Sug Daniels

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Shaun Smith: Hey Shug,
how you doing today?
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Sug Daniels: I am well,
Shaun how about yourself?
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Shaun Smith: I'm great, thank you.
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I'm great.
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Hey, thanks for taking some
time to, uh, talk to me today.
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Sug Daniels: Heck yeah, my pleasure.
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I love chatting.
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I love a good visit.
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Shaun Smith: Awesome.
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Um, anything specifically
you'd like me to ask you?
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Sug Daniels: Um, no.
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Maybe it's about music.
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It's always nice to talk about that.
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You know, it's always
nice to talk about that.
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Shaun Smith: Yeah, I'll see if I can
come up with a question about music.
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Ha ha ha.
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Anything, uh, anything specifically
you don't want to talk about?
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Sug Daniels: No, no,
pretty much an open book.
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Shaun Smith: Awesome.
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Awesome.
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Uh, any time constraints?
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I usually go like an hour max, uh, but
we can cut it whenever you need to.
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Sug Daniels: No, ours sounds good.
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Shaun Smith: Cool.
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Good deal.
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Uh, you sound great.
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How do I sound?
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Can you hear me okay?
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Sug Daniels: Yeah, you sound wonderful.
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Shaun Smith: Awesome.
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Oh, you sound wonderful.
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That's why I'm talking to you.
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Awesome.
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Cool.
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So I usually just start it with,
uh, I'll say, Shug Daniels, welcome
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to the High Note Podcast, and
then we'll just go from there.
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Sug Daniels: Sounds good.
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Shaun Smith: Awesome.
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So you're good to go.
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Great.
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Sug Daniels: good to go.
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Shaun Smith: Shug Daniels.
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Welcome to the high note podcast.
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How are you doing today?
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Sug Daniels: I'm good,
Shaun thanks for having me.
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Shaun Smith: Oh, thanks for coming on.
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I really appreciate it.
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I'm really excited to see you in
a, now it's, it's a few days away
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at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
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Sug Daniels: I know,
it's coming up so fast.
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Shaun Smith: So Shug, tell me
a little bit about yourself.
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How did you, uh, how did you start getting
into music and being a singer songwriter?
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Sug Daniels: Alright, I'll try
to keep it quick, because it's
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really like a lifelong journey, but
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Shaun Smith: We take all, we
can take all the time you need.
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Go for it.
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Sug Daniels: well, I started
singing when I was little, right?
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Like, I don't really remember my first
time on stage or anything like that.
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I grew up, um, in church.
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My mom was a singer.
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She was a phenomenal,
is a phenomenal singer.
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She doesn't sing as much anymore,
which I am sad about, but I remember,
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you know, watching her sing and just
like being with, you know, in church
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with my congregation and just like
seeing people, like the reaction was
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so emotional and so hopeful and joyful.
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And just like, I've always
known, I was like, that's it.
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That's the thing that I want to do.
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I want to do that for people
when I become an adult.
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And you know, you get older, you
know, I've always been singing and
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writing little songs and stuff.
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And then you get older and
people like, yeah, well, what's
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your real job going to be?
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And I was like, I don't know, maybe
I'll do a little bit of this and that.
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I did, but ultimately this, this is it.
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I've been, uh, making music full
time now in October of last year.
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So I'm coming up on my near
scene of making music full time.
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You know, I don't regret my Chipotle
days or anything like that, but
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this is definitely feeling very
like aligned with who I am.
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Shaun Smith: Oh, that's great.
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What was, was there a single
thing that made you say that,
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okay, I'm going all in on this?
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Sug Daniels: I mean, so
I've always wanted to do it.
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But I remember the day that I quit my job.
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I'll tell you that story.
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So I had, I'm from Delaware originally
and I moved to Philadelphia after this
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really big breakup and after the pandemic
and well, not after the pandemic, but like
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once people could kind of move around a
bit more and music started picking up, I
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was like, all right, well, you know what?
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I think I'm down for a change.
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I need to change, you know?
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And then I was like, I'm going to move to
Philadelphia because it's not that far.
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Delaware is like Philadelphia's country
cousin, you know, right down the street.
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Shaun Smith: just right up by 95.
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Sug Daniels: You know what I'm saying?
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And I was living in
Wilmington at the time too.
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So I could get on a train and I was
coming up here and I was visiting
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more of my friends and I was like, let
me just go ahead and make the jump.
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I can always come back to Delaware.
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I have friends here.
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Like, you know, Delaware
is not going anywhere.
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Uh, so I moved up to, to Philadelphia
and I had a coffee shop job.
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I worked at a cafe.
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I was like, I'm either going to
work at a bar or I'm going to work
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at a cafe, you know, So I can have
part time hours, make some tips.
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And I'm much more of a morning
person than I am a night owl.
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So I was like, let me go ahead, wake
up in the morning, make people some
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coffee, come home, write my songs, you
know, get with, get with friends, write
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music, do that, you know, then I can gig.
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So about two years into working at this
cafe and I'd been doing good in music.
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I was at WXPN, you know, our local
station was playing my music.
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I was, the gigs were picking up.
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I was doing pretty good.
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Um, I had rode my little electric
scooter from South Philly.
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Up into like center city and it was
fun riding the scooter, but this this
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particular day was really cold I was like,
oh my god My hands were freezing and I was
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you know Opened up the cafe and one of my
customers had come in and at this point
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all of my customers knew that I was A
musician right there following me online.
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That's what you do.
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You move to the city.
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You tell everybody what you
do Uh, she was really cool.
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She said why are you still working here?
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I just seen you, you know, you're going
on tour and I was like, you know, i'm just
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i'm gonna make the break soon She said
one day you're gonna come in here You And
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it's going to be cold on that scooter.
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And you're going to be like,
no, I don't want to do this.
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And it was so cold earlier that day.
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I was thinking when she was saying that.
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So as soon as she walked
out, I texted my boss.
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I said, Hey man, I really appreciate
you letting me work at this cafe, but I
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think I'm going to go ahead and pursue
music full time, he wished me well.
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And, you know, I'd already had some
money, a little bit of money saved up.
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So I knew I could not work for
three months and I'd be good.
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So I was like, all right, if I
could just book some more stuff.
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I think I'll, I'll think
I'll be pretty good.
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So that was it.
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Shaun Smith: Oh, that's great.
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Congratulations.
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That's really awesome.
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How do you like Philly
as opposed to Delaware?
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Sug Daniels: I mean, they're both
their own kind of creature though.
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I like that Philadelphia
has so much going on.
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It can be a little distracting
sometimes, but I'm always, I'm
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always like having so much fun.
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I moved from South Philly.
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I was there for like two years now.
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I'm in West Philly with my partner and
our roommate and our beautiful cat.
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Um, and there's a bit more trees
here, which I really enjoy.
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I'm, you know, I'm from Southern
Delaware, so I'm a nature girl.
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I'm a, you know, I'm a country girl.
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I love the trees.
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I got a little garden, garden bed
in the front yard, which is nice.
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My peppers are growing and,
uh, my carrots are growing.
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They're doing their thing, but it's, it
really is a city full of neighborhoods.
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Like I like all my neighbors are really
fun and friendly and wonderful to talk to.
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Um, the city is really diverse.
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It's got great food,
great culture, great art.
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I think that.
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The city knows that the
artists are a big deal here.
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I feel like the arts are really
supported in Philadelphia.
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Um, yeah.
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And, oh my God, I love
getting on a little train.
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I love going anywhere for
like two bucks and 50 cents.
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It's so cool.
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Shaun Smith: That's great.
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Yeah, I was actually, I was going to ask
you, what do you think about the music
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scene in Philly as opposed to in Delaware?
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Because Delaware does have
a vibrant music scene.
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It's probably a little less
known than the Philly one.
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Sug Daniels: Oh, absolutely.
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I mean, I feel like one, the
first thing to remember is that
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like, it's a numbers game, right?
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Like there's just a humongous
population here in Philadelphia.
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So of course there's going to be
more singers, songwriters, venues
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that can accommodate more people,
more people that are just able,
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you're just able to expose yourself.
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Um, so I think for me being an
artist full time, you can be an
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artist in any way, shape, or form.
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It's not always, it's never, it's
never about making money, but if
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you're trying to be an artist.
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and make a living being in a market
that has the capacity to support you
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I think is really important and the
thing that artists really you have to
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separate those things right like you
can be an artist anywhere but to be
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an artist where there's venues that
people go to on you know Wednesday
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Shaun Smith: Yeah,
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Sug Daniels: you know you don't have
to just play covers for three hours
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you can play original stuff and people
want to hear that So I love it because
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I feel like this place can support
also, we do have the train, we do
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have a, um, an airport, we do have a
little bit more transportation to get
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out of the city if you're like going
to do a tour and stuff like that.
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So this place just has, you know,
it just has the infrastructure for
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a really big booming music scene.
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Um, I think Delaware has, Phenomenal
artists, some of the coolest artists
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and especially like underground scenes
that I've seen in a lot of cities.
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Um, but it just didn't have the, the,
what I needed in order to support
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myself in the way that I wanted
to create music and create art,
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Shaun Smith: that's, that's really cool.
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That's really cool.
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I'm glad that you made the move
because, uh, if you didn't, I might
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not have discovered you on the bill
for the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
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Sug Daniels: you know, you know.
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Shaun Smith: Now, how did you,
uh, what made you want to pick up
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the ukulele of all instruments?
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Sug Daniels: Well, it's,
it's a funny story.
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I've been like, so I've been
singing since I was a little girl.
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And I was like in this really cool rap
group with my cousins for like 10 years.
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Um, until I got tired and I was
like, all right, I don't think
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I really want to make that music
anymore and do something different.
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And then I was singing in a funk
soul band called Hoochie Coochie.
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And that was really fun, but
I didn't play any instruments.
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I mostly just like sang.
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When the pandemic hit and I couldn't
get with my band to make music because,
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you know, uh, the desire never left.
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I always collaborated with somebody,
but then all of a sudden I find myself
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after like, 15, 16 years of making
music professionally being like,
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oh man, I can't I'm like crippled.
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I can't do So my roommate at the time was
a musician and she played guitar and stuff
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and I started playing bass in the basement
just because like You know, she wasn't
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gigging either and that was pretty fun.
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It was my first time ever playing an
instrument I never I didn't have guitars
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or anything like that growing up.
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I was just some And she had a
ukulele in her room and she was like,
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you should, you should have this.
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Like, you should learn something
so you can keep making music.
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So I started making music
and playing around on that.
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And it just was so like, not, it was
so unintimidating, you know, it's just,
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it's tiny, it's little, it's loud.
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Like me, you know, so
I was like relatable.
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00:09:44,780 --> 00:09:48,040
Um, it's not, it's hard
to make it sound bad.
229
00:09:48,079 --> 00:09:51,819
Honestly, the, the, just the way
that the strings are in the chords,
230
00:09:52,260 --> 00:09:53,670
it's just a beautiful instrument.
231
00:09:54,089 --> 00:09:57,980
So I just started messing around and
just writing songs because writing
232
00:09:57,980 --> 00:10:00,220
songs sounds is just what I do.
233
00:10:00,220 --> 00:10:03,755
Um, I think I started putting stuff
up online, like some live stuff.
234
00:10:03,785 --> 00:10:09,865
And the reaction that I got was
so, um, obvious and profound.
235
00:10:09,975 --> 00:10:11,885
I was like, Oh, I guess
this is what I do now.
236
00:10:12,834 --> 00:10:14,725
I guess I'll be a ukulele player.
237
00:10:15,254 --> 00:10:20,325
Um, and I didn't really know either, but
like ukulele fans are like hardcore fans.
238
00:10:20,335 --> 00:10:24,165
People who like, love the ukulele,
freaking love the ukulele.
239
00:10:24,165 --> 00:10:29,760
So I also kind of found myself in
this really fun niche and welcoming Um
240
00:10:29,790 --> 00:10:34,420
community of of people that had this
love for this cool little instrument.
241
00:10:35,314 --> 00:10:36,035
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
242
00:10:36,035 --> 00:10:37,954
Yeah, you make it sound
beautiful for sure.
243
00:10:37,954 --> 00:10:41,474
And, but it, you don't, you don't
play a traditional ukulele, do you?
244
00:10:41,484 --> 00:10:42,204
Or maybe you do.
245
00:10:42,204 --> 00:10:45,505
I think I saw an electric
ukulele or something.
246
00:10:45,535 --> 00:10:48,064
Um, yeah, tell me about that.
247
00:10:48,595 --> 00:10:53,234
Sug Daniels: So I feel like when
I first started, I was really,
248
00:10:54,745 --> 00:10:56,185
I just was just messing around.
249
00:10:56,195 --> 00:10:59,125
And then once I started, I seen
that it was getting attention
250
00:10:59,125 --> 00:11:00,395
and people were excited about it.
251
00:11:00,404 --> 00:11:02,605
I was like, Oh, well,
I'm going to play live.
252
00:11:03,274 --> 00:11:04,614
And cause I love to perform.
253
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It's just so fun.
254
00:11:05,444 --> 00:11:08,195
It's such a fun way for me
to connect with other humans.
255
00:11:08,354 --> 00:11:11,335
You know, it's like to just make
a fool of myself in front of them
256
00:11:11,935 --> 00:11:13,055
and hoping to have a good time.
257
00:11:13,425 --> 00:11:15,204
So I was like, all right,
well, what can I do?
258
00:11:15,224 --> 00:11:16,765
Cause the ukulele I had was like.
259
00:11:17,095 --> 00:11:18,295
It was more classical.
260
00:11:18,295 --> 00:11:20,694
It was, uh, you know, didn't have
any pickups or anything in it.
261
00:11:21,175 --> 00:11:22,195
And so I started Googling.
262
00:11:22,195 --> 00:11:25,405
I lived with my buddy Rob at the time
who was a, literally, he's a luer.
263
00:11:25,495 --> 00:11:28,525
He had done that for as a career for a
long time and still does it on the side.
264
00:11:28,935 --> 00:11:31,845
And he was like, well, maybe we can
find one and put some pickups in there.
265
00:11:31,845 --> 00:11:35,425
And then we would, you know, sit
and Google and see like what kind
266
00:11:35,425 --> 00:11:36,805
of instruments were out there.
267
00:11:36,985 --> 00:11:41,865
And Fender had like a line of ukuleles
that, you know, had, uh, had a
268
00:11:41,865 --> 00:11:45,525
pickup in it and you could plug it
in and put it through some pedals.
269
00:11:45,525 --> 00:11:47,385
And they were all designed like.
270
00:11:47,790 --> 00:11:49,780
Their fender guitars,
so it was really cool.
271
00:11:49,780 --> 00:11:53,140
It was really interesting
Um, that's a class.
272
00:11:53,150 --> 00:11:57,240
It's that one's done in classical,
but now I have a baritone ukulele from
273
00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,089
college So there's just so much out
there There's like there's I have a
274
00:12:01,119 --> 00:12:05,019
u bass that my my bass player let me
borrow that I cut little demos with
275
00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,010
so The instrument really has evolved.
276
00:12:08,010 --> 00:12:10,790
It's a really older instrument and
it's, it's done really beautifully.
277
00:12:10,790 --> 00:12:11,680
It's about community.
278
00:12:11,680 --> 00:12:14,349
It's about singing with the
people in, in, in your, in your
279
00:12:14,349 --> 00:12:16,490
neighborhood and around a campfire.
280
00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,250
Uh, but it's really evolved in
the last probably like decade.
281
00:12:20,410 --> 00:12:22,910
And I'm, I'm excited to be bringing
it because I think it's just.
282
00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:24,880
Such an accessible instrument.
283
00:12:24,890 --> 00:12:25,700
It's small.
284
00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,030
I can take, like if I'm touring,
especially my concert ukulele,
285
00:12:29,030 --> 00:12:30,710
I could take it on a plane, man.
286
00:12:30,980 --> 00:12:32,490
I don't gotta pay for it.
287
00:12:32,700 --> 00:12:34,520
I can bring it as a carry on.
288
00:12:34,890 --> 00:12:36,990
So it's so fun and it's
just so accessible.
289
00:12:37,020 --> 00:12:40,649
So yeah, you throw some pedals
on there, like highly recommend
290
00:12:40,649 --> 00:12:42,009
everybody get one for the house.
291
00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:42,990
Shaun Smith: That's so cool.
292
00:12:42,990 --> 00:12:45,380
I've never heard of a
baritone ukulele before.
293
00:12:45,950 --> 00:12:47,650
Sug Daniels: Yeah, the
baritone ukulele is fun.
294
00:12:47,650 --> 00:12:52,710
So that one is the, I think the first
four strings of a guitar, the baritone.
295
00:12:52,710 --> 00:12:53,810
So that one's a little different.
296
00:12:55,314 --> 00:12:59,015
But once again, it's just small,
it's super portable, and yeah,
297
00:12:59,025 --> 00:13:01,925
people sometimes don't even know I'm
playing a ukulele, they think I'm
298
00:13:01,925 --> 00:13:03,575
playing just a tiny little guitar.
299
00:13:03,755 --> 00:13:07,145
I think it's the same strings, if
I'm not mistaken, and I'm sorry,
300
00:13:07,155 --> 00:13:09,245
everybody, anybody out there in
the podcast world, like, she don't
301
00:13:09,245 --> 00:13:09,794
know what she's talking about.
302
00:13:10,204 --> 00:13:12,654
I think it's the same
as, like, a tenor guitar.
303
00:13:12,775 --> 00:13:14,645
The same strings as a tenor guitar.
304
00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:19,680
Um, my buddy, yeah, my buddy Sam Rise,
who is another Philadelphia singer
305
00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:21,290
songwriter, plays a tenor guitar.
306
00:13:21,290 --> 00:13:23,650
And we're always like, yo, we should
just like get together and jam and
307
00:13:23,650 --> 00:13:24,549
like play each other's instruments.
308
00:13:24,550 --> 00:13:26,600
But we've both been so busy booking.
309
00:13:27,560 --> 00:13:28,180
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
310
00:13:28,220 --> 00:13:30,079
Now, how did your, are you self taught?
311
00:13:31,330 --> 00:13:31,880
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
312
00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,989
It's like on my list to like eventually
get some lessons, but I just keep
313
00:13:35,990 --> 00:13:40,315
writing stuff and uh, there's
nothing wrong with either, right?
314
00:13:40,315 --> 00:13:42,455
Like, being self taught, I
think, is really fun because
315
00:13:42,625 --> 00:13:45,505
you're following this passion and
you're, like, developing this ear.
316
00:13:45,535 --> 00:13:48,544
And this wasn't something that I
realized until later after playing
317
00:13:48,544 --> 00:13:52,515
with a lot of friends who have been
trained, who did, like, go to school or
318
00:13:52,515 --> 00:13:55,954
did, like, have a lot of lessons when
they were kids or take lessons now.
319
00:13:56,295 --> 00:13:58,655
Um, I think it's like,
I just know good music.
320
00:13:58,655 --> 00:14:03,090
I grew up in a household with a lot of
different kind of stuff, like, My little
321
00:14:03,090 --> 00:14:06,850
brother's dad loved like Jimi Hendrix and
the Beatles and like classic rock stuff.
322
00:14:06,850 --> 00:14:08,280
So that was cool to listen to.
323
00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:12,599
And then my mother loved, of course, like,
you know, uh, gospel, of course, and then
324
00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:16,250
like R& B and a lot of like Philly, like
really cool, like soul clarion stuff.
325
00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,860
Uh, that I didn't realize was
right in Philadelphia, but I was
326
00:14:19,090 --> 00:14:20,409
listening to a lot of that too.
327
00:14:20,780 --> 00:14:24,460
So then I had this, this wide eclectic
mix of all these different things that
328
00:14:24,460 --> 00:14:26,340
I like, so I kind of developed an ear.
329
00:14:27,370 --> 00:14:31,440
And then, yeah, I started making
music that just felt good.
330
00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,210
I never really felt like I want
to make this kind of genre.
331
00:14:34,210 --> 00:14:37,139
I never really tried to
lean too hard into anything.
332
00:14:37,459 --> 00:14:40,064
I just know what feels good
to me, what sounds good.
333
00:14:40,454 --> 00:14:44,535
Um, I feel like now I'm, I'm getting
a bit more into learning what the
334
00:14:44,535 --> 00:14:48,095
heck I'm doing, because I'm starting
to play with more people, and it's
335
00:14:48,095 --> 00:14:51,885
nice to know that language, so I can
communicate with them what, what I'm
336
00:14:51,885 --> 00:14:55,605
doing, and what I'd like for them
to do, what I don't want them to do.
337
00:14:56,629 --> 00:14:57,650
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's so cool.
338
00:14:57,669 --> 00:15:01,825
Yeah, I can definitely hear some of
those, uh, Those influences, uh, from
339
00:15:01,995 --> 00:15:05,135
what you're talking about growing
up, but what kind of music did you
340
00:15:05,135 --> 00:15:08,515
listen to when you were growing up,
uh, that kind of inspire you today?
341
00:15:09,540 --> 00:15:11,990
Sug Daniels: Well, my favorite
for sure was like Michael Jackson.
342
00:15:11,990 --> 00:15:15,199
I was obsessed with
Michael Jackson as a kid.
343
00:15:15,649 --> 00:15:20,349
My mom got me like a Walkman and I would
get like just random little cassettes.
344
00:15:20,919 --> 00:15:22,329
And I got really random stuff, right?
345
00:15:22,329 --> 00:15:24,019
Like I remember having like an REM.
346
00:15:24,030 --> 00:15:27,239
I didn't know who REM was, but I just
remember being like, I like the look
347
00:15:27,239 --> 00:15:28,439
of this cassette, so I'll get it.
348
00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:28,729
So.
349
00:15:28,870 --> 00:15:32,550
And then later on, now, which
makes sense why I like folk music
350
00:15:32,550 --> 00:15:35,460
so much, because there's so much
mandolin in that music, and just
351
00:15:35,460 --> 00:15:36,829
the way he's singing is different.
352
00:15:36,829 --> 00:15:40,040
It's not like, he's not doing some soul
thing, which is what I was used to.
353
00:15:40,250 --> 00:15:43,009
It was doing something different,
but I could pick up on why that music
354
00:15:43,020 --> 00:15:46,339
was good, and why people liked it,
and, you know, one of my favorites.
355
00:15:46,349 --> 00:15:50,865
But my favorite, um, Cassette was
like the best of the Jackson 5's and
356
00:15:50,865 --> 00:15:54,474
I learned all the songs and those kids
had like the lyrics and then back then.
357
00:15:54,714 --> 00:15:57,214
So I would just literally learn
all these songs and I'd walk around
358
00:15:57,214 --> 00:15:58,495
my neighborhood singing them.
359
00:15:58,964 --> 00:16:01,675
Um, and I just thought
Michael Jackson was amazing.
360
00:16:01,744 --> 00:16:05,644
I mean he is, he's a phenomenal performer
too, which is where I think along
361
00:16:05,644 --> 00:16:10,885
with watching my mom, um, be such an
amazing performer also inspired me.
362
00:16:10,964 --> 00:16:14,374
I was like, I just want to make
people go, you know, like that's cool.
363
00:16:15,185 --> 00:16:15,495
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
364
00:16:15,504 --> 00:16:20,215
Those early Jackson five songs are, I
mean, they're amazing and it's just hard.
365
00:16:20,515 --> 00:16:24,965
It's kind of hard because Michael
Jackson was a little kid, like a little
366
00:16:24,965 --> 00:16:27,215
kid when he was performing those songs.
367
00:16:27,215 --> 00:16:28,505
Like it's kind of, it kind of.
368
00:16:28,935 --> 00:16:33,815
blows my mind now when I hear them
and I go, man, this band is so tight.
369
00:16:33,815 --> 00:16:38,705
And this little kid is just belting
out these tunes with his entire soul.
370
00:16:38,934 --> 00:16:41,884
That is only like, you
know, not even 10 years old.
371
00:16:41,884 --> 00:16:42,204
Right.
372
00:16:42,205 --> 00:16:43,544
I mean, he was a little kid.
373
00:16:44,130 --> 00:16:46,920
Sug Daniels: He was little, little,
and I mean, he grew up to be just
374
00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:48,600
such an amazing songwriter, too.
375
00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,339
Like, I was watching, um, did
you see that Netflix documentary,
376
00:16:52,909 --> 00:16:53,909
The Greatest Night in Pop?
377
00:16:54,384 --> 00:16:55,664
Shaun Smith: Uh, yes I did.
378
00:16:55,734 --> 00:16:56,094
Yeah.
379
00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:58,849
Sug Daniels: It was, I didn't
realize it was just him and
380
00:16:58,949 --> 00:17:00,089
Lionel Richie that wrote that.
381
00:17:00,239 --> 00:17:02,039
That wrote the We Are the World song.
382
00:17:02,309 --> 00:17:06,675
Like, they wrote it, they kind of like,
you know, Pussy footed around forever.
383
00:17:06,675 --> 00:17:09,315
And then it was like, oh, we have
to have this song done, or Quincy
384
00:17:09,315 --> 00:17:10,514
Jones is gonna have our heads.
385
00:17:10,875 --> 00:17:12,135
And they're like, okay, here it is.
386
00:17:12,954 --> 00:17:17,254
Shaun Smith: Yeah, and watching his
process, his process in the studio,
387
00:17:17,254 --> 00:17:19,075
where he like, Oh, I messed that up.
388
00:17:19,075 --> 00:17:21,395
And then, you know, he goes back
in and he's just kind of like,
389
00:17:21,565 --> 00:17:23,164
but he really just focused.
390
00:17:23,164 --> 00:17:24,534
He sat, but he wore the whole.
391
00:17:24,714 --> 00:17:27,175
That was the other cool thing
is he, he wore the whole.
392
00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,260
Michael, you know, what we now later
would see him wearing all the time, but
393
00:17:31,260 --> 00:17:35,190
he would walk in the studio dressed to
the nines, like ready to rock and roll.
394
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:36,910
That was, that was really cool.
395
00:17:37,645 --> 00:17:38,035
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
396
00:17:38,125 --> 00:17:38,395
Yeah.
397
00:17:38,395 --> 00:17:41,754
Definitely a once in a lifetime
kind of musician and artist.
398
00:17:41,935 --> 00:17:46,665
Uh, but yeah, so definitely super
inspired by Michael Jackson and the
399
00:17:46,665 --> 00:17:49,035
Jackson Five, um, when I was a kid.
400
00:17:49,125 --> 00:17:51,135
And then, yeah, a lot of r and b and soul.
401
00:17:51,135 --> 00:17:52,425
My mom got really into like.
402
00:17:52,490 --> 00:17:56,590
Erykah Badu and Jill Scott and
stuff like that when I feel like
403
00:17:56,590 --> 00:17:59,120
I was probably in middle school.
404
00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,620
And so I really, I was
like, oh, this is amazing.
405
00:18:02,630 --> 00:18:06,490
While simultaneously having a bunch
of friends who are like into, you
406
00:18:06,490 --> 00:18:09,569
know, The Strokes and Kings of Leon.
407
00:18:09,569 --> 00:18:11,070
And so that's what my
friends are listening to.
408
00:18:11,090 --> 00:18:12,359
And I'm just like soaking it up.
409
00:18:12,389 --> 00:18:13,700
I'm just like eating it all up.
410
00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:14,050
It's just.
411
00:18:14,415 --> 00:18:15,665
I just love good music.
412
00:18:15,665 --> 00:18:18,065
I love anything that just
makes me feel some kind of way.
413
00:18:18,655 --> 00:18:23,445
Um, and you know, during being a
teen angsty kind of kid, I just,
414
00:18:23,594 --> 00:18:25,465
everything, I wanted to hear everything.
415
00:18:25,465 --> 00:18:26,745
Um,
416
00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:27,290
Shaun Smith: amazing.
417
00:18:27,290 --> 00:18:27,460
Yeah.
418
00:18:27,460 --> 00:18:28,360
It makes a lot of sense.
419
00:18:28,420 --> 00:18:31,629
Uh, because like hearing your
songs, I hear, I hear all of that.
420
00:18:31,630 --> 00:18:37,500
I hear some, some modern alt rock, but
you have a lot of soul and a classic,
421
00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,890
a real classic feel, uh, to your songs.
422
00:18:39,910 --> 00:18:43,650
And honestly, I mean, your, your
songs are, uh, for the most part.
423
00:18:43,740 --> 00:18:46,700
I feel like they make me
happy when I listen to them.
424
00:18:46,710 --> 00:18:49,300
Like they have like an uplifting quality.
425
00:18:49,460 --> 00:18:51,930
Is that what you go for when
you're, when you're writing a song?
426
00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:56,990
Are you trying to be, uh, positive and
uplifting or are you just writing a song?
427
00:18:58,085 --> 00:19:01,514
Sug Daniels: I feel like I'm just writing
a song and people, but people say that
428
00:19:01,514 --> 00:19:05,094
a lot and I think that that's beautiful
and it's wonderful because if I'm going
429
00:19:05,094 --> 00:19:08,895
to do anything in this life, uh, make
uplifting people and spreading joy and
430
00:19:08,895 --> 00:19:14,295
hope is, Like I'll, I will die on that
hill for, for sure, but I think like
431
00:19:14,295 --> 00:19:18,720
when I'm writing and all my, a lot of
my songs come on like 15 20 minutes.
432
00:19:18,730 --> 00:19:21,710
Like if I decide I want to sit down
and like write a song sometimes it
433
00:19:21,710 --> 00:19:25,700
comes but like sometimes it just hits
me and it feels like oh I have to
434
00:19:25,730 --> 00:19:29,789
like whatever this energy is I kind
of like have to let it flow through
435
00:19:29,789 --> 00:19:32,439
me or it's just not a good day.
436
00:19:32,710 --> 00:19:36,799
So I get these, I get these like melodies
or these lines or something and I sit
437
00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:41,080
down and it comes out and that's just
you know that just tends to be what
438
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,570
it feels like and what it sounds like.
439
00:19:42,740 --> 00:19:44,460
And I'm, but I'm happy for that you know.
440
00:19:44,490 --> 00:19:47,194
I'm happy that my music comes out
that way and it makes me feel good.
441
00:19:47,755 --> 00:19:48,455
Feel that way.
442
00:19:49,009 --> 00:19:50,249
Shaun Smith: Now, I know
this is a hard question.
443
00:19:50,249 --> 00:19:51,060
You just mentioned it.
444
00:19:51,060 --> 00:19:52,679
So how does it, how does it start?
445
00:19:52,690 --> 00:19:53,970
Does it start with a melody?
446
00:19:53,970 --> 00:19:55,180
Do you have the ukulele?
447
00:19:55,180 --> 00:19:56,730
Do you sit down with the intent?
448
00:19:56,970 --> 00:19:59,650
Is it just kind of built up where
you're, you know, you're riding
449
00:19:59,650 --> 00:20:03,490
the, the, uh, the And you're like,
Oh man, I can't wait to get home.
450
00:20:03,490 --> 00:20:04,500
So I can, I can.
451
00:20:04,710 --> 00:20:06,500
I can play this on the ukulele.
452
00:20:06,750 --> 00:20:08,360
Tell me a little bit about your process.
453
00:20:08,905 --> 00:20:09,365
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
454
00:20:09,365 --> 00:20:10,595
So basically, yes.
455
00:20:10,645 --> 00:20:12,155
I mean all of the above.
456
00:20:12,225 --> 00:20:16,885
It can sometimes I'm like, uh,
sometimes I'll be practicing, right?
457
00:20:16,915 --> 00:20:19,105
I'm like rehearsing for
something and I mess up.
458
00:20:19,105 --> 00:20:19,815
That happens a lot.
459
00:20:19,815 --> 00:20:20,405
I'll mess up.
460
00:20:20,405 --> 00:20:25,274
I'll do one note or chord and then I go
to one that I'm supposed to or try to
461
00:20:25,274 --> 00:20:28,075
go to one that I'm supposed to and it's
different and I'm like, oh, that's nice.
462
00:20:29,815 --> 00:20:31,775
That sounds like that could be something.
463
00:20:32,145 --> 00:20:36,854
And then whatever that melody makes me
feel, is that, then it, it's like that
464
00:20:36,855 --> 00:20:38,684
emotion kind of like channels through me.
465
00:20:38,804 --> 00:20:39,875
And then there's a song.
466
00:20:40,375 --> 00:20:44,264
Um, but I can also like be on, on
the bus and hear like somebody,
467
00:20:44,315 --> 00:20:46,635
like a conversation and they say
a line and I'm like, Oh, that's,
468
00:20:46,635 --> 00:20:48,115
that's, that should be a song.
469
00:20:48,135 --> 00:20:50,125
Somebody should write a song
about something like that.
470
00:20:50,540 --> 00:20:54,770
Um, but yeah, definitely, usually the
melody comes first and whatever that
471
00:20:54,780 --> 00:20:58,970
melody makes me feel, the kind of emotion
that makes me feel, then that's usually
472
00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,380
what's gonna, what's gonna come out.
473
00:21:00,770 --> 00:21:02,940
And I feel like there's some
songwriters that are so good.
474
00:21:02,940 --> 00:21:06,409
I think a lot of my music is very
conversational too, like a lot of my music
475
00:21:06,409 --> 00:21:11,219
is just probably something I would just
say to somebody, which just works for me
476
00:21:11,269 --> 00:21:13,169
because I love Chang, if you can't tell.
477
00:21:13,170 --> 00:21:14,827
That's
478
00:21:14,885 --> 00:21:16,935
Shaun Smith: Well, you're good at
music and you're good at chatting too.
479
00:21:17,255 --> 00:21:19,225
So, uh, I think you might
have a career in this.
480
00:21:19,225 --> 00:21:19,645
I don't know.
481
00:21:19,705 --> 00:21:22,115
Sug Daniels: Hey, I'm
trying man, I'm trying.
482
00:21:22,815 --> 00:21:25,975
Shaun Smith: Now, are you, are
you humming out the melody or do
483
00:21:25,975 --> 00:21:29,814
you pick up the ukulele and, and
just start, uh, testing it out?
484
00:21:30,775 --> 00:21:32,765
Sug Daniels: Okay, so this is
actually a great question, right?
485
00:21:32,825 --> 00:21:36,765
So this is another reason why I'm
starting to learn the math and the
486
00:21:36,765 --> 00:21:38,335
science and the language of music.
487
00:21:38,525 --> 00:21:42,585
Because sometimes I have a melody
in my head, but because I don't,
488
00:21:42,614 --> 00:21:47,124
you know, I'm not super accustomed
to knowing what notes sound like on
489
00:21:47,134 --> 00:21:48,904
the ukulele, I sometimes I can't.
490
00:21:49,409 --> 00:21:49,870
Do that.
491
00:21:49,969 --> 00:21:51,610
I can't do the thing that
I'm hearing in my head.
492
00:21:51,870 --> 00:21:53,179
So I'll have to adjust it.
493
00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,999
Um, Unless I'm playing or
I have like a band, right?
494
00:21:56,999 --> 00:22:00,229
Like if I go to my bass player and I'm
like do this for me or a piano player
495
00:22:00,229 --> 00:22:04,509
might do this for me Um, but if I'm doing
it by myself, I can't always you know It's
496
00:22:04,509 --> 00:22:08,360
like almost like a like a handicap that I
have because I don't know how to do it So
497
00:22:08,690 --> 00:22:12,569
for for anyone who's like back and forth
about if they should learn music that is
498
00:22:12,580 --> 00:22:16,930
definitely a benefit of it Um, is being
able to be like, okay, I've been doing
499
00:22:16,930 --> 00:22:22,879
this melody line and I can't find it, but
if I know the chords, maybe I can, I can,
500
00:22:23,010 --> 00:22:25,419
uh, the finger shapes, I can find it.
501
00:22:25,959 --> 00:22:29,520
Um, so that's been, that's been really
cool, but in the past I have hummed
502
00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:31,539
it and then just like sung it out too.
503
00:22:32,344 --> 00:22:33,064
Shaun Smith: That's cool.
504
00:22:33,114 --> 00:22:33,384
Yeah.
505
00:22:33,384 --> 00:22:33,584
Yeah.
506
00:22:33,585 --> 00:22:37,675
I've never, I mean, I took guitar
lessons for a second in college for a
507
00:22:37,675 --> 00:22:41,395
semester and yeah, that ability where
people who are classically trained and
508
00:22:41,395 --> 00:22:43,605
they can just pick out a note, right.
509
00:22:43,605 --> 00:22:44,845
Just like pull it out of the air.
510
00:22:44,900 --> 00:22:49,550
To me, it just seems like magic, but
I guess it is, uh, you know, a lot of
511
00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,040
hard work and, and studying, right?
512
00:22:52,290 --> 00:22:53,210
Sug Daniels: yeah, yeah.
513
00:22:53,210 --> 00:22:56,840
I've been learning scales and
it's a lot of just like finger,
514
00:22:56,940 --> 00:22:57,900
like just like remembering.
515
00:22:57,900 --> 00:22:59,199
It's a lot of muscle memory.
516
00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,389
Um, but I like, I love playing
music and I love my instrument so
517
00:23:02,389 --> 00:23:04,040
it's not really like a big thing.
518
00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:05,550
It's like as soon as I sit down I'm fine.
519
00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:07,349
It's just making sure
I carve out the time.
520
00:23:07,739 --> 00:23:10,810
Uh to sit down because I the
people that I play with are just
521
00:23:10,810 --> 00:23:14,500
so amazing Um, I kind of like put
this group of players together.
522
00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:17,389
I call them the sweet boys So whenever
i'm playing like full band It's just
523
00:23:17,419 --> 00:23:21,040
like a bunch of like cool guys that i've
been kicking it with for the last couple
524
00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,679
years And they're all for the most part.
525
00:23:23,859 --> 00:23:26,679
Um, you know either went to school for it.
526
00:23:27,029 --> 00:23:30,800
Um, or like took lessons And they're
so, it's just so inspiring to
527
00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,290
watch them jail, to just be like,
all right, go ahead and take one.
528
00:23:33,290 --> 00:23:36,810
And somebody like goes off from this
beautiful solo, you know, they just
529
00:23:36,810 --> 00:23:38,240
know exactly what they want to do.
530
00:23:38,429 --> 00:23:39,869
It's so inspiring.
531
00:23:39,899 --> 00:23:42,550
So I'm like, all right, well, I
want to play, I want to do that too.
532
00:23:42,620 --> 00:23:46,729
Like, I love to sing, but also I want
to be busting out some ukulele solos.
533
00:23:46,789 --> 00:23:47,990
Like that would be so impressive.
534
00:23:47,990 --> 00:23:48,379
I think
535
00:23:48,810 --> 00:23:49,780
Shaun Smith: Oh, yeah, yeah.
536
00:23:49,780 --> 00:23:53,720
I mean, have you ever heard of, uh, I'm
sure, maybe you have Jake Shimabukuro?
537
00:23:53,739 --> 00:23:55,589
I'm sure I butchered his last name.
538
00:23:55,980 --> 00:23:56,550
Uh,
539
00:23:56,639 --> 00:23:59,120
Sug Daniels: I know you're talking
about, yes, he's incredible.
540
00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:01,470
He's like, yeah, some next level, very.
541
00:24:03,115 --> 00:24:04,295
Nobody can touch him.
542
00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:05,060
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
543
00:24:05,075 --> 00:24:06,715
Sug Daniels: Like, nobody
can touch that guy.
544
00:24:07,485 --> 00:24:08,745
But, it would be fun.
545
00:24:08,785 --> 00:24:12,190
Because, I don't know, it's just I feel
like this instrument is so unexplored.
546
00:24:12,190 --> 00:24:13,120
Like there's not a lot.
547
00:24:13,130 --> 00:24:16,200
There is very, it has a lot of
history and it's really beautiful.
548
00:24:16,570 --> 00:24:20,379
Um, but also I think it has just so
much potential to inspire another
549
00:24:20,379 --> 00:24:23,759
generation of music makers who don't
want to play guitar because everybody
550
00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:26,930
in their grandpapa's guitar, you know,
they don't want to play piano because
551
00:24:26,980 --> 00:24:30,140
pianos are big and heavy and you can't,
it's harder to take them on tour.
552
00:24:31,230 --> 00:24:32,330
Shaun Smith: Yeah, totally.
553
00:24:32,490 --> 00:24:32,980
Totally.
554
00:24:33,270 --> 00:24:36,630
You mentioned, you just mentioned,
um, you know, jamming with a band,
555
00:24:36,630 --> 00:24:39,740
and I noticed that, uh, some of
your releases that you've, uh,
556
00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:41,190
they're collaborative releases.
557
00:24:41,619 --> 00:24:43,040
Tell me a little bit about this.
558
00:24:43,850 --> 00:24:44,430
Sug Daniels: Oh yeah.
559
00:24:44,430 --> 00:24:45,690
I love collaborating.
560
00:24:45,690 --> 00:24:47,230
I mean, that's, that's where I started.
561
00:24:47,230 --> 00:24:48,810
It was never really like by myself.
562
00:24:48,810 --> 00:24:51,955
It was, As soon as I started making
music, I took it to my cousins
563
00:24:51,955 --> 00:24:53,655
and I was like, let's make a band.
564
00:24:54,055 --> 00:24:57,145
Um, and it's fun because then you get
to also, it's like you're expressing
565
00:24:57,145 --> 00:25:00,114
yourself and then you're watching and
understanding how other people are
566
00:25:00,115 --> 00:25:03,134
expressing themselves and you're hanging
on these different points of view.
567
00:25:03,964 --> 00:25:06,664
Um, so yeah, I, I love,
love, love to collaborate.
568
00:25:06,664 --> 00:25:10,765
I have a song coming out later
this month with, um, my friend
569
00:25:10,775 --> 00:25:12,525
and drummer, Alex Clayton.
570
00:25:12,575 --> 00:25:17,120
He's His moniker, his music moniker
is West End Ritos, and we have a
571
00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:19,600
song coming out, and he usually just
drums for me, you know, but he's so
572
00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,130
fun to create music with, he's great
at making arrangements, and we made
573
00:25:23,130 --> 00:25:27,959
this song, I think, like, probably
two months into him drumming for me.
574
00:25:28,659 --> 00:25:31,480
And so it's been like a long time coming
because he's been drumming for me for
575
00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,900
over a year now and it's been a long
time coming and it's just, it's fun.
576
00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,670
It doesn't sound anything like the music
that we make when we play my music.
577
00:25:38,679 --> 00:25:40,699
It sounds very like, kind of spacey.
578
00:25:40,710 --> 00:25:42,110
It's called Starry Sky.
579
00:25:42,780 --> 00:25:47,429
It'll be out on August 22nd and yeah,
just for something completely different.
580
00:25:47,470 --> 00:25:50,490
I love to dabble in and have a reason to.
581
00:25:51,065 --> 00:25:54,775
Pull all the, all the tricks that
I can musically out of the bag.
582
00:25:54,775 --> 00:25:57,895
So collaboration is a really fun
way for me to let that loose.
583
00:25:57,925 --> 00:25:58,225
Right.
584
00:25:58,575 --> 00:25:59,864
Cause you're like, all right, all right.
585
00:25:59,865 --> 00:26:02,595
I'm should Daniels and I
make America, you know, folk,
586
00:26:02,595 --> 00:26:04,804
Americana jam band kind of music.
587
00:26:05,155 --> 00:26:06,775
Uh, but I want to do everything else.
588
00:26:06,845 --> 00:26:10,854
So when I collaborate with people,
it like allows me that freedom.
589
00:26:12,250 --> 00:26:12,830
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
590
00:26:13,210 --> 00:26:14,039
Yeah, absolutely.
591
00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:18,210
Yeah, I like the, uh, I like the song
that you did with, was it Shane Pulko?
592
00:26:18,630 --> 00:26:19,230
Is that how you pronounce
593
00:26:19,234 --> 00:26:19,614
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
594
00:26:19,614 --> 00:26:19,664
I think.
595
00:26:21,130 --> 00:26:21,390
So
596
00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:22,719
Shaun Smith: Yeah, Sip the Years.
597
00:26:22,719 --> 00:26:23,730
That's a really great one.
598
00:26:23,730 --> 00:26:25,750
How did that come, how
did that come together?
599
00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:31,540
Sug Daniels: me and Shane had done
a song with our friend Sam, Samuel
600
00:26:31,540 --> 00:26:33,660
Nobles, who's a piano player, producer.
601
00:26:33,980 --> 00:26:36,289
Uh, it also plays in the Sweet
Void with me a lot of times.
602
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:41,180
Um, Sam had produced, uh, uh,
some earlier music of mine.
603
00:26:41,660 --> 00:26:45,139
And then we like, uh, Mick the Max
is my first EP and from Delaware.
604
00:26:45,139 --> 00:26:45,850
So we're all from Delaware.
605
00:26:45,850 --> 00:26:48,570
So we're just homies, you know,
all living in Philadelphia now.
606
00:26:49,340 --> 00:26:53,390
And we had done a song before,
um, called Take Your Time.
607
00:26:53,460 --> 00:26:54,370
And it did really good.
608
00:26:54,370 --> 00:26:55,650
We shot a music video for it.
609
00:26:55,660 --> 00:26:57,190
We loved working together.
610
00:26:57,780 --> 00:27:01,819
And he was putting an album together
and asked me if I wanted to He sent me a
611
00:27:01,820 --> 00:27:05,760
couple songs, and this one was beautiful.
612
00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,960
I just love I love What he was
saying and I love the lyrics.
613
00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,100
Um, Sam sounded amazing in it.
614
00:27:11,129 --> 00:27:15,379
And making music with your friends is kind
of like taking a snapshot in time, right?
615
00:27:15,379 --> 00:27:17,439
Like, we'll be old ladies and old men.
616
00:27:17,439 --> 00:27:19,729
We'll be sitting in our rocking chairs
and we have this music, all this
617
00:27:19,780 --> 00:27:21,310
beautiful music that we created together.
618
00:27:21,879 --> 00:27:24,619
Um, and we'll hear ourselves and be
like, Oh my God, we sounded so young.
619
00:27:25,340 --> 00:27:28,330
You know, and maybe we'll look back and be
like, Oh, it's embarrassing, but I'm just
620
00:27:28,340 --> 00:27:29,749
so glad that I get a chance to do this.
621
00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:34,179
To make music with them and especially
an artist like Shane Palco who's just
622
00:27:34,179 --> 00:27:39,489
like so about community and like living
in the moment and like it's never felt
623
00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:45,410
like he has been chasing this kind of
like music clout like he makes music
624
00:27:45,420 --> 00:27:48,380
and he puts it out and if people like it
they like it and if they don't they don't
625
00:27:48,710 --> 00:27:52,310
but people tend to like it they tend to
love it because it just comes from such
626
00:27:52,540 --> 00:27:57,840
a beautiful authentic place um from from
within with him and it's beautiful to be
627
00:27:57,890 --> 00:27:59,380
to be able to be a part of that you know.
628
00:27:59,915 --> 00:28:00,334
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
629
00:28:00,364 --> 00:28:03,004
I mean, I, it was great to
hear your track on his album.
630
00:28:03,034 --> 00:28:06,485
Um, it's called the future already
happened is the name of the album.
631
00:28:06,485 --> 00:28:08,735
And it was just, it was
nice to hear you on there.
632
00:28:08,735 --> 00:28:13,515
And then I also, uh, heard you on a
reggae song called daddy lessons that
633
00:28:13,515 --> 00:28:16,175
came out later, later, earlier this year.
634
00:28:16,524 --> 00:28:18,745
That was, that's an awesome song.
635
00:28:18,745 --> 00:28:20,175
So how did that come together?
636
00:28:20,175 --> 00:28:21,325
And are you a reggae fan?
637
00:28:21,395 --> 00:28:21,980
Ha
638
00:28:22,250 --> 00:28:23,940
Sug Daniels: Okay, first
of all, yeah, who isn't
639
00:28:24,045 --> 00:28:24,987
Shaun Smith: ha ha ha
640
00:28:25,190 --> 00:28:28,610
Sug Daniels: you're missing out especially
like no Especially like old school reggae
641
00:28:28,630 --> 00:28:32,539
is like this is beautiful soul music
Like one of my favorite musicians of all
642
00:28:32,539 --> 00:28:33,940
time is actually cheats in the middle.
643
00:28:33,965 --> 00:28:34,855
Shaun Smith: Yes!
644
00:28:35,195 --> 00:28:35,475
Oh
645
00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,710
Sug Daniels: middle like older
stuff Oh, it's just I can put
646
00:28:38,710 --> 00:28:40,120
it I can listen to it on repeat.
647
00:28:40,189 --> 00:28:43,805
He is like singing from
From the depth of his soul.
648
00:28:43,815 --> 00:28:45,855
So yes, definitely a reggae fan.
649
00:28:46,335 --> 00:28:47,785
Um, this band had reached out.
650
00:28:47,785 --> 00:28:48,555
They're from Canada.
651
00:28:48,575 --> 00:28:52,915
They reached out to me and we're
just like, we're putting together.
652
00:28:52,935 --> 00:28:54,345
That's actually a Beyonce card.
653
00:28:54,365 --> 00:28:58,315
That's actually a reggae rendition
of a earlier Beyonce song.
654
00:28:58,325 --> 00:28:59,365
That is a country song.
655
00:28:59,394 --> 00:29:02,465
So even before she put out
the country album, she had
656
00:29:02,465 --> 00:29:03,785
a country song called daddy.
657
00:29:04,415 --> 00:29:05,325
Shaun Smith: Oh cool!
658
00:29:05,540 --> 00:29:06,960
Sug Daniels: everybody go
listen to it, check it out.
659
00:29:06,980 --> 00:29:11,610
It came out way before, way before, um,
Cowboy Carter did and all that stuff.
660
00:29:12,189 --> 00:29:16,260
But, I cut that record actually at
home, like I did all my own vocals.
661
00:29:16,260 --> 00:29:19,040
I recorded it myself at my
little like home studio.
662
00:29:19,610 --> 00:29:22,710
And sent it back and then
they kind of like built it.
663
00:29:22,719 --> 00:29:25,740
So they had like the bass,
a little bit of guitar.
664
00:29:26,380 --> 00:29:28,470
And that was kind of like, and
then they had like a reference
665
00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,970
track from, I think from one of the
ladies who sings with that band.
666
00:29:32,570 --> 00:29:35,870
And so then I like recut the
vocals and then they loved it.
667
00:29:35,910 --> 00:29:38,080
They put some really cool effects on it.
668
00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:39,929
And it was fun, man.
669
00:29:39,929 --> 00:29:40,820
I don't know what I'm doing.
670
00:29:40,820 --> 00:29:41,910
I'm just trying to have fun.
671
00:29:41,910 --> 00:29:42,180
Like
672
00:29:43,175 --> 00:29:44,745
Shaun Smith: Oh it's a
great, it's a fun song!
673
00:29:44,784 --> 00:29:45,694
It's a really fun
674
00:29:45,890 --> 00:29:48,710
Sug Daniels: like it
675
00:29:48,804 --> 00:29:49,645
Shaun Smith: Yeah, I can tell you're
676
00:29:49,710 --> 00:29:50,280
Sug Daniels: cut right there.
677
00:29:50,754 --> 00:29:51,794
Shaun Smith: Ha ha ha!
678
00:29:52,975 --> 00:29:54,425
And that's cool, you're a Toots fan!
679
00:29:54,434 --> 00:29:55,065
I love Toots!
680
00:29:56,050 --> 00:29:57,860
Sug Daniels: Oh my god,
man, he's number one.
681
00:29:57,890 --> 00:30:02,100
I, one time I opened up for Sarah Shook
and the Disarmers, and the guys who
682
00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:05,250
were running sound, I don't know, I
think they maybe had him on a playlist,
683
00:30:05,269 --> 00:30:08,925
like, I don't know, they go, I love
teaching the Meitongs, and They were
684
00:30:08,925 --> 00:30:12,445
like, yeah, we got to, we were running
sound for him for like two years
685
00:30:12,465 --> 00:30:15,745
because he had just passed because he
recently passed just a few years back.
686
00:30:15,755 --> 00:30:17,465
It hasn't been a long time.
687
00:30:17,465 --> 00:30:17,864
So R.
688
00:30:17,864 --> 00:30:18,054
P.
689
00:30:18,055 --> 00:30:22,895
to them, um, but yeah, he's phenomenal.
690
00:30:23,665 --> 00:30:24,575
Shaun Smith: and he really kept going.
691
00:30:24,575 --> 00:30:27,725
Yeah, he came out with an album,
like, right before he died.
692
00:30:28,015 --> 00:30:29,295
And that was a great album.
693
00:30:29,325 --> 00:30:33,445
That was a, you know, I mean, His
earlier stuff is, I mean, These are
694
00:30:33,445 --> 00:30:37,395
classic songs, um, Like, uh, 5446.
695
00:30:37,535 --> 00:30:39,165
Right, I think that's
one of his originals.
696
00:30:39,195 --> 00:30:40,245
I love that song.
697
00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:42,070
Sug Daniels: Yes.
698
00:30:42,140 --> 00:30:43,150
Oh my gosh.
699
00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:43,520
Yeah.
700
00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:45,160
It's just, it's beautiful soul music.
701
00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:49,760
Like you can put that music right
next to, uh, uh, James Brown and it's
702
00:30:49,770 --> 00:30:54,870
the same exact emotions, the same,
uh, subject matters, the same topics.
703
00:30:54,870 --> 00:30:56,929
It's like, it's, he's talking
to, you know, the government's
704
00:30:56,929 --> 00:30:59,610
coming, they're taking our money,
the taxes are getting high.
705
00:30:59,749 --> 00:31:00,890
They've got this one song about.
706
00:31:01,495 --> 00:31:02,115
Time Tough.
707
00:31:02,415 --> 00:31:03,095
I love that song.
708
00:31:03,095 --> 00:31:04,375
It's basically about inflation.
709
00:31:04,895 --> 00:31:05,175
Shaun Smith: Oh,
710
00:31:05,475 --> 00:31:08,385
Sug Daniels: You know, and it was like
in the, what, the 60s or 70s he wrote
711
00:31:08,395 --> 00:31:09,915
that song and we're still feeling that.
712
00:31:09,944 --> 00:31:13,865
That's still relevant, uh, that,
that feeling today, you know.
713
00:31:14,395 --> 00:31:15,335
Shaun Smith: That's so cool.
714
00:31:15,895 --> 00:31:18,205
Yeah, and do you, so do
you like playing covers?
715
00:31:20,385 --> 00:31:22,145
Sug Daniels: I feel
like, yeah, they're fun.
716
00:31:22,145 --> 00:31:25,835
I, I write music because I want to perform
that music because I want to express
717
00:31:25,835 --> 00:31:29,735
myself, but I don't like, you know, if a
cover's good, I'm not going to poo poo it.
718
00:31:30,345 --> 00:31:31,885
I do a Strokes cover.
719
00:31:32,495 --> 00:31:36,135
Of, uh, someday that, that fans love.
720
00:31:36,135 --> 00:31:39,395
If I do it solo, I pick it and I
make it really slow, beautiful.
721
00:31:39,805 --> 00:31:43,065
And if I play it with a band,
um, we play it kind of country.
722
00:31:43,575 --> 00:31:46,245
And sometimes I don't even,
I won't even introduce it.
723
00:31:46,245 --> 00:31:46,944
I'll just play it.
724
00:31:46,944 --> 00:31:49,565
And it's fun to see who comes up
after and they're like, are you
725
00:31:49,565 --> 00:31:50,975
playing someday by the strokes?
726
00:31:51,325 --> 00:31:53,445
Cause it just doesn't, cause
you know, cause they already
727
00:31:53,445 --> 00:31:54,805
did it the way that they did it.
728
00:31:54,925 --> 00:31:57,545
So if you're going to do a cover,
I think it's always, unless you can
729
00:31:57,545 --> 00:31:59,295
kind of make it super identical.
730
00:31:59,415 --> 00:32:01,945
I just think it's fun to put
your own spin on it, you know?
731
00:32:02,430 --> 00:32:05,120
Shaun Smith: Yeah, well I have to
ask because of that, uh, Shania
732
00:32:05,130 --> 00:32:06,860
Twain cover, you're still the one.
733
00:32:07,570 --> 00:32:11,210
Sug Daniels: Yeah, you know, we try to,
we try to soul that one up, you know,
734
00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:12,680
we try to put some soul in that one.
735
00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:14,079
I
736
00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:14,640
Shaun Smith: a good job.
737
00:32:14,650 --> 00:32:15,740
Why, why Shania?
738
00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:17,920
I mean, that song was everywhere.
739
00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:21,040
Uh, we, I think we're probably kind
of came up around the same time.
740
00:32:21,270 --> 00:32:25,190
So that song was everywhere in like the
90s or 2000s or whatever it came up.
741
00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:27,160
But why, why that song?
742
00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:33,270
Sug Daniels: feel like my buddy Sam
Nobles was like, we should cover it.
743
00:32:33,370 --> 00:32:34,029
And I was like, all right.
744
00:32:34,030 --> 00:32:36,890
It was like, that was enough of a reason.
745
00:32:36,899 --> 00:32:38,590
It was a good, it's a good song.
746
00:32:38,969 --> 00:32:42,800
Um, it's fun, it's fun to throw,
it is fun to throw a cover.
747
00:32:43,235 --> 00:32:47,975
into a set, into a live set, you know,
because I've never really, you know, I've
748
00:32:47,975 --> 00:32:49,385
always been able to get the audience.
749
00:32:49,435 --> 00:32:50,365
They like the music.
750
00:32:50,385 --> 00:32:51,554
I'm engaged with them.
751
00:32:51,555 --> 00:32:54,444
They're having a good time, but you
throw a cover in there, especially
752
00:32:54,444 --> 00:32:57,715
something as iconic as Shania
Twain's, You're Still the One.
753
00:32:57,734 --> 00:32:58,994
It's gonna hit, man.
754
00:32:58,994 --> 00:33:02,145
It's gonna hit and like, I'm just,
I'm here to service the people.
755
00:33:02,145 --> 00:33:05,325
I'm here to make sure everybody's
like having a good time.
756
00:33:05,335 --> 00:33:09,245
So really, honestly, there's not
some kind of super deep connection.
757
00:33:09,255 --> 00:33:13,095
I did grow up in southern Delaware, so
of course I know who Shania Twain was.
758
00:33:13,105 --> 00:33:16,055
Like, kind of had a crush on her
for a long time as a teenager.
759
00:33:16,585 --> 00:33:20,204
Um, but yeah, but it's right,
but it's just a good song.
760
00:33:20,204 --> 00:33:21,875
She's a great songwriter, you know.
761
00:33:21,875 --> 00:33:22,645
Shout out to Canada.
762
00:33:23,940 --> 00:33:25,400
Shaun Smith: Canada has
some great songwriters.
763
00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:29,190
And then a bunch of those, uh, Canadians
are coming down to the folk festival too.
764
00:33:29,190 --> 00:33:31,880
So, uh, maybe you'll pick up some
more inspiration while you're there.
765
00:33:32,524 --> 00:33:33,914
Sug Daniels: Listen, I'm excited.
766
00:33:33,945 --> 00:33:34,464
I'm excited.
767
00:33:35,165 --> 00:33:36,635
The lineup looks great this year.
768
00:33:36,894 --> 00:33:39,415
My buddy Don Clemons
is coming back around.
769
00:33:39,485 --> 00:33:42,160
Um, And he was a part of the
Carolina Chocolate Drops.
770
00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:45,410
I got a chance to open up from
him, or open up for him at World
771
00:33:45,410 --> 00:33:47,130
Cafe Live earlier in the year.
772
00:33:47,170 --> 00:33:50,960
And, um, just like in this place,
especially with folk music, because
773
00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:55,390
it just creates this atmosphere for a
community of like really sitting and
774
00:33:55,390 --> 00:33:59,165
letting like people who've been doing
this, like, Mentor me, like mentor me.
775
00:33:59,185 --> 00:34:02,175
Like I just want to sit and like
talk to them and ask them questions
776
00:34:02,175 --> 00:34:03,315
and like hear their stories.
777
00:34:03,765 --> 00:34:07,425
Uh, but opening up for him at World
Cafe Lala was really sweet and special.
778
00:34:07,425 --> 00:34:11,074
We just like sat at the bar and he was
telling me about his tour and his new
779
00:34:11,074 --> 00:34:15,765
music and I think he just won a Grammy
and I'm just like, wow, this is amazing.
780
00:34:15,765 --> 00:34:18,715
I can just sit here and hang out
with this guy and, you know, and
781
00:34:18,715 --> 00:34:21,115
he's just like looking at me and
treating me like an equal, you know.
782
00:34:21,660 --> 00:34:23,660
Shaun Smith: I love the
Carolina chocolate chops.
783
00:34:23,660 --> 00:34:24,420
I saw them.
784
00:34:25,020 --> 00:34:27,710
I can't remember if it was the
Dave Matthews caravan in Atlantic
785
00:34:27,710 --> 00:34:29,200
city, or if it was Firefly.
786
00:34:29,220 --> 00:34:31,020
In, uh, in Dover, Delaware, uh,
787
00:34:31,140 --> 00:34:32,110
Sug Daniels: Oh wow.
788
00:34:32,180 --> 00:34:34,100
Shaun Smith: was smoking
a lot more weed back then.
789
00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:37,730
So the time that those, those two
summers kind of blur together, it was
790
00:34:37,730 --> 00:34:41,740
somewhere around that time and, uh,
yeah, I mean, they were amazing when they
791
00:34:41,740 --> 00:34:43,280
were, when they were touring and stuff.
792
00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:44,510
So that's, that's really cool.
793
00:34:44,620 --> 00:34:46,239
Yeah,
794
00:34:46,290 --> 00:34:49,840
Sug Daniels: cool to see a
resurgence also in like Bluegrass,
795
00:34:49,869 --> 00:34:51,440
um, in with Black people.
796
00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:55,789
Like from just even on a local
level we have, um, Shamir just
797
00:34:56,149 --> 00:34:57,559
finished up their last record.
798
00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:00,329
They were hanging out with me and
they were like talking to me about how
799
00:35:00,329 --> 00:35:03,330
they're super excited about this new
project they have, Big Benny Bailey.
800
00:35:03,830 --> 00:35:07,280
Um, which is, you know, they're,
this, you know, you know, queer
801
00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:08,820
black artists playing guitar.
802
00:35:08,820 --> 00:35:12,080
They got a, uh, a mandolin player
and they're running around, like,
803
00:35:12,090 --> 00:35:13,330
playing really cool bluegrass.
804
00:35:14,180 --> 00:35:18,190
Uh, and then another one I really, really
have been into is, uh, New Danger Field.
805
00:35:18,230 --> 00:35:21,590
And that has, like, Jake Blount,
who's, I think, Canadian.
806
00:35:22,430 --> 00:35:26,765
And, uh, I might butcher this name,
and I'm so sorry if I do, but like, um,
807
00:35:26,815 --> 00:35:31,215
Kia Cater, who's a banjo player, and
they're also Canadian, and they're just
808
00:35:31,215 --> 00:35:34,075
like, they got this beautiful music,
you know, there's like a bass player,
809
00:35:34,075 --> 00:35:37,934
I can't remember his name, the guitar
player, please forgive me, but yeah,
810
00:35:37,934 --> 00:35:42,720
it's wonderful to hear, yeah, Black
people make this music, because We have
811
00:35:42,730 --> 00:35:47,450
these deep deep roots in American music
and just American history throughout
812
00:35:47,490 --> 00:35:53,030
everything anything that you touch or
see Uh, and yeah It's it's good to see
813
00:35:53,030 --> 00:35:57,550
people claiming reclaiming that being
like we are also a part of the story Um
814
00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:00,919
and folk music is beautiful because I
feel like right now, especially I mean,
815
00:36:00,919 --> 00:36:05,550
I'm only Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk
Festival, the first year that I played,
816
00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:09,650
which was two years ago, um, that was my
first time really kind of getting into the
817
00:36:09,650 --> 00:36:11,260
folk scene and I was like, oh this is it.
818
00:36:11,260 --> 00:36:16,280
This is heaven on earth, like everybody's
hanging out, chilling, everybody's
819
00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:17,899
welcome, there's all kind of people.
820
00:36:18,335 --> 00:36:20,255
Uh, so yeah, I think it's time.
821
00:36:20,255 --> 00:36:24,154
I'm excited to see what happens Yes
822
00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:26,840
Shaun Smith: agree that that it's
cool to see black people like kind of
823
00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:32,630
taking this back because I just heard
recently on a podcast that, um, bluegrass
824
00:36:32,690 --> 00:36:38,810
kind of like jazz are the only two
original American, um, music, right?
825
00:36:38,820 --> 00:36:40,390
It's like that, that's American music.
826
00:36:40,390 --> 00:36:43,890
Like that's the only thing that we can
really claim as our own as American.
827
00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:47,500
And apparently the banjo was
a, I believe it was an African
828
00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:48,990
instrument if I'm not mistaken.
829
00:36:48,990 --> 00:36:49,940
That's what I heard.
830
00:36:50,495 --> 00:36:51,745
Sug Daniels: I can't
remember the name yet.
831
00:36:51,745 --> 00:36:54,665
You're 100 percent correct I can't
remember the name of the instrument,
832
00:36:54,675 --> 00:37:00,065
but it the slaves were put trying to
create this instrument from africa
833
00:37:00,085 --> 00:37:04,090
That was like a it's like a gourd
and like some in some like Uh, like
834
00:37:04,090 --> 00:37:05,850
cow guts or something like that.
835
00:37:06,240 --> 00:37:09,650
So these, at first I think it was
like fishing wire, and it's just,
836
00:37:09,890 --> 00:37:14,050
yeah, so it was them trying to create
something from back home, uh, which
837
00:37:14,050 --> 00:37:16,119
is such a beautiful story, right?
838
00:37:16,119 --> 00:37:18,979
When you really think about it, because
it's like, okay, these guys are slaves,
839
00:37:18,989 --> 00:37:23,960
which is literally the worst thing that
you could ever be, um, and they're still
840
00:37:24,210 --> 00:37:27,800
creating places and spaces for joy.
841
00:37:28,620 --> 00:37:31,770
Because you create music when you
feel joy, when you want to create joy,
842
00:37:31,770 --> 00:37:33,140
when you want to express yourself.
843
00:37:33,670 --> 00:37:37,370
Uh, so I think that's really an important
part of that instrument and a part of
844
00:37:37,370 --> 00:37:41,779
that genre, that that story is really
important because it's not just about
845
00:37:42,289 --> 00:37:46,080
slaves, it's about all of us, it's about
how no matter how horrible and crazy
846
00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:51,519
things can get, as humans we have to make
sure that we are celebrating that we are
847
00:37:51,519 --> 00:37:56,639
alive and that we have today and tomorrow
to continue fighting for ourselves, for
848
00:37:56,639 --> 00:37:58,149
our lives, for our joy, for our children.
849
00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:00,860
Shaun Smith: Yeah, absolutely.
850
00:38:00,940 --> 00:38:03,460
Yeah, yeah, that's so powerful.
851
00:38:03,540 --> 00:38:04,630
That's very powerful.
852
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,880
Yeah, and, you know, I have to
ask, I forgot to ask you before
853
00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:10,760
about your most recent release,
uh, Leave a Light On for you.
854
00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:13,420
You know, trying to find that,
that light in the darkness.
855
00:38:13,460 --> 00:38:15,430
Uh, where did that song come from?
856
00:38:16,450 --> 00:38:17,630
Sug Daniels: Oh my God,
I love playing that song.
857
00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:19,540
That's like my, that's
like my barn burner song.
858
00:38:19,540 --> 00:38:23,080
I always play that one last
because it's fun and like cheeky.
859
00:38:23,540 --> 00:38:26,950
So this song is, is I wrote that song
like right before I moved to Philadelphia.
860
00:38:26,969 --> 00:38:29,150
I was dating this girl in Philly.
861
00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:32,809
You know, I told you, you know, earlier
I had went through this big breakup.
862
00:38:32,810 --> 00:38:36,120
I was with my partner, um, my
previous partner for like 10 years.
863
00:38:36,330 --> 00:38:37,320
Shaun Smith: Oh, wow.
864
00:38:37,365 --> 00:38:39,085
Sug Daniels: happened and we were
spending all this time together.
865
00:38:39,085 --> 00:38:42,484
And we were like, actually,
we should not be together.
866
00:38:42,485 --> 00:38:45,634
Um, so then we, you know, we
separated and, and, you know, took
867
00:38:45,635 --> 00:38:48,984
some time, uh, became really good
friends or really good friends now.
868
00:38:48,984 --> 00:38:53,354
And then, you know, once I started getting
back into the dating scene, uh, you know,
869
00:38:53,364 --> 00:38:57,005
I definitely met some people that were
really fun, but this one particular girl
870
00:38:57,205 --> 00:39:00,625
lived in Philadelphia and it was, uh,
you know, it wasn't the main, it wasn't
871
00:39:00,625 --> 00:39:05,514
the reason why I moved to Philly, but
it definitely, you know, it didn't hurt.
872
00:39:07,450 --> 00:39:08,460
Shaun Smith: It never does.
873
00:39:10,855 --> 00:39:13,695
Sug Daniels: And I, and I remember just
like this, the song really did leave
874
00:39:13,695 --> 00:39:18,005
a light on is, is really just about
me taking a chance, traveling around.
875
00:39:18,065 --> 00:39:20,635
I'm always going to love this and
explaining to this person, like, listen,
876
00:39:20,635 --> 00:39:22,874
this is my thing, but I'm coming back.
877
00:39:23,065 --> 00:39:23,625
I'm going to come back.
878
00:39:23,684 --> 00:39:25,485
I got to go bang on myself.
879
00:39:25,584 --> 00:39:26,975
You know, I got to go make this music.
880
00:39:26,975 --> 00:39:27,995
I got to go travel around.
881
00:39:27,995 --> 00:39:28,895
I got to do these things.
882
00:39:29,285 --> 00:39:31,585
Um, but like leave a light on me
because I'm coming back, you know, and
883
00:39:31,585 --> 00:39:32,765
that's how I feel about Philadelphia.
884
00:39:32,905 --> 00:39:35,565
I really, I, I've been traveling a lot.
885
00:39:36,555 --> 00:39:39,065
I really feel like this could
be my forever home, you know, I
886
00:39:39,065 --> 00:39:40,165
really, really feel like that.
887
00:39:40,630 --> 00:39:41,600
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's so cool.
888
00:39:41,630 --> 00:39:42,150
That's so cool.
889
00:39:42,150 --> 00:39:46,100
I love those types of songs that are
kind of like, they kind of peel back
890
00:39:46,100 --> 00:39:47,580
the curtain a little bit, right?
891
00:39:47,580 --> 00:39:51,180
They break down the fourth wall and it's
kind of like, you know, it's, it's like
892
00:39:51,190 --> 00:39:56,670
you get to, you know, as close to, uh,
as a listener can get to, uh, to the
893
00:39:56,670 --> 00:39:58,680
singer songwriter life a little bit.
894
00:40:00,405 --> 00:40:02,155
Sug Daniels: yeah, yeah, it's wonderful.
895
00:40:02,925 --> 00:40:03,495
I love it.
896
00:40:03,935 --> 00:40:06,155
You know, I don't want anybody to
be like, oh, is this, you know,
897
00:40:06,165 --> 00:40:07,434
not act like they don't know.
898
00:40:07,435 --> 00:40:10,219
So I just try to put it all out
there, you know, so there's no,
899
00:40:10,219 --> 00:40:11,585
there's no rumors floating around.
900
00:40:12,605 --> 00:40:13,095
Shaun Smith: I love it.
901
00:40:13,095 --> 00:40:14,385
It's a great, it's a great track.
902
00:40:14,385 --> 00:40:18,905
Yeah, I love, I actually like, I mean,
you can definitely see the progression
903
00:40:18,905 --> 00:40:21,665
over the years and everything that
you've released in the past year.
904
00:40:21,985 --> 00:40:24,965
It's just banger after
banger, one after another.
905
00:40:25,075 --> 00:40:28,525
I mean, they're just, it seems like
it's just keeping, keeps getting better.
906
00:40:28,925 --> 00:40:31,605
Uh, you had mentioned, I think
that you're, uh, or maybe you
907
00:40:31,605 --> 00:40:34,375
didn't, or are you, uh, in the
studio or you're recording?
908
00:40:34,375 --> 00:40:37,945
What's, what's, uh, what's next for
Suge Daniels besides the Folk Festival?
909
00:40:38,635 --> 00:40:40,975
Sug Daniels: Yeah, I mean, I'm
always trying to get this video.
910
00:40:40,975 --> 00:40:46,205
You see, you know, it's like, I feel like,
one of the harder parts for me, right?
911
00:40:46,205 --> 00:40:48,755
Like I love writing music,
performing is so fun.
912
00:40:48,755 --> 00:40:52,155
That just feels like second nature,
but it could be a little nerve wracking
913
00:40:52,175 --> 00:40:55,194
to get into a studio and be like,
okay, like one of these takes is going
914
00:40:55,194 --> 00:40:59,304
to be the take that everyone's going
to hear whenever they look up their
915
00:40:59,305 --> 00:41:00,724
song, but they look me up and stuff.
916
00:41:00,724 --> 00:41:03,795
So I've been, the last year, I've
definitely been trying to get in
917
00:41:03,825 --> 00:41:06,715
the studio as often as I can and
to just get comfortable with it.
918
00:41:06,775 --> 00:41:10,340
And I think a part of it is
just like, you know, I, writing
919
00:41:10,340 --> 00:41:11,600
songs is super accessible.
920
00:41:11,670 --> 00:41:13,940
I can sit down and write a song in time.
921
00:41:14,370 --> 00:41:17,890
Um, and then performing, I've always
been, you know, I've been good at booking.
922
00:41:17,910 --> 00:41:18,630
I know how to do it.
923
00:41:18,630 --> 00:41:19,680
I know how to send the email.
924
00:41:19,680 --> 00:41:22,010
I know how to, I know how to get
the booking agent to say yes.
925
00:41:22,750 --> 00:41:26,720
But studio stuff, you know, until
recently, I never even had a home studio.
926
00:41:26,740 --> 00:41:28,160
It just wasn't an animal.
927
00:41:28,190 --> 00:41:31,110
I couldn't practice with my
microphone, practice the levels or
928
00:41:31,110 --> 00:41:34,220
anything like that, or try to figure
out what kind of sound do I like.
929
00:41:34,730 --> 00:41:36,480
Um, but I love to write music.
930
00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:41,150
So now I feel like I'm in that space of
trying to close that gap of, all right,
931
00:41:41,150 --> 00:41:45,360
I have this awesome live performance,
I have these good songs, um, and I
932
00:41:45,369 --> 00:41:50,809
want my recordings to really reflect
the emotional intensity, you know, of,
933
00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:54,670
of what, what I'm feeling in my mind
and in my heart when I'm, when I'm
934
00:41:54,670 --> 00:41:56,259
writing them or when I'm singing them,
935
00:41:56,595 --> 00:41:57,305
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's awesome.
936
00:41:57,905 --> 00:42:02,055
Do you get like some, some inspiration
from, uh, from like a festival like
937
00:42:02,055 --> 00:42:03,365
the Philadelphia Folk Festival?
938
00:42:03,365 --> 00:42:05,995
Does it kind of energize
you to, uh, to write
939
00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:10,180
Sug Daniels: I just, man, yeah, every,
live performances always make me feel like
940
00:42:10,210 --> 00:42:14,550
I can't wait to get back in the studio
and I can't wait to write the music Um, I
941
00:42:14,550 --> 00:42:16,770
got a chance to open up for Molly Tuttle
942
00:42:16,875 --> 00:42:17,605
Shaun Smith: Oh, well.
943
00:42:18,210 --> 00:42:18,670
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
944
00:42:18,670 --> 00:42:20,170
And it came up pressure.
945
00:42:20,330 --> 00:42:22,900
It was like a, um, what was it called?
946
00:42:22,910 --> 00:42:24,220
Concert under the stars.
947
00:42:24,300 --> 00:42:27,130
It's like a WSBN vocal point
entertainment put together.
948
00:42:27,130 --> 00:42:27,740
It was really fun.
949
00:42:27,740 --> 00:42:31,900
But I was like, you know, and we're
talking about bluegrass now, or, you know,
950
00:42:31,970 --> 00:42:34,820
a little while ago, but I was like, I
think I'm gonna make some bluegrass music
951
00:42:34,820 --> 00:42:37,000
soon, like, or at least have some of that.
952
00:42:37,020 --> 00:42:39,699
Now the album is already kind
of like finished as far as like
953
00:42:39,699 --> 00:42:42,469
song list and a lot of the music.
954
00:42:43,090 --> 00:42:46,280
For all the songs are put down, but
like, I'm going to be doing forever.
955
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:49,370
So I was like, all right, well, I
think maybe the next album, I want
956
00:42:49,370 --> 00:42:53,230
to write a couple of songs, a couple
of teams that like really lean into
957
00:42:53,230 --> 00:42:55,300
bluegrass because that music is so fine.
958
00:42:55,300 --> 00:43:00,680
And like for them to not have a drummer,
how, how danceable that music is.
959
00:43:00,730 --> 00:43:03,680
And like, yeah, how it's just
like all the subject matter.
960
00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:07,170
And like, I don't know, it's just a
really, really beautiful, um, and, and
961
00:43:07,170 --> 00:43:10,410
I'm listening to some bluegrass, but I
don't think that I'd ever really felt
962
00:43:13,020 --> 00:43:16,750
So, yeah, live performance is
always, like, getting fired up.
963
00:43:16,750 --> 00:43:18,140
Mhm.
964
00:43:18,330 --> 00:43:20,950
Shaun Smith: inspire anybody, I think,
to write some bluegrass, or at least
965
00:43:20,950 --> 00:43:24,480
listen to it, because she is, she's
amazing, and she's one of, I go to the
966
00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:29,830
Philadelphia Folk Festival because of the,
uh, because of like the musical discovery,
967
00:43:30,130 --> 00:43:35,020
and I saw a young Molly Tuttle perform
on the Thursday night concert just for
968
00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:37,630
campers, and she blew everybody away.
969
00:43:37,650 --> 00:43:40,290
I mean, she was absolutely,
and I became a fan immediately.
970
00:43:40,290 --> 00:43:44,960
I think it was her, I think it was,
Sturgill Simpson played on the same bill,
971
00:43:45,460 --> 00:43:50,709
In like, I don't even know, 2012, 2010.
972
00:43:50,710 --> 00:43:53,000
Like it was a long, it
seemed like a long time ago.
973
00:43:53,400 --> 00:43:55,590
Uh, again, I was smoking
a lot of reefer back then.
974
00:43:55,590 --> 00:44:00,040
So the years, the years kind of blend
together, but I remember the performance
975
00:44:00,060 --> 00:44:02,510
and, and I've been a huge fan ever since.
976
00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:04,350
And, uh, yeah.
977
00:44:04,350 --> 00:44:08,000
So what was your impression of the
Folk Festival a couple of years ago?
978
00:44:09,245 --> 00:44:09,795
Sug Daniels: Oh my God.
979
00:44:09,845 --> 00:44:13,525
It was, it was really, I feel like
life changing for me and it was life
980
00:44:13,525 --> 00:44:16,595
changing in the sense where I really,
you hear a lot, especially as a
981
00:44:16,615 --> 00:44:20,985
musician that it's like, okay, you want
to go viral and that's really cool.
982
00:44:20,985 --> 00:44:24,515
But like, in order to really sustain
yourself and your career, you need to find
983
00:44:24,515 --> 00:44:28,225
a community of people and it needs to be
like a give and take, like you can't just
984
00:44:28,745 --> 00:44:31,585
think about it by myself and listen to my
music, like what are you doing for them?
985
00:44:31,585 --> 00:44:34,324
And I think the Folk Festival
was really the first time I ever
986
00:44:34,325 --> 00:44:35,774
really seen what it looks like.
987
00:44:36,065 --> 00:44:39,615
For musicians to be supported by
the community, because they're
988
00:44:39,625 --> 00:44:43,845
really giving their all, they're
really going out of their way to.
989
00:44:44,365 --> 00:44:47,955
You know, bring the positivity, bring the
messaging to bring the people together.
990
00:44:48,385 --> 00:44:51,365
Um, and the camping was just so fun.
991
00:44:51,365 --> 00:44:53,514
I will be camping this year also.
992
00:44:53,535 --> 00:44:54,524
Like I'm playing this year.
993
00:44:54,535 --> 00:44:55,355
I'm very excited.
994
00:44:55,355 --> 00:44:56,165
I'm going to be camping.
995
00:44:56,565 --> 00:44:59,294
Um, and just hanging out all
night because it's, the party
996
00:44:59,295 --> 00:45:00,534
isn't over after, after the camp.
997
00:45:00,795 --> 00:45:01,995
the, the festival.
998
00:45:02,025 --> 00:45:05,985
It's, even after that, you know, you go
back to the campsites and everybody's just
999
00:45:06,325 --> 00:45:10,955
making food and sharing food and sharing
stories and playing, playing songs.
1000
00:45:10,964 --> 00:45:14,475
The first time I ever touched
a banjo was at Philadelphia
1001
00:45:14,475 --> 00:45:15,694
Folk Festival two years ago.
1002
00:45:16,055 --> 00:45:19,084
And now I have one in my studio,
in my little home studio because
1003
00:45:19,084 --> 00:45:20,225
I was like, oh, this is magic.
1004
00:45:20,315 --> 00:45:23,655
This is like such a fun, you know, nobody
cared that I didn't sound all that good.
1005
00:45:23,675 --> 00:45:25,615
They just were, come here, you're welcome.
1006
00:45:25,645 --> 00:45:28,645
Sit down, play this, like, you
know, have a sip of this drink.
1007
00:45:28,645 --> 00:45:29,925
I didn't know what it
was, but it was good.
1008
00:45:30,425 --> 00:45:34,205
Uh, you know, and yeah, so
very excited to be back.
1009
00:45:34,205 --> 00:45:35,405
I, I highly recommend it.
1010
00:45:35,405 --> 00:45:38,645
I think it's just an experience like no
other, especially while I've ever been
1011
00:45:39,275 --> 00:45:41,305
Shaun Smith: Yeah, the ukulele is
a lot more portable than some of
1012
00:45:41,305 --> 00:45:42,575
the other instruments I've seen.
1013
00:45:42,575 --> 00:45:48,265
Uh, I saw a full drum kit, uh, one
year, full drum kit, just set up.
1014
00:45:48,545 --> 00:45:49,705
And of course he's not moving.
1015
00:45:49,705 --> 00:45:51,685
So people would just come to him and
1016
00:45:51,865 --> 00:45:52,315
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
1017
00:45:52,315 --> 00:45:52,765
Yeah.
1018
00:45:52,765 --> 00:45:55,375
I think I, I think that
he was definitely there.
1019
00:45:55,525 --> 00:45:59,155
And then some people will like wheel in
a big piano, like there was one campsite,
1020
00:45:59,425 --> 00:46:00,625
and that's something cool too, right?
1021
00:46:00,625 --> 00:46:04,375
There's all these like little campsites
and they have their own names, like
1022
00:46:04,375 --> 00:46:07,345
little villages and like over here
in this village, they have like a.
1023
00:46:07,595 --> 00:46:10,395
They'll have a drum kit, and over here
in this next village, they'll have like
1024
00:46:10,395 --> 00:46:13,205
an upright piano, and you're like, how
the heck did they get that back here?
1025
00:46:13,555 --> 00:46:15,835
Um, and then, you know, over
here they have like a circle
1026
00:46:15,835 --> 00:46:18,385
of people playing banjos, and
there's some violins over there.
1027
00:46:18,394 --> 00:46:21,385
So it's just like, you feel
like you're in another world.
1028
00:46:21,605 --> 00:46:23,015
Shaun Smith: Oh, it's
definitely another world.
1029
00:46:23,015 --> 00:46:23,195
Yeah.
1030
00:46:23,195 --> 00:46:24,655
There's some upright bases.
1031
00:46:24,915 --> 00:46:28,435
You get the Philadelphia jug band
have their whole, they basically have
1032
00:46:28,455 --> 00:46:32,415
a small city, it seems like they're
with, I don't even know, like they'll
1033
00:46:32,415 --> 00:46:34,515
have 20 people performing at any time.
1034
00:46:34,545 --> 00:46:37,315
I mean, it's, it's quite
a performance out there.
1035
00:46:39,114 --> 00:46:39,765
Sug Daniels: it's wild.
1036
00:46:39,845 --> 00:46:40,355
It's wild.
1037
00:46:40,374 --> 00:46:41,238
Looking forward to it.
1038
00:46:41,238 --> 00:46:43,425
Obviously, you, so you already
fucking seen me out there,
1039
00:46:43,425 --> 00:46:44,245
how are you gonna link up?
1040
00:46:44,275 --> 00:46:45,305
We got a biggest jam.
1041
00:46:45,545 --> 00:46:47,185
Shaun Smith: Oh yeah,
definitely, definitely.
1042
00:46:47,185 --> 00:46:50,445
Yeah, and I'm stoked that you're
going to be performing on the extreme,
1043
00:46:50,785 --> 00:46:54,035
the extreme folk stage with WXPN.
1044
00:46:54,305 --> 00:46:57,285
How does it feel to, uh,
to make folk music extreme?
1045
00:46:58,420 --> 00:47:00,390
Sug Daniels: I love it, you
know, like I said, I think it's
1046
00:47:00,390 --> 00:47:01,850
just such a welcoming genre.
1047
00:47:01,850 --> 00:47:04,950
It's like, I feel like growing
up, I thought folk music
1048
00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:06,240
was this one kind of thing.
1049
00:47:06,240 --> 00:47:09,829
It was like, maybe kind of
sleepy, sleepy girl, guitar music.
1050
00:47:10,140 --> 00:47:14,099
And now that I'm older, I'm like, Oh,
John Prine is not sleepy in slightest.
1051
00:47:15,219 --> 00:47:18,340
And then in wide awake, you know,
spiritually and musically, you
1052
00:47:18,340 --> 00:47:19,730
know, it's fun, really fun stuff.
1053
00:47:19,730 --> 00:47:21,800
So I feel like I can just be myself.
1054
00:47:21,810 --> 00:47:22,480
And it's like, I need to.
1055
00:47:22,745 --> 00:47:26,845
Adhere to any kind of anything, you
know, like not the way that I look
1056
00:47:26,845 --> 00:47:28,165
or the way that I found or anything.
1057
00:47:28,165 --> 00:47:30,145
It's just that people just
want you to be honest.
1058
00:47:30,195 --> 00:47:34,585
They want you to be the most you that
you can be, which I think whether you're
1059
00:47:34,585 --> 00:47:39,244
making music or, you know, brewing
beer or having a podcast, if you are
1060
00:47:39,245 --> 00:47:43,285
your true authentic self, then you give
people the opportunity to learn and
1061
00:47:43,285 --> 00:47:45,265
also to see themselves reflected in you.
1062
00:47:45,285 --> 00:47:47,395
And if you're pretending to be
anybody else, you're robbing
1063
00:47:47,395 --> 00:47:48,905
them of that opportunity.
1064
00:47:49,595 --> 00:47:50,595
Shaun Smith: That's so amazing.
1065
00:47:50,635 --> 00:47:51,105
Yeah.
1066
00:47:51,525 --> 00:47:55,695
Yeah, well, well, Suge, um, yeah,
I ask every guest three questions,
1067
00:47:55,695 --> 00:47:58,165
but was there anything that I didn't
ask you that you think that I should
1068
00:47:58,165 --> 00:48:00,665
have asked or anything else you want
to talk about before I get down to
1069
00:48:00,665 --> 00:48:02,795
these, uh, these final three questions?
1070
00:48:02,795 --> 00:48:02,984
Yes.
1071
00:48:03,990 --> 00:48:06,140
Sug Daniels: Um, no, I just, I definitely
want people to know I got an album
1072
00:48:06,140 --> 00:48:07,490
coming out, working on that album.
1073
00:48:07,520 --> 00:48:11,200
Finished up some, some drums with my,
my beautiful drummer, Alice Clayton.
1074
00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:15,810
He's moving out to, um, Minnesota,
which I'm excited about, but, well, sad
1075
00:48:15,810 --> 00:48:18,789
about, but also excited about because
that opens up a whole new market for
1076
00:48:18,789 --> 00:48:23,740
us to go touring and make some friends
and fans, but it'll be out in 2025.
1077
00:48:24,030 --> 00:48:26,520
It's got some good friends,
some really good players on it.
1078
00:48:26,520 --> 00:48:30,400
And a lot of this music that if you've
ever come to a lot of that, your favorite
1079
00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:32,400
songs are going to be on this album.
1080
00:48:32,410 --> 00:48:34,310
So I'm excited about that.
1081
00:48:34,425 --> 00:48:35,075
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
1082
00:48:35,075 --> 00:48:38,535
Any idea when in 2025, like
first half, second half?
1083
00:48:42,815 --> 00:48:43,315
Cool.
1084
00:48:43,550 --> 00:48:43,570
Sug Daniels: know.
1085
00:48:44,025 --> 00:48:44,525
Shaun Smith: That's all right.
1086
00:48:44,959 --> 00:48:47,329
Sug Daniels: it's finishing up, but I
want, I definitely, I want to shop around.
1087
00:48:47,329 --> 00:48:48,730
I want to see if anybody's interested.
1088
00:48:48,730 --> 00:48:53,190
Cause it's hard on me, you know, I
could definitely do it by myself, but
1089
00:48:53,230 --> 00:48:57,879
if there are any labels that want to
help, you know, or any kind of, you
1090
00:48:57,950 --> 00:49:00,450
know, I would be interested in listening.
1091
00:49:00,620 --> 00:49:03,770
So I'm, I'm not gonna, I don't want to
say a date yet because I don't want to
1092
00:49:03,780 --> 00:49:08,250
have to tell you any different, but what
I will say, um, is that I do plan on
1093
00:49:08,669 --> 00:49:13,020
doing some kind of sneak peek releases
to people who are on like my email list.
1094
00:49:14,280 --> 00:49:16,110
My friend club and you
can sign up for that.
1095
00:49:16,110 --> 00:49:16,960
If you go to shugdaniels.
1096
00:49:17,180 --> 00:49:21,570
com, that's S U G D A N I E L S dot com.
1097
00:49:21,570 --> 00:49:26,200
And you scroll down and a little, you
know, friend club, sign up, you know,
1098
00:49:26,209 --> 00:49:31,109
once a month, I send out tour dates,
music videos, and cool music clips
1099
00:49:31,110 --> 00:49:33,110
and podcasts and stuff like that.
1100
00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:37,850
So if you, if you like, uh, spreading
love, joy in, in, in the form of, in
1101
00:49:38,080 --> 00:49:40,480
shape of music, you know, sign up.
1102
00:49:41,175 --> 00:49:41,585
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
1103
00:49:41,615 --> 00:49:43,395
I'm a proud member of the friend club.
1104
00:49:44,390 --> 00:49:45,110
Sug Daniels: Thank you.
1105
00:49:45,360 --> 00:49:45,810
Thank you.
1106
00:49:46,085 --> 00:49:46,755
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
1107
00:49:46,755 --> 00:49:47,125
Well, yeah.
1108
00:49:47,125 --> 00:49:49,185
So Shug, uh, final three questions.
1109
00:49:49,495 --> 00:49:53,595
Um, so what was the first album
that you ever received or, um,
1110
00:49:53,595 --> 00:49:54,445
that you went out and bought?
1111
00:49:55,960 --> 00:49:59,300
Sug Daniels: The first album that I
ever got was probably my dad buying
1112
00:49:59,310 --> 00:50:01,630
me The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
1113
00:50:01,725 --> 00:50:02,025
Shaun Smith: Wow.
1114
00:50:02,025 --> 00:50:02,785
What a great album.
1115
00:50:03,609 --> 00:50:04,690
Sug Daniels: Yeah, that was funny.
1116
00:50:04,700 --> 00:50:08,890
It was, it really, man, there's just so
many things it did for me, but definitely
1117
00:50:09,290 --> 00:50:11,500
made me really proud to be a woman.
1118
00:50:12,130 --> 00:50:16,580
And I think that even though that like
sounds kind of funny, sometimes when you
1119
00:50:16,580 --> 00:50:20,779
grow up in certain households, like I
definitely grew up in a very male forward
1120
00:50:20,780 --> 00:50:25,170
Christian household and sometimes it just
felt like women were like second bananas,
1121
00:50:25,269 --> 00:50:26,599
you know, for lack of better terms.
1122
00:50:26,610 --> 00:50:30,099
Even though I've seen the women in my
family, you know, with the good jobs,
1123
00:50:30,140 --> 00:50:33,090
taking care of the kids, running the
households, taking us to school, doing
1124
00:50:33,090 --> 00:50:38,495
all the things, um, just felt I heard
this song, I was like, oh yeah, I can
1125
00:50:38,495 --> 00:50:40,785
have, I can take pride in who I am.
1126
00:50:40,865 --> 00:50:44,255
And just because I'm a woman, you know,
my, my worth is more than just the look,
1127
00:50:44,585 --> 00:50:46,695
the look of my face and my hair, my body.
1128
00:50:47,195 --> 00:50:50,895
Um, and then also to just
keep, to be honest in my music.
1129
00:50:51,225 --> 00:50:52,305
Uh, it taught me that too.
1130
00:50:52,990 --> 00:50:53,640
Shaun Smith: That's great.
1131
00:50:53,660 --> 00:50:54,130
That's great.
1132
00:50:54,130 --> 00:50:55,090
CD or cassette?
1133
00:50:55,090 --> 00:50:56,790
Just because we were talking
about cassettes earlier.
1134
00:50:57,805 --> 00:50:59,305
Sug Daniels: That one
was a CD my dad got me.
1135
00:50:59,440 --> 00:51:00,050
Shaun Smith: Awesome.
1136
00:51:00,130 --> 00:51:00,700
Awesome.
1137
00:51:00,760 --> 00:51:01,620
That's so cool.
1138
00:51:02,020 --> 00:51:04,280
Um, what was the first concert
that you ever attended?
1139
00:51:05,794 --> 00:51:10,795
Sug Daniels: The first concert I ever
attended was probably Go Go Bordello in
1140
00:51:10,840 --> 00:51:12,470
Shaun Smith: No way!
1141
00:51:12,545 --> 00:51:14,875
Sug Daniels: I'm like, yeah, cause
I was like, you know, like I said,
1142
00:51:14,875 --> 00:51:18,305
I just had so many, I had a lot of
eclectic taste in music growing up.
1143
00:51:18,695 --> 00:51:21,385
And there was like a moment
in time when me and my friends
1144
00:51:21,395 --> 00:51:22,635
listened to Go Go Bordello.
1145
00:51:22,935 --> 00:51:25,735
Like right out of high school, we
were just like all like, you know,
1146
00:51:26,330 --> 00:51:30,230
And the system, taxes are bad, like
we gotta, we gotta mobilize, we gotta
1147
00:51:30,310 --> 00:51:34,750
get the people together, and like Coco
Burgello was like perfect for that.
1148
00:51:35,310 --> 00:51:39,540
feeling like it was perfect for
that and it was so it was one of
1149
00:51:39,540 --> 00:51:44,171
my tip of the day one of the best
concerts i ever seen well i'll tell
1150
00:51:44,475 --> 00:51:48,775
Shaun Smith: I, I was good friends
with, uh, uh, for a time with the bass
1151
00:51:48,775 --> 00:51:52,345
player of big wig, uh, shout out to
Zach Lawrence and, uh, big wig was a
1152
00:51:52,345 --> 00:51:58,805
New Jersey punk band and, um, he would
rave about Google Bordello concerts.
1153
00:51:58,805 --> 00:52:01,835
He'd say, never have seen
anything like this before.
1154
00:52:02,175 --> 00:52:04,775
And uh, unfortunately I never
went to one and I always, I
1155
00:52:04,775 --> 00:52:06,285
was always on the bucket list.
1156
00:52:06,595 --> 00:52:08,665
So, uh, that's, that is really cool.
1157
00:52:08,665 --> 00:52:09,575
But there is definitely a,
1158
00:52:10,360 --> 00:52:12,940
Sug Daniels: they're touring they still
tour all the time and i know i you know
1159
00:52:12,940 --> 00:52:16,140
i'm a delaware girl they're going to
be at the queen in wilmington i think
1160
00:52:16,149 --> 00:52:19,909
like early september um just if you're
still interested they're still doing
1161
00:52:19,910 --> 00:52:23,300
the thing i know the lineup changes all
the time so i think you've got a bunch
1162
00:52:23,300 --> 00:52:27,270
of new players now um talking about you
the lead singer eugene he's kind of like
1163
00:52:27,270 --> 00:52:32,305
you The brainchild of that band, but I
do think for like what they stand for
1164
00:52:32,755 --> 00:52:36,425
and like the energy of that music, man I
feel like everybody should go see google
1165
00:52:37,580 --> 00:52:38,470
Shaun Smith: That's so cool.
1166
00:52:38,500 --> 00:52:39,180
Yeah, that's so cool.
1167
00:52:39,180 --> 00:52:40,240
I'm going to put that on the list.
1168
00:52:40,240 --> 00:52:43,150
I actually just wrote it down so I
can, I can look that up because I would
1169
00:52:43,150 --> 00:52:46,150
love to go see them because that is,
yeah, you're right, there's an energy
1170
00:52:46,150 --> 00:52:49,550
there, but then there's all that, that
authenticity where it's like, they're
1171
00:52:49,550 --> 00:52:51,450
not trying to be anything different.
1172
00:52:51,470 --> 00:52:54,700
They're just, you know, they're, they're
playing traditional music, right?
1173
00:52:54,710 --> 00:52:58,280
They're a folk music, but putting
that modern spin on it, giving it a
1174
00:52:58,280 --> 00:53:02,750
little bit of a metal, harder edge,
um, you know, a lot of energy, man,
1175
00:53:02,810 --> 00:53:05,900
that's, I never thought I would be
talking to you about Golgo Bordello.
1176
00:53:05,900 --> 00:53:06,800
That's so amazing.
1177
00:53:07,695 --> 00:53:09,145
Sug Daniels: a little bit of
everything that doots and the
1178
00:53:09,145 --> 00:53:10,845
maytas go go burndale lauryn hill.
1179
00:53:11,064 --> 00:53:15,025
Let's listen if it's good Is good Quincy
Jones said that he said there's only two
1180
00:53:15,025 --> 00:53:17,085
kinds of music good music and bad music.
1181
00:53:17,085 --> 00:53:18,591
That's
1182
00:53:18,655 --> 00:53:19,965
Shaun Smith: true, that's so true.
1183
00:53:20,015 --> 00:53:20,805
That's amazing.
1184
00:53:21,195 --> 00:53:26,995
So my last, my last question is, uh,
what is your favorite, uh, song or,
1185
00:53:26,995 --> 00:53:30,795
excuse me, what is your favorite,
uh, soundtrack or score from a movie?
1186
00:53:32,465 --> 00:53:33,985
And musicals don't count.
1187
00:53:34,125 --> 00:53:36,305
Don't, don't hit me with
rent or something like that.
1188
00:53:39,145 --> 00:53:41,105
Sug Daniels: would never I would
never although that music is
1189
00:53:41,105 --> 00:53:44,294
very good Oh, man, that's tough.
1190
00:53:44,294 --> 00:53:45,175
That's really tough.
1191
00:53:45,565 --> 00:53:46,644
I feel like
1192
00:53:51,345 --> 00:53:59,854
Let me check you might have to like
clip the audio for this I will say
1193
00:54:00,234 --> 00:54:02,234
that although the movie didn't age.
1194
00:54:02,234 --> 00:54:05,015
Well, the soundtrack was
really good garden state
1195
00:54:05,515 --> 00:54:06,555
Shaun Smith: Oh, wow!
1196
00:54:06,555 --> 00:54:07,545
Ha ha
1197
00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:10,180
Sug Daniels: Because I had like that was
my first time hearing like Nick Drake
1198
00:54:10,220 --> 00:54:14,310
and I remember watching it on DVD and
stopping it and being like, what is this?
1199
00:54:14,430 --> 00:54:14,770
Who is this?
1200
00:54:15,690 --> 00:54:19,300
And, you know, you can scroll through
the credits and stuff like that at that
1201
00:54:19,300 --> 00:54:22,090
point in time and I found that song
because I was like, this is amazing.
1202
00:54:22,090 --> 00:54:23,900
Yeah.
1203
00:54:23,900 --> 00:54:25,709
Yeah.
1204
00:54:25,765 --> 00:54:26,935
Shaun Smith: slang is on that.
1205
00:54:29,475 --> 00:54:34,485
I have to, I, so the podcast is not
about me, but I just have to, I have to
1206
00:54:34,485 --> 00:54:38,985
share this story because I went to go
see Garden State in the movie theater
1207
00:54:39,135 --> 00:54:43,105
when I was in, I was in high school
and I was dating a girl at the time.
1208
00:54:43,920 --> 00:54:50,340
And she had, uh, a hamster that had
died, I don't know, maybe a day or
1209
00:54:50,570 --> 00:54:51,029
Sug Daniels: my god,
1210
00:54:51,120 --> 00:54:52,740
Shaun Smith: before we saw that movie.
1211
00:54:53,180 --> 00:54:56,820
And the scene when, I think, Peanut
Butter, the hamster, and the mom's
1212
00:54:56,820 --> 00:54:59,170
like, Peanut Butter dropped dead.
1213
00:54:59,655 --> 00:55:05,475
I couldn't, I don't know, this is my
black humor, I could not stop laughing.
1214
00:55:05,505 --> 00:55:10,245
I, I had, I literally had to, yeah,
probably it led to the breakup.
1215
00:55:11,385 --> 00:55:13,575
I had to literally, I was crying.
1216
00:55:13,575 --> 00:55:14,935
I had to leave the theater.
1217
00:55:15,125 --> 00:55:16,215
I couldn't breathe.
1218
00:55:16,515 --> 00:55:17,745
I mean, it was just, you know, it was.
1219
00:55:19,059 --> 00:55:21,429
Sug Daniels: You are cold blooded, man.
1220
00:55:21,739 --> 00:55:23,320
That's exactly what
you brought over to me.
1221
00:55:24,330 --> 00:55:25,700
That scene was so funny, though.
1222
00:55:25,750 --> 00:55:26,400
It really was.
1223
00:55:26,865 --> 00:55:28,435
Shaun Smith: that's such
a great soundtrack, too.
1224
00:55:28,475 --> 00:55:32,465
That was definitely formative,
uh, formative for me personally.
1225
00:55:32,765 --> 00:55:34,115
So uh, so yeah, that
1226
00:55:34,200 --> 00:55:38,409
Sug Daniels: Oh, and it had that, um, It
had that, that Imogen Heap song that got
1227
00:55:38,410 --> 00:55:41,510
really crazy popular at the end where
they're like running through the, like the
1228
00:55:41,510 --> 00:55:43,590
classic running through the airport scene.
1229
00:55:43,875 --> 00:55:44,705
Shaun Smith: oh yeah,
1230
00:55:45,610 --> 00:55:47,720
Sug Daniels: was, that was
how I discovered that song.
1231
00:55:48,119 --> 00:55:50,909
So yeah, wonderful, wonderful soundtrack.
1232
00:55:50,909 --> 00:55:53,319
That's probably one of the best
soundtracks I feel like it is.
1233
00:55:53,470 --> 00:55:54,270
I'm glad that I heard it.
1234
00:55:54,270 --> 00:55:55,280
I feel like it really helped me.
1235
00:55:55,320 --> 00:55:59,810
It shaped a lot of my music taste for,
for a while, for, for a long while,
1236
00:55:59,810 --> 00:56:03,150
but there's a lot of really, really
amazing music in that movie for sure.
1237
00:56:03,435 --> 00:56:05,964
Shaun Smith: yeah, I think there's
even an Elliot Smith song on there too.
1238
00:56:06,365 --> 00:56:08,924
Sug Daniels: Yeah, yeah, yeah,
1239
00:56:09,205 --> 00:56:09,895
Shaun Smith: so cool.
1240
00:56:10,215 --> 00:56:14,395
So cool, well Shug Daniels, um, I know
you're performing, uh, 1 o'clock at
1241
00:56:14,395 --> 00:56:19,054
the Tank Stage at the Philadelphia Folk
Festival, 1 o'clock on Saturday, uh, at
1242
00:56:19,055 --> 00:56:23,245
the Tank Stage, which is the one that's,
uh, if you're looking, it's, it's stage
1243
00:56:23,245 --> 00:56:26,075
left, it's like if you're looking at the
stage, it's all the way over to the right.
1244
00:56:26,305 --> 00:56:29,245
But do you have any, uh, other upcoming
performances or anything else you want
1245
00:56:29,245 --> 00:56:30,675
to tell the, uh, the folks at home?
1246
00:56:31,685 --> 00:56:34,725
Sug Daniels: yeah, if you don't, if you
don't catch me there, I'll be, and if
1247
00:56:34,725 --> 00:56:38,395
you're in New Jersey, I'm playing the
Oktoberfest in Medford, New Jersey.
1248
00:56:38,665 --> 00:56:42,834
I think it's called Freedom Park on
September 21st, uh, and then I will also
1249
00:56:42,835 --> 00:56:45,774
be doing a women's, uh, writers round.
1250
00:56:46,260 --> 00:56:50,050
At World Cafe Live on September 7th?
1251
00:56:50,430 --> 00:56:51,480
Yeah, September 7th.
1252
00:56:51,950 --> 00:56:53,930
Um, and then also, like,
I'm always touring.
1253
00:56:53,970 --> 00:56:56,940
It's kind of, like, playing
music and selling merchandise
1254
00:56:57,630 --> 00:56:59,250
are my main forms of income.
1255
00:56:59,269 --> 00:57:02,820
So, if you, if you log onto
my website, shugdaniels.
1256
00:57:02,850 --> 00:57:04,460
com slash tour.
1257
00:57:05,370 --> 00:57:07,000
All my dates are there and I make it easy.
1258
00:57:07,000 --> 00:57:08,660
So I put ticket links on there too.
1259
00:57:08,950 --> 00:57:10,740
Um, I got a lot of touring coming up.
1260
00:57:10,740 --> 00:57:12,080
I'm going to be in Syracuse.
1261
00:57:12,520 --> 00:57:15,390
I'm going to be in Cleveland
for the first time.
1262
00:57:15,700 --> 00:57:16,880
Uh, lots of Delaware stuff.
1263
00:57:16,880 --> 00:57:19,439
So anybody, any of my Delaware
listeners just check out, you
1264
00:57:19,439 --> 00:57:22,280
know, s u g d a n i e l s.
1265
00:57:22,550 --> 00:57:23,110
com.
1266
00:57:23,590 --> 00:57:26,290
And, uh, yeah, I can't, I
love, I love making music.
1267
00:57:26,290 --> 00:57:28,240
I love meeting people and singing songs.
1268
00:57:28,240 --> 00:57:30,430
It's such a fun way to
introduce yourself to someone.
1269
00:57:30,850 --> 00:57:32,090
Um, so yeah, come say hi.
1270
00:57:32,730 --> 00:57:33,400
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
1271
00:57:33,420 --> 00:57:35,180
Well, I can't wait to see
you at the Folk Festival.
1272
00:57:35,870 --> 00:57:37,670
Sug Daniels: Anyway, I can't
wait to meet you in person, man.
1273
00:57:37,670 --> 00:57:39,860
This was a good, this was a good hang.
1274
00:57:40,060 --> 00:57:40,750
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
1275
00:57:40,750 --> 00:57:40,900
Yeah.
1276
00:57:40,900 --> 00:57:42,030
I can't wait to do it in person.
1277
00:57:42,030 --> 00:57:42,220
Yeah.
1278
00:57:42,220 --> 00:57:43,270
Let's make a point to do it.
1279
00:57:44,290 --> 00:57:45,050
Sug Daniels: Yeah, man.
1280
00:57:45,060 --> 00:57:46,240
Thank you so much for having me.
1281
00:57:46,240 --> 00:57:49,640
I appreciate everybody who gives me the
opportunity to like talk about music
1282
00:57:49,640 --> 00:57:51,080
and spread a little light and joy.
1283
00:57:51,510 --> 00:57:51,940
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
1284
00:57:51,940 --> 00:57:54,320
Hey, keep spreading light and
joy and, uh, there'll be plenty
1285
00:57:54,320 --> 00:57:55,510
more opportunities for you.
1286
00:57:56,340 --> 00:57:56,969
Sug Daniels: Thank you, man.
1287
00:57:56,970 --> 00:57:57,769
I appreciate it.
1288
00:57:57,970 --> 00:57:58,750
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
1289
00:57:59,050 --> 00:57:59,810
Shug, thank you.
1290
00:57:59,810 --> 00:58:00,940
This was a great chat.
1291
00:58:01,589 --> 00:58:01,980
Sug Daniels: Thank you.
1292
00:58:01,980 --> 00:58:02,779
I think so too.
1293
00:58:03,280 --> 00:58:03,979
That's fun.
1294
00:58:04,310 --> 00:58:05,100
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
1295
00:58:05,100 --> 00:58:10,790
So my goal is to get this out by, so
I'm, I'm leaving Thursday morning.
1296
00:58:10,890 --> 00:58:14,550
Uh, so my goal would be to get this
out by the end of the day on Wednesday.
1297
00:58:14,810 --> 00:58:17,150
So hopefully people will be
listening to this, like as
1298
00:58:17,150 --> 00:58:18,130
they're going to the festival.
1299
00:58:19,020 --> 00:58:20,059
Sug Daniels: Well, that sounds wonderful.
1300
00:58:20,330 --> 00:58:23,590
So yeah, just tag me, send
it to me and I'll blast it.
1301
00:58:23,590 --> 00:58:25,380
I'll blast it as soon as
you, as soon as you send it.
1302
00:58:25,490 --> 00:58:27,110
Shaun Smith: Yeah, and I'll
definitely, I'll try to come over
1303
00:58:27,110 --> 00:58:28,360
and say hi to you on Saturday.
1304
00:58:29,060 --> 00:58:29,380
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
1305
00:58:29,380 --> 00:58:31,310
And if you don't catch my show,
you're doing something else.
1306
00:58:31,310 --> 00:58:33,190
Just, just come make,
let's just make it a point.
1307
00:58:33,190 --> 00:58:36,170
I would love to just shake your hand
and give you a hug and say, thanks.
1308
00:58:36,170 --> 00:58:36,550
All right.
1309
00:58:36,560 --> 00:58:38,900
Shaun Smith: Yeah, I'll, I'll,
uh, I'll text you, uh, I'll
1310
00:58:38,900 --> 00:58:39,810
text you at the festival.
1311
00:58:39,810 --> 00:58:40,490
How about that?
1312
00:58:41,070 --> 00:58:42,070
Sug Daniels: Sounds good.
1313
00:58:42,430 --> 00:58:43,560
Shaun Smith: Thanks
again for all your time.
1314
00:58:43,560 --> 00:58:44,530
I really appreciate it.
1315
00:58:44,540 --> 00:58:47,140
And, uh, yeah, this is a, this
is a fantastic conversation.
1316
00:58:47,140 --> 00:58:48,630
I really can't wait to meet you in person.
1317
00:58:49,430 --> 00:58:50,380
Sug Daniels: Thank you, Shannon.
1318
00:58:50,380 --> 00:58:51,099
You have a good one, man.
1319
00:58:51,099 --> 00:58:51,729
I appreciate you.
1320
00:58:51,730 --> 00:58:52,230
Shaun Smith: Thank you.
1321
00:58:52,240 --> 00:58:52,780
Appreciate you.
1322
00:58:52,790 --> 00:58:53,660
Have a great day.
1323
00:58:54,290 --> 00:58:54,400
Bye
1324
00:58:54,480 --> 00:58:54,650
Sug Daniels: right.
1325
00:58:54,659 --> 00:58:55,079
Bye bye.
1326
00:59:04,439 --> 00:59:06,029
Shaun Smith: Hey Shug,
how you doing today?
1327
00:59:06,669 --> 00:59:08,629
Sug Daniels: I am well,
Shaun how about yourself?
1328
00:59:08,649 --> 00:59:10,049
Shaun Smith: I'm great, thank you.
1329
00:59:10,149 --> 00:59:10,769
I'm great.
1330
00:59:11,139 --> 00:59:13,799
Hey, thanks for taking some
time to, uh, talk to me today.
1331
00:59:14,559 --> 00:59:15,469
Sug Daniels: Heck yeah, my pleasure.
1332
00:59:15,469 --> 00:59:16,139
I love chatting.
1333
00:59:16,309 --> 00:59:17,079
I love a good visit.
1334
00:59:17,679 --> 00:59:18,619
Shaun Smith: Awesome.
1335
00:59:19,099 --> 00:59:22,399
Um, anything specifically
you'd like me to ask you?
1336
00:59:24,129 --> 00:59:25,049
Sug Daniels: Um, no.
1337
00:59:25,899 --> 00:59:27,129
Maybe it's about music.
1338
00:59:27,239 --> 00:59:29,909
It's always nice to talk about that.
1339
00:59:29,909 --> 00:59:31,779
You know, it's always
nice to talk about that.
1340
00:59:31,949 --> 00:59:34,539
Shaun Smith: Yeah, I'll see if I can
come up with a question about music.
1341
00:59:34,819 --> 00:59:35,829
Ha ha ha.
1342
00:59:35,829 --> 00:59:38,769
Anything, uh, anything specifically
you don't want to talk about?
1343
00:59:39,914 --> 00:59:42,804
Sug Daniels: No, no,
pretty much an open book.
1344
00:59:43,029 --> 00:59:43,619
Shaun Smith: Awesome.
1345
00:59:43,749 --> 00:59:44,189
Awesome.
1346
00:59:44,579 --> 00:59:45,969
Uh, any time constraints?
1347
00:59:45,969 --> 00:59:49,949
I usually go like an hour max, uh, but
we can cut it whenever you need to.
1348
00:59:50,634 --> 00:59:51,884
Sug Daniels: No, ours sounds good.
1349
00:59:52,139 --> 00:59:52,549
Shaun Smith: Cool.
1350
00:59:53,379 --> 00:59:53,989
Good deal.
1351
00:59:54,349 --> 00:59:55,359
Uh, you sound great.
1352
00:59:55,359 --> 00:59:56,019
How do I sound?
1353
00:59:56,019 --> 00:59:56,979
Can you hear me okay?
1354
00:59:57,464 --> 00:59:58,384
Sug Daniels: Yeah, you sound wonderful.
1355
00:59:58,599 --> 00:59:59,189
Shaun Smith: Awesome.
1356
00:59:59,189 --> 01:00:00,289
Oh, you sound wonderful.
1357
01:00:00,289 --> 01:00:01,119
That's why I'm talking to you.
1358
01:00:02,749 --> 01:00:03,479
Awesome.
1359
01:00:03,529 --> 01:00:03,769
Cool.
1360
01:00:03,769 --> 01:00:07,129
So I usually just start it with,
uh, I'll say, Shug Daniels, welcome
1361
01:00:07,129 --> 01:00:09,219
to the High Note Podcast, and
then we'll just go from there.
1362
01:00:10,134 --> 01:00:10,774
Sug Daniels: Sounds good.
1363
01:00:10,784 --> 01:00:11,264
Shaun Smith: Awesome.
1364
01:00:11,264 --> 01:00:12,104
So you're good to go.
1365
01:00:12,244 --> 01:00:12,804
Great.
1366
01:00:12,964 --> 01:00:13,624
Sug Daniels: good to go.
1367
01:00:14,784 --> 01:00:15,634
Shaun Smith: Shug Daniels.
1368
01:00:15,634 --> 01:00:17,214
Welcome to the high note podcast.
1369
01:00:17,244 --> 01:00:18,354
How are you doing today?
1370
01:00:19,014 --> 01:00:20,954
Sug Daniels: I'm good,
Shaun thanks for having me.
1371
01:00:21,074 --> 01:00:22,344
Shaun Smith: Oh, thanks for coming on.
1372
01:00:22,344 --> 01:00:23,224
I really appreciate it.
1373
01:00:23,224 --> 01:00:27,054
I'm really excited to see you in
a, now it's, it's a few days away
1374
01:00:27,054 --> 01:00:28,694
at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
1375
01:00:29,344 --> 01:00:31,584
Sug Daniels: I know,
it's coming up so fast.
1376
01:00:32,904 --> 01:00:34,584
Shaun Smith: So Shug, tell me
a little bit about yourself.
1377
01:00:34,584 --> 01:00:38,754
How did you, uh, how did you start getting
into music and being a singer songwriter?
1378
01:00:40,024 --> 01:00:41,474
Sug Daniels: Alright, I'll try
to keep it quick, because it's
1379
01:00:41,494 --> 01:00:43,594
really like a lifelong journey, but
1380
01:00:44,199 --> 01:00:46,619
Shaun Smith: We take all, we
can take all the time you need.
1381
01:00:46,619 --> 01:00:47,349
Go for it.
1382
01:00:48,319 --> 01:00:50,529
Sug Daniels: well, I started
singing when I was little, right?
1383
01:00:50,549 --> 01:00:53,519
Like, I don't really remember my first
time on stage or anything like that.
1384
01:00:53,519 --> 01:00:54,779
I grew up, um, in church.
1385
01:00:54,779 --> 01:00:55,709
My mom was a singer.
1386
01:00:56,029 --> 01:00:58,029
She was a phenomenal,
is a phenomenal singer.
1387
01:00:58,039 --> 01:01:02,299
She doesn't sing as much anymore,
which I am sad about, but I remember,
1388
01:01:02,300 --> 01:01:05,649
you know, watching her sing and just
like being with, you know, in church
1389
01:01:05,649 --> 01:01:09,259
with my congregation and just like
seeing people, like the reaction was
1390
01:01:09,269 --> 01:01:12,299
so emotional and so hopeful and joyful.
1391
01:01:12,299 --> 01:01:15,299
And just like, I've always
known, I was like, that's it.
1392
01:01:15,339 --> 01:01:17,389
That's the thing that I want to do.
1393
01:01:17,599 --> 01:01:19,799
I want to do that for people
when I become an adult.
1394
01:01:20,769 --> 01:01:23,419
And you know, you get older, you
know, I've always been singing and
1395
01:01:23,419 --> 01:01:24,469
writing little songs and stuff.
1396
01:01:24,509 --> 01:01:26,449
And then you get older and
people like, yeah, well, what's
1397
01:01:26,449 --> 01:01:27,609
your real job going to be?
1398
01:01:27,609 --> 01:01:30,499
And I was like, I don't know, maybe
I'll do a little bit of this and that.
1399
01:01:31,089 --> 01:01:33,099
I did, but ultimately this, this is it.
1400
01:01:33,099 --> 01:01:37,859
I've been, uh, making music full
time now in October of last year.
1401
01:01:37,859 --> 01:01:41,469
So I'm coming up on my near
scene of making music full time.
1402
01:01:41,489 --> 01:01:45,559
You know, I don't regret my Chipotle
days or anything like that, but
1403
01:01:45,589 --> 01:01:49,129
this is definitely feeling very
like aligned with who I am.
1404
01:01:49,789 --> 01:01:50,569
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's great.
1405
01:01:50,579 --> 01:01:53,049
What was, was there a single
thing that made you say that,
1406
01:01:53,079 --> 01:01:54,749
okay, I'm going all in on this?
1407
01:01:56,799 --> 01:01:59,049
Sug Daniels: I mean, so
I've always wanted to do it.
1408
01:01:59,234 --> 01:02:01,384
But I remember the day that I quit my job.
1409
01:02:01,854 --> 01:02:02,874
I'll tell you that story.
1410
01:02:03,124 --> 01:02:07,704
So I had, I'm from Delaware originally
and I moved to Philadelphia after this
1411
01:02:07,714 --> 01:02:11,604
really big breakup and after the pandemic
and well, not after the pandemic, but like
1412
01:02:11,604 --> 01:02:15,294
once people could kind of move around a
bit more and music started picking up, I
1413
01:02:15,294 --> 01:02:16,564
was like, all right, well, you know what?
1414
01:02:16,564 --> 01:02:17,774
I think I'm down for a change.
1415
01:02:17,774 --> 01:02:19,844
I need to change, you know?
1416
01:02:20,294 --> 01:02:23,074
And then I was like, I'm going to move to
Philadelphia because it's not that far.
1417
01:02:23,074 --> 01:02:26,004
Delaware is like Philadelphia's country
cousin, you know, right down the street.
1418
01:02:26,059 --> 01:02:27,549
Shaun Smith: just right up by 95.
1419
01:02:27,954 --> 01:02:28,824
Sug Daniels: You know what I'm saying?
1420
01:02:28,834 --> 01:02:31,174
And I was living in
Wilmington at the time too.
1421
01:02:31,484 --> 01:02:34,084
So I could get on a train and I was
coming up here and I was visiting
1422
01:02:34,084 --> 01:02:37,144
more of my friends and I was like, let
me just go ahead and make the jump.
1423
01:02:37,144 --> 01:02:38,594
I can always come back to Delaware.
1424
01:02:38,604 --> 01:02:39,374
I have friends here.
1425
01:02:39,374 --> 01:02:41,334
Like, you know, Delaware
is not going anywhere.
1426
01:02:41,934 --> 01:02:46,344
Uh, so I moved up to, to Philadelphia
and I had a coffee shop job.
1427
01:02:46,394 --> 01:02:47,224
I worked at a cafe.
1428
01:02:47,264 --> 01:02:49,654
I was like, I'm either going to
work at a bar or I'm going to work
1429
01:02:49,654 --> 01:02:53,604
at a cafe, you know, So I can have
part time hours, make some tips.
1430
01:02:53,694 --> 01:02:57,384
And I'm much more of a morning
person than I am a night owl.
1431
01:02:57,394 --> 01:03:00,314
So I was like, let me go ahead, wake
up in the morning, make people some
1432
01:03:00,314 --> 01:03:03,704
coffee, come home, write my songs, you
know, get with, get with friends, write
1433
01:03:03,704 --> 01:03:05,984
music, do that, you know, then I can gig.
1434
01:03:06,374 --> 01:03:11,194
So about two years into working at this
cafe and I'd been doing good in music.
1435
01:03:11,194 --> 01:03:14,394
I was at WXPN, you know, our local
station was playing my music.
1436
01:03:14,394 --> 01:03:16,004
I was, the gigs were picking up.
1437
01:03:16,004 --> 01:03:17,134
I was doing pretty good.
1438
01:03:17,654 --> 01:03:21,554
Um, I had rode my little electric
scooter from South Philly.
1439
01:03:22,004 --> 01:03:26,854
Up into like center city and it was
fun riding the scooter, but this this
1440
01:03:26,874 --> 01:03:31,864
particular day was really cold I was like,
oh my god My hands were freezing and I was
1441
01:03:31,974 --> 01:03:35,644
you know Opened up the cafe and one of my
customers had come in and at this point
1442
01:03:35,704 --> 01:03:38,954
all of my customers knew that I was A
musician right there following me online.
1443
01:03:38,954 --> 01:03:39,284
That's what you do.
1444
01:03:39,284 --> 01:03:39,944
You move to the city.
1445
01:03:39,954 --> 01:03:42,874
You tell everybody what you
do Uh, she was really cool.
1446
01:03:42,874 --> 01:03:44,544
She said why are you still working here?
1447
01:03:44,544 --> 01:03:47,904
I just seen you, you know, you're going
on tour and I was like, you know, i'm just
1448
01:03:47,984 --> 01:03:52,329
i'm gonna make the break soon She said
one day you're gonna come in here You And
1449
01:03:52,329 --> 01:03:53,869
it's going to be cold on that scooter.
1450
01:03:53,869 --> 01:03:55,399
And you're going to be like,
no, I don't want to do this.
1451
01:03:55,400 --> 01:03:57,969
And it was so cold earlier that day.
1452
01:03:57,969 --> 01:03:59,419
I was thinking when she was saying that.
1453
01:03:59,829 --> 01:04:01,599
So as soon as she walked
out, I texted my boss.
1454
01:04:01,599 --> 01:04:06,139
I said, Hey man, I really appreciate
you letting me work at this cafe, but I
1455
01:04:06,139 --> 01:04:09,479
think I'm going to go ahead and pursue
music full time, he wished me well.
1456
01:04:09,479 --> 01:04:12,339
And, you know, I'd already had some
money, a little bit of money saved up.
1457
01:04:12,339 --> 01:04:14,809
So I knew I could not work for
three months and I'd be good.
1458
01:04:14,809 --> 01:04:16,919
So I was like, all right, if I
could just book some more stuff.
1459
01:04:17,334 --> 01:04:19,034
I think I'll, I'll think
I'll be pretty good.
1460
01:04:19,054 --> 01:04:20,554
So that was it.
1461
01:04:21,109 --> 01:04:21,829
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's great.
1462
01:04:21,829 --> 01:04:22,609
Congratulations.
1463
01:04:22,619 --> 01:04:23,469
That's really awesome.
1464
01:04:25,319 --> 01:04:27,729
How do you like Philly
as opposed to Delaware?
1465
01:04:29,204 --> 01:04:31,204
Sug Daniels: I mean, they're both
their own kind of creature though.
1466
01:04:31,244 --> 01:04:34,364
I like that Philadelphia
has so much going on.
1467
01:04:34,394 --> 01:04:37,524
It can be a little distracting
sometimes, but I'm always, I'm
1468
01:04:37,524 --> 01:04:38,864
always like having so much fun.
1469
01:04:38,974 --> 01:04:40,294
I moved from South Philly.
1470
01:04:40,314 --> 01:04:41,424
I was there for like two years now.
1471
01:04:41,424 --> 01:04:44,644
I'm in West Philly with my partner and
our roommate and our beautiful cat.
1472
01:04:45,204 --> 01:04:48,574
Um, and there's a bit more trees
here, which I really enjoy.
1473
01:04:48,574 --> 01:04:50,914
I'm, you know, I'm from Southern
Delaware, so I'm a nature girl.
1474
01:04:50,924 --> 01:04:52,174
I'm a, you know, I'm a country girl.
1475
01:04:52,494 --> 01:04:53,174
I love the trees.
1476
01:04:53,174 --> 01:04:56,484
I got a little garden, garden bed
in the front yard, which is nice.
1477
01:04:56,484 --> 01:04:59,834
My peppers are growing and,
uh, my carrots are growing.
1478
01:04:59,834 --> 01:05:04,124
They're doing their thing, but it's, it
really is a city full of neighborhoods.
1479
01:05:04,184 --> 01:05:07,864
Like I like all my neighbors are really
fun and friendly and wonderful to talk to.
1480
01:05:08,324 --> 01:05:09,524
Um, the city is really diverse.
1481
01:05:09,524 --> 01:05:11,854
It's got great food,
great culture, great art.
1482
01:05:11,854 --> 01:05:12,404
I think that.
1483
01:05:13,024 --> 01:05:16,594
The city knows that the
artists are a big deal here.
1484
01:05:16,804 --> 01:05:19,864
I feel like the arts are really
supported in Philadelphia.
1485
01:05:20,394 --> 01:05:21,784
Um, yeah.
1486
01:05:21,834 --> 01:05:24,354
And, oh my God, I love
getting on a little train.
1487
01:05:24,364 --> 01:05:26,354
I love going anywhere for
like two bucks and 50 cents.
1488
01:05:26,354 --> 01:05:27,084
It's so cool.
1489
01:05:29,429 --> 01:05:30,149
Shaun Smith: That's great.
1490
01:05:30,329 --> 01:05:32,759
Yeah, I was actually, I was going to ask
you, what do you think about the music
1491
01:05:32,759 --> 01:05:35,049
scene in Philly as opposed to in Delaware?
1492
01:05:35,059 --> 01:05:37,749
Because Delaware does have
a vibrant music scene.
1493
01:05:37,749 --> 01:05:39,859
It's probably a little less
known than the Philly one.
1494
01:05:40,674 --> 01:05:41,664
Sug Daniels: Oh, absolutely.
1495
01:05:41,724 --> 01:05:45,119
I mean, I feel like one, the
first thing to remember is that
1496
01:05:45,119 --> 01:05:46,379
like, it's a numbers game, right?
1497
01:05:46,399 --> 01:05:49,779
Like there's just a humongous
population here in Philadelphia.
1498
01:05:49,779 --> 01:05:53,199
So of course there's going to be
more singers, songwriters, venues
1499
01:05:53,239 --> 01:05:55,999
that can accommodate more people,
more people that are just able,
1500
01:05:56,049 --> 01:05:57,709
you're just able to expose yourself.
1501
01:05:58,199 --> 01:06:01,259
Um, so I think for me being an
artist full time, you can be an
1502
01:06:01,269 --> 01:06:02,769
artist in any way, shape, or form.
1503
01:06:02,769 --> 01:06:05,559
It's not always, it's never, it's
never about making money, but if
1504
01:06:05,559 --> 01:06:06,419
you're trying to be an artist.
1505
01:06:07,034 --> 01:06:12,274
and make a living being in a market
that has the capacity to support you
1506
01:06:12,284 --> 01:06:15,334
I think is really important and the
thing that artists really you have to
1507
01:06:15,334 --> 01:06:18,894
separate those things right like you
can be an artist anywhere but to be
1508
01:06:18,894 --> 01:06:24,494
an artist where there's venues that
people go to on you know Wednesday
1509
01:06:25,140 --> 01:06:26,369
Shaun Smith: Yeah,
1510
01:06:26,505 --> 01:06:29,044
Sug Daniels: you know you don't have
to just play covers for three hours
1511
01:06:29,054 --> 01:06:34,834
you can play original stuff and people
want to hear that So I love it because
1512
01:06:34,834 --> 01:06:38,194
I feel like this place can support
also, we do have the train, we do
1513
01:06:38,194 --> 01:06:44,304
have a, um, an airport, we do have a
little bit more transportation to get
1514
01:06:44,314 --> 01:06:47,564
out of the city if you're like going
to do a tour and stuff like that.
1515
01:06:47,604 --> 01:06:51,634
So this place just has, you know,
it just has the infrastructure for
1516
01:06:51,674 --> 01:06:54,114
a really big booming music scene.
1517
01:06:54,534 --> 01:06:58,354
Um, I think Delaware has, Phenomenal
artists, some of the coolest artists
1518
01:06:58,354 --> 01:07:01,694
and especially like underground scenes
that I've seen in a lot of cities.
1519
01:07:02,094 --> 01:07:05,844
Um, but it just didn't have the, the,
what I needed in order to support
1520
01:07:05,844 --> 01:07:09,114
myself in the way that I wanted
to create music and create art,
1521
01:07:10,449 --> 01:07:11,619
Shaun Smith: that's, that's really cool.
1522
01:07:11,659 --> 01:07:12,229
That's really cool.
1523
01:07:12,229 --> 01:07:15,109
I'm glad that you made the move
because, uh, if you didn't, I might
1524
01:07:15,109 --> 01:07:18,309
not have discovered you on the bill
for the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
1525
01:07:19,024 --> 01:07:20,884
Sug Daniels: you know, you know.
1526
01:07:22,214 --> 01:07:24,594
Shaun Smith: Now, how did you,
uh, what made you want to pick up
1527
01:07:24,594 --> 01:07:26,674
the ukulele of all instruments?
1528
01:07:27,499 --> 01:07:29,039
Sug Daniels: Well, it's,
it's a funny story.
1529
01:07:29,069 --> 01:07:31,619
I've been like, so I've been
singing since I was a little girl.
1530
01:07:31,659 --> 01:07:35,289
And I was like in this really cool rap
group with my cousins for like 10 years.
1531
01:07:35,739 --> 01:07:37,499
Um, until I got tired and I was
like, all right, I don't think
1532
01:07:37,499 --> 01:07:39,949
I really want to make that music
anymore and do something different.
1533
01:07:39,979 --> 01:07:42,399
And then I was singing in a funk
soul band called Hoochie Coochie.
1534
01:07:42,399 --> 01:07:44,699
And that was really fun, but
I didn't play any instruments.
1535
01:07:44,739 --> 01:07:45,979
I mostly just like sang.
1536
01:07:48,464 --> 01:07:52,394
When the pandemic hit and I couldn't
get with my band to make music because,
1537
01:07:52,404 --> 01:07:54,594
you know, uh, the desire never left.
1538
01:07:54,594 --> 01:07:58,164
I always collaborated with somebody,
but then all of a sudden I find myself
1539
01:07:58,194 --> 01:08:03,694
after like, 15, 16 years of making
music professionally being like,
1540
01:08:03,704 --> 01:08:05,524
oh man, I can't I'm like crippled.
1541
01:08:05,524 --> 01:08:11,974
I can't do So my roommate at the time was
a musician and she played guitar and stuff
1542
01:08:12,004 --> 01:08:15,614
and I started playing bass in the basement
just because like You know, she wasn't
1543
01:08:15,614 --> 01:08:17,314
gigging either and that was pretty fun.
1544
01:08:18,064 --> 01:08:21,304
It was my first time ever playing an
instrument I never I didn't have guitars
1545
01:08:21,304 --> 01:08:22,404
or anything like that growing up.
1546
01:08:22,434 --> 01:08:25,384
I was just some And she had a
ukulele in her room and she was like,
1547
01:08:25,394 --> 01:08:26,694
you should, you should have this.
1548
01:08:26,944 --> 01:08:30,514
Like, you should learn something
so you can keep making music.
1549
01:08:31,309 --> 01:08:33,939
So I started making music
and playing around on that.
1550
01:08:33,969 --> 01:08:38,869
And it just was so like, not, it was
so unintimidating, you know, it's just,
1551
01:08:38,879 --> 01:08:40,759
it's tiny, it's little, it's loud.
1552
01:08:40,759 --> 01:08:42,509
Like me, you know, so
I was like relatable.
1553
01:08:42,969 --> 01:08:46,229
Um, it's not, it's hard
to make it sound bad.
1554
01:08:46,269 --> 01:08:50,009
Honestly, the, the, just the way
that the strings are in the chords,
1555
01:08:50,449 --> 01:08:51,859
it's just a beautiful instrument.
1556
01:08:52,279 --> 01:08:56,169
So I just started messing around and
just writing songs because writing
1557
01:08:56,169 --> 01:08:58,409
songs sounds is just what I do.
1558
01:08:58,409 --> 01:09:01,944
Um, I think I started putting stuff
up online, like some live stuff.
1559
01:09:01,974 --> 01:09:08,054
And the reaction that I got was
so, um, obvious and profound.
1560
01:09:08,164 --> 01:09:10,074
I was like, Oh, I guess
this is what I do now.
1561
01:09:11,024 --> 01:09:12,914
I guess I'll be a ukulele player.
1562
01:09:13,444 --> 01:09:18,514
Um, and I didn't really know either, but
like ukulele fans are like hardcore fans.
1563
01:09:18,524 --> 01:09:22,354
People who like, love the ukulele,
freaking love the ukulele.
1564
01:09:22,354 --> 01:09:27,949
So I also kind of found myself in
this really fun niche and welcoming Um
1565
01:09:27,979 --> 01:09:32,609
community of of people that had this
love for this cool little instrument.
1566
01:09:33,504 --> 01:09:34,224
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
1567
01:09:34,224 --> 01:09:36,144
Yeah, you make it sound
beautiful for sure.
1568
01:09:36,144 --> 01:09:39,664
And, but it, you don't, you don't
play a traditional ukulele, do you?
1569
01:09:39,674 --> 01:09:40,394
Or maybe you do.
1570
01:09:40,394 --> 01:09:43,694
I think I saw an electric
ukulele or something.
1571
01:09:43,724 --> 01:09:46,254
Um, yeah, tell me about that.
1572
01:09:46,784 --> 01:09:51,424
Sug Daniels: So I feel like when
I first started, I was really,
1573
01:09:52,934 --> 01:09:54,374
I just was just messing around.
1574
01:09:54,384 --> 01:09:57,314
And then once I started, I seen
that it was getting attention
1575
01:09:57,314 --> 01:09:58,584
and people were excited about it.
1576
01:09:58,594 --> 01:10:00,794
I was like, Oh, well,
I'm going to play live.
1577
01:10:01,464 --> 01:10:02,804
And cause I love to perform.
1578
01:10:02,804 --> 01:10:03,634
It's just so fun.
1579
01:10:03,634 --> 01:10:06,384
It's such a fun way for me
to connect with other humans.
1580
01:10:06,544 --> 01:10:09,524
You know, it's like to just make
a fool of myself in front of them
1581
01:10:10,124 --> 01:10:11,244
and hoping to have a good time.
1582
01:10:11,614 --> 01:10:13,394
So I was like, all right,
well, what can I do?
1583
01:10:13,414 --> 01:10:14,954
Cause the ukulele I had was like.
1584
01:10:15,284 --> 01:10:16,484
It was more classical.
1585
01:10:16,484 --> 01:10:18,884
It was, uh, you know, didn't have
any pickups or anything in it.
1586
01:10:19,364 --> 01:10:20,384
And so I started Googling.
1587
01:10:20,384 --> 01:10:23,594
I lived with my buddy Rob at the time
who was a, literally, he's a luer.
1588
01:10:23,684 --> 01:10:26,714
He had done that for as a career for a
long time and still does it on the side.
1589
01:10:27,124 --> 01:10:30,034
And he was like, well, maybe we can
find one and put some pickups in there.
1590
01:10:30,034 --> 01:10:33,614
And then we would, you know, sit
and Google and see like what kind
1591
01:10:33,614 --> 01:10:34,994
of instruments were out there.
1592
01:10:35,174 --> 01:10:40,054
And Fender had like a line of ukuleles
that, you know, had, uh, had a
1593
01:10:40,054 --> 01:10:43,714
pickup in it and you could plug it
in and put it through some pedals.
1594
01:10:43,714 --> 01:10:45,574
And they were all designed like.
1595
01:10:45,979 --> 01:10:47,969
Their fender guitars,
so it was really cool.
1596
01:10:47,969 --> 01:10:51,329
It was really interesting
Um, that's a class.
1597
01:10:51,339 --> 01:10:55,429
It's that one's done in classical,
but now I have a baritone ukulele from
1598
01:10:55,829 --> 01:10:59,279
college So there's just so much out
there There's like there's I have a
1599
01:10:59,309 --> 01:11:03,209
u bass that my my bass player let me
borrow that I cut little demos with
1600
01:11:03,629 --> 01:11:06,199
so The instrument really has evolved.
1601
01:11:06,199 --> 01:11:08,979
It's a really older instrument and
it's, it's done really beautifully.
1602
01:11:08,979 --> 01:11:09,869
It's about community.
1603
01:11:09,869 --> 01:11:12,539
It's about singing with the
people in, in, in your, in your
1604
01:11:12,539 --> 01:11:14,679
neighborhood and around a campfire.
1605
01:11:15,029 --> 01:11:18,439
Uh, but it's really evolved in
the last probably like decade.
1606
01:11:18,599 --> 01:11:21,099
And I'm, I'm excited to be bringing
it because I think it's just.
1607
01:11:21,709 --> 01:11:23,069
Such an accessible instrument.
1608
01:11:23,079 --> 01:11:23,889
It's small.
1609
01:11:24,029 --> 01:11:27,219
I can take, like if I'm touring,
especially my concert ukulele,
1610
01:11:27,219 --> 01:11:28,899
I could take it on a plane, man.
1611
01:11:29,169 --> 01:11:30,679
I don't gotta pay for it.
1612
01:11:30,889 --> 01:11:32,709
I can bring it as a carry on.
1613
01:11:33,079 --> 01:11:35,179
So it's so fun and it's
just so accessible.
1614
01:11:35,209 --> 01:11:38,839
So yeah, you throw some pedals
on there, like highly recommend
1615
01:11:38,839 --> 01:11:40,199
everybody get one for the house.
1616
01:11:40,489 --> 01:11:41,179
Shaun Smith: That's so cool.
1617
01:11:41,179 --> 01:11:43,569
I've never heard of a
baritone ukulele before.
1618
01:11:44,139 --> 01:11:45,839
Sug Daniels: Yeah, the
baritone ukulele is fun.
1619
01:11:45,839 --> 01:11:50,899
So that one is the, I think the first
four strings of a guitar, the baritone.
1620
01:11:50,899 --> 01:11:51,999
So that one's a little different.
1621
01:11:53,504 --> 01:11:57,204
But once again, it's just small,
it's super portable, and yeah,
1622
01:11:57,214 --> 01:12:00,114
people sometimes don't even know I'm
playing a ukulele, they think I'm
1623
01:12:00,114 --> 01:12:01,764
playing just a tiny little guitar.
1624
01:12:01,944 --> 01:12:05,334
I think it's the same strings, if
I'm not mistaken, and I'm sorry,
1625
01:12:05,344 --> 01:12:07,434
everybody, anybody out there in
the podcast world, like, she don't
1626
01:12:07,434 --> 01:12:07,984
know what she's talking about.
1627
01:12:08,394 --> 01:12:10,844
I think it's the same
as, like, a tenor guitar.
1628
01:12:10,964 --> 01:12:12,834
The same strings as a tenor guitar.
1629
01:12:13,289 --> 01:12:17,869
Um, my buddy, yeah, my buddy Sam Rise,
who is another Philadelphia singer
1630
01:12:17,869 --> 01:12:19,479
songwriter, plays a tenor guitar.
1631
01:12:19,479 --> 01:12:21,839
And we're always like, yo, we should
just like get together and jam and
1632
01:12:21,839 --> 01:12:22,739
like play each other's instruments.
1633
01:12:22,740 --> 01:12:24,789
But we've both been so busy booking.
1634
01:12:25,749 --> 01:12:26,369
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
1635
01:12:26,409 --> 01:12:28,269
Now, how did your, are you self taught?
1636
01:12:29,519 --> 01:12:30,069
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
1637
01:12:31,069 --> 01:12:34,179
It's like on my list to like eventually
get some lessons, but I just keep
1638
01:12:34,179 --> 01:12:38,504
writing stuff and uh, there's
nothing wrong with either, right?
1639
01:12:38,504 --> 01:12:40,644
Like, being self taught, I
think, is really fun because
1640
01:12:40,814 --> 01:12:43,694
you're following this passion and
you're, like, developing this ear.
1641
01:12:43,724 --> 01:12:46,734
And this wasn't something that I
realized until later after playing
1642
01:12:46,734 --> 01:12:50,704
with a lot of friends who have been
trained, who did, like, go to school or
1643
01:12:50,704 --> 01:12:54,144
did, like, have a lot of lessons when
they were kids or take lessons now.
1644
01:12:54,484 --> 01:12:56,844
Um, I think it's like,
I just know good music.
1645
01:12:56,844 --> 01:13:01,279
I grew up in a household with a lot of
different kind of stuff, like, My little
1646
01:13:01,279 --> 01:13:05,039
brother's dad loved like Jimi Hendrix and
the Beatles and like classic rock stuff.
1647
01:13:05,039 --> 01:13:06,469
So that was cool to listen to.
1648
01:13:06,469 --> 01:13:10,789
And then my mother loved, of course, like,
you know, uh, gospel, of course, and then
1649
01:13:10,789 --> 01:13:14,439
like R& B and a lot of like Philly, like
really cool, like soul clarion stuff.
1650
01:13:14,789 --> 01:13:17,049
Uh, that I didn't realize was
right in Philadelphia, but I was
1651
01:13:17,279 --> 01:13:18,599
listening to a lot of that too.
1652
01:13:18,969 --> 01:13:22,649
So then I had this, this wide eclectic
mix of all these different things that
1653
01:13:22,649 --> 01:13:24,529
I like, so I kind of developed an ear.
1654
01:13:25,559 --> 01:13:29,629
And then, yeah, I started making
music that just felt good.
1655
01:13:29,629 --> 01:13:32,399
I never really felt like I want
to make this kind of genre.
1656
01:13:32,399 --> 01:13:35,329
I never really tried to
lean too hard into anything.
1657
01:13:35,649 --> 01:13:38,254
I just know what feels good
to me, what sounds good.
1658
01:13:38,644 --> 01:13:42,724
Um, I feel like now I'm, I'm getting
a bit more into learning what the
1659
01:13:42,724 --> 01:13:46,284
heck I'm doing, because I'm starting
to play with more people, and it's
1660
01:13:46,284 --> 01:13:50,074
nice to know that language, so I can
communicate with them what, what I'm
1661
01:13:50,074 --> 01:13:53,794
doing, and what I'd like for them
to do, what I don't want them to do.
1662
01:13:54,819 --> 01:13:55,839
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's so cool.
1663
01:13:55,859 --> 01:14:00,014
Yeah, I can definitely hear some of
those, uh, Those influences, uh, from
1664
01:14:00,184 --> 01:14:03,324
what you're talking about growing
up, but what kind of music did you
1665
01:14:03,324 --> 01:14:06,704
listen to when you were growing up,
uh, that kind of inspire you today?
1666
01:14:07,729 --> 01:14:10,179
Sug Daniels: Well, my favorite
for sure was like Michael Jackson.
1667
01:14:10,179 --> 01:14:13,389
I was obsessed with
Michael Jackson as a kid.
1668
01:14:13,839 --> 01:14:18,539
My mom got me like a Walkman and I would
get like just random little cassettes.
1669
01:14:19,109 --> 01:14:20,519
And I got really random stuff, right?
1670
01:14:20,519 --> 01:14:22,209
Like I remember having like an REM.
1671
01:14:22,219 --> 01:14:25,429
I didn't know who REM was, but I just
remember being like, I like the look
1672
01:14:25,429 --> 01:14:26,629
of this cassette, so I'll get it.
1673
01:14:26,630 --> 01:14:26,919
So.
1674
01:14:27,059 --> 01:14:30,739
And then later on, now, which
makes sense why I like folk music
1675
01:14:30,739 --> 01:14:33,649
so much, because there's so much
mandolin in that music, and just
1676
01:14:33,649 --> 01:14:35,019
the way he's singing is different.
1677
01:14:35,019 --> 01:14:38,229
It's not like, he's not doing some soul
thing, which is what I was used to.
1678
01:14:38,439 --> 01:14:41,199
It was doing something different,
but I could pick up on why that music
1679
01:14:41,209 --> 01:14:44,529
was good, and why people liked it,
and, you know, one of my favorites.
1680
01:14:44,539 --> 01:14:49,054
But my favorite, um, Cassette was
like the best of the Jackson 5's and
1681
01:14:49,054 --> 01:14:52,664
I learned all the songs and those kids
had like the lyrics and then back then.
1682
01:14:52,904 --> 01:14:55,404
So I would just literally learn
all these songs and I'd walk around
1683
01:14:55,404 --> 01:14:56,684
my neighborhood singing them.
1684
01:14:57,154 --> 01:14:59,864
Um, and I just thought
Michael Jackson was amazing.
1685
01:14:59,934 --> 01:15:03,834
I mean he is, he's a phenomenal performer
too, which is where I think along
1686
01:15:03,834 --> 01:15:09,074
with watching my mom, um, be such an
amazing performer also inspired me.
1687
01:15:09,154 --> 01:15:12,564
I was like, I just want to make
people go, you know, like that's cool.
1688
01:15:13,374 --> 01:15:13,684
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
1689
01:15:13,694 --> 01:15:18,404
Those early Jackson five songs are, I
mean, they're amazing and it's just hard.
1690
01:15:18,704 --> 01:15:23,154
It's kind of hard because Michael
Jackson was a little kid, like a little
1691
01:15:23,154 --> 01:15:25,404
kid when he was performing those songs.
1692
01:15:25,404 --> 01:15:26,694
Like it's kind of, it kind of.
1693
01:15:27,124 --> 01:15:32,004
blows my mind now when I hear them
and I go, man, this band is so tight.
1694
01:15:32,004 --> 01:15:36,894
And this little kid is just belting
out these tunes with his entire soul.
1695
01:15:37,124 --> 01:15:40,074
That is only like, you
know, not even 10 years old.
1696
01:15:40,074 --> 01:15:40,394
Right.
1697
01:15:40,394 --> 01:15:41,734
I mean, he was a little kid.
1698
01:15:42,319 --> 01:15:45,109
Sug Daniels: He was little, little,
and I mean, he grew up to be just
1699
01:15:45,109 --> 01:15:46,789
such an amazing songwriter, too.
1700
01:15:46,789 --> 01:15:50,529
Like, I was watching, um, did
you see that Netflix documentary,
1701
01:15:51,099 --> 01:15:52,099
The Greatest Night in Pop?
1702
01:15:52,574 --> 01:15:53,854
Shaun Smith: Uh, yes I did.
1703
01:15:53,924 --> 01:15:54,284
Yeah.
1704
01:15:54,439 --> 01:15:57,039
Sug Daniels: It was, I didn't
realize it was just him and
1705
01:15:57,139 --> 01:15:58,279
Lionel Richie that wrote that.
1706
01:15:58,429 --> 01:16:00,229
That wrote the We Are the World song.
1707
01:16:00,499 --> 01:16:04,864
Like, they wrote it, they kind of like,
you know, Pussy footed around forever.
1708
01:16:04,864 --> 01:16:07,504
And then it was like, oh, we have
to have this song done, or Quincy
1709
01:16:07,504 --> 01:16:08,704
Jones is gonna have our heads.
1710
01:16:09,064 --> 01:16:10,324
And they're like, okay, here it is.
1711
01:16:11,144 --> 01:16:15,444
Shaun Smith: Yeah, and watching his
process, his process in the studio,
1712
01:16:15,444 --> 01:16:17,264
where he like, Oh, I messed that up.
1713
01:16:17,264 --> 01:16:19,584
And then, you know, he goes back
in and he's just kind of like,
1714
01:16:19,754 --> 01:16:21,354
but he really just focused.
1715
01:16:21,354 --> 01:16:22,724
He sat, but he wore the whole.
1716
01:16:22,904 --> 01:16:25,364
That was the other cool thing
is he, he wore the whole.
1717
01:16:25,589 --> 01:16:29,449
Michael, you know, what we now later
would see him wearing all the time, but
1718
01:16:29,449 --> 01:16:33,379
he would walk in the studio dressed to
the nines, like ready to rock and roll.
1719
01:16:33,389 --> 01:16:35,099
That was, that was really cool.
1720
01:16:35,834 --> 01:16:36,224
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
1721
01:16:36,314 --> 01:16:36,584
Yeah.
1722
01:16:36,584 --> 01:16:39,944
Definitely a once in a lifetime
kind of musician and artist.
1723
01:16:40,124 --> 01:16:44,854
Uh, but yeah, so definitely super
inspired by Michael Jackson and the
1724
01:16:44,854 --> 01:16:47,224
Jackson Five, um, when I was a kid.
1725
01:16:47,314 --> 01:16:49,324
And then, yeah, a lot of r and b and soul.
1726
01:16:49,324 --> 01:16:50,614
My mom got really into like.
1727
01:16:50,680 --> 01:16:54,779
Erykah Badu and Jill Scott and
stuff like that when I feel like
1728
01:16:54,779 --> 01:16:57,309
I was probably in middle school.
1729
01:16:58,229 --> 01:17:00,809
And so I really, I was
like, oh, this is amazing.
1730
01:17:00,819 --> 01:17:04,679
While simultaneously having a bunch
of friends who are like into, you
1731
01:17:04,679 --> 01:17:07,759
know, The Strokes and Kings of Leon.
1732
01:17:07,759 --> 01:17:09,259
And so that's what my
friends are listening to.
1733
01:17:09,279 --> 01:17:10,549
And I'm just like soaking it up.
1734
01:17:10,579 --> 01:17:11,889
I'm just like eating it all up.
1735
01:17:11,889 --> 01:17:12,239
It's just.
1736
01:17:12,604 --> 01:17:13,854
I just love good music.
1737
01:17:13,854 --> 01:17:16,254
I love anything that just
makes me feel some kind of way.
1738
01:17:16,844 --> 01:17:21,634
Um, and you know, during being a
teen angsty kind of kid, I just,
1739
01:17:21,784 --> 01:17:23,654
everything, I wanted to hear everything.
1740
01:17:23,655 --> 01:17:24,934
Um,
1741
01:17:25,069 --> 01:17:25,479
Shaun Smith: amazing.
1742
01:17:25,479 --> 01:17:25,649
Yeah.
1743
01:17:25,649 --> 01:17:26,549
It makes a lot of sense.
1744
01:17:26,609 --> 01:17:29,819
Uh, because like hearing your
songs, I hear, I hear all of that.
1745
01:17:29,819 --> 01:17:35,689
I hear some, some modern alt rock, but
you have a lot of soul and a classic,
1746
01:17:35,709 --> 01:17:38,079
a real classic feel, uh, to your songs.
1747
01:17:38,099 --> 01:17:41,839
And honestly, I mean, your, your
songs are, uh, for the most part.
1748
01:17:41,929 --> 01:17:44,889
I feel like they make me
happy when I listen to them.
1749
01:17:44,899 --> 01:17:47,489
Like they have like an uplifting quality.
1750
01:17:47,649 --> 01:17:50,119
Is that what you go for when
you're, when you're writing a song?
1751
01:17:50,119 --> 01:17:55,179
Are you trying to be, uh, positive and
uplifting or are you just writing a song?
1752
01:17:56,274 --> 01:17:59,704
Sug Daniels: I feel like I'm just writing
a song and people, but people say that
1753
01:17:59,704 --> 01:18:03,284
a lot and I think that that's beautiful
and it's wonderful because if I'm going
1754
01:18:03,284 --> 01:18:07,084
to do anything in this life, uh, make
uplifting people and spreading joy and
1755
01:18:07,084 --> 01:18:12,484
hope is, Like I'll, I will die on that
hill for, for sure, but I think like
1756
01:18:12,484 --> 01:18:16,909
when I'm writing and all my, a lot of
my songs come on like 15 20 minutes.
1757
01:18:16,919 --> 01:18:19,899
Like if I decide I want to sit down
and like write a song sometimes it
1758
01:18:19,899 --> 01:18:23,889
comes but like sometimes it just hits
me and it feels like oh I have to
1759
01:18:23,919 --> 01:18:27,979
like whatever this energy is I kind
of like have to let it flow through
1760
01:18:27,979 --> 01:18:30,629
me or it's just not a good day.
1761
01:18:30,899 --> 01:18:34,989
So I get these, I get these like melodies
or these lines or something and I sit
1762
01:18:34,989 --> 01:18:39,269
down and it comes out and that's just
you know that just tends to be what
1763
01:18:39,269 --> 01:18:40,759
it feels like and what it sounds like.
1764
01:18:40,929 --> 01:18:42,649
And I'm, but I'm happy for that you know.
1765
01:18:42,679 --> 01:18:45,384
I'm happy that my music comes out
that way and it makes me feel good.
1766
01:18:45,944 --> 01:18:46,644
Feel that way.
1767
01:18:47,199 --> 01:18:48,439
Shaun Smith: Now, I know
this is a hard question.
1768
01:18:48,439 --> 01:18:49,249
You just mentioned it.
1769
01:18:49,249 --> 01:18:50,869
So how does it, how does it start?
1770
01:18:50,879 --> 01:18:52,159
Does it start with a melody?
1771
01:18:52,159 --> 01:18:53,369
Do you have the ukulele?
1772
01:18:53,369 --> 01:18:54,919
Do you sit down with the intent?
1773
01:18:55,159 --> 01:18:57,839
Is it just kind of built up where
you're, you know, you're riding
1774
01:18:57,839 --> 01:19:01,679
the, the, uh, the And you're like,
Oh man, I can't wait to get home.
1775
01:19:01,679 --> 01:19:02,689
So I can, I can.
1776
01:19:02,899 --> 01:19:04,689
I can play this on the ukulele.
1777
01:19:04,939 --> 01:19:06,549
Tell me a little bit about your process.
1778
01:19:07,094 --> 01:19:07,554
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
1779
01:19:07,554 --> 01:19:08,784
So basically, yes.
1780
01:19:08,834 --> 01:19:10,344
I mean all of the above.
1781
01:19:10,414 --> 01:19:15,074
It can sometimes I'm like, uh,
sometimes I'll be practicing, right?
1782
01:19:15,104 --> 01:19:17,294
I'm like rehearsing for
something and I mess up.
1783
01:19:17,294 --> 01:19:18,004
That happens a lot.
1784
01:19:18,004 --> 01:19:18,594
I'll mess up.
1785
01:19:18,594 --> 01:19:23,464
I'll do one note or chord and then I go
to one that I'm supposed to or try to
1786
01:19:23,464 --> 01:19:26,264
go to one that I'm supposed to and it's
different and I'm like, oh, that's nice.
1787
01:19:28,004 --> 01:19:29,964
That sounds like that could be something.
1788
01:19:30,334 --> 01:19:35,044
And then whatever that melody makes me
feel, is that, then it, it's like that
1789
01:19:35,044 --> 01:19:36,874
emotion kind of like channels through me.
1790
01:19:36,994 --> 01:19:38,064
And then there's a song.
1791
01:19:38,564 --> 01:19:42,454
Um, but I can also like be on, on
the bus and hear like somebody,
1792
01:19:42,504 --> 01:19:44,824
like a conversation and they say
a line and I'm like, Oh, that's,
1793
01:19:44,825 --> 01:19:46,304
that's, that should be a song.
1794
01:19:46,324 --> 01:19:48,314
Somebody should write a song
about something like that.
1795
01:19:48,729 --> 01:19:52,959
Um, but yeah, definitely, usually the
melody comes first and whatever that
1796
01:19:52,969 --> 01:19:57,159
melody makes me feel, the kind of emotion
that makes me feel, then that's usually
1797
01:19:57,189 --> 01:19:58,569
what's gonna, what's gonna come out.
1798
01:19:58,959 --> 01:20:01,129
And I feel like there's some
songwriters that are so good.
1799
01:20:01,129 --> 01:20:04,599
I think a lot of my music is very
conversational too, like a lot of my music
1800
01:20:04,599 --> 01:20:09,409
is just probably something I would just
say to somebody, which just works for me
1801
01:20:09,459 --> 01:20:11,359
because I love Chang, if you can't tell.
1802
01:20:11,360 --> 01:20:13,017
That's
1803
01:20:13,074 --> 01:20:15,124
Shaun Smith: Well, you're good at
music and you're good at chatting too.
1804
01:20:15,444 --> 01:20:17,414
So, uh, I think you might
have a career in this.
1805
01:20:17,414 --> 01:20:17,834
I don't know.
1806
01:20:17,894 --> 01:20:20,304
Sug Daniels: Hey, I'm
trying man, I'm trying.
1807
01:20:21,004 --> 01:20:24,164
Shaun Smith: Now, are you, are
you humming out the melody or do
1808
01:20:24,164 --> 01:20:28,004
you pick up the ukulele and, and
just start, uh, testing it out?
1809
01:20:28,964 --> 01:20:30,954
Sug Daniels: Okay, so this is
actually a great question, right?
1810
01:20:31,014 --> 01:20:34,954
So this is another reason why I'm
starting to learn the math and the
1811
01:20:34,954 --> 01:20:36,524
science and the language of music.
1812
01:20:36,714 --> 01:20:40,774
Because sometimes I have a melody
in my head, but because I don't,
1813
01:20:40,804 --> 01:20:45,314
you know, I'm not super accustomed
to knowing what notes sound like on
1814
01:20:45,324 --> 01:20:47,094
the ukulele, I sometimes I can't.
1815
01:20:47,599 --> 01:20:48,059
Do that.
1816
01:20:48,159 --> 01:20:49,799
I can't do the thing that
I'm hearing in my head.
1817
01:20:50,059 --> 01:20:51,369
So I'll have to adjust it.
1818
01:20:51,709 --> 01:20:55,189
Um, Unless I'm playing or
I have like a band, right?
1819
01:20:55,189 --> 01:20:58,419
Like if I go to my bass player and I'm
like do this for me or a piano player
1820
01:20:58,419 --> 01:21:02,699
might do this for me Um, but if I'm doing
it by myself, I can't always you know It's
1821
01:21:02,699 --> 01:21:06,549
like almost like a like a handicap that I
have because I don't know how to do it So
1822
01:21:06,879 --> 01:21:10,759
for for anyone who's like back and forth
about if they should learn music that is
1823
01:21:10,769 --> 01:21:15,119
definitely a benefit of it Um, is being
able to be like, okay, I've been doing
1824
01:21:15,119 --> 01:21:21,069
this melody line and I can't find it, but
if I know the chords, maybe I can, I can,
1825
01:21:21,199 --> 01:21:23,609
uh, the finger shapes, I can find it.
1826
01:21:24,149 --> 01:21:27,709
Um, so that's been, that's been really
cool, but in the past I have hummed
1827
01:21:27,709 --> 01:21:29,729
it and then just like sung it out too.
1828
01:21:30,534 --> 01:21:31,254
Shaun Smith: That's cool.
1829
01:21:31,304 --> 01:21:31,574
Yeah.
1830
01:21:31,574 --> 01:21:31,774
Yeah.
1831
01:21:31,774 --> 01:21:35,864
I've never, I mean, I took guitar
lessons for a second in college for a
1832
01:21:35,864 --> 01:21:39,584
semester and yeah, that ability where
people who are classically trained and
1833
01:21:39,584 --> 01:21:41,794
they can just pick out a note, right.
1834
01:21:41,794 --> 01:21:43,034
Just like pull it out of the air.
1835
01:21:43,090 --> 01:21:47,739
To me, it just seems like magic, but
I guess it is, uh, you know, a lot of
1836
01:21:47,749 --> 01:21:50,229
hard work and, and studying, right?
1837
01:21:50,479 --> 01:21:51,399
Sug Daniels: yeah, yeah.
1838
01:21:51,399 --> 01:21:55,029
I've been learning scales and
it's a lot of just like finger,
1839
01:21:55,129 --> 01:21:56,089
like just like remembering.
1840
01:21:56,089 --> 01:21:57,389
It's a lot of muscle memory.
1841
01:21:57,749 --> 01:22:00,579
Um, but I like, I love playing
music and I love my instrument so
1842
01:22:00,579 --> 01:22:02,229
it's not really like a big thing.
1843
01:22:02,229 --> 01:22:03,739
It's like as soon as I sit down I'm fine.
1844
01:22:03,739 --> 01:22:05,539
It's just making sure
I carve out the time.
1845
01:22:05,929 --> 01:22:08,999
Uh to sit down because I the
people that I play with are just
1846
01:22:08,999 --> 01:22:12,689
so amazing Um, I kind of like put
this group of players together.
1847
01:22:12,689 --> 01:22:15,579
I call them the sweet boys So whenever
i'm playing like full band It's just
1848
01:22:15,609 --> 01:22:19,229
like a bunch of like cool guys that i've
been kicking it with for the last couple
1849
01:22:19,229 --> 01:22:21,869
years And they're all for the most part.
1850
01:22:22,049 --> 01:22:24,869
Um, you know either went to school for it.
1851
01:22:25,219 --> 01:22:28,989
Um, or like took lessons And they're
so, it's just so inspiring to
1852
01:22:28,989 --> 01:22:31,479
watch them jail, to just be like,
all right, go ahead and take one.
1853
01:22:31,479 --> 01:22:34,999
And somebody like goes off from this
beautiful solo, you know, they just
1854
01:22:34,999 --> 01:22:36,429
know exactly what they want to do.
1855
01:22:36,619 --> 01:22:38,059
It's so inspiring.
1856
01:22:38,089 --> 01:22:40,739
So I'm like, all right, well, I
want to play, I want to do that too.
1857
01:22:40,809 --> 01:22:44,919
Like, I love to sing, but also I want
to be busting out some ukulele solos.
1858
01:22:44,979 --> 01:22:46,179
Like that would be so impressive.
1859
01:22:46,179 --> 01:22:46,569
I think
1860
01:22:46,999 --> 01:22:47,969
Shaun Smith: Oh, yeah, yeah.
1861
01:22:47,969 --> 01:22:51,909
I mean, have you ever heard of, uh, I'm
sure, maybe you have Jake Shimabukuro?
1862
01:22:51,929 --> 01:22:53,779
I'm sure I butchered his last name.
1863
01:22:54,169 --> 01:22:54,739
Uh,
1864
01:22:54,829 --> 01:22:57,309
Sug Daniels: I know you're talking
about, yes, he's incredible.
1865
01:22:57,309 --> 01:22:59,659
He's like, yeah, some next level, very.
1866
01:23:01,304 --> 01:23:02,484
Nobody can touch him.
1867
01:23:03,029 --> 01:23:03,249
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
1868
01:23:03,264 --> 01:23:04,904
Sug Daniels: Like, nobody
can touch that guy.
1869
01:23:05,674 --> 01:23:06,934
But, it would be fun.
1870
01:23:06,974 --> 01:23:10,379
Because, I don't know, it's just I feel
like this instrument is so unexplored.
1871
01:23:10,379 --> 01:23:11,309
Like there's not a lot.
1872
01:23:11,319 --> 01:23:14,389
There is very, it has a lot of
history and it's really beautiful.
1873
01:23:14,759 --> 01:23:18,569
Um, but also I think it has just so
much potential to inspire another
1874
01:23:18,569 --> 01:23:21,949
generation of music makers who don't
want to play guitar because everybody
1875
01:23:21,949 --> 01:23:25,119
in their grandpapa's guitar, you know,
they don't want to play piano because
1876
01:23:25,169 --> 01:23:28,329
pianos are big and heavy and you can't,
it's harder to take them on tour.
1877
01:23:29,419 --> 01:23:30,519
Shaun Smith: Yeah, totally.
1878
01:23:30,679 --> 01:23:31,169
Totally.
1879
01:23:31,459 --> 01:23:34,819
You mentioned, you just mentioned,
um, you know, jamming with a band,
1880
01:23:34,819 --> 01:23:37,929
and I noticed that, uh, some of
your releases that you've, uh,
1881
01:23:37,949 --> 01:23:39,379
they're collaborative releases.
1882
01:23:39,809 --> 01:23:41,229
Tell me a little bit about this.
1883
01:23:42,039 --> 01:23:42,619
Sug Daniels: Oh yeah.
1884
01:23:42,619 --> 01:23:43,879
I love collaborating.
1885
01:23:43,879 --> 01:23:45,419
I mean, that's, that's where I started.
1886
01:23:45,419 --> 01:23:46,999
It was never really like by myself.
1887
01:23:46,999 --> 01:23:50,144
It was, As soon as I started making
music, I took it to my cousins
1888
01:23:50,144 --> 01:23:51,844
and I was like, let's make a band.
1889
01:23:52,244 --> 01:23:55,334
Um, and it's fun because then you get
to also, it's like you're expressing
1890
01:23:55,335 --> 01:23:58,304
yourself and then you're watching and
understanding how other people are
1891
01:23:58,304 --> 01:24:01,324
expressing themselves and you're hanging
on these different points of view.
1892
01:24:02,154 --> 01:24:04,854
Um, so yeah, I, I love,
love, love to collaborate.
1893
01:24:04,854 --> 01:24:08,954
I have a song coming out later
this month with, um, my friend
1894
01:24:08,964 --> 01:24:10,714
and drummer, Alex Clayton.
1895
01:24:10,764 --> 01:24:15,309
He's His moniker, his music moniker
is West End Ritos, and we have a
1896
01:24:15,309 --> 01:24:17,789
song coming out, and he usually just
drums for me, you know, but he's so
1897
01:24:17,789 --> 01:24:21,319
fun to create music with, he's great
at making arrangements, and we made
1898
01:24:21,319 --> 01:24:26,149
this song, I think, like, probably
two months into him drumming for me.
1899
01:24:26,849 --> 01:24:29,669
And so it's been like a long time coming
because he's been drumming for me for
1900
01:24:29,669 --> 01:24:34,089
over a year now and it's been a long
time coming and it's just, it's fun.
1901
01:24:34,149 --> 01:24:36,859
It doesn't sound anything like the music
that we make when we play my music.
1902
01:24:36,869 --> 01:24:38,889
It sounds very like, kind of spacey.
1903
01:24:38,899 --> 01:24:40,299
It's called Starry Sky.
1904
01:24:40,969 --> 01:24:45,619
It'll be out on August 22nd and yeah,
just for something completely different.
1905
01:24:45,659 --> 01:24:48,679
I love to dabble in and have a reason to.
1906
01:24:49,254 --> 01:24:52,964
Pull all the, all the tricks that
I can musically out of the bag.
1907
01:24:52,964 --> 01:24:56,084
So collaboration is a really fun
way for me to let that loose.
1908
01:24:56,114 --> 01:24:56,414
Right.
1909
01:24:56,764 --> 01:24:58,054
Cause you're like, all right, all right.
1910
01:24:58,054 --> 01:25:00,784
I'm should Daniels and I
make America, you know, folk,
1911
01:25:00,784 --> 01:25:02,994
Americana jam band kind of music.
1912
01:25:03,344 --> 01:25:04,964
Uh, but I want to do everything else.
1913
01:25:05,034 --> 01:25:09,044
So when I collaborate with people,
it like allows me that freedom.
1914
01:25:10,439 --> 01:25:11,019
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
1915
01:25:11,399 --> 01:25:12,229
Yeah, absolutely.
1916
01:25:12,229 --> 01:25:16,399
Yeah, I like the, uh, I like the song
that you did with, was it Shane Pulko?
1917
01:25:16,819 --> 01:25:17,419
Is that how you pronounce
1918
01:25:17,424 --> 01:25:17,804
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
1919
01:25:17,804 --> 01:25:17,854
I think.
1920
01:25:19,319 --> 01:25:19,579
So
1921
01:25:19,789 --> 01:25:20,909
Shaun Smith: Yeah, Sip the Years.
1922
01:25:20,909 --> 01:25:21,919
That's a really great one.
1923
01:25:21,919 --> 01:25:23,939
How did that come, how
did that come together?
1924
01:25:25,069 --> 01:25:29,729
Sug Daniels: me and Shane had done
a song with our friend Sam, Samuel
1925
01:25:29,729 --> 01:25:31,849
Nobles, who's a piano player, producer.
1926
01:25:32,169 --> 01:25:34,479
Uh, it also plays in the Sweet
Void with me a lot of times.
1927
01:25:34,669 --> 01:25:39,369
Um, Sam had produced, uh, uh,
some earlier music of mine.
1928
01:25:39,849 --> 01:25:43,329
And then we like, uh, Mick the Max
is my first EP and from Delaware.
1929
01:25:43,329 --> 01:25:44,039
So we're all from Delaware.
1930
01:25:44,039 --> 01:25:46,759
So we're just homies, you know,
all living in Philadelphia now.
1931
01:25:47,529 --> 01:25:51,579
And we had done a song before,
um, called Take Your Time.
1932
01:25:51,649 --> 01:25:52,559
And it did really good.
1933
01:25:52,559 --> 01:25:53,839
We shot a music video for it.
1934
01:25:53,849 --> 01:25:55,379
We loved working together.
1935
01:25:55,969 --> 01:26:00,009
And he was putting an album together
and asked me if I wanted to He sent me a
1936
01:26:00,009 --> 01:26:03,949
couple songs, and this one was beautiful.
1937
01:26:03,949 --> 01:26:07,149
I just love I love What he was
saying and I love the lyrics.
1938
01:26:07,469 --> 01:26:09,289
Um, Sam sounded amazing in it.
1939
01:26:09,319 --> 01:26:13,569
And making music with your friends is kind
of like taking a snapshot in time, right?
1940
01:26:13,569 --> 01:26:15,629
Like, we'll be old ladies and old men.
1941
01:26:15,629 --> 01:26:17,919
We'll be sitting in our rocking chairs
and we have this music, all this
1942
01:26:17,969 --> 01:26:19,499
beautiful music that we created together.
1943
01:26:20,069 --> 01:26:22,809
Um, and we'll hear ourselves and be
like, Oh my God, we sounded so young.
1944
01:26:23,529 --> 01:26:26,519
You know, and maybe we'll look back and be
like, Oh, it's embarrassing, but I'm just
1945
01:26:26,529 --> 01:26:27,939
so glad that I get a chance to do this.
1946
01:26:28,149 --> 01:26:32,369
To make music with them and especially
an artist like Shane Palco who's just
1947
01:26:32,369 --> 01:26:37,679
like so about community and like living
in the moment and like it's never felt
1948
01:26:37,749 --> 01:26:43,599
like he has been chasing this kind of
like music clout like he makes music
1949
01:26:43,609 --> 01:26:46,569
and he puts it out and if people like it
they like it and if they don't they don't
1950
01:26:46,899 --> 01:26:50,499
but people tend to like it they tend to
love it because it just comes from such
1951
01:26:50,729 --> 01:26:56,029
a beautiful authentic place um from from
within with him and it's beautiful to be
1952
01:26:56,079 --> 01:26:57,569
to be able to be a part of that you know.
1953
01:26:58,104 --> 01:26:58,524
Shaun Smith: Yeah.
1954
01:26:58,554 --> 01:27:01,194
I mean, I, it was great to
hear your track on his album.
1955
01:27:01,224 --> 01:27:04,674
Um, it's called the future already
happened is the name of the album.
1956
01:27:04,674 --> 01:27:06,924
And it was just, it was
nice to hear you on there.
1957
01:27:06,924 --> 01:27:11,704
And then I also, uh, heard you on a
reggae song called daddy lessons that
1958
01:27:11,704 --> 01:27:14,364
came out later, later, earlier this year.
1959
01:27:14,714 --> 01:27:16,934
That was, that's an awesome song.
1960
01:27:16,934 --> 01:27:18,364
So how did that come together?
1961
01:27:18,364 --> 01:27:19,514
And are you a reggae fan?
1962
01:27:19,585 --> 01:27:20,169
Ha
1963
01:27:20,439 --> 01:27:22,129
Sug Daniels: Okay, first
of all, yeah, who isn't
1964
01:27:22,234 --> 01:27:23,177
Shaun Smith: ha ha ha
1965
01:27:23,379 --> 01:27:26,799
Sug Daniels: you're missing out especially
like no Especially like old school reggae
1966
01:27:26,819 --> 01:27:30,729
is like this is beautiful soul music
Like one of my favorite musicians of all
1967
01:27:30,729 --> 01:27:32,129
time is actually cheats in the middle.
1968
01:27:32,154 --> 01:27:33,044
Shaun Smith: Yes!
1969
01:27:33,384 --> 01:27:33,664
Oh
1970
01:27:33,709 --> 01:27:36,899
Sug Daniels: middle like older
stuff Oh, it's just I can put
1971
01:27:36,899 --> 01:27:38,309
it I can listen to it on repeat.
1972
01:27:38,379 --> 01:27:41,994
He is like singing from
From the depth of his soul.
1973
01:27:42,004 --> 01:27:44,044
So yes, definitely a reggae fan.
1974
01:27:44,524 --> 01:27:45,974
Um, this band had reached out.
1975
01:27:45,974 --> 01:27:46,744
They're from Canada.
1976
01:27:46,764 --> 01:27:51,104
They reached out to me and we're
just like, we're putting together.
1977
01:27:51,124 --> 01:27:52,534
That's actually a Beyonce card.
1978
01:27:52,554 --> 01:27:56,504
That's actually a reggae rendition
of a earlier Beyonce song.
1979
01:27:56,514 --> 01:27:57,554
That is a country song.
1980
01:27:57,584 --> 01:28:00,654
So even before she put out
the country album, she had
1981
01:28:00,654 --> 01:28:01,974
a country song called daddy.
1982
01:28:02,604 --> 01:28:03,514
Shaun Smith: Oh cool!
1983
01:28:03,729 --> 01:28:05,149
Sug Daniels: everybody go
listen to it, check it out.
1984
01:28:05,169 --> 01:28:09,799
It came out way before, way before, um,
Cowboy Carter did and all that stuff.
1985
01:28:10,379 --> 01:28:14,449
But, I cut that record actually at
home, like I did all my own vocals.
1986
01:28:14,449 --> 01:28:17,229
I recorded it myself at my
little like home studio.
1987
01:28:17,799 --> 01:28:20,899
And sent it back and then
they kind of like built it.
1988
01:28:20,909 --> 01:28:23,929
So they had like the bass,
a little bit of guitar.
1989
01:28:24,569 --> 01:28:26,659
And that was kind of like, and
then they had like a reference
1990
01:28:26,669 --> 01:28:30,159
track from, I think from one of the
ladies who sings with that band.
1991
01:28:30,759 --> 01:28:34,059
And so then I like recut the
vocals and then they loved it.
1992
01:28:34,099 --> 01:28:36,269
They put some really cool effects on it.
1993
01:28:36,269 --> 01:28:38,119
And it was fun, man.
1994
01:28:38,119 --> 01:28:39,009
I don't know what I'm doing.
1995
01:28:39,009 --> 01:28:40,099
I'm just trying to have fun.
1996
01:28:40,099 --> 01:28:40,369
Like
1997
01:28:41,364 --> 01:28:42,934
Shaun Smith: Oh it's a
great, it's a fun song!
1998
01:28:42,974 --> 01:28:43,884
It's a really fun
1999
01:28:44,079 --> 01:28:46,899
Sug Daniels: like it
2000
01:28:46,994 --> 01:28:47,834
Shaun Smith: Yeah, I can tell you're
2001
01:28:47,899 --> 01:28:48,469
Sug Daniels: cut right there.
2002
01:28:48,944 --> 01:28:49,984
Shaun Smith: Ha ha ha!
2003
01:28:51,164 --> 01:28:52,614
And that's cool, you're a Toots fan!
2004
01:28:52,624 --> 01:28:53,254
I love Toots!
2005
01:28:54,239 --> 01:28:56,049
Sug Daniels: Oh my god,
man, he's number one.
2006
01:28:56,079 --> 01:29:00,289
I, one time I opened up for Sarah Shook
and the Disarmers, and the guys who
2007
01:29:00,289 --> 01:29:03,439
were running sound, I don't know, I
think they maybe had him on a playlist,
2008
01:29:03,459 --> 01:29:07,114
like, I don't know, they go, I love
teaching the Meitongs, and They were
2009
01:29:07,114 --> 01:29:10,634
like, yeah, we got to, we were running
sound for him for like two years
2010
01:29:10,654 --> 01:29:13,934
because he had just passed because he
recently passed just a few years back.
2011
01:29:13,944 --> 01:29:15,654
It hasn't been a long time.
2012
01:29:15,654 --> 01:29:16,054
So R.
2013
01:29:16,054 --> 01:29:16,244
P.
2014
01:29:16,244 --> 01:29:21,084
to them, um, but yeah, he's phenomenal.
2015
01:29:21,854 --> 01:29:22,764
Shaun Smith: and he really kept going.
2016
01:29:22,764 --> 01:29:25,914
Yeah, he came out with an album,
like, right before he died.
2017
01:29:26,204 --> 01:29:27,484
And that was a great album.
2018
01:29:27,514 --> 01:29:31,634
That was a, you know, I mean, His
earlier stuff is, I mean, These are
2019
01:29:31,634 --> 01:29:35,584
classic songs, um, Like, uh, 5446.
2020
01:29:35,724 --> 01:29:37,354
Right, I think that's
one of his originals.
2021
01:29:37,384 --> 01:29:38,434
I love that song.
2022
01:29:39,549 --> 01:29:40,259
Sug Daniels: Yes.
2023
01:29:40,329 --> 01:29:41,339
Oh my gosh.
2024
01:29:41,349 --> 01:29:41,709
Yeah.
2025
01:29:41,709 --> 01:29:43,349
It's just, it's beautiful soul music.
2026
01:29:43,349 --> 01:29:47,949
Like you can put that music right
next to, uh, uh, James Brown and it's
2027
01:29:47,959 --> 01:29:53,059
the same exact emotions, the same,
uh, subject matters, the same topics.
2028
01:29:53,059 --> 01:29:55,119
It's like, it's, he's talking
to, you know, the government's
2029
01:29:55,119 --> 01:29:57,799
coming, they're taking our money,
the taxes are getting high.
2030
01:29:57,939 --> 01:29:59,079
They've got this one song about.
2031
01:29:59,684 --> 01:30:00,304
Time Tough.
2032
01:30:00,604 --> 01:30:01,284
I love that song.
2033
01:30:01,284 --> 01:30:02,564
It's basically about inflation.
2034
01:30:03,084 --> 01:30:03,364
Shaun Smith: Oh,
2035
01:30:03,664 --> 01:30:06,574
Sug Daniels: You know, and it was like
in the, what, the 60s or 70s he wrote
2036
01:30:06,584 --> 01:30:08,104
that song and we're still feeling that.
2037
01:30:08,134 --> 01:30:12,054
That's still relevant, uh, that,
that feeling today, you know.
2038
01:30:12,584 --> 01:30:13,524
Shaun Smith: That's so cool.
2039
01:30:14,084 --> 01:30:16,394
Yeah, and do you, so do
you like playing covers?
2040
01:30:18,574 --> 01:30:20,334
Sug Daniels: I feel
like, yeah, they're fun.
2041
01:30:20,334 --> 01:30:24,024
I, I write music because I want to perform
that music because I want to express
2042
01:30:24,024 --> 01:30:27,924
myself, but I don't like, you know, if a
cover's good, I'm not going to poo poo it.
2043
01:30:28,534 --> 01:30:30,074
I do a Strokes cover.
2044
01:30:30,684 --> 01:30:34,324
Of, uh, someday that, that fans love.
2045
01:30:34,324 --> 01:30:37,584
If I do it solo, I pick it and I
make it really slow, beautiful.
2046
01:30:37,994 --> 01:30:41,254
And if I play it with a band,
um, we play it kind of country.
2047
01:30:41,764 --> 01:30:44,434
And sometimes I don't even,
I won't even introduce it.
2048
01:30:44,434 --> 01:30:45,134
I'll just play it.
2049
01:30:45,134 --> 01:30:47,754
And it's fun to see who comes up
after and they're like, are you
2050
01:30:47,754 --> 01:30:49,164
playing someday by the strokes?
2051
01:30:49,514 --> 01:30:51,634
Cause it just doesn't, cause
you know, cause they already
2052
01:30:51,634 --> 01:30:52,994
did it the way that they did it.
2053
01:30:53,114 --> 01:30:55,734
So if you're going to do a cover,
I think it's always, unless you can
2054
01:30:55,734 --> 01:30:57,484
kind of make it super identical.
2055
01:30:57,604 --> 01:31:00,134
I just think it's fun to put
your own spin on it, you know?
2056
01:31:00,619 --> 01:31:03,309
Shaun Smith: Yeah, well I have to
ask because of that, uh, Shania
2057
01:31:03,319 --> 01:31:05,049
Twain cover, you're still the one.
2058
01:31:05,759 --> 01:31:09,399
Sug Daniels: Yeah, you know, we try to,
we try to soul that one up, you know,
2059
01:31:09,429 --> 01:31:10,869
we try to put some soul in that one.
2060
01:31:10,870 --> 01:31:12,269
I
2061
01:31:12,289 --> 01:31:12,829
Shaun Smith: a good job.
2062
01:31:12,839 --> 01:31:13,929
Why, why Shania?
2063
01:31:13,949 --> 01:31:16,109
I mean, that song was everywhere.
2064
01:31:16,149 --> 01:31:19,229
Uh, we, I think we're probably kind
of came up around the same time.
2065
01:31:19,459 --> 01:31:23,379
So that song was everywhere in like the
90s or 2000s or whatever it came up.
2066
01:31:23,389 --> 01:31:25,349
But why, why that song?
2067
01:31:26,949 --> 01:31:31,459
Sug Daniels: feel like my buddy Sam
Nobles was like, we should cover it.
2068
01:31:31,559 --> 01:31:32,219
And I was like, all right.
2069
01:31:32,220 --> 01:31:35,079
It was like, that was enough of a reason.
2070
01:31:35,089 --> 01:31:36,779
It was a good, it's a good song.
2071
01:31:37,159 --> 01:31:40,989
Um, it's fun, it's fun to throw,
it is fun to throw a cover.
2072
01:31:41,424 --> 01:31:46,164
into a set, into a live set, you know,
because I've never really, you know, I've
2073
01:31:46,164 --> 01:31:47,574
always been able to get the audience.
2074
01:31:47,624 --> 01:31:48,554
They like the music.
2075
01:31:48,574 --> 01:31:49,744
I'm engaged with them.
2076
01:31:49,744 --> 01:31:52,634
They're having a good time, but you
throw a cover in there, especially
2077
01:31:52,634 --> 01:31:55,904
something as iconic as Shania
Twain's, You're Still the One.
2078
01:31:55,924 --> 01:31:57,184
It's gonna hit, man.
2079
01:31:57,184 --> 01:32:00,334
It's gonna hit and like, I'm just,
I'm here to service the people.
2080
01:32:00,334 --> 01:32:03,514
I'm here to make sure everybody's
like having a good time.
2081
01:32:03,524 --> 01:32:07,434
So really, honestly, there's not
some kind of super deep connection.
2082
01:32:07,444 --> 01:32:11,284
I did grow up in southern Delaware, so
of course I know who Shania Twain was.
2083
01:32:11,294 --> 01:32:14,244
Like, kind of had a crush on her
for a long time as a teenager.
2084
01:32:14,774 --> 01:32:18,394
Um, but yeah, but it's right,
but it's just a good song.
2085
01:32:18,394 --> 01:32:20,064
She's a great songwriter, you know.
2086
01:32:20,064 --> 01:32:20,834
Shout out to Canada.
2087
01:32:22,129 --> 01:32:23,589
Shaun Smith: Canada has
some great songwriters.
2088
01:32:23,589 --> 01:32:27,379
And then a bunch of those, uh, Canadians
are coming down to the folk festival too.
2089
01:32:27,379 --> 01:32:30,069
So, uh, maybe you'll pick up some
more inspiration while you're there.
2090
01:32:30,714 --> 01:32:32,104
Sug Daniels: Listen, I'm excited.
2091
01:32:32,134 --> 01:32:32,654
I'm excited.
2092
01:32:33,354 --> 01:32:34,824
The lineup looks great this year.
2093
01:32:35,084 --> 01:32:37,604
My buddy Don Clemons
is coming back around.
2094
01:32:37,674 --> 01:32:40,349
Um, And he was a part of the
Carolina Chocolate Drops.
2095
01:32:40,349 --> 01:32:43,599
I got a chance to open up from
him, or open up for him at World
2096
01:32:43,599 --> 01:32:45,319
Cafe Live earlier in the year.
2097
01:32:45,359 --> 01:32:49,149
And, um, just like in this place,
especially with folk music, because
2098
01:32:49,149 --> 01:32:53,579
it just creates this atmosphere for a
community of like really sitting and
2099
01:32:53,579 --> 01:32:57,354
letting like people who've been doing
this, like, Mentor me, like mentor me.
2100
01:32:57,374 --> 01:33:00,364
Like I just want to sit and like
talk to them and ask them questions
2101
01:33:00,364 --> 01:33:01,504
and like hear their stories.
2102
01:33:01,954 --> 01:33:05,614
Uh, but opening up for him at World
Cafe Lala was really sweet and special.
2103
01:33:05,614 --> 01:33:09,264
We just like sat at the bar and he was
telling me about his tour and his new
2104
01:33:09,264 --> 01:33:13,954
music and I think he just won a Grammy
and I'm just like, wow, this is amazing.
2105
01:33:13,954 --> 01:33:16,904
I can just sit here and hang out
with this guy and, you know, and
2106
01:33:16,905 --> 01:33:19,304
he's just like looking at me and
treating me like an equal, you know.
2107
01:33:19,849 --> 01:33:21,849
Shaun Smith: I love the
Carolina chocolate chops.
2108
01:33:21,849 --> 01:33:22,609
I saw them.
2109
01:33:23,209 --> 01:33:25,899
I can't remember if it was the
Dave Matthews caravan in Atlantic
2110
01:33:25,899 --> 01:33:27,389
city, or if it was Firefly.
2111
01:33:27,409 --> 01:33:29,209
In, uh, in Dover, Delaware, uh,
2112
01:33:29,329 --> 01:33:30,299
Sug Daniels: Oh wow.
2113
01:33:30,369 --> 01:33:32,289
Shaun Smith: was smoking
a lot more weed back then.
2114
01:33:32,289 --> 01:33:35,919
So the time that those, those two
summers kind of blur together, it was
2115
01:33:35,919 --> 01:33:39,929
somewhere around that time and, uh,
yeah, I mean, they were amazing when they
2116
01:33:39,929 --> 01:33:41,469
were, when they were touring and stuff.
2117
01:33:41,469 --> 01:33:42,699
So that's, that's really cool.
2118
01:33:42,810 --> 01:33:44,429
Yeah,
2119
01:33:44,479 --> 01:33:48,029
Sug Daniels: cool to see a
resurgence also in like Bluegrass,
2120
01:33:48,059 --> 01:33:49,629
um, in with Black people.
2121
01:33:49,669 --> 01:33:53,979
Like from just even on a local
level we have, um, Shamir just
2122
01:33:54,339 --> 01:33:55,749
finished up their last record.
2123
01:33:55,749 --> 01:33:58,519
They were hanging out with me and
they were like talking to me about how
2124
01:33:58,519 --> 01:34:01,519
they're super excited about this new
project they have, Big Benny Bailey.
2125
01:34:02,019 --> 01:34:05,469
Um, which is, you know, they're,
this, you know, you know, queer
2126
01:34:05,469 --> 01:34:07,009
black artists playing guitar.
2127
01:34:07,009 --> 01:34:10,269
They got a, uh, a mandolin player
and they're running around, like,
2128
01:34:10,279 --> 01:34:11,519
playing really cool bluegrass.
2129
01:34:12,369 --> 01:34:16,379
Uh, and then another one I really, really
have been into is, uh, New Danger Field.
2130
01:34:16,419 --> 01:34:19,779
And that has, like, Jake Blount,
who's, I think, Canadian.
2131
01:34:20,619 --> 01:34:24,954
And, uh, I might butcher this name,
and I'm so sorry if I do, but like, um,
2132
01:34:25,004 --> 01:34:29,404
Kia Cater, who's a banjo player, and
they're also Canadian, and they're just
2133
01:34:29,404 --> 01:34:32,264
like, they got this beautiful music,
you know, there's like a bass player,
2134
01:34:32,264 --> 01:34:36,124
I can't remember his name, the guitar
player, please forgive me, but yeah,
2135
01:34:36,124 --> 01:34:40,909
it's wonderful to hear, yeah, Black
people make this music, because We have
2136
01:34:40,919 --> 01:34:45,639
these deep deep roots in American music
and just American history throughout
2137
01:34:45,679 --> 01:34:51,219
everything anything that you touch or
see Uh, and yeah It's it's good to see
2138
01:34:51,219 --> 01:34:55,739
people claiming reclaiming that being
like we are also a part of the story Um
2139
01:34:55,749 --> 01:34:59,109
and folk music is beautiful because I
feel like right now, especially I mean,
2140
01:34:59,109 --> 01:35:03,739
I'm only Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk
Festival, the first year that I played,
2141
01:35:03,749 --> 01:35:07,839
which was two years ago, um, that was my
first time really kind of getting into the
2142
01:35:07,839 --> 01:35:09,449
folk scene and I was like, oh this is it.
2143
01:35:09,450 --> 01:35:14,469
This is heaven on earth, like everybody's
hanging out, chilling, everybody's
2144
01:35:14,469 --> 01:35:16,089
welcome, there's all kind of people.
2145
01:35:16,524 --> 01:35:18,444
Uh, so yeah, I think it's time.
2146
01:35:18,444 --> 01:35:22,344
I'm excited to see what happens Yes
2147
01:35:22,429 --> 01:35:25,029
Shaun Smith: agree that that it's
cool to see black people like kind of
2148
01:35:25,029 --> 01:35:30,819
taking this back because I just heard
recently on a podcast that, um, bluegrass
2149
01:35:30,879 --> 01:35:36,999
kind of like jazz are the only two
original American, um, music, right?
2150
01:35:37,009 --> 01:35:38,579
It's like that, that's American music.
2151
01:35:38,579 --> 01:35:42,079
Like that's the only thing that we can
really claim as our own as American.
2152
01:35:42,309 --> 01:35:45,689
And apparently the banjo was
a, I believe it was an African
2153
01:35:45,689 --> 01:35:47,179
instrument if I'm not mistaken.
2154
01:35:47,179 --> 01:35:48,129
That's what I heard.
2155
01:35:48,684 --> 01:35:49,934
Sug Daniels: I can't
remember the name yet.
2156
01:35:49,934 --> 01:35:52,854
You're 100 percent correct I can't
remember the name of the instrument,
2157
01:35:52,864 --> 01:35:58,254
but it the slaves were put trying to
create this instrument from africa
2158
01:35:58,274 --> 01:36:02,279
That was like a it's like a gourd
and like some in some like Uh, like
2159
01:36:02,279 --> 01:36:04,039
cow guts or something like that.
2160
01:36:04,429 --> 01:36:07,839
So these, at first I think it was
like fishing wire, and it's just,
2161
01:36:08,079 --> 01:36:12,239
yeah, so it was them trying to create
something from back home, uh, which
2162
01:36:12,239 --> 01:36:14,309
is such a beautiful story, right?
2163
01:36:14,309 --> 01:36:17,169
When you really think about it, because
it's like, okay, these guys are slaves,
2164
01:36:17,179 --> 01:36:22,149
which is literally the worst thing that
you could ever be, um, and they're still
2165
01:36:22,399 --> 01:36:25,989
creating places and spaces for joy.
2166
01:36:26,809 --> 01:36:29,959
Because you create music when you
feel joy, when you want to create joy,
2167
01:36:29,959 --> 01:36:31,329
when you want to express yourself.
2168
01:36:31,859 --> 01:36:35,559
Uh, so I think that's really an important
part of that instrument and a part of
2169
01:36:35,559 --> 01:36:39,969
that genre, that that story is really
important because it's not just about
2170
01:36:40,479 --> 01:36:44,269
slaves, it's about all of us, it's about
how no matter how horrible and crazy
2171
01:36:44,269 --> 01:36:49,709
things can get, as humans we have to make
sure that we are celebrating that we are
2172
01:36:49,709 --> 01:36:54,829
alive and that we have today and tomorrow
to continue fighting for ourselves, for
2173
01:36:54,829 --> 01:36:56,339
our lives, for our joy, for our children.
2174
01:36:57,669 --> 01:36:59,049
Shaun Smith: Yeah, absolutely.
2175
01:36:59,129 --> 01:37:01,649
Yeah, yeah, that's so powerful.
2176
01:37:01,729 --> 01:37:02,819
That's very powerful.
2177
01:37:03,389 --> 01:37:06,069
Yeah, and, you know, I have to
ask, I forgot to ask you before
2178
01:37:06,069 --> 01:37:08,949
about your most recent release,
uh, Leave a Light On for you.
2179
01:37:08,949 --> 01:37:11,609
You know, trying to find that,
that light in the darkness.
2180
01:37:11,649 --> 01:37:13,619
Uh, where did that song come from?
2181
01:37:14,639 --> 01:37:15,819
Sug Daniels: Oh my God,
I love playing that song.
2182
01:37:15,829 --> 01:37:17,729
That's like my, that's
like my barn burner song.
2183
01:37:17,729 --> 01:37:21,269
I always play that one last
because it's fun and like cheeky.
2184
01:37:21,729 --> 01:37:25,139
So this song is, is I wrote that song
like right before I moved to Philadelphia.
2185
01:37:25,159 --> 01:37:27,339
I was dating this girl in Philly.
2186
01:37:27,629 --> 01:37:30,999
You know, I told you, you know, earlier
I had went through this big breakup.
2187
01:37:30,999 --> 01:37:34,309
I was with my partner, um, my
previous partner for like 10 years.
2188
01:37:34,519 --> 01:37:35,509
Shaun Smith: Oh, wow.
2189
01:37:35,554 --> 01:37:37,274
Sug Daniels: happened and we were
spending all this time together.
2190
01:37:37,274 --> 01:37:40,674
And we were like, actually,
we should not be together.
2191
01:37:40,674 --> 01:37:43,824
Um, so then we, you know, we
separated and, and, you know, took
2192
01:37:43,824 --> 01:37:47,174
some time, uh, became really good
friends or really good friends now.
2193
01:37:47,174 --> 01:37:51,544
And then, you know, once I started getting
back into the dating scene, uh, you know,
2194
01:37:51,554 --> 01:37:55,194
I definitely met some people that were
really fun, but this one particular girl
2195
01:37:55,394 --> 01:37:58,814
lived in Philadelphia and it was, uh,
you know, it wasn't the main, it wasn't
2196
01:37:58,814 --> 01:38:03,704
the reason why I moved to Philly, but
it definitely, you know, it didn't hurt.
2197
01:38:05,639 --> 01:38:06,649
Shaun Smith: It never does.
2198
01:38:09,044 --> 01:38:11,884
Sug Daniels: And I, and I remember just
like this, the song really did leave
2199
01:38:11,884 --> 01:38:16,194
a light on is, is really just about
me taking a chance, traveling around.
2200
01:38:16,254 --> 01:38:18,824
I'm always going to love this and
explaining to this person, like, listen,
2201
01:38:18,824 --> 01:38:21,064
this is my thing, but I'm coming back.
2202
01:38:21,254 --> 01:38:21,814
I'm going to come back.
2203
01:38:21,874 --> 01:38:23,674
I got to go bang on myself.
2204
01:38:23,774 --> 01:38:25,164
You know, I got to go make this music.
2205
01:38:25,164 --> 01:38:26,184
I got to go travel around.
2206
01:38:26,184 --> 01:38:27,084
I got to do these things.
2207
01:38:27,474 --> 01:38:29,774
Um, but like leave a light on me
because I'm coming back, you know, and
2208
01:38:29,774 --> 01:38:30,954
that's how I feel about Philadelphia.
2209
01:38:31,094 --> 01:38:33,754
I really, I, I've been traveling a lot.
2210
01:38:34,744 --> 01:38:37,254
I really feel like this could
be my forever home, you know, I
2211
01:38:37,254 --> 01:38:38,354
really, really feel like that.
2212
01:38:38,819 --> 01:38:39,789
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's so cool.
2213
01:38:39,819 --> 01:38:40,339
That's so cool.
2214
01:38:40,339 --> 01:38:44,289
I love those types of songs that are
kind of like, they kind of peel back
2215
01:38:44,289 --> 01:38:45,769
the curtain a little bit, right?
2216
01:38:45,769 --> 01:38:49,369
They break down the fourth wall and it's
kind of like, you know, it's, it's like
2217
01:38:49,379 --> 01:38:54,859
you get to, you know, as close to, uh,
as a listener can get to, uh, to the
2218
01:38:54,859 --> 01:38:56,869
singer songwriter life a little bit.
2219
01:38:58,594 --> 01:39:00,344
Sug Daniels: yeah, yeah, it's wonderful.
2220
01:39:01,114 --> 01:39:01,684
I love it.
2221
01:39:02,124 --> 01:39:04,344
You know, I don't want anybody to
be like, oh, is this, you know,
2222
01:39:04,354 --> 01:39:05,624
not act like they don't know.
2223
01:39:05,625 --> 01:39:08,409
So I just try to put it all out
there, you know, so there's no,
2224
01:39:08,409 --> 01:39:09,774
there's no rumors floating around.
2225
01:39:10,794 --> 01:39:11,284
Shaun Smith: I love it.
2226
01:39:11,284 --> 01:39:12,574
It's a great, it's a great track.
2227
01:39:12,574 --> 01:39:17,094
Yeah, I love, I actually like, I mean,
you can definitely see the progression
2228
01:39:17,094 --> 01:39:19,854
over the years and everything that
you've released in the past year.
2229
01:39:20,174 --> 01:39:23,154
It's just banger after
banger, one after another.
2230
01:39:23,264 --> 01:39:26,714
I mean, they're just, it seems like
it's just keeping, keeps getting better.
2231
01:39:27,114 --> 01:39:29,794
Uh, you had mentioned, I think
that you're, uh, or maybe you
2232
01:39:29,794 --> 01:39:32,564
didn't, or are you, uh, in the
studio or you're recording?
2233
01:39:32,564 --> 01:39:36,134
What's, what's, uh, what's next for
Suge Daniels besides the Folk Festival?
2234
01:39:36,824 --> 01:39:39,164
Sug Daniels: Yeah, I mean, I'm
always trying to get this video.
2235
01:39:39,164 --> 01:39:44,394
You see, you know, it's like, I feel like,
one of the harder parts for me, right?
2236
01:39:44,394 --> 01:39:46,944
Like I love writing music,
performing is so fun.
2237
01:39:46,944 --> 01:39:50,344
That just feels like second nature,
but it could be a little nerve wracking
2238
01:39:50,364 --> 01:39:53,384
to get into a studio and be like,
okay, like one of these takes is going
2239
01:39:53,384 --> 01:39:57,494
to be the take that everyone's going
to hear whenever they look up their
2240
01:39:57,494 --> 01:39:58,914
song, but they look me up and stuff.
2241
01:39:58,914 --> 01:40:01,984
So I've been, the last year, I've
definitely been trying to get in
2242
01:40:02,014 --> 01:40:04,904
the studio as often as I can and
to just get comfortable with it.
2243
01:40:04,964 --> 01:40:08,529
And I think a part of it is
just like, you know, I, writing
2244
01:40:08,529 --> 01:40:09,789
songs is super accessible.
2245
01:40:09,859 --> 01:40:12,129
I can sit down and write a song in time.
2246
01:40:12,559 --> 01:40:16,079
Um, and then performing, I've always
been, you know, I've been good at booking.
2247
01:40:16,099 --> 01:40:16,819
I know how to do it.
2248
01:40:16,819 --> 01:40:17,869
I know how to send the email.
2249
01:40:17,869 --> 01:40:20,199
I know how to, I know how to get
the booking agent to say yes.
2250
01:40:20,939 --> 01:40:24,909
But studio stuff, you know, until
recently, I never even had a home studio.
2251
01:40:24,929 --> 01:40:26,349
It just wasn't an animal.
2252
01:40:26,379 --> 01:40:29,299
I couldn't practice with my
microphone, practice the levels or
2253
01:40:29,299 --> 01:40:32,409
anything like that, or try to figure
out what kind of sound do I like.
2254
01:40:32,919 --> 01:40:34,669
Um, but I love to write music.
2255
01:40:34,669 --> 01:40:39,339
So now I feel like I'm in that space of
trying to close that gap of, all right,
2256
01:40:39,339 --> 01:40:43,549
I have this awesome live performance,
I have these good songs, um, and I
2257
01:40:43,559 --> 01:40:48,999
want my recordings to really reflect
the emotional intensity, you know, of,
2258
01:40:49,029 --> 01:40:52,859
of what, what I'm feeling in my mind
and in my heart when I'm, when I'm
2259
01:40:52,859 --> 01:40:54,449
writing them or when I'm singing them,
2260
01:40:54,784 --> 01:40:55,494
Shaun Smith: Oh, that's awesome.
2261
01:40:56,094 --> 01:41:00,244
Do you get like some, some inspiration
from, uh, from like a festival like
2262
01:41:00,244 --> 01:41:01,554
the Philadelphia Folk Festival?
2263
01:41:01,554 --> 01:41:04,184
Does it kind of energize
you to, uh, to write
2264
01:41:04,389 --> 01:41:08,369
Sug Daniels: I just, man, yeah, every,
live performances always make me feel like
2265
01:41:08,399 --> 01:41:12,739
I can't wait to get back in the studio
and I can't wait to write the music Um, I
2266
01:41:12,739 --> 01:41:14,959
got a chance to open up for Molly Tuttle
2267
01:41:15,064 --> 01:41:15,794
Shaun Smith: Oh, well.
2268
01:41:16,399 --> 01:41:16,859
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
2269
01:41:16,859 --> 01:41:18,359
And it came up pressure.
2270
01:41:18,519 --> 01:41:21,089
It was like a, um, what was it called?
2271
01:41:21,099 --> 01:41:22,409
Concert under the stars.
2272
01:41:22,489 --> 01:41:25,319
It's like a WSBN vocal point
entertainment put together.
2273
01:41:25,319 --> 01:41:25,929
It was really fun.
2274
01:41:25,930 --> 01:41:30,089
But I was like, you know, and we're
talking about bluegrass now, or, you know,
2275
01:41:30,159 --> 01:41:33,009
a little while ago, but I was like, I
think I'm gonna make some bluegrass music
2276
01:41:33,009 --> 01:41:35,189
soon, like, or at least have some of that.
2277
01:41:35,209 --> 01:41:37,889
Now the album is already kind
of like finished as far as like
2278
01:41:37,889 --> 01:41:40,659
song list and a lot of the music.
2279
01:41:41,279 --> 01:41:44,469
For all the songs are put down, but
like, I'm going to be doing forever.
2280
01:41:44,469 --> 01:41:47,559
So I was like, all right, well, I
think maybe the next album, I want
2281
01:41:47,559 --> 01:41:51,419
to write a couple of songs, a couple
of teams that like really lean into
2282
01:41:51,419 --> 01:41:53,489
bluegrass because that music is so fine.
2283
01:41:53,489 --> 01:41:58,869
And like for them to not have a drummer,
how, how danceable that music is.
2284
01:41:58,919 --> 01:42:01,869
And like, yeah, how it's just
like all the subject matter.
2285
01:42:01,869 --> 01:42:05,359
And like, I don't know, it's just a
really, really beautiful, um, and, and
2286
01:42:05,359 --> 01:42:08,599
I'm listening to some bluegrass, but I
don't think that I'd ever really felt
2287
01:42:11,209 --> 01:42:14,939
So, yeah, live performance is
always, like, getting fired up.
2288
01:42:14,940 --> 01:42:16,329
Mhm.
2289
01:42:16,519 --> 01:42:19,139
Shaun Smith: inspire anybody, I think,
to write some bluegrass, or at least
2290
01:42:19,139 --> 01:42:22,669
listen to it, because she is, she's
amazing, and she's one of, I go to the
2291
01:42:22,669 --> 01:42:28,019
Philadelphia Folk Festival because of the,
uh, because of like the musical discovery,
2292
01:42:28,319 --> 01:42:33,209
and I saw a young Molly Tuttle perform
on the Thursday night concert just for
2293
01:42:33,229 --> 01:42:35,819
campers, and she blew everybody away.
2294
01:42:35,839 --> 01:42:38,479
I mean, she was absolutely,
and I became a fan immediately.
2295
01:42:38,479 --> 01:42:43,149
I think it was her, I think it was,
Sturgill Simpson played on the same bill,
2296
01:42:43,649 --> 01:42:48,899
In like, I don't even know, 2012, 2010.
2297
01:42:48,899 --> 01:42:51,189
Like it was a long, it
seemed like a long time ago.
2298
01:42:51,589 --> 01:42:53,779
Uh, again, I was smoking
a lot of reefer back then.
2299
01:42:53,779 --> 01:42:58,229
So the years, the years kind of blend
together, but I remember the performance
2300
01:42:58,249 --> 01:43:00,699
and, and I've been a huge fan ever since.
2301
01:43:01,069 --> 01:43:02,539
And, uh, yeah.
2302
01:43:02,539 --> 01:43:06,189
So what was your impression of the
Folk Festival a couple of years ago?
2303
01:43:07,434 --> 01:43:07,984
Sug Daniels: Oh my God.
2304
01:43:08,034 --> 01:43:11,714
It was, it was really, I feel like
life changing for me and it was life
2305
01:43:11,714 --> 01:43:14,784
changing in the sense where I really,
you hear a lot, especially as a
2306
01:43:14,804 --> 01:43:19,174
musician that it's like, okay, you want
to go viral and that's really cool.
2307
01:43:19,174 --> 01:43:22,704
But like, in order to really sustain
yourself and your career, you need to find
2308
01:43:22,704 --> 01:43:26,414
a community of people and it needs to be
like a give and take, like you can't just
2309
01:43:26,934 --> 01:43:29,774
think about it by myself and listen to my
music, like what are you doing for them?
2310
01:43:29,775 --> 01:43:32,514
And I think the Folk Festival
was really the first time I ever
2311
01:43:32,514 --> 01:43:33,964
really seen what it looks like.
2312
01:43:34,254 --> 01:43:37,804
For musicians to be supported by
the community, because they're
2313
01:43:37,814 --> 01:43:42,034
really giving their all, they're
really going out of their way to.
2314
01:43:42,554 --> 01:43:46,144
You know, bring the positivity, bring the
messaging to bring the people together.
2315
01:43:46,574 --> 01:43:49,554
Um, and the camping was just so fun.
2316
01:43:49,554 --> 01:43:51,704
I will be camping this year also.
2317
01:43:51,724 --> 01:43:52,714
Like I'm playing this year.
2318
01:43:52,724 --> 01:43:53,544
I'm very excited.
2319
01:43:53,544 --> 01:43:54,354
I'm going to be camping.
2320
01:43:54,754 --> 01:43:57,484
Um, and just hanging out all
night because it's, the party
2321
01:43:57,484 --> 01:43:58,724
isn't over after, after the camp.
2322
01:43:58,984 --> 01:44:00,184
the, the festival.
2323
01:44:00,214 --> 01:44:04,174
It's, even after that, you know, you go
back to the campsites and everybody's just
2324
01:44:04,514 --> 01:44:09,144
making food and sharing food and sharing
stories and playing, playing songs.
2325
01:44:09,154 --> 01:44:12,664
The first time I ever touched
a banjo was at Philadelphia
2326
01:44:12,664 --> 01:44:13,884
Folk Festival two years ago.
2327
01:44:14,244 --> 01:44:17,274
And now I have one in my studio,
in my little home studio because
2328
01:44:17,274 --> 01:44:18,414
I was like, oh, this is magic.
2329
01:44:18,504 --> 01:44:21,844
This is like such a fun, you know, nobody
cared that I didn't sound all that good.
2330
01:44:21,864 --> 01:44:23,804
They just were, come here, you're welcome.
2331
01:44:23,834 --> 01:44:26,834
Sit down, play this, like, you
know, have a sip of this drink.
2332
01:44:26,834 --> 01:44:28,114
I didn't know what it
was, but it was good.
2333
01:44:28,614 --> 01:44:32,394
Uh, you know, and yeah, so
very excited to be back.
2334
01:44:32,394 --> 01:44:33,594
I, I highly recommend it.
2335
01:44:33,594 --> 01:44:36,834
I think it's just an experience like no
other, especially while I've ever been
2336
01:44:37,464 --> 01:44:39,494
Shaun Smith: Yeah, the ukulele is
a lot more portable than some of
2337
01:44:39,494 --> 01:44:40,764
the other instruments I've seen.
2338
01:44:40,764 --> 01:44:46,454
Uh, I saw a full drum kit, uh, one
year, full drum kit, just set up.
2339
01:44:46,734 --> 01:44:47,894
And of course he's not moving.
2340
01:44:47,894 --> 01:44:49,874
So people would just come to him and
2341
01:44:50,054 --> 01:44:50,504
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
2342
01:44:50,504 --> 01:44:50,954
Yeah.
2343
01:44:50,954 --> 01:44:53,564
I think I, I think that
he was definitely there.
2344
01:44:53,714 --> 01:44:57,344
And then some people will like wheel in
a big piano, like there was one campsite,
2345
01:44:57,614 --> 01:44:58,814
and that's something cool too, right?
2346
01:44:58,814 --> 01:45:02,564
There's all these like little campsites
and they have their own names, like
2347
01:45:02,564 --> 01:45:05,534
little villages and like over here
in this village, they have like a.
2348
01:45:05,784 --> 01:45:08,584
They'll have a drum kit, and over here
in this next village, they'll have like
2349
01:45:08,584 --> 01:45:11,394
an upright piano, and you're like, how
the heck did they get that back here?
2350
01:45:11,744 --> 01:45:14,024
Um, and then, you know, over
here they have like a circle
2351
01:45:14,024 --> 01:45:16,574
of people playing banjos, and
there's some violins over there.
2352
01:45:16,584 --> 01:45:19,574
So it's just like, you feel
like you're in another world.
2353
01:45:19,794 --> 01:45:21,204
Shaun Smith: Oh, it's
definitely another world.
2354
01:45:21,204 --> 01:45:21,384
Yeah.
2355
01:45:21,384 --> 01:45:22,844
There's some upright bases.
2356
01:45:23,104 --> 01:45:26,624
You get the Philadelphia jug band
have their whole, they basically have
2357
01:45:26,644 --> 01:45:30,604
a small city, it seems like they're
with, I don't even know, like they'll
2358
01:45:30,604 --> 01:45:32,704
have 20 people performing at any time.
2359
01:45:32,734 --> 01:45:35,504
I mean, it's, it's quite
a performance out there.
2360
01:45:37,304 --> 01:45:37,954
Sug Daniels: it's wild.
2361
01:45:38,034 --> 01:45:38,544
It's wild.
2362
01:45:38,564 --> 01:45:39,428
Looking forward to it.
2363
01:45:39,428 --> 01:45:41,614
Obviously, you, so you already
fucking seen me out there,
2364
01:45:41,615 --> 01:45:42,434
how are you gonna link up?
2365
01:45:42,464 --> 01:45:43,494
We got a biggest jam.
2366
01:45:43,734 --> 01:45:45,374
Shaun Smith: Oh yeah,
definitely, definitely.
2367
01:45:45,374 --> 01:45:48,634
Yeah, and I'm stoked that you're
going to be performing on the extreme,
2368
01:45:48,974 --> 01:45:52,224
the extreme folk stage with WXPN.
2369
01:45:52,494 --> 01:45:55,474
How does it feel to, uh,
to make folk music extreme?
2370
01:45:56,609 --> 01:45:58,579
Sug Daniels: I love it, you
know, like I said, I think it's
2371
01:45:58,579 --> 01:46:00,039
just such a welcoming genre.
2372
01:46:00,039 --> 01:46:03,139
It's like, I feel like growing
up, I thought folk music
2373
01:46:03,149 --> 01:46:04,429
was this one kind of thing.
2374
01:46:04,429 --> 01:46:08,019
It was like, maybe kind of
sleepy, sleepy girl, guitar music.
2375
01:46:08,329 --> 01:46:12,289
And now that I'm older, I'm like, Oh,
John Prine is not sleepy in slightest.
2376
01:46:13,409 --> 01:46:16,529
And then in wide awake, you know,
spiritually and musically, you
2377
01:46:16,529 --> 01:46:17,919
know, it's fun, really fun stuff.
2378
01:46:17,919 --> 01:46:19,989
So I feel like I can just be myself.
2379
01:46:19,999 --> 01:46:20,669
And it's like, I need to.
2380
01:46:20,934 --> 01:46:25,034
Adhere to any kind of anything, you
know, like not the way that I look
2381
01:46:25,034 --> 01:46:26,354
or the way that I found or anything.
2382
01:46:26,354 --> 01:46:28,334
It's just that people just
want you to be honest.
2383
01:46:28,384 --> 01:46:32,774
They want you to be the most you that
you can be, which I think whether you're
2384
01:46:32,774 --> 01:46:37,434
making music or, you know, brewing
beer or having a podcast, if you are
2385
01:46:37,434 --> 01:46:41,474
your true authentic self, then you give
people the opportunity to learn and
2386
01:46:41,474 --> 01:46:43,454
also to see themselves reflected in you.
2387
01:46:43,474 --> 01:46:45,584
And if you're pretending to be
anybody else, you're robbing
2388
01:46:45,584 --> 01:46:47,094
them of that opportunity.
2389
01:46:47,784 --> 01:46:48,784
Shaun Smith: That's so amazing.
2390
01:46:48,824 --> 01:46:49,294
Yeah.
2391
01:46:49,714 --> 01:46:53,884
Yeah, well, well, Suge, um, yeah,
I ask every guest three questions,
2392
01:46:53,884 --> 01:46:56,354
but was there anything that I didn't
ask you that you think that I should
2393
01:46:56,354 --> 01:46:58,854
have asked or anything else you want
to talk about before I get down to
2394
01:46:58,854 --> 01:47:00,984
these, uh, these final three questions?
2395
01:47:00,985 --> 01:47:01,174
Yes.
2396
01:47:02,179 --> 01:47:04,329
Sug Daniels: Um, no, I just, I definitely
want people to know I got an album
2397
01:47:04,329 --> 01:47:05,679
coming out, working on that album.
2398
01:47:05,709 --> 01:47:09,389
Finished up some, some drums with my,
my beautiful drummer, Alice Clayton.
2399
01:47:09,629 --> 01:47:13,999
He's moving out to, um, Minnesota,
which I'm excited about, but, well, sad
2400
01:47:13,999 --> 01:47:16,979
about, but also excited about because
that opens up a whole new market for
2401
01:47:16,979 --> 01:47:21,929
us to go touring and make some friends
and fans, but it'll be out in 2025.
2402
01:47:22,219 --> 01:47:24,709
It's got some good friends,
some really good players on it.
2403
01:47:24,709 --> 01:47:28,589
And a lot of this music that if you've
ever come to a lot of that, your favorite
2404
01:47:28,589 --> 01:47:30,589
songs are going to be on this album.
2405
01:47:30,599 --> 01:47:32,499
So I'm excited about that.
2406
01:47:32,614 --> 01:47:33,264
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
2407
01:47:33,264 --> 01:47:36,724
Any idea when in 2025, like
first half, second half?
2408
01:47:41,004 --> 01:47:41,504
Cool.
2409
01:47:41,739 --> 01:47:41,759
Sug Daniels: know.
2410
01:47:42,214 --> 01:47:42,714
Shaun Smith: That's all right.
2411
01:47:43,149 --> 01:47:45,519
Sug Daniels: it's finishing up, but I
want, I definitely, I want to shop around.
2412
01:47:45,519 --> 01:47:46,919
I want to see if anybody's interested.
2413
01:47:46,920 --> 01:47:51,379
Cause it's hard on me, you know, I
could definitely do it by myself, but
2414
01:47:51,419 --> 01:47:56,069
if there are any labels that want to
help, you know, or any kind of, you
2415
01:47:56,139 --> 01:47:58,639
know, I would be interested in listening.
2416
01:47:58,809 --> 01:48:01,959
So I'm, I'm not gonna, I don't want to
say a date yet because I don't want to
2417
01:48:01,969 --> 01:48:06,439
have to tell you any different, but what
I will say, um, is that I do plan on
2418
01:48:06,859 --> 01:48:11,209
doing some kind of sneak peek releases
to people who are on like my email list.
2419
01:48:12,469 --> 01:48:14,299
My friend club and you
can sign up for that.
2420
01:48:14,299 --> 01:48:15,149
If you go to shugdaniels.
2421
01:48:15,369 --> 01:48:19,759
com, that's S U G D A N I E L S dot com.
2422
01:48:19,759 --> 01:48:24,389
And you scroll down and a little, you
know, friend club, sign up, you know,
2423
01:48:24,399 --> 01:48:29,299
once a month, I send out tour dates,
music videos, and cool music clips
2424
01:48:29,299 --> 01:48:31,299
and podcasts and stuff like that.
2425
01:48:31,309 --> 01:48:36,039
So if you, if you like, uh, spreading
love, joy in, in, in the form of, in
2426
01:48:36,269 --> 01:48:38,669
shape of music, you know, sign up.
2427
01:48:39,364 --> 01:48:39,774
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
2428
01:48:39,804 --> 01:48:41,584
I'm a proud member of the friend club.
2429
01:48:42,579 --> 01:48:43,299
Sug Daniels: Thank you.
2430
01:48:43,549 --> 01:48:43,999
Thank you.
2431
01:48:44,274 --> 01:48:44,944
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
2432
01:48:44,944 --> 01:48:45,314
Well, yeah.
2433
01:48:45,314 --> 01:48:47,374
So Shug, uh, final three questions.
2434
01:48:47,684 --> 01:48:51,784
Um, so what was the first album
that you ever received or, um,
2435
01:48:51,784 --> 01:48:52,634
that you went out and bought?
2436
01:48:54,149 --> 01:48:57,489
Sug Daniels: The first album that I
ever got was probably my dad buying
2437
01:48:57,499 --> 01:48:59,819
me The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
2438
01:48:59,914 --> 01:49:00,214
Shaun Smith: Wow.
2439
01:49:00,214 --> 01:49:00,974
What a great album.
2440
01:49:01,799 --> 01:49:02,879
Sug Daniels: Yeah, that was funny.
2441
01:49:02,889 --> 01:49:07,079
It was, it really, man, there's just so
many things it did for me, but definitely
2442
01:49:07,479 --> 01:49:09,689
made me really proud to be a woman.
2443
01:49:10,319 --> 01:49:14,769
And I think that even though that like
sounds kind of funny, sometimes when you
2444
01:49:14,769 --> 01:49:18,969
grow up in certain households, like I
definitely grew up in a very male forward
2445
01:49:18,969 --> 01:49:23,359
Christian household and sometimes it just
felt like women were like second bananas,
2446
01:49:23,459 --> 01:49:24,789
you know, for lack of better terms.
2447
01:49:24,799 --> 01:49:28,289
Even though I've seen the women in my
family, you know, with the good jobs,
2448
01:49:28,329 --> 01:49:31,279
taking care of the kids, running the
households, taking us to school, doing
2449
01:49:31,279 --> 01:49:36,684
all the things, um, just felt I heard
this song, I was like, oh yeah, I can
2450
01:49:36,684 --> 01:49:38,974
have, I can take pride in who I am.
2451
01:49:39,054 --> 01:49:42,444
And just because I'm a woman, you know,
my, my worth is more than just the look,
2452
01:49:42,774 --> 01:49:44,884
the look of my face and my hair, my body.
2453
01:49:45,384 --> 01:49:49,084
Um, and then also to just
keep, to be honest in my music.
2454
01:49:49,414 --> 01:49:50,494
Uh, it taught me that too.
2455
01:49:51,179 --> 01:49:51,829
Shaun Smith: That's great.
2456
01:49:51,849 --> 01:49:52,319
That's great.
2457
01:49:52,319 --> 01:49:53,279
CD or cassette?
2458
01:49:53,279 --> 01:49:54,979
Just because we were talking
about cassettes earlier.
2459
01:49:55,994 --> 01:49:57,494
Sug Daniels: That one
was a CD my dad got me.
2460
01:49:57,629 --> 01:49:58,239
Shaun Smith: Awesome.
2461
01:49:58,319 --> 01:49:58,889
Awesome.
2462
01:49:58,949 --> 01:49:59,809
That's so cool.
2463
01:50:00,209 --> 01:50:02,469
Um, what was the first concert
that you ever attended?
2464
01:50:03,984 --> 01:50:08,984
Sug Daniels: The first concert I ever
attended was probably Go Go Bordello in
2465
01:50:09,029 --> 01:50:10,659
Shaun Smith: No way!
2466
01:50:10,734 --> 01:50:13,064
Sug Daniels: I'm like, yeah, cause
I was like, you know, like I said,
2467
01:50:13,064 --> 01:50:16,494
I just had so many, I had a lot of
eclectic taste in music growing up.
2468
01:50:16,884 --> 01:50:19,574
And there was like a moment
in time when me and my friends
2469
01:50:19,584 --> 01:50:20,824
listened to Go Go Bordello.
2470
01:50:21,124 --> 01:50:23,924
Like right out of high school, we
were just like all like, you know,
2471
01:50:24,519 --> 01:50:28,419
And the system, taxes are bad, like
we gotta, we gotta mobilize, we gotta
2472
01:50:28,499 --> 01:50:32,939
get the people together, and like Coco
Burgello was like perfect for that.
2473
01:50:33,499 --> 01:50:37,729
feeling like it was perfect for
that and it was so it was one of
2474
01:50:37,729 --> 01:50:42,361
my tip of the day one of the best
concerts i ever seen well i'll tell
2475
01:50:42,664 --> 01:50:46,964
Shaun Smith: I, I was good friends
with, uh, uh, for a time with the bass
2476
01:50:46,964 --> 01:50:50,534
player of big wig, uh, shout out to
Zach Lawrence and, uh, big wig was a
2477
01:50:50,534 --> 01:50:56,994
New Jersey punk band and, um, he would
rave about Google Bordello concerts.
2478
01:50:56,994 --> 01:51:00,024
He'd say, never have seen
anything like this before.
2479
01:51:00,364 --> 01:51:02,964
And uh, unfortunately I never
went to one and I always, I
2480
01:51:02,964 --> 01:51:04,474
was always on the bucket list.
2481
01:51:04,784 --> 01:51:06,854
So, uh, that's, that is really cool.
2482
01:51:06,854 --> 01:51:07,764
But there is definitely a,
2483
01:51:08,549 --> 01:51:11,129
Sug Daniels: they're touring they still
tour all the time and i know i you know
2484
01:51:11,129 --> 01:51:14,329
i'm a delaware girl they're going to
be at the queen in wilmington i think
2485
01:51:14,339 --> 01:51:18,099
like early september um just if you're
still interested they're still doing
2486
01:51:18,099 --> 01:51:21,489
the thing i know the lineup changes all
the time so i think you've got a bunch
2487
01:51:21,489 --> 01:51:25,459
of new players now um talking about you
the lead singer eugene he's kind of like
2488
01:51:25,460 --> 01:51:30,494
you The brainchild of that band, but I
do think for like what they stand for
2489
01:51:30,944 --> 01:51:34,614
and like the energy of that music, man I
feel like everybody should go see google
2490
01:51:35,769 --> 01:51:36,659
Shaun Smith: That's so cool.
2491
01:51:36,689 --> 01:51:37,369
Yeah, that's so cool.
2492
01:51:37,369 --> 01:51:38,429
I'm going to put that on the list.
2493
01:51:38,429 --> 01:51:41,339
I actually just wrote it down so I
can, I can look that up because I would
2494
01:51:41,339 --> 01:51:44,339
love to go see them because that is,
yeah, you're right, there's an energy
2495
01:51:44,339 --> 01:51:47,739
there, but then there's all that, that
authenticity where it's like, they're
2496
01:51:47,739 --> 01:51:49,639
not trying to be anything different.
2497
01:51:49,659 --> 01:51:52,889
They're just, you know, they're, they're
playing traditional music, right?
2498
01:51:52,899 --> 01:51:56,469
They're a folk music, but putting
that modern spin on it, giving it a
2499
01:51:56,469 --> 01:52:00,939
little bit of a metal, harder edge,
um, you know, a lot of energy, man,
2500
01:52:00,999 --> 01:52:04,089
that's, I never thought I would be
talking to you about Golgo Bordello.
2501
01:52:04,089 --> 01:52:04,989
That's so amazing.
2502
01:52:05,884 --> 01:52:07,334
Sug Daniels: a little bit of
everything that doots and the
2503
01:52:07,334 --> 01:52:09,034
maytas go go burndale lauryn hill.
2504
01:52:09,254 --> 01:52:13,214
Let's listen if it's good Is good Quincy
Jones said that he said there's only two
2505
01:52:13,214 --> 01:52:15,274
kinds of music good music and bad music.
2506
01:52:15,275 --> 01:52:16,781
That's
2507
01:52:16,844 --> 01:52:18,154
Shaun Smith: true, that's so true.
2508
01:52:18,204 --> 01:52:18,994
That's amazing.
2509
01:52:19,384 --> 01:52:25,184
So my last, my last question is, uh,
what is your favorite, uh, song or,
2510
01:52:25,184 --> 01:52:28,984
excuse me, what is your favorite,
uh, soundtrack or score from a movie?
2511
01:52:30,654 --> 01:52:32,174
And musicals don't count.
2512
01:52:32,314 --> 01:52:34,494
Don't, don't hit me with
rent or something like that.
2513
01:52:37,334 --> 01:52:39,294
Sug Daniels: would never I would
never although that music is
2514
01:52:39,294 --> 01:52:42,484
very good Oh, man, that's tough.
2515
01:52:42,484 --> 01:52:43,364
That's really tough.
2516
01:52:43,754 --> 01:52:44,834
I feel like
2517
01:52:49,534 --> 01:52:58,044
Let me check you might have to like
clip the audio for this I will say
2518
01:52:58,424 --> 01:53:00,424
that although the movie didn't age.
2519
01:53:00,424 --> 01:53:03,204
Well, the soundtrack was
really good garden state
2520
01:53:03,704 --> 01:53:04,744
Shaun Smith: Oh, wow!
2521
01:53:04,745 --> 01:53:05,734
Ha ha
2522
01:53:05,949 --> 01:53:08,369
Sug Daniels: Because I had like that was
my first time hearing like Nick Drake
2523
01:53:08,409 --> 01:53:12,499
and I remember watching it on DVD and
stopping it and being like, what is this?
2524
01:53:12,619 --> 01:53:12,959
Who is this?
2525
01:53:13,879 --> 01:53:17,489
And, you know, you can scroll through
the credits and stuff like that at that
2526
01:53:17,489 --> 01:53:20,279
point in time and I found that song
because I was like, this is amazing.
2527
01:53:20,280 --> 01:53:22,089
Yeah.
2528
01:53:22,089 --> 01:53:23,899
Yeah.
2529
01:53:23,954 --> 01:53:25,124
Shaun Smith: slang is on that.
2530
01:53:27,664 --> 01:53:32,674
I have to, I, so the podcast is not
about me, but I just have to, I have to
2531
01:53:32,674 --> 01:53:37,174
share this story because I went to go
see Garden State in the movie theater
2532
01:53:37,324 --> 01:53:41,294
when I was in, I was in high school
and I was dating a girl at the time.
2533
01:53:42,109 --> 01:53:48,529
And she had, uh, a hamster that had
died, I don't know, maybe a day or
2534
01:53:48,759 --> 01:53:49,219
Sug Daniels: my god,
2535
01:53:49,309 --> 01:53:50,929
Shaun Smith: before we saw that movie.
2536
01:53:51,369 --> 01:53:55,009
And the scene when, I think, Peanut
Butter, the hamster, and the mom's
2537
01:53:55,009 --> 01:53:57,359
like, Peanut Butter dropped dead.
2538
01:53:57,844 --> 01:54:03,664
I couldn't, I don't know, this is my
black humor, I could not stop laughing.
2539
01:54:03,694 --> 01:54:08,434
I, I had, I literally had to, yeah,
probably it led to the breakup.
2540
01:54:09,574 --> 01:54:11,764
I had to literally, I was crying.
2541
01:54:11,764 --> 01:54:13,124
I had to leave the theater.
2542
01:54:13,314 --> 01:54:14,404
I couldn't breathe.
2543
01:54:14,704 --> 01:54:15,934
I mean, it was just, you know, it was.
2544
01:54:17,249 --> 01:54:19,619
Sug Daniels: You are cold blooded, man.
2545
01:54:19,929 --> 01:54:21,509
That's exactly what
you brought over to me.
2546
01:54:22,519 --> 01:54:23,889
That scene was so funny, though.
2547
01:54:23,939 --> 01:54:24,589
It really was.
2548
01:54:25,054 --> 01:54:26,624
Shaun Smith: that's such
a great soundtrack, too.
2549
01:54:26,664 --> 01:54:30,654
That was definitely formative,
uh, formative for me personally.
2550
01:54:30,954 --> 01:54:32,304
So uh, so yeah, that
2551
01:54:32,389 --> 01:54:36,599
Sug Daniels: Oh, and it had that, um, It
had that, that Imogen Heap song that got
2552
01:54:36,599 --> 01:54:39,699
really crazy popular at the end where
they're like running through the, like the
2553
01:54:39,699 --> 01:54:41,779
classic running through the airport scene.
2554
01:54:42,064 --> 01:54:42,894
Shaun Smith: oh yeah,
2555
01:54:43,799 --> 01:54:45,909
Sug Daniels: was, that was
how I discovered that song.
2556
01:54:46,309 --> 01:54:49,099
So yeah, wonderful, wonderful soundtrack.
2557
01:54:49,099 --> 01:54:51,509
That's probably one of the best
soundtracks I feel like it is.
2558
01:54:51,659 --> 01:54:52,459
I'm glad that I heard it.
2559
01:54:52,459 --> 01:54:53,469
I feel like it really helped me.
2560
01:54:53,509 --> 01:54:57,999
It shaped a lot of my music taste for,
for a while, for, for a long while,
2561
01:54:57,999 --> 01:55:01,339
but there's a lot of really, really
amazing music in that movie for sure.
2562
01:55:01,624 --> 01:55:04,154
Shaun Smith: yeah, I think there's
even an Elliot Smith song on there too.
2563
01:55:04,554 --> 01:55:07,114
Sug Daniels: Yeah, yeah, yeah,
2564
01:55:07,394 --> 01:55:08,084
Shaun Smith: so cool.
2565
01:55:08,404 --> 01:55:12,584
So cool, well Shug Daniels, um, I know
you're performing, uh, 1 o'clock at
2566
01:55:12,584 --> 01:55:17,244
the Tank Stage at the Philadelphia Folk
Festival, 1 o'clock on Saturday, uh, at
2567
01:55:17,244 --> 01:55:21,434
the Tank Stage, which is the one that's,
uh, if you're looking, it's, it's stage
2568
01:55:21,434 --> 01:55:24,264
left, it's like if you're looking at the
stage, it's all the way over to the right.
2569
01:55:24,494 --> 01:55:27,434
But do you have any, uh, other upcoming
performances or anything else you want
2570
01:55:27,434 --> 01:55:28,864
to tell the, uh, the folks at home?
2571
01:55:29,874 --> 01:55:32,914
Sug Daniels: yeah, if you don't, if you
don't catch me there, I'll be, and if
2572
01:55:32,914 --> 01:55:36,584
you're in New Jersey, I'm playing the
Oktoberfest in Medford, New Jersey.
2573
01:55:36,854 --> 01:55:41,024
I think it's called Freedom Park on
September 21st, uh, and then I will also
2574
01:55:41,024 --> 01:55:43,964
be doing a women's, uh, writers round.
2575
01:55:44,449 --> 01:55:48,239
At World Cafe Live on September 7th?
2576
01:55:48,619 --> 01:55:49,669
Yeah, September 7th.
2577
01:55:50,139 --> 01:55:52,119
Um, and then also, like,
I'm always touring.
2578
01:55:52,159 --> 01:55:55,129
It's kind of, like, playing
music and selling merchandise
2579
01:55:55,819 --> 01:55:57,439
are my main forms of income.
2580
01:55:57,459 --> 01:56:01,009
So, if you, if you log onto
my website, shugdaniels.
2581
01:56:01,039 --> 01:56:02,649
com slash tour.
2582
01:56:03,559 --> 01:56:05,189
All my dates are there and I make it easy.
2583
01:56:05,189 --> 01:56:06,849
So I put ticket links on there too.
2584
01:56:07,139 --> 01:56:08,929
Um, I got a lot of touring coming up.
2585
01:56:08,929 --> 01:56:10,269
I'm going to be in Syracuse.
2586
01:56:10,709 --> 01:56:13,579
I'm going to be in Cleveland
for the first time.
2587
01:56:13,889 --> 01:56:15,069
Uh, lots of Delaware stuff.
2588
01:56:15,069 --> 01:56:17,629
So anybody, any of my Delaware
listeners just check out, you
2589
01:56:17,629 --> 01:56:20,469
know, s u g d a n i e l s.
2590
01:56:20,739 --> 01:56:21,299
com.
2591
01:56:21,779 --> 01:56:24,479
And, uh, yeah, I can't, I
love, I love making music.
2592
01:56:24,479 --> 01:56:26,429
I love meeting people and singing songs.
2593
01:56:26,429 --> 01:56:28,619
It's such a fun way to
introduce yourself to someone.
2594
01:56:29,039 --> 01:56:30,279
Um, so yeah, come say hi.
2595
01:56:30,919 --> 01:56:31,589
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
2596
01:56:31,609 --> 01:56:33,369
Well, I can't wait to see
you at the Folk Festival.
2597
01:56:34,059 --> 01:56:35,859
Sug Daniels: Anyway, I can't
wait to meet you in person, man.
2598
01:56:35,859 --> 01:56:38,049
This was a good, this was a good hang.
2599
01:56:38,249 --> 01:56:38,939
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
2600
01:56:38,939 --> 01:56:39,089
Yeah.
2601
01:56:39,089 --> 01:56:40,219
I can't wait to do it in person.
2602
01:56:40,219 --> 01:56:40,409
Yeah.
2603
01:56:40,409 --> 01:56:41,459
Let's make a point to do it.
2604
01:56:42,479 --> 01:56:43,239
Sug Daniels: Yeah, man.
2605
01:56:43,249 --> 01:56:44,429
Thank you so much for having me.
2606
01:56:44,429 --> 01:56:47,829
I appreciate everybody who gives me the
opportunity to like talk about music
2607
01:56:47,829 --> 01:56:49,269
and spread a little light and joy.
2608
01:56:49,699 --> 01:56:50,129
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
2609
01:56:50,129 --> 01:56:52,509
Hey, keep spreading light and
joy and, uh, there'll be plenty
2610
01:56:52,509 --> 01:56:53,699
more opportunities for you.
2611
01:56:54,529 --> 01:56:55,159
Sug Daniels: Thank you, man.
2612
01:56:55,159 --> 01:56:55,959
I appreciate it.
2613
01:56:56,159 --> 01:56:56,939
Shaun Smith: That's awesome.
2614
01:56:57,239 --> 01:56:57,999
Shug, thank you.
2615
01:56:57,999 --> 01:56:59,129
This was a great chat.
2616
01:56:59,779 --> 01:57:00,169
Sug Daniels: Thank you.
2617
01:57:00,169 --> 01:57:00,969
I think so too.
2618
01:57:01,469 --> 01:57:02,169
That's fun.
2619
01:57:02,499 --> 01:57:03,289
Shaun Smith: Absolutely.
2620
01:57:03,289 --> 01:57:08,979
So my goal is to get this out by, so
I'm, I'm leaving Thursday morning.
2621
01:57:09,079 --> 01:57:12,739
Uh, so my goal would be to get this
out by the end of the day on Wednesday.
2622
01:57:12,999 --> 01:57:15,339
So hopefully people will be
listening to this, like as
2623
01:57:15,339 --> 01:57:16,319
they're going to the festival.
2624
01:57:17,209 --> 01:57:18,249
Sug Daniels: Well, that sounds wonderful.
2625
01:57:18,519 --> 01:57:21,779
So yeah, just tag me, send
it to me and I'll blast it.
2626
01:57:21,779 --> 01:57:23,569
I'll blast it as soon as
you, as soon as you send it.
2627
01:57:23,679 --> 01:57:25,299
Shaun Smith: Yeah, and I'll
definitely, I'll try to come over
2628
01:57:25,299 --> 01:57:26,549
and say hi to you on Saturday.
2629
01:57:27,249 --> 01:57:27,569
Sug Daniels: Yeah.
2630
01:57:27,569 --> 01:57:29,499
And if you don't catch my show,
you're doing something else.
2631
01:57:29,499 --> 01:57:31,379
Just, just come make,
let's just make it a point.
2632
01:57:31,379 --> 01:57:34,359
I would love to just shake your hand
and give you a hug and say, thanks.
2633
01:57:34,359 --> 01:57:34,739
All right.
2634
01:57:34,749 --> 01:57:37,089
Shaun Smith: Yeah, I'll, I'll,
uh, I'll text you, uh, I'll
2635
01:57:37,089 --> 01:57:37,999
text you at the festival.
2636
01:57:37,999 --> 01:57:38,679
How about that?
2637
01:57:39,259 --> 01:57:40,259
Sug Daniels: Sounds good.
2638
01:57:40,619 --> 01:57:41,749
Shaun Smith: Thanks
again for all your time.
2639
01:57:41,749 --> 01:57:42,719
I really appreciate it.
2640
01:57:42,729 --> 01:57:45,329
And, uh, yeah, this is a, this
is a fantastic conversation.
2641
01:57:45,329 --> 01:57:46,819
I really can't wait to meet you in person.
2642
01:57:47,619 --> 01:57:48,569
Sug Daniels: Thank you, Shannon.
2643
01:57:48,569 --> 01:57:49,289
You have a good one, man.
2644
01:57:49,289 --> 01:57:49,919
I appreciate you.
2645
01:57:49,919 --> 01:57:50,419
Shaun Smith: Thank you.
2646
01:57:50,429 --> 01:57:50,969
Appreciate you.
2647
01:57:50,979 --> 01:57:51,849
Have a great day.
2648
01:57:52,479 --> 01:57:52,589
Bye
2649
01:57:52,669 --> 01:57:52,839
Sug Daniels: right.
2650
01:57:52,849 --> 01:57:53,269
Bye bye.