บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ Blessing Offor Interview | From Tobymac to Coachella to CMA Fest

of days before this. I listened to it before we 41 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:01.760 got on and I first discovered you Well in Nashville 42 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:03.680 Way with Them or in Colorado Away with Them was 43 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:06.400 playing Brighter Days, and I thought that that was an 44 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:08.560 absolute just jam of a song. I thought it was 45 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.000 a beautiful sorow. And then to follow up with that, 46 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:16.199 came out with with Toby Mack The Goodness, which was 47 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:19.919 a mass as well. And I feel like, I don't know, 48 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.240 maybe maybe you're just getting better with age, Like every 49 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:26.159 time you put a song on, it just keeps getting 50 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:27.120 better and better. 51 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:30.240 And you know the A thank you be. My favorite 52 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.120 part of putting out music is I always say to 53 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.400 myself and my friends who have never been to church, 54 00:02:36.599 --> 00:02:38.759 hear this and hear themselves in it. You know what 55 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:41.400 I mean. And so that's if you don't know anything 56 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:43.680 about me, just know I grew up in Connecticut, I 57 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:46.560 lived in New York. I did not grow up in 58 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:50.599 like super churched places. So my music is meant for, 59 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.319 of course believers, because you know, he who has ears, 60 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:57.560 you know what I mean. But it's also meant for 61 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:00.639 my friends who I would do life with in Brooklyn, 62 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:05.400 right and in Nashville, New York any La. I lived 63 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:08.560 in LA for six months, like the world needs this, 64 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.759 if that makes any sense, and so if if if 65 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:14.719 I can keep it a low barrier to entry so 66 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:18.000 that they can hear the good things they need to hear, 67 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:19.919 then so be it. You know what I mean. So 68 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:22.599 I always shoot for that when I make music, so 69 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.199 it is not an accident. And I just want you 70 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:26.960 guys to come along on that journey because I think 71 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:27.759 it's really beautiful. 72 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:28.360 Now. 73 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.960 On the Lift Me Up single, you released three songs 74 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:33.919 you had all over the world and Jordan's. Huh, what 75 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:36.560 is is? What's What's Jordan's about? 76 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:41.759 Because Jordan's. Oh, I love that song a little behind 77 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:44.879 the scenes. Jordan's actually wrote initially because I thought Maverick 78 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:47.319 City was going to cut it, Okay, So I wrote 79 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:50.560 it for this big choir, you know what I mean, right, 80 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:54.120 And you can kind of hear that in it. I 81 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:57.039 love that because it's kind of a lot of Old 82 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.680 Testament imagery. Uh. And I love the titled Jordan's because 83 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:02.199 everybody goes is that's about the shoes? 84 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:05.520 That's yeah. The first time I heard it, that's what 85 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:06.319 I thought too. 86 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:08.879 And you know it kind of is it's like you're 87 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:11.719 walking on Jordan's. So I just like to have fun 88 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:13.639 when I write songs. And if you can have a 89 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:16.600 good time and give people something to like hold on to, 90 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:17.399 then you're doing. 91 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:19.879 It right now. Since you mentioned Jordan's and I'm a 92 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:22.879 sneaker guy me too. What what is your shoe? 93 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:23.000 Like? 94 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:24.560 What are we going to see at night? Vision? 95 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:28.279 F ones? Okay, yeah, yeah, f ones. 96 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:28.399 All right? 97 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:28.720 I have. 98 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:30.279 I have the red ones and the white ones. 99 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:33.800 They're like the most comfortable shoes I have about every 100 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:36.560 If I could if I walk my camera to my closet, 101 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:39.560 you'll see a lot of air Forces in about every 102 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:42.680 I've pink, I've sky Blue, I have. 103 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:45.040 It's it's crazy, but I love those shoes. 104 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:47.759 I don't know why now this is this is probably 105 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:49.399 the most random question you've ever been asked? 106 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:50.439 What size shoe do you wear? 107 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:52.279 Ten and a half or eleven? 108 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:54.399 I'll see Because we're very close to each other, I 109 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:55.120 was going to. 110 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:58.800 Come raid your closet, shop out some shop out, some 111 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:02.160 air ones, air Force ones, but that's not my size. 112 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:03.279 So coming to. 113 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.480 Play night Vision, you're gonna be sharing the stage with 114 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:08.279 some artists. You're gonna be sharing with Leanna Crawford, Streams 115 00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:11.399 and Hearts, Josiah Queen, Jeremy Camp's gonna close. 116 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:11.680 The night out. 117 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:12.120 Nice. 118 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:15.519 Nice you and Leanna Crawford. You want to You guys 119 00:05:15.519 -->

00:05:16.879 are going on right before each other. 120 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.120 Her and I I feel like I run into her 121 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:22.160 at every show and she's always the coolest hang. If 122 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:26.279 you guys don't know this her, I think husband, Yeah, 123 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:29.360 it plays for the NBA, right or played for a 124 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.360 long time for the NBA. So she's always got the 125 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:35.480 coolest stories and she's just a lovely human. So you 126 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:37.319 guys just come out for that show. It's gonna be fun. 127 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:41.079 Josiah's gonna be there, Jeremy's gonna you know, just a 128 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:42.600 fun time. Let's let's have a good time. 129 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:45.680 And you know, since Leanna Crawford's husband is an NBA player, 130 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.680 you know her shoe game is tight as well. 131 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:51.680 I mean he literally brings her to the Nike factory 132 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:53.879 and just pick what you want? What a flex? 133 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.680 Right, Leanna? You gotta hook us up? All right? 134 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:01.879 Please come on, I'll be friends with her husband, right. 135 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:04.360 I will go with blessing. I'll be I'll be the 136 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:06.240 entourage for the Yankee factory. 137 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:07.600 Let's go bro. 138 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:11.399 So for those that have you ever been to Grand Junction, Colorado? 139 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.399 So I've been to a lot of parts of I've 140 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:19.519 been to Fort Collins, Steamboat, Denver, obviously not Grand Junction. 141 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.720 But I'm really excited. Okay, can't wait. 142 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:23.879 So, by the way, it is going to be like 143 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:27.480 one hundred and five degrees they perform, but try though, 144 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:29.600 right like it's a very dry heat. 145 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:30.240 Yes, perfect. 146 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.759 So that is when you talk about what Jesus has 147 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:34.959 done in your life, because if you think this is bad, 148 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:36.879 way till hell, you know, like you can, you can. 149 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:38.959 I just see, I just gave you the Segway right there. 150 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:42.319 So a couple of years ago at night Vision Social Club, 151 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:44.879 Misfits played right around the same time you're playing. 152 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:46.839 Love It, and their computers overheated. 153 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:52.319 Oh because it's so high. So well, listen. Luckily, I 154 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:56.800 think I'm bringing my whole band. Okay, so listen. If 155 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.360 that happened, we'll still have the best remever, he goes. 156 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:03.800 My dudes, like we use tracks obviously, but like my 157 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:06.519 players are cold, so they can do anything you need anytime. 158 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:07.920 So I love those guys. 159 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:10.399 So besides the heat, I wanted to warn you about 160 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:12.720 the heat for the audience and Grand Junction and the 161 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:13.560 night Vision crowd. 162 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:20.360 What can they expect from. 163 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:21.959 Your Lots of fun, lots of up tempo, a lot 164 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:26.439 of the new music. I don't know, man, I am. 165 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:31.079 I am a big believer in yes, the message and 166 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:34.519 how it's delivered. And there's nothing in the Bible that 167 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:36.879 says we cannot have a great time, you know what 168 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:39.600 I mean. And so if you know anything about me, 169 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:42.600 it's that I am a huge proponent of just having fun. 170 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:46.920 So first and foremost tempo band, I have a killer 171 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:49.240 set of musicians. So we're going to play play play 172 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:50.480 play play, you know what I mean? 173 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:54.800 Right, Yeah, you coming from Nigeria, went to Connecticut. Like 174 00:07:54.839 --> 00:07:56.720 you mentioned you, you were in New York and Brooklyn 175 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:57.839 shout out to Williamsburg. 176 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.040 Hey, come on, I loved I lived in none of 177 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.759 those cool places for a long time. I lived in 178 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:08.240 what's my neighborhood, I can't remember. It's a New u 179 00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:13.720 Trek in forty nine, so very Hasidic Jewish neighborhood. 180 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.319 I'm sure you fit in well there. You were not 181 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:19.120 stand out at all, did not love me. 182 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:23.000 But you've had through that. 183 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:24.560 You know, you've played you, You've done a bunch of 184 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:27.639 stuff at the Kennedy Center. I saw that you're playing 185 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:30.720 stage Coach right right before night Vision. 186 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:33.919 So sir, backs boys, jelly Roll. 187 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:39.080 You know, all the guys right stage Coach, a show 188 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:42.200 with Lauren and Maverick and then uh and then that 189 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:43.519 night Vision. So I'm excited. 190 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:46.679 So right now, the big thing in Christian music is 191 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:48.320 the jelly Roll Brandon Lake song. 192 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:49.840 Yeah hard Thought Halloween. 193 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:51.799 Oh yeah, So I want to give you a tip 194 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:53.799 right now

then, I think you should try to rip 195 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:55.960 off Brandon Lake and just just do a song with 196 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:58.679 Jelly Rolling. You guys can just see each other at 197 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:02.440 stage coach and watch Brandon Lake the Blessing. 198 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:06.639 You have no idea. They're like, what jelly roll is 199 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:10.759 doing is I think what we need the most first 200 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:15.120 in my personal opinion, because the message is supposed to 201 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:17.440 be out there, right, you know what I mean, It's 202 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:21.360 supposed to be out there, and I think sometimes believers 203 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:23.159 kind of get scared of out there, you know what 204 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:26.000 I mean, They're like not out there, and You're like, yes, 205 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:30.360 out there, go, you know, go, we are sent sent forth. 206 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.000 Like I love it. I love it so much. It's 207 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:37.639 getting it's I mean, I'm excited for a good music 208 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:40.600 and b CCM and they don't have to be different 209 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:43.879 things and so yeah, super excited. 210 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:46.399 Well it's someone like you who you've done a bunch 211 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.759 of You've obviously done a bunch of Christian stuff and 212 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:51.000 then you are doing a bunch of general market stuff 213 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:54.360 and honestly, in Christian music, that is kind of like 214 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.720 what everybody wants to do. They want to they want 215 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:58.840 to have a they want to have a reach in 216 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:02.600 both both field. Correct What advice would you give to 217 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:04.159 somebody who wants to accomplish that. 218 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:08.799 I would say, I'm going to be a scripture nerd 219 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:12.320 and I'm going to say Paul says, I will be 220 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:15.960 all things to all men so that some might be saved. Right. 221 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:19.559 And I think if you want to be credible, and 222 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.279 I'm learning too, so like being credible in the mainstream market. 223 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:28.480 I think part of that is letting the mainstream market 224 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:30.840 know that you don't think it's gross, you don't think 225 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:33.440 it's icky, you don't think they're awful, you don't think 226 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:37.039 you're not just there to tell them how h double 227 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:39.159 hockey sticks bound that they are, you know what I mean? 228 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:43.039 Like you respect them, you you you see. I mean 229 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:45.519 we're all creative is because God is a creative you 230 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:47.440 know what I mean. So even if a guy is 231 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:52.440 creating and you and doing things you wouldn't you know, sanction, 232 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:56.039 you still have to honor the genius of creativity, right, 233 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:57.919 you know what I mean? And I think if you, 234 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:00.039 if any any space you want to be in, and 235 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:03.960 if you are not honoring of that space, then the 236 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.919 space doesn't want you, you know what I mean? And 237 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:09.399 that's just it. It is like I actually I love pop music. 238 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:12.840 I love mainstreaming. I grew up on it. I didn't 239 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:15.519 grow up on a lot of CCM, so that I'm 240 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.080 a really weird Christian artist. I'm just I'm an artist 241 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:21.120 who happens to really actually be a Christian, right, So 242 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:26.600 my music has always been more mainstream, and I you know, 243 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:29.120 at some point decided that's a feature, not a bug, 244 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:31.759 you know what I mean. Yeah, that's just it. You 245 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:32.960 just have to actually. 246 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:35.200 Love it, you know, when you play the Kennedy Center 247 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:37.519 or when you do stage coach or even back in 248 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:41.639 the day when you're on the voice, What is the 249 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:43.440 reception of like when you tell people like I'm a 250 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:47.039 gospel artist or I'm a Christian, Like, is there initially 251 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:49.759 a pushback because like, well, I know, like in Christian 252 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:52.519 hip hop when people like, you know, like you'll have 253 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:55.080 a lacray or whatever. This is before he became La Craye, 254 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.399 but when he was starting. 255 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:59.960 Off before Kendrick would shout him out once, you would 256 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.440 have like. 257 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:01.919 They would tell them that they're like they would tell 258 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.480 people I'm a Christian rapper and people would automatically like 259 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:05.440 disregard them. 260 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:08.440 Have you experienced that, I haven't, because before I tell 261 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:12.440 them on anything I play the music right. So again 262 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:16.519 it's like labels are cute, but they're just labels. Do 263 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.879 what you do, so I don't need to tell them anything. 264 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:20.519 God is in what I do, period. 265 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:24.120 So absolutely you see what I'm saying to uh. By 266 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:25.279 the way, so. 267 00:12:25.519

--> 00:12:27.799 If you get a VIP ticket for night Vision, you 268 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:31.360 can meet you can you can meet Blessing. Hopefully you're 269 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.480 bringing your merchandise, because I was looking at your merchandise, 270 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:34.519 and of course. 271 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.039 You are, You're an artist. 272 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:37.519 You gotta yeah, you gotta not only bring me bringing 273 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:40.080 new merch you guys, so be ready. 274 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:42.200 Because because the merch on your website is pretty dope. 275 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:45.799 I do like the glasses I do all right, I'm 276 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:47.120 gonna get there of glasses that night. 277 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:49.360 Yeah, and the glass is safe for brighter days, which 278 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.519 was my personal time. 279 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:56.039 So with that song, that was hugely successful for you 280 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.679 and and and the mainstream picked it up as well. 281 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:01.120 You got mainstream play and I recently Christian just Swan 282 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:06.919 dived into it. What was do you think you? 283 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:07.159 Yeah? 284 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:08.000 Yeah, please don't stop. 285 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.559 What was that song? 286 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:10.679 Like? 287 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.639 Where did that come from? Because I know that song 288 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:13.879 reached a lot of people. 289 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:18.720 That song we wrote it mid pandemic me and Sam Ellis, 290 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:22.600 And honestly, initially I didn't think too much of it 291 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.600 because I was like, man, brighter days, it sounds so cheaty, 292 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:29.559 you know what I mean. And then I said, all right, 293 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.080 I said, if we're going to write this song and 294 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.679 make it credible, we have to start with a line 295 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:36.679 that you almost don't know what it means. And I 296 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:39.919 was like, it's got to be weird. And so Ashes 297 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.080 Fall from Burning Dreams was how is how that song 298 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.440 opens after the first little chorus, you know what I mean? Right, 299 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:50.440 And that was where everybody was like things were literally 300 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:53.879 just like the world was going crazy. And so the 301 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:56.559 only way you can credibly get to brighter Days is 302 00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:01.519 if you've gone through some things. Otherwise it's it's spiritual diabetes, 303 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.279 you know what I mean, And that's not good. So 304 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:07.279 that's how that song I think came about is as 305 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:09.600 I always do. I go, you have to tell people 306 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:11.679 where you've been before you can tell them about a victory. 307 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:14.919 You know what I mean. Victory is nothing if it 308 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.759 has no weight behind it, you see what I'm saying. 309 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:19.600 So oh absolutely, and it sounds like you know, because 310 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:22.440 you know, during the pandemic, there were some really bad 311 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.799 songs that came out of the people were secluded. 312 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.840 Yeah, they had no one testing the songs. 313 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:33.559 They're all on their live streams on Instagram, just doing 314 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:35.519 motions over and over again. 315 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:37.840 Oh way, God help us. 316 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.960 And then following that was goodness. 317 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:43.399 Like I mentioned, you appeared on Toby Mack. 318 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:44.639 How did that come about? 319 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:49.000 I got a call. I'm sure there were some managers 320 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:50.720 reaching out to managers, but I got a text from 321 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:53.480 Toby and I was like, this is you know what 322 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:58.120 I mean? Because even I, you know, growing up in Connecticut, 323 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:00.679 not not really in youth group, I knew who DC 324 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:03.279 talking Toty Mac, I knew those guys. So that was 325 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:05.480 a big deal. So he's like, I've got this song, 326 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.679 you want to check it. I was like, bro, you're 327 00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:10.279 totally back. Of course I'm gonna take it. So uh 328 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:13.440 and I literally went over. We cut my verse in 329 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:18.000 probably two hours, and I left really and cut my 330 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:21.159 verse and my post chorus bridge thing and literally two. 331 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.080 Hours and that song you're still getting played all the time. Bro. 332 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:26.799 It's crazy, but it's what you know. Listen, I'm not mad. 333 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:29.200 Radio keep playing that as well. 334 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:32.720 My man for once listens. 335 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:39.440 So you did Lift Me Up? What else do you 336 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:41.240 have coming out this year? And well, we have any 337 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.279 new music before night Vision in June? 338 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.080 I think yes, actually a couple of new songs. I'm 339 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:52.879 sure the new record comes out August eleventh, maybe August first, August. 340 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:57.279 And dude, like I said, I'm so excited. The artist 341 00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:59.879 in me is so happy for this collection of songs. 342 00:16:00.240 -->

00:16:02.399 I can't wait for y'all to hear it. It is. 343 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:04.320 It's one of those things where you're like, I'm going 344 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:06.039 to stand behind this for the rest of my life 345 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.120 because I love them that much. You know what I mean? 346 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:10.279 Do you have a theme for it? Or is label 347 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.440 not gonna allow you to talk about it? 348 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:14.200 Well, I don't know if we've announced the name yet, 349 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.600 but I promise you when you hear the name, you'll 350 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:19.120 be like, yeah, that makes sense, do you know what 351 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:19.360 I mean? 352 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.759 So, once I'm done here, I'm driving over to twelve 353 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.080 South and you like, whisper it in my ear. 354 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:26.159 And not only that, if you pull up, I will 355 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:29.320 play you the song the record right now it's here. 356 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.799 You're just going to open your window. You're not even 357 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:33.720 going to invite me in here's going to open your window? 358 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:35.879 And be like, here, listen to it. Now, go just. 359 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:39.600 Blast it off my balcony. 360 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:43.480 So a couple more questions I asked on the night 361 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:46.559 Vision Live Instagram. I asked people to submit questions and 362 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.399 here's a tough one. 363 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.759 Are you ready for this? 364 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.480 I'm ready, I'm. 365 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:54.639 Ready, Sarah and Fort Collins asks who is Jesus to you? 366 00:16:55.159 --> 00:17:00.519 WHOA that's questions? That was a good one, Sarah in 367 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:04.160 Fort Collins coming in hot, Like, for the record, I 368 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:09.400 love hard questions. Who is Jesus? I think for me, 369 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:14.480 Jesus is and has always been and continues to be 370 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:25.400 the most enigmatic, amazing, brilliant, humble person and god obviously 371 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.799 that I have ever known. And like, what I love 372 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:31.559 most about Jesus is he refuses to be boxed in 373 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:37.440 right when you're My favorite quote says Art is meant 374 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:41.359 to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable, and Jesus 375 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:46.039 anywhere you see him, he's doing just that. He's comforting 376 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:53.039 people who are displaced, uncomfortable, unwanted, and he's disturbing people 377 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:56.680 who think they have it all figured out. And there's 378 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:59.200 no anybody who tries to put a box around him. 379 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:01.480 He goes no, no, I'm not here for that, and I 380 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:03.440 love that, you know what I mean? So he's I 381 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:07.440 would say, Jesus to me, is that target that's ever 382 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:09.960 moving so that none of us can boast that we 383 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.279 have it? 384 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:16.079 You know, amen, dude, Let's go another question. And I'm 385 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:18.119 I don't even know how to pronounce this. It's I 386 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.799 think it's Brian, but his handle and his handle was 387 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:22.519 all all over the place. 388 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.720 So Brian, get Brian, get a better handle, all. 389 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:26.119 Right, Brian, get it together, Brian. 390 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:30.880 He asked if you were making music. If you weren't 391 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.839 making music, what do you think you'd be doing instead? 392 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.680 Oh my god, guys, I am such a nerd. I'd 393 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:39.000 be a lawyer. Really, I'd be an attorney. My uncle's 394 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:42.920 a lawyer. I love books, I think a lot. I 395 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:48.079 love philosophy. I like, you know, I am a nerd. 396 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:50.200 If I yeah, I can't even tell you. I'd be 397 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.440 a lawyer probably. 398 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:51.799 All right. 399 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.799 So those were those were the tough questions, and you know, 400 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:55.720 we got other ones that were like what's your favorite cereal? 401 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:59.200 And I'm like, I'm not I'd rather talk about Jesus 402 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:02.920 than correct. Now I have one more question for you, 403 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.640 and then we can get into wrapping up and you 404 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:06.759 can tell everybody how awesome you are and why they 405 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:09.480 should take it the night vision because you are awesome. 406 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:10.680 But shucks. 407 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:18.000 Going from I mean Nigeria, Connecticut to Nashville, what's the 408 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.640 culture like? 409 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:21.920 I mean how many? How different is it from every 410 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.720 place you've lived? 411 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.960 I can, I'll tell you because everybody wants. 412 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:27.839 To move to Nashville and hope they're singing career You've 413 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.480 been everywhere. 414 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:32.559 Culture is an interesting thing. It's all different, right, Culture 415 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:35.319 is different, but humans are the same, right, not interesting? 416 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:40.599 Culture can look very different, right. Nigerian culture is different 417 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:44.440

from I'll give you an example. I had a friend 418 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:47.160 and I said, hey, if you and your mom come 419 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:49.640 to my place, you guys can both Like, I have 420 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:51.880 two bedrooms, I said, one of you can take my room, 421 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:54.880 the other can take my guest room. I'll take the couch, right, 422 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:58.240 And my friend said, why would you do that? I 423 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:01.039 was like, because I would never let my guests sleep 424 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:03.680 on a couch. You and your mom can have the beds. 425 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:07.200 And they're like, blessing, that's so weird. That's my culture, right, 426 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:13.079 So culture values, my culture values hospitality and and things 427 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:16.000 like that. Generosity, blah blah blah. Some cultures think that's weird, 428 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:19.079 and that's fine. There's neither. Culture is not necessarily right 429 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:24.759 or wrong. But everywhere I've been, the common theme among 430 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:28.240 all people is we want to be known and loved, 431 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:31.640 taken care of and appreciated. We want to be happy 432 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:35.000 and safe and all the things. So it's like humans 433 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:39.839 are remarkably constant. Culture is different, if that makes any sense. 434 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:44.599 You not only are a pretty face, but you're pretty deep. 435 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.079 My friend. 436 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:47.720 Hey man, I'm telling you I I these songs don't 437 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.400 come from nothing. 438 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:56.000 So Friday night night Vision, blessing going on, blessing over, Yeah, I. 439 00:20:59.319 --> 00:20:59.880 Thought I had it. 440 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:04.000 Geez grace, grace on grace all right, So. 441 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:06.000 When I see you at night vision, I'm gonna say 442 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.960 it the right way. 443 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.200 Actually say it the wrong way, and I'll know right 444 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.440 You'll be like, oh no. 445 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.960 That's mad, that's it. That's that, dude. 446 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.880 I did the interview with you, came to my house 447 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.759 at two am to hear my new music. Correct, you 448 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:18.319 didn't even bring me food at that time. 449 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.799 I mean, you know, Chick fil A was closed. 450 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.759 I had to take you to the I had to 451 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.920 go to the twice daily down the road from from 452 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:28.759 twelfth by the way, memory, Yeah right over there, right 453 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:31.160 over there, yeah right the White Bison, which, by the way, 454 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:32.799 for those who want to come to Nashville, they have 455 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:36.680 really good coffee, the White Bison. I I I have 456 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.680 like the rewards program with White Bison. 457 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:41.119 You're serious, Oh, dude, that's my that's. 458 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:43.680 My place right there, don't they have one? They do? 459 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:45.640 And I go there and they know me all the time, 460 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.559 Like I'll be coming in with like Ala Craze hoodie 461 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:50.880 on or and they like they're like, oh, yeah, there's that. 462 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.359 Guy, you know. 463 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:53.240 And then they start the order. That's the best. 464 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.559 Part, dude. And they got good food. 465 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:58.599 They got good breakfast food. So Friday night blessing offer 466 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.599 how do dude, I. 467 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:03.160 Know your stuff? Like, I feel like this is like 468 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.319 going on a date and saying the wrong name at 469 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:05.920 the date. 470 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.680 Like I feel like I've failed second date. 471 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:13.119 Yeah no, I'm getting blocked from this one. Blessing offered. 472 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:16.640 Dot com is your website? Hit them up on Instagram, 473 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:19.799 follow all the things. Thank you so much for your time, 474 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.480 and we can't wait to see you on Friday night 475 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.640 at night Vision twenty 476 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:24.640 Times Colorado I'll be there so soon.