Old Dominion and Drake White

I have Old Dominion joining me and Drake White, and it was just announced that Old Dominion when their first a c M Award for Best New Groups. So congrats guys. That's super exciting. And Drake White is an up and comer who is probably one of the best performers I've ever seen live. He is it's like a revival watching him on stage, so you're not gonna want to miss this interview. Welcome, guys. Here is Old Dominion. We're here

with the Old Dominion. I'm Caroline Hobby, So this is a herd of you guys, and I did some research on how y'all got together. Did you say you never heard of us. This is a herd of you guys. Definitely it could have, but definitely, So you guys got together. Who's the drummer? So you're like the glue for this, right apparently, because didn't you pick some of these guys

up in college? You picked one up in middle school? Well, I mean I've known Madson's middle school, and I played in bands with Jeff, in a band with Jeff in college, and then we all so our band played with Brad's man um, you know, and Matt was kind of playing in the same scene, same circuit or whatever. You played with us a few times, and so you know, we were all very well acquainted before we got down here. Okay, so did i'll come together? Where is it all just separate?

One by one? One by one? That was WIT's planned. Who came first first? You go build finished, it's safe now a smoke signal out, smoke sickle And then you guys meant Brad here right, Well, I had known from college from college, right, and then you are the one that was retrieved here when sent Matt here. Matt and I met each other right away, so I was like twelve and a half years so we've known each other since then, and then I got to know the other guys.

How long have I been Old Dominion? I mean we've been playing together for probably like nine years or so. But I guess the name. We've gone through a couple of names, but aren't band name is just the worst, the worst. I don't know, we've probably been old like functioning as Old Dominion for the Old Dominion is one of those names that feels iconic, though, like when you all came up with, well, we're an iconic. I know when y'all came out with break Up with Him and

it was Old Dominion. I was like, I know, I've heard of this band forever because y'all it's such a strong name. So you landed on a good one. And it has to do with Virginia roots, Is that right? I mean almost change at one point, almost quite if that's that trying huh. Yeah. I just didn't want to go through it anymore. I was. I was angry. I didn't want to do it, and I'm so glad we

didn't have to. But I mean it was like it was so hard to find a name, you know, and we knew we were trying to do something that was Virginia related, but everything was taken. And then like we were setting up at the Blue Bar one night and and I said, man, the only thing I can find it's not taking his old dominion and everybody the best one probably out of all of them. So that was the first night I said, wor old dominions so wide named just wait approved with a good job. Good job.

So you guys are all songwriters, Yeah, and that's kind of how y'all got going. Yeah, we definitely uh have been here for a while working on that. So I mean that's what I moved here for, whichever moved here, Brad moved here for. And these guys didn't even move here to do that, and now their songwriters happened. What did you guys move here to do? Well? I moved to try to do uh work, playing for the people recording. We're playing for the people, people playing people. Where can

I go to play for the people? For the people people that's who I want to play to? Where are the people I'm ready to playable for? Play for other people? Like as a hired hired musician, I played bass one other people, so someone else hits for other people because I want to get to you all, but I wanna start with how badass you guys are outside of the band. Y'all written for Kenny Blake, Shelton Dirk's is it, Luke Bryant either have been band Perry. That's amazing. You've had

number ones with other people. That's kind of unheard of a little bit. Yeah, you know, I mean, I think it's just mostly because I think it seems bigger because there's more than you know, we're a band and we're yeah, we're a Gagle, so you know, but there are certain the other artists out there that have written, you know, for other people. It's just I guess it just the list gets longer when you add you know, we're all part of a unit, and so the list gets longer.

But you know, there's definitely people out there, you know, that that are doing the same thing. We will, we will, we will gladly wear that badass badger. Yes, So break Up with Him came out, big song and you're kind of like talk rapping in it some of it, which is awesome. Was that like just how it came to you. It was, you know, just we thought maybe we would copy Sam Hunt. People ask that you guys are the originals. Like, you know, we like what he's doing. Let's copy him,

Let's do exactly what Sam does. No, I mean, it's just what happened, you know. And we always whenever we're writing a song, we just try to you know, we just try to serve the song. And this was an idea. It was like a one sided phone conversation song. And you don't sing on the phone, do not would? Yeah, slick is what would happen? I sing on the phone? Is a guy? Where is Caterine? Is it a true story? No? Really, I mean yes, it wants to be a true story

all the time. Does somebody have like Allison etched out on their arm? Actually just a random guess, so alsn't clearly stuck around? Okay, so not a true story people. Really, we were just trying to make each other laugh right writing that song. You know, it was really anything. I don't even know why we got that idea. It was just something funny, you know, But it seems to have effects. Definitely, Definitely it resonates. Yeah, we get people saying, you know,

we're together because the song love connections. You're making love connections. That's the way that's great. Thank you for focus on the flip to that. No, actually, if you're with the wrong person, you should break up with them. Why would you stay with someone you should be doing the interviews from other people for us. You got this down. Thanks dog, You're welcome. Appreciate it than you. So you guys say your album is Meet and Candy, which I like that

that draws your attention right away. I had a totally different image of my mind until I write your bio about what Meat and Candy could possibly mean. It could be a lot of things, but what you guys are applying it to mean is you started writing, like some lighter songs, feel good, fun, but then you wanted to get some Yeah, the album was kind of stacking up with the candy songs. You know, there was a lot of good sing along stuff, but we needed to have

the balance, We needed to get the meat there. So somebody said, just called Meeting Candy. We were like, yeah, I don't overthink. We we realized when trying to name the band, once you get on one that works, you don't say that's actually really true. So would you guys consider snap Back, which is your new song, would you consider that Meat candy or combo meal. That's definitely a combombo. I was thinking combo. I think it's a combo meal, but it has a lot of candy on it. It

definitely has a lot of candy. But it's like, you know, we have some songs that are definitely meat and some that are definitely candy, and this one we felt like it was a good bridge to the meat. So what was break up was such a weird thing. This is a bridge to meat, so that past, Yeah, take the bridge to the meat. I think the bridge to the meat is break up with him? Candy or meat. That's that's candy, but this also has meat. There's a bigger there's a bigger message. I think they all have a

little secret meat. Ye, it's got a mystery meat. If we can't be old anymore, let's be so when you guys, we're making your record, which is another cool thing. Not only are you all amazing musicians, you're writing all your stuff, you're playing on your album. A lot of people don't

play on their albums too, They hire studio musicians. I think that's like a rarity and that's also a unique Well that ass badge, thank you, thank you, We we definitely played on You know, it was important to us to play on it because we are band and that's a big part of you know, being a bandoned and

having a sound. We also brought in a keyboard player and an acoustic guitar player too, just because you know, we also know our abilities to you in our limitations and there's some things that that people can bring in that we can't. But it was definitely important for us to be on there. So yeah, can you start off with the bank Canny Chesney fell short of him all last year and now you're doing it again this year.

So what is it like every year until ever and ever until no more until the restraining order comes up? Those they're a big love fest going on there. Um on our spread love spread to, that's right, spread love to. What have we all learned from Kenny because he's one of the best of the best. Yeah, how to how to entertain a stadium? How do you entertain a stadium? You jump really high? Jumping is important? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

His his set list just just you know, I mean, he has the he has this like crazy ability to put together this this set that is just one after another, just like is it all a beat. I mean, he has moments, have to build those moments in and and that is also an art to figure out how to build that moment and when it when it hits, you're like, it's it's impressive. We watched it every night and I even knew the moment was coming and it would still get me. So he's great. That's one of many things

that we learned from him. And what's he like? See? Hang is he cool? Yeah? He's super cool. He seems so Yeah, you can't like he's like barefoot Kenny. He's on the beach like as a blue chair exactly. Think that guy's gonna be uptight. I wouldn't think. So. You guys had a huge year, number one single, awesome Kenny Chesny. And now you guys are nominated for two words vocal new Vocal group and vocal group. How are you nominated for both of those? Because you're old, dominion is so solid,

don't know how I do? And you have secret meat? How did you know that it's getting around starting to spread? So that's exciting. Are you guys freaking out? Um? You know? I think we are and we aren't. I mean, it's like so many things have happened all year that like every time something cool happens, we celebrate it and then we just sort of move on to the next thing. So, yeah, freaking out a little bit. But I think I'll freak out if they call our name. I mean I thought

about it. I will. I'm like a little nervous that I will freak the f out. What will that look like for you? I don't know. Maybe that's I'm nervous. Like, where's the footage of him bailing on a skateboard? I can show you exactly what it was. That's not like freaking out like, but like you're trying to skateboard and you froze mid skates. You'll see I need a story the whole world. Is it going to show like on an episode of Jackass or something? It's our video. Oh

you're new first at that. But I did see you freak out standing next to a horse once, and I wonder if it would be like that. That's what I mean. That was bad. Do you not like horses? Well? I thought I was gonna be okay with it, but he was behind me and his head was like right here, and I could I could hear him and feel and breathe. This is Jeff. Did you like it there? I mean, they got some big teeth, Like I just kept thinking, he's going by my face and of course these sweet people.

He's like, he's fine, he's the sweetest swords. He's not gonna hurt you. And I'm like, I'm fine, I'm fine, that's okay, I'm fine. Take the picture. So you know, hopefully it won't be like that, would be like that. I hope if we get called I want you to do all the time, just do that the whole time. It's fine, it's fine. Should spokesperson. Yeah, they call me

the great communic, great communicator. I can see that because he could either he could either get up there and freak out like that or he would get up to the mic and be like, um, weird, not not excited, and then everybody was standing. So speaking of like phobias wanted being the band, I hope you guys went just for the accepted speech. Speaking of phobias having phobias, of you guys have sort of a new you know, over the past few years, I've discovered that heights are harder

and harder for me. Really, I live for him, which is tough. Because we're soaring to do, because we're going straight to the top. You better, you better get comfortable every day. Why are you up on heights? I don't know. It's just just like looking over a ledge, just like even pretending to look over a ledge. Just now kind of breaking out phobias. Anybody else, you'll have some. I

really don't like cramped spaces, tight spaces. So living on a bus with five guys this is odd because I love living in small all spaces, but I don't like my shoulders really, Like if I have to go on the cross space where you sleep every night on the bus, there's ten ten ten, Okay, you don't mind that. I don't mind that. But if I have to go into cross space, you know, maybe it's spiders, because when I think about it, it's when i'm crowing and I'm nervous

about you see why we want him? Why are you in a cross space on a regular basis? Well, I'm not because I'm afraid of the spiders in them. But I feel like most people maybe go to cross space maybe once or twice period. When you go to the commercial okay, I want to lose. You're causing media training for us right, No, No, it's okay. I want to actually, before I do this, I want to play one little game with you, but I want to ask you one more question. Ya are doing all these national TV shows

like coming Up, you've done something? You're doing them with Today and Jimmy Kimmel. That's awesome, Okay, so exciting? When are your doing that? What's that happening? Brad, it happens,

It already happened. How was it? It was amazing? Yeah, that was one of those things that you think you're going to freak out about, but they make it super easy for you, and you know, it just kind of there's this all this stuff that you have to do leading up to it, and then just by the time you play, it's just another thing that you had to do and the realm small with no people watching. Really right, did you all do the bar what we did? Yeah?

There was a proud troop. Do you guys drink occasional? Okay? So that's nice. We're wasted right now, You're I couldn't you even tell? That's how pro we are. We weren't, okay, any pet Pete, I don't like literally I appreciate that, Brad. Spiders spiders. I just found out bad service. Okay, really kind of bothers me. Here you at like a restaurant. I don't know what just about a restaurant? Man? Really about you got another one? What? This guy? This guy? I don't I can narrow that down a little bit.

It's really when like you're trying to get service and they're ignoring you, and all they have to do is say I'm sorry, I'll be with you in one second. Then I can wait as long as as you need me to. I hear you. But if you just ignore me, not cool. I got you. You guys, I like everything seem like back you do, like you've been like nothing ever bothers me. There's that guy. Okay, thank god you're in the band. Okay, would you rather be a giant

rodent or a tiny elephant? Definitely giant rodent. It's not three choices. I thought if you could be a giant, or you could be you could be a very large rat or a giant. Yeah, actually, what are we talking like pocket? Let's talk about like a small chirt waball size elephant. Oh yeah, that's pretty cool that you would yeah, I think yeah, And if you would get you would get met with a lot more adoration. People would be fun. Yeah, no one would really shoot at you, I don't think.

But rat comes walking down? Does it just for you? Guys? I thought you would really have a good answer, but a giant wrote it. You could pretty much do anything you wanted because every little regular just say, I'm talking about like a car, small Nissan. Yeah, I mean you'd be hunted. It would be a lonely existence. Yeah, it's true. Yes, you had a tail like a squirrel because the tails that really ruins it because the rats basically rap. But

if it's a cute tail, that's true. But if it's a giant, still a giant pushing tail, well let's talk about We talked about how how small elephant would be, but how she said, how scary scary even if it's a squirrel. Yeah, you know how big a squirrels teeth like like like that long. That's scary. That's okay, Yeah, I think thank you for considering that. Okay. So I like to end all of my episodes with leave your light, Give me some inspiration? Oh what, leave your light? Give

me some inspiration? Like just what's inspired you or what keeps you motivated? Or inspire somebody with your life what you've learned, m M. You know, just don't stop if you love it. We always say, like people always ask us, you know about moving to town and like succeeding. You just have to keep doing it. And if you love it and it's followed in, it's in your heart and it's moving you, and that is what's going to move other people. So don't try to chase what other people

are are doing. If you just stick to your thing, keep doing it, and eventually that is going to be what's attractive to other people. If you want to attract other people, that's what even you know, I'm not talking about like fame or anything, just the right people around you in your life. I think if you just stick to your thing and do it with confidence, you're good. I love that. You guys agree, Yes, I agree? Okay, the goggle of old dominion. Thank you, guys, thank you.

I hope you loved hearing from old dominion. I think I would probably rather be a tiny elephant over a giant rat myself. So now we have Drake White joining us, get excited here he is, Hello, Drake White, what is up? How are you doing today? How are you well, you know CRS Country Radio seminar. Have you done a lot of these? A lot of people don't know what CRS is. Well,

I've done. This is my third one. You know. We we it's cool because like I feel like three you've you've gotten to know a lot of the people and you've seen them and you've had steak dinners with them and you've you know, all that good stuff. So it's it's cool. It's cool to come in and shake some hands. And it's basically like all of radio across the country

comes to one place. Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty unreal because it is at the end of the day, it is a small community and the air waves are are we're a spiritual thing for me growing up, Like listening to the radio was a thing, Like it was constantly Hey turned radio and turn this, you know, and I remember the static. I remember everything about the radio. And so to realize that it's it is this group of people, this almost this family from all over the country and

how small it is is pretty unreal. It is and you're a part of it. Yeah, how did you get started to music? Because you kind of have like a revival, Like your show is almost spiritual love that you are a revival and I feel like your show is an experience. Yeah. When I've seen you play, it's like okay, which wants church? Yeah, and it's that's exactly what it was. I grew up. My grandfather was a preacher um in uh In Alabama and rule Alabama. But he was a cool preacher. Not

not to say that all Alabama's aren't. He just he was just a cool dude and he understood and he helped people like he would you know, he was He was an outdoorsman in a just he loved wildlife and loved to be out on the land and he got people. Man, he would have a beer. He would have a beer and hang out with people, and he got Jesus, he got it, and he got the whole gospel and the

whole music and all that stuff. So I was pretty much raised by him and my mom and dad and and just people that really love music and put it put it around. It was always going my dad's old school record collection with things like Marshall Tucker Band and uh Stevie, Ray Vaughan and Ray Charles and so that's where you got your Yeah, So you grew up and cut your Teeth on the Church and Dad's old record collection. I love that you sh yeah, I we should do it.

That's great, all you, I'll talk about it. Yeah, So how did you become this dynamic performer? And where did that confirms? It just come out of you. I've always I loved Joe Cocker. I loved that video of him at Woodstock when I was young, you know, watching that video and watching him kind of come out of his body, and like I've always that's how we describe you. It comes kind of your body. Yeah. When I quit worrying about what people thought and quit worrying about like what

what how people? You know, I just quit worrying about what people thought and I did what I just I got permission from Like it was just like praying, like thinking about what I was supposed to do and what God put me on this earth to do. And then I started feeling how good it felt to go out there and just be a maniac for an hour and just do exactly what you want to do. And and so I just kept doing it, kept stomping, kept screaming, kept you know, I think that's so interesting how you

said you do what you're supposed to do. Do you know, this is what you're called to do. There has never been a The only more important thing than this is my relationship with my wife and that's that's He's an angel, thank you, thank you, an amazing cook. Let's plug her company. What's Milk and Honey food company? And he makes all this amazing food. And especially for touring musicians, I think, yep, it's slapped your mama good. I mean it's like really good healthy stuff. And I got to I like to

be healthy. I like to stay healthy. And it's eating real stuff that comes from the earth and and she you know, grows it with a lot of farmers that are out there and just north of town. So yeah, it's but back to the music, you know, like I just no every day when I get up in the morning that this is why God put me on this earth, and that's to to to serve through through my music and serve people and help people, you know, maybe realize their dreams. I know this is what I was supposed

to do, and it's in my guts, you know. And speaking of dreams, you have a new single called Living the Dreams. By the way, my husband Michael in a thousand horses and I heard it on the radio and we literally literally pulled over and listened because it was so good. Yeah, it's such a great single and song. And that was a good ease into that. That was very professional. I'm a professional, Thank you, thank God. That

was amazing. But you know, I heard that song and we've got a video out, a little lyric video that's me and me and my wife out on our land and out on our property and really you know, Jared Johnson our friend, and yeah, Cadillact three and uh Tom Douglas who's blowing in and Luke Layard wrote that song. And you know, I'm a song writer. I love writting all the stuff. And so when I got pitched this song, I heard it and I was like, you know what, that's the that's the life men Alex Live. You know,

that's the weekend. I can really I can really bond myself with that and like really really give, give that my my personality and give. And that's a big deal as a songwriter because you write all your stuff pretty much to cut an outside song that but I think that's such an amazing That shows what a confident performing artist you are because you know yourself so well to know that when you hear a song that matches you,

you don't have to write it. Yeah, that that's great that you said that, and I appreciate that, But I think that's that's really true. And the fact that we're in Nashville people, it's the best, it's the best songwriters

in the whole world. So how selfish would I be to the listeners out there if I if I was stubborn and was like, Nah, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna listen to anymore songs I want my songs to be because the truth of the matter is, there's so many great songs crank that a Nashville you know every day that never get heard. So why can't I dig them up and and really put that that proof back in the pud? You know that that good, good soul back in And so that's what I'm gonna do this song.

Tell me what Drake White and the Fire, how would you describe your yourself and your sound with your band? Well, if I've got a I've got a description. It's pretty cool. If Joe Cocker and Janice Joplin hooked up on the Koe River in in Northeast and North Georgia and like gathered around the fire with with uh leve on Hem and the band and just jam for a while. And they had like a prodigal kid that would kind of be me in the big fire I locked. I like soul.

I like to get funky and get down. I like to make people turn off their dad gum phones at a show and really encompass. You know what I compassed when I was fourteen and heard Merl Haggard for the first time had a live show, or when I heard Pearl Jam for the first time, or you know, I want to experience experience. Yeah, you're an experienced performer. It's an experience watching you. Yeah, well, thank you. That's and you wouldn't was Zach Brown. That's awesome experience. How is

that you guys are a perfect match. I feel like we're touring. Yeah awesome. Well it was unbelievable. And I think that if you want to do something, you find somebody that's already doing it and you ask him what the hell they they're doing? Is open to advice? Yes, he's just any He first of all said anyway you can anyway that I can help you. Let me know, and I had rehearse that if he asked me that I'm gonna tell him this. I said, well, I can

tell you what you can do. You can put me on all the dates of the tour next year, give me a little bit longer of a slot, so you like stepped right up, let's stand right up and hit it out of the part. And he respected it. He was like, cool, man, so we're gonna be with him now,

you asked. If you don't ask, how can you ever receive? Yeah, well there's this cool thing, like the big hipster thing, like I'm gonna be cool and just be like wait, and you know, if you wait around, man, I feel like you're gonna be sitting on the porch and like I don't get me wrong, I'm not gonna go up

and be like hey man, appropriately asked, appropriately asked. But I felt like we had created some enough relationship where you know, we've been hunting together and hung out, so I figured why not go out there and ask why not? It's not like you're an annoying person. Worst thing he does say, sorry, man, Yeah, you know what, there's nothing

to lose. Follow your bliss, follow what God puts in your head and like whether it be you know, start your own radio show or start your own whatever, let's do what we want to do and don't be afraid to ask. Okay, So I like to end my segments because I know you're busy with leave your light, give me some inspiration. Cool. I love I love that. That's killer. It's crazy the things that people have said. Yeah, so uplifting,

very cool. There's a lot of chatter out there, there's a lot of things, and we're so connected with social networking. I want to I want to leave a little seed from what people have told me. You know, get quiet, get quiet with God, get quiet and hang out on your own, on your property, whether it be in a room or whatever, and really think about what you want.

Because when you quit thinking about what other people want and you really start thinking about what you want, I really think that you you become a lot to other people, and you become inspirational. And I think art, especially for artists and people. Everybody is an artist in their own right. So quit telling yourself that you you're not creative. You

are creative people. Everybody's creative in their own right. So go out there and just wake up with that attitude of I'm going to change the world today, and you have a choice whether to be positive or negative. Why not? Why not live positive? That Drake White and the Big Fire and his song is called living a Dream Boom Boom Carol, she's a queen of talking. Thank you guys so much for joining me on hyper Caroline Hobby. I hope that you loved hearing from Old Dominion and Drake White.

They're both incredible artists. And next week isn't really exciting. I have my first female joining me, Brooke Eden. She's a song fresh out to country radio called Daddy's Money and she's giving Shania Twain a run for her money in the spandex department. You're not gonna want to miss it. See your next Wednesday. M