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Introducing Tears & Gearz (with ZEE MACHINE & Bentley Robles)
144 Plays21 days ago
ZEE MACHINE is back — and this time, he's bringing the sensational Bentley Robles for the debut of their percussively luscious pop duo, Tears & Gearz!
We dive into how these two icons met, what sparked their creative partnership, and the creation of their brand-new single, "Delusional" — out now!
We also chat about what’s next for Tears & Gearz, dish our thoughts on the Katy Perry of it all, and hear Bentley’s love for his favorite pop queen, Camila Cabello.
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Transcript
Editing 'Delusional' Music Video
00:00:09
Speaker
So like we're editing the music video for Delusional as we're doing this as well. so I'm like simultaneously creating proxies. for Oh my God. It's looking pretty cool. Like we started out, I mean, it's, it's technically a visualizer, but like, it's kind of moving into video world. Yeah. Cause we, we were really prepared and we, it's like, I would say low budget video.
00:00:31
Speaker
sure So,
Visualizer vs. Music Video: Key Differences
00:00:32
Speaker
okay. So give me, tell me what your thoughts are on the difference between visualizer and music video. I think effort and concept and budget. I think a music video has a more of an overarching storyline theme and give something other than pretty images. And I think a visualizer is pretty images.
00:00:55
Speaker
but Yeah. I mean, i think it a lot of it is intention. Yeah. You know, because because there are a lot of like really simple and effective ah music videos. Like even when you think of like single ladies, that's one thing all the way through. Yeah.
00:01:11
Speaker
all Right. And, you know, i love I love a one take video concept. Yeah. But like, you know, a lot of those could be considered visualizers too. So I think it's kind of like, it's it's it's partly marketing.
00:01:25
Speaker
ah but Partly intention and a little bit budget. And then sometimes storyline. theres there's It's not black and white. It's not black and white. Not black and white. Oh my god! Yeah, I know.
00:01:37
Speaker
Okay, welcome to Homophonic, everyone.
Introducing Homophonic's Special Guests
00:01:41
Speaker
i am so excited. Today, oh, this is so exciting. Today, we have two very special guests. um I want as i want to say like they are...
00:01:52
Speaker
kind of debuting their their new super group right here on this pod i mean he's welcome yeah yeah i mean welcome into your ears tears and gears aka z machine and bentley robles oh yes so happy to be here i'm glad we finally made this happen yeah we're so i'm as a as a homophonic uh virgin i'm very very grateful for this opportunity I promise that it's going to be – I'm going to be so easy.
00:02:21
Speaker
gentle. It's going to be very lubed. So gentle. Start slow. Start slow. start slow It's going to be very passionate though. Okay, cool. Very passionate. I want a lot of eye contact, please. Lots of eye contact the entire time. This a video podcast, so that won't be a problem. Yeah, I can't. So, like, speaking of, like, i had quite the experience the other day with a lot of eye contact. So that was a lot of fun. Oh, work.
00:02:43
Speaker
Yeah. um it was very It was fun. Yeah. I was like, good Friday indeed, you know? Good Friday. Oh, work. Nice. Nice. Yeah. Yeah. I was born
Bentley Robles: Music Style & Releases
00:02:54
Speaker
on Good Friday. Fun fact.
00:02:55
Speaker
Were you really? from good Friday and Friday the 13th. Wow. I know. Gags. Big, big year. That is a big year. Oh, my God. Okay. So first and foremost, I mean, Z, you i have you are a seasoned guest on this show now.
00:03:12
Speaker
but This week. Yeah, exactly. This week alone. Bentley, as you just mentioned, virgin. Yes. Homophonic virgin. Introduce yourself. who Who are you? I mean, when i know you from...
00:03:25
Speaker
your music that you had you just released a deluxe version of your ep um you guys ah including your single lock me up that came out earlier this year one of my most played songs of the year thus far just wanted to throw that out there yes i love to hear that so good but for those of you that might ah for of those of you those who might be listening ah might not know who you are tell us all about bentley robles I love when my name is said correctly.
00:03:51
Speaker
um i Just ask Bob the Drag Queen. My name is Bentley. I know, right? My name is Bentley Robles. ah Shortest description, I'm a pop boy. i ah have been making music for a few years and I'm just obsessed and was like born and raised on big main pop girls.
00:04:12
Speaker
And I really want to make big main pop boy music for for gay people that they can dance to and rock out
Collaborative History: Meeting and Projects
00:04:21
Speaker
to. Let's celebrate that. Yeah. And ah this is all I know how to do and all I want to do. So I just...
00:04:32
Speaker
I'm busting my little bussy trying to blow up. You really are. You are busting your bussy. i mean, you both are. You have both been just absolutely grinding and to get all of your projects off the ground. So it's really, truly amazing to see.
00:04:49
Speaker
So I'm actually really curious because I don't think I even know this story. How did the two of you meet? Like, how did the two of you meet? And then you started collaborating a couple years ago. How did this all come about? I mean, it's really just the the circle of like indie ah queer, ah I guess, you know, boys. I mean, you know, the whole scene um like that is very tight knit.
00:05:10
Speaker
um Especially kind of like in that post-pandemic world, we were all kind of like, hanging on to each other for support and like as we were sort of coming out of like the pandemic haze we sort of found each other around then um and it was literally just through like instagram and showing each other stuff and seeing that that like don't know there was something something about each other that i guess like kind of stuck out above the fray and then ah like three years ago oh my god it was can't believe it's like two and half years ago it was like november of 2020 november 22 it's like two and a half years ago um we were on a show lineup together with um another friend of ours from here and that was the first time we met oh and then a few months later he was like i have this song that i want to re-release uh you want to do a verse on it and that was see me naked yes yeah and i had i had already released see me naked in october of 2021
00:06:07
Speaker
Oh, wow. No, no, no. no October of 2022. Okay. okay And it just like had kind of not really done much... No, it was October of 2021. It felt like, yeah, it felt like it this was before that. October of 2021, and it had been out for like a year, and like, I didn't really have a moment until 2022 when I dropped my song, I Hate the Weeknd.
00:06:27
Speaker
And that was like my first song that was like, people were paying attention to and liking. Iconic, legendary, Smash. Yes. Smash. hey If you guys have not heard i Hate the Weeknd, go listen to it. It's it's fantastic. It really is. Yes, thank you. i am so good. i remember...
Social Media Success: TikTok Viral Moment
00:06:44
Speaker
Liking Z Machine a lot and being obsessed with ah Everybody Wants It dropped the same time as my song, Lay All Your Love on Me. We like both dropped them in like May, June.
00:06:55
Speaker
Both of our most strange songs. Both of like our huge songs. Something that was in the air that summer. Something was. Wow. And we just like I reached out to him and I was like, hey, I have this song. I think you'd be great on it. And he said you said yes right away.
00:07:09
Speaker
And... Truly, not even being like dramatic about it, like we just had such a synergy. We talked about this earlier on the radio, where it's like, it just kind of kept, everything just kind of kept like flowing and making sense, and we just kept wanting to collaborate more, and truly, like...
00:07:26
Speaker
I can't think of a time that I wasn't, like, best friends with him. But, like, i guess it did just at some point just, like, become really real. Like, a really real friendship. Yeah. the Our energies kind of just, like, evolve very naturally.
00:07:40
Speaker
And, like, even even though, like, the first few songs we put out were were not, like... put together in the same room. You know, it was a lot of like, I have this song. Do you want to hop on it?
00:07:51
Speaker
Our styles just, they complimented each other really well. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. i remember when you really see me naked. i remember like, I think Z you, cause that is how I got introduced to you, Bentley. That's amazing. Yeah. oh i' know that oh Yeah.
00:08:09
Speaker
Cause I had, cause well, first of all, a habit is going to have, it's like what third year anniversary coming up this week, I think. Oh my God, you're right. Like crazy.
00:08:20
Speaker
But um that's how I got introduced to your music. And then so then I had been following you for a little bit. And then I remember when you started teasing this collaboration, i was like, oh, this sounds sick. Yeah. so and then that's how I got introduced to you, Bentley.
00:08:32
Speaker
ah So, yeah. I love that. So grateful for that collaboration, truly. And um that was like my first time really getting ah taste of like success on social media because that song went viral on TikTok. That definitely had a moment on TikTok, I will say.
00:08:49
Speaker
Everyone said, I want to see everyone naked. Yeah. oh The answer was yes. Yes. We want to see nudity, please. yeah oh my God. That's incredible. So then after that, your guys' second collaboration, was that...
00:09:04
Speaker
but well Anyone but him. Anyone
Planning a Joint Tour: Process and Synergy
00:09:06
Speaker
but him, yes. I think the really big thing for us was the tour. um Because see me like Timeline is like, See Me Naked comes out, it's a huge smash.
00:09:18
Speaker
Me and Z are talking every day, really like forming a friendship. I keep floating. We should tour together. We should tour together. And at the time, it was very much like... let's do Charlie and Troy. And we actually decided this before Charlie and Troy.
00:09:30
Speaker
Yeah. Oh yeah. So that tour was barely ah a zygote. in a idea And we were like, let's do this thing. Let's do this thing. Coming up with names for the tour had the idea of tears and gears. You know, my fans are called ugly criers. His name is the machine. We're like tears and gears. We were kind of joking at first. Like, yeah, wouldn't tears and gears be something like funny.
00:09:49
Speaker
Yeah, and it was really hilarious. and It's so good. Leading up to the tour, we're like, let's do another song for the tour. He had sent me anyone but him. Just like, look at the song I wrote. I had been like, i love... Oh, i I had made a session happen between him and my longtime producer, Florio.
00:10:07
Speaker
They wrote the song. I was obsessed with it. Please let me be on it. Tour is coming up. Let's do a song together and make it like the tour song. the the song came and The song came out, I think, like six days or like oh almost exactly a week after the... the um but What did I say?
00:10:25
Speaker
This song came out and a week later we started the tour. So it was we we timed that out well. And also, ah fun fact, Dominic Florio, who is has done, I would say, like 90% of your stuff yeah over the past like couple years.
00:10:38
Speaker
I actually went to college with him. no way. Back in, well, I won't say the year. I won't date myself. Berkeley. Back in 2022. Yeah, yeah. Only a few short years ago when I just a freshman. when you yeah yeah only ah yeah a few short years ago and i was just you know a college freshman ah Yeah, so I've known Florio for quite some time, but we hadn't ever worked together.
00:11:00
Speaker
So when I saw that he had been working with all of like my favorite New York people, including Bentley, I was like, well, this is very ah serendipitous and fortuitous. Oh, it looks like he just texted us too. Oh, hey We have a session with him tomorrow morning.
00:11:15
Speaker
Yeah. I'm so excited. He's actually the producer of um our our song that's coming out in just a couple days. yeah And, I mean, let's get right to it I mean, you guys have it a brand new single coming out.
Release of 'Delusional': Excitement and Praise
00:11:28
Speaker
It's called Delusional. By the time but sun this is out, it will be available everywhere music is streamed.
00:11:33
Speaker
Everywhere music is streamed Digest Yes 100% And you guys i mean This song fucking slaps Thank you you It's so good And I know i feel like i gas you up constantly Please, please. We don't get tired of it. Don't worry. doing it. We need all we can get. Here's the thing. Because i I feel like people sometimes, I feel like the people are like, oh, like he's friends with them, whatever, yeah ya yada, yada, yada. it's like And? Yeah, exactly. and Yes. I have a lot of friends whose music I don't like.
00:12:06
Speaker
rain And I don't share. but here's the but But here's the thing. I don't think I could do this honestly and sincerely if I didn't enjoy it. Like I couldn't sit there and be like, tell me all about your music. And I'm like sitting here like, ugh.
00:12:22
Speaker
Like I could tell you, i i've i have not had many partnership deals on social media, but I did get approached by an independent label once. And there is a fairly-ish big name.
00:12:34
Speaker
who who has song. talk off mic. We'll talk off mic. Well, i'll I'll reveal this. This person was part of a former girl group that was very popular here in the States. Oh my God. I know i know exactly who he is.
00:12:48
Speaker
And I heard the song and I was like, I'm good. Oh my God. Poor Lauren Hurecki. It was Lauren Hurecki? Maybe.
00:12:59
Speaker
Maybe. and I'm a huge Camila stan. We can bleep this out if you want. but No, it's fine. It's fine because she's never going to hear it. But then watch this podcast. Well, watch this be the moment. Yeah, watch this be the clip that you select. Exactly. Exactly. I'm like, Lauren, want to come on the show?
00:13:17
Speaker
um talk it Let's work it out on the remix. Yeah. We're working on the remix. Exactly. But real talk. I mean, just the song just wasn't my vibe. It just wasn't. and I, and I was like, I don't, I was like, I can't, I am just too
Feedback on New Songs
00:13:29
Speaker
honest. I can't sit there and be like, Oh, you guys go stream that song.
00:13:33
Speaker
Yeah. I have a hard time, like really putting my whole ass in anything that I'm not like genuinely, genuinely. it's You're better at being, I always say he's princess Diana. I'm a dick. Oh,
00:13:43
Speaker
i well I really don't share music I don't like. And there's a video, an iconic video of him reacting to someone's song. Oh my. That is horrific. And he's like, this is amazing. And I'm like, actually don't say anything more because they will probably listen to this. But. Oh my God. You were, you were Trisha Paytas listening to Woman's World for the first time. Yeah. You're like, okay. The drop.
00:14:03
Speaker
the guys The drop. The drop.
00:14:08
Speaker
Oh my god! That's good part. You know, i've got I've got like one in me every five years. in Right. I mean, we gotta support each other, right? yeah But, yeah.
00:14:18
Speaker
But no, but for real, like this song, so Z, you sent this to me couple weeks ago. yeah not to brag, i just got it, you know, early listen. Spoiled. But, um You're a good sounding board for that concept.
00:14:30
Speaker
it Thank you. i appreciate that. you provide You provide the right amount of gassing up without like being a liar. yeah Yeah, right. and I hope so. That's what I that's what i try to do. and you know My process, what I've found now when you send me songs is that I like to listen to it two or three times before I start giving feedback because of like they'll first listen, obviously going to be like, oh, this is whatever. you know But then I'm like, I need two or three listens to really like let it sink in.
00:14:54
Speaker
and feel like the melodies, you know, the instrumental, the hooks, everything. And this song right away was just like, I'm trying to, I'm like, how do I describe this? It's like the 1975 meets Wham. It's literally what we've been describing that a...
00:15:11
Speaker
like i not even Like, I'm not even kidding. That's like our press for release. We literally just sent it to someone who we're like, the 1975 meets Wham! Which literally... It's so good. i I'm obsessed. Like, that from the first... like ah First of all, are you guys beatboxing on it?
00:15:27
Speaker
no No, but like that's a good idea. I think it's just a sample. It sounds like one of you is beatboxing on it. It's sick. I love it. I'm obsessed. i know I feel like I hear what like what you're describing. It's it's just like very um ah percussively luscious.
00:15:45
Speaker
Mm-hmm. That might be the title of that. Percussion. Oh, okay. Say that 10 times fast. Right. Exactly. But like, I mean, from that first moment that I hear those, like that percussion, i was like, Oh, we're, this is like, we should lie and say that we beatboxed on it. Yeah. Right.
00:16:04
Speaker
I mean, it no, actually it is too late. I'm like, no way. Actually. No, this one is too late. Yeah. yeah The famous beatboxers, famous beatboxers. I could beatbox okay, actually. Like, not to... um I don't want to like, do it off on top now and, like, fucking suck, but, like, I've been in, like, some acapella situations where I've had to provide the ah percussion.
00:16:25
Speaker
He was in pitch perfect. I mean, the first time... Were you really? No, um no. Oh, I was like... pretty I have pretty good pitch, though. This is Anna Kendrick. You do. Well, I was going remember the first time i interviewed you, we were talking about Michael Jackson, and you did, like, the perfect Michael impression, both his voice, but also, like, the hollow, like...
00:16:43
Speaker
The new Jack Swing, like, kind of fucking... ah Who produced that album? ah Teddy Riley. there Yes, yes, yes. but Like that, yeah. Exactly. See? you could have done it on on the track. ah yeah really He's really good at impressions.
00:17:01
Speaker
ah done So good. like a honor i do I do him. He does me. He does everybody we make fun of. you know Wait, do Bentley right now. do them right do right now do Do him right now. right now.
00:17:13
Speaker
ah Wait. We're barely surviving. So we should above the lead, but we should dive in. Oh my God. It might be but it might be true.
00:17:25
Speaker
I don't go true, but I kind of do. It's my D's. Yeah. the it's it's ah it's a very and a do he's got to Listen up, everyone. He's got a very strong D. I've got a very strong D, and also i have k cobra an identity. King Cobra.
00:17:47
Speaker
Wait, about Delusional, though, I'm so happy to hear that you loved it, because we have been we went into that session, we went into this whole project like we not afraid to try new things. Um, uh, and like we wanted tears and gears to be its own identity. And like, we really feel like delusional is just the right sound. Like you hear delusional and you're like, this isn't the machine. This isn't Bentley Robles. This is like tears and gears.
00:18:17
Speaker
I feel like 100%.
Establishing 'Tears and Gears' Identity
00:18:18
Speaker
I feel like you hear like elements of both of us in this. Yeah. Um, yeah, While still it doesn't really sound like anything I feel like we've done before. Yeah. like i Like I can hear this. I'm like, oh yeah. Like I've definitely used like guitars like that. And then there's like some like melodic ideas and phrasings that that feel very Bentley.
00:18:37
Speaker
um ah But this this whole project has really allowed us kind of like... the freedom to just kind of like let go and not feel like I have to like build my own personal artist sounds out because it's something completely different. And that's really, yeah.
00:18:52
Speaker
And it's, it we get to live in this world for a moment. And I, you know, my dream, my long-term goal is like, our careers continue to flourish and this is something that we come back to. Yeah, like it's like kind of like our boy genius. It's our boy genius. It's our silk sonic.
00:19:07
Speaker
There we go. Absolutely. The thing that wins us the Grammys, but that we don't spend much time with. Well, first of all, I have to say, like, this song, as I was listening to it, so, because you had sent it to me a few weeks ago, and I'm very...
00:19:21
Speaker
and The older I get, this more seasonal I get with music. And there are certain songs where I'm like, this is spring, this is summer, this is fall, this is winter. This is a summer song.
00:19:32
Speaker
Yes. 100%. This is a summer. I mean, I'm like sitting here. I'm like, I don't want to like jinx it, but I'm like, is this your espresso? I'm just saying. oh I want it to be espresso broad. we kept making We kept making jokes. We're like, watch Tears and Gears blow up.
00:19:46
Speaker
yeah like Tears and Gears is the thing. um like Summer songs are famously April releases, let's just say. They yeah famously are, because espresso, April. yeah yeah California Girls, April. april Just saying. There we go.
00:20:00
Speaker
Just saying. Like, what else? so What other songs are... ah what There's a bunch. I want to... Good luck, babe. Yes! Oh my god, yeah! but Yes! I was almost going to say Somebody They Used To Know, which was big last summer, but then that came out in 2011.
00:20:18
Speaker
Yeah. It just was like a slow burn. I had somebody I used to know. I have such a bad taste in my mouth, which is why I kind of don't like anxiety by Dochi. We don't like anxiety either. it's Love you, Dochi. Love Dochi. I don't like anxiety. The video is amazing. Wasn't like that just like some kind of random little demo she dropped back in the day that people wanted her to release?
00:20:38
Speaker
Yeah. I think it started going viral on TikTok. So then she re-recorded the vocals and then has now done a music video. Okay. Love the video. and The video is incredible. My ex-boyfriend loved somebody I used to know, and he discovered it the week before he broke up with me.
00:20:52
Speaker
So that's why I'm like fan. Oh, no. so sorry. I will say, like, this total, like, know, side tangent. I feel like I'm the last Gautier stan. Like, I really got into hit that whole album.
00:21:05
Speaker
What? Oh, that album? I didn't even know he has an album. He's a true one. He has three albums. He hasn't he hasn't put out an album a solo album since then. But I went and I saw that tour.
00:21:17
Speaker
wait, he had two albums before that? Yes. Making Mirrors is the one that that's from. He's a brilliant musician. yeah And why did he stop making um music after that? I don't know.
00:21:27
Speaker
i think he just was kind of like, you know, I'm good. I mean, I was going to say, I mean, why make anything else after that? hit like yeah you kind of peaked. Making mirrors. Yeah. Oh, I fucking love this whole album. I mean, look at that, though.
00:21:39
Speaker
The main song has two billion streams. The second most streamed is like... It's 17 million. Oh, no, 52. Eyes Wide Open is so good. Save Me is so good. What happened to Kimbra?
00:21:51
Speaker
She's just chilling in New Zealand. She's chilling. She had another, she had a song that I really liked. I could not tell you the name of it right now. like I really liked, i want to settle down. I liked good intent. I like settle down. i liked, um, cameo lover. This is nonstop, baby. I guess, I guess we are Kimbra stands in this house. Kimbra. This is a Kimbra stand podcast. Yeah. Yeah. I love Kimbra.
00:22:12
Speaker
Wow. Original like, uh, Bob icon.
Creative Process: Writing Two Songs in a Day
00:22:17
Speaker
truly yeah invented bobs yeah yeah no no no one else had it before but okay so delusional when did you guys record this song uh january january yeah and and it's so funny and delusional we wrote two songs in one day delusional and then another song that's on the project called same tears twice Same Tears Twice. Yeah.
00:22:40
Speaker
Which I love. yeah This was like almost Bentley title. I love it too. This was almost a Bentley song. And i had this amazing concept for a song where I was like, oh my God, like you essentially like, you you are the fool. Like you take someone back. Like you, they fuck you over again in the same way.
00:22:58
Speaker
I really like, I'm a big payoff girl, concept girl. And I really liked the concept of like, now I'm crying the same tears twice. Like it's the same, I'm crying over the same thing again. And I was like, Z, we have to make this a Tears in Gear song. And he was like, okay, let's do it.
00:23:12
Speaker
So we wrote that song. And then we had written that, me and Z, in like my living room. like We were literally in this room recording like shitty little vocals like through my lap. No microphone or anything that. Just the speakers on there. And just like humming the melody there. Yeah, that one was really fucking cool because it was like so easy. And then we went to the session. We recorded Same Tears twice because it was essentially written.
00:23:33
Speaker
Mm-hmm. And then we're like, let's do something new. we've got I go to get empanadas or coffee or something. i think you went to get... Was it food or coffee? Either way, you went to get something. i went to get something. I come back and him and Dom have created the vibe for Delusional.
00:23:48
Speaker
Like yeah the beat, essentially. right And I'm like, I love this. And ah We had a completely different idea. yeah And I had talked about Camila Cabello, because I always do.
00:24:02
Speaker
And she has that song that's like, oh no, here you go, making me a liar. And then that kind of dreamed So then I was kind of like, uh-oh, uh-oh. And it just, it just all, just.
00:24:14
Speaker
And then it just unfolded. Yeah. That's incredible. This is like, blows my mind. yeah i mean, okay, so really, truly right now, of like the energy that this was just giving,
00:24:25
Speaker
was like when I watch interviews of like Gaga and Madonna and like all of all the greats who are like just like talking about, like oh, this is how this song came about. And I'm just like jaw on the floor. I fucking love... I follow like ah like an Instagram or Twitter account that's like videos from the studio of like these songs being created.
00:24:46
Speaker
favorite. Oh, God, I saw one the other day. It was um MGMT writing Electric Feel. and it And it was like the very first session. And he was just like looking for synth sounds like boom, ba, ba, ba, ba. And it's just he's going through all this stuff. And it's like he it hadn't even, it's just so crazy because it's like, that's one of those songs where just kind of feels like it's ingrained in like the veins of like,
00:25:10
Speaker
electronic and pop music now and like hearing that like just being like thought I don't know I'm i'm obsessed with that shit it's always cool to think that something doesn't exist and then now it does yeah like delusional ah feels like it came out of us and and it's in a sense delusional
Songwriting Collaboration Dynamics
00:25:30
Speaker
and i haven't even talked to Z about this so he could be like shut the fuck up you're dumb but delusional i know feels like it is a perfect snapshot encapsulates the air like
00:25:42
Speaker
what Tears and Gears is right now. It's like you know two boys sort the messing around, like being dumb. Do you know what they mean like yeah silliness like boy energy I mean? um it's very like it's It's camp. You know what i mean?
00:25:57
Speaker
It's honestly... It was sort of the moment that like where where I was able to kind of let go of a lot of the fear I had of doing this. and not Not that you know i wasn't you know excited to be making more music with Bentley, but just the fact that it was I was making music in a very different way than I had in a long time. I'd gotten very comfortable with my way of doing things, which is very kind of like insular.
00:26:20
Speaker
um i kind of locked myself in my room, and I like ah you know beat myself up over all these melodies and these lyrics, and I don't have like a ton of outside help. And so having other people in the room while I create these things was very scary to me. But like as soon as like the creative juices just kind of started flowing, for this song specifically, i was like, oh, oh, wow.
00:26:42
Speaker
Oh, okay. like This is a safe space where I can i can like let these all out. And like it did... you know Because I've been in sessions where... The moment I feel myself start to lose my mojo, i kind of just, like, retreat. Sure. And just sort of, like, and like steamrolled a little bit.
00:26:58
Speaker
And in this sense, I didn't feel like i I felt very, like, everyone's ideas were valued. And everyone's ideas were, like, comp like you know, there's compromise in the best way. We just kind of put our egos aside and, like, sort the song the best way.
00:27:12
Speaker
Yeah. We really... Yeah, I was going to say, how do how do you guys decide like what well whose idea is quote unquote best in a certain situation?
00:27:23
Speaker
I think that it's so perfect you said that because I feel like that's exactly what I was going to go into. I think we both went in thinking about whose voice sounds better on what parts. You know, like little little moments where we were like, it felt like there would be moments where like, do you want to do this part? And it was like, there'd be the parts that we'd be like, I really want to do this. Or there'd be the parts that's like, I'm down for whatever.
00:27:47
Speaker
And there was like a clear synergy when it came to like, oh, this is a Z moment or this is a Bentley moment. Cause the thing about our voices is like, they're very different and they offer like a very different,
00:27:59
Speaker
pop energy. And I think that like, like one of the things, like I played the song to Ronan and he was like, I love how Z is under singing in this song.
00:28:11
Speaker
And it was like, was like, thank you. And it was like, no, but it it on it is like, a ah the way that I sing is a little bit, it's like more, but Like I'm trying to focus like the pop sensibility and like, I don't, whereas Z is like out of the two of us more the vocalist. you know what I mean? Like I i consider myself ah a great singer, but like, I'm never going to be like, Oh, I'm a vocalist to the level of Z. Sure. And I think that there's like really cool, like I brought him into a really like poppy realm where he's like singing certain lines.
00:28:42
Speaker
Um, in a really like sweet way and a bright way. And I think that it like elevates him. And then he fills up the track and like brought me out of my element to where I'm singing a little bit more. Like um like I would never in a billion years, dely I never in a billion years would be like, cause baby, I don't want to know. Like I'd never, I'd never sing like that, but it's like, he's pushing me to be like that. I'm pushing him to, you know?
00:29:05
Speaker
Yeah. and I love it. Yeah. It really just like flows. It was just like really natural. I mean, the way that... So, I'll be honest. The first few times that I listened to the song, like, with the verses, I didn't even realize you guys were kind of going back and forth. Yeah. love So, like, it was so good. And so, i I completely hear what you're saying because I was like...
00:29:29
Speaker
this This whole, this song, i mean, ah I would say is like your first official, well, I don't know. It is. consider like We're considering it our debut. Although we have listed the other three songs. We have put Tears and Gears under those ones as well. So they will pop up on the page.
00:29:44
Speaker
And, you know, when we when we do them live, you know, whenever that may be. ah That'll definitely be part of like the Tears and Dears portion. i think i think it's I feel so affirmed hearing you say that you didn't know what was... Because we we said that verbatim like five times. We were like, we want the listener to like not know who's singing. And like when you listen to Delusional and this other song that we have, that we've written already that's done...
00:30:10
Speaker
the choruses you really just like our voices are just together you can't it's not like a bentley singing the chorus he's singing the chorus it's really it is mixed very well it's mixed very well and like i fucking love that because that's you know it's a band it's tears and gears so that's like the biggest affirmation that like what we're doing is translating so thank you i'm so happy to hear that you're so welcome i mean it's so
Synesthesia and Music Perception
00:30:33
Speaker
i do you guys have synesthesia at all I don't and I want to because I'm meeting people that have it and it's so cunty and cool and I don't. I feel like maybe like a little bit but also that's maybe that's just like having ears. I feel like I have vibesthesia. Like certain songs yeah I picture certain images not necessarily like colors but do you?
00:30:54
Speaker
I feel like I do, but like I whenever I hear people talk about it, it sounds like they're saying like they actually see it with their eyes, but I'm like, see in my head. don't. And like, so I see shapes, I see colors, I see like ripples and like all of these things.
00:31:12
Speaker
And so like i felt with this song, I was getting green. I was getting this like, yeah, I was getting this like very specific green. I'm trying to think of like what I can compare it to.
00:31:24
Speaker
It was very like, like late nineties, Y2K, almost like a grungy green in a way, but like the song is not grungy, but like for some reason I was getting that. And like, I'm trying to think of,
00:31:42
Speaker
There's a music video that I'm picturing. I don't remember if it was Savage Garden or if it was someone else. There was like this Canadian group. They did a song. Nickelback. No.
00:31:53
Speaker
Look at this photograph. Oh my gosh. i my One of my favorite memes is when they like removed the photo part. Look at this graph. It's so funny. Anyway. There's one where they edit his voice.
00:32:06
Speaker
Look at this graph. there's one that goes, look at this photograph. And it's like And it's a big picture of a guy and I love that one. That's hysterical. Oh my God. i love it.
00:32:22
Speaker
So, I mean, I'm so excited for this song. this ah I mean, I've tried, I've listened to it a lot in my files and I was like, Zach, you you need to stop listening to this because you don't want to like burn out before. it is Yeah, we need the streams. Stop. yeah Stream it in your sleep.
00:32:37
Speaker
I just literally, literally I'll just stream it over and over again. But, yeah and also, so I know that, okay. So I, Z knows this Bentley. I'm sure you know this too. I, you know, I'm famously like anti short song.
00:32:48
Speaker
yeah I need to compliment you both. And I'm being dead ass right now. I think you cracked the code on the short song for me. Because it does not sound like a short, like so many short songs that are under three minutes and it's usually more like the two minute, two and a half minute
Completeness of Short Songs: Ensuring Quality
00:33:05
Speaker
mark.
00:33:05
Speaker
um They just don't feel complete to me. It's like, it's like you're being edged, but you don't get to come, you know? Yeah. Yeah. We come. We come. Yes. And it's good. Like, it's... No, but for real, like, this song sounds complete. you It doesn't sound like anything is missing.
00:33:24
Speaker
It just... It really is... a man. I love it. I think i think also, like... Me and Z are both, and I think you as well from hearing and listening to your podcast and your takes on pop music, but like me and Z are both top line snobs where, you know, I hear pop songs sometimes and I'm like, oh, this person went with their first choice of melody or yeah this person just one like got excited by the song and didn't think. Whereas like me and Z are very particular with, is this top line satisfying? Is it catchy? Is it, can we do better?
00:33:57
Speaker
Not only that, like when it goes from section to section, Does it, you know, and like, like, like, I like to build. I remember I'm, I'm, we came up with a lot of things like it would he would throw something. I throw something.
00:34:09
Speaker
One of the things that I threw out was that, Ooh, that, Ooh, I really liked so good. I loved that top line. And I like, we're all dreaming up ideas and I'm like, doing it over and over. And I'm like, guys, it's oo over and over and over.
00:34:21
Speaker
And that is such a satisfying moment for me because Z does that part. But I i came up with that specific top line and I love his voice in it and it's so yummy. And like that, like to me, it really is like we have a verse vibe. Then we go into this. It's just all, all the top lines and delusional. I hate to sound cocky, but they're just like a one and they're so good.
00:34:42
Speaker
and I feel like that makes it so. Yeah. I also, there's catchy as fuck. It really is. I just, also think like, you know, you can, even if the song is not like, a five, six minute epic. If you, if you have like a full course meal there with all the sections there, by the time you're done, you're satisfied. Like you don't need to be stuffed full. And I think the other way too, it's like, you can't have a five, these five minute epics we are obsessed with.
00:35:08
Speaker
It's because it was good writing because there was, you know, verse variations and bridge changes and instrumental breakdowns. Like, you know, you can't, I feel like a lot of like,
00:35:20
Speaker
TikTok era, which we're now kind of coming out of two-minute songs. They're like, yeah I've got this one really catchy top lane, and I'm going to it again and again, and I'm going to come back to it, and we're going to and then I'm back to the same.
00:35:31
Speaker
It can feel a bit like rushed or written around this specific peak moment. I love it when a verse is like as delicious as a chorus.
00:35:43
Speaker
Like I think verses are harder to write than a chorus. Cause like, I, I feel like I, that's a very controversial take. I feel like a chorus is harder to write. Oh, interesting. I mean, I guess, you know, it it depends on like the, the style, but like, I've found that like,
00:36:01
Speaker
it's easy for me to not, not easy for me to write like a big course, but it's like to have, to write a verse that like compliments, but doesn't overshadow the chorus, but then also doesn't like undersell itself.
00:36:15
Speaker
Uh, because that's like the first thing you hear and I want to hook them in. And if I, and if I go into a verse and I'm just kind of like doing it to take up space, which is what I feel like a lot of verses will do these days is that they just kind of, you know,
00:36:28
Speaker
Yeah. And they're not even bad, they're just kind of there. Right. And they're really just kind of there to take up time for the chorus. Well first all, don't come for Sports Car. Like if you, for any- I like, you know what, hey, I quite enjoy Sports Car. Yeah, do too. That one's grown on me, will say. Although I do think that verse overshadows the chorus.
00:36:51
Speaker
I think the- I think that pre is delicious. i think that tree is delicious She's going to ruin her voice whispering like that. Whispering so bad for your chords.
00:37:02
Speaker
I worry about it. it really? Whispering is actually famously bad. Not just whispering, but also like, when you sing really bad, it's not necessarily good for you. That's how John Mayer formed a granuloma on his vocal cords.
00:37:13
Speaker
Not a granuloma. What happened? Like he fucked up his voice in a very serious way. And like you listen to him live now and he just, it it does not, he's because he could afford to know the best care, but like it's just not quite the same.
00:37:26
Speaker
But yeah, he really fucked it up. Oh my god. Do you think that that's do you think that that's like maybe what happened with Britney as well? because like ah i think in some ways. I mean, who's to really she's such an interesting case because he's listen to her talk now. and like it's She talks like this.
00:37:41
Speaker
But you know I do think because you listen to her early voice, she was being very full-throated, cord closure belty. And and I do think you know the years of like being ah encouraged to sing into her vocal fry probably did not help her voice. yeah Right.
00:37:57
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, you know, it was very unique and like, I feel like ah iconic and it's one of the most recognizable vocal tones of all time. But, you know, and she probably was not given a lot of training either because it's like she was there to, to, um, I'm not trying to diminish, you know, well, no, no, no. like I and think that's tea. Yeah. Yeah. i mean, you know, like Britney Spears was not about this. It wasn't really about the singing.
00:38:22
Speaker
And that's okay. I also feel like, again, like, back to the whole, like, me and Z being a duo thing. I just had a conversation with this about, I can't remember who I was talking to, but they were like, oh, something, something vocal coach. I camera remember what it was, but it was like, I'm pretty sure that, like, any vocal coach I had would, like, complain about how I sing.
00:38:42
Speaker
But it's, like, so much of, like, to me. ah So I feel like... you know Z went to Berkeley and you know has been a vocalist and and and has this, like he sees music so different than me.
Vocal Training Insights
00:38:55
Speaker
Whereas me, i was someone that could sing my whole life and was like doing Broadway, or not doing Broadway, doing musical theater. He was Broadway. He was Elphaba. Coming to do Broadway. And I was just like a consumer lover, obsessive, horny boy for pop music.
00:39:13
Speaker
But I was like, I'm not going to write any songs because it's just not in the cards for me. And so then when I started writing music, really as recently as like 2019, 2020, which is not that long ago, I approach it from a sense of like,
00:39:26
Speaker
what like i i just I see pop music a little differently than I feel like maybe some other singer-songwriters do. And a lot of it is like, how can I sound in this specific song? like How can I move my voice to be like pop, yummy, cupcake, frosting, sprinkles? yeah there Yeah.
00:39:41
Speaker
And some of it is like not necessarily just saying like vocally correct. The thing is, i any any like I think good... voice teacher is not going to try to change you unless you are doing something that is like damaging your voice they will work with with trying to make you sound like the most healthy version of you that you can so right and and if they are trying to change you to make you sound uniform that's not the right fit yeah right yeah also oh Oh, they said trouble. And they said, fire. That's it. I don't think so.
00:40:13
Speaker
You're done singing. They're like, what's this? What's this fire? Oh, it's this hot track. We're about to drop hot. that It is. ronan Can I get a bag of potatoes? I get that bag of potatoes.
00:40:24
Speaker
Also, you said you what did you say? you said consumer obsessive, horny lover boy. Sure. Lover of pop. Yum. I just feel like that should be a song that you guys could write.
00:40:36
Speaker
Horny Loverboy. i like that. Consumer Obsessive Horny Loverboy. Love it. That could be a song. Miss Possessive. Miss Possessive. Apparently she's coming to Grand Rapids.
00:40:49
Speaker
m miss Oh, finally. Someone is. i'm Not a moment too soon. I mean, I just see i did see Chapel Rhone here, so whatever. so Okay,
00:41:01
Speaker
that was That was my first concert in Grand Rapids in God's name. forever. The last time I saw a concert here in Grand Rapids was Britney Spears' The Femme Patel Tour. Oh my god! I am so Why are you in Grand Rapids? That's a great question, Bentley. That's a great question why I'm here. I was in Michigan this morning.
Travel Experiences and Food Preferences
00:41:21
Speaker
oh oh my god it want you away detroit rate yeah oh my god i should have we should we should have like like timed it so i was i just like there i mean it it was a layover where like i got off my plane i ordered a breakfast sandwich before the the sandwich was done my next flight was boarding you didn't get to eat it i did but but it was because they had to assign my seat but i had to like go back to check on it it was a whole thing was was it a good breakfast sandwich pretty It was quite good. It was quite good. Sausage, egg, and cheese or bacon?
00:41:47
Speaker
Bacon. Oh, man. Wrong choice. You? You're sausage? I'm a sausage. i them I'm both. I just i just felt like... um Oh, my God. Hang on. Is this salt and vinegar? I hate... I don't like sea salt and vinegar. No, take it.
00:42:00
Speaker
You don't like salt and vinegar chips? I don't. I don't like vinegar that much. yeah or for More for us. Yeah, please take it. More for us. Yeah. um Yeah. I mean, i so how many songs have you guys written or recorded so
Upcoming 'Tears and Gears' Recording Sessions
00:42:13
Speaker
far for this project? Two so far. And then we have two sessions. ah We have one tomorrow. We have one on Wednesday.
00:42:20
Speaker
And i think the plan is to write at least two more. We want to write two more. We'll see what happens after. We're thinking maybe five, but two feels... four film I know that Moises, ah my producer, is is down to do a session with us. If the time allows that, love it.
00:42:35
Speaker
If not, we've got it we've got a four-track EP. you know Bring it on. yeah Oh my god this is like I feel like we're witnessing history happen. and I'm not even kidding. idding we need i have to to talk to you daily because now you're making me feel so affirmed with this project.
00:42:51
Speaker
Me and feel like flops daily. It's, you know, it's so nice being like interviewed by someone who cares about pop. No. And isn't, and isn't just like asking for a poll quote, you know, right like that's, yeah I'm so no, anytime someone's like, if we want to do a feature on you. We're going to ask you the questions. Then you give us all your, didn't you say that you don't want to be famous in one?
00:43:12
Speaker
uh you know it wasn't that it was more being like I feel like I know the limits of fame that I think I could handle yeah you know
Fame and Public Perception Challenges
00:43:20
Speaker
yeah like and and if it becomes more than that that's that's in God's hands but like I feel like I've I've come to know myself in a way that like if I was Taylor Swift level famous I would I would literally probably kill myself That's a level of fame that is just insane. I don't think any... I mean, don't have to say no one should be, but i don't I don't think the human brain was equipped to handle being perceived that much.
00:43:46
Speaker
yeah How famous you want to be? um Carly Rae Jepsen. Okay, call me maybe Carly, or this Carly. Or Caroline Polachek, where she can sell out the Greek theater and have a... and have ah And it's about the music.
00:44:03
Speaker
yeah And has a very dedicated fan base. And then gets to hang with Charlie. Right. but But doesn't have to have like the annoying brat fan base. And she can yeah and she can walk probably walk around in public. No big deal. Yes. But then still gets recognized by faggots.
00:44:17
Speaker
Right. Exactly. Which is starting to happen. Which is kind of cool. I mean. In the famous store that we cannot name. yeah I don't know what you're talking Wait I didn't that store was even cancelled. Yeah.
00:44:28
Speaker
Right, right. Yeah, I know. I almost went there. Me walked you through the thing with one huge thing of toilet paper. yeah. hearing, hi, Bentley. Hi, Z. I was like, yeah, we're about to go shit.
00:44:39
Speaker
you Right? Oh my God. You're like so celebrities are just like us. yeah Incredible. um Well, thank i mean thank you for that compliment. I mean, I i do care about pop music, obviously. And i i don't know. I've just always been more interested about like the creative process. I'm always interested in like learning how people create songs, how they create their visuals, how they come up with like the album titles, things like that. Versus, I don't know, like I mean, don't get me wrong, personal life stuff is great too, but like i I just feel like we don't get enough of the the creative process.
00:45:15
Speaker
And I just think that's so fun to like talk about and learn about. Yeah, I mean, I had a i had a friend the other day just being like, I can't even like fathom how you how you pull something out of nothing and create a song. And I'm just like,
00:45:28
Speaker
I don't know. You just like i know just do it. You just have to do it. that i was just thinking And you get better. there really is like yeah I heard a quote the other day and I'm i i'm pretty sure it was Amy Allen.
00:45:43
Speaker
and She was talking about being a songwriter. And she was saying it really just comes down to having a taste level. yeah You don't have to take any classes. You don't have to have written songs before.
00:45:53
Speaker
You sing a melody and you like it. You write a lyric and you like it. it comes down to that like taste level and trusting your taste because as soon as you try to chase trends, as soon as you try to write something because you think people will like it, that's when it's like a flop where if you're writing stuff that you like.
00:46:11
Speaker
Yeah. Anything I've ever started writing that I felt like was inspired by, well, this is popular right now. Um, I never ended finishing because by the time I made any progress on it, it was like, Oh, this doesn't feel like fresh anymore.
00:46:25
Speaker
Like there was a very early iteration of fucking myself where the the track was very kind of like new disco. Oh, and this is like back in 2020. And I am so glad I did not finish that one.
00:46:39
Speaker
Like, no, no, no, no. no Okay, that's, I was going to ask you this earlier, and I'm glad that you said this, because, okay, I was going to ask you, how long do you guys sit on songs for, and, like, does it drive you crazy? Because i mean you just said that there was an early version of Fucking Myself in 2020, and you just released that song last fall.
00:46:56
Speaker
So the verse the first verse of that song is pretty much identical to how it was when I wrote in it in 2020. The chorus is a new variation on the old thing. Like, it was originally called Shut Up, Say Thank You. It's princess.
00:47:10
Speaker
but um so So I wish I incorporated this. Shut up. Say thank you. and so I incorporated that. And sometimes it's just like a concept. I'm like, I really like this concept and I really want to put this out there. But like something is just not right. And if something is not 100% correct in my soul, i don't I don't feel good about putting it out there.
00:47:27
Speaker
And then sometimes like should have been yours. I love Should It write it and a month and a half later, it's out Right. That's fucking crazy. That's so wild to me. That came together really quickly. is it dry Does it drive you nuts, though? like have you ever like written a so completed a song and then then sat on it for a long time?
00:47:45
Speaker
Yes. Also, i have songs that I wrote. The radio. That I wrote for like Ugly Crier, that I wrote for Chaotic Erotica, that like probably will never come out. And they're good. like There was a song that I wrote...
00:47:57
Speaker
that I like sent to see a billion times. I was like, do you like this? Do you like this? And he was like, yeah. And then eventually I was like, don't like it anymore. Like you almost like, which one was it? Gomez. Oh, it's fun. Yeah. I just don't love it. But anyway, that being said, it's almost like if you sit on it for too long, you start to not like it. Yeah. And like, also like I've been really focused on my, I'm writing my debut album. Sorry.
00:48:19
Speaker
Separate from tears. Yeah, that's fine. But like my debut album is done and we like wrote it because we wanted it to be done so that during tears and gears, that's happening behind the scenes so that I can roll it out starting later this year. if you come back to i hate it And I'm like, yeah, there is a small fear. It's like, what if I'm going to hate it? But I will say i didn't chase any trends and it scares me because it's so different for me. And like, I took a lot of risks and I feel like that will pay off as in I won't end hating it because like the new disco thing is such a point. Like I know artists that took that route.
00:48:49
Speaker
that it's like, you know, Dua Lipa brought that, she rocked that, and she left it where it was, and and we moved on. And it's like... and and so did And she very much moved on. Yeah, yeah, she moved on. She moved on.
00:49:00
Speaker
And then she went back, and it's like, actually, Troye's... You know, I actually really would like, because I i i respect your opinion, Zach, I really would love to get your take on the Katy Perry of it all.
00:49:11
Speaker
Everything going on and... going on right now with her? Yes. Or just in general? Yeah, i have I have a very strong opinion on Keep in mind, we have a Katie cat in the room. He just made a crying face. And he was like... He just walked out.
00:49:25
Speaker
Here's my take. I'm going to give you my quick thing before you go, please say what you're going to say. I am not a Katie cat in the sense that like, Oh my God, I'm writing for her, but I love her music. Been a fan of her for years.
00:49:37
Speaker
Yeah. I've been so sad with how she's been treated. i feel like recently everyone's just so mean to her. And like, I saw so many takes that was like, This Katy Perry space trip, XYZ.
00:49:49
Speaker
It wasn't a Katy Perry space trip. It wasn't Katy Perry. And I feel like she's gotten so much flack recently that's really hurt me. Because I'm like, I always ask myself, what do you want from her? Do you want her to kill herself?
00:50:01
Speaker
Like when when when you are like shitting on someone so, so hard, it's like, do you want them to never make music a again? like i don't know. That's my take. I agree with everyone. 143 is the worst album of the decade. Yeah.
00:50:14
Speaker
It seems like it was written by ChatGBT. And no one is arguing that. But yeah i just feel a little sad that... And this comes from me. My number one like woman I stan tattooed on me is Camila Cabello. And I've had to be in the trenches for this girl because she gets so much hate.
00:50:32
Speaker
I'm seeing a lot of the Camila Cabello isms with Katy Perry right now. Anyway, give me your thoughts. I just think at the end of the day, she didn't really know how to read the room with this era and she's trying to turn it around and it's not really working too hard.
Katy Perry: Public Criticism and Industry Complexities
00:50:46
Speaker
Yeah, Katie, so what I find fascinating, I mean, this is one of the most successful artists that we've seen in the last 15 years. Yeah, we gotta keep that in mind. And when I say successful, I mean, like, from one of the boys through Prism, I mean, how many Diamond singles does she She's about to have 10. She's about to have 10, I think.
00:51:05
Speaker
Yeah, it's Oh, no, maybe I'm crazy. oh but but by Several many. She's ah several many, more than I have. And so the thing with her, though, that I find really fascinating, as you kind of mentioned, is she is a lightning rod for all of this hate right now with this space mission.
00:51:23
Speaker
There were how many women on this? Was it like five people? Like five or six, yeah. Five or six. and um But and on top of you know there being five or six other women with her, you know you had Oprah Winfrey in the crowd watching. You had Chris and Chloe. You had you know all these people kind of cheering them on and whatnot.
00:51:46
Speaker
Katie is getting... all of the backlash for it i i think it's because she was just the most famous really a true but no it's it's become this like katy perry hate train that started with like the 143 thing and with you know the dr luke of it all but i mean you you and i have talked about this before like yeah the thing is is that like we don't really know why she chose to work with dr luke but there's plenty of artists who continue to work with Dr. Luke that no one says anything.
00:52:15
Speaker
Or if you want to go even further, like you have all of these artists and producers and songwriters who are either assigned to his production company or his songwriting company.
00:52:26
Speaker
that no one ever talks about so like there's a plethora of songwriters on future nostalgia that are signed to dr luke's writing company and no one's shitting on dua lipa for working with him his his reach is is um far and wide and no so no more way more than we know i mean no one shat on mariah carey for jumping on that what was that song with oh my god i forget Big Energy. The Big Energy remix. yeah. Lotto? Yeah, with Lotto.
00:52:54
Speaker
um And... Oh, and Ethel Kane, I believe, is still signed to the songwriting company. And people... And what's interesting about the Katy Perry of it all is that people...
00:53:05
Speaker
kept we're kind of comparing ethel kane and katy perry back when 143 was coming out and and basically in the sense of like oh you should be doing like you know music like ethel kane or whatever whatever and just kind of pinpointing ethel kane being like this like you know forward thinking artist and i'm like jokes on all of you she is signed to his songwriting company So I was just like, and then people were like, well, she's a, you know, a broke trans artist.
00:53:32
Speaker
And I'm just kind of like, okay, so we can put aside morals because you're poor. I get it. Don't get me wrong. I am all about people trying to make it in the business whatnot, but I just don't understand why I just think, choose I just think, yeah, picking and choosing is my thing. It's selective outrage. And I really do not like it because it A lot of it, I still feel like it comes down to misogyny.
00:53:58
Speaker
Oh, 100%. We have a rapist felon thief... As our president. And half the country voted for them. And, you know, but I will hear a woke person that's pro-trans rights, pro-POC, pro-women, pro-everything, literally talk about Katy Perry like she deserves to die.
00:54:22
Speaker
And I'm like, you are a psycho. I don't get it. And listen, I i almost posted about it on my story the other day, but I try to be very careful with this stuff. But it's like... I just don't understand. i you know me and Z have friends that we know that like were actively hating on Tate McRae when she was coming out. And I just don't understand. i will nott Maybe it's because I'm an artist. Maybe it's because I'm a cancer. I just don't understand like when we take it a step too far. It's like, babes.
00:54:49
Speaker
yeah She released bad music. yeah Other than that, like what is her crime? Like the Wendy's brand being like, let's send her back. That was Okay, so... i i say yeah so My thoughts on this are like, I think people are taking it a little too seriously, but I think what it comes, my theory on like kind of why this all sort of started to go sour, there was so much goodwill for Katy Perry to come back.
00:55:15
Speaker
I think... At the end of the day, she was like, you know what? I want a hit. I'm going to go back to the person who gave me my hits because I don't think people will care anymore.
00:55:28
Speaker
And she was wrong. And then the music she did put out was not good enough to overcome that. And she misread the room. And i don't know. And here's the thing. She's made good songs without him.
00:55:41
Speaker
Never really over. Best song she's done in like seven years. Yeah. And and I just think that like she she's... at At worst, she is out of touch.
00:55:51
Speaker
And I think she sold out for a hit and it didn't even pay off. and then on And then the fact that that that hate train was going, the fact that she then did something which, like, go to space when people need healthcare.
00:56:06
Speaker
Which, okay, look, I'm not like... Yeah, I don't yeah i think we all agree that the space mission was a mess. it's in It was sort of like in poor taste, but people are being a little extra about it. It's worth making fun of them.
00:56:18
Speaker
And I'm all for making fun taking a face. I'm all for making fun Right. Yeah. But it's just when it turns into like actual things that people are passionate about. Like I know very intellectual, very smart people that are like passionate with their hatred towards Katy Perry. And I just like will never understand.
00:56:38
Speaker
And, yeah you know, i want to go to the show. worked with the rapist. Okay. Yeah. like Where's your same energy for XYZ XYZ? You know what i mean? It's just to me. Right. It's just like your you're choosing to dislike someone because it's fun.
00:56:51
Speaker
and you and And you want to be a hater and you want to make fun of her. and You're going to get that viral tweet? Yeah. I mean, i mean i mean we've kind of talked about this on a previous episode, but that Mr. Pop guy on Twitter was...
00:57:03
Speaker
Oh, he made it, made it his personality to hate on Katy Perry. Yeah. and And dragged me into it. Yeah. dragged you but First of all, you dragged yourself into that. but Well, and why I was only copying your formula. Yes.
00:57:14
Speaker
And I, and then he blocked me cause I put myself into it cause I was like, wow, you're really for someone who hates Katy Perry. You're really putting a lot of energy into talking about her. Yeah. Blocked me.
00:57:25
Speaker
And I was just kind of like, wow, I'm just like, what is going on here? But there's a lot of people like that. There's a lot of people on the internet, regardless if it's Katy Perry or Tate McRae or Camilla or whomever, who truly invest energy into just talking about how much they don't like something.
00:57:41
Speaker
And I think that that's strange. It's one thing to critique. It's one thing to be like, oh, yeah, it's not for me. It's I'm not the designated. ah what What did we say? It's like I'm not not the intended audience. yeah and and you know And that's OK, right? Like we all have different tastes. Yes.
00:57:54
Speaker
But I'm not going out of my way to talk about how much I dislike an artist. Well, that's what I think is like the... Honestly, this is how we can bring it back to Tears and Gears. It's like... I get so much hate daily. I'm sure you do as well. Because I'm putting myself out there. No, it won't ask me. Okay. I get a lot of hate daily from people that are like homophobic or racist or whatever. I don't care.
00:58:20
Speaker
And it gets it gets me... It makes me laugh because it's like... I never have disliked, like, I have disliked many of things. I am number one hater with my best friend in the living room.
00:58:32
Speaker
You know i mean? Sure. But I'm not going to go and post it under one of their, sorry, yeah yeah pictures or post about it publicly. Yeah. To me, it's just like, it's giving. You don't have a lot going on.
00:58:44
Speaker
and Right. um Yeah. I just think, like, energetically and karmically, we should try to not...
00:58:54
Speaker
get too main... I always say that there's, like, an epidemic of main character syndrome, especially in New York TV. People, like, just don't care about other people like they should. Yeah. It's all about them and their boundaries and their compromises and their... saying And it's, like, on that same note, it's, like,
00:59:09
Speaker
I try to be reflective of my behavior. And yeah, some of it is just toxic and not good. And I try to be self-aware of it. But for the most part, it's like, I try not to crucify other people for things that I wouldn't want people to crucify me about.
00:59:22
Speaker
There has been many a time that I have said the wrong thing or something inappropriate and a message to a friend or put out art that isn't good. And I think that like,
00:59:34
Speaker
how are we walking around crucifying these people like to the death? Timely, the day after Easter. Crucifying. Crucifying. Jesus. To the death. And it's just, to me, it's like very, it's a bummer. And I, I will forever preach.
00:59:49
Speaker
Like I truly like all my shows. It's like love, kindness, acceptance. Like that is, that's the move girls. I think we like, you know, as gays on the internet, I think we can all, you know, admit that we've, we've kind of had phases of being like,
01:00:05
Speaker
or maybe I can just speak for myself, being kind of like cunty and like saying some like shit that looks like, well, this will make me feel better and put someone down. And like with, you know, with age, um i've I've kind of, you know, noticed that like when my soul and spirit feel kind of more rotted is when i is when I start to like put more of that energy out. And so like, I'm not perfect at it by any means, but I try not...
01:00:31
Speaker
not If I like something, I'll tweet about that. If I don't like something, I'll text it to a I think it's different to be like, oh, I don't love this thing.
01:00:43
Speaker
Yeah. Let's talk about it from a pop culture consumption standpoint. Right. Not the like, I just don't like. Like J.K. Rowling, like I will post tweets about how she should die. yeah But I feel very karmically okay with that.
01:00:58
Speaker
Right. Yeah. The other thing I have done a hard pivot from that I feel like I used to do because it made me feel superior. No, it's like reply to someone else's thing if they say they like something and be like, no, that thing sucks.
01:01:12
Speaker
Right. Oh god, when did you do that? Like, yeah. been times like throughout the past like 15 years or be like you know that they you've done you've replied to me when I said I like something you've been like no it sucks I've never said I don't think I've ever said no it sucks to yeah i like me I like to be loved by Lizzo And you were like, nah, ah nope. And I'm like, let me enjoy it.
01:01:34
Speaker
Let me enjoy that. Right. And that's something that I get a lot on my Instagram. I like that I had receipts. I love that. I love that. I get that a lot on my Instagram where like if I'm posting about a song or a new project or whatever,
01:01:48
Speaker
And there will be people who will go out of their way and be like, no, this sucks or whatever. And I'm like, let people enjoy things. Like it's, it's, there's a, and Bentley to your point, like there's a difference between being like, I don't like this or throwing a small little bit of shade versus like being like, fuck this person. You're ugly. Yes.
01:02:07
Speaker
Die. yeah Like that's. so And then like never letting them do anything yeah ever again. It's just like, girl, you're choosing to hate something because you decided you don't like this person and like now everything they do is bad and it's like no no no you're you're showing me you don't got very much critical thinking skills this uh this attitude of mine gets really put to the test whenever i see people talking about tortured poets department oh yeah yeah for sure let them enjoy it let them enjoy it i hate enjoy it lam i enjoy it i'm the opposite of a swiftie
01:02:41
Speaker
But when they, i mean, it's truly a joy to see you on Twitter, like, kind of coming for some of them, though. Because of the victim mentality that they have, I'm like, you were literally seeing the biggest cop star in the world.
01:02:53
Speaker
when When, like, there there is nobody who can punch down on Taylor Swift, and they like to be like, every everyone loved doubted her, is doubting her, right? It's like, literally everyone was like, this album is too big to fail.
01:03:04
Speaker
no one but yeah No one is doubting her anymore. Like, what we... Kanye infantilized her and set that in Amber and she is, and they still think of her as this 17 year old girl. Right. What was that tweet the other day that we both commented on it? It was something about like, like she released the album, but all people were talking about was her being a billionaire and her helicopter or whatever. No, everyone, in fact, Rolling Stone gave it like a five star review.
01:03:27
Speaker
Yeah. But that's insane to me. That shows me that no one's actually listening to the music. there No, Rolling Stone has given her last like three albums, five stars, and they are of, and You can see where their bias is. You can see where they're afraid to critique something. I don't really trust that. Can we all just agree that her and Jack Antonoff need to stop making music together?
01:03:45
Speaker
Get her back with Max
Fresh Ideas and Collaboration Prospects
01:03:47
Speaker
Martin. Oh my God. they like yeah Not even just like not shitting on Jack or shitting on her, but it's like your collaborative energy and power has has done its thing. yeah like we need other We need fresh ideas in the room. You know what? i want to I want to see her work with Charlie Puth.
01:04:01
Speaker
okay I really think that he could bring something very cool out of her. um yeah Double down on that, Taylor. You said he should be a bigger artist. Yeah. How about a bigger producer?
01:04:11
Speaker
Yeah. trust yeah and Well, this brings us to the Maybe my favorite part of the show I didn't prep him for this segment so Well I'm excited to Surprise this is the best the famous part of the show Where we each pick a song That we don't feel we do not talk about enough So this is where we talk about maybe a deep cut A bonus track or remix Maybe it's a flop single who knows But we all talk about a song I just had to do this yesterday after have to think of another one I know I'm like throwing these at you left and right okay I mean i I already know Exactly what mine is
01:04:43
Speaker
Give it. Let's go. Does it have to be a song? Can it be like a greater, can it be a body of work? Or what if I was like, no, it has be a song. Follow the rules, bitch. Follow the rules. I think, and this goes on in line with what we were saying a
Camila Cabello's 'CXOXO': Sonic Risks and Predictions
01:05:00
Speaker
second ago. think,
01:05:01
Speaker
i think CXOXO by Camila Cabello is one of the best pop albums of this last year. She took Sonic Risks.
01:05:12
Speaker
It's fresh. it's um It makes you feel like you're in Miami. The soundscape, the way she sings. truly, like...
01:05:24
Speaker
was so disappointed that like immediately out the gate, people are like, this is like Charlie XCX. The album is nothing like Charlie XCX. It's not. No. Um, you know, there's standout songs on the album, like pretty when I cry.
01:05:36
Speaker
and um, I'm talking deluxe as well. Baby pink can friends kiss. There's so many songs on there that to me are like perfect pop songs. Yeah. And, um,
01:05:48
Speaker
I really, i am betting on this, that that will be an album that we will go back to in a few years, that people were like, holy fuck, this was like one of her best bodies of work, and like we just like didn't let it shine because of our feelings about her.
01:06:01
Speaker
would agree. I gave that album like a shot, and it's honestly, I think my favorite start to finish album of hers. Yeah, it's incredible, and I think that you know, I really admire her not you know making Havana part two, part three, again and again, like they wanted her to. It didn't feel like she went into a room of a writing camp room.
01:06:21
Speaker
It felt like she was like, I want to create... like ah like Even though I feel like there are fewer individual hits on that album. I feel like start to finish. It's, it's like something that like I've put on and like went like shopping and was like, let's listen to it. And I was just like, this is a really, really good atmosphere. Like my synesthesia was like, this feels very like warm wind.
01:06:46
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, dewy, wet hair, salt. yeah Also, ah well, actually, I want to hear your thoughts on that, first of all. Did you listen to any of the songs? I'm Camilla.
01:06:57
Speaker
i So i was going to say, I heard the two singles. The first song, what was it? I Love It. Yeah. um Did not capture me. Yeah, you did not love me did not love it. yeah yeah i I did not love it. I did not at first. And that shit worked its way under my skin.
01:07:11
Speaker
yeah Well, I have to... Z is going roll his eyes. yeah I love the Dave Audet remix of He Knows. Oh, well, you know what? I haven't listened, but he followed me recently. Oh, word. Oh, let's celebrate that. I was just on a ah session with him earlier this week.
01:07:28
Speaker
on Oh! Yeah. Okay. It's not not for my stuff. I'm helping him co-write something with somebody. Oh, very fun. I'm excited. did I wish. No. i'll I'll tell you guys. Kolechi? Yeah.
01:07:40
Speaker
what she's watching music anymore it feels like i don't know what the fuck oh my god but didn't release he didn't release or the song the remix wasn't released like commercially but it was like a promo only remix okay it's on it's on his website it's really good i love that is a remix girly i'm a slut for a remix i i believe it um Before I let you beauties say yours, and I have to give another shout out. Separate from Camila Cabello, one of the biggest artists of all time. Of course. Two Diamond singles, three songs in the billions.
Underrated Songs and Recognition
01:08:15
Speaker
think Alice Chatter dropped a song earlier last year called Don't Let My Boyfriend Get In Your Way.
01:08:23
Speaker
That is truly so underrated, so incredible. I'm playing Mighty Hoopla with her in June. Listen to it Is that the one that sounds like Vogue? Yeah, baby, don't stop. yeah Come in and take his place. It's a good song. I really think she deserved a big moment, um and she hasn't gotten it yet, so love her.
01:08:45
Speaker
She'll get there. She'll get there. All right, Z, this is your time for a song we don't talk about enough. ronan i mean it Should it be new? Should it be a new song? you It can be whatever your heart desires.
01:08:58
Speaker
Okay. You know I'm going to give a shout-out to... All right. So when I was packing my vinyls a few weeks ago, I guess it was like a month ago at this point, I forgot what I put. I put it on shuffle. We put our Spotify radio on shuffle.
01:09:12
Speaker
And then it went on to this one song. was like this, this whole track and groove and vibe are really, really cool. And so I shazammed it and I went to this guy's page and he only had like, not only that sounds so like a condescending, but like he was not, you know, he, it was, is it was like, Oh, he's like independent.
Highlighting 'Industry Party' by Matthew Orgel
01:09:30
Speaker
Um, Like the song, I think it had like 20, 20,000 streams or something like that. Oh, It's called Industry Party. It's by an artist named um Matthew Orgel.
01:09:42
Speaker
And I looked at his bio. He's a fellow Berkeley grad. He's quite a few years younger than me. But... um But it's a song called... And it's such... The concept is so relatable to someone who has like moved to a new city to try to make it, who is like not like at first very confident in themselves on what they're doing.
01:09:59
Speaker
um But I believe he produced it himself. um I really, really, really... It was... I was um i don't know it just It really struck was like, oh, this is like elevated.
01:10:10
Speaker
love that. I know it's funny. like As I was... packing the vinyl, I followed him. And then by the time we were done, he had followed me back. And we've like been talking back and forth. i'm like, okay, this is, this is, this is, um, so I've, I've kind of developed a little rapport with him, but it's industry party by Matthew Orgel.
01:10:25
Speaker
I love that. I remember you posting about this actually. I do too. Yeah. and Yeah. I think you might like it. I love that. um Okay, my I'm going to probably go
'Lock Me Up' by Tears and Gears: Potential Hit
01:10:35
Speaker
a little bit out there. i don't know if you guys have heard of this group, but there's this group called Tears and Gears that released a song earlier this year called Lock Me Up. I mentioned it earlier.
01:10:46
Speaker
song we don't talk about enough you guys i'm not kidding one of my most streamed songs of the year thus far oh in my head all the time um the melodies of the chorus are so good i love the lyric um oh my gosh i'm so bad with lyrics okay the lyric was like something about love has got me dumb what is the lyric i hard Because it's come because because a Heartbreak Has Got Me Dumb. Yeah, yeah. yeah I think it's... i think i i think it's someone yeah This Heartbreak Has Got Me Drunk.
01:11:19
Speaker
Okay, so I don't actually sing that line. Yeah, I think I say drunk. Is it drunk? Yes, yes, yes. Okay, sorry. See, I'm so bad with lyrics. No, but I love that because I do that all the time too.
01:11:31
Speaker
But I love that because I was like, oh my God, this is like so relatable. It's so relatable. This song, for those of you that have not heard it, I would liken it to ah like a love child of Robin. Like it's very- Foxes perhaps? Foxes. Foxes.
01:11:48
Speaker
And I just, it's ah it's a brilliant single. And i would not I would not be surprised if it made my like top 10 songs of the year. Oh, that means the world. Yeah. I what i wrote that song.
01:12:00
Speaker
um like verse pre-chorus one in my bedroom by myself so i'm very very proud of that one um and then uh took it to dom florio where we like produced it up and made it better and then we i sent it to z and i was like you would be amazing on this and he would not write his verse would not would not would not procrastinate procrastinate procrastinate And of course, like three or four days before I needed it done, he fucking sent me back that incredible verse that it's everybody loves. So ah that's on social.
01:12:31
Speaker
It's so good. Yeah, no, um' it's, it's, that's really become like a favorite. That's a really good song too. Yeah. it's It's a really good, it's beautiful. It's so funny is that Bentley keeps being like, I think, okay, come on, you have to admit, this song is so good.
01:12:43
Speaker
and I'm like, Bentley, I'm literally on it. Like, yeah, it's good. it's it' so It's so him to be like, i just feel like you're not giving this thing enough credit. And I'm like, I wouldn't, I'm like, I'm literally in the credits of this. Like, I yeah like i couldn't credit it anymore more. Give yourself more credit. do Do it twice. Yeah. I think I just like, I'm a words of affirmation girl. Yeah.
01:13:06
Speaker
And I feel like very often I'll, I'll message Z and I'll be like, love you, my best friend. You mean the world to me. Z will be like, aw, heart or something like that. And I'm just like, I want words. I love words. I know. I love words too. need to 12-step you with all that, oh my God, expectation and release resentment.
01:13:29
Speaker
That's so funny. Well, do resent you. I know. i resent me too. It's okay. congratulations on the new single. Delusional is out now, you guys. It's out wherever you stream your music and there is certainly more
Future Projects and Plans
01:13:42
Speaker
to come. I'm so excited.
01:13:44
Speaker
You guys are absolutely incredible. I love you both. And until next time. thank you We love you so much. Thank you for having us. like We want to come back again. We'll talk you soon. Absolutely. we should do, we have like something really crazy that we'll be doing this summer.
01:13:57
Speaker
And when we are doing it, we should do another one of these where we come and we talk all about that. Yeah. I cannot wait. yeah i cannot wait. like whichs I'm there. I'm there. yep Fuck yeah. No, we better see you at some point. bruce algar Oh, no. I was talking yesterday about it.
01:14:12
Speaker
Yeah. Maybe you are already guest listed. I am there. You're on my guest list. So I am there. So I know. It's one guest yeah We are a band. doesn' say we're not We're not doing the old Tears and Gears format. We are one. Much like the substance. We are one. I'm Margaret Qualley.
01:14:31
Speaker
oh You're what's called Demi Moore. Let's celebrate that. um i go You guys, thank you so much being on. Thank you, Zach. You're literally the best. I've been a fan of you forever.
01:14:46
Speaker
i was i've been a fan of you forever I know.
Exchange of Admiration and Humor
01:14:50
Speaker
That's so crazy. that ah that That's something that I like when people say that to me, I'm always just like, what? You made me laugh many a time. Anytime like mention me, like I feel like, oh my God, did you see this guy? Same. I'm like, yeah. Same. I'm like, oh my gosh, you, what? Yeah, when I, one of my peak moments is still when you did like the playing of the, the,
01:15:14
Speaker
like the playing over and over into the headphones and we were one of the songs that was a peak moment or Whitney handing um Diane Sawyer the iPod yeah oh my god this is crazy oh my gosh thanks you guys i appreciate it now I'm gonna float away and just yeah next step is is to get him nominated for a Queer T for Itch to Follow yeah follow yeah we yeah yeah i know I feel like you are so close I'm so close. I was like, I don't know whose dick I need to suck, but I'll yeah i'll do it. We do. We'll we'll send you their app. I'll do it all. Yeah.
01:15:46
Speaker
yeah um All right, you guys. Thanks for joining. Love you. And until next time, everyone. Bye-bye. Bye.