Casandra Carson (Paralandra, L.I.F.E. Project, George Lynch collaboration)

Casandra Carson is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. She is a part of the band Paralandra as well as The L.I.F.E Project with Josh Rand (Stone Sour) and an upcoming collaboration with George Lynch. Paralandra has a new album coming out in April produced by Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Mammoth WVH, Slash, Sevendust). We discuss the band’s future plans, rockstar moments, music business tips and more!

00:00 - Intro
00:14 - Early Musical Beginnings
03:44 - Singing Prep & Drinking
06:10 - Connections to Other Bands
07:35 - Yngwie Malmsteen
08:30 - Dokken & George Lynch Connection
10:20 - Industry Tips For Father Daughter
11:11 - Self-Managed Band & Touring
16:50 - Touring Strategy
19:55 - New Album "Body Electric"
22:30 - Slash, Paul Stanley & Rockstars
28:10 - Blabbermouth & Rockstar Drama
29:04 - Fat Shaming, Mom Bod & Fav Foods
37:16 - Living the Dream & Inspiring Others
43:45 - Upcoming Tour
45:42 - Outro

Paralandra website:
https://paralandrarocks.com/

Chuck Shute Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/chuck_shute

Transcript

Chuck Shute: 0:12

So my first question I'm doing do a little research. So your whole career in music started. I heard two sides of this or two different stories on this. Because one, you said that you played you both were you played with your dad's cover band and one it was Hotel California, and the other one was walked this way. So which one was it?

Casandra Carson: 0:31

Yeah. So the first performance was walked away. And I think I was like, 11 or 12 years old, something like that, when I did that one. And then, like, when I was 13, I performed Hotel California with them. And I identified that performance as really like the spark that propelled me to pursue music for the rest of my life.

Chuck Shute: 0:55

Okay, so the other one was first, but then that was the big one that really was like, I want to do this for my living.

Unknown: 1:02

Yeah, yeah. I mean, the first time was definitely, like, magical and like, amazing. But that second performance, it was like this Cinco Demayo party, and there were tons of people. And it was just like, you know, for a 13 year old, you really felt like a rock star up there, like shredding this solo all by yourself. And, you know, just the environment was was so surreal. And it was like, Oh my gosh, like, this is what I have to do. There's nothing like this. That's

Chuck Shute: 1:33

cool. So it's all just you're mostly self taught with guitar, I know and was singing as well, right?

Unknown: 1:39

Yeah. Yeah. I never really took any professional lessons. But obviously, my dad's a guitar player. So I would pretty much you know, just learn things as far as I could on my own, and then go to him whenever I needed help. So yeah, there was never really like, you know, every week at Wednesday at six o'clock.

Chuck Shute: 2:02

So, you you guys are both super talented. It's just like a lot of it's just it comes easy for you, right?

Unknown: 2:08

Well, I definitely grew up in a musical family. So I've been around it my whole life. My whole mom's side of the family are all singers. My maternal grandmother was in a, like in a gospel quartet singing group that like, toured and traveled around. But I just found out about this like, a couple years ago, I had no idea. But yeah, so I've always been around music always been around singing harmonies been a very normal part of my life. I guess that I felt like everybody else probably would have had the same experience, but definitely did not.

Chuck Shute: 2:45

Yeah, well, and so for the singing part, you had a little bit of training because you were in high school choir, whatever. But did you ever just like like, Did you practice singing in the mirror? Or the shower? Did you like watch YouTube videos on how to? Or is it more just kind of winging it?

Unknown: 2:59

It's a lot of winging it. And then once I like, you know, started singing for apparently Andhra and took over like, you know, frontman duties, then, you know, we were playing a lot of shows, and I really had to learn, like, how to control my voice. Because I was blown out my voice a lot of the time we're playing these, you know, for our cover shows at first, and night after night. That's a lot of thing. And we're covering a lot of like, hard rock stuff. So after that, yeah, I definitely started like just looking at YouTube videos. Like, how to think properly. I mean, I had a couple years of high school choir experience behind me, but never anything like what I was doing. So that's it. Yeah, a lot of it is YouTube.

Chuck Shute: 3:43

Okay. Do you have any tips? Because I had the singer Buckcherry on and he was saying how he doesn't drink water when he performs and I thought that was really interesting. He said, Yeah, if you drink water, like you have a craving to drink it but it actually makes you it's harder to sing for a long time so he doesn't drink until after the show. Wow.

Unknown: 4:02

Well, I could not disagree more. But I will say I do drink tea during my shows. And before my shows a lot you know the hot tea. I put like ginger, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, local honey, you know, it's like this magical concoction that I'm drinking like all day, but I'm also drinking tons of water like because you gotta stay hydrated. So I've got like a tons of a ton of like vocal regimen, things that I do all throughout the day, leading up to my performances,

Chuck Shute: 4:37

and you don't smoke or vape or anything like that, do you? Now not really. Okay. And you're not much of a drinker like with booze like you do whiskey and fireball sometimes, but not like do you do that before shows or after?

Unknown: 4:51

Wow, you're really been doing your research.

Chuck Shute: 4:55

That's what they told me. But yeah,

Unknown: 4:58

I'll drink whiskey every once in a while. I'll you know, morally morally. I'm a lyricist. How about that? More so as a social thing, but yeah.

Chuck Shute: 5:10

screwball whiskey, the PS,

Unknown: 5:13

I love it actually likes peanut butter. I love peanut butter. So yeah, that's my jam.

Chuck Shute: 5:20

Yeah, I remember the first time somebody told me about that. I was like, that sounds so disgusting. And then I tried it. And I was like, That's amazing.

Unknown: 5:26

Yeah, seriously. And there's also like, this hot pickle vodka that I tried recently. It was insane. And so good. I love pickles and pickle juice anyways, but like pickle juice

Chuck Shute: 5:39

is really good for you. Right? Because of the sodium or something. I don't know.

Unknown: 5:43

I have no clue. I mean, probably not like pickled. The

Chuck Shute: 5:47

Pickle juice vodka, but pickle juice in general, is kind of like a natural sports drink. I've

Unknown: 5:53

heard. Wow. Well, I do know that it helps with cramps. So Oh, yeah, you're right. Something to it?

Chuck Shute: 5:59

Yeah,

Unknown: 6:00

I'm no scientist.

Chuck Shute: 6:02

Sure, we can talk science. Talk all sorts of so we know you guys are based in Missouri. Right? Yeah. Springfield, Missouri. Okay. So is that how you know because I'm in Arizona. And we have a band down here called the Black moods. And Josh Kennedy is from Missouri. Is that how you know them?

Unknown: 6:18

Yes, actually. Yeah, we have mutual friends that used to own a bar and Mo net. And I think that Josh is from that area. But yeah, we've played with them in Springfield a few times. And like, every once in a while, we'll cross paths on the road. And yeah, I've been following those guys for years now. That's

Chuck Shute: 6:39

awesome. So yeah, what other bands are you like friends with because I just saw that on your Instagram was like, we both follow the black moods. I was like, Oh, that's cool. She knows them. But I'm trying to think of what else like I know tantric because you guys, there's a coming up here, obviously.

Unknown: 6:54

Yes, yes, good friends with the tantric boys. That all started back in 2018. And we just couldn't be separated ever since. But that mainly had to do with me and Geron, of course, you

Chuck Shute: 7:08

worked with them to write or Yeah, we toured all

Unknown: 7:12

over with the tantric guys. Also, like the I guess the musicians from inveigh mom's teens bands like Emilio and Brian Wilson. Well, he doesn't play with him anymore. But like, yeah, anyways, Nick Marino, they're awesome guys play with ngay super cool. We keep in touch with them. Did

Chuck Shute: 7:36

you ever have any interaction with him guy? Yeah, yeah, I've

Unknown: 7:39

had a few and honestly, they've been pleasant. Like, there were definitely a lot of, you know, rules and stipulations as far as being an opener, you know, for the tour. So we weren't allowed to be in the building during certain times. There was definitely like, some rough load in situations that we ran into pretty frequently. But on a personal level, face to face. He's always been very kind to us. very complimentary. So

Chuck Shute: 8:09

Does he still have the child? I haven't seen him. I've never seen him live. Does he still is he still pretty amazed because I know he had like a hand injury or something like that.

Unknown: 8:17

Yeah. Honestly, when we have to work with him, he kills it every night. It's crazy. Like mind blowing.

Chuck Shute: 8:23

Did you guys also I saw something in the in the email that your publicist sent it was you either played a show with dokkan or you toured with them? Or what was their connection there?

Unknown: 8:33

Yeah, we played with Doc in here in Springfield. Actually. It was Dakota. Our drummer Dakota Watson. It was his first show with us ever. So that was kind of a great way to dip his feet in. But yeah, here in Springfield, it was it was sick. That's

Chuck Shute: 8:51

great. Yeah, cuz like he my audience loves him. Like I had him on the show. And it was so fascinating. Like he's just an open ball. Have you ever talked to him but he just he just tells exactly like it is he does not care. He does not hold back at all. It's kind of funny. That

Unknown: 9:06

is absolutely true. I've had a few chances to hang out with them because my boyfriend Jaren plays for lynch mob now please base right. So

Chuck Shute: 9:18

I banned from visiting the

Unknown: 9:19

ad dude, he's the busiest guy in the industry. I mean, ridiculous. But he's a great player. And he's really good at his job. So I can't hold them back. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 9:29

and you're into you're in parallel Andhra, but also the life project with the stone sour guitarist Josh ran, right? Yes,

Unknown: 9:36

correct. And actually, this year, I have another project coming out with George Lynch. We've got our own album that will be coming out. We just finished recording it last week.

Chuck Shute: 9:48

Is it a frontier thing? Yeah. Okay, I was gonna say they always put these things together. And that's cool. Well, that'll be interesting. I haven't even heard about that one.

Unknown: 9:57

I know George has mentioned it in a few interviews. So I'm not trying to be too shy talking about it, but, you know, yeah, it will be coming out. I'm super excited. So gonna

Chuck Shute: 10:08

write the songs or did he write it? Are you guys ready together?

Unknown: 10:11

He wrote out the music. And then I came in and wrote all the lyrics and the vocal melodies and stuff to go on top of it. Okay,

Chuck Shute: 10:18

cool. So yeah. The, the bandwidth your dad, so interesting that when you guys so I love hearing the stories of like meeting with industry people, and they were like they told you to, like, not change your name or change your dad's name and you guys not to act like you weren't father and daughter.

Unknown: 10:36

Yeah, yeah. They were like, You need to change his name to Paul Daniels. I'm like, why? Who cares? He's my dad, get over it.

Chuck Shute: 10:46

Yeah, cuz your reaction or the fans reaction is has been mostly positive about that. Right? People like, oh, well, you get to play with your dad.

Unknown: 10:53

Yeah, literally, it's been 100% positive from everyone else's perspective, except for like, a few management record label, you know, companies. And it's like, well, who cares? You're not coming to my show. So. Right? And

Chuck Shute: 11:09

who is your management now?

Unknown: 11:11

So that's hard to say we don't really have management. We are self managed. But we have arm entertainment, that book for us. And we also do a bit of self booking. And then we're releasing our album through legend recordings, which is based out of Ohio. We've worked with them for years and years, since our first release, actually awful down back in whatever 2016 I think so. Yeah. But they're, they don't really manage us. So yeah, we're self managed, I guess you could say,

Chuck Shute: 11:46

what were you with red light management for a little while.

Unknown: 11:50

There are a very short jaunt. Yeah. And yeah, then we just, honestly, if I have to be 100%, transparent, we cannot find a management group that can outwork us. So I just, I don't see the point and relinquishing, you know, my voice to someone who's not going to work as hard as me. Wow.

Chuck Shute: 12:15

Okay. Well, that makes sense. Yeah. Because I noticed that too. I feel like I mean, even with a publicist, I feel like sometimes there's they're managing so many different bands that they don't they can't give their attention to every it's impossible, you know? Yeah, right.

Unknown: 12:29

That is absolutely true. Because, you know, my full time job, like pretty much is perelandra. So like, I'm every single day working on booking working on, you know, merch, or whatever it may be that day, and I get that if you're a management group, you're doing that for multiple bands every single day. So it's really hard to just like, you know, devote an hour or devote two hours just to this one band, and how many bands do you have? So, like, I get it, it's a crazy workload. But I mean, up until now, it's been great just doing it ourselves. So and we get a lot done, and we do it the way we want to. And, you know, so

Chuck Shute: 13:11

it's, it's kind of like most of your job is like, basically like business and like band manager, and then you have some time to obviously work on music, play guitar, sing write songs, and that kind of stuff.

Unknown: 13:21

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It's 95% business and 5% of the time, I'm on stage.

Chuck Shute: 13:29

But then once you book a tour, then I'm assuming it would be a lot more. I mean, while at least you get to do a show every night or not, maybe not every night, but like if I mean, how are you going to do as actual like a tour?

Unknown: 13:40

Oh, yeah. So I pretty much am tour routing, like, all the time 24/7 booking shows, looking at routes, like, you know, one day it will pop up four weeks after another date. So now I'm like, Okay, now we got to figure out how to get to and from, so you start filling in the in this thoughts? And anyway, so it's always changing.

Chuck Shute: 14:00

I'm always so fascinated by that, because it's kind of like a man I feel like it's like those sad questions like this two trains are traveling at 50 miles an hour. And this train left, like, right I mean, it's that kind of what you're trying to do. It's like a math problem or something. Oh,

Unknown: 14:13

literally. Yes, I'm on Google Maps like all day looking at how many miles is it from point A to point B and like, you know, measuring it out and distances and well what city could we go to next? Like what's a good market on the way to this place? And and then you've

Chuck Shute: 14:30

got to calculate in like, how much gas costs and how much hotel costs and how much you're gonna get paid and all that stuff

Unknown: 14:36

right? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Chuck Shute: 14:38

Wow, what a nightmare but like, I guess it could be kind of fun in a way but like,

Unknown: 14:43

it's fun, but it is a nightmare for sure.

Chuck Shute: 14:47

Yeah, because sometimes like you can't you can't find something right like to match it up. Like if you want it like I'm in Arizona, so I can. Let's say you wanted to go like do Vegas, Phoenix and then la like, maybe like that you couldn't get a Phoenix One so then what do you just have take a night off or something? Right? Exactly.

Unknown: 15:03

Yeah. Or show gets canceled last second that happened to us on the winter heat tour. Like literally a few days before. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not gonna be able to do it. Like, okay, well, I'll just go screw myself for a night. Cool. Yeah, like,

Chuck Shute: 15:19

yeah. Did you see that thing? Like it was a few, maybe a few weeks or months ago. But anthrax, I mean, they're one of the top four biggest thrash metal bands of all time. And they had to cancel their European tour tour, because it just didn't make sense financially for them to even do it. Yeah,

Unknown: 15:34

yeah, that's the other thing like it is definitely it costs a lot of money to go on tour to pay for the gas, paper, the hotels, the food, you know, all of the stuff and then of course, you got like transmission problems literally, like our last show on Saturday, our transmission went out and we like just barely rolled into the parking lot. Had to get it towed. You know, however many, two hours back to Springfield. So it's just like, some, it's things that you have to account for. But you never know when it's gonna happen. So, yeah, anyway.

Chuck Shute: 16:14

Yeah. Now do you guys typically get like a flat rate for a show? Or is it like you get a percentage of the door or something? Because like, I remember there was this ban on if you've heard of the band vigil war, but they came in like, and I it's weird, like, the people never took my money at the door for the ticket. And so I, I felt bad. So I went to the bass player, and I was like, hey, like, they never took my money. She goes, Oh, it's okay, we got a flat rate. So we don't care. I was like, alright, well, let me buy a t shirt.

Unknown: 16:38

Nice. Well, it honestly changes venue to venue. Like, there's really no rhyme or reason. It's just what is the deal with this particular venue? You know, okay. So you know, getting

Chuck Shute: 16:50

on with other bands, like on a package, because isn't that ideal? Because then like, you wouldn't even have to book you do any of that stuff. Right? Like if they have been like, if you got on with opening spot with Doc in or something like, and you're on the tour, and they've already booked it, and you're just opening when that'd be the best scenario.

Unknown: 17:05

Yeah, that would be great. That'd be awesome. That was like, how it was when we went on tour with inveigh both in 2019, and 2021. Like, the whole thing was already mapped out. And we just jumped on, it was a dream, like, didn't have to do really any of the backend work except to show up. So that's definitely the preference. Plus, you've got the built in crowd, you're the underdogs, which I love, you know, just like blowing people's minds that have never heard of you. And it's so much fun. So yeah, anyway, yeah, that'll be my preference.

Chuck Shute: 17:41

Or what about like, packaging yourselves with other bands of similar styles and similar size? Fans, fan bases and audiences? I mean, because there's so many bands that, you know, have a similar amount of followers and listens or whatever ones, but you guys could package together like three or four or five that you guys and go out and make it a package thing. And then you know, their fans come out and see you. And then you know, you make new fans of each other's Yeah,

Unknown: 18:06

absolutely. Actually, we just did a little something like that. Earlier this month, it was called the Midwest monsters tour. And pretty much I just invited Troy or the reality of yourself there. Also Springfield, Missouri based, and then the mini color death, which they are Columbia, Missouri based, and both just like insane powerhouse bands. So we packaged up for a few shows. And then we played in Springfield, Kansas City, St. Louis. Rolla, just, you know, some surrounding area shows and had a great time. So, you know, we, we try to do that kind of stuff as often as we can, because we like, great bands that deserve to be heard. And we really believe in them. So yeah, we do that all the time. Where you guys are awesome. You need more people to hear you come play some shows with us, you know?

Chuck Shute: 19:02

Yeah, cuz there's some cool I'm trying to think I always like space out like, but like I had the guys on if you've heard of the band of limbo, those guys are hilarious. And they're really good live, they opened up for faster, pussycat, classless Act, which, you know, they just opened on that stadium tour. Like, there's a lot of fun, younger up and coming bands that I think would be cool. I would love to see somebody put a package of like five of these guys together. You guys could jump on add the black moods or something. I think that'd be an amazing show.

Unknown: 19:31

Seriously, we've been talking with the black moods, like for years about that, like we got to do something. Yes. So

Chuck Shute: 19:40

I would promote that I would come to the show. I bring all two of my friends. And oh,

Unknown: 19:44

I appreciate it, man. Yeah, that's all everybody bring two friends. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 19:50

there we go. So you guys, is this. I know you have a couple new songs right now. Is there a full album coming? So I was trying to look and maybe the poses just didn't send it to me or do you have other music recorded that you're gonna release? Yeah.

Unknown: 20:03

So we've got a new album called the Body Electric that is dropping on April 4. We've already released two singles. So we released dirty love in January. And then we did love of my life. beginning of February, a ballad, very different than anything we've ever done before. Yeah, it's cool. Yeah. And it's funny because nobody in our band plays piano so like, playing it live. We just have to come up with another version. But

Chuck Shute: 20:33

Oh, really? So you wouldn't play it with the track? Are you like against that? We

Unknown: 20:37

don't play with tracks. We just prefer to you know, do it old school. See what four people can do with their hands and mouths? You know?

Chuck Shute: 20:45

Yeah, you could use an acoustic or something or yeah, you could be interesting to hear that song live without the piano.

Unknown: 20:52

Yeah, exactly. So that's what we've been doing. My dad has been doing kind of a version of the piano on his guitar and kind of to get

Chuck Shute: 21:01

us one of those key tours, right?

Unknown: 21:06

Like, um, I think it's called the B nine by electro harmonics. It's a pedal that is like all Oregon sounds keyboard sounds. Um, anyway, I'm like, Just get that it'll literally sound like a piano. So blow people's minds.

Chuck Shute: 21:21

Yeah, that would be cool. So who? On the Record who played it? Then you got somebody else?

Unknown: 21:25

Yeah, it's my good friend Payton Palin. He lives here in Springfield. We've grown up together. And he's just an incredible pianist. So I could think of no one more perfect when it came down to it. So okay, he recorded it at home sent off the track while we were in the studio, and we just threw it into the session and played along to it. Is

Chuck Shute: 21:45

it the same producer on this album than the last one? It's a Michael Elvis backscatter. Yeah, it was like Mammoth and ultra Bridgman slash and seven. Yeah, that's awesome.

Unknown: 21:56

Yeah, he's amazing to work with. Seriously. Just an incredible human being, aside from being great at what he does. Really, I

Chuck Shute: 22:04

should try to get him on the podcast. But he's got some stories. Did he tell you some good stories about the people he's worked with? Oh,

Unknown: 22:10

yeah. But good luck getting them to talk about it.

Chuck Shute: 22:15

Isn't one of those Yeah, cuz they don't want to like burn the bridge or whatever. So yeah, I get that positive story.

Unknown: 22:23

He's told us some funny stories. I will say there was one like, where I guess slash was like, walking around on the street outside of the studio. And there's like a police, a policeman that lives a couple doors down that saw him walking around. He's just on the phone. And so the guy comes over, like a day later, and he's like, Hey, is that slap in your driveway? He's like, Yep, see you later. And just like goes right back inside, like, very private. But you know, every once in a while slash will be walking around and you'll just wonder what the heck. What? What's

Chuck Shute: 23:03

wherever the be California, LA or something?

Unknown: 23:06

He's actually in Florida. Orlando. Okay. Oh, wow.

Chuck Shute: 23:10

The slash Walker. Do you think he just walks around with a top hat like all the time? I

Unknown: 23:14

think he probably does a mixture of the top hat. And I think I've seen him in the baseball hats. Yeah, I think it's always got to be a hat. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 23:22

a lot of times. Yeah. It's true.

Unknown: 23:26

Always with the sunglasses inside outside nighttime daytime.

Chuck Shute: 23:31

Yeah, I remember when I was 15. No, like 16 Maybe Gilby. Clarke or you saw them Seattle and Gilby Clarke from Guns and Roses or ex Guns and Roses played with his solo band and are no sorry, it was slashed his snake pit. But Gilby Clarke was playing in it. But that we waited backstage and slash walked. He walked out from backstage he walked right by me. And I was like, I was just like, I froze. And then everyone went around and asked for autographs. I got an autograph. But it's surreal to see that guy in what in real life.

Unknown: 23:59

It is so weird. I actually kind of had one of those experiences on the kiss cruise a few years ago. Oh, this? Oh, yeah. It was just like down watching the darkness. And then I turned around and literally simultaneously, Paul Stanley and I lock eyes side to side and I'm like, and just run away. Like said nothing just got out of there.

Chuck Shute: 24:22

He wasn't getting mobbed by everyone else, or was he already signed all the autographs and everything?

Unknown: 24:26

No, I mean, he was just hanging out. He would hang out every night and people would just kind of like, let him be. And he loves watching all the bands. So yeah, you kind of always see him around, but I just was not expecting to see him standing shoulder to shoulder with me. And for us to just have a moment. That's

Chuck Shute: 24:45

very cool. Did you ever get to talk to him later gonna picture anything or no?

Unknown: 24:52

I love the mystique of rock stardom. So I prefer not to talk to people.

Chuck Shute: 25:00

Um, yeah, there is definitely like, see, when I was a kid, before the internet really took off. It's not like it was just like you'd read about him and like, like metal edge magazine or all these magazines and stuff. And it was like, they just seem like these untouchable people. And then now I'm doing them all and I'm like, This is so weird. Like, these are people that I posters of on my walls when I was a kid, and now we're just having this conversation. It's really bizarre. It's super

Unknown: 25:22

weird. It's like superheroes or something. Yeah, like, they seem invincible or something. I don't know, like, just a character. But yeah, obviously, it's really cool to like, have a great conversation with your hero like, but I don't know, I just I like the mystique. I would rather like see them from afar and be like, oh, and like feel the butterflies, you know? Yeah. But you gotta

Chuck Shute: 25:47

you got to push past that and then and then have that conversation and meet him like, I think I think because people say don't meet your heroes. I'm like, I disagree. I'd love to meet my heroes. I think it's fascinating and a lot of times they live up to the hype and they're like John karate I don't know if you remember how he was the singer Motley Crue for like five years, but like, he got into the band. And so I remember like, had his poster of and stuff. And I reached out to him try to get on my show. I'm thinking oh, he'll never reach out he my phone rings. It says Beverly Hills number. I'm like What is? What is it? I answered the phone. It's him. It's not his publicist. Like he called me it was the weirdest thing. I'll still I'll never forget that. It was a weird moment. That is

Unknown: 26:26

so cool. I really like I have run into to John karate as well because his son Ian played for tantric for a while. Yeah, so that ended up being just like a crazy coincidence and same thing like Sebastian, who played guitar for tantric. His dad was Jeff Lebar. From Cinderella, so I got to meet him and it was just very surreal. Like these are regular guys Jeff Lebar is making the fried chicken in his kitchen right now. What the heck like the bones for me because he knows that I don't like I'm like

Chuck Shute: 27:00

I heard he's like really was a was a really cool guy. Like, I had this other podcasts on my show. When I first started. I said who's like the best guest you've ever had? And he said Jeff Lebar He's hilarious.

Unknown: 27:13

Yes, Jeff was an incredible person. Hilarious. Like, so hospitable. I don't know, I only got to hang out with him a few times. Like with Sebastian, you know, when we were in Nashville that yeah, just like the nicest most just regular guy.

Chuck Shute: 27:31

That's cool. I love those those kinds of I love hearing those kinds of stories. Like I love the people that are just like the Don Dawkins that are like almost like, some people might even say they're a little crazy, but I like it because it just like they don't hold back. Like, you know, he's you can tell Don Dawkins, like he doesn't give a fuck because he's like, I'm old. I don't care anymore and even said about, like, his thing with George Lynch. He's like, he's like, Look, you got gray hair. I got gray hair. Let's just let it go. I don't care about the past. And that's great. I

Unknown: 27:59

love it. It's so funny because like, those guys really don't care like every day on Blab about that's like another quote. Like, yes. Then the other guy going back and forth. I'm like, oh, man, these guys are just letting it all hang out.

Chuck Shute: 28:14

Do you follow all the blabber mouth drama and stuff?

Unknown: 28:17

I really don't follow it closely. But when it pops in my feed, like I enjoy, you know, scrolling past a little bit of drama every once in a while. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 28:28

I mean, that's it's it is kind of like fast. And then people say like, well, this is terrible. We shouldn't be doing this. But then like everybody only likes those kinds of like stories like those are the most popular stories like, if blabber mouth did a story about your new album right now, it's like that would not get as many hits as if like Don Dokken calls Vince Neil fat or something like it's, and it's kind of sad, but it also is like a little bit of a reality too. Seriously,

Unknown: 28:54

I mean, you can't look away from a trash fire like

Chuck Shute: 28:58

that is so so yeah. Well, I wanted to ask you about that. Because, like the whole, like fat shaming thing, weren't you told by the record label that you should drop 20 pounds or something like that?

Unknown: 29:09

Oh, yeah, I was. I was told that multiple times.

Chuck Shute: 29:14

People are the same person.

Unknown: 29:16

Different people. Yeah. Like, especially when we were first starting with you know, I look back at pictures of myself. And I wasn't fat. And I definitely had more of a baby face than I do. Now. I was in my early 20s. But anyway, it's just crazy to me that the industry is so superficial. And I guess you kind of know that it is going into it but like, then being on the receiving end of it and being like, well, what is wrong with me? Like I I feel like I go to the gym, I'm active. I kind of watch what I eat. You know?

Chuck Shute: 29:55

Do you think it's worse for women though? Because like, I mean, we're talking about like Vince Neil and Axl Rose like They gained some weight and they got so many trolls and comments. But like Amy Schumer, I don't know if you're following that story at all. But she did a talk show and her face was a little puffy. And she just got lamb blasted. What's wrong with her? Well, it turns out she has some Cushing's Syndrome. I think that causes an increase in cortisol. And so her face looks a little puffy. And she said that women are judged more harshly than men do you agree with?

Unknown: 30:26

Yeah, I mean, for example, like, just there's like the dad bod trend, but like, that is like, Okay, why is it Why isn't mom bought a thing? Like, that's a really good point. You're right. So we need to make that trend. What the hell yeah. So anyways, that's my opinion. And

Chuck Shute: 30:51

Larry, is you're right. Why didn't no one come up with that, Mom, but I've never heard that before. That is a great counter.

Unknown: 30:58

Thank you. Hello. Anyway, I think it's a little lopsided. But hey, we'll get there. And

Chuck Shute: 31:07

I feel like it's not accurate. I remember and then, like, You're too young. But I remember in the 90s, there was this model Kate Moss, and she just, I just did not find her attractive. She was so skinny. It was it's just gross to me. And I'm like, I feel like most guys do not want that. Do they do not want a stick figure girl? So it's kind of like weird to me. When I mean, obviously, there's, you know, there's differences when people are like, morbidly obese, but that's, that's very different than just being a few pounds, like overweight or whatever. Having a little meat on your bones. I feel like most guys like that prefer that. I

Unknown: 31:43

would agree. I mean, I definitely have those moments. I mean, you know, being around Jaron, we're, we're just like pigging out and we love to eat, we love to try new restaurants. That's just something that we do a lot. And so, you know, I'll be like, Oh my gosh, I am so fat. Like, I need to take it easy. Like, no, you're You look amazing. I love it, whatever, you're a little bit like, you know, on the heavier side, so

Chuck Shute: 32:09

good boyfriend,

Unknown: 32:11

you need to keep her. So yeah, I've got a little bit of that balance. You know, I've got to keep myself in check. I do want to be healthy, you know, mindful of what I'm putting into my body, but at the same time, like, don't feel bad about if you need to let loose every once in a while and just pig out for a month straight. For a few months in my, in my case,

Chuck Shute: 32:33

I just yeah, I'm trying to I'm trying to cut down but I try to still do at least I'm even my trainers will say like you should have, you should have like a cheat meal a week. Because it'll because otherwise if you try to restrict yourself for so long, like you'll just, you won't be you won't build the hang on because there's just so much good food in the world. Like you gotta eat it sometimes.

Unknown: 32:51

I know. And there's like so much guilt and shame when you've been on a roll for so long. And then it's like the end of the world if you've gone like three months with no sugar, and all of a sudden you eat some sugar and you're like, Oh, what have I done? And you know, like, maybe just like moderation. Have a little bit here and there that way you don't feel so guilty about it and you're still doing a great job. So yeah, enjoy enjoy life.

Chuck Shute: 33:16

Some of its like cracked like what is your like weakness? Because for me, it's like, I feel cheesecake is so good. And I try to I don't I obviously don't like keep it in the house or anything but that is like a mate. Is there something for you? That's your like, you have to have this. Well,

Unknown: 33:30

I love Dr. Pepper. I like so much I could easily drink a 12 pack in a day. Like it's that addictive for me. So good. So I try and limit my Dr. Pepper intake to like, maybe once a week, I'll have it on a day and like allow myself to indulge, but I don't know if you've seen like Post Malone lost like 60 pounds from just removing soda from his diet. Like so. Oh,

Chuck Shute: 33:59

I didn't see that doesn't matter. See, I've always heard conflicting things too about the like the zero sugar or the Diet Dr. Pepper like because people say like, well, you can lose weight by switching to that, but then also the chemicals and it will give you cancer. So right

Unknown: 34:15

the aspartame So, like what Jared has told me. I obviously I love my boyfriend so much. We're talking about him a lot. But he's,

Chuck Shute: 34:25

by the way is that love of my life? I'm assuming that's about him, right? Yeah, of

Unknown: 34:28

course. Okay. It was an anniversary present for him back in 2020. I never ended up like I never wanted to release it. But everybody told me we had to so we ended up doing it. But yeah, but anyway, what he has told me is like, if you're gonna have a soda, have a soda, like enjoy it. And then like don't drink something that tastes worse and is worse for you. Like why would you do that? So anyways, that's what I always think like to have soda. Yeah, I'm gonna have a soda

Chuck Shute: 35:00

But now you mostly drink water and celery juice. Yeah, it's

Unknown: 35:04

like sounds really been doing your research, man.

Chuck Shute: 35:07

Yeah. I love it. I love learning about people. I think you're interesting. I think everyone's interesting, really. But yeah, I thought that was interesting celery juice, like you make it fresh or you can't like buy that prepackaged can you know,

Unknown: 35:19

I make it fresh at home. It's way better fresh anyways, like, even if you go, like, I don't know, to a buffet or something. And they're like, we'll make some so I juice for you. It's always disgusting. Like, I get, like this organic brand, from here in Springfield. And it's like, super sweet. And, yeah, I'll make like a full glass of it and drink that every day. And it's really good for you. And you notice the

Chuck Shute: 35:46

health benefits from like, if you drink a bunch of celery juice? Is it clear up your skin or something? Or does it have some sort of benefit like that? Yeah,

Unknown: 35:53

it's like, honestly, it's just kind of a really good thing for your body in general. Like if you have any dead or sickly, white blood cells, or some type of cells. Again, I'm not a scientist. It heals you from within. You know, if you're sick or whatever, knocks out whatever is attacking your body. It's really great for digestion. Great for your gut. So, yeah,

Chuck Shute: 36:22

I heard I heard a rumor. Well, I don't know if this is true or not. But I heard that Peter North drank celery juice, if you don't know that is do not Google it. But I thought that was the weirdest thing. So that's why I asked that. I'm like, That's really interesting. For for a female takes it what is the benefit to it? But I'm sure it has all sorts of health benefits.

Unknown: 36:40

Yeah, honestly, I don't know. I just feel like a better person when I drink it.

Chuck Shute: 36:45

I need to try it. I think I tried it one time. And I was like, Oh, this is really hard to do. You put like a Cayenne pepper in or something to make it go down better.

Unknown: 36:53

Well, I do that in my tea. But the celery juice I do straight.

Chuck Shute: 36:57

Okay. Wow. That's good, though. Yeah, it's like you're getting on some of the health kick, too. But yeah, I mean, the occasional Dr. Pepper isn't going to kill you. That's for sure.

Unknown: 37:06

Right? I gotta have it. It makes me so happy. Like, why deny myself?

Chuck Shute: 37:13

Well, yeah, so talk about like, I thought it was really cool. Because I think I heard you talking about, like, why you want to be in a band? And like, what, what is the point? Because I, when you get older you get in your 40s. And so if you start thinking about those kinds of things, like what is the point of all this? What is the purpose, but like, for you, you said, you kind of you really do want to, like inspire people and help people and change the world with your band? Yeah,

Unknown: 37:34

I mean, the whole like, message behind perelandra and our songs. It's all like very uplifting, you know, positive energy very much. You are loved, you are accepted in this place. You know, whoever you are, however you present yourself, we're gonna love you no matter what. So we like to

Chuck Shute: 37:54

no matter what, that's kind of a bold statement, no matter

Unknown: 37:58

what murderers, we're gonna love you now.

Chuck Shute: 38:03

But I feel like that is. I agree, though, that is the reason to me for music is that it brings people together from and then sports, I guess, in some ways, too. But like, you know, you go to a concert. And it shouldn't be people from all different backgrounds and ages. And like the one thing we have in common. I mean, yeah, we have a lot of things that are not in common. We can talk about that for years. But when you go to the concert, you everyone puts that stuff aside, and everyone is singing along to the same songs and rocking out together. And I think that's amazing. Yeah,

Unknown: 38:33

it's the cool thing about music is it's all like, so subjective. Like as far as how you're going to interpret it, like a song can mean so many different things to different people. And it's so personal like that, like, the song Love of My Life, a lot of people have been like, oh, my gosh, I feel like you're saying what I would say, like, you know, to somebody, and it feels very much like, they're just connected with it. So I don't know, just like, and there's so much division in the world, like, especially politically, I feel like we're very much divided in a lot of areas. And so we just kind of want to, you know, offer that middle ground that like safe place where we don't have to worry about, you know, what everybody believes about this or that, like, Let's just enjoy some music and just like have a good time, and not be divided by stupid little things.

Chuck Shute: 39:31

But how do we how do we work past those things? Like how do we, how do we, I mean, is it just through the music and we just try to forget about it for a little while because I feel like these, some of these issues are just never, they just don't go away. And it's so frustrating. Yeah,

Unknown: 39:47

it's true. I mean, I will never claim to have all the answers, but I just know that I tried to tell myself every day to just love people to love me. And just love Look at every single person and be like, I love that person. I don't know who you are, I love you, and treat them in that way. And I really don't think anything bad could ever happen from doing that in your life. I think you're only reaping what you sow. So, I don't know, I think it starts from within, I think you got to figure out how to love yourself and then figure out how to love other people.

Chuck Shute: 40:23

That's great advice. I can I agree. 100%. And I've definitely heard that because a lot of people that have so much hate for someone because they're different. It's usually because they really technically hate themselves. And they're just projecting that hate onto this other thing or other person, wherever. Absolutely,

Unknown: 40:40

yeah. I mean, there's like four agreements that I try to, you know, maintain in my daily life, which is, Be impeccable with your word, to never make assumptions. To what is it? Sorry, I'm like, No, I'm on the spot. But anyways, no, this is great, easy things that, you know, can just change your perspective on life. Now, I'm, I gotta look it up, because I'm here, and I'm talking about it. And I feel like if anybody's listening, this could definitely benefit someone. Yeah.

Chuck Shute: 41:14

Do you listen to inspirational podcasts? Or read books? Or something? Or how do you come up with some of this life philosophy?

Unknown: 41:22

Yeah, I definitely listen to podcasts. I listen to YouTube therapy things because I can't afford therapy. But okay, I gotta pull that up. So be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions, and always do your best. And if you can do those four things, you'll just be a lot happier of a person, I think. And that's worked for me. So

Chuck Shute: 41:48

yeah, that's great stuff. I love it. That's amazing. And what other any other advice you have for people or, like, people that want to start a band that want to make it in the music business? Because you're, you're successful? You're doing it? You're living the dream? Yeah,

Unknown: 42:05

I mean, I would just say that I mean, anything is possible, if you want it bad enough. So I mean, for me, like I didn't grow up with a family that had a ton of money. So you know, everything was something that I had to work for. So you know, if you want to be a musician, go out there. Find people who are like minded, and hone in on your craft, be great at what you do. And don't be afraid to promote yourself, and be proud of yourself. Because ultimately, you got to be your best own cheerleader, too. So, yeah, I don't know, I guess I would just say if there's anything you want in your life, if you don't want to be confined to the nine to five, you don't have to be so just plan and execute it. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 42:54

you people should definitely follow their dreams do what they love. I mean, within reason, obviously, if you've got you know, mortgage and kids and stuff, don't quit your job and start a band and think it's gonna pay close bills right away. But with time you start a side project, a cover band on the weekends, and you know, you work your way up to the, to where you're doing it full time. I think it's possible for

Unknown: 43:12

sure, exactly. You just like, even if you want to daydream, just like think about where you are now, where do you want to be? And then fill in hypothetically, whatever steps what would have to happen in order for you to get there in whatever world and then be like, Oh, well, I can attain that step. Oh, well, I can attain that step. If this step, you know, like, you just, I would say, externalize it, write it down, you know, come up with a plan.

Chuck Shute: 43:42

I love it. Well, this is great. And you've got a new album coming out in April. And tour is in the works. You said or you have some dates already set.

Unknown: 43:52

Yeah, we have a lot of anchor dates happening this summer. I had some more come in today. And I think it's going to be not necessarily a tour where we're like on with another band for the entire time. But we're going to have a lot of dates and a lot of different places. And I'm going to be filling in those routes as we speak.

Chuck Shute: 44:16

Arizona Oh, come on. Come see if I'm in town.

Unknown: 44:19

I actually think we might be in Winslow, Arizona on June 21.

Chuck Shute: 44:27

And June would be good because yeah, that's like I like getting out of here in in the summer. Winslow's a lot cooler. I love ones I'll actually it's really I've ever been there. It's cool town.

Unknown: 44:35

We've driven through it twice. And we always stopped for gas there so that we can say we put our feet down in Winslow, Arizona, but have

Chuck Shute: 44:41

you stand on the corner with the statue that Scott the tribute to that song?

Unknown: 44:46

Oh, no, we haven't done that. Oh, you gotta do

Chuck Shute: 44:49

that next time. Yeah, it's like there's a thing. It's like standing on a quarter of the Winslow, Arizona. It's like an a flatbed forward there. It's really cool. That

Unknown: 44:56

is awesome, man. Yeah, we've missed it. Uh, but yeah, we always make sure to stop at least and get gas. Yeah, hopefully that'll get confirmed. And, you know, my plan. My personal goal for this band is to hit the East Coast will already be on the west coast in Oregon in August. So I plan on booking more West Coast shows, in that timeframe. We're gonna hit as many places as we can this year. Okay,

Chuck Shute: 45:23

awesome. I look forward to it. And people can follow you on social media to have the new songs are out now and your previous all your previous stuff is on Spotify. And then you can buy merch on your website, I'm assuming to.

Unknown: 45:34

Yup, it's all there.

Chuck Shute: 45:36

Cool. All right. Thanks so much for doing this. I appreciate it.

Unknown: 45:39

Thanks so much for having me. Appreciate it. All right. Bye. Bye. Thank

Chuck Shute: 45:43

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