel even even at a time when you've been kind of >> taking a look at at at your relationships or situations in your life and assessing judgment.
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Uh you've always been quite close to to uh accountability as well.
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I feel like that's kind of a part of who you are.
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Did you recognize both sides of that? >> I'm I'm glad.
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I hope people out there hear you say that for sure.
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Cuz yeah, I definitely am very I love to look in the mirror and, you know, look and think about my flaws and point out my flaws and not just physical appearance, but just like things that I've done in my lifetime and try to fix them.
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You know, I don't want to keep repeating the same mistakes.
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And if I do, I think I really really need to step back and figure out like, yo, what am I going to do to change this?
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and you know, am I going to meet somebody who's willing to um I don't want to say necessarily help me, but just accept me for who I am and and not necessarily judge me um the way we're all going to be judged whenever we go to heaven, you know, the way God's going to judge us. So, I just I don't know.
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I just wanted to >> Yeah. I don't know.
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I'm just big on accountability overall.
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>> So, yeah, that's just how I am.
5:37
You know, there's also some really interesting thoughts that that that you put through the music that show a side of of success that a lot of your peers don't really address.
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Um, I'm thinking about workaholic.
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I'm thinking about that idea of um taking a step back and acknowledging what that first wave of success feels like and actually the fear that comes with that and the thought of like now I've got it.
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Can I hold on to it and do I spend this money? Do I save this money?
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What if I don't get money again like this?
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What if I don't have another hit like this?
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Yeah, >> I found that song really really eye opening and really interesting to listen to because it was just a very very straight take on that.
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>> I appreciate you saying that and I was um that was definitely my goal because um you know I'd heard a lot from my partner that I that I work too much and I work I'm always thinking about work and at that time you know there's a lot
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of discussion about whether or not I was going to be around 10 years from now you know whether I was still going to be making money whether even for me like I would look in the mirror and be like damn am I can I do this? am I going to
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am I going to be able to, you know, my grandma would ask me for things and I used to always tell her, "Hey, mama, I don't know, you know, I don't know if I'll be able to do this.
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I don't know if I have the confidence to make music."
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>> Um, >> and then she passed and then everything changed for me.
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That was like right before anniversary.
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I started making anniversary after she passed, actually, >> anniversary album.
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Um, but anyways, um, yeah, like I I um I think those are things that I think about and I just wanted that person that I was talking about on the song to understand that it's bigger than just me wanting to to be in the music industry and be popping and and for people to think that I'm good.
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It's like I got people that I want to take care of.
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>> And um, you know, this is the only way this is the only thing that I have right now. I had >> my purpose. >> Yeah.
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If I had anything else that I could make money from, I probably would have did that.
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And I don't know, I was just in such a deep of a hole that I had to work harder than I ever worked before because it's like I'm I'm the reason why um I failed.
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So I was like, uh yeah, I need to >> I I know, dude. Life is great right now.
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And I and we're going to get to this point where you stand today because I'm all about staying in the present.
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And >> I'm really happy for you.
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You know, these records and these shows and everything is going in the right direction.
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Um, so I don't want to I don't want to go back and and relive things, but I think it's it's really important for an artist like yourself, who a lot of people look up to and listen to your music and and put on a on a pedestal to some degree, understand that real life happens regardless of of success or what you choose to do with your life.
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And you've been through some real life. >> For sure. A whole lot.
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I mean, all of us have been, you know, so I don't want to make it sound like I'm just a special person.
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>> I know, but you It's you and me talking right now, man. >> Yeah.
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And I was going to tell you too, like, you know, you ain't low and I want you to know like all those other people, I don't know what they told you before, but like you you don't have to do use a filter with me at all.
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You can ask me whatever the hell you want.
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You know, I know you and I know how you move, so like you ask me however whatever you want, you know.
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>> I appreciate that, Bryson.
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I've always really appreciate you as an artist and always enjoyed talking with you and I love the fact that, you know, you're opening up too.
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Um, I always really respect artists, and this is going to sound like a super disingenuine thing for someone like me to say, who loves to connect on the spirit of making music. >> Mhm.
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>> But I do respect it when artists hold back and and and are very deliberate about how they present themselves outside of the art.
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And I loved I loved that era in your life and the way you did that.
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It gave us a chance to connect to the music in a very authentic way.
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And you never overexlained it.
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But I have really enjoyed seeing you kind of get ahead of that a little bit too, show people who you are.
8:56
Um, what prompted that about a year or so ago, you started to kind of show up and say, "Hey, you know what, man? I don't know. You tell me."
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Was it I really want to kind of be afraid of that anymore? Maybe.
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Is that too strong a term?
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>> I had like a breakthrough moment with um one of my mixtapz that I was doing on Soundcloud.
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Well, a couple all of them really.
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Like um I was going through some things and I was working on the Bryson Tiller album >> and I was just so tired of working on it.
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Like I loved working on it.
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I was having a great time working on it.
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But like I needed a bit of freedom because it's felt like everything was like work on this, work on that, submit it for sample clearances.
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Let's see if they get back to us and then maybe we can release it 6 months later. And I hate that.
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I'm a free bird when it comes to artist I mean to art.
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>> And like I like to just create and if I want to that's how I'm feeling right now.
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I want to give it to the people.
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>> And also, you're so deep in that project at that time that to turn your back, it's like a renovation.
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>> They take it down to the studs and then you're like, by the time you realize, I don't even know if I want to see this through anymore. It's like too late. >> Yeah. Exactly. So, >> too late.
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You got to see it through.
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>> So, at that moment, I was like, I'm going to Miami for a little bit.
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>> I'm going to make a mix tape.
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I'm going to put it on Soundcloud right away. Like, I don't care.
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I don't care who mixes it.
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I don't care about sample clean.
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I don't care about none of that. I did that.
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And uh because I did that, I ended up having um one of the biggest rap songs of last year, which was Whatever She Wants.
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>> And that came from me going to Miami and just having fun and just releasing the restraint, you know, freeing myself from the restraints that they were giving me, you know, and I was just like having fun.
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And I was really uncomfortable actually when that song came out because I was like, "Oh man, this is like I'm kind of talking kind of reckless on here.
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Uh I don't know if you know, I'm rapping too."
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So I was like, "Dang, this is uncomfortable for me."
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>> Cuz you were unfeted when you were creating it.
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We weren't thinking about the reaction. >> Yeah, exactly.
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I was just having fun, you know, but it um it took off and it ended up being the most successful song on that entire album, you know.
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It's the only reason why I don't want to say the only reason why people talk about the album, but like it's a big reason why people even will talk about that album.
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U I mean, it's the only reason I would say RCA is happy with the album because it has all these numbers and stuff like that.
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>> But um that was my breakthrough of being able being like, "Okay, you know what?
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like maybe being uncomfortable is good, you know, it's something I learned in the gym.
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Being uncomfortable is definitely good.
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You want to like, >> you know, that's how you grow.
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So, I was just like um when I went into solace, I was like, man, I I'm just going to say what's on my mind, things that might make me uncomfortable.
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I'm going to start doing things that I wouldn't normally do.
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Like I'm doing voice acting stuff on Instagram just and Tik Tok and just trolling and having fun and just like showing my my personality without caring about what how people are going to perceive it or or feel about me. I just don't even care.
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>> Well, it means that when you come back to how you really feel and you've got that stuff that ultimately falls in that category of like you know, I've got some stuff I've got to release otherwise it's going to eat me up.
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Like I even think of a of an interlude like sick interlude I think about where that ultimately is a list and you're just like look >> unapologetically this is the that me up. >> Yeah.
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You know, and even the bit like I'm sick of being uninvited, I'm not being invited.
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Like that's a really powerful statement to make.
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Just like, you know, it's not a nice feeling to know that my value is not being recognized to the degree that I feel it should. >> Yeah. It's tough, man.
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That was something I dealt with for the longest time.
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Just feeling like people always saying, "Yeah, Bryson, you're this, you're that, you got this accolade, you got that."
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And then seeing the accolades that I have, but still not being invited to stuff and like being looked at and being made feel like I'm one of them. You know what I mean?
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And when I say them, I mean all the the heavy hitters who are like doing things.
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I always see everybody clicking up and having a good time.
12:30
>> But isn't that to some degree, and maybe you touched on this before when you talked about the accountability aspect of it, >> but you're such a snow leopard.
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>> Like I, >> you know, Walter Mitti where he's like waiting for like months for that leopard to come out so he could take one photo of it like in that film.
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>> And it's like you moved in such a stealth way.
12:48
It was almost like I don't want to be invited. I've heard that too.
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I've heard that that people think that I'm just that that's how I I want to be.
12:57
Um, >> what is it though? Is it was you shy? Was it a shyness? >> I was shy, man.
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Like I was 22 years old when I came into this industry and like, you know, starruck.
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I was very starruck a lot of the time and I just didn't know.
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I didn't even know how to text celebrities whenever they would text me.
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I would be thinking about my text message. >> What's my language? >> Yeah.
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Like 20 minutes before I would send it like deleting like I'm like, "Oh man, I don't want to make this person upset."
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You know, like I don't know.
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So, >> I was distressed, you know, and I didn't really talk to too many people for a little while there.
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Um, I was um I literally just was just going to UPS talking to my co-workers every day, you know, like.
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>> So, it took me a while.
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Like, I went from talking to my co-workers every day, you know, being the father to my little 2-year-old at the time. >> Yeah.
13:40
>> My girlfriend at the time >> to talking to celebrities, you know, like, how was I supposed to deal with that?
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And I feel like a lot of people was like, "Oh, yeah, this is just, you know, he might be weird or something. He might be lame.
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he ain't like us, you know, whatever.
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And it's like that ain't the case, man.
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Like, you know, I just >> I just needed like a mentor, you know, coming into somebody to kind of like walk me through it, like, yo, blah, blah, blah.
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>> And uh yeah, >> mentor.
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>> Yeah, somebody to just kind of walk me through it.
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But >> it's a it's a power it's a really powerful observation.
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I I I think we get in a real way of thinking about like quick success, like, oh, you should be prepared for this.
14:15
You should have wanted that. You wanted that.
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You knew what was coming. >> Yeah.
14:18
>> How do you know what traps going to do?
14:20
You don't know, >> right?
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I definitely >> You don't know. >> No idea. >> No idea.
14:24
But man, that album changed your life.
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And now to be able to look back on it before we catch up.
14:29
>> Must be really nice to to be kind to that record and to know that through all the life you've been through in the last 10 years, the ups and the downs and the growth >> that that record stands firm as a beautiful body of work and this a powerful representation of you as a human. >> Yeah, man.
14:44
I'm I'm I'm super appreciative and grateful for like the love that I've received for that project.
14:48
Um, at first it was bittersweet because, you know, nobody was saying that when it released, but I mean that's I guess that's kind of unrealistic for people to be saying what they're saying about it now. Um, right away.
15:00
>> It's also it was it's destined for influence.
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That's that's what influence does. It takes time. >> Yeah.
15:04
So, um, I I struggle with that for a little bit like hearing people and you know, money, you know.
15:09
I feel like the check didn't really read what people were saying.
15:13
They're like, "Oh man, you a legend." I was like, "Dang."
15:14
a legend." I was like, "Dang." you know why I mean I got money but like why do I feel like I don't have >> as much as like you know whatever so um it it was struggle for me to accept that but I think I finally accepted that it it is what it is and you know I think one thing that I can accept right now is
15:29
when people tell me that I have to do it again that's the most annoying thing that I deal with like just saying hey you have to do that again or else you'll never you'll never be respected in my eyes like that's how people have made me feel I'm just like man like >> that is bold >> it's one time not enough. You know what You know what I mean? >> That's bold. >> Yeah.
15:47
>> I don't think in my wildest dreams, no matter how much booze I have in my system, I would ever have the courage to say to anybody, >> "You're not going to add up to my expectations if you don't redo that.
15:56
And if I did, put me this bed." >> Yeah. >> With authority.
16:04
>> It's just not kind, you know? >> It's not kind. And it also Yeah.
16:06
It's it's a very very sort of thoughtless thing to say to somebody who really is your only job if you can even call it that is to reflect where you stand today >> through your through your music. >> Yeah.
16:17
>> Getting to the vices and getting into the second part of this equation.
16:19
Um you know uh you know I want to talk about the energy behind that.
16:24
I feel like Kentucky plays a big role in the flow and the feel.
16:28
It always does in all your music. I don't know.
16:30
I just feel like >> I feel like you're you know you're really at home in that in that space. >> Yeah.
16:36
Yeah, I'd say, you know, I've been living in um in Florida for for some time and I definitely picked up on like, you know, >> just being around Florida artists and whatnot and listening to their music.
16:48
Like, it definitely influenced me a lot.
16:50
Um, but, you know, it's always going to be I'm always going to be like deeply rooted in like what what what uh Louisville represents and like how we are, you know.
16:58
And how is that for people who've never visited?
17:00
Perhaps they listen to your music, a few other people who have come from there or they're familiar with other cultural touch touch points from the state and from the city. What is it?
17:07
What what makes it unique as a as a child?
17:11
>> I feel like there's just like a certain smoothness to it to the music, you know? It's very smooth.
17:14
Like ESTG, smooth rapper, Jack, smooth talker, you know, static major, smooth, very smooth guys.
17:20
Just like we just are smooth with it, you know. >> No, it's really true.
17:24
That's a perfect description.
17:26
Um, how's Florida treating you? >> I love Florida. I love Miami, Florida. I love all of Florida.
17:32
Maybe not the Everglades.
17:34
I never been there, but maybe I should go there.
17:36
>> Dude, I went for a drive down the middle of that state once from Naples to Fort Lauderdale. >> Yeah.
17:40
>> Down the Alligator Row.
17:42
>> Oh man, that sounds terrifying.
17:44
>> It's like an hour driving down one two l like one lane that way and one lane that way.
17:48
I'm probably like over exaggerating that.
17:50
That's what it felt like.
17:50
And on the side of that is a whole bunch of like >> stuff that prevents you from basically there's a whole lot of ballards and stuff and barriers.
17:59
And I was like, why are these barriers in existence?
18:01
Cuz left and right is just thousands of miles or hundreds of miles of just swamp land. >> That's crazy.
18:08
>> And the driver was like, well, if you fall asleep at the wheel, you end up in the swamp land.
18:14
>> Ah, >> and if you end up in the swamp land, >> your swamp food, >> your dinner.
18:18
And there's been cases where there's been car accidents.
18:20
I don't know if this is urban myth. You know about this.
18:23
There's been cases where there's been car accidents on that road.
18:26
Cars have flipped or lost control.
18:29
>> Someone's been incapacitated and they come out.
18:32
They crawl out onto the road. And >> that's crazy.
18:36
>> That's where you live, bro.
18:36
That's like real >> Ain't going that way.
18:41
>> So, what is Miami to you, man?
18:41
I mean, you're a father, obviously, and I love I love Harley's I love Harley's outro.
18:44
I love the the whole sense of like um >> you're you're a proud father.
18:49
I feel like I feel like we touched on that what that you know when we spoke last time how important being a father is to you. >> Yeah. Super important. >> Yeah.
18:57
That that balance between who you are as Bryson Tiller and who you are as as Harley's dad and a dad of children.
19:03
>> It's uh uh you know being in the music industry is tough cuz like I'm always gone.
19:06
But you know I think my my oldest daughter really really understands now cuz she looks around and she's like wow my life is really cool. >> How old is she now? Can I ask? She's 12 now.
19:16
On Harley's outro, she was about four years old.
19:19
>> Um, but that was something that I would always go back and listen to when I was depressed and sad.
19:23
And it's just a reminder that like, you know, if nobody else thinks I'm good, this person right here thinks that I'm good.
19:30
And I'm I'm just I don't know, that's just the biggest achievement for me and that's why I keep going, you know.
19:37
So, um, as far as balance goes, figuring it out day by day.
19:43
Uh, I'm still making music.
19:43
She always wonders when my when my last album's going to be, not because she wants me to stop making music, but just because like she sees how much time it takes out of my life. >> Yeah.
19:56
>> And uh, she's just ready to have her dad back.
19:58
You know, she hasn't had me in 10 years, you know?
20:00
Like I mean I'm there but like the way she had me before like you know at one point she's really my best friend you know and you know it's not the same anymore but you know she's getting older and um you know it's not over yet.
20:14
We we still got a lot of life to live.
20:16
>> Well it's a job for life bro and there are a lot of promotions on the horizon and uh you know right now it feels like the job's changed but uh it >> does get better over time and >> you know they come home and all that work you put in when they were younger to raise someone really great.
20:29
If you do a good job, which I'm sure you have, >> Yeah.
20:32
>> it comes back in kind >> in a really good way. >> Yeah, I've seen it.
20:37
>> Um, so much amazing music.
20:37
You really blessed us with with this.
20:39
Um, truthfully, I would have been so happy if you just put out Solace and thought like, "Wow, you've given us enough for the time being, but to give us the vices as well."
20:50
Um, >> I appreciate you saying that.
20:52
>> Really spoiling us and and again, just with the honest.
20:55
>> So, it's safe to say solace is your favorite then?
20:56
Well, right now it is because Yeah, just sonically for me because I I love the tempo of the vices >> and I and and to your point, maybe it's just because we're coming out of summer and I'm looking for something that's seasonal. >> Yeah.
21:11
>> But also, I've lived with the Vices for a bit and I've just got my head around solace and I I you know me man, I I like if I could be selfish, a selfish fan, like all fans have their preferential.
21:19
>> I love it when you pull yourself apart.
21:22
>> Vulnerability, you know, >> you know. >> Yep.
21:25
There's something about the tone of your voice and and the way you perform in that space.
21:28
You can smash the out of bars, but when I hear you going somewhere deep, like even in Strife, the way it's just that there's a pain in there. >> Yeah, definitely.
21:35
I was very stressed out when I made that one, for sure. >> Yeah.
21:39
>> Um I appreciate that, man.
21:39
That's the one thing a lot of people are wondering if it was going to be a true double album or not or if it was just a bunch of songs.
21:46
>> No, it's a true double album. I mean, it's conceptual. >> Yeah.
21:48
And I was trying to explain to people like, "Yo, they're they're very different, you know, from one another and and you'll see that."
21:54
Um, and you know, uh, yeah, I'm I'm just excited for people to hear it and and experience it.
22:02
And you know, my my one wish, and I'll probably say this to my fans, um, but like I just want everybody I don't want nobody to listen to it with other people.
22:10
I want them to listen to it alone.
22:11
Like >> I would agree with that.
22:11
That's absolutely the preferred way to do it. >> Yeah.
22:15
Just you got just me and you talking.
22:17
just listen to me >> and just, you know, >> feel me >> and then decide later on if you like the music, but just feel me first and feel where I'm coming from and and just if I just want to see if you've ever felt how I felt before, you know, >> that's a very fair request having listened to Solace.
22:34
I think I I would agree that people should carve some time.
22:38
By the way, music deserves that.
22:40
I think often we we put music out and we think that it should just fill a portion of the space in our life, >> but why can't we set aside 45 minutes or an hour and really listen to what someone has to say and see if we figure out something about ourselves? >> Yeah.
22:56
>> Like when I hear Autumn Drive, man, like I know you're talking about a specific time in your life, but the emotion of that music makes me feel something else. >> Yeah.
23:05
>> And I'm grateful for that.
23:05
People should allow themselves that gratitude, I think. >> Thank you, man. For real.
23:09
Bryson Tiller is with us right now.
23:12
We're talking about a beautiful double album.
23:13
Um, you know, two different sides of of of your life.
23:17
You talked about the stress that you were going through when you were making song like Strife and what's going on with Solace and um, how do you translate that into the studio into a performance?
23:28
How do you get it so that you know it's an honest representation of what you're feeling, but it's not so honest that it's no longer a performance you can stand by in 6 months when you're outside of that pain.
23:46
>> I I would I would say that I learned that from Trap Soul for sure.
23:48
Um how to deal with that because eventually it just becomes >> I don't know it's like commercialized at that point. Yeah.
23:57
like Exchange was something I was really feeling.
23:58
Write My Wrongs was something I was really feeling. >> Yeah. Yeah.
24:01
>> And I I cried when I was making Write My Wrongs from Trap Soul, but I um >> love that.
24:07
>> I don't cry now when I listen.
24:07
I mean, I've had I had one other moment where I cried and it was when we shot the music video because I was thinking about it and I think my daughter and her mom had just left town.
24:14
They were on a flight and it just we were shooting music video at the same time and I I broke down.
24:18
But anyways, >> once it becomes like a thing and people like appreciate it and like the fans are singing and they felt something and they've >> cried with me to the songs, you know, at that point I'm like able to like um detach myself from it and and whatnot and I can just look at it as a piece of art.
24:38
Um, but early on it definitely hurts and you know I feel some type of way and I'll probably feel something again on the day when it releases and people hear it.
24:48
Uh, and maybe for that whole week, two weeks.
24:50
Music is is an energy thing for me, man.
24:53
It's not just >> living and breathing for sure.
24:55
>> It's like I it people always wonder like some of my friends anyways like wonder why I get so sad on release days.
25:00
It's just like because it just it's a huge it's literally draining me of my energy.
25:05
Like that's those are real things that I went through and things that I'm saying or even with the vices like me just putting my time and effort into it and then it comes out.
25:13
It's just like now I'm being talked about every day for the next week or so and then it >> part and then there's also a very real sense of mourning when you realize that no longer belongs to you.
25:20
I've heard this from a lot of artists. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. It's different. Yeah. Exactly.
25:26
>> It is that feeling you get when your kids leave home. It's like oh man. Okay.
25:29
Like I >> Yeah, that's a great Yeah. I like that. I like that.
25:33
>> You know have to start saying that.
25:33
But then you get to make another one. You get to keep going. Um, yeah.
25:36
I think there have been times as a fan of yours when I haven't been 100% confident that we're going to get a lifelong career out of this.
25:45
>> I I think there's been times and I've thought like maybe you would choose a different path in life and it just wouldn't be worth it.
25:49
Have there been times when you felt that way? >> For real.
25:52
And I'm working on a video game called Brutal Industry and uh where you get to kind of experience that asing as a newcomer.
25:59
Um, very fun, very retro.
26:02
I'm excited for people to play it.
26:02
But if if if you need an annoying Kiwi avatar to ask questions at some point in the promo stuff or give me a call.
26:08
>> I will definitely give you a call. I'm I'm serious.
26:10
You can really be involved.
26:12
Um but anyways, um yeah, no, like after realizing what this industry is and how it how it how it is like the dark side of music industry, seeing it, >> I was like, man, I really don't think this is for me, you know, my energy wise, like >> I don't know.
26:26
I feel like a lot of people, they're just built for this this thing, you know?
26:29
I mean, I just don't feel like I am being honest.
26:32
But I love music and I will always create music because it's like I'm good at it.
26:37
Like, you know, >> like I was using a reference to somebody like the other day was like it's like a guy who's like bodybuilding his whole life or whatever.
26:45
Like, >> you know, he might have just did that because his dad did it or something and then he just started doing it because it took his mind off something and he did it for so long, but he really loves >> I don't know, let's say he likes singing, you know what I mean?
26:58
He's doing people like mad at him because he's like, "Hey man, why are you why are you singing?"
27:01
You know, and it's just like, man, I I love I know I'm good at bodybuilding and stuff, but like this is what I like to do.
27:07
So, for me, music is that thing for me.
27:09
Like, I I just started doing music because um I felt like it made me a little bit more cool in high school and people started talking to me and they cared about things that I had to say.
27:18
So, I was like, "Dang, this is dope."
27:19
And it was another outlet for me to write stories because you know it was harder for me to get my like little comic books and stuff to people that I was making.
27:25
Um >> it's a fascinating observation though if I can jump in real quick because that suggests that you know even as a young person you were trying to figure out an identity that that for connection. >> Yeah.
27:36
>> That there was a disconnection perhaps with you and your peers and it's like how do I cheat code this into a way where I can actually have some connection here. >> Yeah. Precisely. Yeah.
27:44
And that that was what I achieved it through music you know.
27:48
So, >> I kept doing it because I just got like a, you know, some dopamine from that and I was just like, yo, I got to let me keep doing this. Like, let me keep going.
27:56
>> People get to know you as that.
27:58
>> It's harder for people to get to know you as >> I can't go. Yeah. I can't go.
27:59
It's like, you know, but I'm getting out of that, you know. I'm starting to do.
28:03
But that's exactly why my, you know, my first game ties both worlds in together, you know, the music industry and, you know, um, g game design and all of that because that's my life and I just Yeah.
28:13
So, um, >> do you consider yourself to really be a designer first and foremost?
28:19
>> I storyteller, story writer, whatever you My grandma used to always tell me she feels like I was going to be a journalist or something, but or but I just I I really love to write stories, >> create stories, whether it's through a comic book, whether it's through a video game, whether it's through music, any way I can kind of tell a story or build a world for somebody.
28:37
Music is a cool way for me to build a world like cuz I can build a world within a song.
28:40
Um, but like yeah, I love >> even the artwork looks like.
28:44
I mean it's it looks like a film.
28:47
>> I mean it it really does.
28:47
It looks like two it like >> just the font I always can tell with the detail right like right down to the font the color of the font the autuminal color of the font you know the opaque nature how it just how it how it sort of transitions from light to dark toward the the right hand corner.
29:01
All that is just like that is real 360 creative It was really just moments.
29:07
I was taking pictures and I was like, "This one needs to represent me.
29:10
Vices needs to represent me having fun in the sun or whatever and looking up and it's just in a good mood and the other one will be falling."
29:18
But yeah, I I like telling stories.
29:21
>> Can I give you a different take on it for what it's worth?
29:22
And this is not to change the intention, but when I look at the cover of Vices, >> let me hear.
29:27
>> I I do see all of that.
29:27
I see the sunshine and the palm tree and I see the fact that it's shirt off and and and you're soaking it up, but I also see that it's interesting.
29:34
I don't know if you meant this.
29:35
I see the the pain that can come with vices, too. >> Mhm.
29:40
>> Did you Did you notice that when you looked at the artwork that there's like a there's two sides to it?
29:43
>> I I definitely thought about that for sure because um >> much of a good thing. >> Yeah. No, for sure.
29:48
I was uh Yeah, I definitely thought about that at one point just like looking at the my facial expression or whatever.
29:55
It's like dang, you know, me and my boy was talking about it actually just about some of the things I was saying on vices and um like one I don't know just there's just a lot of things that I feel like I went through on that uh on that project and um I don't know the funny enough I've been telling people it's like I actually didn't really partake in any vices when I was making that project.
30:14
So it's like the weirdest thing ever cuz like solace I was doing all the vices.
30:17
I was smoking, drinking, just all the shenanigans you could think of just to get myself and I realized after I finished it, I'm like, "This isn't the way."
30:27
>> And like I actually dreaded >> like I don't know the recording process, it just wasn't fun for me at all. >> Yeah.
30:33
Because you was somewhere else. >> Yeah.
30:34
I was somewhere else and you know what I mean?
30:36
Granted, I was able to somehow connect with all my, you know, my deepest emotions and be vulnerable and >> at what cost, right? >> Yeah. Exactly.
30:45
>> And then for devices, I was like, you know what?
30:46
I'm cutting out all of that.
30:48
Yeah, >> I'm not going out. I'm not smoking. I'm not drinking.
30:51
And I finished it in like two weeks, you know, just had so much fun in the studio just like, "Wow, this is so fun."
30:56
It was just exhilarating, you know.
30:58
>> So, do you think that's the last time? I mean, who knows? Life is life.
31:00
And you never want to, you know, happens.
31:04
But, God willing, is solace the last time you'll put yourself in a situation where that's what's required? >> No. Uh, I mean, yes. Um, yes, absolutely.
31:16
I've been sober ever since, by the way. Um, and I love it.
31:18
I'm on a tour with Chris Brown.
31:19
There's girls everywhere.
31:21
There's, you know, weed, alcohol, just good time everywhere.
31:23
And I'm just like been trying to like, you know, I try to enjoy, but just without those things.
31:28
I just try to like really minimize. >> Yeah.
31:31
>> You know, because if this was back then, maybe I would have been more into it.
31:35
But like now I'm just like this is where I need to be for that clarity because when I I realized when I was making I was like, dang, I have so much clarity.
31:41
when I was rapping on the song with Rick Ross, I was like, "Dang, I haven't wrapped like this in a minute and I haven't like wrote like this in a minute."
31:47
Like the way I was connecting my bars together was just like, "Dang, I I don't remember the last time I've been so precise like this."
31:54
>> So, can I ask you an honest question and I want you to be as brutal with me as you can be.
31:56
Um, when when I say that on upon listening to both that I gravitate a bit more towards solace, >> how does that make you feel?
32:04
because that was a record that came out of pain and out of and out of, you know, the distraction of self-destruction to some degree in order to get to that place.
32:13
And yet you are happier making devices.
32:16
So I want you to sort of just try to translate how it makes you feel cuz I don't want to make you you to feel bad about that. I want you.
32:21
>> No, no, no, not at all. Not at all.
32:21
It doesn't make me like even when I think about it doesn't make me feel like I need to go get drunk and high again.
32:25
And you know, one thing I know I need to do, I think I just needed to be drunk and high while I was making it cuz it was hard for me to be vulnerable. Yeah.
32:33
>> But now it's not that hard for me to be vulnerable.
32:35
I'm kind of just like, "No, let me just be vulnerable without that."
32:39
But anyways, it makes me happy.
32:39
Like even if people were to say, "Hey, you know, sorry, but vice was better."
32:43
You know, I'm okay with that.
32:45
Like >> cuz you made both of them, bro, flip a coin. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.
32:48
That's really I think it really just depends on how you feel.
32:51
Some people don't want to be sad and in their fields, you know?
32:53
Some people just want to have fun, you know?
32:57
And I just felt like solace couldn't have come out in the summer because it's like this is the time where everybody's trying to like you know have a good time and you know so I just wanted to give people >> um some music to have a good time to even if they didn't have a good time to
33:09
it you know just like but I think after listening to solace you'll be able to um you can just like go to the next >> No it's beautiful as soon as it comes off of uh of Harley's outro and goes into the first song uh on Vices you know which really is just kind of continuation of that thought process. >> Uh it's it know makes total sense. What
33:25
>> Uh it's it know makes total sense.
33:25
What are you doing with all this time now?
33:28
You're not kind of using it, drinking, and sort of removing yourself from reality.
33:30
How are you spending this?
33:30
How are you spending this hard earned space? >> Um, reading. A lot of reading.
33:34
Um, video game design takes up a lot of my time.
33:39
>> It's crazy what you can do when you have time and you allow yourself time, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.
33:42
And I've been trying to like help out my peers, you know, like people have been reaching out to me for features and stuff and I, you know, I want people to.
33:48
Um, it gets tough because of, you know, tour and stuff like that and dad life, but I really just want to get to a point for right now.
33:56
Um, I do have my next album in the works. It's called Serenity.
33:58
It's the one that I've been working on since 2018.
34:02
>> Wikipedia sitting there.
34:02
I ain't got to click on it yet, but it's waiting. >> Yeah, I know.
34:05
2018 I started it and then I stopped it cuz I realized I just I'm like I don't I can't even >> Yeah.
34:10
This the definition of that word I just can't even relate to. Yeah.
34:12
I'm just like I can't even.
34:14
So anyways, I'm back to it now because I finally feel that peace of being able to be like, >> "Hey man, I can make music freely now."
34:21
Like, I can go in here and do whatever the I Sorry. >> You can swear, bro. You're in a good place. >> Yeah.
34:26
So, I was like, "Yo, I can go in here and do whatever I feel."
34:28
There was a point where I would go in the studio and I didn't know.
34:32
>> I was so lost on how to do things.
34:32
And my second album really reflects that because I was like, "Dang, I don't know what to do because people were telling me I need to do this or do that."
34:39
You know, you need to do it like this, you need to make this type of thing.
34:42
And I was just so like trapped by people.
34:46
>> And um that's why I really love doing my last album because I like broke free from that.
34:50
Like um it was just so much different stuff on my last album.
34:52
I was like I broke free from that.
34:54
I was like, "Hey, nobody tell me what to do any more.
34:57
I'm going to do a pop song.
34:57
I'm going to do a Paw Patrol song.
34:59
I'm going to do a Christmas song.
35:00
Everybody just shut the hell up. I'm in control of this.
35:04
Nobody's in control of this. I am.
35:06
You know, I'm the artist.
35:06
Please, please respect that."
35:09
And um yeah, I had that breakthrough and uh now I just been, you know, I've been creating freely.
35:15
When I go in the studio, I do exactly what I feel.
35:17
I trust myself, you know, and that's just the best feeling ever, man, when you trust yourself and what you >> Dude, I just want to I think that's a beautiful place for us to pause so we can come back >> in the future.
35:29
Um I hope you feel you're always welcome in the studio, bro, because I always look forward to it. >> Yeah.
35:35
>> And you know, I remain a fan of of you and all your output.
35:38
the tough stuff, the hard to listen to >> right through to the stuff on on vices that feels like, you know, you've you've cut through into the into the altitude, some blue sky. >> Yeah.
35:50
>> And you seem really good, man. >> I'm very happy, man.
35:52
I'm I'm doing what I love.
35:54
I'm on tour with, you know, somebody I love. Um, and uh, yeah, man. It's just a great time. Life is great.
36:04
It's so good that I'm afraid like what's what's going to, you know what I mean?
36:07
like life is really good, man.
36:07
And I'm just blessed and I just want to keep giving my fans music and just just sharing that light with people.
36:15
>> Bryson, thank you, man. >> Thank you.