Judah & the Lion

Pictures featuring Casey Musgraves. They released their latest album, Pep Talks and Emotional Tour to Force that grapples with personal trauma, anxiety, and the grace and strength that it takes to come out the other side. Their new song Spirit is the Dawn After the Darkness, an uplifting track that seems custom

made for these uncertain times. The band recently released an EP featuring five distinct versions of the song, the original track, a stripped down acoustic rendition, and then three remixes by friend group Twice Young and Lamourne. Each of the visions reveal new facets of a multidimensional track. Today, the band of dropping their all new single Helped Me to Feel Again. I'm so happy to welcome Judah Nate and Brian, who together are known as Judah and the Lion. Yeah, of course,

thanks for having us. Your new EP Spirit features five different versions of your track Spirit. That's such a cool approach, like all these showcasing all these different interpretations. How did that an idea come about? I think it was kind of just a product of the season we were going through. We recorded the original version in July, and it was it was a little bit of this first reunion in the Mystic COVID where we were able to get in

the studio together and write and record. And then soon after that we were all living in different places, Like what I was telling you earlier, I moved to Sweden, Nate's been living in Colorado, So it was kind of this time where we were keeping it in touch over the distance, and I think that kind of birth the idea to bring about the song in different lights remotely as we could, whether through remix or doing like the

acoustic version. And when was that written? Because the message of the song really feels so appropriate to the last year we've had, but it actually predates that, right, Yeah,

we we actually wrote it. Me and Brown would appear in my loft like the previous November to COVID, and I think, you know, for for us our band, I think that with the within the last record and kind of going through transition, we were already kind of I think probably feeling a sense of spirit in like our story and I'm just kind of following suit with like the Pep Talks kind of message of hope and reality

of that. But it was kind of like ironic that you know, we have this pandemic now and then we had the song about you know, not giving up and kind of coming together if you will. So yeah, I get asked a lot like yeah, it's just like bidding for the times, like, wow, we actually wrote it there

less before. It must be so cool for you to hear the EP because all these different versions of song is, four different versions of the song, different remixes by different people, must almost be like hearing it as an outsider for the first time. Which which version was the most surprising for you? It was? It was interesting because you know, usually when we're hearing like remixes on songs or songs that we get back that we've asked for remixes, we're

kind of all together. We're able to listen to it on on the road and kind of pick and shoes you know which one. But it was really interesting with within the email thread, if you will. It was like Brian, Like I remember Brian being super excited about the Lame Lame Moore and um, I think I'm pronouncing that right track and that was like so unique and flavorful and cool.

I was really excited about the Brian White track or the Friend Group track, and um, he's a buddy of ours in town and and then um, Nate was excited about Twice Stone. But yeah, it was just interesting because each one of these had a different flavor and obviously the acoustic being a completely different flavor than those. Um,

it just felt like it's on this email thread. We were just kind of like we like all these tracks and they offer kind of this unique spectrum for the song and the lyrics of the song and the story of the song is still says the same thing that you know. On the twice Young one, it's a little bit not sleepier but like kind of new to year and sleepier and and kind of you know, he's got

a lot of vocal samples kind of happening. And then the lay more and one of what I was really drawn to that one, and I don't want Brian to speak on that one too, but like the drum track with like a little bit more minor fuel was very unique. And then you know, on the Fring Group track, which was Brian White, it's it was just so anthemic to me, like I just I love like the drums and the percussion, um and all of it. So there is what is

up Nate? We are now joined by Nate. How are you? Oh, I'm fine, Sorry to be late, y'all, not a problem

at all now that you're here. I guess just to ask in general, has the last year been a productive time for you all musically, Like have you all been sort of writing on your own and sharing stuff through zoom or Yeah, we've been trying to figure out different ways to definitely, you know, make all that happen still and sending new ideas back and forth, and if anything, we really like we made some acoustic versions and worked on some remixes, and that was, I guess, a simpler

way without having to you know, go through some of more the organic process of building on a new song or a new idea that we definitely prefer to be more in person for did our best, but definitely Stokes kind of be back together now and be able to be face to face and have those connections that you know, we weren't able to have when we were apart from each other. Judy, you mentioned earlier your last album, Pep Talks, which is an album that grappled with all sorts of

just just difficult moments in life. I get the sense that that the song Spirit is almost like like the calm after the storm, the morning after the storm, in

a way, the sort of the vibe I got. Yeah, kind of all the songs that we released with Beautiful Anyway and Spirit, and we have one coming out this week as well, it does kind of feel like kind of a rebuttal to the story of Pep Talks Um and Yeah, of like Spirit especially kind of has the message of hope and clarity and the messiness of all the things that we go through in life and especially this last year. But I guess at the end of the day, it's choosing not to give up and to

push forward. It's fair to say you guys consider yourselves optimists. Yeah, I think so. I think so. I don't know. I think this last year made an optimist out of a lot of us because he's just gotta gotta keep going up. Yeah, two choices, either depression or optimist. I gotta ask. The song was used in the trailer for the new Muddy Duck series Game Changers. That must have been cool, right to see your track with Gordon Bombay. I mean, that's

that's my childhood right there. Yeah, that was big. That was freaking epicy. I think all of us were just a little bit like in shock when we got that link with the email. Yeah, huge, huge money Ducks fan.

I think we all are. But that was, like, like you said, like my childhood, my my main film franchise with sports and Disney and all that that really really loved And I think they placed it really well too, not just because it's our song, but the way that they made it fit and vibe with what's going on, I think was was perfect. And I've been watching the show and I think they crushed it. So it's so cool that we got to be a part of it,

and really really sweet. It's interesting too, if like any any sink that we get, because I remember our first I first sink that we got on our first EP out of college. We were. We had a show in Birmingham and we told like all of our parents and our fans, like, our song is going to be on the show Nashville and it's like just go watch the show and then like all of our parents watch it and you couldn't even hear the song like like it was.

It was like just the instrumental and it was in the background, and like even our moms like, we're like your song, you know, who are paying attention for every sound out? Like so I think getting back to the video of it and seeing Gordon Mumbay and seeing like the kids, it was just like wow, the song actually kind of felt like the vibe of the show and it was really that was awesome. It was it was

Mother's Day recently. I know, Judy, your mom played a big role in your decision to kind of pursue songwriting, right you were playing songs around the house and and she gave you that that push. Tell me a little more about that. You've done your research that go. Yeah. We so we all met the fresh in our band. We we we all met at Belmont. I was a junior and it was a sophomore, and Brian was a freshman.

And at Belmont. I was a music business major on the production side, but essentially, as a student, you have access to all these amazing studios for free because you're you know, you have engineers that are learning to engineer, yet producers that are trying to produce. And I was a songwriter that was trying to learn about the music

business side as well as the production. And honestly, at the time my junior year, I was I was pretty I don't want to say insecure, and then I'm not being self deprecating here, I just I didn't really believe in, I guess my voice yet and I was still kind of coming to and m my mom this summer when I went back home, I was just like playing upstairs, like in my in my room or whatever, like I would do as a kid, and like to sing these songs.

She was like, what do you like? You know, you're at Belmont in two years these studios are gonna be really expensive, so like, why don't you just record an EP? And that's when I met the guys and we we recorded our first EP that that, I guess it was that following they were probably better at the timeline. The following year when we got back after Christmas break Twolve. So yeah, she was definitely that like punch to the gut, like tough love type thing, and I'm really glad that

she she didn't support it and believed in it. This may sound like a corny question, but like was it love at first? Listen? Like, how soon after you guys started playing together, did you know like, oh, this is it? Like these are the guys, this is this is the thing. Yeah. I think the first time that we met and played together felt very natural, and it was it was unusual in a way because we didn't really know each other before that moment. Like the first moment we met, we

had lunch and then just jammed a little bit. But yeah, it felt natural and it felt organic. It definitely felt to me at that moment like there was something special that could happen out of it. The sounds of of you guys, it's I think I think of your album titled Folk Call Unroll, it's like it's so unique. I mean, was that something that evolved organically or did you approach the project initially being like, no, I want to take these folk and bluegrass influences and kind of build on

it and take it to this different place. It almost started. Uh, well, we were at least I was very said on like let's just stay a folk band, let's let's keep doing this thing. And we all have influences from other areas for sure, But it took getting into the studio when we were making kids these days to kind of get pushed by our producer to try some other sounds and incorporate other things in. And the first one was instead of doing an upright basse, using a mog synthesizer to

cover that area. And I think when that got put on there and I remember being reluctant to that, and then hearing it, I was like, this is really cool, Maybe we can. I think that kind of just opened up the floodgates to trying new things and adding electric guitar and basically any other thing that we were excited

about or interested in at least being willing to try it. So, I mean, yeah, our our focus for our primary instruments at least when we started, we're banjo, mandolin, guitar, but really we all are all over the place with what else we write and what we like to listen to and things like that. So it's it's been more fun I think in an honest representation of who we are individually and collectively, to branch out and add those elements

of literally anything else. I guess that has become more of I think our official sound, but then also still holding onto our our roots of banjo and mandolin specifically for each song, and trying to still make those kind of fit into the puzzle of all the different areas that we kind of dabbled it. Now. I was always gonna ask what did you grow up listening to? Did you all grow up listening to that that kind of bluegrass, Oh brother, we're out there top type sound or what? What?

What was were you into? What was the music that first got you into music? For me, I was my parents started the symphony and so I definitely was influenced on that level classically and listening to that a lot. But I think when I first fell in love with music, and for myself, it was like kind of rock punk metal. We're the things like you know, the Green Day, Lincoln Park Link two to Avenge, sevenfold in, Flames and Disturbed and Slip Knot. I think we're some of the ones

that I was really into. I'd stay around middle school when I particularly got excited and more inspired. I used to make my own music. That was what I was definitely listening to. But let's say folk came later. Got into that more around high school with Nicols Creek and uh John Butler, those are probably my big influences there. And then got a banjo as a high school graduation gift because it almost like you'd probably like this, and

I said, sure, somehow that's the one. The one I ended up playing for for all this Bryan tute, it would bet you guys. For me, it was kind of two sides of the coin with with my dad and my mom also being like influences. Like when I was in my dad's car was always kind of you know, run the MC him and um like he's kind of throwing a party and his suburban with like he was like the cool dad, like listening to hip hop. You know.

My mom was more kind of like an R M R Speedwagon top Petty Queen, all the Rick and Backer rock type stuff, Gelton Show, I mean, I kind of like the classic just more kind of eclectic. I guess maybe like John Jett was like one of her favorite artists as well. I think they had kind of attitude and chip on his shoulder, like rock wise that was kind of blowing out of the top when she was

growing up. What kind of my my influences. Yeah, I grew up playing starting on a piano and and then eventually like picking up guitar and playing in more rock bands, like in the middle school talent show, that kind of thing. So I was really big into Ben Folds play, you know, definitely did our Fisher playing Sweet Child of Mine. But then similar to Nate, I got a mandolin as a Christmas gift around the end of my senior year of high school, and and then also meeting Nate really introduced

me even more into bluegrass music. Moving from Chicago to Tennessee was a lot more exposure to bluegrass music, and I think that was around the time that I met the guys, was the peaking my interest in that genre. So I think that was not not a plan for you guys, because the mandolin was a Christmas gift, It wasn't like my main instrument. It definitely played a part in like the beginning of our journey and kind of

going from there. I want to ask you more about your writing process because I think I read that your your song take It All Back came together like in a couple of minutes in a ship. I think, do the best songs come quickly or are they're ones that you really love and feel passionate about that you really lavished a lot of attention on for a long long time, Like we kind of running the game about both of those stories. Like take It Off Back was kind of a moment of time. It was just a quick you

were you were actually rehearsing for the tour. We just started kind of gaming and they had kind of come up with this stage a lot that I think you had light before. For whatever reason that that day it just kind of something kind of struck and we ended up playing that song on the tour because we loved this so rich um, you know, that wasn't out yet, so that that was like kind of a magical moment.

But then like a song like the Student Jacket or a song like over my Head, they were written over the course of like five years, that was kind of like a slower process. And so I think there is definitely a magic in the ones that come quack, but also allowing the ones that need to be slower to come slow. And I think that's kind of the beauty of like I think the beauty of music and writing. It's like there's there's not really one format that is

necessarily correct. Yeah, I was just kind of like kind of following the song where wherever it goes and in a very gify way and saying that you mentioned rehearsing for for touring. Obviously it's been really difficult this last year to tour. I try to pitch in and help in what little way I can. I wanted to ask you, have you ever had any spinal tap moments on the road, Moments on tour where you're just like, this is a disaster.

Were you know, we we were lost on the way to the stage, the bus broke down where you know, we're opening for a puppet Shell. Any any funny moments from the road that you remember. When we were on the tour with Incubus and we had like a one off date that was in New York but the next day was in Portland, I think our flight that morning got canceled from New York, so we had like we had to figure out a way to get to Portland

and play the show that night. And so I think it was you know, like a seventeen hour travel to We ended up planning to Seattle and then driving and we were actually I think fifteen minutes late for our set, but we just we just rolled up and just ran on stage and played like half of the set and then just collapsed after that. I think that was that stands out for me as like one of the longest

days in our touring history. I can't believe you made it. Wow, Yeah, barely made it that that night to tour a slee like we we would start out to set, I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure we started out to set this time with like tea paints, booty work, just as like this survibe that we were kind of coming with and it actually wasn't really coming across very well to like that fan base demographic, but we just kind of like we just stuck with it because we were like, hey, you know,

our our job as a member advantage to the black esser. Hey, it's like the boken opinion and so like. But I remember that day we were also stressed, so tired, and there's two fans in the front row. It was like a bit of a couple and after we did few people work that day they like they're on the barricade on the rail and they like look the other way

on our whole set. I've never seen it before. Like they were just absolutely discussed of coming out and like a little dance jig and then um, you know that was like that was a that was a rough, tough look for us. Yeah about Ben as a fromman going into like plunging someone, it was probably because it's just tire stress and this dude was just disrespect man. Man. We'll stay there. I hope that helps now, aren't you

glad you're home? Exactly? Obviously, this last year has been tough for all of us for so many different reasons. What's been keeping you grounded? Like has there been a silver lining at all for this for you guys, Like what's been sort of like the thing that that has gotten you through the last year? And we've all, I mean, we've obviously all been different places, so we've all been

individually growing a whole lot. I think for us individually, we have found like actually a lot of mental health and space to kind of be ground because I think we've all have discovered just kind of like what you're saying, like, um, for the greater amount of like our first eight years to be and like we were doing around two witter, you know, trying to pick these shows a year, and that I think for me, like we're just realizing, man, that actually was really taking a toll on me and

my soul. And I think this year in a lot of ways has been like really healthy for like our relationships back home, being able to process things a little bit better as they come up, whatever the tragedies or traumas or whatever you wanna call them. Because when you're on the road and you're kind of in the think of the rhythms, you're almost like you're not on an autopilot because each show and everything it's like a new adventure.

Well we all three well performing, But I think for me it's just been nice to be home and to be like rounded in like the family. And also when things come up, we're dealing with past things. I'm able to fully process rather than just going get out my rage like on a you know, on the stage, just deal with whatever is in front of you. On on the tour, I feel like it's whatever is that day's thing you've got to get through, as opposed to, you know,

the bigger things that are inside of us. Is has that come through and what you've you've been writing recently, Like if you noticed a shift in your writing style in the last year. Yeah, sorry, I don't want to. You know, I'm talking several round so my moms like that snow way, UM, I think I think it does. Like I think our band we always try to write something relative to the story that we're living because we want people to get the most optic de vision of

our story. And UM, I think I think that kind of came through on EP talks as far as like just price story, the journey that I was going through with my family. UM. And we're trying to find those patterns within the pretty less for kind of what's coming on, um, you know all the stuff that we've kind of been processing and doing them this time. You know, Briane s been Sweden and it's been win a car coming here.

There's been a lot of growth and there's kind of now that's kind of coming together, um, which has been hard and amazing. UM. So we're kind of looking forward to the new songs kind of coming out that we're picking up and I'm excited. I'm really excited for this song. This week, come out and grow up. Nate and Brian, what what about you, guys? What have you? What's been keeping you? Uh, sort of on an even keel the

last year. Yeah, I was able to. I guess when We've been off the road for most of our career, I've been continuing to move around and keep traveling or trying to find that place that really felt like I could rest and and all that. And I think this break was it really allowed me to have that and find that out in Colorado, close to where I grew up.

And so I've been based out of winter Park up in the mountains and really diving into that community and being present there and uh, yeah, it's it's been an awesome space too. It's the first time I've been somewhere and like didn't want to leave, I think so like to yeah, to continue to want to press in and show up there every day. And I love to ski and snowboard and so it's really easy to do that there and just also really small town vibe, which I'm

into as well. I like kind of running into people constantly and having a small niche community there and so that's been a really really awesome space for me and I think has definitely inspired me creatively as well, and just to take better care of myself too. And so I don't know I'm really thankful for or that's one of the things I'm thankful for in the midst of a hard season, but really getting to plug in and rest out there has been sweet. Well that's a hell

of a silver lining. That's wonderful to hear. Yeah, for me, I've I think in a weird way, I've almost had to let go of the of my version of home because when we were touring constantly, I was I was almost this suspended reality wanting to get back home and like just pining for that moment of being back in Nashville.

But then this year, obviously living in Sweden, I had to, like, you know, we I wasn't traveling at all, which I've probably gotten a little bit too used to that now, never getting on a plane, never getting in a car, um like walking everywhere. But but I think it was

a little bit. One thing that has grounded me and I've learned is like how I'm finding a version of home within my own self instead of in a place in like learning how to be content in that in whatever life throws at me because I definitely did miss Nashville at the beginning of that year, but then by the end I kind of felt a renewed sense of contentment in within myself. So that's a long, long answer to that, but that's kind of what's been keeping me

grounded and what I've been learning that is amazing me. Yeah, be here now, home is wherever you make it. I think that's that's a I think it's a beautiful thing to learn. I think it's a beautiful note to end on. Guys, thank you so much for your time and your music. It was such a pleasure talking you. Thank you. Thanks Jan right back at you. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Inside the Studio, a production of I Heart Radio.

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