Cory Michael - From Texas to Nashville | Rugged Revival

Lo [music] [music] get broke [music] tables turn lo [music] welcome to the Ruger Revival podcast the home of the UK's country Americana and roots [music] music community this is where all the cowboys officially come isn't that right EJ absolutely is. Yeah. Uh, I am Ronnie of the Rugged and I'm your comp pair this evening, which basically means I try to look confident but have absolutely [music] no idea what's going on or what's coming up. So, uh, anyway, to to [music] help me out with that is our very own gloomy Turbert, TJ Gloomy. >> How are you, TJ? >> I'm quite happy this week. Um, it's when I talk to you mainly that puts me in a bad mood. So, [laughter] I'm glad Cory's on the show. Oh, actually, I've just ruined it, haven't I? I ruined your introduction there. >> Yeah, I've just ruined it. [laughter] But but we'll we'll go for anyway. Cory, just bear me two seconds. Um I I've I found some photos of TJ uh going through our photo album whilst we're in Texas. So I found that one and I and I know I call him a gloomy turbit, but can you see the difference between >> You got You probably got to hold it back a bit cuz no one >> got to hold it back. Can you see that? >> There you go. Right there. Yeah, I can see that. >> That's one. So that's a fish and then Yeah, that's a gloomy turbo. And [laughter] this DJ, what's the difference? >> Spitting image. Uh, it's hard to spot the difference. >> Exactly. >> I think I was hung over that day to be [laughter] fair. So, >> picture [laughter] the first one is him. Yeah. >> Um, anyway, I am incredibly excited to introduce our extra special guest this evening, none other than Smokey and the bandit himself, Bert Reynolds. >> Cory, [laughter] how are you? I'm joking. Uh, has anybody told you you look like Bert Reynolds? >> Me. It's the [laughter] >> uh y'all are the first. Uh, y'all are the first for sure. >> Oh, good. Well, there there'll be more of that going through the podcast the rest of the uh rest of the episode. But anyway, welcome to the Ruger Revival, Cory. Uh, it's great to see you. Um, so talented. Uh, we met you in Texas. Uh, and it's just lovely to have you on here. Uh, and to be able to speak to you onetoone. So, um, Corey, uh, just to start off, if people don't know you, which I can't believe there'll be many, but if people don't know you, can you give us a couple of lines about who you are and what you do? >> Um, I am first and foremost a god-fearing man and, uh, I play, uh, country music, um, and or countryish music, I guess. Um, uh, I like to play pool in my free time. [laughter] So, uh, let's get on a pool table and I'll take your money. But, um, [laughter] I'm not big for long walks on the beach. A short walk with a little dip is good, though. Uh, I got a dog, uh, a little 2-year-old boxer lab mix named Ty. >> Not making any appearances today. >> But, um, he's with me. >> We'll have to arrange a secondary appearance for Tai, should we? >> Yeah, we absolutely should. >> Yeah, >> he's a better speaker than I am anyway. [laughter] >> I may. Yeah, don't worry. >> I think that would be all three of us. I'm glad we do a podcast, to be honest. [laughter] Anyway, Corey, welcome to Rug Revival. Thank you so much, uh, for being here with us. Um, so I'm going to start off, uh, with, um, I do all the personal bits. So, I talk about your personal stuff. I talk about all the bits before you started doing music and everything else. Um, and ask some random questions about that. So Corey, if you wouldn't mind, would you share with us some stories and experiences of your childhood, where you grew up, um, and all that stuff going up to your adulthood? >> Yeah, man. I grew up in, um, absolutely. I grew up in Odessa, Texas, which is, uh, oil filled town. Um, super flat and dry and dirty and, uh, windy. Um, not a whole lot of stuff to block the wind. It's like the, you know, West Texas desert. And, uh, so grew up there for most of my life. kind of moved around um West Texas and um I uh played drums first. I was a drummer in a church band. Um and you know, played for the church for a little while. Played in a Christian rock band for a long time. Um and then they kicked me out cuz I went through a divorce. We'll get to that later if you want to. [laughter] >> Yes. >> That's a whole another story. >> Yeah. >> Obviously, I'm still bitter, but [laughter] uh no, it was the best thing for me, man. picked up a guitar, started uh picking around on that thing, and then um been through uh a couple relationships that led me to country music. I didn't grow up on it, but uh >> All right. >> You know, kind of roamed around West Texas, went to Nashville for a little while, came back to Texas, and now um I'm here uh trying to put the band together and make things work that way. >> You've done so much, and you're only 18 years old. >> 18. [laughter] So, uh, that's 18 and a half. Oh, >> yeah. One of these days it's going to be legal to drink alcohol. So, [laughter] >> yeah, exactly. No wonder we had to sneak the drinks out the back in the, uh, >> in the saloon, but there are, you know, it's all coming together. >> Telling all the secrets. Telling all the secrets, me. Um, anyway, so, uh, I've I've just looked at, well, as you know, we do some research when you turn up, uh, before you turn up. Uh, and there was some uh a previous interview that you'd done and you mentioned um around your previous music on your previous uh in in your early days um and you had an old cassette that you ended up wearing out and I wanted to know what the hits were on that cassette >> going back to an old tape player. >> So, uh it was a gift from my well I guess not a gift. I kind of stole it from my parents I guess. I found it and started to wear it out but uh there was like it was a bunch of hits. It was uh Blue Moon. Um you know that song >> Blue Moon. >> Yeah. >> Saw you standing alone. Anyway, that song it had Heartbreak Hotel on it. Um, it had from Elvis obviously and it had uh >> let's see uh just a lot of other I'm trying to remember other songs that were on that but those were the two that really kind of melted their way into my brain and kind of made me I guess that was really my first liking of music or realizing that I liked music. Um because I would just play the crap out of that thing and um >> I have my parents to blame uh and to thank. >> [laughter] >> But, uh, definitely to, you know, to put me in kind of that mode and, um, anything, you know, lyrics really weren't even important to me at that point. It was just the way everything sounded and felt, you know what I mean? >> Yeah. >> And, uh, in fact, lyrics didn't come into play until way later on, way later on in life. I just care about the groove for most of the time. That's probably why I became a drummer. But, um, yeah, that cassette was the, um, the start of it all, I think. >> That's that's epic. I I done exactly the same as you. Obviously, I'm not as talented as you, but uh my mom done exactly the same for me. Uh and put everything I I nicked borrowed um permanently some um cassettes. One of which was an Irish cassette uh which was Foster and Allen, which is an old school >> Irish f which uh I'll send you some. I I probably wouldn't make it a thing. [laughter] Yeah, >> I wouldn't listen to it. No, actually they are legends. They are legends in Ireland. So >> yeah, but >> you you've got we'll have to share some music back and forwards. >> Um but yeah, I've done exactly the same with the with the bits of like Charlie Pride and Elvis Presley obviously the man the man the legend up there on the right hand side and George Jones obviously behind me. But um yeah. No, that's great. Uh and then I've also found out a bit more information that you had a secret crush on John Mayer. Is that right? I'm not [laughter] gay or anything, but uh >> that's a thing. >> Music crush. Music crush. [laughter] >> Yeah, man. I think um he's very influential, I think, in what I like and what, you know, kind of gets me musically because he's just so uh I write like him. I feel like um you know, I saw him do I didn't realize this until I saw this video, but you've probably seen the video where you know, he's just in some kind of podcast and I think he's like, "Well, you do it like this." and he starts playing around and he's like just starts singing something over it and it ends up being like this rad like little start to a song and um it was pretty cool and so I was like man yeah we we kind of write together or write like each other I guess I found that out later in life but yeah otherwise man he's just a killer on the guitar he's a great writer I think he played the game really well to get to where he needed to be and um cuz it's you know it's a game we we all can uh agree probably to that but um he played it really well to get to where he's at be able to do exactly what he wants and you know, nobody can really say anything to him now. But >> yeah, no, you're absolutely right. And I'll um I'll I'll leave TJ uh you and TJ talking cuz TJ is is an ultimate fan. He's even Yeah, I've got a tattoo on my arm of I don't know why. >> On his ass. Arm. Sorry. [laughter] >> It's just John Mayer's lips. I don't know why >> and and his lips are open [laughter] >> for some reason. Anyway, where's this going? It's disgusting. >> You tell us it's on your ass. [laughter] >> I'll show you. >> Oh, good god. [laughter] >> Anyway, um Cory, it's it's it's great to to meet you. Uh I can't wait to hear more uh about you and about where you've come from uh and you going on your musical journey. But for now, I know that TJ wants to ask you about hundred questions, so I'm going to hand over to him. Uh and it's a pleasure speaking to you. Yeah, it's uh yeah, it's great to have you on, mate. I appreciate you uh you know, entertaining us. Um because you entertained us a lot on the night and it was quite funny how we we met. I think I was loitering half drunk at that point in the garden in the garden. Is that the garden? I don't know. The back end of >> near back door, funny enough, you know, [laughter] >> I was and then I saw this uh this this man in black uh coming towards me giving me the eye. I was like, don't know if I'm in trouble or whether he's, you know, giving me the eye. I don't know. Uh, but it was you, Cory, and you you came over and said, "Uh, don't I know you?" I was like, "I don't know. Are you a fan of the podcast?" Maybe. Um, who? >> Yeah. [laughter] You were like, "Aren't you the guy that blocked Albo's toilet?" I was like, "No, Ronniey's uh actually in the restrooms as we [laughter] speak." >> That's hilarious. >> But we'll say we'll save that one for another time. >> I just want to say I didn't do that. Um, so, but that's a story for another Well, the whole bar thing you did anyway. So, isn't it? >> I'm happy. [laughter] >> Tabo, that was the first thing he told me about you guys. He's like, >> he's like, you never believe it. They clogged up the toilet. [laughter] >> I can't believe TJ clogged the toilet up. >> Everything's bigger in Texas, mate, for us. You know, the food just everything except for your plumbing apparently. >> Yeah, the plumbing's smaller, I guess. >> Plumbing sucks, mate. Yeah, it's [laughter] uh But it was a great conversation we had in the in the garden, I'm going to call it. uh backdoor Brenda's garden and um we had a good catch up. You introduce each other and I think we hit it off pretty much straight away. I think we promised you an interview at some point said yeah we'll do an interview in the garden and then I lost the ability to speak so that was my fault. I I got far too drunk and was just walking around with a microphone and no idea what I was doing. So um but yeah, it was super cool to meet you uh meet you there. >> Yeah, man. So best laid plans but um but you know I think this is more professional probably uh than what we would have achieved on the night. Um so again thank you for coming on. >> So so we tried to do some research mate in terms of where you're from. We read your all your bios whether it's on your website or Spotify wherever it might be. And uh I think it was on your Spotify mentions that you're from Deca um Texas. So we we visited there uh one day on one of our many jaunts at Tobo took us on to see uh Jared Morris and his incredible studio. Great guy. Love that guy. And Tennessee Jet was with him that day as well. >> So that was a an interesting insight for us to kind of watch a proper podcast studio >> um and to see how it's done. We got to write on his wall as well. That was really uh cool, wasn't it? Um so we enjoyed that. But we were told Dec is a huge rodeo town. Um, and apparently where Cody Jinx lived as well. So, it sounds uh well, it looked a really cool place to us with your your massive courthouse right in the middle and it was a lot more kind of rural than some of the other places that we went to. But yeah, what what's it like there, mate, for you? >> Um, it's cool. It's definitely rodeo town. I've met a lot of rodeo folks living here. Um, my parents moved here back about uh I want to say like 14 15 years ago and uh they were chasing my brother because he started having babies and uh so they kind of chased him to the Dallas area and um so my dad got work out here but yeah I've uh I've only been out here I guess I moved out here in 200 15 maybe um and I lived in Bridgeport which is right next door um you know about 10 minutes uh west um I moved there for about a here. And so I was there and u then I moved to Nashville and um so I was only indicator for about a year at that point and moved to Nashville and then came back and so I've only been back here for about 2 years and um uh but what I love about the town is that you know whenever my fir my parents first got here it seemed like you know just super small um not uh not well they had like a Chili's, they had a Walmart, they had like a bunch of you know main things But I think the population was only like 6,000 or something like that. >> Yeah. >> Um and so um it's been cool to kind of watch it grow a little bit. And um just the kind of people that are around here just seem real, um you know, the kind of folks you would expect to find in Texas. Uh when you get more in the city, you know, everything just gets a little bit more jumbled. But uh uh but you know, it's out here in the sticks, so to speak. I mean, it's not going to be the sticks forever, for sure. It's slowly becoming part of the DFW um more, but >> um it seems like there's just a lot a lot of good people. Um so it's been fun being around here for sure. >> Yeah, we we definitely picked up on that, you know, and it's a shout out to the Chief Cigar Lounge uh that we nipped into and had a great time in as well. And you know, the the owner and the patrons there were were a good laugh, you know, they they welcomed us in, you know, as kind of two weird British guys. Um and what what did that guy say to you? you know, you better telling their stories. So, I I walked in and started speaking to TJ and there was a a a fellow very smartly dressed fellow with a cowboy hat on sitting at the end of the bar talking to the the owner or the bartender or whatever you want to call him. Um, and then when I walked in, started speaking, I walked out, come back in again, and he went, "I [ __ ] told you [laughter] to the owner." And the owner was like, "No, that's not real Irish. That's that's uh that's fake. That's that's fake Irish. He's not really Irish. And he was like, "Where are you from?" And I was like, "Ireland. Uh I'm Irish." Yeah. Background's Irish. I got a surname, an Irish surname. And he said, "Yeah, I told you he's not [ __ ] Scottish. He's Irish." I was like, [laughter] "Wow." Okay. Um hello. So that was our that was our welcome. Yeah. [laughter] >> I think he the uh the big R hat store across the road. um and kindly invited us over to to buy some hats, which we would have loved to do, but um we we ran out of time. But yeah, in between that day, we spent a bit of time in Decator and um we even grabbed some Mexican food um there. We we were [clears throat] in heaven that that day. But um what what we found quite funny was well, like you said, Cory, kind of like the the real Texas. There was real workingass guys pulling up in their truck in their work clothes and they were like 8ft tall to us. So, it was me and Ronnie just kind of bumbling around like we do, looking up to these geese as like they're, you know, adults and we're children. And they could probably snap us in half. And it was like that scene in Dumb and Dumber was like, "Kick his ass, Sebast." I was like, "It's it's Ronnie. He [laughter] did it." >> It was It was just so funny being in places like that because it's quite alien to us. But we loved it, mate. Uh, but for you, I always like to ask these sort of questions where what depending on what state you're from. Um, but what does it mean to be a Texan for you? And what what's special about the state? >> Um, I feel like Texas uh kind of has this um I guess uh perception that it's more free than the rest of the US. I think we all know that we're all kind of enslaved by taxes and 9 to5s and all kinds of stuff that's, you know, just not good. But, um, but Texas still kind of has that, oh man, I could do it. I'm in Texas. Like, you know, I, uh, a buddy of mine and I back in 2020 when everything shut down, we were living in Nashville at the time and we just hopped in my van and drove to Texas and were able to play shows because not everybody was shut down and, you know, they were still living life and doing the thing. So they were more free so to speak. But um I think that's definitely part of it. But you know there uh I feel like uh respect um there's just another sense of respect here like uh that you're going to get rather than um in places like say New York. And um whenever I say New York I mean like in the city. There's like some really good spots in the country out in New York that really nobody knows about. But um you know it's uh I guess it's just um a different it holds more weight I think whenever you know um say oh I'm from Kansas not anything against Kansas but you know Kansas doesn't have that perception of being like a you know its own entity and obviously Texas was a republic for a long time until it became part of the states and so it still kind of holds that independence I think from everybody else and that oh you know if everything else goes to crap Texas is still going to be Okay. Um, so I guess it's kind of that and you know, respect and just uh um it seems like we're still uh you know as the rest of the world's morals just kind of go. It's like you know we're going down probably but it's at least more of like a graded >> gradual. [laughter] Uh we're all going to end up like idiocracy eventually. You know what I mean? [laughter] >> I love that. That's a that's a great analogy. I I love that that that explanation, mate. Um we love Texas. I think it was the the one place in the world that I've been where people like you say were just so accommodating, so polite, and just welcomed us wherever we went where, you know, >> you just don't want to leave. >> Yeah. We didn't want to leave >> to stay and I come back and >> go back straight away. >> Home and it wasn't the same, was it? It wasn't a hero's welcome home from the wife and kids. It was uh Yeah. back to being [laughter] >> me. I sound so bleak then. Hope she's not listening. >> My life wasn't real. [laughter] >> We were famous for a day. It was amazing. >> We're honorary Texans now. Anyway, TBO said, "We got a B to prove it." >> I've even written to the governor of Texas. >> There you go. >> I want to be an honorary Texan. >> Did he reply? >> I'm sure Abbott would be all about that. >> I'm sure. >> There you go. Maybe Cory's got some weight behind it. But you you mentioned being um a a living out in a van with your dog, which is it seems like a cool life, mate. And you've been to Nashville. you've been to obviously around Texas, but what's life like for you as a traveling musician and and where where would you say you spend most of your time? >> Uh I spend most of my time in the DFW I feel like recently um between putting the band together and trying to stay close enough for that and then uh you know just trying to get on the road otherwise but I do spend like we're heading to New Mexico uh later on uh I think in December. Uh there's a place over there in Red River that we play pretty regularly and um we hit stuff on the way there and you know try and hit stuff on the way back and um as far as proper touring goes um you know it's not um it's not uh I guess feasible at this stage for me to have the band on the road unless I'm uh unless we're booked you know three days of the week. Um, and so I do a lot of acoustic things and a lot of solo things on on the road by myself. And I love it, man. It's out there. Um, you know, I I could be waking up and going to, you know, put shingles on a roof or something like that. And um, but I get to wake up and kind of goof off for every day. Uh, and I [laughter] don't feel like I've worked in, you know, 11, 12 years. But, uh, but yeah, being on the road is cool, man. being out of the this RV gets a little old sometimes. But um you know there's a plan. Um I told myself within like three years of getting to Texas, then you know I would just have this just for the band and running from uh gig to gig, but and then I'd have a place in Fort Worth. So I'm still kind of on track, but we'll see how it goes. >> Yeah. No no lady in the picture, so it makes it easy, man. So, it's [laughter] uh that's not a call out to anybody that's trying to see if I'm single or not, cuz I'll stay this [laughter] way. You can use our platform however you like, mate. >> Yeah. >> Did you not realize we run a dating agency? [laughter] >> Rugged Ronnie and TJ's dating agency. >> You must play music in order to uh [laughter] >> You don't want us interfering in your love >> part of the music industry. >> Yeah. You You think it's bad at them and it wait till we get involved in it. Yeah, it will definitely go downhill. But no, that's really cool. It's um you know, I I love DFW and I wish we had a bit more time in Fort Worth. Um obviously we were there for the Stocktober. I wish we had an echo effect here, but that was such a cool night as we keep, you know, saying we we mentioned a lot of it on the last podcast with Alex Rogers who was there. I don't know if you had a chance to speak to Alex. Uh he was milling about like us. Um half drunk at the end or probably fully drunk. Uh cuz he was sat with us most of the night. I think I did for a little bit, but >> yeah. Um, but what was your kind of experience of that? Have you been to previous events like that? Um, I just found it a really cool unique kind of way with for for artists like yourself to to network with other artists, uh, industry folk. And is is that something that's quite frequent in in in your kind of world? >> Uh, it's very frequent in Nashville. Uh, so being over there, it was all the time. Here, it hasn't been that at all. And uh you know there's places where we all kind of conglomerate and kind of get together and whatever but um it's not like that thing that Oktoberfest thing was really cool. In fact I was talking to a bunch of the other artists there and um we were you know wishing it was a you know once a quarter thing. Um you know just to be able to hang out because we're all doing different things man. We're all busy trying to make it work for ourselves and so >> we either see each other at a show or see each other on the road somewhere. Um, but to be all in one place to where you can kind of catch up and just be people, you know what I mean, instead of artists for a little while, then that's pretty cool. Um, I I hope Steve puts more of those together. Um, you know, uh, I know he's done them in the past and I haven't gotten a chance to go to him, but um, I think this one was real cool. Um, >> yeah, he should put more on. Um, he said it was really easy to do, so I reckon he could probably do it monthly. [laughter] Um maybe >> maybe week >> every two weeks. >> Yeah. What else is listening? [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Shout outs elbow. Come on. Put your finger around, mate. >> But yeah, it was great. I mean, was there anyone in particular that night that um you you know of that you wanted to catch up with particularly or to even see see play that night? >> Um yeah. So, I had never seen Presley Hail play and um I'd heard a lot about her and whatnot and um listen to some of her stuff and I'm, you know, super impressed by that. But to see her live, you know, with a few of her band members anyway, uh was pretty cool, man. She's solid. Um and um she's definitely going places. That was one of the main ones I wanted to see. Um I did like the uh uh what was the I forget the name of the tribute band. >> Oh, Mel. Mill. [laughter] Yeah, >> they were awesome, right? >> Um, Eric's got such a great voice. Um, and you know, he can definitely pull that off. Uh, I think he'll be the next Eagles guy for sure, right? [laughter] The Eagles are going to live on forever, by the way. They're going to be playing shows until, you know, >> 3000 until [laughter] >> Yeah, absolutely. So, if you were to do a tribute show uh for, you know, yourself, what what sort of, you know, this is just a random question now, but um you know, they've obviously got Vince Gil wrapped up. You know, who would you choose? >> Let's do some like um Incubus or something. >> That's right. I wasn't expecting that. That's >> Yeah, man. I grew up on like that. All that kind of stuff like alternative rock and >> or grungy type stuff. >> Yeah. Kind of like grungy. And then you got like Weezer and things like that like >> sweet man. >> That's interesting. You might as well you go. >> You go. >> I was going to talk over each other that way. >> Actually, that's what [laughter] we do. Yeah. Go on. You go. Yeah. Go on. So polite. I'm British. Um anyway, uh I was going to say I was expecting you to say like Dwight Yokum or like one half of the Brooks and Dumb brothers. >> One half, you know, [laughter] >> one half of Brooks and D. >> One half of Holotes. Yeah. This be [laughter] >> This will be a kicks tribute right here. >> Yeah, it's going to be a podcast describing who Cory looks like. [laughter] >> It's It's only cuz the facial hair. That's it. That's That's You know, everybody's got facial hair must look like someone else apparently. >> That's fair. Yeah. I mean, >> technically, Ronnie, you could be Ronnie Dub. >> I could be. I could be. [laughter] >> Yeah. As long as I mime and don't sing. >> As long as you mime. [laughter] Yeah. Don't open your mouth except >> except for no audio to come out. [laughter] >> We'll dub over the top of it. Yeah. There you go. >> Right. B. Well, let's We haven't actually gone into any of your music yet cuz we just waffle on like we do. Um, which >> I do want to Sorry, I have got a question >> because we've talked about you've missed out a complete section of his life, TJ. And I don't particularly like that. Yeah. >> So, you've mentioned Nashville quite a few times. Yeah. >> So, what was Nashville like? Cuz we've had so many people telling us, >> but tell us your experience in Nashville and and tell us what happened and why. >> Uh, it was great, man. I moved there in late 2016. Um, started recording record and uh finally got fully there, I guess, 2017 and um I was there until 2023. So, I was there for, you know, close to about six years. And um I went there thinking that I was going to get there um finish my record and then you know shop it to some labels. Some labels were going to pick it up and it was going to be that easy. And uh definitely was not the case. uh got there, I was back and forth to Texas um playing shows to pay rent and uh finished the record, didn't release it because I was holding on to it, thinking like, ah, what if I you know, you get through this I I went through this little mindset of like, man, it's not going to what if I can't write another good song. And in retrospect, all those songs sucked. They were they were not that good. Uh and so, you know, it's like you got to you just keep writing because you're going to get better. It's going to come out. You're a writer, so it's going to happen, right? And so, u, you know, I wasted a lot of time there doing that. But, uh, I finally learned to write with other people and, you know, play nice that way. I, I started in Texas writing by myself because there were just wasn't a whole lot of writers near me or around me or doing the same thing. And so, you know, you just write by yourself. And so, I started to write with other people, got way better at songwriting. >> Um, learned a whole lot, made a lot of good networking um, there. ended up being on the road with a couple folks and um you know doing photo and video work and selling merch and you know just kind of getting that uh touring experience and all that kind of stuff and you know paying the hard dues that way and wishing I was on stage every night doing that. And then um at the end of the day at the end of my time in Nashville I started it started kind of becoming evident that um Nashville to me is kind of a trap. It's uh you know there's a lot of good artists and a lot of good writers and um if you're a writer it's great. If you're a musician trying to get on to a touring act that's great. If you're an artist who writes his own music and wants to play his own music and you know isn't really trying to write for everybody else or really isn't trying to do all that well then you're going to get um there's a lot of uh news coming to you that it's not going to be exactly what you expected there in Nashville. And so I a lot of the reason I moved away is so that I could um uh I guess get away from all that competition. I mean, you know, it's a bunch of chickens going for the same, you know, peck of food and uh you're good luck getting there. There's a there's a lot of them. Um and there's they're all better than you, too, by the way. You know what I mean? And so, uh, you know, to cut through that noise and to be that next person is going to be the odds aren't in your favor. And so, um, if you don't want to be part of the machine and, uh, as far as like, you know, trying to write songs for, uh, I want to write a song like Morgan Wallen. I want to write a song like Luke Combmes, I want to do this and this and this, like all these other people. If you're not trying to be um just yourself and um you know your own cut of cloth, then um then that then that place is for you. But if it's if that's not what you're trying to do, if you want to try and do your own thing and you got stuff that you need to get at um then, you know, away from Nashville is probably the best. Go in there to learn, go in there to get better at everything, that's great. Um but if you're trying to do it independently, um I mean, yeah, everybody wants a label. I would, you know, hop on a label deal if it suited me. Um, but, um, it's not going to happen like that. You got to build it yourself and then they're going to come to you, especially in this day and age. So, the best way to do that for me was to get out of Nashville and, you know, start kicking tires and lighting fires like I did in the first place. I I think it's so interesting when you when you tell us about and thank you for sharing that with us >> because we we've had quite a few people that we've asked the same question to around Nashville. Why did you leave? What was it? You know, because I think since we started doing the podcast, my attitude towards Nashville and my um view about Nashville has completely changed. You know, that is Nashville is that's where you go. That's where Grand Old Opry, you know, we go here, we go there. That's what we do. Uh, and actually it's not like that at all. Um, and you know, it's really interesting getting that experience from you. I mean, you you mentioned in one of your bits there is saying that you know, it was a bit of a waste of time there and but then look what you've learned. You know, you say it's a waste of time. You've learned so much being there. >> Um, and it's always a character building thing, isn't it? You know, >> it is. Yeah. No, as far as wasting time, I was there for six years. In the first three years, I hardly got out. So, it was on me that I was wasting time. Uh but cuz I just was back and forth to Texas paying rent and uh coming back and I was I had a I was engaged at the time and you know she had two kids uh so they were mine too. Uh and you know it's family man time and so that's why at this point you know uh um until I'm a little more on a up trajectory then you know that part that distraction is not going to be there. So uh but yeah definitely learned so much in Nashville man. It's a It's a good experience. Um, you know, you you mentioned the Grand Opry and whenever I first went to Nashville starting to cut the record in 2016, I I went to the Grand Opry and I bought a ticket and I didn't know who was playing that night, but um it was Darius Rucker, somebody else, and then um uh the late great Charlie Daniels uh in his band. >> Wow. Yeah. >> And um so, you know, I got to see icons there. And then now it just seems like uh they let anybody in the Grand Opera. It's not really sacred anymore. I mean, you have folks that are just, and no offense to them, I would play it if they asked me to play it obviously, but >> um it just seems like it's not as sacred. Uh you don't have to get to a It's not the Hall of Fame anymore, you know what I mean? It's it's >> Yeah. >> Not quite that. >> Yeah. I've I was looking at some of the stuff um cuz I've always been obsessed with the Opri. Um, it was always on my bucket list to go to go and see it. I've always wanted to go. Of course, I still want to go and see it. I want to be there where all the greats have come in. But you're right, it has changed. There's been it's so it just seems so commercial now that it's just completely changed. That whole special piece is is gone. And don't get me wrong, it's incredible when people do go there and they do go and play, but it really has lost its its, you know, its true passion. And but anyway, I'm going to shut up now. Uh because I know that TJ's been taking the piss out of me. So >> my uh my next question was about Nashville, but you you've stolen that. Um >> no, it wasn't. I can see your questions on it. [laughter] Oh, yeah. I've shared them with you. [ __ ] >> It's uh No, I mean it's uh it's interesting. We we we spoke about Nashville quite a bit and I just love hearing everyone's kind of view and perspective, good, bad, indifferent. And you know, one one thing people often say is the best writers there, the best musicians, uh the best studios. Um but for me, my my I gravitate towards mainly the Texas independent music scene, uh the ranch radio, what they kick out, and it is just I feel like I'm at home there personally. Uh that that's the music I like. um places like Kentucky, Virginia, they've got some awesome artists and we we've had people from all over all over the states really and the UK um on but not [snorts] not so much Nashville though. Um you know, I think that's uh I I don't think we've consciously done that. It's just not where where we're listening uh if that makes sense. So we we we're not really into the pop country scene, the the kind of polish stuff that they put out. Uh there's some good artists, don't get me wrong, but yeah, it's not what we fell in love with and hence why we we had the opportunity to come to Texas and we we took it with both hands and to experience it firsthand to see the people that we've been listening to for ages. See, this dude particularly Adam Hood um was on our bucket list. Presley was on our bucket list as well. >> Um we just feel very grateful. And >> you're talking about songwriting as well and and writing with others. Um it was interesting. We got a bit of an insight into that too while we were in Texas and uh I think it was a legacy music studios where we went with Alex Rogers and can't see beyond me but he was with with this dude. So Zach Wilkerson um who you will know um so it was interesting to see how those guys put put uh songs together and you know kind of peak behind the curtain. But do you do you like to do is your preference to write with others or do you still like to kind of write alone? What what's kind of your your thing? Um, I enjoy the creative process with other folks. Uh, but really I feel like my best inspiration comes whenever it just happens, right? And so in order to write with somebody else, I either got to be hanging out with them or already and then something hits or um they have an idea that we want to write on or that they need help on or whatever or um we plan it out to where okay, I'm going to be over there at this time to write. And it's really hard for that inspiration to hit that way for me. And um you know I've written great songs with great people in that kind of a atmosphere in that kind of a way. But um I I think I prefer to write alone. And you know there's a lot of ideas that I have that are you know just a verse in a chorus or just a chorus or something like that. And those are the kind of things that I lack taken to you know other people because it's like okay I've already had the inspiration for the song. The song's it needs to go, but I'm stuck on some things and I it would be cool to have another head in there. Um, and uh, writing with one other person, excellent. Writing with two other people, eh, it's okay. Writing with like three other people, I'm good. Like, I don't want four people in the [laughter] room. There's just too many. I'll just sit back and, you know, think for a long time and maybe I don't get a word in or maybe I don't even, you know, it's like I >> I want to be a part of the song, not like, you know, just in the room and have the vibe for the song. Newland. [laughter] >> Absolutely, mate. It's uh So, you mentioned something interesting earlier that obviously you come from a drumming background. Um and you promised to tell us more about getting kicked out of the the church band. We we'll go into that in a minute. Um but in terms of um or songwriting, initially it was all about the groove and and or listening to songs, you know. And funny enough, I put a video out not long ago. So, I was just sat in a car just thinking, waiting for my haircut and I was like, "Yeah, I I I find it really difficult to listen to songs and understand the lyrics or or listen to the lyrics and songs because I'm listening to what's going on in the background. That's that's kind of my jam, too. And I'm making a conscious effort to to to listen to lyrics um because they're obviously important. It's a storytelling genre, uh, country music and what we do." And yeah, I mean, how did you get around it? Is is was it from writing lyrics mainly that you kind of change your perspective and and kind of way of listening to music? >> Um, I think there was, you know, a couple different factors, I guess, for me, but the um there was a a few folks that told me that my songs they didn't resolve. Like there was just like, you know, so I was just writing to I wasn't writing a a complete story. I was just writing to get through the song. And, you know, it sounded great. and people liked it, but where was the story? Like what where was the um that and so I started to pay more attention to that? And then as I write with other as I wrote with other folks in um Nashville, uh it was going through the process of, you know, finishing the story and actually thinking through it rather than just having lines come to your brain and let them fall out. Um was uh a big key to that, I think. and you know getting through songs and having being able to read through the song and have the story rather than you know the music should definitely uh tell the same story without the words but um you know uh to have both of them tell the same story that's whenever the it cuts it cuts through you know what I'm saying >> so yeah definitely that helped me kind of overcome the now don't get me wrong whenever I listen to music now I'm still the first listen is always the music the Second listen is probably still the music. Maybe a couple hooks or whatever point out uh pop out to me during those couple listens, but in all reality, I just want it to feel and sound good, >> and then I'll pay attention to the lyrics and see if they're worth a [ __ ] later on. [laughter] I like that. Yeah, it's uh a lot. I mean, when I put it out, I said, "Is there any tips that people can give me to kind of help concentrate on the lyrics?" And they go, "Yeah, why don't you just read it on Spotify?" I was like, "All right, smartass." uh you know I listen to predominantly independent music and the lyrics aren't often on Spotify or whatever I'm listening to. So I have to find a different way. Um but yeah like you say maybe giving it a few listens intently in that in that sense might work. I don't know >> what you can do is you can get AI to uh you go to like Chad GPT and be like hey uh give me the lyrics to Damn I Need a Drink by Corey Michael. And if it's not on there I bet you it listens to it and it gets close. You know what I'm saying? >> Oh, I'm going to try it. Messing around with some of that crap lately. Although [laughter] I hate Although I hate it. Let me uh let me clarify. >> There's a lot of cool tools though. I tell you what. >> Oh, there is, mate. Yeah, it's uh there's some controversial kind of things coming up about the AI scene at the minute. And wasn't there like some song that hit number one on the Billboard charts recently? >> Just recently. >> Something rust. >> That was it. It's got millions of listens. It was crazy. I listened to it and I was like, >> "It's better." You know, we we messed around with So just for a laugh, taking a piss out of each other, like making songs up cuz we're children. >> Um, but yeah, this this person has released it all over Spotify as bonafideed >> bonafide album, I think, and it's done really well. >> But yeah, I just think it's uh pretty disgraceful that Spotify and other platforms put it out there and perhaps don't label it as such. people think that's a genuine artist and you know I >> it's called Breaking Rust. I just looked it up. >> Breaking Rust acid. >> I'll have to I'll have to listen to that later. >> It's um but yeah, it's pretty controversial at the minute in terms of what AI is doing. Great for certain tools, but for actual music. >> Um I'm going to get a little controversial real quick talking about it, but um you know, recently I have started to um I do not like it. Well, here I'll preface this by saying I do not like it for it to write a song, for it to write a melody, for it to do all the all the artist things that need to happen, right? But what would happen is uh normally is what I would do is I'll take a an acoustic worktape and I'll take it to a producer and that person's going to, you know, help me figure out what I want as far as guitars and basses and uh drums and keys or whatever I need on it. They're going to help me produce it, right? And a lot of times they're playing all the instruments and doing all that and kind of putting together a demo, a worktape. And um now what this has enabled me to do is I've fed it a uh like an acoustic worktape with my uh guitar and my vocal on it. And it'll take that same uh and you can, you know, you could tell it to be like a huge audio influence. So what you're feeding it needs to be, you know, 100% of the influence. And then maybe the style, you can move it and kind of give it a prompt. Be like, "All right, we'll fill this out with a band with like indie rock or uh Texas Country or Texas Country meets '90s alternative or whatever you want it to whatever you feel like the sound is, right? And so it'll put the band behind you and it's not going to give you your voice. It's going to be some weird AI voice. Um, but your melody's going to be there and your lyrics are going to be there and it's going to be able to allow you to hear it as a fully produced version and help you in a production way to figure out, okay, I do like the how this is produced right here. This kind of gets my message across the way I want it to. It's not changing my melodies. It's not changing my lyrics and it's not changing my even my guitar parts. You know, a lot of the times it's the bass layer of things. And >> um, it's definitely helped me to do some pre-production. Um, I'm not going to use those instruments to finish a song, but I'm definitely going to use them to demo out something to maybe give it to the band and say, "Hey, uh, here's the here's a new song I wrote. Um, let's learn it for the next show." Um, and they have all their parts and they're they kind of get the the it's easier for them to write their charts out. They can do all that and then they can, you know, make up their own parts later on when we record it. but it'll have the structure and the feel that we want. And um so that's a way that I've used it kind of to because you know you can either get um you know people we're going cashless, right? Just kind of on a different note. We're going we're going to become a cashless society. >> Mhm. >> Well, there's going to be people that are hanging on to cash and be like, "Nope, nope. I'm just going to hang on to this cash." Well, eventually it's going to be worthless and they're going to be so far behind that they're not going to be like, "Oh man, I don't know how to use this digital money. I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to open my wallet. I don't know how to do any of this crap. And so unless you move with times, it's not going away. AI is not going away. Unless you go with it and learn how to use it as a tool and, >> you know, kind of retain the integrity of, you know, the creativeness of it. And I think that it's okay. I think it's it can be used as a tool and, you know, people are going to frown about it or whatever, but whatever. >> No, I think you're you're right with that, mate. Um because we heard a few demos while we're out um with certain people and they used it in exact same way that you described. It was you know their voice, their melodies and their ideas that they were just kicking around and it was the kind of background flavor um that was just giving an idea of what it could end up like. Um >> yeah. >> Yeah. And I I think that's the right way to use it. Like you say, you're keeping your integrity. You're you're still writing the song. eventually it will be all of your instruments. So yeah, I I think AI can be used in in that good sense. Um I've been on uh Facebook groups recently and I put out a bit of a [ __ ] post yesterday to say some muppet had gone on to one of these groups and you know announced his new album basically and I went on it. I was like this is entirely a lie. You know you're not a musician, you're not an artist. This is your new album >> completely produced by Sununo and it's not even your voice. It differs between, you know, different voices like >> and sometimes it'll be different between the verse and the chorus, right? >> And you can tell when it goes high because it can't handle the high registers and it's like you could just tell. So, uh yeah, that sort of crap that that really irks me. But, uh yeah, it's interesting to hear your take on that, mate. Um but yeah, you you mentioned, you know, um going into your your songs and uh Damn, I need a drink is one of your your earliest ones, isn't it? >> It is. That's probably the first one that gained really any kind of uh traction online. Uh started with Tik Tok and then, you know, kind of did well from there. And so that's whenever I was like, "Oh, cool, man. people are going to listen to my music so I can just put it on TikTok and maybe gain a following that way and uh they'll transfer over to Spotify and it's worked out so far. I mean, I need to be more diligent. I mean, one uh a very good example of being diligent on socials and stuff is, you know, Jared Morris. Um he he does great content and he does he does it consistently and I guarantee you it's building his fan base every day. Um >> yeah, it it's a difficult tool to navigate for some people. Some people find it easier. >> Yeah, it's um for us as well, you know, as as potential content creators. I don't know. Is that what they called us, Ronnie? Or >> just make up as we go along. [laughter] >> Yeah, something like that. >> Something like that. >> Um but yeah, it's it's a tool to be used and I think if you do it in the right way, uh we're still to kind of, you know, find the right way. Um you can you can gain a great following. Like I say, Jared's done great from there. And it's cool to see people in our sphere, you know, doing absolutely killing it. You know, Patrick from Country versus Metal. You got Soul with his Texas to Tennessee podcast with Steve. And, >> you know, I think these guys are just doing it the right way. And, you know, hopefully we'll we'll catch on at some point. Um, you know, it's it's just really interesting. But, but, you know, moving on from your your first track and and you've wrote a bunch of songs after that um that we we really like. Um so what what did that kind of journey you know look like for you? So you released the first track did really well uh you know building up your fan base you know moving on from that what what kind of went next? >> Uh a lot of learning. I kind of got into this mode of you know feeling like okay in order to have people listen to like an album if I were to release an album I got to have a fan base first. Uh and so I can't if I release an album right now it's not going to do me really any good. And so I started releasing just singles and trying to build it that way. And um like what's happening right now, I have an EP releasing later on uh this month and um it's like I released singles and then the last single it's like okay it's the EP release and which is kind of you know not cool I guess if I was getting the music but at the same time not everybody that's going to hear that last song would have heard that last song had I just released the um the EP as it is because I would have the first it's only one big push and then of course I can start, you know, pushing those other songs. But, um, so it kind of made me start doing it that way. Um, I now what I'll do is I'll I I've learned some, you know, hard lessons that way. The there's a song um called Rekindle on uh that I released and it did probably the best numbers I had had at that point on TikTok. It had done awesome and I wasn't ready to release it yet. I hadn't recorded it. It wasn't finished. And so as soon as it went like that, I was like, "Ah crap." And so I went to my producer in Nashville who I was still working with. And um uh we cut the song and got it out, but it didn't get out until maybe like 3 months later, four months later, and I had lost all that traction. And so had I had all that traction, my numbers would probably be way better than it is >> today. But, you know, I learned a good lesson there. Okay, I'm not going to tease anything on Tik Tok until it's ready to go, just in case something catches fire and I need to release it right then. >> And so, um, that's kind of changed my mentality that way. But yeah, definitely use Tik Tok for all the free marketing, Instagram a little bit. Um, you know, trying to build them all of course, but um, but you know, it's just, you know, making content and trying to put it out is definitely not in my 40-year-old brain. So it's um you know trying to trying to make myself it's just discipline dude. I just need to be more disciplined about it. [laughter] But uh yeah uh you know Tik Tok is my marketing and then Spotify it all kind of translates and I hope it works out and then you know as it builds then I'll be able to release more at a time. But yeah that's the goal right now is just to do it that way. >> Awesome man. It's interesting you you you obviously talking about Tik Tok and catching on to that sort of trend and finding what works. And I think that's what people really struggle with sometimes. So yeah, be interesting to see how you kind of maneuver uh w with your new songs. And you mentioned your new uh EP and that releases fully uh on the 20th, doesn't it? So you've got a a song out this week uh tomorrow in fact, isn't it? Um and then the final track comes out on the 20th um I believe. But there's one uh song that I've been playing all day. And if you don't mind, we always try to kind of put a snippet of a song, but Mexico, man, that that is >> my type of jam. So, uh, if if you're happy, mate, we'll, uh, we'll play a little snippet of that listeners. Can't [music] buy me love, but it can damn sure buy me a buzz. A long day in the hot sun, thinking what [music] I should have, but I hadn't done. I used to be rich. I used to have the love of a woman till [music] I let her go and now begging for a buzz in Mexico. [music] That's cool, mate. I was singing that in the car with the kids and was like, "Begging for a buzz in Mex." They're like, "What do you mean, Dad?" I'm like, "You know what I mean?" Yeah. You know, [laughter] I said it. Yeah. Um Yeah. I'm 40 as well. My kids are seven and 11. They don't think I'm particularly cool, but they did like that song. So, uh, [laughter] well done, mate. >> Very good. Very good. >> Anyway, dude, uh, I've been talking for a lot and asking you a bunch of questions, so I think I'll give Ronny a chance to speak, maybe. >> Well, I have been interrupting you most of the time, so um, correct. Anyway, it's cuz I'm cuz I'm very interested in it. That's why. Um, actually, one of your questions I thought you were going to ask Corey, um, cuz you mentioned peeking through peeking through the curtains and you went, "Do you like And I thought you were going to say peeking through the [laughter] It sounds like a euphemism, doesn't it?" >> Anyway, >> what are you peeking through the curtains for? >> Anyway, >> I think we got a game now, actually. Did you want to play a game? >> It's called peeking through the curtains. >> Peeking through the curtains. >> I'm going to make a game. I don't have to saw off my arms or anything, do I? >> No, not yet. >> This isn't like some saw game. [laughter] >> Well, we said it might get a bit weird, mate. But we'll do the opening anyway. >> Yeah. >> Hold on. Never gets it on time. >> Buckaroo. Um, so Bucking's greatest theme tune that is. Uh, let me just Right. >> Are you not prepared? >> No, I'm not. So, this is the rug revival. True or false? Cory. Um, what I do is ask you a bunch of random questions. Uh, I'll call out one of you's names. Uh, and then I'll say true or false. And then you'll have to answer is it true or is it false? And then whoever wins at the end, most probably >> Cory. Um, >> sorry TG. >> Then we'll um, yeah, I'll match up the scores and give you the answers afterwards and then we'll see who wins. Um, you don't actually win anything to be honest. Um, time with us really if let's >> just just more time with us. [laughter] >> Give me all. So do it now. >> So a shrimp's heart is located in its head. Cory, true or false? >> Oh, true. Well, you seem very confident on that. >> Yeah, so confident, TJ. And then he moved on to the next question. Whatever you're gonna say, it doesn't matter. >> It's rigged anyway against me normally. Um, false, >> TJ. True or false? False. Okay. >> He sounded too confident of him there. That's >> good. Good. Um, humans are the only animals that blush. Cory, true or false? >> They are or aren't? >> Uh, humans are the only animals that blush. False. TJ. True. I've never seen >> monkey blush. Yeah. [laughter] >> Um, [laughter] okay. Tomatoes. >> Yeah. >> I've never seen I was thinking. >> I don't think I've seen a monkey blush. >> Maybe. [laughter] Um, tomatoes were once believed to be poisonous in Europe. Cory, true or false? False. TJ, I'll say true. That sounds like something Europe would >> something that Europeans would say. [laughter] >> I knew you were going to say that. >> It's all poison. It's all poison. >> It's all poison. Don't eat it. [laughter] It's all um question number five. >> Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Cory, true or false? >> I'll say false on that one. >> Oh yeah. False on that one. >> Yeah, I would say uh false because of the Empire State Building. >> No, you're not allowed. [laughter] >> Penguins. Question six. Penguins can smell fear. Penguin. Penguins can smell fear. I can't say that. Uh Cory, true or false? >> Uh, false. >> TJ, what does fear smell like? Is it like [ __ ] in your pants? [laughter] Like when you block the toilet? >> Oh, yeah. >> Smells like Tabo's toilet. >> We We know what that smells like. Um, >> true. I can't remember what the question was, but yeah, I'll go true. >> Okay, question seven. Wombat poop is cubeshaped. Wombat poop is cube shape shaped. True or false? Cory false. >> TJ, there's a lot of questions about [ __ ] Or is it just, you know, we should call it the [ __ ] episode. Um, >> true. >> This is a shitty episode. [laughter] >> The shittiest episode. >> Uh, right. I'm going to go. Yeah. Two more questions. So, question number eight. The Eiffel Tower gets taller in the summer. The Eiffel Tower gets taller in the summer. True or false, Cory? >> Uh, I'm going to go false. Doesn't seem possible. >> TJ, I'll say true. Something to do with like metal getting bigger. You know, I don't care. Just >> Question number nine. Your stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve metal. Cory, true or false? True. TJ, I'd say false because I'm sure kids have swallowed pennies and shout them out after. >> Yeah. Maybe it just went in there long enough though. >> Maybe. Yeah. >> Because we're we're sort of neck andneck at the moment. One more question. Butterflies taste with their feet. Butterflies taste with their feet. True or false? Cory. >> True. >> TJ false. >> After that, one, two, three, four, five. >> Just say I win. That' be easier. >> Do you know what? Actually, >> I think you did win. >> No, Cory, you're absolutely right. Uh, you won. Well done. Congratulations on [laughter] well on winning true or false the rugger revival. So, question number one, a shrimp's heart is located in his head. Uh, which is true. Humans are the only animals that blush, which is true. Uh, a day on Venus is shorter than a day on Earth. Uh, oh, we didn't do that one. Sorry. [laughter] Question. >> Boring. >> No wonder it was. >> Tomatoes. Well, you won that one anyway, Cory. Uh, tomatoes were once believed to be poisonous in Europe. Of course, it's true. Uh, lightning never strikes in the same place twice, which is false. Uh, it often strikes the same spot. Uh, penguins can smell fear. It's false. They have a limited sense of smell. One bat poop is cube shaped. And that is true. Uh the Eiffel Tower gets taller in the summer. True. Up to six inches apparently. Uh your stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve metal. It's true. Uh and butterflies taste with their feet, which is true. So there you are. Uh well done. Congratulations. Play the music please. Maestro TJ. I was going to say, can you string it out a bit because I didn't have that queued up [laughter] >> every [ __ ] [ __ ] ruins it or ruins the game all the time. [laughter] >> No. >> Nice to see you. To see [laughter] you, [cheering] >> Cory. I'm going to send you I'm going to send you uh some clips of um Bruce Forive who that was the one that he said. Nice to see you. To see you. Nice. Great big gentleman. Great big huge lovely. >> Um, right, that is it. Uh, I think I'm going to go on to some of my questions. Um, which is gonna it's going to go a bit of a slow pace. Uh, but we're going to I'm going to go into some personal stuff, Cory, if that's okay. Let's do it. >> Um, you haven't got long left of us. I promise you you'll be okay. >> Um, so I've lost my place. [laughter] >> Um, I've got it here. I was scoring it up. Sorry. Right. Um, so over the week we spent in Texas, uh, we spoke to a lot of the artists about mental health. Um, and uh, it's a bit of a taboo subject um, in in sort of between males and and talking between uh, male friends, but in the UK it is men's mental health month. Um, and we have supported uh, sort of mental health charities and and whatever as part of the rugger revival here. And I just wanted to know, you've you've traveled all around. You've been in different places going on on set most a lot of the time. Um, and and being extremely re extremely busy. How do you keep your head in check? How how do you deal with your mental health? Uh, I just buck up, bro. Um, no. I mean, seriously, it's a uh I don't know. Well, I think um I think just being aware of where you're at and then you know knowing what uh puts you there and you know what can get you out of there. Um like you know sometimes you go through these periods of just like nothing's working. You know it's not um my music's not doing what it needs to do. I'm not getting the shows I need to get. you know, just kind of a drag and um you don't want to do the things you need to do in order to get to that spot. And so, you know, get out of the house and run around or something. And, you know, outside always uh seems to rejuvenate that or just go do something else besides music or um do something else you like. and um remember to live through it all regardless of if anything's, you know, working or not. Um but [snorts] really, I mean, it is kind of just bucking up and doing it because nobody's going to help you except yourself, I think. Um I mean, yeah, don't get me wrong, people are going to help you, but until you want to get help, then you know, there's no until you admit that you might need help or anything like that, nobody's going to help you. It's just on your own. And you know, most men are like that. We don't admit when we need help. We don't. Oh, you want me to help you carry that in? Nah, I got it. Um, same with the load. Yeah, nobody's asking, "Hey, you want me to help you carry that load? What's going on? Are you cool? Like, what's you seem a little different today." Um, which if I notice a buddy of mine or somebody I'm hanging out with and I can notice that kind of stuff, you know, I try and ask those kind of questions, but um really at the end of the day, you got to figure out how to deal with them demons on your own. Uh, cuz nobody's coming to your rescue. Um, so, >> um, you know, just figure out how you deal with it and maybe that takes some asking to see how other people deal with it and learn that way. But really at the end of the day for me, it's just doing something that, you know, takes my head away from music or um just puts me around people that don't really give a [ __ ] about my music. [laughter] Uh, so, >> you know, it's good. It's good that way to just kind of um escape whatever it is that puts you in that spot, I think. >> Yeah. No, I appreciate that. And thank you again. Thank you for sharing that with us. I know that there's a lot of things that we ask. Um uh and you're like, why are you asking that? Um because it's just interesting to know how people how people deal with it and what you do and and being all over the place all the time like you say you do. Um it's you know, it's it's a tough kick a lot of the times, but um thank you for sharing it. So I I think just a couple of questions for me about um what you do. So you you know I was watching some of the artists at Stocktober and I just find it fascinating about why people do what they do. So why do you play to crowds? Why do you get up on stage and play music live and what you know what's it like afterwards when you get off stage and you've got all these people that you've played to and you know how does that feel? What what >> what what does that feel like? You know, there's uh that's an interesting question because I haven't I don't know if I've really thought about exactly why I do it. Um I I've done it my whole life. I felt like music has always been and I always knew music was going to be part of who I am and what I eventually do. I thought I was going to be a worship leader for a long time and u that did not turn out to be that way. I was going to be in music but I didn't know how. Um, and so I thought I'd [clears throat] be a drummer uh in some band somewhere. Uh, but you know, I think I think God's put me in this spot to um, you know, I don't know if it's to have some kind of voice or to um, be an encouragement to somebody else or just so that one person at one show sees me and, you know, it changes something about them or whatever. But I think that first when you get on a stage and you play music and people enjoy it and you can tell that people enjoy it, the [clears throat] feeling on stage is insane, dude. It's like the adrenaline rush is crazy. Um it's, bro, it's better than any other high that you could get. Like it's uh it's just a um it's a cool feeling. And so, you know, if I said that I didn't do it for that feeling, I'd be lying to you. Um, it feels good. It's a It's I feel I wish everybody could feel that feeling and I bet you they can in some capacity somewhere somehow and whatever they're doing. But, you know, that feeling for me is um worthy to go back for. Um, and it's the same every time. You get you get that same feeling every time. It's not a drug that, you know, loses its potency after a long time and or after a little while. And, um, it's still there. It's always going to be there. And so, um, I don't know. I love it. It's I'm not working, dude. I don't feel like I'm working. Unless I'm trying to post a content or something like that, then >> or booking or, you know, all the stuff that isn't music, that's whenever I feel like I'm working. >> So, >> yeah, I get it. Thank you. >> Um, what a great answer. Thank you very much. >> So, um, we have an exclusive playlist on the Ruger Revival, uh, and it's to give our listeners, uh, a bit of an insight into the artists that we have on. So, uh, if you could choose two of your songs to put on this exclusive playlist, what would they be to really show your music and what type of person you are? Probably Damn I Need a Drink in Mexico. Love it. Damn, I need a drink is definitely my story. In and out, like from the top to the bottom. And so that one for sure. Then Mexico cuz y'all like it. But I know I dig it too. Yeah, [laughter] >> but uh I think have y'all heard Long Gone? So that's the one that's coming out on the 20th, >> right? >> Um and Long Gone is probably I would probably say that over Mexico whenever it comes out. Uh so just keep your ears on for that one. But um yeah, otherwise Mexico. >> Yeah, I've heard snippets on your your TikTok and maybe that's the one you you're in the car whistling along. Is that is that the >> Yes, there you go. That's the one. >> Awesome. So uh we'll keep an eye out for that. But yeah, go on Cory's uh Tik Tok and have a little sneak preview or peek behind the curtains, if you will. Peek behind the curtains. Peek through the curtain. >> You know, I'm really impressed with myself because uh normally whenever I'm around guys that have accents like y'all, I naturally just start trying to speak like you because it's, you know, it's like a it's always the nervous accent that I go [laughter] to whenever I'm >> It's like all right. But it's always a mix between like Australia and like >> mate. Yeah. >> It's [laughter] like you got like Australia, you got English, you got Irish, you got all kinds of different >> Maybe for the rest of it we we should make you do an English accent. >> I was just about to say that. Yeah. >> Yeah, we can do an English if you guys like. >> Or we could uh we could do just an extra little game that we've never done before. So that is just give us the best accent that you possibly can. >> Yeah, that's a good one. >> English [clears throat] of Irish of Scott. Yeah. >> Yeah. I didn't know I could do all these uh different different that was more Australian right there. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's more it's got the Australian kick. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um English is just more like this. Yes. Is it Is this It's more proper. >> So you sound more like TJ. >> Yeah. I'm talking my actual accent. Yeah. >> Yeah. So if I talk in my accent now, you won't be able to cuz I I try and get a bit loosened up when I go and when I go on here so people can understand what I'm saying. But actually no one can really understand what I'm saying anyway cuz I talk really fast. >> So you can try and do that now. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. [laughter] You know, and a lot of times it turns into like it goes very well like an Indian guy. And I tell [laughter] you what, I tell you guys so much good stuff about this. There's it goes Indian and then you go from this a black woman. [laughter] I tell you what who that is. Who that is in my front door, boy. >> [laughter] >> But then, you know what I'm saying? And then you get like an old guy. You know, I should be a voiceover actor. >> You should be a voiceover. >> We can use you for some voiceovers for the rugged revival when we do our parody videos. Yeah. >> Just tell me what you need, guys. >> Is that Is that [laughter] old lady? >> I try to be a little old lady. [laughter] >> You're You've got another calling, mate. music. >> Not Bridget Jones. What was the other one? The Oh god, I can't remember. >> Very well known for anyway. She sounds You sound like that >> honestly. Okay, so let me tell you a little secret here. I think because I've been trying to emulate voices and just do different things for my whole life. And I think honestly that's why I can sing because I never knew I could sing. And then somebody at church, she was like, "Hey, you should sing." Because I guess you heard me singing in church or whatever. And um then that's kind of got in my head and doing it. But I think doing the voices like it makes you train your vocal to be >> where you can move it, do whatever you want to do with it and you know where all the different pieces are and you know where the pitches and stuff are. So I think that might have something to do with the fact that I can sing. >> That's interesting. Yeah. Pitch and of things. >> Comedians all can sing. >> Most comedians can sing. Why can't we sing? We're we're comedians sort of. >> No, we're not. >> No. Okay. [laughter] >> We're not. All right. Fair. >> No. No. We've just rattled through an hour and 20 minutes of really bad jokes. [laughter] So, >> speak for yourself, mate. >> It was all funny though, guys. >> Comedians. >> Yeah. >> Well, Ronny could do a great accent accent, can't you? >> No, I can't. No, I I was going to make you do your southern bell. >> My southern bell. Mary Hinge. Go on. [laughter] >> So, we we put out some parody videos of um what was it? Old album art that we found. What was her >> Mary Hinge? Yeah, >> we called her Mary H. >> Mrs. Mills. Yeah, >> Mrs. Mills. And she's a bigger lady. Show you a photo. >> We'd like to say she's southern in our head. She's a southern lady. Southern bell. And she's uh Oh, damn. Me boys. I'm just coming through. You know, all that sort of thing. [laughter] Um, >> see how >> the parody videos didn't go very well, funny enough. >> Where's my [laughter] a little bit? >> It was my face superimposed. Yeah. So, um, >> yeah. >> What were we talking about? >> TJ's [laughter] face on there. That's brilliant. Yeah. Oh, dude. That's hilarious. >> That's one of my >> We love you, Mrs. Mills. We love you in the bridge. >> There you go. Cory and get involved in our our future parody uh that we put out. Yeah, that'll be [snorts] amazing. >> Yeah, I like that. [laughter] >> Absolutely. >> I got you. >> Um well, I Yeah, I don't know what I was going to say now. So, um anyway, so uh we've done the two songs. Uh I'm not going to ask that. Uh right. So, Rugger Revival is a community. >> Uh, it is. Uh, so what we try to do, no, we we try and uh and we tried to help a bit of independent artists. >> Uh, there's some that haven't really got a shout out before, that haven't been mentioned before on a podcast or anything else. Um, is there anybody that you would like to shout out here >> that Okay. Desert >> folk folk. >> Desert folk. And you might have met Austin that night. Uh Austin um Cox is his name. >> Tattooed guy. Bald. He's got a tattoo on his head >> possibly. Got a beard. Um he's probably like six uh I'd say he's probably like 6'2 63 maybe. >> That's not the bloke who took the chair off me. >> No, I think that was Justin. [laughter] There was this massive geyser that went up to Ronny and said, "I'm taking this." And Ronny was like, "Okay, [laughter] yes, you. Okay, I'm British. Oh, daddy. >> It would have been funny if you took your drink out your hand. I'm taking this as well. [laughter] >> You should [ __ ] not. I'll fight you. >> You should have been like, "You could take me too, big boy." I bet you [laughter] would have left that I bet you he would have left that [ __ ] right there. You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. Turned into Mrs. Hills [laughter] southern bell game. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. But uh Austin Clarkson desert folk. >> Great. Um, in fact, I wore that so that people might just see people can look at it. Love that. >> Good. Fair play. >> So, you heard it here then, Desert Folk. Um, and Cory's new single coming out um on the 20th. >> Absolutely. >> That's right, isn't it? Yeah. So, in a couple of days time. >> Um, and that's all the questions for me. [laughter] I'm not going to go into uh completely lost. I have no idea what I'm doing here. you said on the 20th that comes out and on the 20th that bar that we were at at Rhinestone I have a it's like an EP released kind of show. So >> Oh nice saloon. >> Yeah. So if you guys whoever's listening to this if you're in Texas come on to the rhinestone November 20th. >> I wish we knew we could have come over. >> I'll fly you out guys. No worries. >> Yes. >> I'll send my jet to go get you. >> Yeah. >> Could you announce us on stage while you know waiting a [laughter] while. >> Don't forget us. Hey guys. >> Well, this is Ronnie and TJ right here. [laughter] >> That' be hilar. Everyone's staring back going, "Who the [ __ ] are those dudes?" Yeah. Yeah. >> He's the guy that stole my drink. Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> He didn't pay. >> He clogged up toilet. >> It was him. Yeah. [laughter] >> Him. Anyway, this is descending into chaos. TJ, over to you, please. >> Okay, you've got a task. So, seeing as you like random games, Cory, well, you never said that, but we just assume that you do. Um, >> everybody. >> So, we've got a an a world famous game. Um, it's the game that everybody's asking about, everybody's talking about. Um, it's called the Rugged Revival Kiss Challenge game. >> Yeah. Perfect. >> Yeah. It's probably not even called that, but uh, >> if I look this way, [laughter] >> you've called it the kiss game on the notes, and I'm like, you don't you got to stop saying that to people. >> Oh, yeah. Exactly. Yeah. No. No, >> randomly go around kissing. >> Intriguing if I say it like that. So, uh, basically, this is my bad kind of explanation now. And Ronny, one of your I always get him to demonstrate for people, but I was listening to Prince, you know, obviously the the fantastic artist, formerly known as Prince, you know, at some stage. And, uh, Kiss, the song is just it's incredible. I love it, but I also find it hilarious. Um, certain parts of it are just funny. and we thought it would be interesting to see if people um can do the intro to that. And you talked about, you know, being an expert in terms of matching timber, pitch, tone, all that stuff and being able to emulate voices. You'll be a really >> not an expert, but I'll try. >> Well, we're going to say you're an expert. So, if I do an example of what I've done, Ronnie will do his uh version and then we'll hand over to you. So, is that is that okay with you, mate? Let's do it. >> Right. So, this is my uh interpretation of the opening. [music] So, that's obviously the original. Uh, and Ronny's uh going to have a try now. >> Right. I need to get this right now cuz my timing is always off. So, I need to go in earlier than later cuz I think it's the sound that travels. That's my excuse anyway. Well, let's try because the last two have been [laughter] >> you warmed up. >> Yeah. Right. Let's go. One, two. >> Oh, Jesus. Sounds like you got laryngitis. [laughter] >> So, you've obviously seen two experts obviously smash it there. >> Um, so are you ready, mate, to have a go? >> Yes, I have a little lag over here. So, I'm just going to do it and then hope it works. >> I'll stitch it, mate. Don't you worry, it'll stitch it perfectly. >> Stitchy. >> Right. So, I'm going to count it down to give you a bit of an opportunity and then um I don't think we'll rate it. We'll leave it to the listeners to rate. So, after one, [laughter] >> that was your old lady voice. >> That was pretty good. Oh, my bad. >> I thought it was great. >> That was fantastic. [laughter] >> I love that. You want You want a real one? >> Yeah, let's go for a real one. >> Yeah, go on. Do a real one. I >> We're going to keep that in. Yeah, I talked over the intro a little bit cuz I pressed the button prematurely. >> Stop [ __ ] talking. >> All right. Sh after three. One. >> Hey, do you have the uh do you have the original? >> I do. Yeah. Do you want to listen to that first? >> Play it right quick. Yeah. >> Okay. See how close I can get. >> Right. So, this is the original. [laughter] It is right there. >> Is it Is it ingrained in your brain or do you need one more listen? >> Do one more listen. >> One more listen. Right. Okay. Let's go for it. [music] >> It's really hard. It's harder than you think. >> Obviously, I smashed it, but right after three. So, this is your your real go. >> One. Oh, that was good. That was good. >> Was [laughter] that good? >> Makes a bit of bass to it. >> That was [clears throat] [laughter] This is going to be the promo to this episode, by the way. [laughter] >> So, we'll uh we'll let people score that. We I think it's rude for me and Ronny to to to judge you, but we thought that was judge me. >> Amazing. I would say even if anyone asked me, they probably won't, but nine out of 10, maybe. >> Thank you. >> There you go. [laughter] >> So, thanks for playing that. >> Yeah, >> it's obviously world famous. Um, so I've only got a couple more questions, mate, and then you can ask us or plug anything else that you want that perhaps we haven't um touched upon. We always like to say, have you got any aspirations or any plans to come to the UK, England particularly at any point? >> Um, maybe. [laughter] No, I think that would be great. Uh, honestly, sometime, but u my passport is expired, so it's not going to be happening anytime soon. >> Um, I got to renew that thing. Um, which I need to renew it anyway, but uh cuz I think I'm going to Canada soon. Oh, well, okay. >> Um, yeah. I mean, I think it would be cool. I would like to, honestly, when I was younger, I would I just wanted to go on a trip and kind of, you know, do what everybody does and backpack my way around. Um, and just kind of live out there for a month or so and just kind of do things. But as far as music goes, I think I'd like to get out there and play. >> Yeah. uh you know I feel like it's probably even better received there because it's r more rare. You know what I'm saying? So >> I think so. And um if you look at your Spotify stats and or stats across all the platforms, is it do you get much traction from the UK or you know what what would you say your top countries outside of the US are? >> Um I can tell you right now. Um, so it looks like most uh come from the US and then Canada, then Australia, then the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, France. >> Uh, let me see how far down >> some obscure place. >> Zimbabwe. >> Ireland is number 13. >> Number 13. >> And there's 10 listeners there. >> Ronnie's one of them. We need to jump that up to 11. [laughter] >> Yeah, >> at least. >> Well, let's try and build your fan base over here. That's what we'll do. And that's your point in terms of what we do as well is that we're exposing you to the rest of >> 100% >> the UK. So, there you go. So, >> I don't always like being exposed, but in this case, >> you like it. Yeah, >> I like it. >> I think you should come over and just just use the accent for as long as anyone doesn't work you out, if that makes sense. So, >> absolutely. >> Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. >> Sounds kind of 19th century like London. >> A little 19th century. >> Yeah. >> More pie. >> Yeah. Anyway, >> very good. I'll just be from a whole different country. Okay. [laughter] >> You'd get away with that. Um, so you you mentioned Canada. Um, is is that to play some gigs or is that just to kind of visit, travel? >> Uh, visit, travel. Um maybe uh just cross over from uh like Montanaia um or somewhere up north that way. Um just kind of just to go I mean I think I've been one time to Niagara Falls and that was whenever I was just hanging in New York for a little while and then so we didn't get to go to Canada but we just looked across the across the water. So >> very good and saw the tourism over there. Yeah, we would love to go over there at some point. But um >> so yeah, I suppose last thing for me before Ronnie does the final messages. The final messages. I don't know why I call it that. >> Final message. >> The final message. >> Stop calling it final message. Sounds like we're all dying. >> What is my my final question? [laughter] >> Nobody knows anymore. >> Descended into complete curves. Um >> yeah, how can people help and support you now? So obviously, you know, we we talk about listening, sharing music, uh, with friends, family. What what in particular at the minute would you like to see more of in terms of, um, fan support, >> you know, just social sharing really. Um, that'd be cool. But, you know, in order to get that, I got to post more. So, uh, probably all comes back to me that, um, you know, listening is mainly the the really the biggest thing. uh if you're close, come to a show. But uh otherwise, yeah, listening and sharing is really all I I don't expect it out of anyone, but that's what all I'd really care about from anyone is that. And if you enjoy it, you know, send it to somebody you like. And if you don't enjoy it, send it to somebody you hate. You know, maybe [laughter] either way, you know, just way send it to somebody. Yeah. >> Yeah. Cool. Very good. Right, Ronnie, over to you, mate. >> Well, thank you very much, TJ. Um, Cory, our very own Bert Reynolds, >> the one, the only, the legend. Um, RP, but obviously, um, yeah, >> we we have thoroughly enjoyed this episode, as you can probably tell, cuz it's been chaotic, full of laughs. Uh, and I have no idea what we were talking about halfway through, but it's just been amazing. Um we it's been amazing to get to know you. Uh it was a pleasure to meet you when we were in Stocktober uh and in Texas. Um it was a pleasure to to share some of the stories around blocking TJ blocking the toilets with you. Um but listen, we've been peeking through the curtains. Uh you have such an incredible talent. Uh your humor, your style uh is Aclass and you're an incredible voiceover artist. And if I could send you the line that we normally do at the end, I'd get you to do it in my accent. So, in fact, let's try that. Let's try that before we sign off. So, um, as I said, it's been incredible. Thank you for joining us on the Rugger Revival. Uh, it's really, really nice to meet you. But can you say we raise a toast to the grit, the grind, and the revival in my accent. >> We raise a toast to the grit, the grind, and the revival in my accent. >> Cheers to everyone for listening. [laughter] Thanks, Cory. >> Appreciate it. >> Cheers. >> Cheers, guys. Cheers. Cheers. Thank you. >> And I got news for you. That means you're gay. [laughter] >> Basically, that's how we saw Alfred. >> I was like, what did I do? Did I break the thing? [laughter]

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