Backstage Pass Radio

S3: E16: Payton Howie - Hulsey/Howie...A Poisonous Duo

November 16, 2022 Backstage Pass Radio Season 3 Episode 16
Backstage Pass Radio
S3: E16: Payton Howie - Hulsey/Howie...A Poisonous Duo
Show Notes Transcript

Date: November 16, 2022
Name of podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
Episode title and number:  S3: E16: Payton Howie  - Hulsey/Howie...A Poisonous Duo



Artist Bio -
With backwoods bathed vocals and bona fide southern swagger, Payton Howie is leading the next generation of redneck women. Branded as the ultimate ‘All American Girl’ by Scenes Media, Howie is gaining nationwide notoriety with features from CMT, Guitar Girl Magazine, The Boot, Country Rebel, Fox News, and more. Payton unapologetically embodies the untamed tradition that country music was built on, and she’s hellbent on bringing her own grit to the honky tonk. Not many can say they’ve shared the stage with the likes of Carrie Underwood, and Howie is one of even fewer who can say they were handpicked to do so at the age of 5; while other kids were learning how to ride a bike, she was teaching people to expect the unexpected whenever they hear the name Payton Howie. She has multiple songs featured on several of Spotify’s sought after editorial playlists and her debut EP, “Youngblood”, has attained over 1 million streams. The accompanying music video for "Never Go Home" shows off her non-stop party attitude while the "Freedom" music video bleeds red, white, and blue. Payton has also shared the stage with artists such as Clay Walker, William Clark Green, Pam Tillis, Aaron Watson, Bret Michaels, The Bellamy Brothers, Ian Munsick, The Band Perry, Warren Zeiders, Billy Ray Cyrus, Hunter Hayes, Walker County, Gary Allan, Chris Janson, Jack Ingram, Coffey Anderson, Josh Ward, Laci Kaye Booth, Bryson Gray, Tyler Farr, Honey County, Chayce Beckham and more. Having just released her newest single, "Keep Her Breathing", Payton Howie is prepared to scorch country music with a brand that’s hers alone.


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Artist Media Handles:
Website - www.paytonhowie.com
Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/paytonhowiemusic
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/payton.howie
Twitter - https://twitter.com/paytonhowie


Call to action
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Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio

Your Host,
Randy Hulsey 



 

Payton Howie Master Mixdown

Sun, Nov 13, 2022 3:33PM • 1:15:35

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

song, people, music, play, country, ep, artists, listeners, guitar, backstage pass, aaron watson, peyton, vibe, writing, hear, shows, jalen, nashville, good, listen, paytonhowie, paytonhowiemusic, countrybeforeme, CarrieUnderwood, BreakMyOwnHeart, Youngblood, ClayWalker, PamTillis, BellamyBrothers, MorganMyles, PaigeHulsey, UHSoftball, LadyCoogs, Stryper

SPEAKERS

Randy Hulsey, Payton Howie, Adam Gordon

 

Randy Hulsey  00:00

She is a Willis, Texas girl by way of California. Hey everyone, it's Randy Hulsey with backstage pass radio. And today I'm joined by local artists who brings a little southern swagger into the crystal vision studios. She currently has several new singles out as well as a debut EP, and we're going to get the downlow from the one and only Peyton how we when we return.

 

Adam Gordon  00:20

This is backstage pass radio, the podcast that's designed for the music junkie with a thirst for musical knowledge. Hi, this is Adam Gordon. And I want to thank you all for joining us today. Make sure you like subscribe and turn the alerts on for this and all upcoming podcasts. And now here's your host of backstage pass radio, Randy Halsey.

 

Randy Hulsey  00:49

Hey, Peyton, it's nice to have you sitting across from me here in the studios this evening. Welcome. Well, thanks

 

Payton Howie  00:54

so much for having me. I appreciate it.

 

Randy Hulsey  00:56

It's my pleasure. So you drove in from the Willis area, right? Yeah, not too far. Traffic was not horrible. You didn't want to beat your brains out.

 

Payton Howie  01:06

It wasn't too bad. It was a smooth drive. nice sunset is good view. So I enjoyed it. Well, I

 

Randy Hulsey  01:11

always try to get like, you know, the artist in here on Monday nights, because usually Monday nights are fairly slow for most artists, you know, that's kind of a dark night for a lot of people. So I tried to do that. But I don't want to do it so late that people can't get home at a reasonable time. So it's, you know, you border on, is it too early? Is it too late, but I'm glad you're here. And it's great to see you and meet you finally,

 

Payton Howie  01:35

likewise. Appreciate it.

 

Randy Hulsey  01:36

It was interesting earlier because I, I posted on social media, I took a picture of the guitar and kind of the setup. And I said, you know, the mics are hot, you know, all systems are go. And there was a listener of my show, and apparently a fan of yours that said, Oh my God, she's a class that she's the greatest. And I said, Well, I'll determine that. I'll see if I have to run her off. So stay tuned. And then I put the little winky emoji, so I can't judge that. Yeah. Let me judge that. So so far, Peyton is still here with me. She hasn't been run off yet. So all right. All right. We're going good. Yeah. Let's talk about the splitting of time between Houston and Nashville. We were talking a little bit pre interview that you took up residency there for a bit in Nashville in the new, you realize this is probably not the best monetary use of my my funds. So you're, you're living here, but you do all of your work there. Can you talk to the listeners a little bit? Yeah,

 

Payton Howie  02:36

I mean, got a little crazy at one point where I was just traveling so much. And I mean, it don't get me wrong, Nashville is great. You know, I mean, I'm not a huge city person. It's not ever really been my vibe. I mean, like, I don't care where it is, I'm not like a huge city person, like I'm, I'm down with the wide open spaces. So I always obviously, enjoy my time in Texas. Like my free time, I would say out here in Texas, but being in Nashville, just working and getting to talk with other artists and just be around like all the creative vibes, and do writer's rounds, like that is really fun. And I know as as an artist, like being there, whether it's music and or whatnot, you know, you're thriving, just being around, like, all these creative like minded people. So I enjoy being out there in Nashville for that reason, but I had a place out there for a while. And I decided that like, financially, it didn't make the most sense to just basically have a storage unit, because I travel so much. And like, you know, like, especially in the summertime, you know, you got festivals, touring season and whatnot, and you're always on the road. So it's like, well, I don't want to pay for a bed that I'm only going to sleep in, like, you know, two, three times a month? And the answer was no, so but I, you know, like, my, my friends that are out there, you know, I still go and visit and I'm out there pretty much same amount of time anyway. So, you know, I

 

Randy Hulsey  03:57

was gonna ask you what the split if you if you have the balance scale, a justice and percentage wise, what's the split difference between, say here and Nashville? How much time are you spending there versus here on a regular basis?

 

Payton Howie  04:11

Well, it really varies on the time of year, I would say a few months ago, I was there almost half the month. You know, it was almost 5050. But like, as of recent, it's been a lot less just because we've been playing shows and there's so much going on here in the Texas scene. So you know, lots of shows to be played festivals. And you know, I've had some great opportunities, playing with some, you know, larger names, and I've put out a lot of music this year. So being in the studio did not necessarily become a priority for me until next month. So yeah, then I'll be back. But yeah, so I've not been there a lot recently, but I'll be back you know, when it comes time and then Christmas, Nashville, all that basically shuts down for the holidays. So a lot of people tend to not be out there around that time anyway, so

 

Randy Hulsey  04:57

yeah, well, I would have to think that the studio Once you get that bug, the studio is like tattoos, right? You can't just do it one time. And

 

Payton Howie  05:06

it's like, I love being in the studio. And it's kind of like, hard to, you know, focus all of your, because you have to record the songs and then you have to, you know, promote them, and then you have to go out and play them. You can just be in the studio all the time and then, but then at the same time, you can't just be out playing with no songs from the studio. So it's kind of you gotta gotta have a good balance. Can't get too addicted to it. But

 

Randy Hulsey  05:28

what would you say that you're playing? Show? Like, do you keep track of number of shows per year that you play? And on average, what would you say that you're playing?

 

Payton Howie  05:37

Oh, my goodness. I have not counted in a long time. But I know I would say I play every weekend. Okay. Like, at least two three Shows a week. Okay. I would say

 

Randy Hulsey  05:49

you're pretty busy then.

 

Payton Howie  05:50

Yeah. I enjoyed though. Yeah. Playing is like, it's like, I can't complain. I get to do what

 

Randy Hulsey  05:54

I love every day. Nobody would listen to you if you complained anyway. Right.

 

Payton Howie  05:58

Exactly. Then I wouldn't be playing to them. That's exactly right.

 

Randy Hulsey  06:01

No fan base, and you'd be complaining to yourself straight. I know people like that. So yeah, man. Yeah. So in the spirit, I'm gonna steal a page out of Kyle Hutton's playbook here and I just thought about him because I know you did the real life real music show with him Kyle was a guest on my show great guy he played right there where you're fixing to play and I was wondering if you'd kind of start us off with the song of yours. Oh yeah sure awesome

 

06:54

was strong the bold those painless travel rules? It was a dreamers leader and tortured souls bands they walked in they didn't they told them no they didn't listen to them laughs Ooh stories on the radio gittoes was nasty

 

07:26

every cry notation

 

07:29

standing in the country before me we will go crazy coal miners daughters bands we were conscious when it was cool don't make your brown eyes blue we would just do sparrows and kiss her the nurses

 

08:25

every cry in all this standing the last day every cry standing every cry no this

 

Randy Hulsey  09:40

so that was country before me tell us a little bit about the song and great job by the way. It's always it's always so nice to hear somebody play an acoustic guitar live like I've listened to all of your stuff. Of course just like I do every guest and you hear it. It sounds great. But there's nothing like a raw guitar in front of you like, I'm just an acoustic guy, and it resonates with me. So tell the listeners a little bit about the song.

 

Payton Howie  10:09

Yeah, country before me, I wrote that song I with my good friends, Michael and Eric out in Nashville, I have a huge respect for all the women in country music. And any time I get to stand on a stage or be behind a microphone or you know, have my songs play on the radio, whatever it is, I do feel like I owe them. I owe them that respect, and like acknowledging the fact that if they didn't go and, you know, pursue their careers the way that they did, and they didn't go and, like, take a stand in a way, you know, really have to make themselves seen and heard if they didn't go and do that, then I wouldn't get to do it. I love to do the way I love to do it. Absolutely no, like, times were so much different back then. And it's crazy, because like with recently losing Loretta Lynn, when I've been playing that song on my shows, I always like, you know, recently I've been dedicating it, you know, to her memory and the way that she shaped the industry and how she shaped my music because like she had what if I'm not wrong, so like 17 songs banned from radio, because she was so controversial. And you look at her, and she's just like this cute little thing. And she's not trying to be controversial. She's just writing songs that she feels, and a lot of other women just happen to feel the same way. It's like, I love that about her and she just doesn't care.

 

Randy Hulsey  11:31

Yeah, no, I agree with you times were much different than but, you know, we're in a time now where you have to watch what you say, as well. You know, things have changed for us as well over the even in the, you know, most recent years, right. It's just a lot of things that we said when we were growing up, like you can't get away with saying you know those things, but if you had an idol, let's just say an an OG or an old school item like idol, like you talked about the women of country, right? Who would be the old school person for you, your favorite or you who you most idolized. And then who would maybe be a current woman of country that you might look up to, in the same with the same adoration.

 

Payton Howie  12:18

Well, obviously, like Loretta Lynn, like I was saying, you know, just because of her, I don't want to put this like she's like, feisty, you know, I'm saying like, and she's not even trying to get just who she is. So that's like I did get about her. Not like a huge throwback, but Reba, you know, like, I love how she's got that storyteller kind of thing and just kind of like a true country grit five like, I love that, like very authentic and I love that about Reba. Gretchen Wilson. Okay, I love Gretchen Wilson. She's She's rowdy, she's more she kind of represents more of my rowdy side.

 

Randy Hulsey  12:56

So I'm seeing a trend here with Peyton, you guys, this this rowdy rambunctious trend here. Will I mean this a little bit to keep my eye on you. So yeah. Well, do you? Do you enjoy? And I'm sure, I think I know the answer. But I want to ask you anyway, do you enjoy the songwriting portion of the business? Because the reason I asked that is I think a lot of artists are great performers. They have great ideas. But maybe songwriting doesn't come easy to them. Or maybe it's their least favorite. Tell me about your songwriting. And do you really get into the songwriting? Do you? Do you really love doing that? Oh, yeah, the business?

 

Payton Howie  13:43

Oh, I love it, like, and I'll be honest, I had to grow into it. Because I started writing songs, as most people do on my own at a young age, you know, and you're sitting there in your room with a guitar or whatever, piano, or sometimes, you know, props to people that try and write songs without an instrument, like, if that's you, props to you, because I I can't imagine Sure, but it's crazy, because I have friends that have, you know, written without instruments, and it's like, they come up with these crazy melodies, and I'm like, wow, yeah, props to you, that's takes some creativity and some skill. But I think songwriting is, like you can really feel the emotion that you're putting into the song when you're pulling it out of yourself to put into the song from both sides of the spectrum. You know, I would say a song of mine, like, break my own heart, you know, just kind of very jaded, edgy feeling kind of song and I was pulling from, you know, kind of almost some sarcastic funny feelings that I had had being, you know, in past relationships or even just, you know, kind of a, a, you know, it is what it is kind of attitude about my approach on life, whether it's, you know, dating relationships or just kind of me doing my thing and just ended up you know, whatever that that songs that way, but like, I know Um, a while back, I wrote a song out in Tennessee, I had, you know, some hope with this, I had some family news about my dad. And so I went into a REIT and I wasn't playing, I was planning on writing something a little more, you know, rowdy, we were going to studio for three songs or three songs the session to go in and with some, like, you know, kick butt, lack of a better term stuff. And I got in there and literally like minutes before I gotten some, you know, pretty life changing news, but my dad and so we went in and just completely the mood changed, and we decided to write a different song. And we did and I remember all of us in the rewards like bawling after writing the song and it just, and if you're not, like really feeling those emotions when you're writing it, you know, you're doing it wrong.

 

Randy Hulsey  15:45

And yeah, exactly. And were you able to change gears that fast in your, in your mind? Like you knew you're going in? It's it's rowdy, right? And that's what we're gonna do. You get the news, you go into more of a somber kind of mood, was it hard to get in it or really didn't take much for you to get into that? So easy.

 

Payton Howie  16:04

We finished that song in like, 2020 30 minutes, you know, and I was and I'll say sometimes, you know, being in the industry, you have to kind of go the more promotional route, you know, sometimes you have to write a song that's like, hey, you know, we need something that's little more commercial like this. And I'll say those, those are honestly some of the hardest songs I've ever written is songs where it's like, alright, what would be catchy? Yeah, exactly. You're writing for catchy. It's a little bit harder than writing for veal, or whatever. Yeah, absolutely. like legit. Sure motion? Well, that's

 

Randy Hulsey  16:37

when you just have to write what feels good to you. And if it becomes a hit, it becomes a hit. I mean, I think hits come around organically. I don't think you can force a hit. It either becomes a hit. It grows legs on its own, or it doesn't, right. Oh, yeah. So tell me about the bug that you got for music. I think it was at an early age or talked to me about the bug.

 

Payton Howie  16:59

Yeah, the bug. When I was five, my mom took me to my first concert. And it was just how you imagined it would be it was at out in like this outdoor kind of arena. And, you know, we were all sitting in these chairs on the dirt and the lights were panning across the audience. And I was real little I was I was five. So I was like, maybe a couple feet high. And I was dancing out in the aisle. And it was a Carrie Underwood concert. And she's sitting on stand up on stage and she's singing, and I'm dancing the aisle and the lights panning across the audience stop on me. And she stopped singing and she kneels down and she tells like, you know, whether security guard Hey, go grab that. Go grab that little girl and bring her up on stage. He comes over. And he says to you know, my mom that was there with me at the time and goes, Hey, Carrie wants your daughter on stage. And I bring it up there. And I was like, Yeah, go for it random dude pick me up. She was like, Oh, shoot. Anyway, and then ended up being fine. So brought me up on stage with Carrie Underwood. And we were like, you know, she'd hold my hand we were singing along. And that was on some hearts tour. And okay, I remember that feeling. I still listened to that album. I literally listened to it yesterday. And I remember that feeling like standing on the stage looking out seeing those people in. It's kind of where I got the bug.

 

Randy Hulsey  18:13

Well, you it takes you back to a place and tying music always does. Like, you know, I was telling somebody in one of my interviews that you can almost stamp your mind where you hear a certain song, you know, and you don't ever forget that, you know, much like the Carrie Underwood thing, even though you're five years old is like, I don't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday. But you know, it's funny, the long term memory, it just gets grounded into the brain. And you don't forget those types of events now, so it hadn't been really cool for you. So it was from there. That was all it took to kind of catch the bug, right? Yeah, but you didn't start playing guitar right away, though.

 

Payton Howie  18:53

Did you know so that's the thing is I've always been really musical, like playing different instruments, singing all the time, all around the house, whatever. And I started playing keys actually, like I played piano for a while. And then I started teaching myself to play guitar. I was like, about 14 And I've always just had this, you know, knack for music, listening to all different kinds of genres and whatnot. But that was kind of something I had to grow into is I'm not I'll be honest, I'm not naturally a performer. I am I'm an artist. And so growing into being a performer is me just trying to be myself as much as possible and just like have a good time and just like get up there and just be wack.

 

Randy Hulsey  19:40

Yeah. Well, it's interesting that you say that because I would have thought just maybe the opposite because I've never seen you play live. I've seen you know, there's the YouTube and the Facebook we you know, we feel like we know people like Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I haven't ever even met her but I feel like I know her. But but you You seem so natural onstage like, it's just you're up there having a good time. And you look like kind of a rock chick, you know, like, you have the rock swagger to the thing, even though I know you do a lot of country stuff, but just kind of the way you carry yourself. I think that's pretty cool. I don't know if you've ever been told that.

 

Payton Howie  20:17

Oh, yeah, all the time. I mean, we, you know, I love rock. Like I would say, I mean, country has my heart. But if I couldn't be a country artist, I would definitely join a rock band. I would like I don't know, I just feel like that'd be kind of cool. But country is definitely where my heart is. Especially because you know, you got more like storyteller aspect. Absolutely. I mean, there is that in every genre, but still guitar something about it? Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  20:45

Well, it's interesting, because we're almost the polar opposites. I like you was a trained classical pianist. So I got I got trained, I started out with the piano, right. And then I taught myself guitar. So we're kind of the same there. But I was always kind of the rock pig growing up. And I never dealt with country. I was never the country guy. Like didn't, it didn't get played in my house. And I just didn't really care anything about it. And when I started playing out professionally, years and years ago, I said, Well, I'm gonna have to learn some of this stuff. Right? You know, so I started really paying attention to it. And there are certain artists that I've really fallen in love with and I, I can honestly say, Nothing takes the place of rock and roll. Like, I'm always going to be a rock pig. But country's right up there. Especially the Americana genre. Like I've fallen in love with that music. And I think it's for what you said, it's the storytelling aspect, the the guitar and your heart coming through the guitar, and it's just so meaningful that listening to a hard rock band, you know, it has its, it has its vibe, right? But there's nothing that I connect with better than what you just did. You know, that's so cool to me.

 

Payton Howie  22:00

Oh, yeah. No, and I love that. And that's why I'm, I consider myself country rock, because I still always want to be a storyteller. But I really like to rock out sometimes, you know, I'm saying I love incorporating that into my music plus, you know, being a female in the country music scene there is there are some, but there's not a lot of females doing the whole like country rock thing. You know, like, sure, that is something that I hope to bring back. Because I think people would really get down with that. Like, if it was a bigger thing. For sure.

 

Randy Hulsey  22:38

We'll be the trendsetter, right? Yeah, I'm working on it. One day at a time, right? Exactly. Now, do you prefer to, to play and sing, play guitar and sing? Or are you more comfortable being just behind the microphone? Do you have a preference one way or another? Because I've asked, specifically female artists that have really beautiful vocals, right that they can. They don't really need a guitar to sound good. But I didn't know if you're more comfortable with the guitar without the guitar? Or if you have a preference one way or another?

 

Payton Howie  23:12

Well, I'll be honest, obviously, singing is probably my favorite thing in the world. Because I do it all the time. Even when I don't know I'm doing it. You know what I'm saying? Even when I'm annoying, everybody, I will be singing

 

Randy Hulsey  23:25

and you don't always have a guitar? Well, yeah, but you always have your voice. Yeah, exactly. And

 

Payton Howie  23:29

that's something that I think has really shaped my music is my voice and it has a more of a unique sound to it than what I've been told. And that is why, you know, I think my voice will always be my sound. But at the same time, I think being a songwriter and being an artist, and at the very least being a musician, playing an instrument at your shows, you know, or at least understanding how to play and how different things work it really does grow you as a songwriter, it grows you as an artist, and it gives you an appreciation for music. Because there is you can always be a singer, you can always be a you know, a vocalist and just a singer. But the second you pick up an instrument and learn how to sing without saying words, you know, like, that's when you really understand, like different chords and how they make you feel without saying a word. Like that's that's a huge that's that's the other half of music. Yeah, you know, it's I feel like if you can at least try throughout your entire lifetime to master both. At least you're acknowledging and showing appreciation for both sides of the spectrum.

 

Randy Hulsey  24:41

Yeah. And you know, a lot of people don't have that talent that you and I possess and I locked myself in there too because I play and sing, but it's but it's also interesting that you know, I'm going to do Oh an acoustic duo. That's that's kind of what I don't have a band and I play all over you know, in that acoustic duo but You know, I play the guitar I sing, I also work a foot pedal, like for harmonies and stuff like that. And people don't realize it's one thing to be a good singer. But to be a singer and a guitarist, putting those two together, it takes a little talent and a little, a little, a whole lot of work to make those your brain work that way. And then if you start introducing things with your feet, like I'm sure, maybe you have pedals that you play, you know, you've got to go touch those pedals at some point in time. So there's all kinds of things that run through our minds as artists, so it takes a special skill to do what you do on stage.

 

Payton Howie  25:37

Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Yeah, and I definitely think like there, I know, I am never going to be the best guitar player in the world. Somebody. There's so many talented guitar players like even like the guys I played with in my band, like they're ridiculously talented. And me just learning different things about you know, music or just on the guitar gives me a greater appreciation for them every single day.

 

Randy Hulsey  26:00

Well, and you don't have to be the best at something but you bring something to the table that they don't bring. And we work together you exactly your team for a reason. Oh, exactly. Over the years, you've you've shared the stage with a lot of pretty big name artists, share with the listeners, some of the folks that you've worked with along the way. And was there one that was maybe the most memorable for you from just maybe opening for them or or sharing a headline with them or something like that? Yeah, well,

 

Payton Howie  26:31

I'll say, especially being in the you know, Texas, specifically, you know, Houston music scene or Texas music scene. It's just really been life changing. Because the community of artists out here that I've had the opportunity to play shows with or to meet or even just like, for sake of discussion, I, I played the humble rodeo with Aaron Watson. And he's like, super down to earth. I walked in there and he's just like cracking jokes, and we're frickin eatin Texas Roadhouse, bread rolls, I'm like, this is iconic. Like, this is a moment history I never thought would happen. You know, I'm saying and just like, there's so many genuine artists that are killing the game out in the scene, and just getting to play shows with, you know, people like that is really cool. Or even on the national scene, I've, you know, made friends with people like Trey Lewis, you know, I'm saying you're just super genuine. Like, Hey, what's good? You know, like, people like that. It's cool.

 

Randy Hulsey  27:33

Isn't it cool? How you can, you can almost look at somebody, I guess you'd call it judging a book by its cover, you look at somebody and say, Oh, that person's not approachable. Or they're probably not nice people or something like that. And then you get around them and you're like, wait a minute, this, that person was so amazing. Like, I would have never expected that from that person. Like, and I find that not that I've ever pre judged anybody I've had on my show, but I have had artists, bigger name artists, maybe not so bigger, big name artists. But they all talk to you. Like, they're just people to at the end of the day, and I think that's really cool. So it kind of goes back to what you're saying, you know, with Aaron Watson, you know, big name and Texas country music, but, you know, you can eat, you know, Texas Roadhouse biscuits with him right at the same time and have a good time. He's a person just like, you and I are right. It's

 

Payton Howie  28:26

true. I mean, that's the number one thing I think everyone can agree with, is that the most talented and genuine artists are always the kindest, you know, if you ever meet someone that just thinks they're all that and a bag of chips, chances are really probably not going far.

 

Randy Hulsey  28:43

It's probably because their mama told them that they were right. And they believe that

 

Payton Howie  28:47

Oh, yeah. Someone lied to them. Exactly. That happened. That probably

 

Randy Hulsey  28:51

happens more times than not, but you find that in karaoke a lot. If you go listen to karaoke, you know, it's like everybody in the karaoke place thinks they're, you know, the next Whitney Houston because their mama told them that they sound really, really good, right? But in all fairness to the karaoke singer, there are some amazing singers that do go and do the whole karaoke thing but then there's some really not so great ones. So you get a mixed bag for sure. I was wondering if maybe you would share another song with the listeners You up for it? I am awesome.

 

29:49

JD put the drink so much and wasted

 

29:56

the Katy walking contradiction Gotta make this alive for the live Willie and I seem to be don't forget to queued up here again same old same old bond and love the bond I don't need you blacking break was a head on find a love to bond a bond drink whiskey bond and love can break my own

 

Randy Hulsey  32:06

so great song they're paid and I really enjoyed that break my own heart. Yeah, the name of the song, I detected a little bit of the rowdiness and the attitude that you talked about earlier. Yeah. And that songs tell the listeners a little bit about what inspired the song.

 

Payton Howie  32:23

Yeah, break my own heart that was inspired by kind of a situation that I was in I was with this guy. And it was one of those relationships where there was like, not really a point to it. And I don't mean to sound mean, I'm just being real. Like I knew it wasn't gonna go anywhere from the start. Thus the line it was over before it started. And, you know, I totally saw the red flags and it was just kind of one of those. And why not decisions, you know, I kind of went for it kind of went out with a guy for you know, a few months. And to be honest, if I wasn't traveling so much and on the road, like it would have ended way sooner than it than it did. Like, because it lasted a lot longer than I expected. But then to think about it, I was pretty much gone for like, you know, maybe two three months of the relationship. And when it came time for me to break it off. I totally I was like look like I saw your red flags come in and I still went out with you. So I don't even need you to break my heart. I can do it myself. Like okay, I'm enough trouble for the both of us. So that's kind of where that song was inspired

 

Randy Hulsey  33:29

by. I was gonna say I'm not gonna be your your shrink here, but like Go ahead. Well no, nevermind. I'm gonna go ahead honestly. Now I was gonna say I was just gonna be funny. This is Randy humor that you don't know but I was gonna say well if you knew it was over before you started Why did you even waste any of your freakin time with the guy but but you don't have to answer you can plead you were born and the truth comes out. Yeah, well, hopefully the poor guy didn't didn't hear this, but if he does, and I'm I guess you could tell me if you want to edit any of this stuff out. But anyway, that's water under the bridge anyway, I'm sure right. I'll never know. Right? Well tell me about the Youngblood EP.

 

Payton Howie  34:21

Yeah, so the EP is my first five song EP and each song on there is very, very different you know each one tells a different story but I really do feel like each one is a kind of a different piece of who I am as an artist and literally from never go home like you know party anthem to country before me you know my appreciation for the women and country music freedom my patriotic side, brake mound heart runway run, like each one of those songs. I totally feel and have lived at some point in my my few years on this earth but I'm That's really how I feel about it is it really is a little piece of who I am each song. And when I was getting ready to drop it, some of my, my team members were like, hey, like, you know, you should have the EP be self titled. And I didn't really like the idea of that I was like, okay, yeah, but like, that's good, but we let's make it great. Like, like, we should come up with a cool name for it, you know. So kind of going back to when I started playing music when I was 14, I walked the streets of not the streets, but like, you know, I'm saying there was like Main Street, you didn't dig yourself. The way I started. I started that in an odd place. What I mean to say was, when I was 14

 

Randy Hulsey  35:43

brought it up, not me, I was always

 

Payton Howie  35:46

I was always walking up and down Main Street where there's all these, you know, different music venues, you know, some like whatever, smoky bars and places with all these seasoned musicians that would play like, like, every night of the week, you know, open mics, you know, country nights, a blues clubs, like you name it, and I would just try to like, listen, learn, look in the window, be around the corner, sometimes I leave the door open for me and I, you know, could sneak in and I would just learn and there were so many seasoned musicians that have toured all across, you know, the states, you know, been to the UK pledge, like stuff out there, all different genres, and, you know, shown me everything from Dolly Parton to The Beatles, to Janis Joplin. You know, Fleetwood Mac, like everything, you know, just getting to learn about like, the good stuff. And they all nicknamed me Youngblood because they were all like, you know, been there, done that. And I was like, Hey, guys, you want to teach me a thing or two. And I'd be there with like, my chief little guitar, and they were just teaching me how to how to play this. And I'll sing this song, you should pick up this and, you know, bringing me on shows with them and stuff like that. And anyway, so that's kind of where the nickname Youngblood came from. And so that's what I wanted to call my EP.

 

Randy Hulsey  37:05

That makes sense. Most people do go with a self titled debut, but that certainly makes sense that you kind of pay in paying the EP forward to the people that kind of pay, I wouldn't say paved the way but kind of helped you along the way and whatnot. Yeah. It's my understanding that the EP now has over a million streams, is that on combine the combined platforms like Apple Music, and Spotify, Pandora? Is that all on one? Or what do you know about the million streams?

 

Payton Howie  37:35

I know, it's over a million on Spotify alone. I know, on that's all I'm aware of, at the moment, collectively, I'm sure it's over something. I don't know. But I think as far as Apple Music goes, wherever, and I have to count all those up, I think, I think Spotify and Apple Music are the only ones that show you your numbers. Yeah, I think I think that I honestly couldn't tell you. Anything else other than that, but Spotify, I know, is over a million streams. And then Apple Music. Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  38:06

I remember what I was gonna say earlier, I was gonna pay you a compliment. And I don't know why the the thought was fleeting. For me, it just did escape my mind. There was something you were talking about. And I was going to tell you that I stumbled across something as I was listening to your music, and I learned of your age, or approximately how old you are, which I won't mention on the show. But I didn't realize you were so young. And I wanted the compliment that I was going to pay you as your season beyond your years. I think in your music, the way your music comes across your, your presence on the stage. So kudos to you for that, like I was expecting a more. Yeah, say, Well, no, no, I mean, well, I don't I don't know. Like, women don't like to talk about their age. But I thought that you would have been in the industry a lot longer is basically what I'm saying. Not that you look old, because you don't at all. That's not what I'm implying. I think I'm digging myself a hole here. And I'm really not, I'm just saying that for your age, I believe that you have a really great stage presence, and you write really good songs. And I was just you expect that from people that have been around much longer that have, you know, matured over the years. So that's coming in. I appreciate that coming to you at a young age. So kudos for that.

 

Payton Howie  39:25

I really appreciate Yeah, for sure.

 

Randy Hulsey  39:27

And I you had mentioned something you guys had mentioned something earlier about Play listing. And I wanted to talk for just a minute about that. I think you had mentioned that some of your music had been picked up by playlist explain to the listeners what having a song or record being picked up and playlisted means and what does that do to help your career as a musician?

 

Payton Howie  39:54

So playlisting is something that I have literally spent countless hours sitting at my kitchen In Table dissecting and learning about because it is, it is really important because Okay, so I guess look at it this way, I have my music on a platform, say Spotify, and I'm, you know, having my music distributed through a distributor, whoever that is. And when your music gets taken by a Spotify playlist curator, and for me, you know, that would be the country playlist curator, because, you know, they control the country playlists, and they take a song of mine, and they throw it on a playlist, for example, my song Never go home when I dropped that song. And when I say drop, I mean six weeks prior to its release, I go and I send them a pitch talking about the song talking about all these little things in there. And there's a very oddly specific way to write this pitch. It's like, like Open Sesame, right? You send them this, this thing and they look at your history with your listeners and the consistency of your music and the consistency of your sound and what you're doing outside of music to make this good, I guess, you know, make this something that they want a piece of, and they'll throw it on a playlist and so my song Never go home got put on the country rocks playlist, and it's still there. It's been there for over a year which is which is mind blowing because country rocks like you look on that playlist, you're gonna see people like CO Wetzel, Ashlyn craft, Parker McCollum, like they're all in that country rock genre. So people that are listening to their music are then going to discover my music on that same list, you know, and they're gonna be like, Oh, I like that. So that grows my listeners, not only like, just random people throughout the world, it's people that are actually wanting to hear that kind of music. Sure. And that's like, it's like real listeners, it's gaining you actual, like, real fans that want to hear your stuff. And that continue to listen to your stuff throughout and if really helpful to build a relationship, like with the different streaming platforms, because if your music is consistent, and they can then they can look at say, okay, so Payton how he puts out this kind of music. So anytime I put out a song that is like that vibe, that is what they're expecting from me, you know, they're gonna be like, Okay, let's, you know, throw this on a playlist. So, it really helps because they look at obviously, the pitchy, right. And not only that, they look at pre saves. So that's something that I've been lucky enough that my, you know, followers supporters fan base has been really good at is pre saves. Like, I'll put a song out there, like, a pre Save Link, you know, my Hey, guys, I'm dropping a new single, and people will go nuts on this pre Save Link. And that basically lets the streaming platform know, hey, we're all excited to hear this song. And so they're like, well, then I guess, you know, it's something worth listening to. So I'm just totally grateful for that.

 

Randy Hulsey  42:49

Is that really what the praecipe does is it gives you the, the ability to, to get on to playlist is that it's

 

Payton Howie  42:56

part of it, I genuinely believe it's part of it. Because I will say that a lot of my songs that have had the best playlisting record, like break my own heart when I dropped that song on the EP was on five different editorial, Spotify playlists, and my EP was the most pre saved release I've ever had. And, and I mean, I think that's because it was the first big project I've ever put out, obviously, super excited to hear that. And then when you put out a project, like, you know, an EP, it's five songs, you only get to pick one song from that project. So obviously, I chose break my own heart. And so since that project was the most PRESAFE, they went nuts on that. So

 

Randy Hulsey  43:33

was there other songs Other than the five that you put on the EP songs that you had that didn't make the EP? Or did you have only five songs that you knew I'm writing these five and those are going on there?

 

Payton Howie  43:47

Well, it started off that way. I had a writing session out Nashville, with my with my friends out there. And I was writing for the project, I was writing five songs that I knew I wanted to cut and beyond the EP, you know, put them out of singles and then drop the whole project. That was the plan. And one of the songs was going to originally be Jalen Jesus. And then after just like really contemplating it, I decided I wanted to give it its own release and release it as a single. And then further down the road. I recorded a break my own heart and I was like, this would totally fit the vibe of the EP, I want to put that on there instead. And I'm glad I did that, because I think people really like that country rock sound that, you know, kind of tied the whole EP together. Sure, you know, smack dab in middle. I liked it there. And Jalen Jesus was kind of a soft, more intimate side of my artistry that I would have appreciated being a single versus Okay, mixed in with all that make sure you know put out so Jalen Jesus got a little special treatment there.

 

Randy Hulsey  44:54

Yeah. And well, we'll have you maybe play that one here in just a minute. What would you say the anchor song are the cornerstone song is on your EP?

 

Payton Howie  45:03

I have to say honestly probably never go home. Okay, because well first off, it's the most popular song on the EP people love that song. You know, I dropped the EP beginning of this year and coming out of you know, one of like the probably the worst times ever with the whole COVID thing people are like, man, we're gonna go out we're gonna live life we're gonna party like this is the vibe. I'm never go home was put out as a single and then I release it on the EP. And so people like, still to this day like people love that. Yeah, that's that's the that's what we do at my shows. It's the you know, finale, whatever you want to call it. That's the show end or that we always do because it's just real simple. People just enjoy the idea of having a good time with people they care about getting the raise and drink sign. Yeah, that's the vibe.

 

Randy Hulsey  45:54

I think you have a song that's your favorite. And it's not that one right? I think you had cited maybe something like country before me was one of your favorite songs to play live? Is that Yeah, the case? Or am I off base?

 

Payton Howie  46:07

No, you're right, you're right, I would say on the EP my two favorite songs would definitely be it'd be a tie between break my own heart and country before me. But country before me is one of my favorites to play live. Just because if you've ever been to a live show of mine, especially, you know, when we're playing, you know, full band, big production kind of thing. It's high energy, like, we're high energy, you know, kicking butt all night long. And then somewhere in the middle of a set will take a moment for country before me. And it's always like, really, I would say emotionally, like emotional personally, because, you know, as someone that has an appreciation for the history of country music, and just the ability that I have to stand on a stage and do what I do, and understanding that that wouldn't be possible without the people that I wrote that song about, like, you know, there's an obviously there's so many other factors playing into that, like, you know, my family and my friends and the people that listen to my music, you know, that obviously, that's a huge thing. But getting to share that, especially, you know, like I've mentioned previously with Loretta Lynn passing like, I know, I played this song, actually just this last weekend at a show, and I saw someone take off their hat out of respect really the school you know, for Loretta Lynn, and I was like, I tear up every time and I walked over I tell my bass farm like Bravo and cry. But that's like, you know, I that's the thing. That's why it's one of my favorite songs to play live is because it touches everybody.

 

Randy Hulsey  47:34

Yeah, well, I had the privilege of of meet your mom, who you brought here with you and I wanted to ask you was country what was playing like in the house growing up?

 

Payton Howie  47:45

Yeah, honestly, I got the best of both worlds because my mom My mom was a country girl like, country. That's like all she listened to. That's what I grew up listening to with her. Then my dad was like, total rocker dude. Like my dad was like on the Aerosmith ACD survive, you know? So that's why I kind of got the best of both worlds. Yeah, for sure. So

 

Randy Hulsey  48:05

I know that you've been playing a lot of festivals. I see your stuff pop up on on Facebook a lot. Tell me what's coming up by way of shows for you that you'd like to share with the listeners?

 

Payton Howie  48:16

Yeah, we have some big shows coming up. We're playing zap hall this weekend. It's gonna be super cool. We're also playing the pre game party for Texas a&m. That's gonna be really fun. And then we have another one coming up. I think the largest show we have coming up is going to be November 5. We're playing concert in the country with Aaron Watson and Shenandoah that's really fun. Where's that one? It's in Magnolia. I believe it's show sports farm it's gonna be really cool to hold boots for troops thing super cool.

 

Randy Hulsey  48:45

It's very cool. I should probably know this. But what percentage of the shows you play or band related and Do you do anything? Solo much by way of solo? Yeah,

 

Payton Howie  48:57

I honestly I would say this year especially I've done way more band stuff. Just because there has been so many opportunities I've been offered like that. I'm obviously grateful for you know, open up for some cool names like, just this year alone. Opened up for clay Walker. Pam Tillis the Bellamy brothers. We're getting open up for Aaron Watson Ian Monza ik William Clark green. Like, it's been crazy, you know. And so I've done a lot of band stuff this year, but I do some solo stuff. Every now and then. Like, you know, I just did the whole real life real music thing. The unplugged stuff is super fun. dosey doe. Yeah. That's super cool. And you

 

Randy Hulsey  49:32

did that with Susan Hickman and Heather Aileen. Yeah. So Heather will be coming up on my show soon. as well. I had the privilege of meeting her. Maybe two or three weeks ago, I booked a show for her at a place that I play. She filled in so I got to meet her and asked her if she would be on my show. So she'll be here soon. Yeah,

 

Payton Howie  49:53

she got some good stories. Yeah, yeah, I'll find out I'll dig music history. She's played with some cool people. Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  49:59

You talked a minute ago about Jalen Jesus and it not being on the EP and I was wondering if you would mind play in that for the listeners

 

Payton Howie  50:08

I would love to awesome

 

50:22

XO cows grabbed ahold of that

 

50:28

drug the drug into the ground the people gave he didn't mean to take it for granted I lost his wife so then man lost his job Cindy ears and nerd so in her car he found that demon the bar that he drank his last truck hidden yeah the neighbors call the cops Chad

 

51:31

bars still God only knows

 

51:36

there's a price to be paid for

 

51:48

realizing that thing my friends assume

 

52:39

to two inches

 

Randy Hulsey  53:10

that was jail and Jesus. Hell yeah. That was a great song that I love that. Like that's the best thing I've ever heard. Jalen G Yeah, like, you know, I told you at the beginning of the show. Like, there's something about an acoustic guitar and a vocalist that resonates with me that that took on a whole the song took on a whole new meaning hearing it here in the living room versus you know, queuing it up on Spotify. Great job there. Thank you very much. Talk to the listeners. Yeah, you're welcome. And talk to the listeners a little bit about kind of the story behind Joe and Jesus. That's the one song that wasn't on the EP. Yeah. And I can kind of see why now that you mentioned it, why it wasn't, but share with the listeners a little bit about the backstory of the song.

 

Payton Howie  53:54

Yeah. So that is a song that I wrote. Because, although I am, I'm only 20 I've, you know, I've seen some things. I've seen some things in my life. And I have come to the conclusion that, you know, overall, people are good. I believe everybody is striving to be good. And but you know, every now and then our, you know, our demons get the best of us. And sometimes that ends up being the the legacy that we leave for the people we love. And I was kind of inspired by I read this book. It was an interview with Johnny Cash and he says, I've lived my life from jail to Jesus. And that hit me, you know? Because, although Yeah, I'm 20 I've still kind of experienced that feeling in life with that angel on my shoulder and the devil on my back. And so when I heard that it hit me and I thought, you know, I kind of want to kind of want to talk about that in between. And so that's it. How Jaylen Jesus was born. Yeah, yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  55:03

So deep song. I really like it. The lyrical content. I love the lyrical content. You've received some, I guess national notoriety through some various sources such as CMT, and I think Fox was one of them. Maybe country rebel, talk a bit about some of the notoriety that you've received. And I guess it's by way of some of the songs that have come out. Is that correct?

 

Payton Howie  55:25

Yeah. So my first feature from CMT was actually country before me the acoustic performance video for that song. That one was my first feature on CMT. And then Jalen Jesus just received a feature from CMT, as well. The music video for that song just came out in September, and it was featured on the 30th and it's still up on my YouTube channel for anyone that wants to check it out there, the Jalen Jesus music video and Fox, I got to do a really cool feature on there for my song keeper breathing. You know, it was kind of kind of cool with more of a patriotic vibe and we got to do a little acoustic session there and play it. And I also got to do an interview with Fox seven for my song freedom when I dropped that music video as well. That one knows a while back. Fox really likes that patriotic stuff. They're like yeah, you know, Freedom keep a real close go. So and then country rebel country rebel. I had, I think I've had two features from country rebel and the first one I believe was actually you ain't woman enough. I did a cover of you ain't woman enough. Loretta Lynn's song. And I remember I remember I was really young when I had that. So that was that was pretty cool, though. But country rebels. Cool. I remember. I thought that was so crazy. Because being so young, and you get on there and you think some Loretta Lynn, you know, people are gonna be like, your trash, or you're amazing. Yeah, those country rebel people are ruthless.

 

Randy Hulsey  57:00

Well, I always have to think that any press is good press for you. Oh, yeah. If it's, I mean, well, I guess bad press wouldn't be good. But in a way. I mean, if they're talking about you, that's a good thing, right? Oh, yeah. What do you think? How do I phrase the question? What do you think? It will take you to get to the next level. What's the next level for Peyton Howie based on where you are today? Where you want to be? Like, what's the next step for you?

 

Payton Howie  57:31

You know, I definitely think that getting to just write more music and play more shows, and just continue to do what I'm doing. But with bows yourself, but yeah, you know, do that, but just with, you know, more knowledge and understanding and relationship building, and, you know, knowing people and just because I mean, I think that's the number one thing is like some of the coolest things that I've had the opportunity to do in the music industry is just simply by like, making friends with somebody, and like having a relationship and not always wanting something from somebody, but like actually just genuinely appreciating them as as a human being and artists and creating relationships with people. And then often they're like, hey, like, you want to hop on this or then you hit them. I'm like, Hey, like, you want to come over and do this. And it's just like, networking. And that's, that's a thing that I think a lot of people overlook, is that some of the largest artists or some of you look now at even some of the most on fire up and coming artists right now, they're all like, in a community of other talented, you know, chill genuine artists. Like that's just how it is. I think it's just a matter of creating something that's just people want to be a part of. Yeah, you know,

 

Randy Hulsey  58:51

well, and I'm in no place to give you advice, but I'm gonna give you advice. No, I think you are I think you are no, in you already said it. I think if you keep yourself humble and be that person that is not too good to get in the trenches with your friends and the people that want to talk to you good things will come for Peyton, how we, I've asked certain guests, which will remain unnamed to be on my show who are local artists. And I get more runaround from them than I get from for time Hall of Famers to be on the show, and somebody has educated them wrong. And it really pisses me off like I'm on a rant, a little bit of a rant right now. But if you stay true to yourself, like you and I are talking and use that you've already said it I'm not telling you anything that you don't know, but that's who people admire, that's going to get you so much further down the road being that person versus the, oh, well, I've made it I don't have time for you and I don't have time for you. That doesn't really I don't think that gets you anywhere at the end of the day. So Keep being you. So I picked that up about you in the short time that I appreciate that that I'm sitting across from I'm you I'm in sales for a living and I like to think that I'm a pretty good judge of character. I know when people are fibbing and not not being honest and you know, they'll tell you anything kind of thing, but I don't detect that about you. So, yeah, keep doing what you're doing.

 

Payton Howie  1:00:14

Thank you. I appreciate it. Likewise. Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:00:16

Where can the listeners find Peyton Howie on social media if they want to look you up

 

Payton Howie  1:00:22

pretty much anywhere. I've got Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, tik, Tok, YouTube, Spotify, you name it, Peyton, how music pa ye to NHOWIE and then my website is probably a really good central spot to find anything from social media to merge to shows and that's paint now.com.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:00:41

And that's going to be very important for the listeners to know where to find the merch, right?

 

Payton Howie  1:00:45

Yeah. Yeah. Do you want to sport a t shirt? That's the place to go.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:00:49

That's it. Even though I asked for a couple of CDs, but we're done. Don't we give me that? Yeah, I was gonna go on the record to say and when I asked, there's none to be found. Oh,

 

Payton Howie  1:01:03

we played a cool show. Let's just last weekend, we got to go down to the backyard and Waco, we opened up for Cody Hibbard. And we saw that EPS, they're young bloody peas. So I got a new batch. And it's coming. I checked the shipping today when you shot me and you're like, bring me on. I was like, bro.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:01:23

Yeah, cuz I'll beat you up about it. But in all seriousness, I'm glad that you sold out and that you didn't have any to bring me. That's important, because that's how a lot of the artists that supplement their income, right. So it's very important for the listeners to support with a merch purchase. And you can find that on Peyton house.com. Of course, I wanted to give you maybe an open forum to talk about anything that might be coming up from you from the past and how we can that maybe we haven't discussed or that you'd like to share with the listeners?

 

Payton Howie  1:01:58

Yeah. So I have a really cool performance video that I plan on dropping. It's going to come out the weekend of Veterans Day for keeper breathing, and my song keeper breathing. And it's it's kind of I've actually not talked about this on any platform or anything yet. I have not really talked about it at all yet. So. So this is literally telling you this right now, no one else sounds funny. But yeah, so this Yeah, I'm really excited about it. We've never really done anything like that performance style. And I really wanted to bring that performance aspect. Like into, you know, the content that I'm putting out, especially with the song keeper breathing, because it's such a good, obviously, it's a you know, it's a song talking about the state of our nation and talking about, you know, where we've been, where we're going and whatnot. And obviously, everyone's got their opinions, but I've got mine and that's what it is and keep breathing is that and it's very obvious that that's what that's about. But not to mention the fact that when we play this song live, like people get fired up about it, and we get fired up about it. Well, you know, when I'm playing on stage, and yeah, so we had someone come on out and shoot the video. Super cool. It turned out amazing. I'm really looking forward to putting it out. So that's going out keeper breathing, has done surprisingly well. We surprised or we dropped it. We dropped keeper breathing, I would say a few months ago and I was really excited to put it out because I knew that you know there was a lot of things going on in our country and whatnot. But aside from that, you know, it was very country rock vibes, had great producers on it. And Morgan miles did the background vocals on it and she's insane. She's killing her right now. She's a finalist on the voice so she just like totally blew up but yeah, she's like, she did killer background vocals on keeper breathing and and break my own heart too. But just that song specifically. That's the last release I just had and then videos coming out soon.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:03:58

Is it safe to say that keep her breathing? The her you're implying like Lady Liberty like the state of the country?

 

Payton Howie  1:04:04

America? No. And I think, yeah, her is America. And that's the, that's the hook of the song was I'll fight to my last breath, my last breath to keep breathing. You know?

 

Randy Hulsey  1:04:15

Well, I hope your song hits a nerve with a lot of people because there's a lot of stupidity going on in this country right now. And then the country's just taken an ass beaten from, from every aspect of it. It's a weird time to be in right now. So we probably need some good music that that has a positive message to it like yeah, breathin right.

 

Payton Howie  1:04:37

Yeah. And that's, that's really what I wanted that song to be is. I wanted it to be something for the older generation, letting them know like, we still have a whole bunch of young patriots out there. And also to let young patriots know like you're not alone in that because I think that is something that really gets overlooked is there's lots of young patriots out there that you know In today's day and age, you can't always say what you want to say, especially when it comes to social media. And there are a lot of people out there my age and younger, that feel that same way, about about America and about the people that are, you know, fighting for our freedoms and the freedoms that we have and the freedoms that, you know, we want to keep Sure, so to speak. Yeah. And I think it's important that everyone knows that, you know, the up and coming generations are not completely lost. Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:05:30

Well, it's nice hearing that come from, from a young mouth. You know, you don't you don't hear that too often from young, young adults like yourself. So thank you for having that mindset. Of course. Yeah. The Constitution. I think there's so many things not to get on a on a rant. But I mean, there's just so many things that are taken a proverbial glass weapon these days, you know, things you say the Constitution, and things just get eroded. So it's important for people Old and young to stand up for their rights, because if they're not used, they're going to go away at some point in time, right. So Oh, yeah. I wanted to ask you maybe a couple of fun quickfire questions, if you don't mind. And one of them is, I was going to ask you to tell the listeners maybe a trait about you that maybe a lot of people don't know, a trade. Yeah,

 

Payton Howie  1:06:24

trade. All right. Um, um, I have been like an athlete my entire life. I played softball from the time I was five, all the way up to college ball, I got a I got a scholarship to play softball in college. And then I ended up taking, you know, I came into, came to a fork in the road, and it was, you know, music or softball. And so I ended up choosing music, obviously, which is why I'm sitting here hanging out with you. Yeah. And softball still has, you know, a place in my heart. But I also, you know, enjoy, like, I love working out and I love, you know, like, I will pretty much work out every single day and I really enjoy getting stuff like that and be be active, even though I kind of, you know, missed that whole athlete part of part of me, you know, that's cool,

 

Randy Hulsey  1:07:13

because I think a lot of musicians were so into music, their whole lives that they never threw a baseball or they never kicked a soccer ball or whatever. So it's either they were like, very athletic, or there was no happy medium like with the people that I've that I've talked to over the past couple of years. But it's it's nice to hear that you have an athletic background and my my niece is going into her senior year, she plays softball for the University of Houston. Oh, that's cool. So shout out to Paige Hulsey and the lady cougars, right? So, yeah, she's, she's an amazing athlete as well. And it's nice to know that you were a big softball player. So I'll have to tell Paige about that. Show. Listen, and how about from a school perspective? Did you have a favorite subject in school that you felt like, this is this is my subject. I have somebody that one time they're like, no, no.

 

Payton Howie  1:08:08

I was never okay. Like, I'm not like, I'm not stupid, but like I would. I was not school was not my thing. Okay, like, fair. I mean, like, I love I love to read and to, like, ponder things, you know, and I mean, I'm but like math. Don't even ask me anything about that.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:08:29

You don't even know how to spell math. Do you? No,

 

Payton Howie  1:08:31

no, no. I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna spelling. The spelling. I was never school was never really my thing. I really liked it. It was

 

Randy Hulsey  1:08:40

never my vibe. That's a great answer. Yeah.

 

Payton Howie  1:08:44

My entire senior year, I pretty much like, I basically interned classes and just left

 

Randy Hulsey  1:08:49

all the time I checked in and left. Oh, yes. Yeah,

 

Payton Howie  1:08:53

I got in with those good teachers. That'd be like, oh, yeah, just take roll, and you can leave. And that's why

 

Randy Hulsey  1:08:59

that was my truth comes out. You need to stop doing these interviews. You know? If you weren't a musician, I think you kind of answered this already. But if you weren't a musician, what would you be doing for a living? What would you like to be doing for a living? I'll rephrase the question. To

 

Payton Howie  1:09:17

be honest, there is nothing that's not to say that No, I'm saying there were like, truthfully, there was really nothing that I would rather do. So if I couldn't play music if I couldn't sing, like if I couldn't care, I know in a bucket and I had to figure something else to do. I mean, I would I have always loved just the industry and like the art of music, so if I if I couldn't play if I couldn't sing. I don't know it'd be somebody's tour manager or I just IV I'd love to be you know, in studio like, you know, I producing something or teaching something like I love music and there's honestly nothing Also that I'd rather do not. And I'm sure that even if I, like, you know, couldn't do that I'd probably find my way back to it. So

 

Randy Hulsey  1:10:09

that's interesting. And it made me think a little bit because you mentioned earlier that I recently had Michael Sweet from striper on my show. And I was in conversation with their tour manager. And I thought about this question for you. Because I thought about it for myself, like, what would you do if you didn't do what you do for a living? And I always said, like, for years, I've said, I think I'd like to be like an a&r guy in the in the music, there's something like you, like, you know, be in the music in the industry, somehow a tour manager or a&r guy or something with a record label, or, because that's my passion, right? Even though I don't do that for a living like you do, I still have that passion to do it. So maybe that's my next career. I don't know when I retire.

 

Payton Howie  1:10:56

That's what I'm saying. Like, and I think I think a huge part of being in the music industry is not just the art of it, but also like, having to have like the people skills I in in May, I just graduated with my degree in communication and marketing, and I am not, how would

 

Randy Hulsey  1:11:11

the hell do you say your Don't you hate school? And then you tell me you have a college degree. This is you're contradicting yourself. Now.

 

Payton Howie  1:11:18

I'm a walking contradiction.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:11:20

Tell you. That's a song. There's your next song. I'm a contradiction. This

 

Payton Howie  1:11:25

is a line in my song.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:11:27

Awesome liner note credits, and the next EP God dang it. See, you come here. And you just like, the creative juices are just flow and you have a song, you're gonna walk out the door with a song, a cup. I mean, you're leaving here with a whole lot of things this evening. So got the full shebang. Yeah. So one last question for you define through your eyes define what success means to you.

 

Payton Howie  1:11:52

Honestly, I think success is for me, personally, is defined by it's like a day to day thing. You know, because some days, I'm like, I'm gonna sit down and write a song. You know, and if I don't finish that song, and like, I think I mean, you know, this, you know, what I'm saying, as a songwriter, like you sit down to write a song, and you don't, you don't finish it, you just give up, you're like, whatever, and you go do something else. Like, just because you don't finish that song doesn't mean you didn't at least practice on that craft of yours. Or, you know, you're playing a show and you're connecting with people and or you're sitting down, you're doing admin work all day, you know, you're booking shows and you know, you're you wear so many different hats as a, as an artist in the music industry. So I think literally, success is defined day to day by how hard you're working. And if you're really pushing yourself to do things that make you uncomfortable, because I think that is the time I felt the most growth and I felt the most sense of this is what I'm supposed to be doing is when I'm uncomfortable. Yeah. You know.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:13:06

Yeah. And I think the common denominator with all of the people that I've asked that particular question to to define success through their eyes, I don't think there's been one artist that says it's to have a boatload of money in the bank, like that's never come up. And that's what I'm always hoping to hear from the artists that it's, it's about growth, or it's about how I touch people, and, you know, maybe change somebody's life with my music. That's success. To me. That's what that's when I know, I'm successful. When I've touched people, it really, you know, it's not about well, I've got $10,000 in the bank, don't get me wrong. Money is a great byproduct of what you do, right? We need money to pay our bills, but it's not what defines us as people and artists. I don't think I agree.

 

Payton Howie  1:13:53

And I that's why I think I think success genuinely is, is defined by you doing your job well. And as a musician, music is music is very emotional. You know, music is impactful. And if you're touching people with your music, then you've already you've already done it.

 

Randy Hulsey  1:14:13

I agree. You have been a delight. I appreciate you being here. I appreciate you guys traveling across the country to get here. I know it was a long drive for you, but I wish you continued success. As always, I asked the listeners to like, share and subscribe to the podcast. Also make sure to follow Peyton on all of her social media outlets and on her website at WWW dot Peyton How we.com You can find the show on Facebook at backstage pass radio podcast, Instagram backstage pass radio on Twitter, at backstage pass PC and on the website at backstage pass. radio.com You guys take care of yourselves and each other. And we'll see you right back here on backstage pass radio.

 

Adam Gordon  1:14:59

Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you enjoyed today's episode of backstage pass radio. Make sure to follow Randy on Facebook and Instagram at Randy Halsey music, and on Twitter at our Halsey music. Also, make sure to like, subscribe and turn on alerts for upcoming podcasts. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to share the link with a friend and tell them backstage pass radio is the best show on the web for everything music. We'll see you next time right here on backstage pass radio