Lakelin Lemmings on “Get Around Boy,” Her Debut EP, and What’s Next | Skip Happens Podcast

Transcript

Meet Lakeland And CRS Debut

SPEAKER_04 0:00

Hello, everybody. Here we go. It's time for another edition. Ha ha got the beat already. Skip happens. Hi there. I'm Skip Clark. And with me tonight from Quartz Hill Records at Nashville, I did mention it was Stony Creek, Stony Creek, but we're going to clarify that here with in a little bit because the young lady down at the end of the table, she's with the record label, so we're going to find out what's up. But most importantly, to my left, your right, if you're looking at the screen, I want you all to say hi to my new friend, Lakeland. Lakeland, how are you?

SPEAKER_00 0:32

I'm good. How are you?

SPEAKER_04 0:33

Good. Welcome to the um Skip Happens Pod Zone. It's pretty cool, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 0:38

Yeah, this is a great setup.

SPEAKER_04 0:39

You gotta tell everybody.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Yeah, this is a great setup.

SPEAKER_04 0:42

It's a great setup. But uh, I want everybody to know that uh, you know, just recently I was in Nashville and I I attended an event at the country uh music hall of fame, and you were one of the artists performing. How exciting was that? I mean, that was all part of a big radio convention. I get that. Yeah, but you you and some of the other artists from your record label, they were there and uh everybody did a great job. What's that like?

SPEAKER_00 1:07

It was so much fun. Uh it was my first CRS ever, so first timer. Um, and that was at the the last day of CRS, so it got to end the week off with a bang. Um performing is where like my heart is. So getting to perform for anybody is just a dream for me.

SPEAKER_04 1:22

And it was all radio people though. I know. Did that like I mean, were you like freaking out because these are the people they can uh you know?

SPEAKER_00 1:29

Like make or break your career. You said it, I didn't. No pressure. Yeah. It was yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:34

But you know, uh you didn't show any of that.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

Well, thank you.

SPEAKER_04 1:37

Such how long have you um been doing music?

SPEAKER_00 1:41

I've been performing and stuff since I was six years old.

SPEAKER_04 1:44

Wow. So tell me a little bit about that. Maybe you got some um musicians in your family too, right?

SPEAKER_00 1:49

My dad, yeah. My dad was a touring guitar player in a band back in the day.

SPEAKER_04 1:53

What was the band? Would I know it?

SPEAKER_00 1:54

It was called 45 South, based in West Nesse. Uh the lead singer was Ash Bowers.

SPEAKER_04 1:59

Oh, wow. I had no idea. Yeah, nobody told me that.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 2:04

That is that is very cool. But let's talk about you. So you started playing uh music at six, and how did all that come about?

SPEAKER_00 2:11

I don't really know. I I mean I grew up like singing in church and stuff, just in the children's choir and that kind of thing. And then I was homeschooled. So my parents were like, well, you have to socialize somehow and do something with your life. Um, so that they put me in all the sports and stuff like that, and then uh put me in voice lessons. Oh wow. Um, and I caught the bug there. And I started my voice teacher was actually like a like local singer and stuff, and uh got me into some of the restaurants and festivals and stuff like that and history.

SPEAKER_04 2:42

Where where are you actually from?

SPEAKER_00 2:44

I'm from Henderson, Tennessee.

SPEAKER_04 2:47

So that's just outside Nashville, Nashville, right? I'm a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 2:50

That's about two hours. Yeah, about two hours from Nashville.

SPEAKER_04 2:53

Still last week's still coming. It's still there. Um, but yeah, okay. So you're pretty close to where all the action is.

SPEAKER_00 2:59

Yeah, I grew up West Tennessee. I grew up all around West Tennessee. Henderson is where I've lived for the past six years. So for like high school and stuff, so I consider that my hometown. But um, but yeah, right in between Memphis and Nashville. So you kind of get both.

SPEAKER_04 3:13

You know, you have this really natural, down-to-earth presence about you. Has that always been who you are, or is that something you had to grow into?

SPEAKER_00 3:21

I think a little bit of both. I think it had a lot to do with how I was raised. Just I was raised to be respectful and um stuff like that, but also just be who I was and not try to change. I don't think I've heard her say a swear word yet.

SPEAKER_04 3:35

Ladies and gentlemen, Morissa from Portel Records has now made her presence known. What a great intro. I know that's pretty good. Would you say, do you do you well? I'm not gonna ask you to say a swear word.

SPEAKER_01 3:49

No, I do not swear.

SPEAKER_04 3:50

Okay, good girl. Really? You were serious.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

No, I'm dead serious. I say them for her, though. She makes up for me.

Growing Up West Tennessee Music

SPEAKER_04 3:57

Oh my god, now I feel terrible. Every other word out of my mouth before the lights and the cameras went out. You know, you heard it. I'm not gonna repeat it. But uh, you know, when you think about growing up in West Tennessee, what uh what's the first picture that comes to mind?

SPEAKER_00 4:12

Oh, that was a good question. Thank you. I just automatically think of like me and my siblings. We had um this really nice backyard when I lived in Jackson, Tennessee, and it had the greenest grass I've ever seen. It's very nostalgic. Um I can picture it now, just like running around. That's a that's pretty much sums it up.

SPEAKER_04 4:30

And would you say you were shy, shy, loud, emotional, funny, or maybe all the above?

SPEAKER_00 4:36

Kind of a messy mixture. Um, I guess you would say. I was pretty shy. I'm still shy, I would say. Um what? Yeah, crazy, right? I'm what do I do?

SPEAKER_04 4:47

You just got in front of how many people at this convention, the seminar, the meetings we had in Nashville.

SPEAKER_01 4:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 4:55

And then you could have fooled me.

SPEAKER_01 4:57

We made her. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:58

I'm kind of like under contract to do that. Um, but I think it just depends on the situation. Like if I'm meeting somebody for the first time, it's just like a one-on-one thing, I'm like so awkward and shy. But then I can perform in front of 10,000 people and yeah, just run around and act crazy.

SPEAKER_04 5:15

Have you had that opportunity?

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Um, pretty close. I've done a few festivals and stuff like that where it's a couple thousand people.

SPEAKER_04 5:21

Wow. Yeah. You know, what was the first one you did? Something that really sticks out in your mind.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Um, I did a talent competition in uh my hometown called the Barbecue Festival.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

Um, there's probably like a thousand people there or so. And I was like, I think I was probably six years old, six or seven. No pun intended for that, but uh six, seven. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All the kids. There we go.

SPEAKER_04 5:46

Yeah, it's dope.

SPEAKER_00 5:47

It's word.

SPEAKER_04 5:48

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

But uh yeah, I did the talent competition and I'm pretty sure I placed third. But it's great.

SPEAKER_04 5:55

So, like, how long have you been with the label where you are now?

SPEAKER_00 6:00

Uh uh technically, I think I've been signed for a little over a year now.

SPEAKER_04 6:02

Okay, and what was that like when somebody or how explain to me and everybody watching and listening and uh maybe Marissa as well? I I'm sure she knows, but what um what is it like and and what was it like for you? How did all that happen? They call you and say we want you to come in. Did somebody see you performing uh at a certain venue? How how did all that go down?

SPEAKER_00 6:22

It's kind of crazy. I don't think this is normally how how it happens, but I was telling you, my dad was in a band with Ash Bowers. Well, my dad quit the band because I was being born. Love that for him. Um and so, but Ash went out, did his own thing, kind of solo career. Then he started um writing a lot and producing people like Jimmy Allen, Matt Stell, George Burge.

SPEAKER_02 6:44

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:45

Um and so him and my dad stayed connected through the years. But when I started going to Nashville when I was about 12, um, me and Ash weren't working together yet, but he was just like, hey, you know, I don't want you to get mixed around in the wrong crowds or anything like that. I know some good people, you know, to set you up with. So started writing with him when I was about 15 or 16. And then um he signed me to my first publishing deal at 17. And then um he started working for Benny Brown over at the label. And uh he's like, first thing I want to do is bring you in for a meeting, no promises. He's like, but if Benny likes you, then we're off to the races.

SPEAKER_04 7:22

So it's kind of like who you know sometimes. Yeah, we all know it doesn't matter what you do for a living, sometimes if you have that connection, it really that's a that's a plus. I mean, there's a lot of great talent with and without those connections, but that's kind of cool.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Yeah, it's like a total full circle thing and a God thing for sure. So I went into the meeting, um, was supposed to sing three songs, and I sang two songs, and I just remember Benny, he's kind of like slow with how he talks, and he's just very cool. He was wearing sunglasses inside, and uh he was like, Well, I think I've heard all I need to hear. And I was like, Oh my gosh, it's either really good. It's either really good or really bad. And I remember my watch that where it was telling me I was having a panic attack. But um, but he's like, All right, where's the papers? Let's let's do this thing.

SPEAKER_04 8:10

Uh, heart rate was like 140.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

No, literally, yeah. Yeah, because if it rises above 120, your watch would be like, hey, take a breath. Um, but yeah.

SPEAKER_04 8:19

Yeah. So do you have like anxiety issues like that? Do you have, or is it just because of what you do? You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 8:26

I I don't struggle with it, I would say. I don't let it get to me too much. Yeah, depending on the situation, yeah. I mean, I still get nervous for anything. I'm nervous right now.

SPEAKER_04 8:37

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. How can you be nervous? Look at look at your environment. You get you got Dylan over here.

SPEAKER_00 8:43

Yeah, it's not you.

SPEAKER_04 8:44

Yeah, well, and you got more and you got Marissa down there. Now that I I kind of understand. Um, but um, yeah, so it's what it's all about. And that's you know, that's the cool thing. When when artists like you come through Syracuse and you're on what we call in the business, and I've been doing this a long time, the radio tour. It's a lot of hustle and bustle, a lot of shaking hands, and a lot of, I love your song. And you get a lot of, I'm not really sure about that, but uh still, and it's your first radio tour.

SPEAKER_00 9:17

Yep.

SPEAKER_04 9:18

And how has it been so far? And what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 9:22

Honestly, so far, and I'm not just boycotting. She thinks I'm her favorite. Yes, every radio rep is my favorite.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

But really, I am.

SPEAKER_00 9:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 9:33

You could be your mom.

How The Record Deal Happened

SPEAKER_01 9:34

Yeah, I am actually older than I wasn't gonna bring that up.

SPEAKER_04 9:41

No, I know, and I could be grandpa. I get it, I totally get it. I understand, but uh, you know what? This is what the what we need in the country genre is young ladies like yourself with the potential and the sound and the energy and just the passion and dedication for the music, for the format. And I I saw that in you the other day. Thank you. And then it's it's it's people like Marissa who's down there, and that's why you're sitting here today, because she is the person that I deal with as a you know, a program director. So, and it's not only me, she calls on a lot of them, but uh so but she'll never come across this setup again.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

No, I want this setup, I need this in my house. I have so much to say. She needs a podcast.

SPEAKER_04 10:29

What would you so Marissa is the one that brings these artists around, as I mentioned minutes ago, but what do you think you would call your podcast?

SPEAKER_01 10:36

I don't know. Let's have a contest. A contest?

SPEAKER_04 10:40

Like I did when I started this, how many years ago? Let me know how that works. And then I'll come on it. What would you Lakeland? If you were to do a podcast, what and I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

I don't know. What do you wish? Lakeland, first of her name, yeah, would be the name. No, Lakeland. Yes. Did you know that Lakeland, she's the first of her name? First Lakeland recorded.

SPEAKER_04 11:02

I didn't get to that yet, but thanks for ruining that.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

But it's on your list, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_04 11:06

No, no, no, it wasn't. It really wasn't, but I was gonna ask about your name.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:12

So tell me about the name.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

Well, I got it from my parents. Shout out to them. Um yeah. This is not a made-up name. Yeah. Uh I can't remember the story exactly. I can't remember if it was Lakeland, Tennessee, or Lakeland, Florida. But they drove past one of them and they're like, oh, that's kind of a cool name, but land at the end of a name's not really cool. Yeah. But my sounds like a town. Yeah. So my older sister, her middle name is Andalyn, and the end of it's L-I-N. And so they were like, well, Lake and Lynn.

SPEAKER_04 11:42

I love that.

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:43

See, that is so cool. And parents, that is cool. And there's a lot of artists. There's a lot of artists that I'm trying to think who I was just talking to recently, and I asked who the the name it might have been, I don't know if it was um Drew Baldridge, I because I know he's having a little one pretty quick, and there's somebody else, and it was like, I said, what are you gonna name it? And they told me, and I went, that is so cool because it's something you don't hear. I I can't even remember what I should have made note of it, but I didn't. But it's like it's almost along the same lines where it's something you'll never forget.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

Nobody you forgot though.

SPEAKER_00 12:17

Yeah, wasn't a special and unique as we thought.

SPEAKER_04 12:24

I'm starting to crook it here. Um wow.

SPEAKER_01 12:29

Yep. I'll exit the room now. No, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:33

And for me, don't even bother opening the door, I'll go under it. Um, but I did forget. But it was one of those names that you would make.

SPEAKER_01 12:41

When you say Drew Baldridge, I bet you're thinking Lyric.

SPEAKER_04 12:44

No, Lyric, no, but his wife's expecting a baby any day, and he's doing his, I think it might be tonight, or I know we're I don't know when you're gonna be watching this, but um he's expecting a baby anytime, and it's like this is the last show before she gives birth. Hopefully we can make through it, make it through it. So yeah. But Lakeland, that's pretty cool. Uh, big shout out to John Williard. Do you know who John Williard is?

SPEAKER_00 13:07

I don't think so.

SPEAKER_04 13:08

Did you meet him at CRS?

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Did I?

SPEAKER_04 13:11

I missed hearing Lakeland at CRS last week. Boo-hoo. Great seeing you skip. Well, thanks, but it's not about me, it's about this lady over here. But yeah, exactly. So John is uh John is a voice that uh for many years, if you watch the CMAs, and I talk about this all the time. I just he's one of my heroes, he's a legend. He'd be the guy that was going, coming up next. Florida, Georgia line, Brooks and Dunn.

SPEAKER_01 13:39

Does he still do it?

SPEAKER_04 13:40

No, he does not, but he did some at CRS. I think at uh Might've been the New Faces show.

SPEAKER_01 13:46

Oh, does he?

SPEAKER_04 13:46

He did a couple of the announcements.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

Maybe he'll get to announce Lakeland. I think so. Presetting the award. Yes, at some point.

SPEAKER_04 13:54

But uh he's just a legendary voiceover artist. We became very good friends and uh, you know, just a lot of good stuff. So that's all somebody good to know. Yeah, shout out to John. So you're only 19.

SPEAKER_00 14:05

Correct.

SPEAKER_04 14:06

Yeah, good, I got that right. Uh, but there's already a lot happening in your life. Has it uh moved as fast as it feels from the outside?

SPEAKER_00 14:14

I mean, what's it depends on the day because sometimes I'm like, this could not be any slower. I've been doing this since I was six years old. This is taking forever. The other days I'm like, whoa, uh at 17 I had a publishing deal, and at 19 I have a record deal.

SPEAKER_04 14:28

Like that's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 14:30

Crazy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 14:31

Does that ever happen? I mean Well, I mean, obviously it happened, but still to get it that young at the end. It's rare, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:40

So I'm very, very fortunate.

SPEAKER_04 14:42

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 14:43

Wow.

SPEAKER_04 14:44

What about uh self-doubt cre uh when that creeps in? You get some self-doubt. You must, I mean, everybody gets that. We all do. Radio, I'm actually uh, you know, the record reps. Uh when that creeps in, who or what brings brings you back to center?

SPEAKER_00 14:58

I get imposter syndrome all the time, or I doubt myself. I'm like, yeah, you're getting an early start because you're gonna fail before you're 25. Like, and I just I don't know. It what is that called? Uh huh. What did you call it? Imposter syndrome? I've not heard of that. Well, no, yeah, it just it makes you feel like, oh, you don't actually belong there, like you're an imposter here. Yeah, yeah. Um, but no, I mean, I think when it comes to that, I lean a lot of my faith in God and I just say a prayer. I'm like, I've prayed so many times, I'm like, God, if this is what I'm supposed to be doing, then let it work out. If not, you know, I don't know, because I don't have a plan B, but I think that also helps me because there's nothing to fall back on.

SPEAKER_04 15:39

Yeah, what's one lesson your family gave you that you carry into every room now?

SPEAKER_00 15:45

Work hard, do what you love, don't stop.

SPEAKER_04 15:49

And how many in your family? I know you talked about your siblings. Where where are you in that?

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Uh I'm one of five and I'm the second.

Confidence Faith Imposter Syndrome

SPEAKER_04 15:56

Are they all Lynn's? Like you're Lake Lynn? No, no. And then you said you had the other one, and then Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:02

It goes, so I have an older sister, she's 23, her name's Daisy. Okay, and there's me. And then I have a 17-year-old brother, and his name is Dayton. So the N at the end. And then I have a three-year-old sister, her name's Renlyn, and then a one-year-old sister, her name's Bellamy.

SPEAKER_04 16:18

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 16:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 16:21

Holy cow, you got a big, big family.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

Yep, big age guest, big family.

SPEAKER_04 16:26

So those that are old enough for music, do they play? Do they follow like your footsteps or you know, your dad?

SPEAKER_00 16:35

Uh, my older sister, she sings in church. We actually started off as a duo. We were called Lipstick and Lace. You may have heard of us. Um, but yeah, we just played like Lipstick and Lace? Yeah. I don't even remember which one I was. I was probably lipstick. But uh yeah. We were like a little duo and we would sing. I think one of the first songs we learned was Something Bad by uh Carrie Underwood and Randall Ambert. Remember that song? That was fun.

SPEAKER_04 17:04

So oh go ahead. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

But no, yeah, that was I was pretty much done.

SPEAKER_04 17:08

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

SPEAKER_00 17:11

The first song I ever wrote. It was probably some like butterfly and rainbows poem. But um, I did write a song called Vay from the Cray Cray. Uh around like 13 or Vake from the Cray Cray. Yeah. Fun fact that song won the West Tennessee Songwriters Week.

SPEAKER_04 17:32

Really?

SPEAKER_00 17:33

Yes, it sure did. And I got to sing it at uh Lafayette's room in uh Memphis.

SPEAKER_04 17:39

So that was the first song you ever wrote?

SPEAKER_00 17:41

It was one of the first.

SPEAKER_04 17:42

One of the first. And it was because whenever I I ask an artist, like, what was the first song you ever wrote? And they'll be like, Oh, you don't even want to know it sucked. It was this, it was that, but that's just the opposite.

SPEAKER_00 17:53

Yeah, honestly, I'm so proud of that. I would sing that to this day.

SPEAKER_04 17:57

Yeah. How did it go?

SPEAKER_00 17:59

Uh the first couple lines is it and snooze till I'm running out of time. Dogs barking about to lose my mom. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 18:09

Wow.

unknown 18:10

It's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 18:11

Yeah. I don't know what was going on in my life at 13 years old where I was like, I need a vacation, but had to be serious.

SPEAKER_04 18:18

So, you know, we go back to the beginning. You said your dad was a, you know, a touring musician, uh country guitarist. You knew a very unique part of your story, I would assume. And what did watching his life teach you about this business before you even got into it?

SPEAKER_00 18:35

Well, he kind of got out of it like when I was being born. So I didn't really get to see him involved in it. But he would tell me stories, and still this day I'm learning about his time in the band.

SPEAKER_04 18:46

Um that's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Yeah, it is cool. I mean, just to say to my dad, oh yeah, my dad isn't a band.

SPEAKER_04 18:52

No biggie, but he was just, you know, they're not.

SPEAKER_00 18:54

You know, and like he opened, yeah, he opened for like Brett Michaels and uh a couple different people, and they were like big in like the Texas world um music scene. So that's fun. And he actually was the bus driver also. So he drove the bus.

SPEAKER_04 19:07

So yeah, multi, multi- multi-talented.

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Multi-talented, yeah. I'm sure he's watching this right now.

SPEAKER_04 19:13

I'm sure he is. Hi Dad.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Yeah, I dad.

SPEAKER_04 19:15

So that's it. Um, you know, is there a memory with your dad in music that means even more to you now than it did then?

SPEAKER_00 19:24

Ooh. Well, one of the songs that I wrote called Baby Daddy. Uh, not what you think. Um, I wrote it about him and I showed it to him for the first time and recorded his reaction and posted on this little app called TikTok. And it got, I think it's almost like four million views now. Um, and that kind of opened a lot of doors for me in the the Nashville world and songwriting world. So that was a really special memory. He like cried and stuff. So yeah, getting to have that and write that song for him and oh my god, that's so awesome. Yeah, and then like the hook of the song is like no matter where I go and all these dreams I'm chasing, I'll always be your baby.

SPEAKER_04 20:03

So daughters are very special. Not that sons aren't, but there's something about daughters. I have three daughters, yeah. And it they're just so special. As you can see, also, I have a, you know, we have a son, so yeah. Um what do you think girls your age are carrying right now that maybe older generations uh don't always understand?

SPEAKER_01 20:25

Oh, do tell.

SPEAKER_04 20:29

Wait, I got Morissa going here on this podcast. You're gonna come back to town more often. I'm sitting back to watch this now and to listen.

SPEAKER_00 20:38

Do do tell.

SPEAKER_04 20:39

I gotta pull my my questions over.

SPEAKER_00 20:40

Okay, wait, one more time.

SPEAKER_04 20:42

Oh, God, you had to do that. Um I said, what do you think girls your age are carrying right now that maybe older generations don't always understand? Like the what we're carrying, like weight, like dealing with dealing with okay, because that we don't understand. Please fill us in or fill your record rep in.

SPEAKER_00 21:05

Well, I think social media, obviously, such a big thing now. Good or bad. I mean, I think there's a lot of comparison and um because I think back then you didn't have to worry about seeing your competition all over the the web and stuff like that. And it it's it's complicated and it makes you have more doubt and more insecurities and stuff like that, but it it can also be a good tool if you're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_04 21:31

I was just gonna say that I mean you have that side of it, and uh you know, I do the best I can to do what I have to do with you know social media, yeah. But for you, I I imagine it's a lot easier. And you're right, there's the bad side, but then there's really the good side.

SPEAKER_02 21:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 21:46

Because how many artists like you being on TikTok, look what you did. Yeah, you went viral. I mean, you just went nuts, which is great.

SPEAKER_00 21:53

Yeah. So I mean, there's obviously negative and positives about it, but how do you handle the negative?

SPEAKER_04 22:01

You're gonna swear?

SPEAKER_00 22:02

No. No. Drop me into it for you. Right. I just tell them a reasonable.

SPEAKER_04 22:09

I'm so proud of this young lady over here. It's pretty awesome. Good for you.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

No, I mean, I think I was kind of raised to not let opinions really bother me. I mean, growing up in small town, there's always talk and just different stuff. So I think you just learned to navigate it and not worry about too much. And anytime you have to think about hatred and haters, they hate themselves more.

SPEAKER_04 22:29

So can you um tell me a little bit about the single that we're working at with radio right now? Marissa has sent my way. And um tell everybody what is it?

SPEAKER_00 22:39

Uh the name of it is Get Around Boy.

SPEAKER_04 22:41

Okay. And tell us about that a little bit. Did you write it? Did you co-write it? And let's go on with the work.

SPEAKER_00 22:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 22:47

Everything.

Social Media Pressure And TikTok Wins

SPEAKER_00 22:47

So I co-wrote this song with Mikey Mobley and Ash Bowers. Um, I remember going into a room that day, and Mikey actually brought in the idea. Um, he just had like the title, and he was like, I've got this cool course, but I don't really know what it's about. And so he had the opening lines of Anna Bay Town, California. And uh I was like, Oh, I love that. Um, and so I was like, it'd be kind of cool. I was kind of going through a situation at the time where I was going to Nashville a lot, and I was kind of had a relationship, but it wasn't really a relationship. And so we kind of created this story of this girl that decides to go out and travel and like chase her dreams, and the boy stays back home in Tennessee, but she's like constantly thinking of him, so he gets around.

SPEAKER_04 23:35

Wow. I can't wait to play it. We'll play it on the wolf. Yeah. And uh, you know, and plus you'll hear um the wolf is in Syracuse. I don't know where you're watching this, but that's where we are with the podcast. Upstate New York, upstate New York. Have you ever been in this area before?

SPEAKER_00 23:50

No, this is my first time here, and I I think this is only my second time in New York. Really? I went to New York City.

SPEAKER_04 23:56

I was gonna say you get and if somebody goes to New York, it's New York City.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:59

Uh this is really upstate.

SPEAKER_00 24:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 24:01

I mean, really upstate. Now, Poughkeepsie, which is close to New York, they say that's upstate. But no, we are upstate.

SPEAKER_00 24:07

So yeah. I think this is great. I've had a great time here.

SPEAKER_04 24:10

You haven't been here that long.

SPEAKER_01 24:13

Hey, for 24 hours in the hotel for a good two and a half hours.

SPEAKER_04 24:17

Oh my god. Beautiful. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 24:19

I have a street view of a trash can.

SPEAKER_04 24:21

So yeah, there you go. There you go. Hey, it could be worse.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

Hey, it could be.

SPEAKER_04 24:26

I went to New York for a concert once, stayed in a hotel right off of Times Square, and there was a window, and I threw open the curtains and there was a brick wall.

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 24:35

So it was like, yeah, because the hotels in New York are narrow and they're tall.

SPEAKER_00 24:38

Yep.

SPEAKER_04 24:39

So it's crazy. I'm sure Morris has probably been in a few of those in her travels. So do songs, um, Lakeland is who we have here, as you can see with the song. Look, I put your name on the TV behind us. Pretty cool. Uh, do songs help you say things you might not know how to say in regular life?

SPEAKER_00 24:55

Oh, for sure. I have an example. I have a song called What Are We Doing?

SPEAKER_04 25:00

Um, here tonight.

SPEAKER_00 25:03

But um, and I was going through this, like what we call a situationship with a guy where we weren't dating, but we acted like we were younger to date.

SPEAKER_04 25:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:14

Right. Of course. I would never date, not till I'm 30. Dad. Um it's more like grandpa to you.

SPEAKER_01 25:21

Apologize to your boyfriend right now.

SPEAKER_04 25:23

Yeah, I know, I know. He could be, yeah. He's like, oh, what is she talking about? Who is this guy she's talking to?

SPEAKER_00 25:31

Anyways, um, back to the story of the song. Um no, so I just of course I was not gonna talk to the guy and like ask him what we were doing, so I decided to write a song about it instead. And it just like spells it out and it's like really direct, which I'm not in person.

SPEAKER_04 25:48

And how did that go over?

SPEAKER_00 25:50

You know, I don't even know if he started.

SPEAKER_04 25:52

So but if you really like you want to get your feelings out there, I guess, as a songwriter and a performer, you just uh you know, write it down and sing about it and you just write a song about it, and then if the guy asks you if it's about him, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:04

If they ask, I'm like, oh, of course it's not about you.

SPEAKER_02 26:07

I love that.

SPEAKER_00 26:08

Totally a story I made.

SPEAKER_01 26:09

Didn't CeeLo Green write that song? CeeLo Green? Don't you think the song is about you? Yeah, oh yeah.

SPEAKER_04 26:15

Was it CeeLo? No, I don't think it was CeeLo. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 26:18

No, he wrote the other one actually.

SPEAKER_04 26:20

We just we just went down a different road, but that's okay. It's okay. I bet I love this part out. I love this, and uh, you know, Marissa is uh chiming in at the end of the table, and uh we've known each other for quite a few years, and she's been great, and she's promoting artists or taking artists like you around. And uh tell everybody what is it like to be a record rep, if you don't mind. Yeah, no, I just it's a lot of work, it's a lot of work for both of you. And before we started this conversation, because last week we were together at meetings, and I came home and I said, Man, my ass was oh, I swore.

Writing Get Around Boy And More

SPEAKER_01 26:52

Uh, my butt was dragging, and you know, and it took- You noticed I haven't sworn yet?

SPEAKER_04 26:57

Hey, you should be all so proud. She must be she hates me. I can tell. It's really hard. No, no, no. I'm rubbing off on you guys, but yeah, maybe it's a good thing. Um, but you know, you get so worn out. I mean, me as a radio guy, and I want to go and say hi to everybody. And of course, you as a label rep, you know, you have you have your events going on, and it's like go, go, go, even more so for you, because you deal with a lot of different radio stations, and there's a lot of shaking hands, there's a lot of trying to make people happy. And I don't know how you do it because even today, which is a few days later, my butt is dragging. So I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 27:41

Same.

SPEAKER_04 27:41

Same. But then they send you out. Now, so you go out, they how do you set up a radio tour per se? Are you told that you're gonna be able you're gonna be taking Lakeland out and I want you to hit the the stations in the northeast? How does that work?

SPEAKER_01 27:56

Yeah, so I have a region. Well, I have a station list that I represent.

SPEAKER_04 28:02

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:03

Lakeland too. And then it, yeah, it's this is your week.

SPEAKER_04 28:08

Go so next week it'll be a different rep and you're gonna be with somebody that doesn't swear.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

And then you want to pull your hair out for about three weeks, four weeks, however long it is, to try and route something because you know, of course, nobody is available when you need them available.

SPEAKER_04 28:25

Well, that's hard nowadays, though. I know it is because well, we're all doing so many different jobs, you know, you as well, you know, and then to make time for an artist such as Lakeland. Sometimes that could be a little bit difficult because actually this week was really easy.

SPEAKER_01 28:38

Yeah, you guys were all everybody this week was very much like, yes, come visit, come that time work that that works, that works, that works, that works. Um yeah, I I said yes.

SPEAKER_04 28:48

I know you did. Only only only if you can have a microphone, and I don't know if that was a good idea. But I love it.

SPEAKER_01 28:55

I didn't actually feel like or think that I was really gonna have a microphone, but I will never turn down a microphone. It's one of like ask my husband at karaoke bars. I promise. I say, can we just go sing one song? Can I just one one song and I'm there until they take the microphone out of my hand at one o'clock in the morning and tell me I'm done.

unknown 29:21

Period.

SPEAKER_04 29:21

Wow. Do you do uh Lakeland? Do you do karaoke? Have you gone to a like a karaoke? I shouldn't say bar, but maybe in a situation.

SPEAKER_00 29:28

I was about to say, we haven't gotten into a karaoke bar yet. Uh have you tried? No.

SPEAKER_04 29:34

Well don't lie. Anyways, where are you not a liar? I don't know. I don't know if your dad is watching this. I just no, it's okay.

SPEAKER_00 29:44

Um, I can't remember if I've been at like an actual bar. I've definitely been in bars and sang before, but it was like I had a reason. It was like a show.

SPEAKER_04 29:52

So I mean, so it was a show. You get paid to go and do your thing.

SPEAKER_00 29:56

Yeah, I wasn't just in a bar and hopped up on stage, no.

SPEAKER_04 29:58

And how do you handle um oh hi Katie? Hi, y'all. Um, how do you um handle when somebody starts giving you a hard time? Like you're at a show. Do you ever get that? I mean, you're a very beautiful woman. You get up there, and we all know you go to some of these bars and there's people you don't want to deal with.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:21

So how do you handle that? Um Marissa, get your ass over. We put Dylan on her. Yeah, Dylan. And we're gonna see Dylan in a little bit. Dylan's at the other end of the table here. He's a guitar player.

SPEAKER_01 30:33

We make Dylan do the dirty work.

SPEAKER_04 30:35

And Dylan, yeah, we're gonna talk to Dylan here in a little bit too, but uh, and then we're gonna hear some music. But uh, yeah, how do you deal with all that?

SPEAKER_00 30:41

I think I've been pretty lucky so far. I mean, I've obviously I've played in like a few places where you know alcohol was served, and it'll be the fans that come up and just want to, you know, touch you and just be like, oh my gosh, I love you so much. And I'm like, oh I love you too. But nothing like terrible, like bad.

SPEAKER_04 30:59

Yeah, tell us um your dream. Tell us where, for example, five years down the road.

SPEAKER_00 31:04

Five years down the road.

SPEAKER_04 31:07

Where do you want to be? Where are you hoping? Where you're reaching for it. Where do you want to be?

SPEAKER_00 31:12

If we're really dreaming, I'll say headlining a show.

SPEAKER_04 31:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 31:16

Just one? Well, like, yeah. Sure. If we're really dreaming, headlining a tour.

SPEAKER_04 31:22

My God, she's so particular.

SPEAKER_00 31:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

We're gonna be doing a well, because her dream is like my dream. So let's let's dream bigger.

SPEAKER_00 31:32

Yeah, let's do a whole tour here.

SPEAKER_04 31:34

That's what I you know, exactly. So that's big dream.

SPEAKER_00 31:37

It'd be like yeah, headlining a tour.

SPEAKER_04 31:39

Yeah.

Radio Tour Reality With The Rep

SPEAKER_00 31:40

Realistically dreaming, and just like probably opening some tours.

SPEAKER_04 31:44

Yeah, I was just gonna say if you could open for anybody right now, somebody was to call you, who would you want that to be?

SPEAKER_00 31:50

I mean, big dream, Taylor Swift.

SPEAKER_04 31:53

Okay. Are you a Swifty?

SPEAKER_00 31:55

A little bit. I'm early Swifty.

SPEAKER_04 31:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:57

So like debut till like red.

SPEAKER_04 32:00

Do you know? Um, it's this isn't about me, this is about you, but when Taylor first hit the music scene, she was on Capitol Records. Uh, she came by at a station I was working, and I think I gave her her first or second radio interview.

SPEAKER_00 32:13

Wow.

SPEAKER_04 32:14

And I still have the thank you card here somewhere.

unknown 32:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:17

Maybe the dog chewed it up, but I think it's still around. No, I do. So that was pretty cool. Something I'll never forget because I look at her now. I and I can still remember her in the studio playing, I think it was Tim McGraw. And um, and then I went to see a show and she took us backstage. I mean, this is a few years later, and showed us everything that goes on backstage. And for her, and especially now her stature, is she takes that time still to show you, you know, this is how it works. These this is the path I follow to get to the stage. This is my wardrobe. This is, and that I think that's just so cool.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

Yeah, I think that's cool. And I'd love to follow in her footsteps.

SPEAKER_04 32:59

Uh and I think you should. And that's, I guess, me as a radio guy, and there's a lot of and there's some good ones and some, I get all that, but I think you you give them the time of day, and you know, you always do that and you don't change. Just be very humble and just appreciate them for you know, they're playing your music.

SPEAKER_00 33:20

I was about to say, be kind to people. Be kind. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 33:23

You're still young, you know. You're a few years under your belt. I don't know how kind you are somebody.

SPEAKER_00 33:27

Yeah, be kind right now.

SPEAKER_04 33:29

Yes, exactly. Um God, I lost my place already. Uh, so what um I'm just winging it now. So if you weren't doing music, what do you think you'd be doing?

SPEAKER_00 33:42

Nothing. That's pretty much literally nothing.

SPEAKER_04 33:46

Uh sitting home.

SPEAKER_00 33:47

Yeah, I mean, people always ask me, they're like, oh, you know, what if this whole music thing doesn't work out? I'm like, well, that sucks. I guess the world will end because I have nothing else to do.

SPEAKER_04 33:56

All right, so you don't have anything, you know backup right now, no plan B.

SPEAKER_00 34:00

No.

SPEAKER_04 34:01

But you're still young. So what what what's your hobbies? What do you think you could do very well?

SPEAKER_00 34:06

Again, nothing. No, I mean, I enjoy just hanging out with friends, family, and that kind of stuff. So, I mean, if I wasn't in the music world, I I mean, marry Rich, be a stay-at-home mom. I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 34:20

If your family if your family could uh were describing you at home, what would they say first?

SPEAKER_00 34:28

I probably couldn't say that on live podcast. No, I'm just kidding.

SPEAKER_04 34:32

That's all right.

SPEAKER_00 34:33

Um how would my like friends and family describe me?

SPEAKER_04 34:36

Yeah. At home.

SPEAKER_00 34:39

At home?

SPEAKER_04 34:39

So this, yeah, if they're gonna describe you. Well, how would they do that?

SPEAKER_00 34:43

I think they would describe me as humble.

SPEAKER_04 34:47

A person that does nothing.

SPEAKER_00 34:48

Yeah. Down to earth. Yeah, lazy. I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 34:52

That's cool. That's very cool.

SPEAKER_00 34:53

No, I mean, I enjoy I love being outdoors and stuff like that, which I don't really know of much I don't know, jobs that would be outdoors for me, but that could be something.

SPEAKER_04 35:03

Cut grass.

SPEAKER_00 35:05

Yeah. Lawn care. Lakeland's lawn care.

SPEAKER_04 35:08

There you go. See, you know, that's it.

SPEAKER_01 35:10

It's maybe Lakeland's first of her name. Yeah, Lakeland's first of her name. I love that though.

SPEAKER_04 35:16

No, I know. All kidding aside. Oh man, if somebody out there is your age and um unsure and dreaming quietly the way you once were, what would you tell her or that person? Because look, come on, let's be honest. You're 19 and there's young ladies out there that would love to be in your shoes. And what what advice could you give them?

SPEAKER_00 35:41

I mean, I think I'm still learning and still growing. Obviously, I'm doing a lot of first, but um keep at it. If you really love it, work hard for it. I remember I think Laney Wilson said um on an award show one time, if you're gonna be a dreamer, you gotta be a doer.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

I've heard that. Yeah. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 35:59

I 100% agree with that. Because even though I had great connections and God's been on my side, uh, it took a lot of hard work to be here and a lot of dedication and time, and that's one reason I don't have many hobbies, is because this has been my life since I was six years old. Um so yeah.

unknown 36:15

Cool.

SPEAKER_00 36:16

It's sacrificed in time, but if you really love it and it's what you're meant to be doing, you'll do it.

SPEAKER_04 36:21

And how do you how do you think people connect with you?

SPEAKER_00 36:26

I don't know. I think I'll let other people decide, but I mean I try to be real and I try to be honest and easy to connect with. Um, but I at the end of the day I am who I am, and hopefully you like it. And if you don't, that's okay too.

SPEAKER_04 36:39

So what what other songs can we look forward to? Are you coming out with an EP, an album? How is all that working?

SPEAKER_00 36:44

Yeah, we just released uh debut EP called Get Around Boy, yeah. Uh which is a song we'll perform for you. But um, yeah, we actually just finished up recording my first album too.

SPEAKER_04 36:54

That's why I was asking. I kind of I heard rumor of that. I won't tell you who told me. Yeah. But she is not in this room. I'm just that that's good.

SPEAKER_00 37:02

But yeah, I think uh I don't definitely don't know a date, and I won't spoil it for you guys, but this year for sure.

SPEAKER_04 37:08

Very cool. I can't wait. Yeah, because I I think it's gonna be excellent from the beginning to the end. Uh we've been chatting with uh Lakeland, I almost said LinkedIn. Well, that's not my name. I know that's like I'd go on and check my LinkedIn. Uh but um as I look at that, it's Lakeland Lemmings, and uh definitely look up the music. Uh, and you're gonna hear some of that in just a few minutes. But um it's um at the end of the day, when all the music and the momentum are stripped away, what do you hope people say about your heart?

SPEAKER_00 37:42

I want them to just think that I'm a good person that cares about what she's doing and cares for the the listeners and because at the end of the day, we're all doing this for the fans and the people that support music.

SPEAKER_02 37:55

100%.

SPEAKER_00 37:55

And I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for the people around me and the people that support me. So as much as I love doing it and I do it because I love it, I'm also doing it for others and just trying to have a good time.

SPEAKER_04 38:06

So uh I asked you before you went on with the lights and the cameras how many podcasts you have done. And you told me maybe five. Maybe. So I'm in the top five.

SPEAKER_00 38:12

You're in the top five, top three, probably.

SPEAKER_04 38:16

Have you been asked a question where somebody would they'd ask you something and you would go, why are they asking me that? Any uncomfortable, seriously. I try not to do that, and if I do, I apologize.

SPEAKER_00 38:28

No, you've been great.

SPEAKER_04 38:30

Well, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 38:32

You're amazing. Awesome. No lovely. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 38:35

I'm gonna play your record.

SPEAKER_01 38:36

Um like, let's go. Forever.

SPEAKER_04 38:42

That is a label rep. Anybody in the business would know that's what a label rep does. Yeah, and how many spins a week will that be? Is it what category is it in the week? We're gonna put it right in power right off the top.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

Oh, you heard it here, folks. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_04 38:58

We cannot do that. We cannot do that.

SPEAKER_01 39:02

We need to heard it here first. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 39:04

You're gonna be talking about this all the way to your next stop because you're not staying in Syracuse tonight, from what I understand. You're heading south. Uh, I believe in Scran. Yes, so yeah, and tell the guys down there. I said hello. You're going to the Froggy station where you're going? Yeah, cool. Yeah. Tom Scoplark in Syracuse said hey. There you go. Logo, who's he? Yeah. But no, no, we all kind of know each other, but don't know each other. We're all friends, just like the artists. We're all friends.

SPEAKER_01 39:29

Lakeland's great. She doesn't know where she's going. She just gets in the car on time. Yeah, literally.

SPEAKER_04 39:33

You sleep in the back seat.

SPEAKER_01 39:34

Well, front seat.

SPEAKER_04 39:35

Front seat. Yeah. Poor Dylan.

SPEAKER_01 39:38

He sleeps in the back. Yeah. He sleeps in the back. You're not letting Dylan drive. I would love for Dylan to drive. We were literally talking about having lunch today. Yeah. We were talking about this at lunch today with Billy. And if I had money and could pay for one thing for the rest of my life, it would be to have a driver.

SPEAKER_04 39:59

Exactly. And see, that's another thing they leave up to you is the rep.

unknown 40:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:04

It's all in your hands.

SPEAKER_01 40:06

I know.

SPEAKER_04 40:07

Like the music. But uh Lakeland's been with us tonight here on the Skip Happens podcast. And um, this is something that I enjoy doing and bringing you into what we call the pod zone. And we get to sit down. And I think uh interviews like this go a little bit deeper and we find out more about the artist. And uh I urge anybody watching this to subscribe to Skip Happens because it's not only uh uh Lakeland that I have, I almost said LinkedIn again. Lake Lakeland that I don't know why I'm doing that, I have no idea. But uh being in here, and uh, you know, there's a whole lot of these, and there will be a whole lot more. But uh one thing you'll find out with me is I strongly believe in the artists like yourself, those that need to be heard, and another reason with the podcast is you need to be seen. Yeah, and and that's the that's the other thing. So, you know, and now you can talk about me all the way to Scranton and just yeah, I'm gonna tell everybody, I'm gonna tell everybody and their mother about I hope you do. I really do. I do, I really hope you do.

SPEAKER_00 41:03

Sherry and stuff on social. I think that's great.

SPEAKER_01 41:05

Although, as a record rep, to tell your artist that you're going to somebody's house is a little well, it's I was like, oh, okay. Yeah, that's like a hard news to break.

SPEAKER_04 41:15

Let me because you know, it's like, um, okay, but here's the deal. Nashville back, I can remember going to homes in Nashville that were actually recording studios.

SPEAKER_02 41:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 41:28

We um many years when I broadcast for the CMAs, doing it live from Nashville, uh, you'd be going, oh, this is a house. But we go in and it's like, holy cow, this thing's pretty cool. But I mean, I kind of look at it the same way. Yeah, this is my home. But as you saw, once you got by the dog and the guards and all that, no, but uh, once you got down here, this is the full studio.

unknown 41:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:50

If you're talking about a guard as your son, he would never stop Lakeland from ever entering the house.

SPEAKER_04 41:57

He what did he do? He walked in and he had something for you.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

He gave me a rose. I don't know if y'all can see it. Wait, there we go. Isn't that so sweet? Zach. I love it so much. Yep. Zach is going to my suitcase.

SPEAKER_04 42:09

Zach is very special. He is and very special. But uh, thank you for coming by. Uh, we're gonna switch off with this podcast, kind of rearrange a couple of things, then we're gonna come back on and you're gonna hear a song or two.

SPEAKER_00 42:21

Yeah?

SPEAKER_04 42:22

We can do that, right?

SPEAKER_00 42:23

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 42:23

What are we gonna hear? We're gonna hear the single.

SPEAKER_00 42:25

Gonna hear Get Around Boy.

SPEAKER_04 42:26

And what other one are you gonna do?

SPEAKER_00 42:28

Maybe a little American dreaming. Yeah.

unknown 42:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 42:30

That song's pretty good, too. It's damn good.

SPEAKER_00 42:32

Oh, swerk.

SPEAKER_04 42:33

Um, okay, we're gonna come right back. Thanks for watching Skip Happens. But you know what? We're not going away forever. So hang on. You're gonna see us come back on in just a few minutes.

SPEAKER_01 42:42

I won't be here though. So yay. You get Morissa.

SPEAKER_04 42:46

Now there you go. She is now a star of the Skip Happens podcast. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 42:50

We're coming back. All right.