A Chat with We Are All Fossils Part 1
The Art of Connection Through Music: An Interview with We Are All Fossils
In this episode of Curious Goldfish, host Jason English engages in a deep exploration of music's power to connect people, using the Ubuntu philosophy of collective achievement. The podcast features an interview with Deist, the South African musician behind the project 'We Are All Fossils', now based in Great Britain.
The discussion embraces the emotional and communal aspects of music, highlighting Deist's journey from covering songs to creating original music inspired by listeners' stories through the 'Songs for Strangers' project.
Deist shares his experiences of musical evolution, noting the influence of artists like Sufjan Stevens, Damien Rice, and Gregory Alan Isakov. The episode concludes with Deist’s performance of 'Mountains', a song encapsulating hope and connection, embodying the episode's central theme of finding unity and shared humanity through music.
00:00 Introduction: The Competitive Nature of Music
01:08 Welcome to Curious Goldfish: A Music Podcast
01:43 The Magic of Music: Shared Connectedness
02:15 We Are All Fossils: A Unique Musical Project
02:50 The Power of Music: Connecting Strangers
03:08 Discovering We Are All Fossils: A Personal Journey
04:27 Interview with Deist: The Man Behind We Are All Fossils
05:47 The Story of We Are All Fossils: From South Africa to Great Britain
07:01 The Meaning Behind 'We Are All Fossils'
09:31 Musical Influences: Sufjan Stevens, Damien Rice, and Gregory Alan Isakov
11:59 Songs for Strangers: A Unique Musical Project
24:49 The Evolution of Sound: New Releases in 2023
28:10 The Story Behind 'Mountains': A Song of Hope
31:43 Live Performance: 'Mountains' by We Are All Fossils
34:35 Conclusion: Stay Curious
Transcript
Deist (We Are All Fossils): There's
a competitive nature that's come
2
:into music, or maybe I'm just a bit
more aware of it now, which, doesn't
3
:really embrace, a collective win.
4
:Uh, you know, and all the time, there's
a thing called Ubuntu, it's something
5
:which comes from like the African cultures
where, um, you know, you all win together.
6
:You all kind of.
7
:You know, achieve things together
and dunno about yourself.
8
:But when you've achieved something
on your own and you turn around,
9
:there's no one to celebrate with.
10
:It's kind of a hollow victory, but if you
can share it with someone, the struggle
11
:and the, the the end result, and if
it's good, you know, you kind of, it's,
12
:it's something you can hold onto now.
13
:I think it just propels you to be maybe
a bit more, um, giving of love rather
14
:than living in a fearful state, you know?
15
:Jason English (Host): Welcome to
curious goldfish, a podcast community
16
:where music and curiosity come together
through interesting conversations
17
:with the music makers of our world.
18
:I'm your host, Jason English.
19
:You can find curious goldfish and all the
major podcast and social media platforms.
20
:And of course, we have all of
our content on our website.
21
:Curious goldfish.
22
:com.
23
:There's magic in music on so many
different levels, and it's one of
24
:the coolest aspects of doing this
podcast to learn, understand, and
25
:yes, be curious about how magic
presents itself in a song, in a lyric.
26
:In a performance or in a musician.
27
:One of the most magical
aspects of music is the shared
28
:connectedness that you can feel.
29
:Whether at a show, sharing a playlist,
jamming with friends in a car, music
30
:can connect even the most disconnected
souls together into a moment of shared
31
:experience that can last forever.
32
:Connectedness is the heart of We Are All
Fossils, a musical project created by
33
:a South African musician who's called
Great Britain Home Now for two decades.
34
:The concept of We Are All
Fossils is a unique one.
35
:And I'll let Deist, its founder,
explain more in more detail in our
36
:conversation, but it's all about
connectedness and shared community.
37
:There's a connectedness in his sound
that on one hand is so recognizable,
38
:it feels completely comfortable, but
it's also so unique that you can, you
39
:kind of have to listen to it several
times in order for it to sink in.
40
:I talked to Deist about all that and
how he was able to throw original music
41
:together for strangers on YouTube.
42
:Those strangers would just give him
a theme or just a couple of words.
43
:And he was able to write some
original songs on their behalf.
44
:Again, music connected them,
even though they were strangers.
45
:I found We Are All Fossils by
listening to one of my favorite
46
:playlists on YouTube and Spotify.
47
:It's called Indie Folk Central,
and I highly recommend it.
48
:I felt so connected to the music of we
are all fossils that I reached out to him.
49
:Just cold and asked for an interview.
50
:He accepted, and I'm so grateful to
be the first American media outlet to
51
:interview We Are All Fossils, who will
surely have an emerging role in the
52
:singer songwriter genre for a long time.
53
:I felt like I found a soulmate
after speaking with him.
54
:We spoke for an hour or so recently.
55
:We connected through mutual love of
artists like Sufjan Stevens, Damien
56
:Rice, and Gregory Alan Isakov.
57
:Again, music has a way to
connect people, even complete
58
:strangers 5, 000 miles apart.
59
:This is part one of that interview.
60
:He performs a song for us called
Mountains, which is what got me hooked
61
:on We Are All Fossils to begin with
part two will be published soon.
62
:And both parts will be posted on
YouTube as this is also the first video
63
:podcast episode in the short history
of the curious goldfish podcast.
64
:My guess is that you will also feel
connected to Deist and We Are All
65
:Fossils after listening to this
episode and his thoughts and just
66
:hearing him play his incredible music.
67
:We are all fossils.
68
:Let's dive in.
69
:Hey Deist.
70
:Thanks for your time.
71
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): Hello.
72
:Thanks for having me.
73
:Very excited for this.
74
:Jason English (Host): So it's a Monday.
75
:Tell me, tell me something
good about your weekend.
76
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): I got to
spend it with my two closest friends.
77
:and we all had like a bit of a catch up.
78
:We hadn't seen each other for a little
while, so that was the highlight.
79
:Had, maybe too much coffee,
but, don't regret it.
80
:Jason English (Host):
really appreciate your time.
81
:So I came across you and your
music probably over the holidays.
82
:I was streaming.
83
:Uh, there's a great channel on YouTube
called Indie Folk Central and every
84
:month they come out with like a playlist
of, indie folk songs from really all
85
:over the world, A lot from Australia,
some from the States, and then Europe.
86
:And uh, I just remember.
87
:In the, in the midst of a
lot of really good songs.
88
:I had actually had to go back
and play yours a couple times.
89
:Uh, I think it was called Mountains,
90
:which I hope to talk to
you about in, in a minute.
91
:But, uh, that's how I,
I was introduced to you.
92
:it's a pleasure to, to talk with you
and, I can't wait to learn all about you.
93
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): oh, no thanks.
94
:Thanks.
95
:I mean, that, uh, playlist was so
influential to how things changed for me.
96
:Um, rufuss, uh, Indie Folk Central
is it's been so kind with his support
97
:for, um, for what I've been doing.
98
:and I think if you went back and you,
you know, listened to that track again,
99
:there's so many good artists that he works
with and he curates that's really kind to
100
:hear that, you know, it stood out 'cause
there's so many good things on there.
101
:Jason English (Host): so tell us
a little bit about your story.
102
:Uh, I think you're in Great Britain now,
but you're originally not from there.
103
:Right.
104
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): Yeah, no, I'm
currently living, um, if you're familiar
105
:with the uk, it's, in Essex, but if you're
not, it's not too far away from London.
106
:I was born in South Africa in a, on the
east coast in a place called, uh, Durban.
107
:Um, very, very beautiful.
108
:Pretty much like a surfers
like haven, you know?
109
:Very nice, like beaches, Indian Ocean.
110
:It's, it's incredible.
111
:Um, I, you know, I still wonder why
my parents moved here, uh, and, you
112
:know, swap the whole thing around.
113
:'cause uh, you know, summer, I was
born in January, I had a summer
114
:birthday and now I have like this
really cold January birthday and just
115
:pining for something I used to know.
116
:I do love living here.
117
:Um, it's really, really, really nice.
118
:It's, it's nice to kind of interact with
the different cultures and, you know.
119
:Enjoy it for what it is.
120
:being this close to London,
it's quite multicultural.
121
:You, there's so much out there to
interact with and it's, it's wonderful
122
:that's great.
123
:And how long have you been there?
124
:So I think it's gone into 25 years
125
:okay.
126
:Yeah.
127
:Yeah.
128
:Getting older now.
129
:Yeah.
130
:Well, you can't be much
more older than that.
131
:No, I, I, well
132
:Are you in your thirties or what?
133
:yeah.
134
:Uh, 35.
135
:Um.
136
:Okay, cool.
137
:Jason English (Host): So your name's
Deist but your stage name of, of you
138
:in the group is called We Are All
Fossils, which is really interesting.
139
:I guess what's the origin of that name
and then, uh, yeah, what, is there
140
:a specific meaning behind that that
sort of sparked everything for you?
141
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): I, I
remember just, I was in between
142
:kind of projects with music.
143
:I used to do kind of a solo thing,
uh, which was a bit more poppier or
144
:I wouldn't say pop in the traditional
senses, but just a little bit a
145
:singer songwriter with, you know,
more of those mainline hooks.
146
:And I started falling into like,
love with a whole different kind
147
:of music that was coming out.
148
:I felt like a name change
was gonna be there.
149
:And I don't really have the most,
like, easily, you know, I don't
150
:have a memorable name really.
151
:My full name is Yako, so that's
not gonna, you know, do that good
152
:over, you know, I think, um, even my
English teacher got my name wrong.
153
:Uh, and then just,
154
:They had a nickname for me that they
stuck with, I guess, just to keep it safe.
155
:but yeah, so I, uh, I was going through,
I was just trying to like, find words that
156
:felt kind of right for where I was going.
157
:And, uh, I remember listening
to, uh, Sufjan Stevens Oh, nice.
158
:Yeah.
159
:my, my John, my beloved.
160
:And um, there's a line there
where he talks about fossils.
161
:Uh, I think it's the fossils that fall
on my head, something similar to that.
162
:And I remember the.
163
:Word Fossil was just kind of jumping
out and I had a little note, you
164
:know, bit in my phone and I was
trying to, like, I put, I remember
165
:putting all the random like words
down and I was like, well, something,
166
:these things are just poking out.
167
:And then, yeah, it just kind of happened
where I was like, I wanted to create a
168
:name that was quite unifying and, you
know, you could, I think from being so
169
:like on my own with my name, it was quite
individual so I wanted to have something
170
:that was quite, you know, unifying.
171
:And then we are all fossils was, um.
172
:The first half of a sentence, like
we're all fossils in the making
173
:is the, is the full sentence.
174
:But the, the beauty in that was for me
that, we're all fossils is something
175
:which, you know, once our lifespan and our
time together, has its expiration date,
176
:you we're all end up in the same place.
177
:And sometimes we can feel quite,
individual and, and not connected
178
:as the human race, but effectively.
179
:We will be at some point in
very similar states again.
180
:So yeah, it might be a bit morbid
some people, but I was like, that's
181
:a really strong kind of thing.
182
:So I could build a project out of
that, that, that felt really, uh,
183
:in line with how I was feeling.
184
:Jason English (Host): that's incredible.
185
:I mean, Sufian Stevens is awesome, right?
186
:Like that.
187
:That's amazing.
188
:Uh, I would love to talk about Sufian and
so hopefully we can come back to that,
189
:but,
190
:so as we are all fossils, is
that like a name of a band?
191
:Uh, I've seen references to interviews
that you've done where you, you sort
192
:of allude to it as, as a, as a project,
193
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): Yeah,
194
:Jason English (Host): you,
uh, can you expand on that?
195
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): I think from
the way that it started, I, I was writing
196
:songs and I was interacting with a few
different musicians and labels sometimes
197
:do get in the way, of creativity.
198
:You know, sometimes you cage your
ideas too tightly and they can't grow.
199
:Um.
200
:So we're all fossils to me was just,
it was a project that was just kind
201
:of evolving with who was around and
who wants to be part of it and who's
202
:kind of in tune with what's going on.
203
:It's not any massive pressures
on who's involved or not.
204
:I just, I do a lot of the music with my
best friends and I interact with them and
205
:on like, the music's like the byproduct
of the time we have together and it's,
206
:I don't really ever want to change that
too much 'cause it's just, I've been in
207
:places before with music where you try
and create, um, things that you think
208
:people will like and they will enjoy,
and at the end you just kind of end up
209
:in a place where you don't want to be.
210
:So We Are All Fossils is just
a, an evolving project that I
211
:don't know what it's gonna be,
but I've enjoyed what it's been.
212
:Jason English (Host): All right.
213
:That's, that's incredible.
214
:And I think the point you made earlier
around, you know, a community and, and
215
:sort of being connected, isn't that
sort of the essence of music as well?
216
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): I.
217
:A hundred percent.
218
:And, uh, I think that's, we
kind of lost sight of that as.
219
:There's a competitive nature that's
come into music, or maybe I'm just a bit
220
:more aware of it now, which, uh, doesn't
really embrace, uh, a collective win.
221
:Uh, you know, and all the time,
um, there's a thing called
222
:Ubuntu, which is, I think I'm,
uh, like pronouncing that, right?
223
:It's like, it's something which comes
from like the African cultures where,
224
:um, you know, you all win together.
225
:You all kind of.
226
:You know, achieve things together
and dunno about yourself.
227
:But when you've achieved something
on your own and you turn around,
228
:there's no one to celebrate with.
229
:It's kind of a hollow victory, but if you
can share it with someone, the struggle
230
:and the, the the end result, and if
it's good, you know, you kind of, it's,
231
:it's something you can hold onto now.
232
:I think it just propels you to be maybe
a bit more, um, giving of love rather
233
:than living in a fearful state, you know?
234
:Jason English (Host): Oh,
that, that, that's incredible.
235
:And then, as was this before, we are
all fossils, uh, or as part of it, you,
236
:you did, which I think is a pretty cool
project called, uh, songs for Strangers.
237
:Um,
238
:can you tell us about that?
239
:'cause I, I thought
that was pretty unique.
240
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): songs
for Strangers was, there's a little
241
:bit of story before that, which I'll
tell you, I'll give you a bit more
242
:insight as to why that came about.
243
:But I, um, I was in music,
like writing my own stuff and.
244
:I wasn't too sure if I was, if I had
a bit, it sounds really strange, but
245
:I had a bit of a commitment issue.
246
:'cause I would, I'd have all these
goals, but I couldn't really piece
247
:together the steps to get to anywhere.
248
:And it always felt like a little
bit of a circle of failure
249
:that I kind of found myself in.
250
:So I, I swapped the idea
a little bit and, um.
251
:There's actually an accidental
thing that happened that made
252
:me kind of change my approach.
253
:I watched, um, Damien Rice, which is
one of my favorite singer songwriters,
254
:is, um, perform a song on Jules Holland.
255
:And I remember just,
just loving it so much.
256
:I'm a huge fan of his, and it was a long
time that he hadn't released an album.
257
:And I was like, okay, great.
258
:You know, I was like sitting there.
259
:I effectively felt like I had popcorn
and I was just ready for this moment.
260
:funnily enough, I dunno why I did it,
but I took a video of the screen and
261
:then I posted it out on social media
or I posted it on YouTube or something.
262
:'cause I felt like it was a real
moment for me that I wanted to share.
263
:And then the next day I remember getting
like this cease and desist thing from, uh.
264
:YouTube or something.
265
:Like, they're like basically saying,
you've done something really bad.
266
:You, you need to stop,
uh, you know, doing this.
267
:But then I saw the numbers of how many
people watched it and I was oh, but there
268
:are people out there who are thinking
like me and are interacting in my way.
269
:So I, I thought I'm gonna cover the song
and just see if I can connect with them.
270
:And that kind of like, had
exactly the same thing.
271
:I got connected with a lot of people who
had the same moment as me and we had like
272
:our little, you know, like hopefully me
and you're gonna talk about Sufjan and
273
:you know, like deep love for certain
artists and, uh, so I, I, I try to then
274
:make it so that my commitment thing,
I can try and see if, if I can just.
275
:Challenge that.
276
:And I, I put forward that I
would release a new single,
277
:no, a new cover every Friday.
278
:I used to call it a
series of Fossil Fridays.
279
:Um, and that would be my, the, my way
of seeing if it's a commitment issue.
280
:So for a year I did these covers and I,
and I did it, and I saw these numbers.
281
:And, um, the, the best thing about it
was the numbers didn't mean as much
282
:as the connection with the community
and the people who interacted.
283
:Um.
284
:And then I, I, on the back of that
was like, well, I'm gonna message a, a
285
:manager of one of my favorite artists.
286
:Um, or maybe it was a booking agent
of, um, Gregory Alan Isikoff, a
287
:guy called maybe Colin Keenan.
288
:And, um, he, he replied and he said,
and this is the best thing that
289
:you, you could hear from someone.
290
:He's like, I'm really impressed with
what's going on, but these are all covers.
291
:They're not about you.
292
:Like, where, where are you in this?
293
:And then I look I was like,
well, yeah, where am I in this?
294
:So then I didn't wanna lose what I
was doing with the Fossil Fridays.
295
:With the people who are coming in.
296
:'cause it's hard for them to take
the jump from an artist that they
297
:know and already love and then come
into the world that I'm gonna create.
298
:So I tried to create a middle point
between us where, um, I, I did like
299
:an a video and I just said like,
if you are watching this, um, send
300
:me a letter or an email or anything
like that about any story you want.
301
:Uh, true or false, or you can keep it
anonymous and I'll write a song out of it.
302
:Um.
303
:And just see how that's gonna work.
304
:So that's how Songs for
Strangers really came about.
305
:It was, um, the way to still be
connected and, and in a weird way,
306
:you are writing with the people
who are watching your videos.
307
:And I think the, the, the aspect of
keeping it anonymous was really good.
308
:'cause then you can, there's this
like truth that come, that can come
309
:through and I will never forget those,
those letters that came through.
310
:And then I think we, we released
the EP a couple of years later.
311
:It took a little bit of work, but.
312
:It was just a phenomenal journey and I,
I learned so much about telling someone
313
:else's story and how much you wanna
stick to it and not, you know, jack it
314
:up with your own ego or like, know, or
like take the wheel a different way.
315
:It was, it was a disciplined writing act,
but I, I've learned so much from that.
316
:Jason English (Host): Yeah, so somebody
would just send you a couple of words,
317
:a theme or poetry or lyrics or, you
know, or did it just range like from
318
:less detail to more detail and you had,
you had to kind of work off of that.
319
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): it
was literally just that whatever
320
:you felt comfortable sharing.
321
:Um, and one of the ones that I can
share, and it's a really amazing story.
322
:There's a song called, um, just A
Little Spark, which was the end result.
323
:But I got a, letter from,
a very young, lady who.
324
:Was basically saying, she's at the age
of 17 now and her life is nowhere near
325
:where she thought it was gonna be.
326
:And she had a lot of issues with, um, you
know, the family life and um, you know,
327
:the kind of things you have as a teenager.
328
:But there was a whole different
ball game in play as well.
329
:There was obviously, other
emotional elements which were
330
:really pulling at the strings.
331
:You know, she didn't go into that, but
it was very clear that that was going on.
332
:And she said that there
was a song by Paramore.
333
:called Last Hope.
334
:I'm, I'm sure it's called
a song called Last Hope.
335
:And that changed her life and that that
was something which, you know, and I
336
:remember writing those lyrics in there.
337
:'cause I was like, oh, you need
to see that you are well, to me
338
:it felt like someone who could see
a turn and, and do something in.
339
:Maybe this will help shape her future
into something, you know, being more
340
:alert of what the things that she
doesn't want in her life and the things
341
:that she does want in her, in her life.
342
:she, uh, actually replied on Instagram.
343
:I.
344
:A couple of years later and just
said like, uh, I'm, you know,
345
:I'm so thankful for the song.
346
:Jason English (Host): gosh.
347
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): we follow
each other and I just kind of like,
348
:every time she pops up and I just
see like, happy moments and things.
349
:I mean, of course there's still gonna
be challenges and everything in life,
350
:but, um, it's just, I have a really,
uh, like a warm spot in my heart for,
351
:for her and all, all that that happened.
352
:And I feel like I'm just like a, a,
fly on the wall of this kind of thing.
353
:And it was, yeah, it was incredible.
354
:Really,
355
:Jason English (Host):
Oh, that's incredible.
356
:So music can be obviously very personal,
I would imagine as a, as a songwriter.
357
:What's the difference between writing
something personal based on experience
358
:and, and, and, and observation versus.
359
:Taking somebody else's situation
and ideas and, and, and trying to,
360
:like you said, you don't want to
have your imprint on it too much.
361
:What's the difference in that in
terms of a process or, or mindset?
362
:I.
363
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): So I developed
a particular way to write those songs.
364
:Um, I actually tried to use their words,
reworked it back, and then would finish
365
:them, you know, if it was like a rhyme
kind of scheme that I was gonna go for.
366
:It was, they kind of like
gave me the rough sketches of
367
:what the lyrics were gonna be.
368
:I just created the melody that I thought
fits the notion of what they're saying.
369
:'cause that's the best thing I could do.
370
:I was kind of like.
371
:Well, if I stick close to what
you're saying, I'm, I'm sure
372
:like the aim is, is near enough.
373
:Correct.
374
:Um, so that was, that was that, and the
reason why that was useful for me as a
375
:songwriter, um, you can kind of maybe
try and be too artistic with what you
376
:wanna do or you try too smart or too,
you know, um, pull out something that
377
:is just maybe jarring the listener from
what the meaning of the song actually is.
378
:So.
379
:Sometimes if something comes easy and
it's quick, it's obvious and it's good
380
:for the song, don't worry about that.
381
:That's okay if you don't always
have to work really, really
382
:hard for, for, for the result.
383
:But, um, that taught me just to kind of
be okay with, sometimes the answer being
384
:literally in the email that was sent to me
385
:Jason English (Host): Yeah,
don't, don't overthink
386
:it.
387
:That's great.
388
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): Exactly.
389
:Yeah.
390
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
391
:So songs for strangers that are
are we able to listen to that on
392
:Spotify or, or YouTube Right now?
393
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): Yeah.
394
:Yeah, that's out, um, everywhere.
395
:um, I'm not sure if the, um, I'm not sure
what's out on YouTube in terms of, 'cause
396
:there was demos that I released for the
people who were like, I wanted to show
397
:them that the process was happening, you
know, so it's not just a a dead end thing.
398
:So I did release them like weekly, um,
just to make sure that, you know, we
399
:are still interacting with each other.
400
:But yeah, you can stream it on all major
platforms and, and things like that.
401
:Yeah.
402
:Um,
403
:Jason English (Host): All right,
so this is, it's crazy 'cause if
404
:I, if I had to name one artist, but
let's do three that are, are sort of
405
:regularly in my rotation of, you know,
top uh, top artists on, on my, you
406
:know, Spotify streaming or whatever.
407
:It's.
408
:Sufjan Stevens Damien Rice and
409
:Gregory
410
:Alan Isakov.
411
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): but
for you, did you read my list?
412
:Jason English (Host):
uh, I don't think so.
413
:I don't think so.
414
:So that's
415
:awesome.
416
:And I,
417
:I could totally see you.
418
:Not that you're gonna wanna be an
opening act forever, but at least
419
:to start, I mean, you could open
for any of those guys, right?
420
:Oh, you know mean, how,
421
:how cool would that be?
422
:Deist (We Are All Fossils):
Uh, that'd be amazing.
423
:I, um, I, I actually saw Gregory
Aden Isakov play in a room
424
:of about 80 people in London.
425
:Uh.
426
:It was just, it was near enough,
the nor empty Northern Hemisphere
427
:tour, and I spoke to him briefly.
428
:I was so shy, I was so, so shy, and I
just wanted to kind of, in one word,
429
:just say thank you for everything, uh,
without coming across incredibly cringe or
430
:Sure.
431
:But, um, I, I saw him like,
do something with music.
432
:Which was so, um, contrasting of
maybe Damien Rice, like the two of,
433
:they, they work in a different way.
434
:Damien Rice's vocals and, and the way
that he gets to his, his songwriting,
435
:it feels so free flowing and kind of
like water that's just moving along
436
:and, and you end up somewhere and you're
like, oh, I didn't see this coming.
437
:Um, not to say that Gregory's as rigid
or anything like that, but Gregory uses
438
:a lot more traditional instruments.
439
:But in a way more inventive way.
440
:So you, I guess they both kind of feel
each other's like gaps in a way where
441
:I'm like, oh, this is incredible.
442
:But I'm so impressed that
you are, I say impressed.
443
:I just, I'm blown away that your,
this is pretty same as mine and
444
:Jason English (Host): wild.
445
:Yeah.
446
:Yeah.
447
:No, yeah.
448
:We'll get to Sufjan.
449
:So I've only Isakov seen Isaac.
450
:Open for the Lumineers.
451
:Uh, I think I have tickets to him,
uh, later this year, I think at Red
452
:Rocks in Colorado, which is, uh,
453
:Oh, that's one of the world's best
454
:venues.
455
:But, um, what was crazy about
seeing him with the Lumineers,
456
:obviously I'm a huge Lumineers
fan, and so those were big stadium
457
:stadium tours and it
458
:was on the Brightside tour and it was
wild because, you know, he, he was up
459
:there with his, his band, you know,
460
:guitar, banjo, whatever, and, uh.
461
:Everybody's there pretty
much to see the Lumineers.
462
:And so he's opening for this big
rock band, and I'm just looking
463
:around going, everybody here
that's like, talking and not paying
464
:attention is completely missing out.
465
:You know,
466
:it's,
467
:kind of a shame, but like, hopefully
that got his name out and hopefully
468
:he's, he's, uh, he's leveraged that
obviously he's, he's successful, you know,
469
:by himself.
470
:Um, but that was i'll, I'll
never forget, like looking
471
:around going, these people don't.
472
:I have a clue how talented
this guy is on stage right now.
473
:You know?
474
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): But it's,
um, I feel like the thing I love about,
475
:um, Damien and Gregory Alan Isakov
is that they're on their own rotation
476
:of what they're doing with albums.
477
:They, they don't have a scheme
of, um, it's a, you know, every
478
:other year or anything like that.
479
:Right.
480
:and I, they kind of, I feel like
maybe it's the songs that they
481
:come and then the album forms and
they dunno how much time's gone.
482
:But now it feels right.
483
:You know, maybe that's me just
putting a lot of creativity or,
484
:you know, stuff in there, but.
485
:It's funny that you say about the
Lumineers tour 'cause that came
486
:here and I wasn't, um, I wasn't
able to to go, but I have a soft
487
:spot for the Lumineers as well.
488
:And I remember, um, I did a cover
of, it was like a quick little reel
489
:on Instagram of, uh, this, I can't
remember which song it was now.
490
:It was one of the middle kind
of albums, not Salt in the
491
:Sea, but something like that.
492
:And they, uh, they shared
it on, um, their own page.
493
:And I remember being confused.
494
:I was driving in my car and.
495
:My phone just kept going, like buzzing
and buzzing and I, I thought it was
496
:like a dodgy charger that, you know,
you need to clean it or something.
497
:And then I saw that they posted
out and you know, they do that for
498
:a lot of other artists as well.
499
:And I think that's such a beautiful thing
when there's these big, big, big artists.
500
:'cause they're colossal there.
501
:The Lumineers are so big.
502
:Um, but the fact that they, they share
that kind of stuff and there's, there's
503
:these small moments that they give to
their fans who are, who are musical.
504
:Um, it warms your heart 'cause they
don't need to do anything like that.
505
:Um.
506
:But I have a soft spot for them too.
507
:Jason English (Host): So you,
in:
508
:a handful of singles, right?
509
:Um, anyone's stick out to
you in terms of being more.
510
:You know, meaningful or if, uh, if
someone, again, hopefully watches
511
:this or listens to this and is like,
okay, which, which is the track
512
:that you want them to kind of start
with on the ones from last year?
513
:What, what would that be?
514
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): Yeah.
515
:Um, so I kind of found myself gravitating
towards a bit of a, an maybe a bit
516
:more of an evolution of my sound.
517
:Um, a bit more of a
different, uh, landscape.
518
:'cause you, you can create in one
place for a while, um, which I was
519
:in for a bit and then something new
just pops in and it just makes you
520
:want to write more and more, more.
521
:Um, a track that did that for me was fire.
522
:Um, I released fire near the, I think
maybe September or October last year.
523
:And the response to it was really
incredible and it's quite funny
524
:'cause I didn't think it was, uh, a
big change in my sound or anything.
525
:I.
526
:And then I, I met a couple of my friends,
uh, you know, a couple weeks after I
527
:was out and some people who, who, you
know, listened to the music and they
528
:were just like, we love the new sound.
529
:And I was like, there's a new sound.
530
:I was like, I was just
following what I was enjoying.
531
:Um, uh, so I think that that's kind
of maybe a bit of a, uh, coordinates
532
:for where the sounds going.
533
:Um, I just had a lot of fun, uh, in
the studio with, with Mike Curtis, um,
534
:who, who I worked with exclusively,
pretty much, um, on that track.
535
:We, I, we just pushed a lot of our
comfort zones with it and things that I
536
:remember there was this pedal for, for
a guitar part, and he, he just said,
537
:oh, that pedal over there is very, um.
538
:You know, it's very hard to tame.
539
:'cause he, he was recording someone
a couple of days before and he was
540
:kind of effectively telling me, oh, it
was a long day because of that pedal.
541
:Jason English (Host): Oh
542
:no.
543
:Deist (We Are All Fossils):
and I was like.
544
:About 20 minutes later I
think we need the pedal.
545
:I think we need the pedal.
546
:'cause it's sticking out like
a, like a sore thumbnail.
547
:Like there's something about it.
548
:Why is it coming up in
this conversation for now?
549
:Um, from how we approach that song from
the front to back, it was discovering
550
:things without thinking, trying to like
quieten the analytical side of your
551
:brain and heightening the creative side.
552
:And what we ended up doing was, um.
553
:He was on the floor having to
like tame it as though, as all
554
:these effects were coming through.
555
:And it, the, if you hear the guitar on
its own, it sounds crazy, but in the
556
:song it just glued everything together.
557
:So it um, yeah, yeah.
558
:But yeah, so I reckon fire
is something Fire is good.
559
:Yeah.
560
:Yeah.
561
:That's the, and I did a song with,
um, a, an amazing artist called Tasha
562
:Robertson, uh, called, When I Find You.
563
:That was also a similar kind of process
of just throwing paint at the wall and
564
:just seeing how much, uh, sticks and
also the sign of it going well for me
565
:and Mike in the studio I think is, we
can't really tell what the process was.
566
:We will just say, I just
remember then there being a lot
567
:of solutions and not problems.
568
:Um, so yeah, those two, um, I would say
if you are, if you're out there wanting
569
:to try new songs or things, but yeah.
570
:Jason English (Host): Oh, that's awesome.
571
:So the song that I talked about
earlier off of, uh, indie Folk Central,
572
:I think it was called Mountains.
573
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): Yeah,
574
:Jason English (Host): It's incredible.
575
:Uh, and hopefully, hopefully
you're gonna play that for us,
576
:uh, after, after we talk, but
577
:yeah,
578
:tell us,
579
:tell us about that and, and, uh,
the inspiration for that one.
580
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): yeah.
581
:So, um, mountains was
actually a song that I wrote.
582
:I couldn't really piece
it all together properly.
583
:It just, I had all the pieces, but it
just couldn't make them fit in time for my
584
:first album, which is called The Optimist.
585
:And it's strange because I had to learn
how to actually sing and play that song.
586
:It was actually a lot more
simpler and it just needed less.
587
:Um, and in 2020 obviously that was
a very, well I say varies incredibly
588
:challenging time for everyone.
589
:Um, it was.
590
:just stood still.
591
:And a lot of us just, we didn't
know what to do with that.
592
:Um, you know, and there was
some damage that can never be
593
:changed from it, unfortunately.
594
:Um, but mountains kind
of showed itself then.
595
:I remember sitting down one day, um, I.
596
:Just late at night.
597
:Um, really, really missing music
and missing everything about it.
598
:Like, you know, I didn't really know
who I was, um, from that as many
599
:people going through their struggles
would would've, you know, the
600
:identity gets challenged like heavily.
601
:And I was just playing it.
602
:And it was more just
about it being about hope.
603
:I remember just writing, changing some
lyrics and some melodies and being like
604
:this, I need something to just be kind of.
605
:Had a little ember of hope that you
can just harness and, you know, and,
606
:um, uh, I had to work remotely with
Mike and I remember, luckily we'd
607
:done all the core bits in his studio.
608
:So I, we could add like the kind
of textural bits, know, which you
609
:don't have to be that penty about.
610
:It's actually more about the vibe
and, you know, your personality
611
:and those bits and, um, uh.
612
:Yeah, I was able to finish it off at
home and I remember there's something
613
:I've done in that track, which makes
me, it was like a little, uh, memory.
614
:So every time I play it or I hear
it, there's something that I've
615
:put in there to help me, to remind
me of how I felt in that moment.
616
:And I dunno if you, um, remember, but I
think Tesla, they all SpaceX, they, they,
617
:they shot up a, a, a rocket or something
in June or July or something like that.
618
:And I remember saying to Mike, can you get
the audio of that and put it Oh, no way.
619
:Yeah.
620
:So, So, in the middle of the,
there's a middle eight where
621
:there's just something happening.
622
:There's this kind of rumble
that happens and it just goes.
623
:And that I've put in there as a
little bit of a nudge to me of being
624
:like, be thankful for what, um, what
you have now, again, with music.
625
:And I remember missing so many
things and so I'm so thankful for, I.
626
:When that happens, I go, oh, you know, I
get to play, I get see my friends again.
627
:There's no lockdowns.
628
:There's all these things that, you know,
you quickly forget of, of that stuff.
629
:Um, so yeah, mountains was kind of born
out of Embers of Hope, and then amazingly
630
:when it got released, it, it did that
for some, for, for people who I know.
631
:And I think that's the, the
best thing about music when
632
:it's connecting with people.
633
:Not necessarily what you were trying
to say, but something that they really
634
:want to hear or something that they
would love to have in their lives.
635
:Um, you know, they can see
themselves in the song.
636
:And if you could leave space for someone
to see themself in a song, I think
637
:that's, that's really, really good.
638
:Um, creative writing, it's,
it's, yeah, so I think mountains.
639
:I'm just lucky that the process
happened and it's out there.
640
:So yeah, I'm just thankful for it already.
641
:Jason English (Host): No, and
I'm thankful for it, and, uh, I
642
:know
643
:thousands of people are, it.
644
:It's, it's, it's really good.
645
:Deist (We Are All Fossils): I
just wanted to say thank you so
646
:much for making all this happen.
647
:It's been one of the nicest Mondays
at my house I've had for a long time.
648
:Not like it's bad, but you know,
you get used to the, the coffee
649
:routine and stuff like that.
650
:So this was a nice little bit of spice.
651
:Thanks.
652
:Jason English (Host): No thank you.
653
:Deist (We Are All Fossils):
A stroll into the darkness.
654
:It seems my mind wanted to keep me alone.
655
:I wasn't scared for myness.
656
:My eyes started to see the.
657
:Everywhere you could see a new sun
658
:up through the air to calm
sea, you could tear down your
659
:mountains and leave your mind.
660
:And I saw the small heroes
high in the air ceiling.
661
:Oh, if we dare to dream.
662
:I am sure we could see a new sun
again up through the air to calm sea.
663
:It could tear down your mountain.
664
:Leave your mind, tear down your
mountains and leave your mind.
665
:Jason English (Host): Thanks so
much for joining us for another
666
:episode of Curious Goldfish.
667
:Please follow and subscribe to
the podcast and on social media.
668
:Also tell your music loving
friends about us too.
669
:Until next time, stay curious.
