From Independent Artist to Rising Star: 615 Exclusive’s Story EP116

 This week on Happy Hour with Deb, we sit down with rising artist 615 Exclusive, alongside co-hosts Holdyn Barder and Aliyah Orawsky, for a real and inspiring conversation about music, life, and purpose. 

Born Jamarius De’shawn Williams, 615 Exclusive shares his journey from being an independent artist writing songs at just 17 years old to building momentum in the music industry with millions of streams across platforms. We talk about his growth as an artist in Nashville, his creative process, and what drives him to keep pushing forward.

The conversation also dives into a more personal side of life — including fatherhood, balancing responsibilities, and staying focused while chasing big dreams.

With honesty, ambition, and a unique perspective on music and life, this episode is packed with meaningful moments and great energy from start to finish. 

#countrymusic #countrymusicartist #nashville #podcast #happyhourwithdeb 

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

I had a great time. I feel like I needed this.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Hey, it's Deb. It's Happy Hour with Deb, and this is my week, people. I got my people in the house and some of my favorites, and we have 615 exclusive with us today.

SPEAKER_03 0:28

Appreciate y'all having me. Totally.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

It's so nice to have you. Let me intro the M in too, and we're getting into your music. Next to me is my good buddy and amazing artist Harden Holden Barter. What's up, baby? And on the end is my sunshine, dear friend, ride or die niece Aliyah Orawski in the house today. Hello. I know. She's so pretty, right? I know. She's ridiculously pretty now. She's like, shut up, Dad. She just pulled a like a mom, like a grandma moment. I'm so sorry. You can beat the shit on me later. Well deal. Let's talk some music. You're now you're in local Nashville. You've been here your whole life.

SPEAKER_03 1:04

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_00 1:05

What's that like?

SPEAKER_03 1:07

It's definitely grown since I since I can remember. Like Nashville today, and then Nashville back in 1996. I sound old. Back in 1996, it's definitely grown from like the sky, from like the buildings downtown. Just the people. Like it's hard to meet people that's born and raised in Nashville.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

It's really we had a we had an artist on today that was born and raised in Nashville. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:27

There's not many of them.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

There's not many, right?

SPEAKER_00 1:30

So what was that like? Did you like, were you in, you've always obviously if music is in your blood, music is in your blood. Were you a country music fan?

SPEAKER_03 1:40

I was, but I just started like really liking it like later in my older years. Like I can remember like the first country song that I kind of heard was probably like, I don't know if y'all would consider this country, but we all wanna wanna be big rock songs. Oh, we love that.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Nickelbacks, yeah, nickel backs. I used to let us let us act.

SPEAKER_02 1:56

I mean, Chad Kruger, we was talking how that actually probably could pass as a country song. Totally. Like just ripping it acoustic. And it's still real.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

We all are just trying to want to be big rock stars, you know? It's a so when did you start making your own? When did you start performing your own?

SPEAKER_03 2:12

I started getting serious with music when I was like 17 years old. So like my sophomore junior year in high school. Um, and it's been on go ever since. But ever since I can remember, I just always loved music. I used to listen to little bow wow, cameo and stuff like that. That's great. I just used to see how everybody loved them. So I'm like, man, I want to do that. I want to be that person. I used to want to be that person. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

How does it feel now that you're kind of stepping into that role? Like, is it like it feels good. It totally enjoy the ride. Don't ever feel imposter syndrome or that you're like bouting your own, shooting your own. Don't do it. Live your best life, and your music will show it, your fans will show it. Tell me about your style. I'm sorry. Oh no, you're good. Tell me about your style of music.

SPEAKER_03 2:56

I would consider it RB hip hop more on the RB side, like singing, um, mixed with a little rap. I feel like it's a melting pot of everything because I got influence from the country, influence from RB, influence from the rap.

SPEAKER_00 3:10

I was just gonna say, who'd you grab your influence from?

SPEAKER_03 3:13

That's a good question. I came up listening to all type of music, but I would say early years, like just getting an influence from like Bow Wow, Ramion, people like them.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Um I didn't know that, you know, when we had met uh a while back, um, I didn't realize there was such a hip hop presence here in Nashville. Yeah. So small-minded, like you think, oh my god, they gotta be kind of your own music, it's fabulous music, right?

SPEAKER_03 3:40

A lot of people think that. So when they come to Nashville, it's like, oh, it's a whole, it's a whole different side. Like I talked to a lot of different people, oh Nashville is just country music, and that's kind of why I really wanted to start doing music as well as my platform to show people, like it's it's not just country music down here. Yeah, it's overpowered by country music, but like it's a melting pot of everything. Like, it's it we got we got a lot of great artists here. All music is good music. We got a lot of great artists here.

SPEAKER_02 4:04

Everybody's moving to that, like the entire music industry, like LA, Atlanta, New York. Like, they're all moving to Nashville because the talent's here, number one, but it's just quality of life here is great too. And it's like people are realize, yeah. It's cheaper. It is I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 4:19

It is inexpensive, but it's like in a the most fabulous way. Like, I think the quality of life in the South in general, but um, I think the quality of life here is so amazing. The people are friendly, it's effective to you know, cost effective to live here. You you've got all the great music in here, like it's a wonderful place to be from.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Yeah, and I feel like they like all the stars and stuff that's moving here. I feel like they see that. Like, you don't you don't have to worry about the paparazzi. You don't have to worry about all the same thing as paparazzi, but all the cameras and all just uh like LA is super super fast. Nashville, it's kind of like a mini LA. Yeah or mini, you know, stars can go out and not be bothered.

SPEAKER_00 4:58

Yeah, true. Like it is true. You were for at Post Malone's, you know, opening on Broadway.

SPEAKER_02 5:04

Oh god, that was a mess.

SPEAKER_04 5:05

Yeah, it was a good move, man. I was like, first night experience ever in Nashville, and I was like, whoa. And then like the next night I was like, okay. Oh, that was your first night? Yeah, my first night. We we drove 12 hours. We got there at like 5 p.m. The grand opening was at like seven, so we like took a little cat nap, got dressed, went out.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

We girls, we have to show up with gloss and shit. You know, like we just don't roll. Like we just don't. When we had a roll up, we were we went to an industry party last night, and um somebody told us it was I hope. She's like, she's going on at six. I'm like, we wrapped up at like 10 to 6. So I'm calling Holdermore, like book into the you know, to get in to see this because it's such an honor to be that. But yeah, it was it's crazy. Yeah, it's crazy and chaotic in I think the most wonderful way. Yeah, I feel like it's magic, it's a magical city.

SPEAKER_03 5:55

And postman, he's another great example, like he's a superstar, like you might go downtown and just see him hanging out, like these guys new balls.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Jelly roll. I just it's God's gift to music. I think we love each jelly.

SPEAKER_02 6:11

Is it is it different? Like, it's a local, like, do you like get kind of like numb to it? Like, does the facade kind of go away? Like of like the magic of Broadway. Honestly, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:22

Yeah, like we don't, I feel like we don't, I don't see how good it is because it's just always been there. Yeah, right. But like when you see all these other people coming from downtown just to go to Broadway, you can't like what the hell? Oh man, we really we really got something right in front of our eyes.

SPEAKER_01 6:38

You totally do taking it for granted. Absolutely all the time.

SPEAKER_00 6:42

We always take for granted.

SPEAKER_02 6:43

Congrats, by the way, on your record deal. I saw that's amazing. That's a great first step.

SPEAKER_00 6:48

That when did you get signed to a uh deal?

SPEAKER_03 6:50

Uh that was 20 2018 I signed with Empire. 2019 I signed with Empire. Yeah, amazing.

SPEAKER_00 6:57

How old were you when that happened?

SPEAKER_03 6:58

I was like 23. What? 23, 24. So beautiful. It's the same label shabbozy as on the other side. Yeah, they got shabozy.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

We love our shabbo. They're crushing it. Actually, a friend of mine was on the plane with the woman who I forget her name, but she was great. I met her in passing once, but she spearheaded that whole tipsy campaign. Yeah. Like, did all the marketing. She worked for Empire, but she did the entire thing herself. Like, and like two. That's incredible. Smart as heck. But but uh, but yeah, they've got a great team over there.

SPEAKER_00 7:30

It's a feel-good song, it really is. You know, it's totally something you want to go up and dance to.

SPEAKER_02 7:35

Well, it's crazy. Like, I'll play like at a honky tonk down the shore.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

I've heard you rock a little shabozy.

SPEAKER_02 7:41

Yeah, like I like it, it's it I I had a warm-up to it, of course. But like the crowd's always like play shabboozy. I'm like, all right, for the hundredth time, you know. But that's what you want as an artist, right? You want to you want that song that's gonna stick in people's heads. And um I was at the when I I was down in Texas at the ACMs with you the night before I went to a Billboard Country Power Player.

SPEAKER_00 8:06

You you maxed out that trip.

SPEAKER_02 8:07

And he was there, Shabuzy was there getting the award. And um, he was telling the story like on a Spotify for artists. He had like like a million streams in the first like hour or two, and he was like, I've never seen this before. I guess that's how you know you got something. Yeah, that's the rest was kind of the history.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

What does that feel like to now you're a name, now you're a presence, people love your music, people follow you. How's that feel?

SPEAKER_03 8:34

It feels good, but it it also sometimes can get tiring. Yeah, you're always on because you just always I feel like that's kind of why I stepped back a little bit because I always feel like you gotta be perfect, like the the music, the videos, or even just on a day-to-day life, you just feel like you always gotta be perfect. Yeah, feel like people watching you and stuff like that. Like, well, you know, he's got the jacket though, he's ready for the fucking. I know you can't really get it.

SPEAKER_01 9:02

Hey man, that's stylish looking to do today.

SPEAKER_02 9:05

Yeah, he's looking perfect.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

You do, you look totally looking part. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. You know, I think there's a you know, artists are people, and you there's a private side to your life too, but you guys just can't like roll out with some crazy bed head and like you know, long, short, you know, like because people are watching, and in a town like this, you don't know that you're not getting coffee next to somebody who could open the next door or be the next contact. And I think for me, I I would need like I'm a therapist and I'm a life coach, and um I specialize in trauma, stored trauma and addiction, and the whole thought of like being on 24-7, I think, would just be like right, like you know, you don't I mean you look and fly today, but like can you imagine you'll be rolling up and you know, and then somebody's calling your name and yeah, yeah. I call it a dev day, like I take a day a week that you know, everything, you know, and my little cog of in this industry, it's you're on, you're on all the time. When somebody said what hope says to me, and hope, I love you more than any human being on this earth, when she's like, Do we have some reels? I want to like like I'm done. I'm like, because you know it's so funny, like this 10 TikToks, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:23

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

I know, right? And I you feel like you say the same thing, and you know, totally comfortable being on camera with this, as y'all are now from from doing this so long, but like the one lonely camera that's staring at you. Like it's a love-hate relationship, isn't it? It is almost it is, and then and you know, even in editing, God, anybody that edits my shit. I feel sorry. I'm like, fuck that, good's gone. Like, you know what I mean? That's the hard part. It's hard, it's hard to, you know, and when you're artists, you have to think on your feet, you have to be ready for whatever situations and the crowd and what happens. And what do you do for what do you do for you?

SPEAKER_03 10:59

That's a good question. Like, I'm still I'm still trying to find that out. Because so long as it's been music, yeah. I spent time with my daughter, but for me How old's your daughter? She's seven years old.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

And what's her name?

SPEAKER_03 11:11

Lyric, Lyric Williams. Lyric Williams, shout out to you, little cutie pie. If this is your dad, I'm sure you're fantastic. Yeah, she she tells everybody.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

I bet she's probably your biggest. Listen, I'm going back to Philly, I'm telling everybody about you.

SPEAKER_03 11:24

She tells everybody. Um, but honestly, for me, I'm still trying to find like exactly what I like to do. I mean, of course it's music, but you need some downtime.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

I need some downtime.

SPEAKER_02 11:36

I relate to that though. Like, you get so caught up in the work, right? Yeah. And then, like, when you do get time for yourself, you're like, what do I do? What do I do? What do I like for you?

SPEAKER_00 11:45

Or you feel guilty because you're not doing something for music. Yeah. Yeah. You know, when this show first started, you know, it was like if I wasn't doing something for the podcast, all I had in my head is there's somebody right behind me, there's somebody right behind me, there's somebody right behind me. There's room for all of us. Yeah. There's only one dab, you know, like there's where there's room for all of us.

SPEAKER_04 12:05

Yeah. Do you ever feel like both of you as artists, like I feel like music is something that starts off as a passion because it's something you love, but do you ever feel like it becomes like when you're doing it constantly 24-7, you feel like it's turning into work?

SPEAKER_02 12:20

For for me, all the time, but you have to remind yourself that what a blessing it is to be tired of doing something you love. Yeah, exactly. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 12:30

Yeah, that's people go their whole lives not living their dreams.

SPEAKER_02 12:33

Yeah, like you yeah, you're tired, yeah. Like it, they're long days, you do what you love, but you're doing what you love. There's people out there that are dying because they can't do what they love. Right. It's like just remembering that that wakes you up pretty quick. It totally does.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

And I think you know, from an outsider looking in, and you see this, you know, this industry, and you see the fame that comes and you see the fans that come from outside looking in. And since I started this show, I'm like, you're all the hardest working people I have ever met in my life.

SPEAKER_05 13:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

In my life. Like when I met you one night, it was probably 10 o'clock at night.

SPEAKER_05 13:10

Yeah. And you're still going. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:12

We're still looking fabulous, you know, and and and you, I don't even know anybody like you, you know. I mean, he gets up at five, and I'm sorry. Like, he's so structured and so amazing that I tried my best. You totally do an amazing job. Both of you do an amazing job.

SPEAKER_02 13:27

I do slack sometimes, but yeah, it's normal.

SPEAKER_00 13:30

But I totally think we need, you know, a dab day.

SPEAKER_02 13:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:33

We could do a dab day, it would be fun. We'll go fishing. A dab week. A dead week. Deb year.

SPEAKER_03 13:39

But to answer your question, uh, I feel like that's where it goes back to maybe taking that time for yourself to get that revamp. Yeah. Uh maybe go fishing, or maybe just because you're a father.

SPEAKER_04 13:49

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

You know, everybody needs something to and I was literally just thinking like last week, maybe I need to buy like a game or something, like a PS5 or something. Get back to what I was doing as a kid. Yeah, but back in the street. That love back again.

SPEAKER_00 14:02

Like, how old are you, if you don't mind me asking?

SPEAKER_03 14:04

I just turned 29, November.

SPEAKER_00 14:05

29? You got a baby face, my friend. You got a baby face.

SPEAKER_03 14:09

You think so? Yeah, totally. The beard making me. You got a baby. He gotta go.

SPEAKER_05 14:14

He's got a baby face.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

What drew you to the name 615 exclusive? Like, how'd you arrive to that?

SPEAKER_03 14:21

Well, I started off doing it as young exclusive. Then like social media came, and then I switched my Instagram name to 615 exclusive. Yeah. But I was still going by Young Exclusive, but when people see me out, they just started saying 615 exclusive set. So I just it had a ring to it, so I just started thinking about 600.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Yeah, it's making me want a tag name. I'm like, damn, let's change Deb's name right here. It's kind of long.

SPEAKER_03 14:41

I thought about changing it a few times, but I'm like, man, I'm just keeping it. Just keep it. That's how you're known. It's too late now. Can't go back.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

It's never too late, my friend. But yeah, that's amazing. Deb too. I'm totally 29. I I stopped at 29, and anybody doesn't think I'm 29 or doesn't want to play it with me at 29. There's the door.

SPEAKER_05 15:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

I celebrate my birthday for an entire month because you don't love yourself enough to celebrate for 30 days. It's an exhausting. I gotta tell you, my friends are like, happy birthday. You know, because you've sang it 31 days.

SPEAKER_02 15:18

Right. You gotta celebrate. When's your birthday?

SPEAKER_00 15:20

August 10th. Okay. And you know, here's the thing like when people are like that one day, there's a very good chance that that day, like, don't get all the hype. See, people are disappointing sometimes. And you know, I'm like, I'm I got a solid 31 days. And I celebrate it every day. And anybody who's in my world needs to be like, happy 27th day of your birthday, month, Deb. You know, because why would I not? I love myself.

SPEAKER_03 15:43

I can see her celebrating for a whole month. Oh, yeah. You have no idea.

SPEAKER_00 15:47

Oh, you have no idea. And there's like a day and there's something, some kind of deb event every single day throughout the entire month. I can see. The actually the the thing that the act the day that's really not the most fabulous is the actual birthday.

SPEAKER_03 16:01

Why why why do you say that?

SPEAKER_00 16:02

Because I feel like, you know, when you when you celebrate that, you're like, you're waiting for that aha moment. Somebody's like, Jimmy, check you out to dinner. I'm like, I want you to take me to the Eiffel Tower. Like, yeah, you kind of do. I have the quite honestly, the greatest friends and the greatest support system in my life. You know, like I'm totally blessed to have these people. And and and then they're willing to play with me for 31 days. And on September 1st, all my friends are like, I'm exhausted, my liver hurts, I can't drink anymore. Like, you know, because it is, but I'm like, I'm I think we're all worthy of being celebrated for a month. Teach this to your daughter. That's true. Like, we're to sit when's her birthday?

SPEAKER_03 16:41

June 13th.

SPEAKER_00 16:42

June 13th. She's got the whole month of June.

SPEAKER_03 16:44

Yeah, she got the whole year. Let her tell it. Like, she she runs my pocket. She's a Gemini. Oh, I know. I'm sure she does.

SPEAKER_04 16:51

I'm a Gemini, I'm sure she's the same. May 21st. I'm I'm on the cusp, so I'm like I'm like part Taurus, part Gemini, like.

SPEAKER_02 16:59

May, June, July, August. I'm old.

SPEAKER_00 17:02

I mean, I don't know if you know anything about astrology, but like it's Leo and Deb's picture. Like, I'm older. You know, people ask me, they're like, are you a Leo? I'm like, this is creepy about weird. But sure. Yeah, I think, and you know, celebrate. Teach your daughter that. You know, there's so many things as we get as we grow older, you know, the response old adulting is a hard, it's hard. It's a hard pill to swallow. And every morning I struggle with being an adult. But you know, I think it's one of those things that when you start intersecting, I was saying this early. I tell my patients and I tell my clients, we could complain all day, right? We could, you know, wake up in that too. But I tell them to schedule joy. And what I mean is open your calendar like it would be a doctor's appointment and get it in there. And don't book anything around it because we play so many roles and we play so many and we wear so many hats, and we can't always be everything to everybody. So, you know, whether it's alone, you know, go get a good facial or or whatever it is, schedule the joy. And when studies show that when you schedule it, it's more it's gonna happen. I mean, how many times have you seen a restaurant be like, I want to eat there, I want to eat there? Your ass ain't never getting that restaurant unless you make the reservation. It's like writing down goals. Right, exactly goal schmolls. I live my goals every single day. But you know, like, and that's I think the it's true. Yeah, you know, you know.

SPEAKER_03 18:20

So you say schedule joy.

SPEAKER_00 18:21

Schedule joy is what I'm telling you. I like that. And I want you to take it to the text of it and send it to me. I want you to tell me what you're doing.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

Speaking of schedules, like what what's your schedule like as an artist? Like, what? Because I know all of us artists have different kind of like routines and stuff. What do you usually uh especially as a dad too? I'm sure it's a little looks a little different. Yeah. Someone who doesn't have a child like myself. But uh, how do you kind of structure your day and balance family with professional life?

SPEAKER_03 18:48

Uh I journal a lot. That's okay.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

Fabulous. I kind of took a lot of. You just got the uh day award.

SPEAKER_03 18:54

I kind of slacked this past month, but I need it, I'm gonna get back to it. Yeah, right. Especially. It's the end of the year, man. Yeah, I gotta get back to it. Uh, but I journal a lot. Um I try to just keep everything on a time. Like, like everybody, I slack some, but for my schedule, I I definitely like just try to write everything down. I feel like it makes me feel better. Taking some time to call stuff off.

SPEAKER_02 19:16

You're a morning guy or more like a I'm more of a morning guy, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:19

But I do stay up late as well.

SPEAKER_00 19:21

So I'm kind of because of work or because that's your schedule. Like, I am just at my best like this time of day. You know what I mean? Like, I'm not a morning. I mean, I don't want to be I'm totally not a morning person. I I don't want to say it like in a negative, like she can't get her shit together kind of way. I mean, I do my best later.

SPEAKER_05 19:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

You know, and I just I don't I don't like that when people are like my husband's like, I have my coffee at five, takes a dog, sits outside, and we're wrong with the weather. It's cold ass cold in Philadelphia, just so you know. And he takes a tour. I've never been, but you never been?

SPEAKER_03 19:56

I've never been to the colour.

SPEAKER_00 19:57

You want to come up and we'll be your tour guide.

SPEAKER_03 19:58

Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna bring the same coat.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Yeah, dude, it's oh the cold kill you. The Eagles fans will kill you long before the cold will. Oh, we'd love to have you.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

We would love to just wear some green, you'll be good. Yeah, we're gonna lie with my tiny words and here's okay. Honestly, they'll probably like that because we got AJ Brown. Totally.

SPEAKER_00 20:18

Totally, but yeah, Philly is such a cool, you'd love it. It's a cool vibe, it's a really cool place.

SPEAKER_02 20:23

You can get a good cheesesteak here in Nashville, though. There's like two spots. Like Philly, though. Nah, but there is a guy from Philly. Um Zaire's got food truck in like Bellevue. Um, it's called It's a Philly thing. And then there's uh In the Nations um Brotherly Love Cheesesteaks. They're they import all the rolls and everything. Yeah, they're pretty good.

SPEAKER_01 20:41

You're gonna come to Philly, we're gonna get you cheesesteaking my bread.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

We're taking you to Philly's game.

SPEAKER_04 20:47

We're gonna get you off pretzels and get a food truck and I'll bring it to Nashville. I'll just have all bread and stuff like that. Nothing that you can't get down here.

SPEAKER_00 20:55

Okay, so you cook. Yeah, yeah, I cook. She's creative and amazing and wonderful. Like I go when I'm with them, they handle all the food. I'm just I'm just the person that's sitting there enjoying.

SPEAKER_04 21:05

We plan our my family, we plan our trips around the food. Like we're like, okay, so what are we having dinner for dinner this night? Who's cooking? Who's doing this? And then we plan everything else.

SPEAKER_00 21:14

She comes from a large family, and let me tell you this beautiful story. Aaliyah's family does everything together. The whole family, the whole family gets together every single Sunday night for family dinner. Every Sunday.

SPEAKER_05 21:24

That's good. Family Sunday.

SPEAKER_00 21:26

When they vacation, they vacation. It is the most beautiful, orchestrated, you know. Um her cousin had a baby, and they fully were helping in, you know, raising this baby. And you know, it does big support, yeah. It takes a village, it really does.

SPEAKER_04 21:43

Like that I didn't know really understand the meaning behind that saying until my nephew Aaron, who is my world, but yeah, where my family just being so big and uh how as close as we are for how many of us there are. Yeah, it's so beautiful. I never really I didn't realize how rare that was.

SPEAKER_00 22:01

It makes me jealous, not jealous, in a good way to look in because when you know them, you're instantly found with. I could easily change my name to Rowski. They'd be like, we love dead, it's fine. But you automatically feel accepted, wanted, and welcome. You know, it's a good, it's good people, and it's it's hard to find. It really is, you know.

SPEAKER_03 22:20

Have to come to Philly and meet them too. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:23

They're welcoming everyone. Their doors are open. Absolutely. You would they would absolutely love you. And I think that's what the important thing. What do you pump into your daughter to keep that sense of family and loyalty?

SPEAKER_03 22:42

Yeah, you got friends and everything, but family is all you got. Keep them close. At the end of the day. Because at the end of the day, this is all you got. Yeah. Yeah, you want to find good friends, but family. Family, family. Yeah, family's everything. I'm big on family.

SPEAKER_00 22:55

That's amazing. I love that. Is your your family's from here?

SPEAKER_03 22:58

Yes, ma'am. Everybody is from Nashville. Born and raised in Nashville. That's so rare nowadays. I know. I know. Titans fans or uh I got a lot of women in my family, but the few men we we are Titans fans. Okay. I'm a Titans fan. Okay. I'm sorry. We'll be an Eagles fan and win a Super Bowl. Oh my god, y'all took AJ Brown, man.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

We'll have you chant in the E. You have to have some thick skin and an attitude problem to be from Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_02 23:29

We always joke, I have some friends in Philadelphia like Titans are like the Eagles farm team, you know? No, it's weird. We get all over players on top of Tennessee.

SPEAKER_00 23:38

Yeah, but you know what that's the great thing about football too is it comes in waves. Philadelphia was bad for a long time. We were bad.

SPEAKER_02 23:46

Bad, bad.

SPEAKER_00 23:47

The buddy Ryan here. Like we, it was really bad, and then it went into a flow. So they'll get into their flow.

SPEAKER_03 23:53

I always had a good sports town, though. Even if y'all suck, the fans always always show up.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

It's a blue-collar city. Yeah. You know, they're passionate, they're raw, they love their love their team. No one likes us and we don't care.

SPEAKER_02 24:06

Totally. We I I think the vibe. Nashville's kind of like that too. It's more laid back, but like Philly, I think, you know, it's a it's a I mean, first of all, it was the capital of the I mean, that's where the country started. It is, right? But it's like we expect greatness, and like, yeah, we'll throw snowballs at Santa. We'll we'll like we'll trash talk our own team, but it's because we expect them to perform high. And I think, you know, as an artist from Philly, it's like it's cool to kind of connect that to music too, because it's like, oh yeah, like your people, if they tell you and criticize, it's like because they love you, you know. Nashville's kind of like that in a way, like, at least for me in country music, like people will set you straight. They'll be like, no, no, no, do that. Don't do it, you know. So I don't know if you see that in the music you make at Nashville and kind of how do you connect to like Nashville and your people here? Like, is it tight, you think? Like you have a pulse on what people think about you and your music, or or do you just kind of do you?

SPEAKER_03 25:05

I really just kind of do me. Yeah, that's just not that. Let people just talk. Sometimes get caught up in it, but you can't get caught up in it, just gotta go. You can't get caught up in it. Keep your head down, stay in your lane, and just focus on the case.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

I always stay in your lane is my favorite phrase in the world. What did your mom and I did? You guys see the meme that was going around the summer about the little girl getting her seatbelt? And she's like, no, thank you. Like the dad's like, Can I help you? She's like, no, thank you. No, and she goes, and he says one more thing. She goes, worry about yourself. Oh, yeah, I love that. That was our meme. That was our summer. You know, worry about yourself. I say it to my husband, he's like, gotta worry about yourself.

SPEAKER_03 25:40

So all y'all from Philly, what's like what's some key differences from Philly and Nasville, y'all think?

SPEAKER_02 25:46

Well, there's no beach nearby. That's no beach nearby, yeah. Jersey's like our drive to the beach from the year.

SPEAKER_00 25:51

Yeah, New York is super close to Philly. Um, I'm from the South originally, I'm from Texas, and I I think this the southern hospitality is not really present in Philadelphia, but the work ethic and the grit in Philly, it's you know, it's amazing. Like Holden was saying earlier at it when a guest was here that he was at church at like 11 o'clock, you know, and the tight there was no tailgate.

SPEAKER_02 26:16

There's no tailgate with the game. It's like right near the stadium. There's it's like 11 o'clock on a sun, the games that won against the Jacksonville. It's like no tailgate going on. Like in Philly, they're out there cooking dinner for the night before.

SPEAKER_03 26:31

I think we're saving all our energy for the new stadium. That's right. That's gonna change.

SPEAKER_02 26:37

Yeah, when is that gonna end the next year? Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's already up.

SPEAKER_00 26:44

That's gonna be badass. I can't wait. Super Bowl. Yeah. Maybe you could be the performer the halftime. Would you get us tickets if we Oh yeah, but we'd love that. We want your music at the time.

SPEAKER_05 27:00

We would love that. And then we'll wear the comment in and get it up.

SPEAKER_02 27:04

We'll we'll be the ones playing the first Super Bowl there. We'll bring you up.

SPEAKER_00 27:08

Right. Bring you up. Absolutely. Hold on the play. He'll get on the play.

SPEAKER_02 27:13

I meant the team. The team's gonna be the first time.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

I know, but when he's performing at, you know, at his hands, we could put a little shout out to Holy. Never know, man. Sorry he didn't get to be Tiffany McKee around if you know him. He's kind of new to Nashville and he kind of got lit on fire immediately, but he's young and he's humble and he's he's just fantastic. And tell me about your relationship with your fans.

SPEAKER_03 27:36

I feel like it's close eye. I try to be real personal, personable. I try to stay relatable to him as much as I can. Like I don't feel like I'm just a major yet. I'm I mean I'm not, but I have done a lot of stuff.

SPEAKER_00 27:56

You have done a lot of good stuff.

SPEAKER_03 27:57

So I I really just try to stay relatable to him, and I feel like their relationship is what makes them like the music even more.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

Absolutely, 100%. I mean, when when an artist you know posts something and you post something to an artist and they answer, it's like that's a goal too. You're lighting up somebody's world.

SPEAKER_04 28:14

And not just a copy and paste comment, but like really just like a genuine, and that's what people, like you said, that's what they relate to the most, and then it makes them guess what? You're to your music.

SPEAKER_00 28:25

It's you know, music fans buy your your music and they buy your merch and they follow you around. It's a you know, it's it's a crazy thing. When I first interviewed you, Holden, I you know, you're like, this is why I do it. I do it because that you know, that the feeling from them is so enormous.

SPEAKER_02 28:46

Yeah, yeah, it's the one language I think we all understand. Totally music. Like, even if like you don't know what the person's saying, like I can pick up the vibe, you know, and like the beat. Yeah, yeah, exactly. It's like like music is just a language, and I think I think we just like I don't know. I think music and sports are the one thing that brings uh Robert Kraft says that Patriots like like that's the one thing that brings people together more than anything else. Absolutely. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 29:15

Absolutely. Who would you want to collab with if you had a collaboration going?

SPEAKER_03 29:19

Right now, uh I would say one of my favorite artists is like Ra Wave. Are y'all familiar with him? I am Wave, yeah. Uh on some different stuff. Let it get like a hook from Beyonce or somebody. There you go. And if I was to do like a country song, I'd love to do like one with like Tim McGraw.

SPEAKER_00 29:38

Yeah, that's like old school country music.

SPEAKER_03 29:42

That was one of my first introductions to like the countryside when Nellie did the song with Tim McGraw over and over again. Yeah. I forgot about that. I forgot about that. I think about it over and over. Yeah, I remember having that on radio.

SPEAKER_02 29:53

Nelly was doing country for a while. I I know he um who did Nellie. Oh yeah, Nelly. He did a lot of country. He I know he did uh he did one on the FGL, a little bit, I think it was. Yeah. He did a couple, but I love Nelly.

SPEAKER_00 30:07

I love the collab of of some hip hop and with some country. I think it's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 30:12

Well, that's kind of like what you're saying, like Nashville, like it's a melting pot of music. Like you're getting, I mean, we're three hours from Atlanta, we're a three-hour plane ride from New York or less. Like, it's the influence is here, and and um you know music has always been like people always say, Oh, that ain't country, or that ain't that's too new, or like little trash Beyonce. And like, maybe I'm not a fan of Beyonce's like new record. I like I like our older stuff more. Yeah, but and I have friends that have worked on her on that record. And like, to me, I'm like, well, music has always evolved. Like people thought we were talking earlier, like there I found a vinyl where it was like best pop country songs of the year. It was an old vinyl, Merle Haggard was on it. I'm like as pop country. I'm like, this dude's a legend, like it's say he's pop country, but that's just how that's just the nature of society. So like you gotta make your own rules, and you know, people are always gonna say something.

SPEAKER_00 31:09

Hey man, you know, it's really when I tell people I work in Nashville, they're like, I don't like country music. I'm like, Do you hate sunshine? Yeah, what about flowers? You think they suck too? But it's it it's it's not about country music here. I mean it's like it's a big part, but the vibe here is amazing. Yeah. When we were coming down for the first time, I'm like, who was saying was it who was saying something about country music? I don't remember it. I'm like, you go for the vibe. Yeah, you go for the country. You don't have to like for the vibe.

SPEAKER_04 31:39

I mean, you should, but you don't have to like country music. You don't have to like country music.

SPEAKER_02 31:43

Well, most of it on Broadway, like they're doing 80s covers, they're doing art. Bro, we got everything, yeah. They got raves, they got hip hop, they got anything you like, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:52

And speaking of like how you said music's always evolving, and you being like an RB artist as well. Um, I my I grew up on 90s RB and rap, Biggie Tupac, where like my mom. Like I was raised on that. They do every single word, it's hilarious. I love and how you said music evolves. Like, I don't really listen to much of today's rap because I just feel like it's all about like drugs and sex and this and that. And like back in like the 90s, I feel like they were they were telling stories about like their real lives and how you said like people related to it. It was brighter because yeah, and like there was just meaning, and like you could listening to the song, you would think like oh wow, like that's really what they went through, and like it was just beautiful because it was more than just a song.

SPEAKER_03 32:34

Yeah, even the music videos told us told us.

SPEAKER_04 32:36

Totally.

SPEAKER_03 32:37

And I kinda I agree with what you said, like yeah, some of the music is good for like the parties and stuff, but like most of the music that I like is like the real music that's like telling the story, it means something. It means something, like, and that's why I like country music a lot too, um, as well as like RB, because most of those songs tell a story.

SPEAKER_05 32:56

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 32:57

What's like a song you can listen to that you like you think that you've written or put out that you think like people have felt that like that meant something that like impacted the most?

SPEAKER_03 33:07

I would say my song called Missing Me. I'm gonna go check that out after that. It's like it's called Missing Me. Um, especially like when you go off to work or go off on the road.

unknown 33:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:19

Your loved one's at the house missing you, like, why are you going and shit?

SPEAKER_00 33:22

And it probably hits really hard with a daughter, you know. I mean, I have a daughter, but she's grown. But you know, it does, you know, it it hits harder when you've got somebody.

SPEAKER_03 33:30

It's crazy because when I wrote it, my daughter wasn't even thought of. But these days when I I wrote it from like a relationship uh state of mind, but when I listen to it these days, I'm like, man, it goes perfect. Yeah. My daughter now, yeah. We're being a dad, so it's crazy how life works.

SPEAKER_00 33:46

Yeah, what's the greatest thing about being a dad?

SPEAKER_03 33:48

It's being called dad, honestly. Like no matter no matter what you do. Dad, dad. My my daughter calls me father. That's crazy. I never heard nobody. Really? That's crazy. I say father.

SPEAKER_04 34:01

I love that. I feel like the most special thing is she'll always need you. Yeah. Always.

SPEAKER_05 34:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:06

I love it. That's one of my that's one of my proudest moments on my life. Oh, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_02 34:10

You have songs about her?

SPEAKER_03 34:12

I have one. I have one, but I try to just I'll probably make a whole album about it. Stay away from the show.

SPEAKER_02 34:22

Did he?

SPEAKER_03 34:23

Oh, it's oh, every song is like when you have a kid, when you have a kid, bro, it's gonna be hard not to talk about Shakid. Yeah, yeah. It's like, man. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 34:32

I just became a grandmother a few months back. Congratulations. Thank you so much. It's like, it's just it's changed my life. It's changed my perspective and on a lot of things. And I can tell you it is the the out of you know, you love you love your kids, right? You your daughter, but when you when your daughter has a child.

SPEAKER_03 34:50

You don't even think about the kids and all that. You don't even think about it.

SPEAKER_00 34:52

I'm like, just drop off Laney, y'all see you in a couple weeks later. Yeah, it's true. And now she's you know, she's eight months, she puts her arms out, and it's the most uh heart melting experience of your life. Like if a week goes by, I'm like, when are we gonna see Laney? Laney's not gonna know and uh Rusty, my husband, he's like, dude, she's gonna know you're the last one in the room. But you know, like it is, it's so it's amazing, it's truly a blessing. And we got another one on the way, so I'm I'm so excited. Things and this season is so magical if you have children. It is you know, it is like holidays. The holidays are for family, for a family guy, too. This is a really important uh time of the year. Now, in your music, because I know in country music kind of slows down like mid-December through almost like you know, February. Is that do you experience that same thing?

SPEAKER_03 35:42

Yes, ma'am. I feel like that's like a whole wide industry thing. Yeah, I feel like uh everybody shuts down December and start back up February. Like, yeah, I think that's good.

SPEAKER_00 35:53

Do you get some writing in that time, or do you strictly like I'm gonna focus on my daughter, I'm gonna focus on me, I'm gonna, I don't know, whatever, organize my closet, like yeah, but honestly, I never stop working on it.

SPEAKER_03 36:06

But I yeah, I try to find time just absolutely you schedule that joy, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 36:13

Yeah, you do.

SPEAKER_03 36:14

That's one of the key things I'm taking away from the day. Schedule joy. That makes my heart so happy. I'm so happy you got that.

SPEAKER_00 36:19

Like, schedule some joy and joy. It doesn't have to be with a lot of people, it can be, or it can be by yourself, and like everybody that knows me knows I celebrate for an entire month, and that there is that occasion where I'm like, I need a dev day. I totally do because for me to show up the best way on this show, or to my clients, or to my family, or to my friends, whatever, I have to have some downtime.

SPEAKER_03 36:42

You have to be abyssive.

SPEAKER_00 36:43

Totally, absolutely. And I I, you know, I live large. I totally do. I love life, I think it's amazing, but it's really, you know, Friday when you came over, I'm you know, Rusty came home. He's like, still in the sweatpants I slept in, by the way. That's how you know your people that come in the house. So like she's still the same sweatpants. Um, and I'm like, I need a day. Before I had to like hit the road, I had to be here Sunday. Like, I needed a day to just be Deb, right? Just be Deb and like lay on the couch and have a good drink and just chill and just to regroup myself. I think from the outside looking in, people think that we're on 24-7. You know, and I'm a very small fish in this pond, but we forget that we're all humans. We bend, but the object of this game of life is not to break. You know, so and I just think people don't you know, I spend my life, I spend my days preaching about living your best life. Your best life. Not not, you know, be the Joneses and keeping up with them and you know, carving out your own path and your own destiny in this world, but we're not meant to grind it out. We're meant to live it.

SPEAKER_05 37:54

That's true.

SPEAKER_00 37:55

You know, we're we're meant to have memories, we're meant to have experiences, we're meant to have feelings. And I think for like people like you guys, for you and Holden, it's like from a fan's perspective, we don't see that. You know, we don't see that like you're you're dad, and you're a guy, and you're a you are family, you know, and and you need to cherish that. And I'm not a dad, but you're not a dad, yo. You're not you will be done. One day later in life, you will be a fantastic father when you are a father, and you know, it's so true, but I I think that people don't realize that we're all just still human.

SPEAKER_03 38:32

Yeah, yeah. Because like you said, you feel like you always gotta be doing something, especially like social media these days. It's not just about being an artist no more, people gotta fall in love with you. Absolutely. Yep. So uh I don't know if it's the same way uh well, like your lane of music, it's the same way, right?

SPEAKER_02 38:48

100% yeah, it's like you're people have like the music is just the tool, like everything else is what they love, and like they love you for you. Like you have to be yourself all the time because people can like they'll tell if it's BS or not.

SPEAKER_01 39:06

People have smelled it in the art authentic, you can smell it.

SPEAKER_02 39:11

Yeah, like and I think people people end up loving superstars and and artists that really do well because they are themselves, like there's no other you, yeah, right? And and so, but I mean it sounds cliche, but it's it's a fact. It's like there's no like if you're put in front of a crowd of a thousand people right now and they're gonna watch you, what are you gonna say? Like, like you have to be yourself, you can't make it in front of that many people you're gonna stumble. Yeah, go buy it.

SPEAKER_05 39:41

It's a billy thing.

SPEAKER_02 39:42

But it's like you have to just be you. It like you can't, and when you get that many fans coming at you, it's like no, you you have to show up for you, like you and and the right fans will fall in love with that. Absolutely, and um, you know, so yeah, I authenticity is authentic, it doesn't matter the genre, like and that's true for life though. Like true for life, you just have to be yourself, and I think I think your fans are they're the ones that are investing in you, and it's it's like it's kind of your job to be you, like they want to be.

SPEAKER_00 40:13

And it's so true, this is true too, in in life for the listeners and everybody. Like, you're not gonna be everybody's cup of tea.

SPEAKER_05 40:19

That's true.

SPEAKER_00 40:20

It's totally cool. They make chocolate and vanilla ice cream for a reason. Yeah, you know, the reason there's 50,000 fast food change is because we all have different teas. And I think for younger artists, and I'm sure you've experienced it a lot too, like, you don't need to be everybody's cup of tea. You just don't, you know, like it's fine, and and there's always for one loud voice, there's always somebody here doing that. And I encourage you, besides the scheduling of joy, is to know that this doesn't matter. That's true. This doesn't matter. Keep doing what you're doing, keep doing what you love, keep making a difference in the world, be the best father. I'm sure you're a great father, I can just tell you be the best father to this person because you have a legacy piece going on right there. You know, this person's gonna be that when you're gone, she's still walking the planet. And I just, you know, I can't emphasis enough to, you know, the art. I I have like somehow I get the like young, cool, like a guitar in a dream, and I love that. I totally love it. And we've shot some bigger names, but like the Oak Ridge Boys, it's like I don't even I didn't know what to talk about. I was like first thing that came to my head is like, how old are you guys? Like, you know, right, you know, and but they all been around forever. They've been around forever, right? Exactly. And I was like, then I'm calculating, I'm like, how far am I away from them? Like it's like it was like a mental moment in my head, you know. But for in anything in life, there's gonna be a naysayer because misery loves company.

SPEAKER_05 41:48

That's true.

SPEAKER_00 41:48

It does, and it's easier to jump on bullshit than it is to jump on this the stuff that's good. That's true, and you know, it's really important that you you wake up every day with a sense of gratitude and a sense of purpose and knowing that you put a human being on this planet.

SPEAKER_03 42:06

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_00 42:07

I think it's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 42:07

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_00 42:08

I can tell you you're so fabulous. I am so happy you were on the show today.

SPEAKER_03 42:13

I'm so excited. I can't wait to see it. I had a great time. I'm so excited! I feel like I feel like I needed this.

SPEAKER_00 42:18

All right, I have I'm gonna have to tell you, I have to ask one more question. Yes, ma'am. You'll come back. Oh, yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. You'll come back and be on the show and you'll keep the followers going. And where can the viewers find you? How can they get more of you?

SPEAKER_03 42:29

Uh 615 exclusive on Instagram, 615 exclusive on everything, honestly.

SPEAKER_00 42:34

Uh the website where you're playing?

SPEAKER_03 42:37

Yeah, 615exclusive.com. There you go.

SPEAKER_00 42:40

Pretty beautiful.

SPEAKER_03 42:41

I'm gonna start back dropping music next year. Right now I'm just been focusing on my podcast, my platform Al6.

SPEAKER_00 42:48

So yeah, I love that. And your artist is actually giving back to artists too. Keep it going, right? We're all in this together. We're all in this together. Yeah, Mr. Holden Barter, where can the fans find you, sir?

SPEAKER_02 42:58

Uh at Holden Barter Music on all the socials and uh Holden Barter on Spotify, Apple Music, and the whole thing.

SPEAKER_03 43:06

So I'm gonna have to check you out, man. You see, please. You living in Nashville now?

SPEAKER_02 43:09

Yeah, I've lived here six years, and uh I go back and forth from Philly all the time for family and stuff, but but yeah, I've lived here six years, and it's crazy how fast that works. Come see us.

SPEAKER_05 43:18

Yeah, we'll show you everything cool about it.

SPEAKER_03 43:19

I want to I want to get the winter experience.

SPEAKER_02 43:21

Do you get the snow, you gotta get the cold. That's what everyone's that's what everyone's mean. You'll get the truth.

SPEAKER_04 43:28

I got a winner experience. What you asked earlier, the difference between Philly and Nashville, I would say the main thing is the the people. The people. I mean, they're great up there. We love sports, but that's about it that we can all agree on or do we have to do that. So we mean and we mean what we said. There's a big difference between brotherly love and southern hospitality. They look very different. Totally.

SPEAKER_00 43:50

I'm checking into my flight on Sunday, and the woman was, you know, it's they're so they don't even we don't even make eye tan people. She's like you know, I'm like, dude, I'm a human and come on. So When she was done, I go, I hope you have a beautiful, peaceful holiday season. And she looked at me like blank dead, like what you're crazy.

SPEAKER_02 44:07

Why?

SPEAKER_00 44:08

Yeah. I go, No, I really mean it. I truly hope you have a magical season.

SPEAKER_02 44:11

She's like, dude, I scared the shit out of her. People are like, like, and I used to smile at them, I'm totally Buddy the Elf.

SPEAKER_00 44:19

If you're in a human form, I'm Buddy the Elf. Like, I just that's how I roll.

SPEAKER_04 44:24

You ask somebody like how their day is, and they're like, um, what do you want? Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 44:32

Oh, New York. Phillies might be Philly's bad, but New York is. It's an egg.

SPEAKER_02 44:36

If you smile at somebody on the sidewalk, like you're weirder. Totally. Here it's like normal. It's like, oh, hey, like a lot of people. Up there, they're like down here.

SPEAKER_04 44:46

Yeah, like I'm from Philly, but I I feel like I belong in the South. Like I love talking to people totally. And now that every now my little superstars on the stage, where can people follow you? Oh, okay. I mean, I'm not an artist or anything, but you can find me on the video.

SPEAKER_00 45:00

You're gonna be this amazing chef that's gonna blow this up.

SPEAKER_04 45:03

Yeah, I'll be your private chef. Um, you can find me on Instagram, Aliyah O'Rowski. And check her out.

SPEAKER_00 45:08

She posts all her fabulous food, and she's just the cutest little damn button in the face of this earth. It is really, though, I mean, that the whole social media thing is like a whole nother game, too, you know?

SPEAKER_03 45:18

It is.

SPEAKER_00 45:18

It is. It's that's why I got hope.

SPEAKER_03 45:20

It's a job.

SPEAKER_00 45:21

It's a total job.

SPEAKER_03 45:22

Yeah, hope, hope, hope, hope get you right.

SPEAKER_00 45:24

She gets you right. That's amen. We cannot wait to have you back. Thank you for being part of the happy hour family. We love it. Thank y'all so much. Like I said, I had a great time. Nobody ever leaves when they're in the happy hour family.

SPEAKER_03 45:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:38

Everybody comes back, everybody, yeah, we're all in touch. Like, you're now part of this amazing family.

SPEAKER_03 45:44

I appreciate it. I feel welcome.

SPEAKER_00 45:46

Totally. I'm so happy because I was so excited to have you on the show. I mean, I asked you back last year. I'm like, will you come on my show?

SPEAKER_03 45:52

I remember that, yeah. Yeah, I remember it.

SPEAKER_00 45:54

You were like, amen, I will totally.