Episode 29

full
Published on:

15th Jul 2024

A Chat with Rachael Sage: An Artist Above All Else

Rachael Sage on Reimagining Music, Artistic Journey, and Deep Connections

In this episode of Curious Goldfish, host Jason English interviews multifaceted artist Rachael Sage. They discuss her extensive career in music, including her latest work, 'Another Side,' a reimagined version of her 2023 album 'The Other Side.' Sage shares fascinating stories about her songs, her deep immersion in the music industry, and her navigation through it. She performs two songs, talks about her new experiences with co-writing, and reflects on the emotional connections she creates through her art. The episode explores Sage's rich history in music, her role as a record label founder, and her future projects, providing listeners a deep dive into the life and creativity of Rachael Sage.

00:00 Introduction to Curious Goldfish Podcast

03:14 Interview with Rachael Sage Begins

03:33 Rachael Sage's Recent Activities and Collaborations

05:15 Discussing the Album 'The Other Side'

10:58 Rachael Sage's Connection with the UK Music Scene

20:07 Rachael Sage's Multifaceted Career

27:06 Challenges and Inspirations in Rachael's Creative Process

33:52 Exploring Artistic Passions

35:07 The Power of Live Music

36:35 Navigating the Music Industry

38:07 Track-by-Track Insights

50:19 Reflecting on Personal Experiences

52:50 Upcoming Projects and Future Plans

55:51 Live Performance and Closing Remarks

Transcript
Speaker:

Jason English (Host): Welcome to

curious goldfish, a podcast community

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where music and curiosity come together

through interesting conversations

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with the music makers of our world.

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I'm your host, Jason English.

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You can find curious goldfish and all the

major podcast and social media platforms.

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And of course we have all of our content

on our website, curious goldfish.

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com.

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When I interviewed musician James Mastro

in a small green room in the back of a

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music club in Athens, Georgia, earlier

this year, James told me all about his

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debut solo album called Dawn of a New

Error and how his label M press records

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was founded and led by an all woman team.

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I tucked that into the back of my

mind, thinking that that would be

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an interesting story to dig into.

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A few months later, I find myself talking

to the woman who founded it, Rachael Sage.

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And little did I know how deep

and wide Rachael has immersed

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herself into the music industry.

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Rachael is a multifaceted artist,

celebrated singer songwriter, poet, record

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label founder, dancer, and so much more.

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With 16 full length albums under her belt,

Rachael has made a substantial mark in

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the music world and continually inspires

her fans with authenticity and creativity.

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In this episode, she discusses her

latest work, Another Side, a re

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imagined version of the album she

released in:

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And we explore the fascinating

stories and context behind her songs.

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We also discuss her experiences,

navigating the music industry

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and delve into the deep emotional

connections she creates through her art.

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She sings two songs for us as well,

including the title track from that album

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called the other side, which we talk

about in great detail, inspired in part

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by her journey with cancer from the Hudson

river Valley, outside of New York city.

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Here's Rachael sage.

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Let's dive in.

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Rachael Sage: Rachael

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Jason English (Host):

Rachael Sage thanks joining.

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It's so nice to meet you.

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Rachael Sage: It is such

a pleasure to be with you.

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Thank you for having me on your podcast.

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Pleasure.

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Jason English (Host): So tell me something

good about your day, about your week.

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Rachael Sage: Ooh.

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Oh, that easy today.

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I had a wonderful artist named Danielle

Howell, who is on her own tour right now.

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She swung through my hometown

in the Hudson Valley.

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And she just came over and we hung

out and we jammed and I took her

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for a little walk on main street.

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And it was just a delight.

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So that was fabulous.

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It's not too hot.

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in the middle of summer here.

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It wasn't too hot.

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No, it was perfect.

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Oh good

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Jason English (Host): Well, that sounds

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Rachael Sage: everyone her music.

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She has a beautiful, beautiful voice.

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And, uh, she was with her fantastic

upright bass player, Carrie, and

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he plays with Amy Ray of Indigo

girls, which is It's one of my

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favorite groups, so still abuzz.

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It's like a good day and a good activity.

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I was afraid to throw it back to

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and, and, and good activity.

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I've been, I've just

been working all week.

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So conference calls, but

I'm, this my highlight.

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you because I figured you seem like you

might be a workaholic, so I was going

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to be like, and how about your day?

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I didn't want to put the pressure on.

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It's I'm not thinking about it,

but I know you have a lot of

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preparation to make all this happen.

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So,

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Jason English (Host): no, it's all good.

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This is the highlight.

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I love the conversations, the easy part.

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So thanks.

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Thanks again for joining.

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So

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oh good.

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a lot to get into.

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Um, and I actually, you know, I

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you know, I got introduced to you with

some of the artists that are part writing.

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Mm hmm.

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Which I'm gonna

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Rachael Sage: a

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Jason English (Host): talk about in a

lot of detail, but, uh, yeah, I was,

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I was so excited to meet given your

history in music, and, and given all

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the roles that you play, and all the,

the things that you do, so, it's a, it's

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a pleasure to meet you, I'm excited.

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with you.

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so you're

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Rachael Sage: Hooray!

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Jason English (Host): so you're, you're

busy, even though you're, you're, even

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though you're having a great day with

other artists, uh, the other side,

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Yes!

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Called The Other Side, right?

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Mm hmm.

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And, uh, and you just released

May that was sort of a

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Rachael Sage: about I don't know that it

was a remix as much reimagining because

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I actually mix the same tracks at all.

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It was a completely new from the ground

up, um, rearrangement of the same

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songs that were on the other side.

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And there've been a variety of

artists who've done this in the past.

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Most notably, um, one of my

favorite artists, fantastic Negrito

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did it a couple of years ago.

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And it's basically, this is the record.

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It's the pink album, loosely inspired

by the Barbie wave, I suppose.

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Cause I've never been a pink

person, but I was just feeling it.

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And, you know, it's, it's really

kind of a, an acoustic more

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stripped down approach, but.

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We tried to be a little less obvious

than just acoustic guitar and, you

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know, the odd cello percussion.

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And I brought in some special

guests like my dear friends and

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neighbors, Annalise and Ryan.

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Katie Marie all the way in Austin,

Texas laid down her percussion parts.

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Um, Trina Hamlin on harmonica.

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So there are a lot of different

players on this record.

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And I had toured my Tuchus off for

about a year shedding these tunes.

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So it has all of that kind of

live energy and just, you know, re

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imagined versions of these songs.

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Jason English (Host): Oh, that's awesome.

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you done this before?

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Why and why did you do it for

this, for this particular album

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Rachael Sage: question.

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I've done acoustic remixes, like you've

suggested before, where essentially I

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would just mute all the electric parts,

like the electric guitar or the drums,

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bass, electric bass, um, synthesizers,

and just bring it down to the core of

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what might be deemed the folk version.

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Um, But I've never really done it

from the ground up where I took the

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same material, the same lyrics and

melody, and just started from scratch.

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And part of what that, you know, was

prompted by was people at the merch

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table after the shows, especially

in England, who'd be like, tell me

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which record of yours sounds the

most like what you're doing today,

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you know, sort of at a loss because.

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I'm a bit of a kitchen sink

producer, and I love my layers.

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I'm very Beatle esque in my approach

to arranging pop and rock songs, you

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know, with innumerable strings and,

um, you know, special guests galore.

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But there isn't necessarily always a

core, um, sonically between each song.

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I go for eclecticism really.

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And I, I thought, well, what a cool

challenge it would be to re approach this.

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It's more akin to not only how I do it

live, but also where it's really just

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about presenting the, the vocal, the

lyric, the melody in this frame of, you

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know, if anything's in the way of that

story, even if it sounds cool, even

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if it makes your feet tap, like if it

doesn't sort of help what it's about,

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you know, we're not going to put it on.

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So, so that was a fun challenge for me.

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And I did most of it in my home

studio here in the Hudson Valley.

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made it a lot of fun.

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Jason English (Host): Oh, that's great.

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talked to a few musicians as

part of this this podcast.

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And I think a few of

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I think a few of them have

told me that the nation that

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and a place for the

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for the band, the Big Sound, they're

actually preferring the sort of the

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more intimate, authentic, I would say,

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like

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I would say, a connection with the

audience, because I think sometimes it

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depends on the time of the concert or

the venue and the circumstances, but I

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think they're realizing that there's just

a more intimate, deeper connection that

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you can have with your fans and audience

in that mode, and I think as a fan and

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not a musician, it's I actually prefer

musicians when they're stripped down.

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I love both.

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You know, I really do.

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Yeah.

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And then hear the story right

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Rachael Sage: that's true.

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I also feel like as you're touring,

you learn more about the material.

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You learn more about, you know,

what does this mean to me today or

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two, three years after I wrote it.

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And so the story changes and

a lot of times, you know,

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you're done with the record.

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I can only speak for myself, but I

often feel like, Oh, God, I'm done.

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It was great fun.

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I like it and proud of it, but

I don't need to listen to that

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again for another year, you know?

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And I think what I love so much

about playing live and touring is it

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gives you this opportunity to sort of

reinvent the material night to night.

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And then there's an overall arc that's.

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tends to happen where you arrive

at these new sort of, um, just

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illuminations of what the material is.

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And especially because I tour

with a wonderful string player,

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a violinist, Kelly Halloran.

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Um, sometimes the parts change

so much and a year later, you're

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kind of like, damn, you know,

wish we could do that over again.

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And the only person that I can

really think of who does it Pretty

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consistently, or who used to,

would be Ani DeFranco, maybe.

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Jason English (Host): You've

uh, some touring coming

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uh,

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before,

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England.

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Mm-Hmm.

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before, which is actually

one of the questions,

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all the

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interviews

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all, all, the interviews or not on

a lot of the interviews on YouTube

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that I, you know, have access

to and in preparation for this.

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And then I schedule, I think

you were just over there and in

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the United Kingdom I was in May.

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Sounds like you're headed back.

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I guess what's the, what's the

connection to that part of the world?

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What's the lure?

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Yeah.

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You know.

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my last

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name's name's English, so

I did it, but, you know.

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It's interesting that there's some

sort of connection there, right?

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Rachael Sage: Oh, very much so.

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I mean, I mentioned that the Beatles

were a huge influence on me growing up.

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Um, but so many British artists.

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I love Britpop.

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Um, I also love British folk and

artists like Kate Bush, of course.

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But I'm sure you know that You know,

similar singer songwriters to me,

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like Tori Amos, she broke over there.

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She went over there and pounded

the proverbial British pavement.

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And there's something about the

history of pop music over there and

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how incredibly eclectic it is and how

sort of genre blind it is in a way

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that really appeals to me because I'm a

bit ADD and I get bored doing the same

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thing over a span of a couple of years.

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You know, I don't want to.

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Make the same records.

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And I don't want to be Americana

all the time or pop all the time

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or chamber classical all the time.

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I really love to mix it up.

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And to me, music is music.

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And certainly, um, I try to wave

that flag over here in the U S

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but it can be admittedly very

challenging to navigate the music

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business here from that perspective,

especially in terms of festivals.

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Um, whereas over there, they'll put on

Aurora after or before, after Duran Duran,

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and it makes perfect sense to everybody.

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It's just music under this huge umbrella.

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Um, here, I don't really

feel that that's the case.

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The last occasion I can think

of where it sort of was.

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It was in the nineties and you had things

like Lilith Fair where you'd have R& B

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from someone like Maya on and then Sarah

McLaughlin and Alanis and Sheryl Crow.

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Um, but the, you know, the common

denominator denominator may have been

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singer songwriter in but was still very

wide ranging sonically and musically.

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And I, I just love that.

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And I love the literary tradition.

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Jason English (Host): Yeah.

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What do you think it is about

your music or your persona that

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is attracting, you know, the

British to, to you and your music?

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Like, what do you think you

bring to the table that they,

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you know, they may not get from,

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Rachael Sage: That's a great question.

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Um,

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I'm not sure I have the answer or that

I'm the one who's qualified to answer it,

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but I do think there is just a certain

amount of mutual sort of respect and love.

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I've been going over

there quite a long time.

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I can't even think of how long,

but it's well over a decade.

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Um, and I always try to include them in

my annual, uh, adventures and exploits.

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But it's also, I've had the opportunity

to revisit a lot of the same markets

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pretty consistently, whether I've

been, you know, an opening support

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act for someone like Howard Jones or

Judy Collins, or most recently Lulu,

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who first broke out in the sixties.

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And, um, she has such an incredible

legacy, almost comparable to someone

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like Cher over here of having gone

through all these different, um,

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waves stylistically and duetted with.

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Some incredible artists like

David Bowie and Elton John.

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So it was a real thrill to support her,

but then I love to go back and play,

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you know, solo and kind of headline

smaller venues along those same routes.

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And again, that's, it's a

similar philosophy to how

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I like to tour over here.

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But I think because it's just.

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So, you know, live nation owned in U.

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S.

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and so corporate in a certain sense,

it becomes ever more challenging for

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the independent venues to survive.

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We lost one recently in New

York, Rockwood Music Hall.

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That was such a mainstay of our scene.

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And so, you know, it's just that

old adage, go where the love is.

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And I find it very difficult

to say no to anything.

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Beautiful offer to perform and

to play a festival or do a tour.

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So, I'm equal opportunity.

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I'll go to Czech Republic, wherever,

you know, the work is, is where I'll

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go because people are people and I'm.

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Every audience is

beautiful in its own way.

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So

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Jason English (Host): Yeah, have a theory.

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Do you wanna hear it about

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sure.

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Rachael Sage: you more than

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Jason English (Host): than others.

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Why positive, That's true.

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I think I can get away with saying

this because I manage a team in London.

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And basically I'm talking generally more

of a glass half empty kind of hilarious.

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They'll look out here and they'll

see the one cloud and say, Oh,

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and say, Oh, well, there's,

there's the cloud, like

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the cloud, like

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and I think you bring

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I think you bring such a sense of

positivity that they probably are

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like, okay, I can't wait to go

see Rachael I of that in my life.

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Rachael Sage: Well take high compliment.

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Thank you.

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Um, it'll probably amuse you

to know that not too long ago.

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I did an Edinburgh fringe show

called stop me if I'm fetching,

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which means complaining in Yiddish.

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And it was a lot of humor,

a lot of campy antics.

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About the fine art of complaining.

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And I even went so far as to have, you

know, a hat where I had people write down

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complaints, things they wanted to just

get off their chest in the safe space of

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a cabaret show, tear them up, you know,

put them in the hat and I would pull

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them out and write spontaneous songs

on the spot about these complaints.

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And, you know, there was a lot of hilarity

and, you know, Um, it was good fun, but

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one thing you learn, the more you tour

all over the world, people are people.

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They're going through the same

challenges and reflections and just

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trials and tribulations and yearnings

for better times wherever you go.

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So you know, that's my overarching

philosophy and approach.

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And I really do think it's the truth,

whether I'm in Wisconsin playing a women's

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festival like I was this past week.

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Or in London, you know, I'm the same me.

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Jason English (Host): sense.

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Yeah, that makes sense.

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All right.

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So here's a random question.

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Now that

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Sure.

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Rachael Sage: festival and

we're in the middle of summer.

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Okay.

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Jason English (Host): I have nation

may not be an example, but why a

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nation gives Rachael Sage Okay.

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August.

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One night,

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to pick four acts.

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Who, who,

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Who's your

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your festival?

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Rachael Sage: Women are

just all any artists at all.

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Ooh, I'm just going what

pops into the top of my head.

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Okay.

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It'll be a smattering artists.

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Well, I think Grace Pettis on

my label, of course I'm biased.

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I think she's phenomenal.

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She just came out with a new

record and it's beautiful.

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So she's going to open the show

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Okay.

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uh, taking myself out of the mix,

assuming I'm in there somewhere.

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But I think Sarah McLaughlin has to be

part of this festival because she's kind

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of the beginning of where it all started

for gals like myself and Grace, um,

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that Lilith Fair energy and that era of.

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Just showing, just demonstrating

point blank, you know, women can

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sell out these stadiums and we're

half of the human population and

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give us some, uh, some do and some,

some platforms to tell our stories.

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So having just seen her slay at

Radio City Music Hall and just

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transport us all with her beautiful

vocals and you know, her band and

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the visuals, it was, it was amazing.

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Unbelievable.

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So she's in the show probably, uh, it's a

tie now between Hozier and Glen Hansard.

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So maybe in my imaginary fantasy,

they've just put out a duo project

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and they're, you know, they're sitting

on stage together, jamming together

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back and forth, you know, harmonizing.

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And then I think Elvis Costello

would probably, really?

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Oh, good.

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them.

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And I think Elvis Costello is

the headliner just my number one.

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All right.

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And if I had five, I'd throw Mark Cohen

in there, but we only had four, so.

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know, he can a guest appearance.

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How's that?

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Jason English (Host): Okay.

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Yeah, no, that's great.

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And I talked to grace, you know,

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to Grace, you know, early.

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Mm hmm.

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Rightfully

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a lot of attention and, um,

yeah, that's so that's awesome.

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So congratulations to her

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Rachael Sage: to you.

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Yeah.

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On,

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Jason English (Host): Oh yeah.

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Uh, on the record label, which

we're going to get into in a moment.

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But, um,

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you.

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Yeah, so that's a great festival.

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come for that for sure.

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I want to talk about just for a few

minutes is for those of you, for those of

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the people that are tuning in, watching

on YouTube or listening, you know,

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wherever they're listening to podcasts,

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They may not

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not know, other than your fans, they

may not know your, your total history.

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So just the headlines in my head

are like, you've produced, or you've

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released, I should say, 16 albums.

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Yeah.

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Is that right, as a musician?

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That's right, of, uh, original material.

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30 years?

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30 years?

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That's interesting.

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:

I don't,

385

:

Rachael Sage: made a lot of

demos leading up to that.

386

:

And, um, you know, at some point

they might emerge from the vault and

387

:

I'll put a few more collections out

there, but yeah, quite an adventure.

388

:

Since I got back from college in

California and, you know, put the

389

:

pedal to the metal, metal to the pedal,

whatever the saying is, I don't drive.

390

:

So forgive me.

391

:

Jason English (Host): All right.

392

:

Well, that's another conversation.

393

:

Okay.

394

:

Um, yeah, so 16 records and you

started Mpress records in the, I

395

:

think in the late nineties, right?

396

:

Rachael Sage: I did.

397

:

Yeah.

398

:

I started it sort of in name

only really, um, In:

399

:

put out first record, which was.

400

:

a demo master, you know, I didn't

have distribution or anything.

401

:

And I was sort of just passing it out

at gigs and selling it at the shows.

402

:

Um, putting it, tucking it into

those things called press kits that

403

:

we used to have and sending them to

wishlist artists like Ani DiFranco and.

404

:

handful of others and

Lilith Fair and such.

405

:

So it was basically my first

professional calling card.

406

:

And then after I released that and

sent that to what was called the

407

:

CMJ radio panel of college stations,

got a little momentum there.

408

:

Um, I put out my record,

Smashing the Serene, which I

409

:

really consider to be my first.

410

:

in terms of something I was proud of.

411

:

And I call the no apology recording, you

know, I wasn't making excuses for it.

412

:

It was exactly what I wanted it to

be, which was a very empowering,

413

:

um, creative moment for me.

414

:

Um, so yeah, that 1998.

415

:

And then by 2000, I had distribution

and, um, some interns and a little

416

:

office next door to my apartment and

was really kind of rolling with it.

417

:

And then.

418

:

A couple years later, started working

with other artists, putting out

419

:

compilations and things like that.

420

:

uh,

421

:

Jason English (Host):

that's incredible And so to

422

:

in addition to the music that

you make and the music that you

423

:

help others make, you're a poet?

424

:

think you're a dancer

425

:

Just kind of happened.

426

:

You paint?

427

:

So you're, it's pretty incredible.

428

:

I don't know how someone is

inspired is inspired by so

429

:

so much.

430

:

Rachael Sage: Well,

431

:

there's a to put it, and then there's

a, you know, not kind way to put it.

432

:

The kind way to put it would be

that my superpower is my ADD,

433

:

and you know, more challenging

way to look at it would be that.

434

:

Sometimes I lack focus and

sometimes I hyper focus.

435

:

So, you know, and I was just talking

about this to my friend, Danielle

436

:

Howell, who I mentioned earlier.

437

:

Um, you know, there are days when

I might be at the computer for 10,

438

:

12 hours and I look at the clock

and suddenly realize like, Whoa,

439

:

I haven't been out of doors today.

440

:

This isn't healthy.

441

:

Like.

442

:

This is literally physically unhealthy

and I need like a buddy system of someone

443

:

to be like get out of that chair Jump

around do some jumping jacks and go get a

444

:

salad, you know and then there are other

days when I can't look at a computer

445

:

and it's like physically impossible

for me to focus and that's when I need

446

:

to just like Or sit at an instrument.

447

:

And sometimes people ask me, you

know, what's your routine like, or

448

:

what's your secret to not, you know,

presumptuously, they will say burning out

449

:

or to getting enough rest or whatever.

450

:

And I'll be like, I don't necessarily

attest to having that balance.

451

:

You know, I try, but it is

an ongoing challenge for me.

452

:

So normal things like going

through your mail or cleaning

453

:

your apartment might be better.

454

:

You know, I might procrastinate on

those to the point where suddenly it's

455

:

like, Oh, I have to deal with this.

456

:

It will not wait.

457

:

Um, and one of those people, maybe,

you know, others like me, I don't know.

458

:

Jason English (Host): sure if I know

others like but uh I get, I get the point.

459

:

That's

460

:

you get the idea.

461

:

know, it's a roller coaster of

being very productive, inspired,

462

:

and then sometimes Not at all.

463

:

And I do have dear friends who have more

of a consistent day to day flow around

464

:

the, you know, their art and their muse.

465

:

And I so admire them.

466

:

I mean, a lot of the writer friends I

have in Nashville who wake up in the

467

:

morning and have that discipline of

like their cup of coffee and they're

468

:

going to write for an hour, whatever

it is in their journal, I try, and I

469

:

coming back to that practice, but it's

very difficult for me to be consistent.

470

:

consistent about it.

471

:

So I come in bursts of,

art making and all the, all

472

:

all poems

473

:

the poems and the poetry and yeah,

474

:

of the I think some of the visual arts

that you create, if people are interested,

475

:

I think you have a Patreon site, right?

476

:

I do.

477

:

Thank you for mentioning that.

478

:

I've been enjoying that so much.

479

:

I wish I'd done it sooner.

480

:

Rachael Sage: It's uh, it's just my name.

481

:

If you search Rachael Sage,

R A C H A E L S A G E.

482

:

S A G E on Patreon.

483

:

And speak of the devil, this

week I'm, uh, premiering a video

484

:

for my song, The Place of Fun.

485

:

So we did a lot of behind the scenes, um,

filming and photos and, you know, antics

486

:

and stuff that you can really only check

out if you are in my Patreon community.

487

:

But what's been even more fun

for me really is just having that

488

:

extra outlet You know, things

that I couldn't necessarily keep

489

:

up with sharing like the poems.

490

:

Um, maybe I write a poem on the plane.

491

:

Otherwise, I might have just forgotten

about it and it just goes into the

492

:

recesses of my iPad never be seen again.

493

:

But now sharing it in real time

or, you know, some demos from

494

:

college or, you know, when I

toured with Lulu or what have you.

495

:

So it's, it's been a lot of

fun and I'm still learning how

496

:

to really kind of maximize it.

497

:

Jason English (Host): No, that's great.

498

:

all

499

:

So after all the things that you've

done through in a variety of different

500

:

things, I guess you've, you've

seen and experienced a lot at this

501

:

point in your life and your career.

502

:

What, what are, what are you

most curious about still?

503

:

Rachael Sage: Oh boy, I want to say

something, you know, hipster and exciting,

504

:

but the first thing that popped into

my head was this co writing thing.

505

:

Like I know so many people who co write

like it's no big deal, like all the time.

506

:

And I've only done it

maybe two, three times.

507

:

And most of those situations I, I brought.

508

:

Uh, you know, 80 to 90 percent completed

song that I certainly could have

509

:

finished on my own, but I was open to

collaborating and, and it was certainly

510

:

elevated by the other person bringing

their voice and their creativity to it.

511

:

Maybe the lyric to the bridge changed

or the, the, you know, first person

512

:

went to third person, something

kind of subtle, but very meaningful.

513

:

I've never really just done that

thing where you're like, you

514

:

walk into a room with nothing.

515

:

You know, no net and somehow by the

end of the few hours of the day,

516

:

you have something complete that

you created together from scratch.

517

:

And so I'm really curious about that.

518

:

First of all, whether I could do it

and what it's like and those muscles

519

:

involved in, in making that happen.

520

:

The closest I can think of to

something I've done like that.

521

:

Uh, well, two things really.

522

:

One would be just.

523

:

Improvisation as an actor, you

know, you walk a room with a few

524

:

you're going to improv with, there's

that cardinal rule of saying yes.

525

:

You know, someone's just makes up

some bizarre scenario and they're

526

:

like, I've just come from the dentist

and it really concerns me that so

527

:

and so did X, Y, Z, don't you think?

528

:

And you're supposed to be just

be like, yes, that concerns me

529

:

because blah, blah, blah, and then

you just kind of snowball on it.

530

:

Um, so I feel like that's a muscle that

might help me, but then also just, It's

531

:

just this idea of, you're ready because

you've been doing this your whole life.

532

:

writing songs your whole life, so

you don't have to overthink it.

533

:

And it's just going to somehow flow

because you're both bringing your breadth

534

:

of experience and the, you know, kind

of insight, but yeah, that sort of

535

:

terrifies me and I'm curious about it.

536

:

Oh, that's, that's interesting.

537

:

So what do you think

538

:

So what do you think is

preventing doing or has

539

:

that?

540

:

really just been circumstantial.

541

:

It's No one's invited me to

that party, you know, think I'd

542

:

probably, it wouldn't take long.

543

:

Like if I maybe spent two weeks in

Nashville and like out at some clubs

544

:

and had with a few people, it might jump

from, you know, we had lunch and caught

545

:

up to, Oh, are you still here next week?

546

:

Like, yeah, maybe you should come

over and we should write a song.

547

:

And I think I just haven't really.

548

:

Put that out there that it's

something that I even wanted to

549

:

do because I had a lot to say and

to kind of get out off my chest.

550

:

But I feel like, you know, my twenties,

thirties, it was about expressing what

551

:

was inside that couldn't wait to get out.

552

:

And now I'm more curious about

process and kind of expanding my

553

:

definition of what inspiration is.

554

:

Like it doesn't necessarily.

555

:

Have to come in five minutes

and feel like it's God just like

556

:

shining this magical light on you.

557

:

And then you have a song.

558

:

I really would love to become

more confident at that kind of

559

:

like old school Tin Pan Alley.

560

:

On spot, like here are the,

here are the parameters.

561

:

You got an hour.

562

:

Let's see what you can come up with.

563

:

And I, I think that's exciting.

564

:

And it also reminds me a little bit

of my youth as a dancer and that

565

:

conservatory approach of relying on

your, your skillset and know, what

566

:

you've learned and okay, let's see it.

567

:

Jason English (Host): Well,

568

:

Rachael Sage: I

569

:

Jason English (Host): if I can

tell you what i'm curious about,

570

:

given your lot of questions, but what

571

:

what i'm kind of curious about given

the role as a president and founder

572

:

of a record label As a incredible

musician singer songwriter songwriter

573

:

All those things that you've done

through the years And then and as a

574

:

listener of music I would imagine right?

575

:

Of course.

576

:

Yeah We're talking about the festival

577

:

1990s,

578

:

thousands, 2000 tens, you know, now

the:

579

:

has changed so much and you know, it's

a, it's a common topic on podcasts.

580

:

I, I've asked the

question of other artists.

581

:

Mm-Hmm.

582

:

, the streaming and, you know, how

do people make money these days?

583

:

You know, the merchandise, like, it's,

it's really interesting how everybody's

584

:

approaching it, but I guess you have

a unique perspective because you

585

:

sit in basically three seats, right?

586

:

The listener, that's true.

587

:

Artist.

588

:

And then the record label.

589

:

This streaming environment.

590

:

Is there a, is there a bigger

winner or bigger loser That's going

591

:

to be whatever it's going to be.

592

:

And that's not the battle that

I'm super keen on fighting, unless

593

:

I'm going to pack up and go to

Washington and be that advocate,

594

:

And I'm always going to support and

cheer and do anything I can from,

595

:

from my seat way back here, you

know, but the interesting thing is

596

:

about your question is that it sort

of assumes that I'm wearing these

597

:

different hats almost one at a time.

598

:

And for me, there is no doubt that

it all flows from being an artist.

599

:

I would not have a label

if I wasn't an artist.

600

:

I would have no interest whatsoever.

601

:

I didn't get into this

to be a business person.

602

:

I got into it because I had a lot of

music to share, not just one song, not

603

:

just 20 songs, I envisioned that I would

have hundreds of songs over the course

604

:

of a career that I wanted to share.

605

:

And I think that sense of, it's not really

confidence as much as just sort of, Self

606

:

belief and a drive to communicate, um, was

so, um, essential to how this journey all

607

:

went and I look for that in other artists

and I probably just because of my own

608

:

personality makeup, I probably wouldn't

sign anyone to my particular label.

609

:

If I didn't see that very obviously

and very abundantly, because it's

610

:

just so hard that we don't get into

this business, at least anymore,

611

:

to strike it rich or to be famous.

612

:

You know, you have to

basically have no choice.

613

:

Um, and I've tried a lot of other things.

614

:

I really did.

615

:

You know, I went to acting school.

616

:

I love that.

617

:

I did ballet.

618

:

Love that.

619

:

Um, and I still will

dabble in those things.

620

:

I love visual art.

621

:

And that maybe has taken a bit

more of a front seat alongside the

622

:

music for me in the last few years.

623

:

But ultimately I think it's the fact

that since I was like seven years old, I

624

:

knew that this was my life's purpose and

my, just my WELTANSCHAUUNG, you know, to

625

:

be a singer songwriter, to share music

and lyrics, to be a consumer of it.

626

:

Like you said, to going to shows,

being part of a scene, all of it

627

:

has fascinated me from the get go.

628

:

Um, so I've studied like every era, like

what was the scene like and who were the,

629

:

you know, People at the forefront and how

can I learn from them, whether it's, you

630

:

know, the sixties, the eighties, then,

then the nineties where I really came up.

631

:

So I kind of keep all

that with me as an armor.

632

:

And I always come back to, you know,

the people who've inspired me, who

633

:

basically have taught me in so many words.

634

:

To let the music lead, to, to do

art, to make art that you love,

635

:

that you're passionate about,

and it will find its audience.

636

:

And obviously that's not a passive

process at all, but it's probably why

637

:

I've leaned so heavily on the live

touring component, because that's, that's

638

:

the part of the journey where I feel

like I got to know who the heck I am.

639

:

Also learn as you know, whatever I've

learned about music and its purpose

640

:

and how it unites us and connects us

has generally been in a live context.

641

:

I would buy records.

642

:

I'd be inspired by them.

643

:

I love producing.

644

:

I love the studio, but it would, you

know, I'd buy an indigo girls record,

645

:

you know, but it would be going to the

show and putting that all together and

646

:

seeing how all different kinds of people.

647

:

Just, you know, we're united by that

and sure, and then they buy the t shirt

648

:

and then they buy the record or, you

know, the VIP preview or whatever it is.

649

:

But if there isn't that really

strong connection to the work itself,

650

:

I'm completely at a loss for any

advice to give to anybody because

651

:

that's the only core ingredient

that I've ever found is like that

652

:

sort of 10, 000 hours and almost.

653

:

Blind faith that what you're creating

or what someone you're promoting

654

:

is creating is important and is, is

going to kind of change someone's DNA.

655

:

Yeah.

656

:

It's just interesting as a, as a listener,

I can make a case that the streaming

657

:

thing is the best thing in the world.

658

:

Right.

659

:

It's just,

660

:

You have access to

661

:

have access to everything and being

on the app, they, they introduced.

662

:

that would never hear of

663

:

Rachael Sage: era of mp3 was, was that,

but it also in a lot of ways was much

664

:

healthier as far as a, business model.

665

:

So, but are where we are and you all your

time sort of on that uphill climb back

666

:

to where you were, or try to make it all

like this expressive of a game in a way

667

:

of how to take your love for the making

of music and transfer that somehow to the

668

:

avenues that you can, you know, You know,

you can tolerate in the business realm,

669

:

That's but Patreon, I'm all about Patreon.

670

:

So always happy to kind of, you know,

end on that note, because I think

671

:

that in a lot of ways is a microcosm

672

:

Right.

673

:

how to approach everything else.

674

:

You know, be who you are, make what

you make, do what you do at the highest

675

:

possible level you can, just because you

have, you want to be excellent, you know,

676

:

when you, you want to connect with people.

677

:

You know, all the other things

will ripple out from there.

678

:

Awesome.

679

:

Well, I appreciate that answer.

680

:

Jason English (Host): Sure.

681

:

. So

682

:

speaking

683

:

speaking of make what you make,

684

:

Here's what I,

685

:

I I want to, it's not a quiz,

but what I want to do is a little

686

:

uh,

687

:

fly

688

:

by of all the, the songs on another side.

689

:

Oh, cool.

690

:

I've got it right here.

691

:

remind myself.

692

:

You imagine

693

:

side, uh, just recently

694

:

released

695

:

in May of fourth.

696

:

What what I want to do wrote, Rachael,

697

:

Give you the name of the track

698

:

of the track in order.

699

:

You tell me thought that comes to mind.

700

:

Okay.

701

:

Context, the inspiration.

702

:

Sure.

703

:

All those things.

704

:

And then.

705

:

Probably a couple based on your answers

that I might want to come back to and

706

:

some that I want to kind of dig into.

707

:

So.

708

:

Okay.

709

:

Are you ready?

710

:

Yeah.

711

:

Let's do it.

712

:

Uh, okay.

713

:

First one, the place of fun, which

again, you're about to release the video.

714

:

Rachael Sage: video

715

:

place

716

:

Jason English (Host): I am.

717

:

Yes.

718

:

Super up tempo and happy sounding,

but some really angst ridden,

719

:

torturous lyrics in there.

720

:

There's some struggle,

but it's to a good beat.

721

:

struggle Perfect.

722

:

Okay.

723

:

Albatross.

724

:

Rachael Sage: I think that's

more of an onomatopoeia.

725

:

That song kind of sounds like

the intimidating energy of what

726

:

we all think of as an albatross.

727

:

It is heavy and it's weighted with

a lot of that turmoil that we all

728

:

witnessed during lockdown with our poor

country just fighting for its life.

729

:

Jason English (Host): Deepest dark.

730

:

Rachael Sage: Well, that's

just a joyful exclamation about

731

:

friendship and trying to connect.

732

:

across long distance and um, yeah,

and I wrote it when I was a teenager.

733

:

So fun to, fun to revisit

734

:

Jason English (Host): That's

a great song, by the way.

735

:

Thank you.

736

:

The next one,

737

:

The next one, number four, I

think you wrote at the request

738

:

of his something like that

739

:

Rachael Sage: Yeah, at of my co

producer, Andy, and he needed a present

740

:

for his wife for her 50th birthday.

741

:

Jason English (Host): What

comes to mind for Rebecca?

742

:

Rachael Sage: When I think of

this person now, I know them.

743

:

So I think Balance.

744

:

I think she's an amazing person.

745

:

She works hard.

746

:

She plays hard.

747

:

She's a beautiful mother, great friend.

748

:

So a lot to admire.

749

:

Jason English (Host): Sounds good.

750

:

Number five, whistle blow.

751

:

Rachael Sage: Boundaries.

752

:

That song is all about boundaries and

not putting up with any crap anymore.

753

:

Jason English (Host): All right.

754

:

I like

755

:

enough?

756

:

Yeah, that's good.

757

:

Next is a forgive me this.

758

:

Rachael Sage: It's a very sad story,

um, written by a dear friend, Danielle

759

:

Evan Gerber, um, and so I think it's

a tribute to someone you've lost.

760

:

But I, I love that people can project

onto it their own meaning and it can

761

:

mean something different to everyone.

762

:

Jason English (Host): Okay.

763

:

Uh, next is butterflies at night.

764

:

Rachael Sage: Yes.

765

:

That's about my, uh, my old friend Hugh,

who sadly passed away during lockdown,

766

:

but what a beautiful, I want to use

the word poetic, poetic character.

767

:

There's some people who just.

768

:

Just walk in beauty.

769

:

They're talented.

770

:

They're beautiful to look at.

771

:

They're generous spirited.

772

:

And he was one of those people.

773

:

So a real kind of pillar

in the folk community

774

:

Jason English (Host): Okay.

775

:

Uh, next No, regrets.

776

:

Rachael Sage: that is a joyful

celebration of the preciousness of life.

777

:

And I co wrote it with my dad.

778

:

He wrote most of the lyrics about

things he loves and he wrote it while

779

:

he was recovering from lymphoma.

780

:

Bye.

781

:

then I decided to put it to music

to help celebrate his 80th birthday,

782

:

uh, about a year later, so.

783

:

first

784

:

Jason English (Host): amazing.

785

:

Yeah.

786

:

Yeah.

787

:

I was going to your, there's your write.

788

:

Yes.

789

:

Rachael Sage: The difference is he didn't

know we were writing a song, you know, it

790

:

was just like lying around on a napkin.

791

:

I was like, this is,

there's something here.

792

:

It's

793

:

Jason English (Host): sounds great.

794

:

Uh, next is only you.

795

:

Rachael Sage: a great song

from the eighties by Yazoo,

796

:

specifically Vince Clark.

797

:

And what springs to

mind about that song is

798

:

it's just passionate.

799

:

I just think of it as an

adulterated passion, singular

800

:

passion for another person.

801

:

Um, the pros and cons of that, how

that'll, uh, mess you up, put you ringer.

802

:

Jason English (Host): All right.

803

:

Based

804

:

on the look in your

805

:

All right.

806

:

Based on the look in your

face, thinking about somebody.

807

:

Rachael Sage: Well, of songs, right?

808

:

they can, how they can

help get you through.

809

:

I

810

:

Jason English (Host): yeah.

811

:

11 flowers for free.

812

:

Rachael Sage: think of that

as a psychedelic song, you

813

:

know, it's pretty cryptic.

814

:

Um, I knew what I meant when I wrote

it, but I wanted it to be in the

815

:

spirit of some of the most psychedelic.

816

:

Beatle esque music that I grew up with.

817

:

So I do think it's Brit influenced

and, uh, now it's, it's, It's about

818

:

metaphysics really and mortality.

819

:

So it's a, it's a timely song

for me in, in that respect.

820

:

But I did also write that

one as a younger person.

821

:

are two like that, that I

wrote as a, a, teenager.

822

:

Jason English (Host): Uh, and then

just a couple more, uh, breathe.

823

:

Rachael Sage: That is a song by

Maria McKee, who's my favorite

824

:

Americana singer, songwriter.

825

:

And, uh, It's just been

a companion for me.

826

:

It's one of those songs that when you want

to just put yourself into a mood and light

827

:

some candles and feel like a spiritual,

you know, just sort of reflective

828

:

person that has anchors on for me.

829

:

So it was a lot of fun to rerecord it.

830

:

Jason English (Host): Awesome.

831

:

Uh, and then not least,

uh, I made a case which

832

:

I made a case, which you sounds

like you think you recorded

833

:

with Howard Jones, who you did.

834

:

Yeah.

835

:

Obviously a legend legend of music

in the eighties and beyond what

836

:

comes to mind for "I Made a Case".

837

:

Rachael Sage: Well, without getting

into what the song is about, cause it's,

838

:

it's a little angsty, but I think now

it's just, it's a beautiful song kind of

839

:

in tribute to an impactful love story.

840

:

You know, it didn't have to necessarily

work out to be worthy of honoring is

841

:

kind of my sensibility about that song.

842

:

And in that sense, it's beautiful.

843

:

I really wanted it to sound

classic, Burt Bacharach ballad.

844

:

Um, something that it's probably the

only song on the record that I wanted

845

:

to kind of have that, um, you know,

just like it could be in a songbook,

846

:

American songbook type of treatment.

847

:

Got it.

848

:

of that

849

:

Jason English (Host): So speaking

850

:

of that, was the one box

uh, lyrics are great.

851

:

Rachael Sage: Thank you.

852

:

I that with Jeff Cohn, by the

way, He's a wonderful songwriter.

853

:

And I, that was one of those

that it was pretty much done, but

854

:

I was like, you think of this?

855

:

Do you have any, you know, input?

856

:

And I'm always open until I record it.

857

:

Keep fine tweaking it, make it better.

858

:

And he offered something so important.

859

:

I had originally written it as,

you made a case for me to love you.

860

:

made a case and I followed through

it's just very different And he's and

861

:

he asked me what it was about what it

meant to me I told him the scenario

862

:

and he said well, that's not really

what you're saying Why don't you try

863

:

flipping that around and it just it

opened a window into like wow now I

864

:

understand my own song So yeah, Uh, yeah.

865

:

So

866

:

Jason English (Host): so it's great.

867

:

So I made a case for love me I

made a case but you disagreed

868

:

I'm holding on for dear

life as this ship sinks way

869

:

sinks of sight I want to hold you

again like before and lay down by the

870

:

door You say you'll miss me, you more.

871

:

So that's like, yeah, that's like,

it's almost like this angst, yeah.

872

:

A little bit, just a little bit.

873

:

Tribute at the same time.

874

:

Rachael Sage: Yeah.

875

:

it's like when you think of a sailboat on

an ocean, you know, it's very beautiful

876

:

to look at from a distance and people

want to paint that picture, but you know,

877

:

if you're that, maybe that one person

on the sailboat in those choppy waters.

878

:

You know, up close, there's a

lot of pain, a lot of resistance,

879

:

a lot of, you know, challenges.

880

:

And then I think with perspective

over time comes that ability.

881

:

To forgive, to honor, to see that,

you know, the purpose isn't always

882

:

in something sustaining forever.

883

:

It's how did it change you?

884

:

How did this person impact you?

885

:

And I'm a big believer

in that in relationships.

886

:

It's probably why I'm friends

with most of my exes, you know?

887

:

Okay.

888

:

So it didn't work out this way.

889

:

But obviously let's be friends.

890

:

Like, I love you.

891

:

You know, like obvi, or at least

I like you . You um, that between

892

:

yesterday and today when we decided

maybe not to be, you know, a couple

893

:

that's, that's all still there.

894

:

So I think it is a song about having

perspective and choosing love.

895

:

Jason English (Host): But

yeah, no, I'm with you.

896

:

And, uh, yeah, the imagery of what you

897

:

of what you talked about in the ship.

898

:

It's beautiful, even though it's sad,

you know, and something's sinking away.

899

:

It's uh, it's really beautiful.

900

:

So thank you.

901

:

Rachael Sage: She sang

that with Jones, which.

902

:

That was a thrill.

903

:

Yes.

904

:

Let's not forget to mention him.

905

:

I grew up with his poster on my wall

and you know, somehow that dream

906

:

manifested and I'm just still walking

around grateful and pinching myself,

907

:

but he is now, he's a friend and, um,

you know, I just admire him so much, but

908

:

also he's just a lovely down to earth

guy and a lot of fun to hang out with.

909

:

Um, but I'll always be just like

a super fan as well as that.

910

:

Jason English (Host): no, that's great.

911

:

Yeah.

912

:

It's a beautiful song.

913

:

So that, uh, that, that's

914

:

Thank you.

915

:

Mm

916

:

again, is the title track from

that album that you released

917

:

last year called the other side.

918

:

hmm.

919

:

Mm

920

:

kind of calling this

921

:

out is You know,

922

:

tracks, some are probably EPs,

but some are probably full albums.

923

:

So I'm just like are all

full albums, 16 full albums.

924

:

If you count the EPs, I've

got about 30, I think, but.

925

:

Oh, jeez.

926

:

Okay.

927

:

So let's, okay.

928

:

Let's, so let's take the 16.

929

:

Let's just.

930

:

Conservatively, let's say there's 10

songs in the description, or 160 songs,

931

:

Rachael Sage: plus the EPs.

932

:

Jason English (Host): EP.

933

:

And then I'm sure you've got a,

934

:

uh, a

935

:

basket or a shelf of songs that are here.

936

:

A

937

:

Rachael Sage: trunk

938

:

Jason English (Host): Here, yeah, that

are somewhere that you haven't recorded.

939

:

Just, so very prolific, the

production of that is insane.

940

:

Rachael Sage: I, guess my point

941

:

I guess my point in saying

all that be one thing if,

942

:

your lyrics were, you know, whatever,

943

:

hat in a hat.

944

:

My basic, basic sense is, uh, first, uh,

sort of Love I will subvert shame and

945

:

uh, sort of first year.

946

:

time, I will make love mine.

947

:

I shame and all indecision.

948

:

indecision.

949

:

You say you are impatient,

950

:

patient from

951

:

like a sick in doubt's deep brings

us to the natural segue of me

952

:

mentioning that I am a cancer thriver.

953

:

I think one of the things for me, there's

a lot there, but I, while that's somewhat

954

:

in the rear view mirror for me, it's

impossible for someone with my sensibility

955

:

not to try to, as the Buddhists would

say, you know, you, you're trying

956

:

to make medicine medicine from pain.

957

:

And you're trying to heal

from something that was.

958

:

challenging and difficult and in the

hopes, not just to cathart, but in the

959

:

hopes that someone else listening who

might be going through it will be able

960

:

to relate or, or maybe they're going

through something similar or kind of

961

:

just in the same general vein, um, kind

of like, you know, if I could do this,

962

:

you can do it and, and, and look at

what we got through just with COVID.

963

:

I mean, just as a society, as

a culture, know, as Americans,

964

:

but then globally, it's.

965

:

It's, you know, there was a

lot of kind of rich metaphor

966

:

there with illness and society.

967

:

And then of course, drawing

on my own experiences.

968

:

So.

969

:

Well

970

:

Jason English (Host): I

mean, that's, that's amazing.

971

:

I

972

:

That's amazing.

973

:

I had no idea.

974

:

Thank you.

975

:

Rachael Sage: Um

976

:

Well, it isn't really, but I'm able to

kind of from that sort of like you use the

977

:

word basket, sort of a basket of metaphor

and, and apply it to different situations.

978

:

Yeah.

979

:

No, I just thought it was

980

:

No, I just thought it was a great example.

981

:

First, it's, you know, it's, it's

an important song on the album and

982

:

on the, on the reimagined album, but

the fact that you were able to, to,

983

:

uh, uh, indecision and Uh, thank you.

984

:

In the, in the word interplay with

impatient and then, like you patient.

985

:

Uh, I just thought that that was, like,

brilliant and the fact that you much,

986

:

so much, so many lyrics, you know, year

after year after year, you're still able

987

:

to come up with something like the double

988

:

I appreciate that.

989

:

get lazy and I just say,

hey, no, no, no, no, no, no.

990

:

That's the chorus.

991

:

But, uh Yeah.

992

:

Yeah.

993

:

yeah.

994

:

Jason English (Host): Anyway, I just

like, that's a, that was, I love

995

:

you.

996

:

I appreciate that a

like really really good.

997

:

Rachael Sage: Yeah.

998

:

Um, one favorites to play live.

999

:

So it will, it's still in every set.

:

00:52:43,988 --> 00:52:47,468

So you definitely honed in on one

that I, as I also like to play.

:

00:52:48,153 --> 00:52:48,543

Jason English (Host): Okay.

:

00:52:48,593 --> 00:52:49,073

Well, good.

:

00:52:49,103 --> 00:52:50,063

Um, all right.

:

00:52:50,063 --> 00:52:56,593

Well, up, about, you know, the new album

last year, the one that you just released,

:

00:52:56,633 --> 00:53:03,083

talked about you going back over to, uh,

London and the United Kingdom for a I

:

00:53:03,083 --> 00:53:09,143

guess what, beyond that, year, next year,

like what, what do you got cooking for us?

:

00:53:09,648 --> 00:53:10,218

Sure.

:

00:53:10,618 --> 00:53:13,878

Well, beyond this summer where,

when I will be going back to the

:

00:53:13,908 --> 00:53:19,733

UK and Uh, July, but also September

and November, believe it or not,

:

00:53:19,743 --> 00:53:20,823

it's a bunch of different tours.

:

00:53:21,283 --> 00:53:26,943

Um, I'll be intermittently chipping away

at album number 17, but who's counting?

:

00:53:27,453 --> 00:53:32,783

Um, but I'm also gonna, I could

think of it as my debut album for

:

00:53:32,813 --> 00:53:38,483

myself and my band because I'm going

to really focus on this concept

:

00:53:38,483 --> 00:53:40,153

of Rachael Sage and the sequins.

:

00:53:40,183 --> 00:53:42,363

And I think of it, it's,

it's not that it's.

:

00:53:43,038 --> 00:53:49,198

a total reinvention musically, but I

really love this idea of for this record,

:

00:53:49,918 --> 00:53:54,798

maximizing this unbelievable band that I

have whenever I'm in, in New York city.

:

00:53:54,998 --> 00:53:59,198

I can't take them with me everywhere,

but, um, it's Andy Mack on drums,

:

00:53:59,198 --> 00:54:04,238

Kelly Halloran on fiddle, Trina

Hamlin on harmonica and, um, my

:

00:54:04,238 --> 00:54:09,198

longtime collaborator, um, Mikkel

Pivovarov, who also plays bass.

:

00:54:09,218 --> 00:54:14,423

So I really want this to be like,

We, we left it all out there.

:

00:54:14,433 --> 00:54:17,563

You know, we're playing all the

instruments we know how to play.

:

00:54:17,563 --> 00:54:20,123

We're singing as much as we can.

:

00:54:20,123 --> 00:54:23,083

We're, we're kind of pushing

our ranges and harmonizing.

:

00:54:23,083 --> 00:54:27,333

And I'd say it's probably the complete

opposite direction from another

:

00:54:27,333 --> 00:54:31,793

side, which is that stripped down

And that I'm, I'm gonna, I'm not

:

00:54:31,793 --> 00:54:33,543

going to leave any stone unturned.

:

00:54:34,223 --> 00:54:37,363

If it's something that's fun to

explore, to serve these songs.

:

00:54:37,853 --> 00:54:40,673

Um, so yeah, it's going to

be a really joyful process.

:

00:54:40,673 --> 00:54:41,233

I'm about.

:

00:54:41,728 --> 00:54:47,258

a third of the way in, probably

record a few more songs for it, but

:

00:54:47,258 --> 00:54:51,618

I have seven or eight and we're,

we're building and layering on them.

:

00:54:51,618 --> 00:54:54,958

So yeah, that's, that's the rest

of my year when I'm not on tour.

:

00:54:55,388 --> 00:54:58,908

And then next year, um, I just

signed with a new booking agent

:

00:54:58,928 --> 00:55:00,288

in America, which is exciting.

:

00:55:01,008 --> 00:55:05,888

that balance will start to re emerge

of playing, In the U S just as much

:

00:55:05,888 --> 00:55:07,238

as England, which would be great.

:

00:55:07,828 --> 00:55:13,038

And, um, yeah, coming to a town near you,

maybe, maybe finishing my poetry book.

:

00:55:13,038 --> 00:55:14,738

Finally, I keep threatening to do that.

:

00:55:14,738 --> 00:55:16,628

And I just, that's a focus thing.

:

00:55:16,658 --> 00:55:19,608

That's like, I've meaning

to do that for seven years.

:

00:55:20,278 --> 00:55:23,588

I'll, I'll spread all the poems out

on the floor and start organizing

:

00:55:23,588 --> 00:55:25,018

them into chapters and themes.

:

00:55:25,148 --> 00:55:28,168

And then they don't need to clean the

room because someone's coming over

:

00:55:28,168 --> 00:55:30,048

and they all get go into a folder.

:

00:55:30,048 --> 00:55:31,728

And I forget about it for six months.

:

00:55:31,728 --> 00:55:31,948

So.

:

00:55:32,688 --> 00:55:35,103

know, you can stay on me about that one.

:

00:55:35,918 --> 00:55:36,258

Okay.

:

00:55:37,628 --> 00:55:38,078

amazing.

:

00:55:38,218 --> 00:55:41,568

again, another, another thing

on the list for, uh, Rachael.

:

00:55:41,588 --> 00:55:43,898

So, uh, appreciate your time.

:

00:55:44,483 --> 00:55:44,823

Thank

:

00:55:45,203 --> 00:55:46,623

Rachael Sage: you Would

me to play for you?

:

00:55:47,603 --> 00:55:47,703

I would be

:

00:55:47,948 --> 00:55:48,278

Jason English (Host): Okay.

:

00:55:48,588 --> 00:55:48,968

Let's do it.

:

00:55:48,968 --> 00:55:49,368

Awesome.

:

00:55:51,673 --> 00:55:56,363

Rachael Sage: Now you made a bold

accusation earlier of me being always very

:

00:55:56,363 --> 00:56:03,288

positive and very happy I think that I

Big red smile on my face can be a little

:

00:56:03,288 --> 00:56:07,898

bit misleading sometimes, but this was

definitely one of those times where I,

:

00:56:10,318 --> 00:56:16,098

I was not feeling some boundary

crossing behavior in the workplace, and

:

00:56:18,778 --> 00:56:24,878

definitely drew an internal line in

the sand that I will never cross again.

:

00:56:30,858 --> 00:56:33,783

You look me up and down,

you'd sell me alike.

:

00:56:33,783 --> 00:56:33,873

It's

:

00:56:36,458 --> 00:56:40,983

you are not afraid to cry and

you're not afraid to kiss.

:

00:56:43,633 --> 00:56:45,193

You'll look me up and down.

:

00:56:45,613 --> 00:56:47,563

You'd sell me what you hoo hoo want.

:

00:56:50,043 --> 00:56:57,023

You are not afraid to charm and you're

not afraid to, but in the middle of

:

00:56:57,023 --> 00:56:59,033

the night, I can hear your voice.

:

00:56:59,648 --> 00:57:02,168

Don't look back, you have a choice.

:

00:57:03,848 --> 00:57:08,728

In the middle of the night, I

can hear that whistle blow loud.

:

00:57:13,708 --> 00:57:15,928

This is an imaginary violin solo here.

:

00:57:18,958 --> 00:57:26,028

The definition stands, the hero is a man.

:

00:57:27,108 --> 00:57:30,788

He lifts you from the fire,

pulls you from the quick sand.

:

00:57:33,568 --> 00:57:43,963

The definition stands, the woman is a And

learning to be heard is a Herculean art.

:

00:57:45,723 --> 00:57:48,943

But in the middle of the

night, I can hear your voice.

:

00:57:49,573 --> 00:57:52,033

Don't look back, you have a choice.

:

00:57:53,863 --> 00:57:57,583

In the middle of the night, I

can hear that whisper blown loud.

:

00:57:57,583 --> 00:58:07,263

Um, Uh, Um, Uh,

:

00:58:29,543 --> 00:58:30,503

How's the radio edit?

:

00:58:31,448 --> 00:58:31,868

Awesome.

:

00:58:33,738 --> 00:58:35,888

Well, you know, I haven't

done this on guitar.

:

00:58:37,483 --> 00:58:41,323

In a long time, I mean, I think the

last time I did it was overdubbing the

:

00:58:41,323 --> 00:58:49,383

guitar part on the piano in the studio

but since you spoke so Positively

:

00:58:49,383 --> 00:58:54,183

and appreciatively about the song and

the lyric I'm gonna do the other side

:

00:58:55,443 --> 00:58:55,863

Jason English (Host): Oh wow

:

00:58:56,013 --> 00:58:56,923

Rachael Sage: have to forgive me.

:

00:58:56,943 --> 00:58:57,783

I'm tuning.

:

00:58:58,543 --> 00:59:02,053

It's a hot humid day

here in the Hudson Valley

:

00:59:04,173 --> 00:59:08,543

And I don't want to hurt

anybody by being out of tune.

:

00:59:10,633 --> 00:59:11,753

Do you play, by the way?

:

00:59:12,723 --> 00:59:15,263

I, I don't, in

:

00:59:15,523 --> 00:59:15,883

good.

:

00:59:15,893 --> 00:59:17,413

Thank you for giving us a job.

:

00:59:19,963 --> 00:59:20,693

Jason English (Host): no, you don't.

:

00:59:20,713 --> 00:59:20,883

Yeah.

:

00:59:20,883 --> 00:59:22,663

you don't want me to sing or

play or anything like that.

:

00:59:22,823 --> 00:59:24,613

I just, uh, leave it, leave it to the

:

00:59:24,713 --> 00:59:25,133

Let's see.

:

00:59:27,483 --> 00:59:32,553

Yeah, and if I mess it up, it just

makes it more exciting, right?

:

00:59:33,493 --> 00:59:34,093

and authentic.

:

00:59:34,093 --> 00:59:34,423

Rachael Sage: Yeah.

:

00:59:35,693 --> 00:59:37,093

So this is the other side.

:

00:59:44,813 --> 00:59:48,903

In time, I will make the mine.

:

00:59:49,543 --> 00:59:55,063

I will subvert shame and all indecision.

:

00:59:57,053 --> 01:00:03,543

You say you are impatient,

like a sick patient.

:

01:00:05,028 --> 01:00:07,568

From doubts, deep incision.

:

01:00:08,588 --> 01:00:11,198

I've been in the garden of evil and good.

:

01:00:11,648 --> 01:00:13,828

Hoping you would find

me in the underworld.

:

01:00:14,238 --> 01:00:17,428

My future was a fire I could not breathe.

:

01:00:17,908 --> 01:00:20,268

Burning like a soldier's grief.

:

01:00:21,128 --> 01:00:23,728

Meet me in the valley of eventually.

:

01:00:24,218 --> 01:00:27,088

I'll be on the bank by the walnut tree.

:

01:00:27,628 --> 01:00:31,733

Hope you will be with me

on the other side of this.

:

01:00:31,733 --> 01:00:33,348

Of this.

:

01:00:36,508 --> 01:00:49,638

Is an angel's kiss Pure in intention

And no expectation I see your delicate

:

01:00:51,188 --> 01:01:00,623

beauty And I have no need To own or

possess it I've been in the garden of

:

01:01:00,623 --> 01:01:06,013

evil and good Hoping you will find me

in the under Of what my future should

:

01:01:06,153 --> 01:01:12,813

fire I could not breathe Burning like

a soldier's grief Meet me in the valley

:

01:01:12,873 --> 01:01:18,803

of eventually I'll be on the bank by

the walnut tree Hope you will be with

:

01:01:18,803 --> 01:01:22,133

me on the other side of this This

:

01:01:27,103 --> 01:01:29,988

will be such bliss Yes,

:

01:01:38,033 --> 01:01:41,768

this will be God's kiss.

:

01:01:41,768 --> 01:01:42,398

I'll wait.

:

01:01:44,918 --> 01:01:45,488

I'll wait.

:

01:01:49,028 --> 01:01:54,383

Being in the guardian of

evil, who in the under what?

:

01:01:54,523 --> 01:01:56,143

My future was a fire.

:

01:01:56,623 --> 01:01:57,303

I could not breathe.

:

01:01:58,113 --> 01:02:04,883

Burnin like a soldier's grief Me and

me in the valley of eventually I'll

:

01:02:04,883 --> 01:02:10,103

be on the bank by the walnut tree Hope

you will be with me, hope you will be

:

01:02:10,103 --> 01:02:12,313

with me Can you guys sing that at home?

:

01:02:13,818 --> 01:02:15,113

Hope you'll be with me.

:

01:02:15,263 --> 01:02:16,913

Hope you'll be with me.

:

01:02:16,913 --> 01:02:17,963

You sound great.

:

01:02:19,883 --> 01:02:21,323

Hope you'll be with me.

:

01:02:21,443 --> 01:02:23,213

Hope you'll be with me.

:

01:02:26,083 --> 01:02:27,493

Hope you'll be with me.

:

01:02:27,673 --> 01:02:29,443

Hope you'll be with me

:

01:02:33,503 --> 01:02:34,433

in time.

:

01:02:35,183 --> 01:02:40,553

I'll make love my i'll subvert shame.

:

01:02:40,778 --> 01:02:44,228

And all indecision.

:

01:02:50,343 --> 01:02:50,993

Jason English (Host): That was good.

:

01:02:51,068 --> 01:02:51,938

There it was.

:

01:02:52,083 --> 01:02:53,293

Yeah, that was good.

:

01:02:53,313 --> 01:02:53,443

You

:

01:02:53,558 --> 01:02:54,828

You didn't mess up at all.

:

01:02:54,828 --> 01:02:55,998

Phew.

:

01:02:55,998 --> 01:02:58,338

You're a

:

01:02:58,883 --> 01:02:59,753

Rachael Sage: right Rachael it's a

:

01:02:59,808 --> 01:03:00,693

Jason English (Host): I pleasure.

:

01:03:00,698 --> 01:03:02,633

Yeah, you Yeah, you did.

:

01:03:02,773 --> 01:03:03,413

It was a pleasure.

:

01:03:03,413 --> 01:03:05,363

Thanks for, Thanks for the

time, thanks for the chat.

:

01:03:05,363 --> 01:03:08,154

and, time, thanks for the chat.

:

01:03:08,154 --> 01:03:09,645

Best of luck.

:

01:03:09,645 --> 01:03:11,634

so much for having

:

01:03:11,634 --> 01:03:12,131

me.

:

01:03:12,131 --> 01:03:12,628

We'll

:

01:03:13,103 --> 01:03:13,383

Rachael Sage: Thanks.

:

01:03:13,622 --> 01:03:14,616

Jason English (Host): very soon.

:

01:03:14,616 --> 01:03:15,113

Bye.

:

01:03:15,113 --> 01:03:15,593

Hopefully.

:

01:03:23,781 --> 01:03:27,131

Thanks so much for joining us for

another episode of Curious Goldfish.

:

01:03:27,571 --> 01:03:30,851

Please follow and subscribe to

the podcast and on social media.

:

01:03:31,431 --> 01:03:34,051

Also tell your music loving

friends about us too.

:

01:03:34,801 --> 01:03:36,901

Until next time, stay curious.

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About the Podcast

Curious Goldfish
A Community Where Inquisitiveness and Music Come Together. Inspired by the Mindset of Ted Lasso.
Launching in 2024, the Curious Goldfish Brand is inspired by two episodes from the First Season of the Apple TV+ Series Ted Lasso.

The “Goldfish” reference is about the importance of not dwelling on mistakes in life. In an early episode, Ted Lasso, the series’ namesake asks one of his players – after they were badly beaten in a play during training – what the happiest animal on earth is. The answer: A Goldfish, because it has a 10-second memory. Lasso encourages the player to forget the mistake and to not let it hinder his mindset. In other words, to “Be a Goldfish.” The “Curious” reference is born from another Season 1 episode where Ted finds himself in a dart match at a local Pub with a ruthless Football Club Owner. Lasso references a quote from Walt Whitman to “Be Curious, Not Judgmental.”

So “Being a Goldfish” is a great start, but curiosity is an undervalued trait in today’s world. We don’t ask enough questions; we don’t inquire enough about each other and about life. So I want people to be “Curious Goldfish.”

The initial premise of the podcast will center around my curiosity about music. I can’t sing. I don’t play a musical instrument, but I am inspired by artists who are vulnerable enough to put their thoughts down and then share them with the entire world. I’m curious about the songwriting process; I’m curious about a musician’s journey; I’m curious about the business of music; I’m curious about who or what inspires a sad song, a love song - and everything in between.

Though the initial premise is music, we will likely spend time discussing and highlighting all-things Ted Lasso. In its three seasons, it inspired the host in so many ways (work, personal, relationships etc).

The musical focus of the Curious Goldfish Podcast will center around up-and-coming artists primarily in rock, roots, folk, Country and Americana genres. Not every aspiring musician will earn $100 million from Spotify streaming like Taylor Swift. Our goal is to shine a light on those artists who have as few as 100 monthly listeners to those with more than 100,000. Their stories deserve to be heard because your music can inspire, and it’s time you had a chance to share them.
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About your host

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Jason English

Tech Exec by Day, Music Lover Day and Night. Former Journalist who is trying to be a middle-aged William Miller from the Movie Almost Famous. Also, Ted Lasso changed his life...so there's that.