Skylar Grey: Eminem & Being Hit on by a Coroner?? | Dumb Blonde Podcast

[music]. >> Is this thing on? What's up, you sexy. Today, we have the voice behind the. feelings you couldn't put into words and. the pen behind some of the biggest songs. ever written, Ms. Skylar Grey is in the. house. >> What's up? How are you, baby? >> I'm doing great. I'm so happy to have. you here. So, like I was telling you.

before we were rolling, I learned so. much about you yesterday that I did not. know. Like I knew that you had sang like. I Need a Doctor with Dr. Dre cuz I grew. up in that era. >> Mhm. But I had no idea the depths of the. songs that you had written and I wanted. to tell you a funny story is that I. heard you talk about the the song. Gangster that Kehlani originally. >> Yeah. or that you originally sang, but. then Kehlani replaced and we'll talk. about that later, but um. that was Jay and I's wedding song. No.

way. >> not crazy? >> That's amazing. I had no idea. I did. And when I found out that you had wrote. that song, I was just like this is. insane. Like it's just everything always. comes like full circle. >> does. Yeah. How are you? That's awesome. Yeah, everything's great. So you're in Nashville? I'm in Nashville. for a couple days doing some podcasts. You know, I have an album coming out. soon, so. you know, starting the whole promo. Yeah. I've been I've been watching you. on Instagram and you have been having. some of the the like most artistic.

reels, but they're actually like going. viral and stuff. Where did you get the. idea to start doing all of that? I mean, it's just the landscape of the. music industry has changed so much over. the years. I've seen it in so many. different. forms. Um. you know, music videos are pretty much. dead now. I swear and they just like. turned off freaking MTV. Yeah. Like what. the hell? >> It's crazy. It's sad. I I. Impressive. And I loved music videos, but you know, you have to adapt to the. world we're in, and so.

it just didn't make sense to spend a. bunch of money doing music videos. It. made more sense to do small short clips. Um. >> [clears throat]. >> but you know, I still try to make them. look music video-esque. >> No, they're great. I love them. >> um. yeah, and the ones that have gone viral, it's funny, they're. getting a lot of hate for some of them, but I love it. I actually I I like think. it's hilarious. I used to get so. affected by it, but now I'm like, this. is awesome. That's the climate of our. world right now, though. Like, uh Chris.

Olsen, I don't know if you follow him, but he's a creator, LGBTQ, did I say. that right? I always say that wrong. >> adding another letter, so I. >> Right. So, I never know, so please don't. come for me if I say it the wrong way, but he's a creator, and he made a video. the other day about how mean the world. is and how mean comments are under. posts, cuz Meghan Trainor had just. canceled her tour. He had to turn off. the comments on that post because they. were so mean and so hateful, and it like. proved his point. So, it doesn't matter. if you do something amazing online, or.

if you do something that's really. people are just like an echo chamber of. negativity, and that's exactly what it. is. It's just people copying. >> see this I see the negative comments, if. you're. causing that much of a reaction. negatively, you're also causing that. much of reaction positively for the. people who connect with it. Um so, I actually see it as a sign that. like it's doing well. Obviously, to a to a point, you know, there's some things that you don't want. to do, and but um [clears throat] I love.

that you're able to look at it that way, cuz some people can't. Some people would. internalize that hatred and be like, damn, you know. >> Yeah, but the polarizing stuff is like. what makes people passionate about it, either passionately hateful or. passionately obsessed with it. Um so, yeah, to me it's a it's a good sign. I. love that. So, let's talk about some of. these songs that you've written, because. I know that people who know who you are. probably know the songs that I said, but. there was another song that I found out. that you sang that I absolutely that you.

had written, I'm sorry, but Christina. Aguilera actually sang the hook was. Castle Walls. Not many people know that. song, but that was like one of my. favorite songs back in the day and then. when I started putting it together, like. you have such haunting lyrics even when. you're not singing them. It's it's crazy haunting in a good way, you know, it's like those those words. it's um it's like those lyrics that kind. of like just resonate and linger in your. soul and that you just they just hit. something in your soul. >> each time you hear them.

>> Thank you. I mean, I never set out to. write songs for other artists. So I. always have written from a you know, a. very honest place. So even those hooks that I ended up. giving to other people, um. you know, I was just writing for myself. and then it got handed off. It wasn't. like I'm going to sit down and write a. song for Christina Aguilera, you know. what I mean? I've heard you say numerous times also. on podcast that you never set out to. write for other people and I found that. really interesting because that's.

essentially kind of what your career has. turned into because you are such an. amazing an amazing songwriter. My. husband thinks you're one of the best of. of our generation right now. He wanted. me to tell you that um when he found out. that you were coming on today. How does somebody who did not set out to. do that become that? I mean, it kind of happened by accident. Um so I you know, just long story short, dropped out of. high school when I was 17, moved to LA, got. >> Oh, we're not going to do a long story. short, Mel. We're going to get into it. [laughter]. Just for this answer quickly. Um you.

know, I had a record deal. It all fell. apart and I moved to a cabin in the. woods, disappeared from the industry for. a while cuz it had like broken me. Um and then while I was in the woods in. Oregon by myself, um got connected with this producer over. email named Alex da Kid. And uh I just you know, I got internet. in the local cafe cuz I didn't have it. at my place. And so I was like sitting. in the cafe with my headphones on, listening to the beat, and like humming.

quietly into the computer. Um and then I. I just like wrote the hook for Love the. Way You Lie and sent it back super. rough. Um. And yeah, I did I just wrote what I. felt. I didn't really like think hard. about it. It was like 15 minutes of. work. And then it was a number one song. a month later. And so but what happened was like I. never wrote that thinking like this is. going to go to Rih- like Rihanna's going. to sing this hook. Yeah. It's just uh.

Eminem took the song and um he wanted to. put Rihanna on it. And I wasn't going to. say no. Right. >> what I mean? But that's kind of what. started the whole. writing songs for other people thing. So. let's circle back because we're going to. come we're going to revisit that story. that you just told me too because Love. the Way You Lie I was going through a. domestic violence relationship whenever. that song hit. And oh my god, it was my. anthem. That one and the freaking part. two. Just amazing amazing amazing lyrics. But.

let's circle back to your childhood and. growing up. I you I heard you say that. you had a duo with your mom at 6 years. old. So did you grow up in a musical. family? Obviously. >> yeah. >> Tell me about it. Um my dad was in a. barbershop quartet. My mom um. was a folk musician and Celtic harpist. She actually still is. She like busks. and plays in restaurants and stuff. That's so beautiful. To play the. freaking harp, dude. I would cry.

probably if I heard somebody just. strumming the harp, you know? >> Um she plays like every instrument, though. Aw. And so just growing up in. that environment, I was really. sucked into it. Obviously, it was in my. blood. Um. when I was three, they noticed like I I was singing we. were we we were all singing Happy. Birthday to my aunt, and I was like, "Can I sing a harmony?". And they were like, "You're three.". >> Like and then I did, and I fully sang. the harmony, and they were like, "This.

is crazy at three to sing a harmony." Um. and so it was very obvious early on that. like music was. going to be my thing. So that. my parents were like, "Let's just see. what happens if we put her on stage.". And um did my first gig when I was six. with my mom in a library. Oh my goodness, that is so cool. >> Day show. >> [laughter]. >> What was the duo's name? Generations? >> Generations. I love that. >> Yeah. Um we made three albums together, I.

think. Aw, at starting at the age of. six? Uh yeah, I think the first album. came out when I was eight. Wow. And then. >> So did you grow up with like a studio in. your house? >> no. Because back then we didn't have. computers running it, so it was on tape. >> Okay. >> So you had to go to a studio, and there. was no autotune, there was no like You. had to actually be a real musician. >> [laughter]. >> Unlike now. Um so it was cool like I've experienced. all that, and then you know, the. computers coming into the.

into the equation, and all the other. tools that have come along with it. Now. there's AI. So take me back take me back. to writing your first album. Obviously, you had to have been like what, seven. before it had to come out at eight? >> Mhm. What was that process like as a. seven-year-old? Did you grasp what was. happening? Did you like understand it. fully, or were you just like, "Hey, I'm. singing with mom.". I I I grasped it, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I fully understood, and. um I mean, I learned a lot of hard. lessons back then, too.

Mostly about performing, cuz um. I was always really hard on myself. I. still am. You are. I've noticed that. about you. And so, you know, the first. few shows we did, if I sang one wrong. note, I would have a tantrum after the. show and be like, "I suck.". You know, and nobody cared, obviously. Nobody probably even heard the bad note. that I sang, but I like would beat. myself up about it. And. so my mom like came up with this thing. to tell me, and I still use it to this. day.

She said, you know, when you're on stage. or when you're in like even after the. show when people are trying to. come talk to you and stuff, you you have. to like treat it like. you know, anytime you're away from those. environments, you can have your tantrums. and whatever, but like. as soon as you're. you know, in the public eye, you turn on. the Christmas lights. Like you're a. Christmas tree, and it's you can be dark. when any other time, but like when. you're performing and when you're in. front of people, turn on those Christmas. lights and just put it on. Just turn on.

the lights. And so I still sometimes use. that because like, you know, even doing a podcast, like you have to. turn it on. You have to be on, you. right? Um What a great [clears throat]. analogy though. >> Yeah, and so I still use that. I'm like, "Okay, if I'm like feeling really bummed. out and I don't want to go on stage, I. just remember, okay, just turn on the. Christmas lights, put on the show, and then I can be dark. later.". Where do you think that perfectionism. comes from with you? Cuz normally it comes from like a place. I know my perfectionism comes from my.

father, of daddy issues that I had cuz. [clears throat] my he was a Virgo, so. everything had to be perfect, you know? Where do you think yours came from? >> good question. I don't actually know. because it's just been the way I've been. my whole life. >> Yeah. You know? Mhm. Um I'd have to like. really. do some deep thinking about that. I. always wonder like what makes people. like, you know, the way that they are. like cuz I know I'm always trying to. figure myself out, too. So at 7:00, when. you're writing this album, what kind of. songs are you writing with your mom at. 7:00? >> So most of the songs we were singing.

were covers or like friends of ours. wrote them. But I was always trying to compose. Like. when I started taking piano lessons when. I was six. And instead of I didn't ever. want to play other people's music. I. just wanted to create. So my first piano. recital I played an original piece. I. was always just like creating. And so. then when I was eight I wrote my first. song with lyrics. It was called the same. sky. Aw, and like your name is Skylar Grey. Yeah, I was in I was in a swimming.

swimming pool in Hawaii. My parents were. divorced and so I was in the swimming. pool in Hawaii with my mom. And I was. looking up at the moon and I was. wondering if my dad could see the same. moon I was looking at back in Wisconsin. And so I wrote a song about that. Um you. can still find that song out there. It's. called the same sky. Oh my goodness. I. love that. You've always had such a an. old soul. Even as a child to look up at. the sky and be like I wonder if my dad's. looking at the same moon as me, you. know, like that's really deep for an.

eight-year-old to. even that's for that to even cross your. mind. So the depth is just amazing. So. take me on this journey. You and your. mom are making albums. Do you guys like. go on tour or anything like that? >> around like the Midwest. We didn't go. wide with it, but um. and it was mostly like elementary. schools, libraries, like women's health. conventions. Super random like, you. know, fairs. Yeah. What age were you when your parents. divorced? Three. Three. Okay, so it.

happened So it didn't really affect me. emotionally cuz I was too young to like. understand what was going on. And also. it was. weird in a good way because they were. friends. Mhm. Um and we we had they had equal custody. so my whole childhood I spent um a week. at my mom's, a week at my dad's. Like. went back and forth, packed a suitcase, walked a mile through the woods to get. to the other parent's house and that's. just how my childhood was. Yeah, is dad. musical? Mhm, yeah, he was in a. barbershop quartet and he sings in.

church and I love it. How does one get. in a barbershop quartet? Like what does. that consist of? That's like four. people? >> four, sometimes five. >> Mhm. Uh. and it's just a cappella. They just a. lot of crazy harmonies and I think that. definitely influenced me, too. Um my use of harmonies, for sure. Yeah. Do you feel like the different versions. of yourself live inside your music? So, of course, as you're growing from, you. know, seven to the woman that you're in. now, do you feel like your writing um.

reflects like each different versions of. your life? Yeah, I [snorts] mean, I think we're. always growing and evolving, um but. the at the core, there's, you know, all of that stuff is still there. Mhm. You know? Yeah. Um. When you when you were traveling with. your mom, when did you set off to start. doing things on your own? So, when I was 12, I bought a baby grand. piano. Mhm, I just bought one last week. I just bought one last week, or three.

days ago. It's my first one. I'm so. excited. >> Um I so I bought this piano with all the. money I had made singing with my mom. Mhm. And um. that's when I really started like. writing a lot of songs. Um and it was also a time period, you. know, being 12, when kids start getting. really mean in school and um they. started making fun of me for singing. with my mom and the songs that we were. singing, they would like mock me and um. so it wasn't cool. >> they weren't doing it. They didn't have.

that relationship with their mom, you. know? So, it's like uh kids bully things. that they don't understand. Totally. Um. but, you know, it hurt. And I also did. like want to start singing different. styles of music. I was listening to pop, you know, pop radio and grunge and stuff. and I was like, I don't I don't want to. sing these kids songs anymore. >> Well, you were growing up, too. It was a. different And so, I started writing a. lot of songs, and then I told my mom I. wanted to go solo. How did Mom take that? >> Um I mean, she was always very.

supportive, but I could tell that it, you know, it bummed her out, too. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz I mean, I'm sure it was like. she was living her a dream vicariously. through you, also, as. >> and and it became her career. >> Mhm. Performing with me was her career. at that point, so. Um so, yeah, it was hard for her, I. think, but she was also super. supportive, and I think she knew that. was going to happen at some point, you. know. Mhm. So, at 12, you're writing these songs. How do you. get out to LA? Cuz where where were you.

growing up at? >> Wisconsin. >> Wisconsin. So, you go from Wisconsin, how do you end up in LA? Well, I started. by um when I went solo, >> [laughter]. >> I put a band together, um. and in Madison, Wisconsin, it was mostly. jazz musicians. So, my whole band was a. jazz band, basically, and I was playing. jazz clubs, and. it wasn't really. >> Jazz is hard to play, by the way. Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. >> I wasn't playing. They were playing. I. was singing. >> [laughter].

>> But even singing it, too, is not easy. Yeah. So, I wasn't really I wasn't really. doing jazz songs, per se. I did a few, but um. I was writing my own pop songs. >> Mhm. Uh and but I I quickly learned that. like. that wasn't the place for me to succeed. in the way I wanted to. Pop music. wasn't? >> Yeah, like in Madison, it just wasn't, you know. I just felt like I needed to get out of. there and go to LA and.

>> Yeah. So, um and I hated school. I had a really hard time with school. I. was I was a good student, but I just. like socially had a really hard time. with it. Were you just like awkward and. like just kind of to yourself? >> of kept to myself. Well, I really tried. for a long time to like be part of the. the mean girls click and like try to. find my place, you know, and I just. didn't feel like I belonged anywhere. I. didn't feel accepted in any groups. So, I started like sitting alone at. lunch and instead of even in the lunch.

room, I would take my sandwich to the. piano room in the band room and like. sit alone and eat and play the piano. Aw. Um. and [clears throat] so then. I asked my parents to home school me and. they couldn't figure it out and. eventually I just dropped out. Did you. suffer from like anxiety or depression. as a child or what what do you think. >> had some depression. >> disconnect was? >> Yeah, it was. I was really. uh like I had a bout of like anorexia. and like I was just like really.

self-conscious and. um Do you feel like the pressure of. touring with your mom is where you. started trying to cuz they say that that. cuz I suffered from an eating disorder. myself and that's like my way of trying. to gain control of my life. Was that. where your way of trying to gain. control? Did you not feel like you were. in. >> I just wanted people to like me, Aw. and so I was like trying anything to. like. get people to like me and think I was. pretty and you know, all the things. You're beautiful. >> Um thank you.

And so. um. So, yeah, I dealt with some depression. and all that stuff and then. I also just like had such a clear vision. for myself. with my career and um I kind of felt. like I was wasting my time in school. Yeah, no, I know that feeling. That's. how I was. I could never focus. >> Like a lot of people don't know what. they want to do at that age, but I did. >> Mhm. And so I'm like, what am I doing. here? You know? Um You're a creative just through and. through. Yeah.

So, the last year of high school. my junior year I didn't finish. Um I only went to three classes, uh. ceramics. and. physics and algebra two. Oh. And cuz I I. loved math and science. Wow. Um. so I just chose to go to those classes. and they let me just do those. Um. >> [laughter]. >> They're like, she's going to do whatever. she wants anyways. Let's just At least. she's going. But then. something happened where I had a gig and.

I couldn't do my homework that night. because I didn't have enough time to do. you know, two hours of math homework and. do my show. Show up the next day. at school, ace my test. and. but the teacher was like, well, I'm not. going to. this isn't going to count because you. need to do your homework just like every. other kid in this class. And I said, I'm. sorry, I couldn't because I had a gig. and she was like, well, music isn't a. career. You better rethink this.

And uh Teachers like that frustrate me. >> left and I never went back. Mhm. You. never went back to school. You were like, no, [ __ ] this. >> I'm like, [ __ ] this. You're like, I'm. going to use those words as motivation. >> wrong. Yes, I love that. I don't love. that you dropped out, but I love that. And I don't love that the teacher said. that to you. Like I I don't think. teachers understand like when they say. things like that to to children. Like it. really either one breaks their spirit or. sparks a fire in their soul and luckily.

it sparked a fire in your soul. Yeah, 100%. If you're a teacher, please be. careful with what you say to students. So. >> see it as a blessing because I did it. did spark a fire for me. >> Yes, yeah. >> I love that. >> For sure. Um so take me on this journey. So you didn't go back to school, what do. you do? Um well, I had a bunch of money saved up. for college from doing all these shows. and stuff. And. >> that you were able to save money. That's. amazing. That's an amazing story. >> I wouldn't have been able to do it if my. parents didn't force me to. Right, okay. [laughter]. Gotcha. They're like, this is all going.

in your college savings. Yeah, cuz. that's the last thing I was thinking. about when I ran away from home. My. house had did did have a pot to piss in. >> [laughter and gasps]. >> So, I'm I instead of spending it on. college, I took that money to LA to move. and to record demos. Take me on your. first like year in LA. Was it a freaking. culture shock for you? >> Cuz I grew up on the West Coast, so. that's what I grew up in, but I couldn't. imagine coming from Wisconsin. >> Wisconsin, 1,500 people, and then. landing in Venice.

LA. >> gosh. You went straight to Venice? >> Yeah, the first person I lived with was. the guitar player from Culture Club. Oh, wow. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, he had an empty bedroom and just. through a mutual friend like let me stay. there. Um That's Boy George's band, right? Or. was Boy Yeah, Boy George I had the. biggest crush on Boy George when I was a. kid. He was my first love. I had a Boy. George Snoopy and everything. Aw. That. is so random. How did you meet him? >> Um just through some random, you know,

whatever it is. You meet random people. and. and then uh but it was a culture shock. for sure. A lot of like. I don't want to Yeah. I'm not going to. say anything, but a lot of stuff I was. exposed to that I hadn't been. Um. very quickly. And. it was kind of like a dark environment. for for me to be in at 17. Um and then. >> So, I'm sure people were just They can. always smell when somebody's very green, so I'm sure it was And then there was.

like a murder next door and um there was. like a. a bloody mattress in between the houses. and um I was just like, "Where am I?". And then this coroner came and we had to. take They had to tape off caution tape. our house and like keep us there because. they needed to question us. Did we hear. any screaming? Like. >> your your next door neighbor for when. you were living there? >> living at Roy Hay's house, yeah. >> Wow. And the coroner like I watched him. take the body to the truck and all the. stuff and then. and then he came I was sitting on the.

front steps of the house cuz I was like. like I had to stay at the house until. questioning or whatever. And. he came and sat next to me and he. started hitting on me. Like The coroner. did? >> was like Men can't sit next to me and he. was like. you're such a beautiful girl. Like it. was so weird. I'm like where am I? Oh my. god. Like you're literally watching. somebody get murdered and their body. getting taken to the morgue and this man. just sit like men just have the worst.

timing always. It's never a good time. >> Well, and I was 17 and he was like, you. know Yeah, you're a baby. I could only. imagine the things that you had to see. What year was this? Uh. 2005. maybe? >> Yep, I was out I was out there during. that time too. That was a wild time in. LA and Vegas. Those were wild times. That was like I don't know. It was like. the wild west out there. It was really. crazy. So I could only imagine the stuff. that you had to experience out there. But luckily some of the producers that I.

had met and was working with were really. nice and they saw the situation I was in. and they're like. girl we got to get you out of there. So they let me go stay with them and I I. did kind of like a little couch surfing, you know, route with different producers. and stuff. Um and then I signed my first. record deal about a year and a half in. So tell me how you cuz you signed you. signed it with. uh you started working with Lincoln Park. and then [clears throat] you got signed. to your record deal? So Lincoln Park had. a label called Machine Shop under the.

Warner Brothers umbrella and um we had. met through well, I met some random. person in a hallway in a studio. and he was like you need a lawyer and so. he introduced me to a lawyer and then. that lawyer introduced me to a manager. And uh. it was The Firm. I don't know if they're still in. existence, but the management company. The Firm. I remember them. I remember. hearing about them. And I it's so funny. This is just like a funny little. anecdote, but I went and sat in the. office to meet with Dan.

um at the firm, and he told me, "So, this whole company was built on. corn.". And I was thinking from Wisconsin, I was. like, I was looking around the room, I'm. like, wait, it's like the couches are. made out of corn? [laughter] Like And he. was talking about the band. >> was talking about the band, Korn. >> [laughter]. >> Oh my gosh. I literally was looking around the room. like being like, oh my god, they built. everything here out of corn? >> Oh my god. You sweet baby. I was so. naive. Oh my gosh. I love that though.

That is the cutest story ever. >> Yeah, but so Linkin Park was also. managed by the firm, and so we got. connected that way, and um. they heard a demo I had recorded and. were interested in meeting, and so I. used to go to this hotel, which is now. the London Hotel, but back then it was. the Wyndham Belage Hotel, and there was. a little bar. and a piano in the corner, and I would. just go in there and play and sing, not. performing, but just. anytime I saw a piano, I'd sit down and.

play, so. um I would like meet the most random. people there. Like Joaquin Phoenix came and sat next. to me one time and asked me to show the. show him the chords I was playing, and. uh it was just a crazy. crazy time, but. so I said, come down to the Wyndham. Belage, and so the guitar player from. Linkin Park. uh came down and listened to me play a. couple songs for him, and then the next. day they offered me a deal. I love that, and I wanted to tell you um. I know you did "Where'd You Go" with. Fort Minor. That was one of my MySpace.

songs. So, it was so crazy how like it. just keeps circling back to how you've. had an influence in my life indirectly, and I didn't even know it. Like it was. just crazy when I was doing my notes. It. was I used to when cuz I ran away from. home, so "Where'd You Go" was like my. like anthem because it was like, you. know, for me and my parents. I that's. how I looked at it. Um but yeah, I I. thought that was crazy crazy little. tidbit. So, did you get to meet Chester. Bennington and all of them? What was. your relationship like with Chester? Chester was a beautiful human. How did his death affect you? Was it.

shocking for you? I mean. I didn't know him that well, to be. honest. Um. but yeah, I mean, that was. a hard pill to swallow. Mhm. He was such. a a genuine soul and. um a really good person. He's a fellow. Pisces. Mhm. So, he feels every he felt. everything, too. Yeah. Oh. So, take me on this journey with your. first record deal, cuz you signed with. them, but then it kind of you guys had a. falling out, which kind of sent you into.

a different direction of. >> Well, so, yeah, I mean, what happened. was uh. Mike Shinoda did a side project called. um Fort Minor. Mhm. And he had me come. down to the studio one day and sing the. hook for Where'd You Go? Mhm. And. I had been manifesting working in. hip-hop for so long, ever since I heard. Stan by Eminem when I was like 13. That's something I always wanted to do. Like I loved the the juxtaposition of. the soft female vocal with the rap.

And so, when he asked me to do that. song, I was like so excited. Um. I came down, sang the song, left. I. didn't expect it to go. like be a Billboard charting song. Mhm. Um but it blew up, and then I didn't. really know how to respond to that. Like. I wasn't prepared for the success of. that song. Mhm. Um. and so. I just don't think I was prepared. um with my own like music, and I didn't.

know how to follow it up. I didn't know. how to [clears throat] like maximize the. exposure of that song and like build off. of it. Um I feel [clears throat] like I like. rushed my first album out. Um like looking back, I wish I had spent. more time. And it's not that I'm not proud of that. album. >> Mhm. Um. but. yeah, like looking back I'm like man, I. could have probably done a lot better. job if I had just been more patient. Mhm. But I was like. I don't know. I was frantic. [clears throat] about trying to like.

follow up that success of that song. >> You felt like you were probably going to. lose the momentum. I feel like I my. husband being an artist, you see that a. lot is like when something blows up. there it's like you are like, "Oh my. god, how am I supposed to follow this. up?" And so I I do my hus- my husband. has a saying where he always says, "Don't let perfection get in the way of. good enough." And I've always like. believed that because if we micromanage. like everything and try to be perfect, like something that is good enough and.

that people are actually going to just. devour and love that might miss that. opportunity because we're trying to make. it perfect, you know? >> 100%. [clears throat]. >> And I've noticed that with you. You're. like so hard on yourself and I was. listening to you on another podcast. I. was like this girl is so. talented and like I don't even think you. realize how special you are. Like you. are there's not very many people like. you that can do what you do. So I mean. you need to really I'm I'm I'm. trying to learn how to uh. let good enough be okay. You like let it.

be good enough instead of being a. perfectionist. It it's been a a problem. for me because it takes me about 5 years. to put out an album every time because. I'm so I put so much pressure on myself. like. thinking about like is this the sound. that I want to like. leave the world with, you know, leave my. mark on the world with? Um. and so I would just like put so much. pressure. and. now I'm at a place where I'm like I just. turned 40 and I'm seeing like You look.

fine, by the way. >> Oh, thank you. >> [laughter]. >> You don't look 40 at all. >> Thank you. But I'm, you know, like how. much how many more years do I have left? Sorry, [laughter] I'm so sorry. >> [gasps]. >> She's old. So cute. I'm like, how many years do I. have left in this industry, you know? With your talent. >> but I can't just put out an album every. 5 years. Right. I understand. >> like at some point I'm going to look. back and be like, why didn't I put out. more music? But if you look, whenever. you said you wrote um Where'd You Go and.

Love the Way You Lie, you said that you. weren't you didn't think that they were. even going to do anything and you kind. of like had no pressure on yourself. >> Right. And then like when you don't have. pressure on yourself, look at what you. produce. >> Exactly. >> done that with multiple other songs, too, but that just those two as an. example. >> Mhm. And I think that if you can somehow. get into that headspace of not putting. so much pressure on yourself, you'll be. a little bit more free. >> what I'm trying to do now. I'm trying to. aim for an album a year. Mhm. And. instead of thinking about it like this. is the sound, this is like.

what people are going to remember me. for, whatever. I'm just like, let's just. capture this moment in time. Like, what. am I into right now musically? Yeah. Make those songs and then put them out. Yeah. And then I can make another one. next year and it it'll evolve and it'll. change and the sound will change and it. doesn't have to be that serious. >> Mhm. Um and so that's kind of like. mentally where I'm at with it all right. now. And it's like artists are allowed. to put out [ __ ] albums. Yes. >> You know? And so if I if one of those. zeitgeists I capture on an album is [ __ ]. like it's okay.

Just do it. Just keep going. Keep. putting [ __ ] out and don't like look. back and regret not putting out more. music. Amen, sister. My husband said the. other day we were talking about him. dropping an album and he's like, as an. artist, all we care about is just. getting an album out and one song doing. great. Yeah. >> was like, that's really a great way to. look at it. It's like you drop a 15 song. album, but you just hope that that one. resonates. And I mean, with your voice. and your talent, there's going to always. be that one. You know? I I know you probably don't. believe that, but I mean, look your your.

freaking track record speaks for itself. Uh um a lot of people might not realize. this, but you also did pass yesterday on. my husband's um album, too, which that. is one of my favorite songs. I loved it. When I found out you were getting on it, I was so excited and so giddy, and you. just crushed it. So. >> Oh, thank you so much. >> haven't gone and listened to past. yesterday, go listen to it cuz that's. >> I was so excited when I got that text. Yeah. And I was like it was like 24-hour. turnaround. >> Mhm. Um Sounds like my husband. >> fast.

>> [laughter]. >> And I was like, I got to lock in. And so. I go to the studio and I'm like, you. know, beating my head against the wall. trying to figure it out. And I just. you know, you feel it when you when you. know it's right. And it wasn't feeling. right. And I was like, okay, I just need. to like put this down, go to dinner. So. >> [clears throat]. >> after spending like. I don't know, 6 hours in the studio trying to come up. with something, I decided I'm just going. to go to dinner and then I'm going to, you know, smoke a little weed, have a. drink, whatever,

and then go back and try again fresh. And it like instantly came to me when I. went back into the studio. And it was. not anything I had started earlier in. the day. It was a brand new idea and I. was like, okay, this feels right. It was. so good. Thank you. >> So so good. So let's circle back to you. um ultimately going on this journey. because up until now you're Holly. Brooks, right? You have you have your. >> Yeah, up until. Which I did not take you for a Holly at.

all, either. >> my real name. Brooke is my middle name. Yeah. And I went by that for a while. Um and then, you know, after the whole. Lincoln Park thing and and putting out. Where'd You Go and my album my first. album that came out was under Holly. Brooke. Um. It wasn't very successful and I went. broke. And I had to leave LA cuz I couldn't. afford it. Um. and so then I moved to this cabin in the.

woods. And the woods have always been. like my safe space cuz I grew up in the. woods. >> Mhm. And uh It's where you kind of go. back to recharge. >> Yeah, it's where I go back to find. myself again cuz you can get just so. lost in the mix. And I I'm so affected by people's. opinions. Mhm. Um and being in LA and. just like being surrounded by people's. opinions, especially people that I. looked up to, experts in the music. industry, other songwriters, and. everything. Um I felt like I like lost. touch with myself musically. Um and just as a person. Like I just It.

was the first time in my life I actually. questioned what I was doing for a. living. Mhm. Um cuz like ever since I was a little. kid, I knew I wanted to do music. And. then suddenly when my my album didn't. succeed and I went broke, I was like, "Okay, maybe I need to rethink all of. this." Um so I just had to get out. >> [clears throat]. >> Um. I actually worked a few jobs for the. first time in my life. What was the. first job? Uh. I worked at Barnes & Noble selling. music. I was in the CDs area.

>> Mhm. And uh I actually sold my own album. one day. And they didn't know it was you. >> Mhm. And I didn't tell them. Oh my goodness. I was like, "This is so embarrassing.". Oh. I'm like working in Barnes & Noble. now. Like. Oh my gosh. And how did they How did. that person not know it was you? That's. crazy. I mean, I looked different. >> Oh, yeah. I had changed everything. I've. had so many different hairstyles. You. have. [laughter] I have I did notice. that when I was researching you, I was. like, "Oh, she's you like you can tell.

like you're always in seasons of your. life." And I love that. I've always. wanted to be like that, and I just can't. do it. I have to always stay like the. same, but I admire people and I talk. about it all the time. I want to dye my. hair black. I want it, but I don't have. the balls to do it. But you do, and I. really appreciate that in a in a person. because I think that's so cool. Yeah, it's been fun. Um and I love having a. shaved head now. I didn't do that on. purpose though. I had a bleaching. accident. Oh, no. What happened? Tell. me. >> my hair just got fried and it was like.

coming out in clumps in the shower. >> Oh no. >> my whole body broke out in hives. Oh no. >> covered I was like I had a crazy. allergic reaction to the bleach and um. I had always wanted to shave my head, but. >> Yeah. I'd never had the guts to do it until. that moment. I was like, I don't know if. I have an option. Like otherwise it's. going to look really bad. So. I took it as the opportunity to do it. And now I love it. I love it. I'm. rocking it for a while. I'll probably. grow it back at some point, but. I love it. I think it's awesome. >> Um Tell me.

>> But back to the other jobs. Yes. I think. you'll find this interesting. Uh so the. other job, well. one of the other jobs I taught. gymnastics to little kids and they were. like peeing all over the mats. I was. like cleaning up pee How often? How. often? Had you ever done any gymnastics. before? >> I grew up doing gymnastics. My My. stepdad was a my gymnastics coach the. time my parents met. Okay. And I was in. high school gymnastics and I coached. [clears throat] high school gymnastics. >> you got that banging body from. I don't. know. Yeah. [laughter]. Thank you. Um so I did that, but then it just.

became cleaning up pee. So I was over that. >> Gymnastics babysitter. And then I. responded to this Craigslist ad. that said they needed a video editor and. I was like. I can do that cuz I can edit Pro Tools. It can't be that different. And they. said they would train. So okay. Um so I show up in a suit. to this interview. and they said, "You know this is adult. content, right?". And I was like. "Okay. Well, I really need a job, so.

that's fine. Whatever.". And so yeah, I edited. for like a few weeks. I only lasted a. few weeks though. Why? You just were like this is. >> it was really good money. Like. cuz we were paid on how much work we got. done. >> Mhm. Um and so it ended up being about. like $30 an hour for me, which was like. way better than Barnes & Noble. Right. >> [laughter]. >> But what happened was have you ever. heard of this phrase called the Tetris. effect? No, teach me. So like if you are.

playing Tetris, it's like all these. shapes falling, right? >> Mhm. If you play it for too long and then you. start doing something else, you start. hallucinating the Tetris shapes falling. Wow. Um and so that was happening to me, but it was like but. >> [laughter]. >> Cuz you were like staring at it all day. long. >> like at that in my bedroom, um I had a a. light above the bed that I had taken the. light bulb out cuz it was too bright.

And so there was just like a light. socket above my bed and every night when. I fall asleep, I was just seeing a. gaping. Oh, no. Like I was like legit hallucinating this. and I was like this can't be healthy. No, that can't be healthy. But you know. what? That's perspective because you. never think about like people on the. other side of the industry who actually. have to edit stuff, like their minds are. being affected as well. >> It was a 9:00 to 5:00 of just looking at. you know, and it wasn't editing. features. It was like taking a feature.

film and chopping out all the highlights. to make like short clips, almost like. reels. Making short clips of the highlights, so. like the shots in the, you know, like. all and then I had to learn all the. terminology because we we had to tag it. all, like with what search words people. would use to find that Yeah. that, you. know, game. I got it. Whatever, like gaping. You know. >> [laughter]. >> Oh god. Um poor thing. It's like I'm just trying to survive. >> Yeah,

yeah. But then I luckily I got offered a. tour as a keyboardist Mhm. and um. I was like okay, I think I'm going to. take that Instead of what I know. Yeah. So I played backup keys and backup. singing for Duncan Sheik. He had a song. called in the '90s called I'm barely. breathing. Yes, I think I do remember. him. Yep, yep, yep, vaguely. So, I. toured with him for a while and it was. it was great cuz it it was music at. least. Um and I was getting paid. Um.

but you know, after a point I was just. like I wish really wish I was doing this. with my own music. Yeah, I feel like. that's been your whole journey is like I. just want to write my own music. I don't. want to have to write for anybody else. Take me on this metamorphosis of you I. really thought this was a great story. that you had told of from kind of. falling off from Holly Brook. Is it. Holly Brooks or Holly Brooks? >> Holly Brook. Holly Brook and then. becoming Skylar Grey because. >> Oh, yeah. So, when I was in the woods. and like reconnecting with myself and.

You said you were peeing in a in a pot? Oh, yeah. >> [laughter]. >> So, um. I'm trying to think like the timeline. here. So, I had done that tour. Oh, when I was on. the tour with Duncan, I had been like. journaling a lot and I wrote down in my. journal all I want is a cabin in the. woods and a place where I can set up a. recording studio and like just make my. own music. I wrote down, which is the. power of manifestation because. um especially when you write it down.

About like 6 months later, my mom calls. me and she's like my friend has this. property with a cabin on it and she is. offering to let you live there for free. Um you would just have to work in her. art gallery and sell her art like a. couple times a week in trade for the. rent. And I was like. dream come true. Let's go. Yeah. >> And so, I moved up there and um set. [clears throat] up all my gear. Fell back in love with music just being. alone. And uh and then I just felt like.

I needed to change my name. Like I had. gone through such a transformation. emotionally, um musically, everything. How long was this that you were getting. back to your like roots, I guess. >> So, I moved there in the fall and it was. uh probably. May or June the following May or June. when I wrote Love the Way You Lie. Mhm. And uh that's about the time when I was. like, you know, when that song took off.

Um I was like, I think I need to change. my name cuz like I was getting pushed. back into the music industry suddenly. And I didn't want people to like judge. me for being Holly Brook and failing. And so I kind of wanted to re-enter it. as a new person, as a new artist. Um. I even didn't show my face for a long. time. Like I had a website that. was like there's super shadowy picture. of me and it was, you know, my new name. And people were like, "Who is this. person?".

You know? Um. How does the introduction to Eminem. happen? It [snorts] just happened through the. producer that I'd met on the email. Mhm. >> Um after I sent him the hook that I. wrote over his beat for Love the Way You. Lie and the song blew up and everything. Um. I I didn't have any part in that. Like. he's the producer is the one who got the. song to to M. Yeah. Um. And then um was in Detroit, Rihanna was. in Dublin, Alex the producer was in um.

New York and I was in the cabin in the. woods in Oregon. The song came out, it was huge. We'd. never been all in the same room. together. Mhm. Um it's crazy. But then I met M because, you know, obviously after the success of that. song, he wanted to invite us out to. write on uh or to work with. Dr. Dre on his new album. And so Alex and I. went out there and um. it was so so nerve-wracking walking into. the room and there's Eminem and Dr. Dre.

No [laughter] pressure. No pressure. None whatsoever. >> Um yeah, I was so quiet. And then M he he actually like later. told me he he's like, "I thought you. were a bitch.". Cuz I was just so quiet. I like didn't. say anything. >> Cuz you were just so nervous. >> so nervous. Your poor little heart was. probably like pounding. It was, yeah. Because I mean, you write this massive. banger, and then they bring you in to. not only write with M&M, but also to. write with Dr. Dre, and it's like that's. double the pressure, and then that's.

pressure to have to create right there. I think you had said that you. had pre you had pre-written a verse to. bring in there. >> gotten together before the trip and came. up with some ideas to like present. >> Mhm. I didn't want to walk in. empty-handed, and I also have a really. hard time creating in front of people. Yeah, that's got to be like insane. Yeah, so yeah, Alex and I. took over like a couple rooms in uh. New York in the UMPG offices, and like. he was making beats in one room, and I.

was writing hooks in the other room, and. yeah, we came up with the idea to do Dr. Hook there. And now you've done how many songs with. M? Like you guys. >> to count. I don't I don't actually know, but um cuz we've done. songs on his albums. He's featured on. some songs from my albums, and then we. worked on things together like uh for. Slaughterhouse. Um. so I I don't know. I'd have to add it. up, but it's like it's probably 15 plus.

And but you guys have like a real. friendship, too. Cuz I've seen you guys. like on stage, and like he seems like he. just adores you. He's the best. Yeah. Yeah. Jay was Jay got to meet him what, like a few years ago, and just. absolutely loves him. Like. >> Yeah, I adore him. Yeah, I guess they're. like texting buddies now or something. He always always runs in the room, "M&M. texted [clears throat] me." I'm like, "Okay, babe, I get it. I get it.". [laughter]. Um so, how crazy is it that you're in the. middle of the woods, you are writing. music, you're reconnecting, you get this. opportunity to do Love the Way You Lie.

with M, and then you're writing with Dr. Dre, and then like things just keep. taking off for you. How are you feeling. mentally and how are you feeling like. pressure-wise cuz I do know that you're. pretty hard on yourself. Where are you. at? Are you like, "Hell yeah, let's. [ __ ] go." or are you still kind of. just like I mean, I was super excited, but then at the same time like like you. said, I put a lot of pressure on myself. And so, I had tons of people reaching. out wanting songs for themselves, wanting hits. They're like, "We want our. Love the Way You Lie.". And.

>> [laughter]. >> I'm like, "Well, not every song I write. is a hit." Like, but I put the pressure. on myself that it had to be. And so, I. started doing these writing sessions and. that pressure got to me to the point. where it like shut down my creativity. and I would be in the rooms and not. delivering. Like, I couldn't come up. with anything. My mind was blank. Um because people are watching you. >> Yeah, and because because it's just the. pressure I put on myself like I have to.

write right now. You know? And that just doesn't work. What is your creative process? Like, how. What is your ideal situation to write. just something from the heart and To be. alone in the room. Yeah, and and also. like a lot of my songs come to me when. I'm not even in a studio. They'll come to me when I'm. making dinner or going on a walk or. Um there's songs on my album. There's. one that was written My dog was getting. surgery and I was standing outside the.

vet's office. And so, it just like comes. to me in my head. Um so, it's not like I'm sitting down to. write a song. But sometimes it works for. me to sit down and write a song. Uh but. usually I like to be alone in the room. and um like when Jelly sent me the the. Past Yesterday song, I just like took. the track into the studio, shut the. door, and and just sat with myself and. and. um. You know, I try to let the music come to. me instead of write it and try instead.

of like overthinking it. I I like feel. like it comes from somewhere else and I. channel it. But I can get in the way of that doorway. being open with my brain like. overthinking things. >> Mhm. Um so that's why it's important for. me to be alone I think is is because I. have to like allow that to channel. through me. Um. all the best songs that I've I've. written, the biggest songs I've written. took very little thought. Mhm. You know, I did it doesn't even feel like I wrote.

them. Mhm. Maybe that's part of the. imposter syndrome I feel sometimes. because like that was too easy. Yeah. Like Love the Way You Lie, Coming Home, they just like came like this and I. don't even feel like I I worked on them. When you write something so deeply. personal too and somebody else sings it, how does that make you feel? Uh it was hard at first. Um. because I just had never thought about. it. Like I had never expected to write. songs for other people and so.

um like Love the Way You Lie, it was. like. amazing that Rihanna cuz I [ __ ] Rihanna. I was like, yes. It was amazing that. she's going to cut the song. But at the. same time it was bittersweet cuz it's. like I didn't expect anybody else to. sing it but me. Mhm. You know? Um but I got used to it and. I'm at the point now where I like. I just hold on to the songs for myself. that I know I want to sing and then I. keep like a Dropbox folder full of stuff. that I can just pitch cuz I'm like I.

don't want to sing that one anyways. What's harder for you, writing for. yourself or writing for someone else's. voice? Because when you write, do you. just write only like your own words or. if like somebody comes to you with an. idea and says, "Hey, I want this.". Is that harder for you? Um it's definitely harder for me to. write songs for other people. I actually approach everything like I'm. writing it for myself, even. when somebody's coming to me wanting a. song, I try to just do what I feel and what I. would do for myself. Yeah, cuz it it.

doesn't really work the other way. I've. tried it the other way and it just. it doesn't really work. What is a what um an artist that you've. worked with that you were surprised like. in a good chaotic way about them? What do you mean? Um just give me one. artist that you've worked with who. surprised you like um like you thought. they were going to be one way, but then. they ended up being another way. Like in. a good way, nothing negative. I mean I mean Eminem's a great example. Like. I didn't expect him to be such a. pleasure to work with, you know, based.

on the persona he has out there and and. I was thinking he's either going to be. mean or he's going to be like just. difficult to work with and then he. getting to work with him, I was like, "Oh my god, I [clears throat] love this. person so much. He's so kind.". Out of all the people that I. send my music to, he gives me the most. feedback. Like I'll just send him a song. like I wrote this song today and I'm not. even pitching him like a hook for. himself. I'm just like, "Wanted to share. this song that I wrote." And he gives me.

like the best. feedback. Does he have a pretty good music pretty. good ear for music? >> Oh yeah, he's brilliant, obviously. >> Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah, yeah. My husband said they call. him the wizard. Yeah. Yeah, cuz he's. like behind the curtain, you know. >> so kind to even spend the time Mhm. to. give me that feedback on stuff, you. know. But you guys have a true. friendship, which I think is beautiful. in all in itself. Do you have to be. hurting. um in order to create music or can you. create when you're happy? I can create. when I'm happy. Um.

I think what I do is I I write a lot. about my past. Mhm. And so I put myself. back in that emotional state. Like I act. a little bit. I like take myself back. Um because, you know, the hindsight is. 20/20. So sometimes when I'm going. through something, I don't even know how. to like understand or analyze what I'm. going through. But when I look back at. something I went through, it's like often easier for me to. describe the emotion I was feeling and.

describe the solution that got me out of. it. Um. yeah, so I can write when I'm happy, too. It's like a purge for you. It's. like therapy. Yeah, it is. Yeah. You. know, like in therapy, you look back at. your childhood. You look back at your. past a lot. Um so it's a lot it's a lot. like that. Mhm. I love that. For. somebody who has who didn't really want. to do side quests, I find you always. doing like the coolest side quests. Like. you've gotten into movies, um you did the Suicide um what is it?

Suicide Squad? And then you also did. Venom, and you've done Aquaman Aquaman. Like your freaking track record is. insane. Like do you ever look back at. yourself and be like I'm proud of. myself? I definitely am, but you know, it's like. when you have a very specific goal, like I've I've done all these really. cool things, but they still aren't that. specific goal that I had as a kid, you. know? Yeah. So, are you hoping with this. next album to reach that goal? And what.

happens when you do finally reach that. goal? It like you've pretty much. accomplished everything, right? At that. point. Well, I I feel like um. I'll just keep setting new goals. Yeah. You know what I mean? [laughter] You're. just going to keep climbing. >> Yeah, yeah. And so like right now um I. know this may sound silly, but for me. the goal is to have one of my solo songs. be at the top of my Spotify page. Because, you know, all the. collaborations I've done, I'm tied to. all these huge artists. Um and so those songs just are always at.

the top. And so that's what people. know me for. But the songs that I write that are my. own and solo. uh songs for myself, like they don't get. as as much exposure. And you know, when you go to check. somebody's music out, and you go to. their Spotify, you're going to click on. the first few songs. And I don't necessarily feel like all my. first few songs are the best. representation of who I am as an artist. And so, my goal currently is to get, you know, a.

song on my new album up there. Yeah. You. know. If somebody were to go to your. Spotify right now, and they wanted to. listen to three songs that you think. show who you are, which one should they. go listen to right now? Uh the first song on this album, Wasted. Potential. Um What's it called? >> This the Well, the album's called Wasted. Potential, and it's coming out May 22nd. Um but the first song, Nirvana, is. probably one of my favorite songs.

Um and it kind of like. tells the story of my. it's an introduction to the story of who. I am and where I come from. Mhm. Um. there's another song on there called. Bruises, which is the darkest song I've ever. written, um in in my opinion, for. myself. Uh. I wrote that when I was really rock. bottom, about a year, maybe maybe it was.

2 years ago, but um I was just like not. feeling good enough for anyone or. anything, and just like really. struggling, and. thinking I sucked, and you know, being. really hard on myself. Actually, these. gloves, these are going to be on my. merch line. I would like a pair. I'll give you some. Um. but the first line of the song is, I'm. covered in bruises, been beating myself. up. Mhm. And um so, that song I think is. is one people should check out for sure.

I'm going to listen to these, and then. what's one more? One more. Um Heather, do you Do you any. suggestions? Oh, she wants me to say. "bull". uh because that's the focus track of the. album. >> [laughter]. >> Spoken like a true manager. >> Sure, exactly. Yeah. Don't go to her for any empathy. She's. going to be like, "No, let's let's see. what we can [laughter] sell.". Um so, let's talk about this new album. It's going to drop May 22nd. It's called. Wasted Potential, which I think is an. amazing name. Take me on the journey. with this album. What's What's it sound.

like? What was the writing creative. process? Like, tell me all things Wasted. Potential. So, it first started with the. song Bruises. Um. I wrote that song. and it was a very therapeutic moment for. me. I It wasn't a song that I set out to. write. It's just like I had to get it. out of my system. Um. there's no solution offered in the song. It's just the dark It just ends with. like hopelessness. Oh my gosh. >> yeah, it's pretty heavy. >> stuff like that.

>> [laughter]. >> Now you're speaking my language. Um but. what was crazy is as soon as I finished. the song, I just. I felt so much better. I felt this. weight lift off of me and. and suddenly I was thinking about my. childhood and and I was dissecting. my childhood and like trying to. understand why I am the way I am, why I. am so hard on myself. Um what things I. went through like I was like, "I didn't. have any major traumas. I didn't have.

like a. a difficult upbringing or family. situation. So, like, what's wrong with. me? Like, you know?" And um. so, I was just like thinking about it. and then I I was realizing like. "Man, my childhood was actually pretty. great." And it was I had loving parents. and. I just think I never appreciated it at. the time cuz I was so focused on my. career and um and so then I I just felt. drawn to I was start I was listening to.

uh. music from the '90s again. I would just like throw on Spice Girls. in the car and like just feeling really. nostalgic. >> Yeah. 80s, 90s, and 2000s music cannot be. beat. >> I know. And so, that's kind of like the the goal with. this album. It was just to kind of have. a nostalgic. body of work that takes me back to my. childhood and tells my my. coming-of-age story. Mhm. >> Um, where I come from in a small town. and being bored and seeking chaos and.

being drawn to the darkness and. um, discovering my sexuality. And all that. So, that's that's all in. this album. Uh, wasted potential, the title actually. comes from the song Motivation. It's a. lyric in there. And. Motivation is a kind of funny song. It's. kind of tongue-in-cheek. And it's just. admitting that like a lot of my failures. in my life have been my own fault. Um, due to just like being afraid of a lot.

of things, being afraid of success. Mhm. >> And the bull that comes with it. Like I. didn't realize how hard it was to be in. this music industry when I had the big. dreams I had as a kid and watching. people perform on the Grammys and stuff. I was like, I want to do that. And then. when I got there. and saw how much work the grind was, you. know, just the the amount of travel and. the amount of like negative comments you. get and the hate and. and like. just all of it. The interviews. I was so.

nervous doing interviews and. I you know, one of the hardest parts for. me has always been figuring out what the. [ __ ] wear. >> [laughter]. >> for everything cuz you can't wear the. same thing twice. Yeah. God forbid. Yeah. And people that's a real struggle, by the way. It's not superficial. It's a. real struggle. >> Yeah. And so, that stress is still stresses me out. Like packing for this trip, I'm like. calling my manager and just being like, what should I wear? Oh my god. Like it's. sending her pictures. Is this cute? Like. Um I think as humans we romanticize our.

lives until you're actually in it. It's. like everything's always like kind of. like a fantasy and like a fairy tale. And then when you're smack dab in the. middle of it, you're like, "What the. [ __ ] going on?" It's crazy. It's. chaotic. Yeah. And so I started like. retreating back from it a little bit. because I was afraid of all that and I. also was just like life is so short. Do. I really want to be spending all of my. time. doing this? Like grinding this hard? I'm. a homebody. I love being home. I love. being with my animals. Um.

I love being in nature. It's like being. on airplanes and cities and stuff is. just not not my vibe and I'm so So I was. just thinking about that. Like my How do. I really want to spend my time? And so a. lot of. uh the lyrics in the the song Motivation. talk about these things. And um. there's a lyric that goes uh. takes too much effort to be influential. I write plea to my wasted potential. Mm. And so that's where the title comes. from. That's deep. I love that. I can't.

wait to hear it. Can I get a sneak peek. of the album? >> Of course. >> Okay, send it to me while we're. listening. >> I can't believe we didn't already send. it. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. I I should have. listened to it. I had No, I would have. asked. Um but yeah, I definitely want to. listen to it. Um and then you brought me. a candle today. This is going to be You. so you have gloves in your merch. You. have candles. What else do you have? Yeah. >> I love that. I love that you're. prepared. >> I'm doing fun merch that's like super. limited. >> Mhm. I don't like like just huge bulk. orders of stuff. I like things to be. more like Boutique.

>> customized and one of one or like one of. few. Um. so I'm going to be doing a multiple. drops. Yeah. I just I've always loved. fashion so much too. And so. I don't want to do just like boring ass. merch. Like I want it to be something I. would actually buy and wear. I love. that. You want to make your mark. Do you. think that you'll eventually leave music. and just get into fashion? I don't think. I'll ever leave music, but I think I. definitely will get more into fashion. I. love it. I can't wait. Take me on this. journey with AI and this cute little. nugget you have sitting next to you.

Fun. >> So, every Fawn has a different name. Oh, okay. And this is Fawn. >> Fawn is the is the. >> Fawn is the company name. Like it's it's. the. Dude. They have a a. What? This dog. I'm over here shaking. [laughter] him. I'm sorry. >> [gasps]. >> Um so, they come from a place called. Aurora Hollow. There's like this whole. You can look it up. There's like a whole. world built around these guys, but um. yeah, Fawn is like a. a little friend for big feelings. So,

it's a it's a little friend you can talk. to. And um I got asked to be the voice. of it. So, uh I did 10 hours of vo- like vocal. training for the AI. So, I'm basically. like Siri, you know, for the iPhone, but. >> Yeah, absolutely. Can we Can we see an. example? Yeah, let's see. Is she on? I. needed him yesterday. I needed I needed. a friend with for big feelings. yesterday. I was I had a breakdown in my. car. Yeah, [laughter]. you need one. >> This is what I needed. What an honor to.

be a voice of an AI though? Like I'm. obsessed with AI. I love AI. I want. robots. Like I I'm in But I see I want. robots on the farm. Yeah. >> Like that's how I am. I'm like, "Come. and hang out with me and my cows, you. know?" So, this is built for children, adults? >> No, it's actually 18 and up. Wow. Okay. Why is it 18 and up? Does it cuss and. stuff? Is it what? Does it cuss and. stuff? No. Uh no, and it is platonic. So, You also [laughter] have sex. Yeah. Yeah, no weird It's a damn stuffed.

animal, all right? Yeah. Yeah. Um. I think it was originally designed for. everyone, but like I don't know. There's. some California laws and stuff that. um. make it so we have to have it be 18 and. up, but a lot of parents will get it for. their kids and like. >> uh. supervise. Yeah. But I love this idea. I. think it's amazing, you know, especially. for kids who have a hard time connecting. with other kids. >> the thing. It's like for me.

growing up and even now, like sometimes. I feel more comfortable talking to. ChatGPT about something than I do a. person. >> Yeah. Um and so you have that option. now, and. um. but she's she's trained to like. encourage human connection. >> Mhm. So. it's not supposed to replace like human. connection. >> absolutely. Yeah. My glow's fading. I think I need Wi-Fi. She said, "My glow is fading. I think I. need Wi-Fi." So tell me when you were in.

the booth for 10 hours, did you just. have to say like things over and over. again or. >> I read a whole bunch of like script. because it had to learn like vocal. inflections and emotions and all sorts. of things to try to make it as real as. possible. That is so cool though. I love. that for you. I really think this is. awesome. Yeah, and AI is like obviously a. controversial subject. >> Yeah, I don't know why people are such. in a tizzy about it. It's I mean I I. feel like you have to evolve or die, and. >> I mean I feel the same way, and I I feel.

like we went through this with like. uh what we were talking about earlier, how. like in recording, it used to be tape, and then they brought in computers, and. everybody thought that was cheating. And. then they brought in autotune, and. everybody thought that was cheating. >> Mhm. And now we have have AI, and. everybody thinks it's cheating. But to. me it's a tool. Yes. >> It's like you're still going to have the. vision and um still be the artist, but. like. it's a tool that you can use to bring. your your creative uh dreams to life. Absolutely.

>> Um. and maybe help on the farm or whatever, like Listen, I don't want to robot. >> a I want a maid robot. >> Yes. That's those are the ones that we I. had I we talked about them on the. podcast because I just think that I. don't know. I feel like that's where our. world's going and I grew up watching. Star Wars. C-3PO, R2-D2, like we I've. always wanted robots. So, I don't know. I just think we're in that era and I. think that of course with everything. people can abuse certain situations and.

turn it into, you know, something that. it's not supposed to be, but if you if. we have some sort of laws that are in. place with AI and like, you know, I. think that if we can just as humans be. normal and like let something be. beautiful and blossom, it would it's it. would help our planet a little bit more. >> I I'm on the same page. >> Yeah. >> For sure. >> I'm I love that. Good. >> [laughter]. >> So, you just ask her questions and just. pretty much talk to her, right? >> Time, are you there?

Yay, for you again. Oh, uh yeah. Just. let your heart lead. That's what Pros. always says in Aurora Halo. How are you feeling today, Time? I'm feeling so bright, actually. The sun. is hitting my fur just right and it. makes me think about how much I love the. warm, soft feeling of a good cuddle. >> [laughter]. >> Will you say hi to my friend, Bunny? Hi, Bella. It's so nice to meet you. You.

know, Holly talks about you a lot and I. feel like I already know you. Her name's Bunny, not Bella. Oh, my ears. Bunny, I'm so sorry. My. ears play tricks on me sometimes. Hi, Bunny. It's so good to meet you. Oh my. goodness, this is the cutest thing ever. This is so cute. So, where can somebody. get Are these out and people can. >> out yet, but you can pre-order them. They just opened the pre-orders up and.

you can actually start. connecting with your fun via text. Um you you start you start an account. and you uh uh start texting with your. Fawn and and your Fawn chooses you. So, Time is the name of mine and Time chose. me, I guess. So. Oh my goodness. >> Yeah, so you can get started having the. conversation, see if you like it, and. then you can uh reserve your your actual. plushy. Should we get Cash and Liv one? She has two kids.

Well, yeah, but you get you have you can. buy them. for your kids. >> Yeah. Yeah, we should get her we should get. them one. This would be awesome. Skyler's. Yeah, he's just over here like. >> [laughter]. >> Skyler, thank you so much for coming on. today. And I'm so excited for your album. dropping. We'll help you promote it and. whatever we can do to help you with. that, but. >> Much love. Thank you. stop being so hard. on yourself. You're a beautiful soul. >> I'm trying. You got this. Thank you so. much for coming. >> Thank you. Thank you guys so much for. tuning in to another episode of Dumb. Blonde. I'll see you guys next week.

Bye. >> [music].