Transcription

• Speaker #0

  What does it take to build a decades-long creative career? And how do you focus on the love of your craft when the business portion of the job is getting you down? Today's guest has great tips on how to build a creative career and will teach you why some level of delusion and deep self-belief is necessary to keep you going and to get you where you want to go. Welcome to Unleash Your Inner Creative with Lauren LaGrasso. I'm Lauren LaGrasso. I'm a Webby Award-winning podcast host and producer, singer-songwriter, public speaker, and creative coach. This show is meant to give you tools to love, trust, and know yourself enough to claim your right to creativity and pursue whatever it is that's on your heart. But before we get to the guests, I want to tell you about my latest creative baby, which is my new single, the first time I put out music in three years, my cover of Genie in a Bottle. And it would mean... so much to me if you would go stream it on Spotify, follow me on Spotify, share it with a friend. My goal is to get this song to at least 10,000 listens. So far, I've never had a song get to that level. And so I'm asking for your help. Stream this song. It's so good. It's so different. It's so much fun. If you love the original one, you're going to love this. So help me make my dream come true and DM me and let me know how I can do the same for you. It's small things that make a big difference in people's lives. So I appreciate you streaming the song. You can get it at the link in my bio or in the show notes or by just searching Lauren LaGrasso, genie in a bottle. And with that said, let's get to the guest. Today's guest is David P. Stevens. He's a writer, producer, and top billboard charting artist who's been a prominent figure in contemporary jazz and R&B for many years. With multiple chart-topping hits, including two number two spots. and several others in the top 20, and playing festivals and venues all over the world. His songwriting and production talents have helped many artists, including LaToya London, achieve high Billboard rankings. And David is also my music producer for my new single, Genie in a Bottle. David killed it on the production on this track. He also played almost all the instruments, including the guitar. I did acoustic guitar on this, but he played all the other instruments besides drums. But he's just so wildly talented. And he has had a huge impact on my creative journey. David's encouragement and enthusiasm for my music has been so influential. It's helped me have greater confidence in myself and in my music when I needed it most. Because having somebody who's highly accomplished in the field that you're in or going toward can really make all the difference in how you see yourself. And David has been that for me. So I wanted to have him on the show to share his story, to give you a little behind the scenes of the music industry. and to bring you into what it's been like for us to work together. He's an amazing person and artist. And from today's chat, you'll learn how to keep going toward your dream, even when you want to give up, how to cultivate a healthy level of delusion, what it takes to make a hit song, what David sees as my musical genre, which I found very helpful, and I think you might find interesting, and much more. Okay, now here he is, David P. Stevens. David P. Stevens, I am so excited to be sitting here with you right now. Welcome to Unleash Your Inner Creative.

• Speaker #1

  Thank you. And I'm so glad to be here. Thank you for having me. And like, you're awesome. So this is gonna be fun.

• Speaker #0

  Oh, yeah, we always have so much fun together. So David is my amazing producer that produced my most recent single, Genie in a Bottle, as well as a bunch of upcoming ones that I've been sitting on for like a year, and I'm finally putting out. And And He just transformed the song. Like I came into him with an idea and he took it and like exploded my vision to the nth degree. And it was just so, I mean, you've heard the song, so you know how powerful it is. But so excited to bring you the mastermind behind the song and behind many songs. So thank you for being here.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, no. Awesome. I'm excited.

• Speaker #0

  Me too. So, David, you've been doing this as your career. basically your whole life from the time you were a teenager, right?

• Speaker #1

  Right. Yep. 14.

• Speaker #0

  Oh my gosh. Okay. So will you please take us on your musical journey? I know it's a long one, but like, could you give us the highlights from then to now? Like, how did you get to where you are today?

• Speaker #1

  I'll even go further back. So my dad's a pastor, right? So there were musicians in the church and they used to just practice all the time. And I used to sit there and be like, man, I want to play something. And I remember like one of my earliest memories, my dad had a keyboard in the closet of the church and I just went and dragged it up to the front where the guys were playing. And I started playing along to what they were playing and they couldn't believe it. They were looking at me like, and I couldn't believe it either. I was sitting there like, what's going on? But after that, I fell in love with guitar and then just started playing all over the city. And at the same time, I was learning how to song write and produce and stuff like that. So I would go take all my lunch money. go into the recording studio and I would grab like all my friends who played instruments and stuff and we would just be in there constantly and that was kind of how everything just how it developed.

• Speaker #0

  Wow. So when you first picked up a guitar, did it just feel like home to you? Because I know when I first picked up a guitar, all I could do is play muted strings. It happened for a while until I got myself into lessons. It sounds like you had more of a natural ability like that when you came to this instrument, it just kind of like you took to it. What was that like when you first played it?

• Speaker #1

  So I didn't quite get it at first. And I really thought I was doing something because I could hit the open strings. And then I made like a little ditty out of the open strings.

• Speaker #0

  Hey, that's something.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah. And so like, you know, I was excited about that. But I didn't at first it was hard. You know, it's hard on your hands. It's hard on your fingers. And I had my guitar teacher used to just say, come on, man, you know, be a man. Come on. Stop with all that whining and just practice. But the more I practice, the easier it kind of got for me.

• Speaker #0

  And when you were younger. did you want to primarily be a guitarist or did you always want to do it all?

• Speaker #1

  So that's the thing. And I started, I started both at the same time. So I always wanted to write songs and produce and, um, guitar was like almost something separate. I wasn't necessarily always writing songs on guitar. I was on the piano. I was doing all kinds of things. And the guitar, I wanted to play in all kinds of bands and be on stage and all that kind of stuff. So it was like a, I always had two things.

• Speaker #0

  And so then how did you get from the kid who's like using his lunch money to get all his friends together in the music studio to now you're a multi-billboard charting artist, producer, singer-songwriter, incredible guitarist. Like what was that journey like?

• Speaker #1

  Wow. So it was, man, it's such a long story, but...

• Speaker #0

  I know it's also interesting to me, David, though, because you've done this in so many cities, especially because of your wife's job. You guys have traveled a lot. And so I'm curious, even like taking us through that, like what's it been like to be a musician in all these different cities?

• Speaker #1

  Right. So in college, I went to school. I graduated from UMass. And while I was there, my dream, I really wanted to go to Berkeley College of Music. But, you know, it just kind of didn't work out that way. Ended up going to UMass, was playing in bands and stuff like that all through college. And then when I graduated, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee to play music there. And I had a huge professional gig right out of the blocks, which was really cool. It's playing for Trinity Broadcasting Network.

• Speaker #0

  Wait, it's Trinity Broadcasting Network, like a Christian thing?

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, it was a Christian network. And it's really big. And like, I mean, they had 250 million viewers per night. So yeah, it was crazy. So it was a full out production every night, rehearsals and stuff. And it was just kind of jumping right into that. And then I was also writing and producing demos and stuff like that for artists in Nashville at the time. So that was cool. And then from there... It got expensive and I didn't have enough money. So I fled. It's like, no, I ran. I ran back to Philadelphia to, you know, just kind of get some money together and got married. And then we moved to Detroit and we were there. That's right. Michigan. Yes. So we were there and I was doing music there and then back to Philly and then eventually L.A.

• Speaker #0

  What of all the cities, where has been your favorite one to create music so far and why?

• Speaker #1

  I'll say Philly was number one because it's really what kind of honed, you know, everything. That's where I honed my skills and all that. But to me, L.A. has been amazing. Just the musicianship. There's so many musicians here, so many opportunities, plus the sunshine and all that kind of stuff. So it's been great for me here. And then I would have never met you, which is the awesome thing.

• Speaker #0

  I know. That's the reason why you like L.A.

• Speaker #1

  Exactly.

• Speaker #0

  I had a feeling you would say Philly because I feel... similarly to Detroit, because there's something really special about creating in the place that raised you, where people love you for who you are, not necessarily what you can do for them, which can be a thing out here, as we know. The songs flow out of me more when I'm in Detroit. I don't know if it's the land. I don't know if it's like because I feel safe because I'm around my family. But tell me what you think the benefit was of building like a large portion of your career. in the same city that raised you?

• Speaker #1

  Well, I think from a business standpoint, you know, it was good to start with a base, you know, and I think when artists first come out, they try to go for this, the global thing, but you have to start somewhere first. And I was able to cut my teeth there, you know, just small clubs and, you know, it kind of started off small and then just built out from Philadelphia. So that was good. The rich musician culture that they had there, I mean, and the older musicians really pushed us and really, you know. gathered around us.

• Speaker #0

  I want to go in two different directions right now. So I'm like battling myself in my head. I guess we'll start out here because you just mentioned the older musicians who pushed you. And I'm sure there's some of those people that are probably like some of the best musicians you've ever worked with even to this day. Yeah. And I think about that when I'm like home or even thinking of people I went to theater school with, like some of the most talented people in the world aren't the people that we all know. Why? Like, what is that, David?

• Speaker #1

  My theory is that there are two different kinds of people. There are people who do it for the love and the art of it. And then there are people who are just relentless when it comes to the business side of it and the marketing side of it. And I'm that guy. So I was in a band. The band was incredible. And one of the things that broke the band up was that I was constantly pushing for us. We need to be opening it for this one. We need to be. marketing, we need to be doing all the social media and stuff like that. And they were like, and this is when social media was just getting big. And they were like, can we just play music? And I was like, I don't want to just play music. So, you know, I think that's what happens. There are a lot of people who are business minded and marketing minded. And then there are those who art for art's sake, which is not bad. That's actually amazing.

• Speaker #0

  I think you can be both though. And that's how you strike me as you strike me as a very ambitious person who is also through and through an artist. Like, I think it's It's possible to hold both points of view.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, definitely.

• Speaker #0

  I mean, if you want it to be your primary thing, like ultimately sometimes you're going to have to choose the businessy part. But if the art and the love isn't there, like what's the point? Like you might as well just have an office job because it would be easier.

• Speaker #1

  Exactly. So, yeah, that's right. A hundred percent. And so I spent many, many years developing the art side of it. Because like you said, obviously you have to have something to market. So I used to. spend so much time around older engineers, older producers, asking questions, people doing stuff for free for years just so that I could learn. And then I also fell in love with the business side of it because I started to see how much it doesn't make sense for me to love it and work hard on it and not be able to get it out there.

• Speaker #0

  I am now in this point where I'm like, I love these songs I've made. I think they're so great. And I really want more people to hear them. And I feel like I'm in a conundrum right now because I just don't get how to make that happen. Like you are someone who has really found a way. You're an independent artist, right?

• Speaker #1

  Right. Yes.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah. As an independent artist to make this your business and to really grow and like have your songs on the Billboard charts. What would be your advice to me or somebody like me who hasn't found a way to make their music breakthrough yet on how to start to think? from more of a business perspective than just doing the work?

• Speaker #1

  Because now things are so different. You know, before the model was, you know, you get out and perform in front of people, you get email addresses, you send them out, you know, and then when you drop music, you contact them. It's a lot different now. Now people really consume music based on what they see on social media. And they want to see content now. And they want to see interaction and engagement when it comes to your social media and stuff like that. So. People kind of buy music and buy other things from the person. Like they want to know you and they're invested in you. And then if they like you, then okay, then they'll go and check out your stuff. So I would say that's one thing that's changed and that's important.

• Speaker #0

  So you would say invest into social media and let people get to know you and get to know your music through the relationship with you.

• Speaker #1

  Absolutely. The way the music is set up now is almost like the music is a marketing tool for you. And which is just completely different. And when you like I'm a shy person. Right. So believe it or not, but I really am. And so like all of this getting online and oh, buy my records and hey guys and trying to come up with content and all that stuff is actually completely opposite for me.

• Speaker #0

  So what's your advice for other shy people out there who are like, well, you know, I have this work. I believe in it. I love it. I want it to reach people, but I don't feel comfortable. stepping in front of the camera and being like, hey guys, here's my new song. Here's my new artwork. How did you overcome your shyness or your hesitancy to step out there in that way and get your work seen?

• Speaker #1

  So I don't know if I've overcome it because I'm still completely shy when it comes to that stuff, but I forced myself to do it because I realized that if I want this stuff to get heard or if I want everybody to embrace it, then I just had to do it. It's kind of the, you know, the beast that you have to conquer. But I still have to talk myself into releasing everything that I do.

• Speaker #0

  So tell me about what a conversation with David trying to talk himself into releasing a song is like. Like, take us through it, because I think so many people out there are like this. I was like this before I released this song. What got me to finally release it, David, I don't know if you saw this, I did an episode about it, was I was producing someone else's podcast. And the guest came on the show and said. What would you have to do such that if you were to die tomorrow, you would live a life that was dignified? And the first thing that came to me was, wow. If I died tomorrow and I didn't get to enjoy these songs being out in the world while I was alive, like even if my parents like posthumously put it down and somehow from wherever I was from the great beyond, I was like able to experience it. I would be so sad that I didn't get to experience these songs being put out while I'm in this body, while I'm amongst the people on earth. And so that's what finally got me to do it. Because I'm like, I also can't tell people every week to unleash their inner creative. I don't know. I'm not doing it. What is that with you? Like when you are trying to convince yourself, put out this song and you're like, I don't want to, what's the conversation like internally?

• Speaker #1

  The conversation is always, nobody will hear this and nobody. And if you want to move further, how are you going to move further? If you can't ever just complete these steps. And I remember one of my best friend years ago, he connected me with this like mega producer and, you know, he made the call and he was like, you know, the guy wants to hear from you and all that. I didn't follow up on it. This was years and years ago. And one day I was complaining to him and I was saying, you know, man, my stuff is still not getting out there. I'm doing it. And he said, you know, I gave you an opportunity one time and you didn't follow up. And he said, you need to ask yourself always, am I doing the best that I can possibly do? And so when I get into those modes where I'm like, oh, I don't know if I want to do it. I don't know that voice in the back of my head. Are you doing the best that you could possibly do?

• Speaker #0

  That's beautiful. Yeah, that's the thing I. have been thinking about a lot. It's like, I can't control how other people react to what I do, but I cannot say no to myself.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah. Got to bet on me.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, exactly. Like you shouldn't be the one saying no to you. You shouldn't be the one that's gatekeeping your own work. There's going to be plenty of people who want to do it. Don't worry. You'll get the opportunity, but like you shouldn't be the one closing the door on yourself.

• Speaker #1

  Absolutely.

• Speaker #0

  So tell me, David, because I know like we've both experienced our fair share of show business trauma. How do you keep going when the business side of things breaks your heart? Like, how do you keep reengaging the love for music when the business can feel so challenging?

• Speaker #1

  That is difficult because I'm probably in that season right now where I've done so much, built so much, and then still feels like I'm still trying to. convince people to listen or still trying to convince promoters to let me perform and, you know, certain things and all that. But the way I keep going is like, I know that I have something that's worth it. I know I have something that's valuable. I know I have something that I worked on and built and that people actually love, you know? And so I get excited about that. And sometimes I have to just lick my wounds for the night. And then when I wake up in the morning, it's a new day and I'm like, all right, let's go. I can't stay there. I have to keep on going. And I have to do the best that I can possibly do.

• Speaker #0

  That's such good advice, though, because I think something I have realized about my past disappointments or like even things that I thought of as failures, like they weren't really failures. I just had such a low tolerance for disappointment that I thought I failed. And if I had actually let myself like feel the disappointment, like you're saying, like you lick your wounds and then the next day you keep going. If I'd actually let myself feel into it and be like, you know what, this really sucks. I'm going to let myself fully feel it and tomorrow I'm going to keep going into it. I think I would have had different outcomes in the past. And I think that feeling part of it, not trying to deny that it sucks, I think is a part that actually lets you, as long as you don't stay in that mentality, it lets you move on.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, it does. And I think as artists, we have to be delusional too. Oh, yeah. You know, because I have to say, I don't care. It didn't work yesterday. It was going to work tomorrow or it's going to work. And maybe if I just did this one thing and I believe I was telling my son this the other day, I believe everything I do is about to be the biggest thing in the world, the biggest thing to ever just manifest. Like it's just and that's really and I really do believe it at my core. Like, OK, I dropped this. This is about to be groundbreaking. You know, I'm going to win a Grammy. And in my mind and in my heart, I really believe it. And so, you know, I just keep pushing for that. And so when it doesn't happen, I think I crash a little harder than most people because, you know, my delusion is like humongous.

• Speaker #0

  I don't think it's delusion. I feel like everybody who's ever done anything great has been a good amount of delusional. Like, I think we need that because it is delusional to think that we could do this. Like, it's crazy. Like, this is a crazy endeavor. Like, it's so painful sometimes. It's such a long journey and it just keeps. going. But you have to somewhere in you believe that you could be the best thing ever to keep on this path and know that if you're still on it, you are. It's just everybody else doesn't know it yet.

• Speaker #1

  But sometimes it can feel like, I don't know, did you ever watch the show Lost? That was like one of my favorite shows. But it feels like the guy who just had to keep pressing a button every day. Like he was in the Dharma.

• Speaker #0

  Initiative.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, yeah. And he had to keep pressing, that was his job every day to press the buttons. And that's how it feels sometimes. Like, oh my gosh, this is going nowhere. But I'm still believing that, you know, I have a purpose and it's going to be big.

• Speaker #0

  So I know you're a deeply spiritual person and I am too. because that pressing the button thing kind of reminds me, like the other day I was thinking like, God, like literally God, like talking to God. What is the point of all of this? Like we get dressed every day and we just have to feed ourselves every day and then wash our face and brush our, like it's the same pattern. There has to be some sort of spiritual purpose to it. What do you think it could be? Like when you are in those moments where you're like, am I getting anywhere? Am I doing the right thing? Like when you're literally having a conversation with God. Hmm. What do you hear back? Like, what do you think the purpose is in a longer journey or even like in these repetitive moments?

• Speaker #1

  I think the bigger picture is for me, one, just on the surface level, I want to be able to leave a legacy financially for my family. I want to be able to say to them, hey, you know, I went after a dream and I made the money that took care of you guys through this dream. You know, so that's one thing. But then also. I want to leave behind music that's going to touch people. Yeah. I want to write songs and melodies and things like that, that from years and years to come, people will still be like, oh, wow. Every time they hear it, they feel something or they, you know, their lives are changed by something that was said.

• Speaker #0

  I love your song. I need you. I sing it all the time. I need you. Oh, wow. I need you up close. Wow.

• Speaker #1

  Yes. That was my, yes. Still one of my favorites too.

• Speaker #0

  It's so good. So good. You have to check out all of David's music, you beautiful cutie listening. It is so good. It's so diverse, but it's all still in the same world. Because you play in a lot of different genres. Will you talk about that? How do you make sure it's always your unique point of view and it has your signature sound on it, even when you're in different genres?

• Speaker #1

  I struggle with, do I want people to say, oh, that came from David P. Stevens? Or do I want to be the kind of producer There's like, you know, you can't tell who did that song. You just know it sounds authentic. And I think that's where I want to be more so. So just to give some background on that, my musical taste was weird when I was growing up. I mean, and I would get into the records. So like for a long time, I was like into the Beatles. Everything that I could get my hands on, I was just in the headphones. Like, so then it was that and then it was the Motown music and then Michael Jackson and then Stevie Wonder. Just every single thing that I could get. And it's like my brain was recording all those things. So when people come in to record a project, I'm able to pull from that library. And so, yeah, I was weird. I was into doo-wop music and all kind of stuff. I'm like hip-hop at the same time. It was crazy.

• Speaker #0

  Well, I feel like that shows because you do seamlessly jump from genre to genre. And it's intuitive for you. Can we talk about your recent single, Go?

• Speaker #1

  Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  You're singing on it. And I hadn't heard you sing that much. Like, I know you've been doing it your whole life. And especially in the past couple years, been putting out more videos of you singing. But tell me about putting your voice at the forefront. What has that been like? And why did you want to start going more in this direction?

• Speaker #1

  So me doing that is actually a little scary, because I could always hide behind the guitar. That was my thing. You know, I'm a guitar player. First, I might sing a little bit. But um, I was working with a few people who have recently just been like, man, no, you really need to push your stuff out there. One friend in particular, we did a tour in Germany together and it was my stuff and it was for a whole month and I was performing and performing and he finally said, man, I'm tired of this. I know you can sing and I want you to get out there and like really sing. And I was like, okay. So I did it a few times and then I was like, and then the crowd really responded. So I was like, hmm, y'all like this. Okay, well, let me do another one. So that's kind of how that went.

• Speaker #0

  And why did you want to put out this single Go? And what's it about?

• Speaker #1

  I wanted to start highlighting my voice and start doing it. And I love R&B. So I feel like that's where my voice, you know, as an artist kind of matches the most. So I started working on this song. I loved it. And then I performed it in front of people. And they were like, man, we love this song. So I said, OK, cool. But now Go is just really an extension of my personality. You have to get up and go. Can't just sit there. I got to go.

• Speaker #0

  And you also made a film. to go along with it was a short film that also serves as a music video so Another cool thing about you that people should know is you're an actor. Like you were in a commercial for M&M's at the Super Bowl two years ago. It's like you just like you're like, yeah, I've started acting. I'm like, oh, so. So tell me about this film and why you wanted to do it.

• Speaker #1

  So I always wanted to write a film, you know, write and produce a film and direct and all that kind of stuff. And I also wanted to be my own. I always wanted to be an action hero. So like, you know, 007. Denzel Washington is like a hero for me. So I said, well, what better way to do it? I have to do a music video anyway, so I might as well just do what I want to do. And I hired a cinematographer, some actors, and we shot it. First time.

• Speaker #0

  And did you say you directed it too?

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, I directed it. And then the cinematographer helped me with certain things, but for the most part, I was directing everybody.

• Speaker #0

  So you're just doing so many new creative things, and I love that you're a person who's always... Not really even reinventing themselves, but just like you follow your curiosity and what lights you up.

• Speaker #1

  Right.

• Speaker #0

  What's your advice to someone out there who's listening, who there's things they want to try? Maybe they want to try singing. They want to try directing. They want to try acting. But they're scared to do it. What's your advice to somebody who wants to try something creatively new?

• Speaker #1

  I always say this. You have to try it and then see what you can always get information from when you do one. You just got to do one. Like I did stand up comedy once and I was like petrified, but people laughed. So I was like, well, actually, maybe I could try this again. But if they had just sat there, that's information, too. Then I would know, hey, you're not funny. So don't do that anymore. But so I think you have to do one. You got to just get out there and try it and do it scared because a lot of people I'm scared. I can't do it. I think it's better to do it scared than not do it at all. And I don't mean to just keep on talking in cliches and stuff like that. But that's what I actually believe, you know.

• Speaker #0

  That's good. I mean, I think the thing I always try to give my listeners is tools to take fear out of the driver's seat because fear is probably going to be there most of the time. As long as it's not making your decisions for you, it's fine. So how do you, when fear tries to like get into the driver's seat, put it shotgun or in the back seat?

• Speaker #1

  So sometimes by putting it out there. So say, for example, um, I'm on a swim team, which is another thing, right? Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  Oh my gosh, that's so fun.

• Speaker #1

  It's crazy.

• Speaker #0

  True stroke. I used to be a swimmer.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, so I'm freestyle all day. I don't do the other ones well. So I just decided to really hone it. But with that, I decided like, because I needed some competition in my life and I needed some exercise that I could do. So I've been training. I've been doing this since January, like three days a week, hardcore. And recently I was like, I really want to compete. But I had to make myself do it by telling the coach, hey, I'm going to compete. And so now he's on my tail. To answer the question, putting it out there makes me accountable. It makes me have to do it. So that was a long roundabout answer. But yeah. No,

• Speaker #0

  no, it wasn't. Also, I'm like, I'm fascinated by the swimming thing. But I feel like.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, no, we can talk swimming.

• Speaker #0

  No, I used to be a swimmer. Freestyle was my stroke, too. I used to do the 100 freestyle. That was my event. Dope. So fun. When I was a kid. I stopped doing it because I didn't want to be underwater four hours a day anymore. Yeah. It was fun while it lasted.

• Speaker #1

  I feel you. I did it in high school for four years, but I was never good, though. Like, I never really won stuff and all that.

• Speaker #0

  You're going to win.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, now. Heck yeah.

• Speaker #0

  I feel it. Oh, yeah. I feel the championship coming.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I got it, you know.

• Speaker #0

  Getting back to your music, I'm curious because I am not, I mean, I compose my singer-songwriter songs, but I don't compose like... just like musical tracks. You write both songs with words and melodies and songs that are just instrumental tracks. Is there a difference in how you approach writing a purely instrumental track versus a song that has words and singing on it?

• Speaker #1

  No, because I try to make the guitar do what a voice would do. That's always my thought when I'm recording upfront stuff. I think the only difference is the genre. So smooth jazz or contemporary jazz or whatever. You have to kind of play to whatever the audience likes. But for the most part, I try to make sure my voice matches the guitar.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, that's so cool. I remember when I used to play with a guitarist, I'd always sing his solos back to him. And he was like, how do you do that?

• Speaker #1

  It's cool. That's awesome.

• Speaker #0

  How did you think of the solo on Genie in a Bottle? Because it is so epic. When you go in and you're just shredding. Did you do that just on your first take? Did you write it in your head? Were you improvising? How did you do that?

• Speaker #1

  No, I think I was just feeling it. That might have been like three takes because I was feeling it. And the first one was super wild. And then I was like, let me pull back a little bit because I was really like going crazy. And then the second one was kind of like, ah. And the third one, I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I feel that.

• Speaker #0

  It's so good.

• Speaker #1

  Thank you.

• Speaker #0

  What else did you play on the song? Did you play keys too?

• Speaker #1

  Yes, I played keys. I played bass. I played everything except drums.

• Speaker #0

  What was our drummer's name? Let's give him a shot.

• Speaker #1

  Joel Tate. Yep, he's on Instagram. It's Obadiah Tate.

• Speaker #0

  Hey, Joel. Thank you for drumming. I do have like one more question about the production of Genie in a Bottle. I came to you and I played it on my acoustic guitar. And then I did give you a reference track. But like you took it and made it into this incredible thing that I never could have envisioned. How did that happen? Were you like channeling? Like, how does that happen?

• Speaker #1

  Like something magical happens. I don't know. But, you know, I heard it and then I said, wow, this would sound great this way. And then all of a sudden everything came to mind. The strings, the choiretic stuff that you did at the end. Like all of a sudden I could hear the whole song. I don't know what that is, but it's really cool when it happens.

• Speaker #0

  Called talent. You can't teach it. You can't teach it, unfortunately. So you just literally heard the song. You heard the production in your head, and then you took it out of your head and made it in the computer.

• Speaker #1

  Right. Yeah, it's crazy.

• Speaker #0

  You heard it here first, folks. That's how it happens. We'll play Genie for you at the end of this so you can hear a little bit of what we're talking about and then go stream it.

• Speaker #1

  Be prepared to be blown away, y'all.

• Speaker #0

  That's right. So, okay, let's go into this. For those that don't know, because I'm not sure if I've had a music producer on this show, which is so funny, or at least not somebody who's like, that's one of their primary things. What? is a music producer?

• Speaker #1

  Okay, if you took music away from it completely, a producer really is a project manager. So a person comes to you and they says, this is the kind of song that I want to do. And that person carries you from the concept all the way to the end of the project, you know, once it's mixed and mastered and all that kind of stuff. So that's what a producer does. I add a different element because I do all of the production. So I don't really have to outsource as much. But then there are times like with Joel. When I say, you know, I need drums on this or I need, you know. And I also think that not everybody is a project manager because production is an art. So everybody thinks they can self-produce, but it's more to it than that.

• Speaker #0

  I know. I wish I could self-produce.

• Speaker #1

  No, I mean, look, and first of all, your music is amazing, by the way. So all the stuff that we've done, I've been like, yo, and you give me a chance to like break into like areas of music that I always wanted to do. And I just don't get a chance to do so.

• Speaker #0

  Well, tell me about that, because I remember you said like when I brought the song that we're going to put out, I don't know if it will be my next one or the one after, but Secrecy. When I brought you that song, you're like, oh, Lauren, I never get to do this kind of stuff. So tell me about that. Like, is it like rock stuff you don't feel like you get to do enough of?

• Speaker #1

  Yes, I don't get the chance to do a lot of rock with that one. Remember, I said I have this like this storage locker of like all these different genres and stuff. So like the Beatles. like came to mind when you started singing that song. And I was just like, yeah, and I don't get a chance to do any Beatles stuff. So I was like, let's go like this is gonna be awesome.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, that meant so much to me. Because you know, I struggle sometimes because I came to music later in life. I was in my early 20s. I was 23 when I wrote my first song. So sometimes I can struggle with feeling like an imposter. Like I don't really belong here. And like, I just want you to know this you being such an accomplished musician and such like an artists through and through saying that to me gave me so much confidence and belief in myself and made me feel like, okay. yeah, this is real. Like you do this. Cause I wrote that song by myself. I didn't even have a co-writer on it. And like the fact that you loved it so much gave me so much confidence and strength. And like you were the wind beneath my wing. Oh,

• Speaker #1

  wow. Thank you. And you know, it's so crazy. So I felt that way. And then I sent it to Joel and he called me instantly and said, I'm about to kill this. He was like, Dave, I hope you're ready. And he did. So, yeah, I mean, the song is just beautiful. I love it.

• Speaker #0

  Oh, thank you.

• Speaker #1

  I have a question for you.

• Speaker #0

  Oh, yes, please turn the tables. This will be coming out sometime in 2025. So keep your ears peeled. Follow me on Spotify.

• Speaker #1

  Absolutely. Yes. Follow her. So so how did you because it's a very vulnerable song. So when you perform that live, you know, how do you feel like performing? How did you feel recording that? All of that?

• Speaker #0

  It's definitely the most vulnerable song I've ever written and will ever put out. I'm sweating a little bit, David, I'll be honest. Like I wrote that song like five years ago. So I've sat on it for quite a while because I had to get comfortable with it being out in the world. But I also feel like people will relate to it. So I looked up the word secret because the song's called Secrecy. And the Latin origin of secret is to be separate from. And so I look at it like when we have secrets, we're separating from ourselves. And so I am looking to, through my work and my, you know, artistic work and through my work on myself to become as close to an integrated person as I can. So I look at putting out this song as a step in that direction. But I will tell you, it was even more vulnerable before I brought it to you. I had to rewrite some of the lyrics because I'm like, you know what? I don't need to be that honest.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, wow. Okay.

• Speaker #0

  You know, once you listening, you know, hear the song, you're going to be like, whoa, what did she have in there? But there are some things I'm like, you know what? You can just keep that for yourself and your therapist and your boyfriend and everybody else can live with the things you are comfortable with revealing. Like, I think you have to be able to like not have a vulnerability hangover when you put a song out, if possible.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  That was my process. And it made me feel good that like you liked it so much and you weren't like, wow, you must be screwed up. Like when you were like, no, this song is great. I'm like, OK, cool. So he relates to it. And like everyone I've played that for has been like. whoa, you really went there. So, but in a good way, not in a judgmental way. I do sweat every time I play it and I feel like, oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm saying this, but also I'm so happy I'm saying it.

• Speaker #1

  But I think that's the beauty of art too. And I think even though you're sweating, somebody else is either relating to it or they're just like, yo, that's so dope. I wouldn't have thought to say that. Or, you know, most of the time, you know, have people sitting there like, why would you say that? Or, you know, something like that. So yeah, it's really, it's cool.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah. Actually, I want to ask you this. What do you think my genre is? Because I feel like I don't know.

• Speaker #1

  I definitely think singer-songwriter. There's some folk there and then there's some rock. I feel like 2024, we're kind of moving away from just the genre. You know, I feel like we're kind of getting out the box a lot. So you could be a couple of things. You know, you could be folk and then turn around, put out an amazing heavy metal song and then put out a gospel song or, you know, whatever. It's whatever you want to do.

• Speaker #0

  That's what I've always wanted. But when people ask me, so what kind of music do you make? I'm like a deer in a headlights. Again, I'm sweating. Like, I don't know what to say. When people ask you that, David, what do you say?

• Speaker #1

  So I always say as an artist, jazz artist, and then, you know, R&B. So maybe jazz and R&B, but there's so much more, you know? And I think like, I don't want to get pigeonholed either, because like, I have a Latin song that I've been working on with somebody. And, you know, then I had the gospel song that I did. And so I just, I don't want to get. pin down the one thing.

• Speaker #0

  So how should I answer when someone asks me that?

• Speaker #1

  That's again, what we talked about, about like how social media you buy from the person.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah.

• Speaker #1

  Guys, you know me, you love me. Check out this song that I did. And it doesn't necessarily have to be, I don't know, but we do have to find a box. So we'll get the box. Yeah,

• Speaker #0

  I know. I've never been good at this. Folk rock. Folk rock? Yeah. Okay.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  Folk rock, baby. Read them and weep. There you go. I've been telling people that my genre is healing family trauma, self-development work, and finding a way to accept yourself.

• Speaker #1

  Okay, okay. But you can do all those things. Look, James Taylor, he did all those kinds of things. And yeah, Carole King. But see, that's going back, back. But I'm saying you could be the 2024 version of that.

• Speaker #0

  That is so kind. You know what my dad said to me before I ever wrote a song? He's like, Lauren, you're a Carole King type. But I'd never even written a song. And I'm like, wow, did he know before I knew?

• Speaker #1

  That's awesome.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah. Speaking of family. I'm obsessed with your relationship with your wife. I think you're such a power couple and you inspire me so much. And I know you've both been so supportive of each other because you both have big careers. She's a tenured professor?

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, she's a tenured professor at USC.

• Speaker #0

  How has your relationship inspired you throughout your creative career and also been a foundation for you to keep going? And how do you support each other?

• Speaker #1

  We started out, we were kids when we got together. We were literally teenagers. I got a chance to see her build from nothing into like what she's doing now, which is absolutely incredible. And same thing for me. She's she's been able to see me from the beginning stages. And so we just have always pushed each other. I think that's a blessing because a lot of musicians that I know, their wives hate the fact that they play music, you know. But she's also so the cool thing about her, she's an introvert. And so she's ready for me to go at like six or seven o'clock every day. She's just like my. my battery's dying, I'm going upstairs. So that's perfect for me. But no, so we just push each other and support each other. And you know, we both want to see each other win. So it's just like always, and I'll sit back so she can grow. And sometimes, you know, she'll sit back so I can grow.

• Speaker #0

  I guess I want to ask your advice, like as somebody who is also in a couple where we really support each other, but like, on how to know when it's time to like step forward or sit back. Is that something you consciously talk about with each other? Is that something that it's kind of more of an intuitive thing? Like, how do you know when there needs to be that give and take?

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, I think it's intuitive. Like, you can kind of see when the wave is coming. And it's like, okay, she's about to be busy for the next three or four months. And that's when I activate. And I'm like, well, now I'm taking her responsibilities. Or, you know, at home, because we have three kids. So now I'm driving them around and I'm cooking and I'm doing all those kinds of things while she's going for those three months. And I don't complain. because I know when my three moms come,

• Speaker #0

  she's going to be doing the same.

• Speaker #1

  Exactly.

• Speaker #0

  That's so cool. You're true partners. And you know, it's interesting. I was just talking to actually my third cousin, funnily enough, but my third cousin yesterday, and he was telling me, you know, he started this podcast and he's been going after his dreams and his girlfriend didn't support him. So they ended up breaking up. And I just wonder. as somebody who has had that support, but you said you've seen a lot of people whose partners have not supported them throughout the years. If somebody is in a situation like that right now, I mean, I have my own opinions, but like, what would you say to them if they're with a partner or a spouse who is not supporting their dream?

• Speaker #1

  It's going to be really difficult because it takes that, like, you have to have that support in order to, especially if you're in the arts, you're always working. Work is always on your mind. People are always contacting you. You know, your phone stays busy. And your spouse has to be able to understand, like, this is the life that he or she is leading. And for example, I did this movie. And when I was writing it, I was writing it so that I wouldn't have that the leading lady, I wouldn't really interact with her that much because I didn't want to be disrespectful. I didn't want my wife to be hurt by that. And so when she read the script, she said, why are you not interacting with the artist? Why are you not? And I was like, well, I don't want to, you know, she was like, are you an actor? So act like I'm not worried about you. I've been with you for 30 years, like whatever. So I was like, OK. All right, cool.

• Speaker #0

  I'm obsessed with your wife.

• Speaker #1

  If it was another way, it would have been impossible for me to be able to do that and to pull that off.

• Speaker #0

  That is so sweet. My boyfriend's an actor. And I was like, if you ever have a kissing scene, I just want you to know I will write a music video where I have a kissing scene. So it's fair.

• Speaker #1

  Listen, and I know it's coming, too, because I'm doing this acting. The kissing scene is coming. She knows it. I told her. I said, I'm kissing. And she was like, I want you to kiss. Just bring home the money.

• Speaker #0

  That is amazing. I need to get on her level. She's very mature. So any advice for me? I'm putting out this song, David, that we worked on. It's our little baby. You slayed the production beyond. How do you see this song existing out in the world? And do you have any advice for me, since you've been putting out so much music over the past several years slash lifetime, on what to do to make this song a success, to get it hopefully hundreds of thousands of listens?

• Speaker #1

  One thing is trying to go for some sync opportunities. I think this is totally, you know, a movie score type of vibe. You know, even commercials and stuff, but more so like a movie. There's all these Hulu movies and Netflix movies and all these different things. I think the song needs to be in all of those. And then as far as the artists, I think you need to do some ads, letting people know that it's out, kind of just drawing people to you. And really. This is like the technical stuff, but really study your analytics. See who is listening to it, who is not, where they're listening, and are they women, men, all that kind of stuff, knowing your demographics, all those kinds of things. I think paying attention to analytics is important.

• Speaker #0

  For anyone who might not know, sync is like getting it on films, TV, that kind of thing. Right. When you're releasing a song, so for instance, you just put out Go, how do you keep your people in mind? Like the people that you know have been your supporters that love your music. Like how do you make sure to reach them?

• Speaker #1

  It's really hard too because sometimes fans can get a little bit lazy. It's like, okay, I'll get to it. I'll listen to it. So- I do like Facebook ads. I do YouTube ads, all that kind of stuff. Like I pay for it. So it continues to pop up on feeds because the more people see it, then they're like, I guess I'll go ahead and click on this. And then they do it. They're like, oh man, that's amazing. But it's like a, you had to constantly advertise.

• Speaker #0

  You know, I'm always saying it's easier to support other people's dreams. than most people think. Like something simple, like following you on Spotify can make a huge difference. Adding your songs can make a huge difference. It costs you nothing to do that. It takes less than five minutes of your life and it could change our lives. So could you give my sweet listeners a call to action on what they can do to support you right now in your creative endeavors?

• Speaker #1

  So for me, definitely just going and streaming the music and telling other people about it. For me, building my fan base is important. So not just clicking on it because it's like, oh, OK, he's a nice guy. I want to hear. But I want I want actual fans out of this. You know, I want actual people that, you know, when I come to your city, I can shake your hand and give you a hug and say, OK, and, you know, you like my stuff. And, you know, so I think following and streaming the music, telling other people about it. And those are the two biggest things right now.

• Speaker #0

  And earlier you talked about legacy. What? What do you want your creative legacy to be? Like when people think of David P. Stevens in the future, what do you want them to say about you as an artist?

• Speaker #1

  So I think I want them to say that my music was creative, that it was thoughtful. And when I say creative, like I didn't just do the standard thing. Or even when I did the standard thing, I was able to put some stuff in there that made you go, wow, I would have never thought to do that, you know? And then also, lyrically, I want... people to say, wow, he said what was on my heart. You know, he said what I was thinking and gave me an opportunity to express it.

• Speaker #0

  I love that. What is like a delusion you have right now about your career that you know will become a reality?

• Speaker #1

  So one is that my song Go is going to just go through the roof. It's already getting a great response. But then also, I am believing that I'm going to get the opportunity to write some really big hits for some artists. Shoot, I had one opportunity already to write for Lauren. So like, what the frick?

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, but some like Grammy Award winning, currently mainstream. I will be soon. So, you know, you've already got that going for you. Yeah. But like Grammy Award winning, mainstream, big people. Like I so see that for you.

• Speaker #1

  Thank you. That's what I'm believing. That's my delusional. That's my thing that keeps me getting up every morning and shaking it off.

• Speaker #0

  So I'm resonating on that with you. You listening, please resonate on that with David and me. And also, I want to say to you listening, be delusional about your dreams. It's the only way they're going to happen. And maybe it's not so delusional. Like my friend Jordan always used to say to me when we were playing music, Lauren, we're famous. Everybody else just doesn't know it yet. And maybe that's true. Like maybe the reason the desire is in your heart is because somewhere it's already happened and it's just up to you to claim it. So David, I truly appreciate that. you've brought that vision forward for yourself, that I can resonate on it for you and now like claim it for myself and for the beautiful people listening to this, that they can dare to dream bigger for themselves too. So thank you so much for being here, for being an amazing collaborator. I hope we do many more to come and for believing in me. I'm telling you, it really has made a big difference in my music career and in my confidence as a person. And I just can't thank you enough for helping create this. Beautiful song. I love Genie in a Bottle. Please, you listening, go stream it and stream David's song, Go. And David, thank you for being here.

• Speaker #2

  Baby, get some w-

• Speaker #0

  Thank you for listening and thanks to my guest, David P. Stevens. For more info on David, follow him at David P. Stevens, S-T-E-V-E-N-S, and visit his website, davidpstevens.com. This show is executive produced and hosted by me, Lauren LaGrasso. Rachel Fulton produced the episode. You can follow her at Rachel M. Fulton. Thanks to Liz Pohl for the show's theme music. You can follow her at Liz Pohl. And again, thank you. If you like what you heard today, please remember to rate, review, and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share the show with a friend and post about it on social media. Tag me at Lauren LaGrasso and at Unleash Your Inner Creative, and I will repost to share my gratitude. Also tag the guests at David P. Stevens so he can share as well. And don't forget my new song, Genie in a Bottle, is out on Spotify now. Please go stream it, follow me on Spotify, and tell a friend about the song. It really helps. And my wish for you this week is that you dream unreasonably. Be delusional. Live in your delusions. And who knows, if you do it for long enough, they might just become your reality. I love you and I believe in you. Talk with you next week.