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The KBEAR dudes interviewing your favorite artists!
The Artist Interrogations podcast. Hey. How are you doing? Good. Oh, yeah.
It sounds fantastic. It sounds great. Yeah. No. I appreciate you having me on that.
Oh, yeah. No. Thank you for joining me because, we've been we've been having interviews galore between Victor and Phyllis, and I was like, where's mine at? And, of course, Victor connected me to you, and I was like, let's do this because I've been enjoying that new track. Gotta get out of here the whole album too and everything.
Dude, hell yeah, man. Yeah. Me and Victor, bro, go a long way. I remember I met him in, like, 2013 or 14 before he was the program director. Uh-huh.
And, actually, our tour bus at the time broke down at the night before in Idaho Falls. In that morning, we were getting it towed, so a few of the members had to stay back. And that's when I went, did the interview with Vic Victor. Got it. Recording in progress.
Yeah, man. It was, it's just a cool story. You know what I'm saying? That's so cool. Yeah.
I know. I feel like everybody knows Victor around here, especially, but, like, anything interview related, Victor knows who to go to to get them, and we've been trying to get more in touch with the artists now that, you know, COVID seems to be sort of over and that sort of thing. And, obviously, like, been introduced to a lot of new music, on the station when I just started here a year ago. And, of course, you're one of the newer ones, and I was like, I like this a lot. So, of course, thanks for joining me again.
So Dude, hell yeah, man. No. Anytime, bro. I'm a big fan of KBEAR. So hell yeah.
Oh, good. Yeah. I know it's crazy that, like, we're, like, the only station that plays, like, modern metal and modern rock radio. It's just Yeah. It's ridiculous.
Like, I I I'm from Southern California originally, so I know K Rock, KLOS, and all those, and they play, like, the classics and same Vysons. And Well and and that's the thing too. You know? I mean, I noticed, especially, you know, going on tour, like, when I was first kinda, like, trying to break into the business, like, 6, 7 years ago, like, you know, how many stations they really are almost more like classic rock stations with a couple of currents thrown in here. And then you got things like, you know, like an octane or something that Right.
Primarily focuses on new music with maybe a few classics thrown in. And then again, a station like you guys, it's just so cool because it'd be very easy for you guys to just kinda follow the standard classic rock thing, blah blah. But that's again why one of the reasons I'm such a big fan is because I think that the genre doesn't move forward and new acts don't break without the support of stations like yours. So Absolutely. Yeah.
That's awesome. So and, I heard from a recent interview you lived in Anaheim, California for, like, a year and a half. Yeah. Yeah, man. How did how was that?
Did you like it a lot out there? Because I I'm from Seal Beach, California, which is about 20 minutes south of that, And I went to Cal State Fullerton for college, which is right next to Anaheim. So, I mean, I'm used to that area through and through. Yeah, man. So it was, I mean, it was pretty much like the, cliche thing.
I was, like, 21 years old. I was like, dude, let's go to LA. Like, let's Yeah. Play the whiskey. And, you know you know, I loved, like, Motley Crue and Guns N' Roses and the whole eighties scene.
I was always into those behind the music. So to me, again, I'm from a small town in Spearfish, South Dakota. Mhmm. There's no really, like, music scene or what whatever you wanna call it. You know?
So, yeah, I was like going out there. Dude, I just loved being out there, and we happened to find this little apartment for $1850 a month for a 1 studio 1 bedroom studio in Anaheim. We got that, and, man, oh my god. We had fun, bro. And that was how long ago?
You were 21, and then, like, there was 18.50 a month back then? Yeah. And that was probably, like, 2011, 2012. Yeah. We're, like, nearly and it was at a hotel.
You know? They just kinda had this, like, separate kitchenette type apartment area. Right. And but again, like, you know, with between 3 or 4 of us, we ought to throw down, you know, $400 a month. It was all furnished.
No like, we were so irresponsible and things like that. You know what I'm saying? So it just worked out, man. And then, yeah, we ended up staying there about a year and a half, worked with a producer, ended up going to Texas to record, obviously played places like the whiskey and the rainbow. And Yeah.
You know, at the time when you're in your early twenties, it feels like you're kinda just catching on. So, yeah, man. It definitely I consider that, like, that thing kinda started out there for sure. And you said Spearfish, South Dakota. So, of course, like, you were born and raised there.
Is that what it was? No. I'm actually, from outside of Chicago. Lived there till I was about 8, 9 years old, and I'd always lived with my grandparents since I was born. My mom, passed away of a heroin overdose when I was about 9.
Mhmm. And, well, basically, I always live with my grandparents though, and they were from this area, the Black Hills of South Dakota. So, basically, I moved up here with them. And, yeah, man. Yeah.
I've been here for, like, 20 some years now. So And I also, like, heard that you have, like, a kid out there. You're married, and you're so you have you have your whole family settled out there. And then, like, obviously, you wouldn't wanna move either, especially having family there and, like, transferring schools. Yeah.
Because I I moved out here by myself just a year ago to East Idaho. Big difference, of course, from Southern California to here. And, of course, we we were making jokes all the time. Like, the Californians taking over Idaho and, you know, coming in. So, I mean, being in that area, like, what really got you into music?
What got you to be who you are today? I mean, I know that's a stereotypical question for an interview, but, I mean, like, I always love hearing about what started it all. For sure. No. I I I think for me, it always goes back to, like I said, my mom died of the heroin overdose Mhmm.
When I was 8 or 9 years old. And that was always like, you know, that's just something that doesn't leave you, especially when you're that age, like to handle the trauma of all that. So a year or 2 after that, my uncle came out and visited me and we were driving somewhere some morning and he put on the song no more tears by Ozzy. Oh, fantastic. At the time, yeah, at the time I'd never heard of that.
I was like, who is that? And he said, Ozzy Osborne. And just when, when he, when he said his name, as in just the way his voice sounded, it was no more tears. Like it just something just there was just that click, you know? Mhmm.
So I had him play the song again and, you know, it's like an 8 minute long song. So we listened to it twice. And, bro, ever since that day, I have been obsessed literally 20 years later, still obsessed as I ever been. Started going to the local pawn shop at the time and having him hold any Aussie CDs or Black Sabbath CDs that would come in. And, bro, like, 3rd, 4th, 5th grade.
I mean, going to bed at 10 o'clock at night for school, I had my little CD player, Walkman, whatever it was. And Yeah. I would those albums front to back, man. All just obsessively. So I credit that as the start for sure.
Okay. Cool. So Ozzy was, like, the first real artist that really got you into the whole genre. Because for me, it was, like, ACDC. My dad introduced me to them.
It's, like, during 6th grade, and I've been nonstop into classic rock and especially this whole genre. So that's awesome. So and then also, like, I mean, 500,000,000 combined streams that you told me about on the email. And I I I was blown away by that because we we we were posting on TikTok here. Like, we have to post videos on TikTok all the time.
1 of mine got, like, 10,000 views, and I was like, I'm mom, I made it. I'm I'm officially big time. And so Yeah. When I saw 500,000,000 combined streams, that that, of course, built over time. Like, have the numbers grown exponentially recently or, like, just like, did it take for a a little bit for it to kick, or what happened there?
Well, basically, what happened is it's kind of a, I guess, nontraditional scenario here. So about, I don't know, let's say, like, 4 years ago, you know, I was making an album. I was trying to get some stuff going. I had a big, satellite radio hit a couple years prior, became you know, went top 40 on the charts, went on tour, opening up for some awesome artists. That was like 2013, 2014.
And then, you know, had a problem with my management and label at the time, and we kind of parted ways. And basically, it came down to I went on YouTube one day and searched up black light district. And I saw this anime video, and it had, like, a 1000000 views on it. I was like, wow. Like, a 1000000 views on some random channel.
It was called Nightcore. They, like, speed the music up a little bit and place it to, like, anime thing the kids do. You know? Right. And, anyway, so I reached out to the guy.
I was like, hey, man. You know, like, I see you used my song. I'd love to maybe try another one since I had a new song at the time. He agreed. We kinda became partners.
He posted it within a month or 2. That next song had a 1,000,000 views. And over, like, the first 6, 8 months of doing that, you know, there'd be a lot of songs, a couple 100000 views. We'd be lucky one would hit a million. Then a little bit after that, I started seeing these Minecraft music videos with 10,000,000 views, 20,000,000 views.
So I was like, maybe there's something here. You know? Right. I basically went on YouTube, found the biggest Minecraft channels I could find, reached out to a couple of them, and this one guy in particular happened to just somehow had heard of me through this other anime video I was doing. He's a channel called Reyna Mater, and, basically, we kinda did the same thing.
Let's give it a try. Let's use some of my like, one of my songs, you make a video. Bro, this first video comes out. We did about a 1000000 views the 1st week, which at the time I was like, oh my god. Like, this is crazy.
And then about 3 weeks later, we dropped the 2nd song, cold as ice, and that one did about 3,500,000 the 1st week trending, like, in the top 50 on YouTube. And and, again, I'm looking. It's like, dude, it's all hip hop videos, pop stars, like movie trailers, this and that. And then all of a sudden, it hears my song as the soundtrack to this Minecraft video trending. And basically, ever since then, yeah, that's brought in probably 300,000,000 streams over the last 3 years because every video blows up.
Just 4 days ago, we dropped a song on my new album called, Clear Skies. We're at about 600,000 views in 4 days. Wow. And, again, it's kinda nontraditional. It's not like the radio charts or the billboard charts or those types of things, but I just kept seeing again a lot of these up and coming rappers and other artists that are just blowing up, going platinum with really no radio play, no touring, just online, whether it's Yeah.
Spotify, all these types of places. So, basically, they'll make a long story short. I just wanted to I figured, okay. What is the best way to get my music in front of as many people as possible with no money, basically? You know?
Here comes Minecraft, and it has single handedly changed my life. No joke. I say that over the last couple years. Have you ever played Minecraft, or did you see the videos on YouTube and, like, decided to join in? Oh, it's funny.
My fans, even to this day, everyone still says, alright. Do you play? Like, when are you gonna play? Never played it, bro. Never played it one time.
I wasn't even too familiar with it. At first, I didn't get it. It was, like, just a bunch of block figures and this and that. But, bro, like, again, because what I do is a part of a series, it's like a storyline. You know?
Mhmm. So the video we just dropped was a sequel to the last video for gotta get out of here a couple months ago. And, again, just to watch the passion of this because it's a lot of kids, teenagers, you know, to see the passion these kids have not only for the story itself, but then for the music. You know, my my YouTube channel is about to hit 200,000 subscribers. Right.
Bluerite Spotify up just about to hit a 100,000,000 on Spotify. So, again, a combination of that. And then, again, of course, when I can take it to radio and get that support and go on the road, all of that together has just man, it's launched my career. I don't know how else to say it. Yeah.
Yeah. I know. I saw a recent interview, like I said, with you holding up the YouTube plaque. I'm like, that's such a great milestone to have 200,000 subscribers. I mean, that's big time.
That is so cool. Here. We're here. I gotta do it. Oh, yeah.
Let's see it. Here we are. Here we are. Is that heavy at all? Because I've seen so many people hold those.
Like, is that, like, a heavy plaque? I mean, it's it's not, like, paper thin like. You know, it's not crazy heavy, but it's sturdy for sure. Yeah. But again, one of the reasons I'm proud of this, obviously, it's a big feat to get a 100000 subscribers.
But, again, kinda going back to what we started with, like, a nontraditional way, I almost look at this as like a modern day, like, gold or platinum plaque or something like that. You know? It's not the traditional thing, but it's like, you know, it's something new that recognizes an accomplishment on one of the new platforms. And I I again, I'm grateful. I mean, I'm I'm, like, grateful for this.
You know what I'm saying? This is important to me for sure. Of course. Yeah. Yeah.
And you said you're teaming up with that, is it Rainomator, you said? Yep. Rainomator. Rainomator. And you're teaming up with them to make your clear skies video?
Yep. Yep. And that actually just dropped, Saturday. And like I said, over 600,000 views in 4 days already. And, again, what's so cool is that, like, some people don't get it.
So, like, when we're when my team is pitching, like, me, whether it's radio or this or that, you know, they'll say, well, check. He does these Minecraft videos. And some guys will say, oh, that's that's nerdy. We don't care about that. But and I get that.
I do get it. You know? Believe me, at first, it was kinda like, it's kinda goofy. But, again, at the end of the day, when you see the fan base that it brought and the passion and something nontraditional where, you know, this music really does get in front of a mass audience. Oh, yeah.
It streams 10 times more than the top 10 songs on the rock charts sometimes. You know? And to me, I guess, like, I have just always been a guy that's been so into trying to move the rock genre forward into some mainstream light, into embracing some of these new technologies. I think it's important. But, again, man, like, it's just something that I'm proud of, and I I think it's worked out.
You know? And so, yeah, for, like, your new album, 1990, I've been listening to it, of course. And, like, it it's it's a different way that the rock genre is going like what you just said because, like, I've been listening to Bad Omens recently. They have, like, the different synthesizer. I mean, you have, like, the hip hop sounds in your songs too.
Like, do you just create that on your own? Like, do you just decide to play one thing? Like, oh, that sounds cool. Let me add on to this and create a song out of it. Is that is that your approach, or what is it?
I mean, I don't really have a standard way to do it. I mean, typically, that's what'll happen a lot. I can be in you can't see because we're this way, but behind me, like, I'm in my studio right now. So the computer, midi keyboard, and all that. So, yeah, a lot of times it'll start with just, you know, even if it's just a beat or some little cool synth line that pops up and it's like, oh, like, just that.
I don't know. I guess I feel like sometimes I get a certain feeling off something where it's like, oh, I'm almost getting like a goosebump feeling off just this, like, synth lead sound. So it's like, okay. Let's bring the guitar and let how would we how would that kinda go with that? Or how can we make something underneath the scent that you know what I'm saying?
And it just kinda comes together. A lot of times, you know, again, back in the day, we'd start with an acoustic guitar and writing things on pad and paper. And as time went on, it changed over to the electronic, the keyboard, the midi sounds. And then really for 1990, the last couple albums I've done are very hip hop and pop influenced. Mhmm.
So just a little bit of context about, about a year ago, I was in the treatment drug rehab. I was addicted to opiates very badly, Fentanyl, specifically. And that was a big issue. I mean, I was doing 40 pills a day. Like, couldn't do anything in the day unless I was, like, first thing in the morning, 2 of these pills.
You know what I'm saying? And, again, my mom died of a heroin overdose. My father committed suicide via heroin. So there's just a lot of bad things with opiates. And here I am, a 30 year old dude with my 8 year old son, and I almost basically it just felt like the roles were reversed in a way.
You know? And so, again, I went to treatment, you know, gone on for 40 days, came out, did all my therapy counseling. I'm still over 400 days sober now, which I'm very proud of. Congratulations on that. Thank thank you.
It means a lot. And a couple months later, I ended up breaking my hip when I was out rollerblading. Oh my god, dude. Worst thing ever. I mean, the pain, 2 fractures right in the femur.
So now I have, a foot and a half of, like, rods and metal pieces in there. But when I broke my hip, I was basically confined to, like, a recliner chair Yeah. From Utah. So what I ended up doing was playing a ton of acoustic guitar, writing things down almost like I did when I was a teenager. You know?
And it was just like, man, I am a rock artist. What it came down to is the last couple years on drugs, but, dude, I always wanted that, you know, like post Malone stardom. Like, as a kid, I wanted to be a rock star, platinum records, arenas. You know? And it just seemed like, man, it just seems like rock doesn't get you there these days.
That's why I started again going with a lot of the electronic sounds. And but but I think when it came down to it was when my hip was broken, playing so much guitar, just really having time to think clear headed sober. It just all led me to be like, you know what? I'm going back to Nashville to work with my producer, Brett Hesla, who I worked with early in the beginning. He was in the band Creed, singer of dark new day, and a bunch of things like that.
And so, yeah, I drove 26 100 miles with a broken hip by myself with crutches to Nashville to make this album. Wow. That is awesome. Yeah. It's crazy because Tony Hawk just said he broke his femur.
And I was like Yeah. Talking about that on the air just today. And I'm like, man, a lot of leg injuries. Like, I'm I broke my ankle back in high school playing basketball, and that was the worst. I can't imagine the longest bone in your leg plus your hip being broken.
But, I mean, that's a cool story. Other thing that happened, though, is that when the ambulance came to pick me up now remember, I'm only, like, 4 or 5 months sober off opiates, which are painkillers. You know? Mhmm. So with them picking me up, we had the issue of, okay.
This is, like, excruciating pain. How do we kinda handle that? Ended up I you know, it's not the hospital's front or nothing, but the first time in the hospital, they actually ended up overdosing me on fentanyl in the hospital. It was crazy, man. So, again, I barely got any pain relief because of the addiction problem stuff.
So it was, dude, it was just it was terrible. But, again, I feel like I got the album out of it. It kind of took me back to the right path, so I'm more than happy for it. And I was gonna say, like, the title, 1990. Obviously, I looked it up the year you were born sort of thing.
Like, what made you wanna name it that? I'm not trying to be like, what made you wanna do? But it's like, I know Brian Adams. He has the notorious summer of 69 where he was 10 years old, and he just did that because it sounded good. What made you choose 1990?
Because, obviously, like, I don't remember anything from 1996 when I was born. So it's kinda just like one of those things where it's like it might sound cool, but what what exactly is the reasoning behind naming your album 1990? So what it kinda came down to was because I was sober, you know, because I had made a lot of life changes, stylistically, obviously, I went in a heavier rock direction than I had been doing. I just felt like this album was kinda like the reset point for me in life. Like, you know, again, clear headed, sober, broke the hip, changed all this stuff, musically, all that kind of stuff.
It was like, okay. Not only, you, you know, it just seemed like that was the right thing to do. Born in 1990, Let's call the album 1990 like where it all starts from. I have other projects other albums other things like that, but I wanted I wanted 1990 to kinda sit there as like, okay. This is the starting point or the restarting point.
You know what I'm saying. I thought about maybe calling it reset or, you know, something goofy along those lines, but Yeah. It just felt like, okay. Why not? Like, that's when I began, like, I'm beginning again.
That's why I put the album out on December 31st, like, New Year's Eve 1990. That's kinda what it was for me. It's about really a reset in life for sure. Awesome. And who who designs the artwork?
Do you just design the artwork yourself, or how do you come up with that? No. I this one is pretty simple. It's just the a new logo and a black background, basically. But, I have a few different people on my team who do graphics and things like that, but I had I reached out to a specific friend from I actually had a couple people try and draw this logo.
Mhmm. Because, again, I've had this logo idea in my head for, like, 20 years, I've always written it down. And I I've had people try and make before, but this one guy, Micah Martin, who's actually a very big EDM singer, wrote, sent me the logo and it just looks so perfect, exactly how I wanted it. And again, going to the 1990 reset, let's not make it about anything other than the music. So I was like, let's put the logo on a black background, call it 1990, keep it as simple as I possibly could.
You know? Yeah. Yeah. That's pretty much it for that. It was a simple one.
You know? But but again, I wanted the music to do the talking because it's it's more than, you know, obviously, image and these types of things are very important, but, you know, again, reset. I know I keep going back to that, but it's just such an important stat for me that it just felt like keep it as simple as possible. Yeah. No kidding.
I think sometimes simplicity is better too. Like, with Metallica's black album, Jay z even had the black album, like, just straight up black album covers. You know? And something let the music do the talking. That's awesome.
So well well, awesome. Well, yeah, thank you very much. That's pretty much it with all the questions I got. And, if you just do 2 things for me, that'd be fantastic. Absolutely.
Could you could you just, like, introduce, like, say, you're I'm Kyle from Blacklight District, and you're listening to Idaho's only rock station, K Bear 101? You got it. What's up? This is Kyle from sorry. Let me hit it again.
No. It's okay. What's up? What's up? This is Kyle Pfeiffer, Blacklight District, and you are listening to Idaho's o fuck.
What is it? Only rock station? You got it. No. Don't worry.
Like, I interviewed James Labrie of Dream Theater, and he took forever. He had to write it down, so it's all good. No. It's Idaho's only Rock Station or only real Rock Station. It used to be only real.
Now it's only Rock Station. Okay. What's up? This is Kyle from Blacklight District, and you are listening to Idaho's only rock station, Kay Bear 101. And then could you just say, you're listening to Peaches in your midday on Kay Bear 101?
Just that? Just that because I'm gonna use that for my show too. You are listening to say it again. Sorry. Oh, it's my my my last name is Peach, so I go by Peaches.
So it's you you're listening to Peaches in your midday on KayBear 101. You are listening to Peaches in Your Midday on KayBear 101. Perfect. Thank you so much, Kyle. That was awesome.
Hey. Peaches. Yes. Is that is that what you go by? That's what I go by on the station.
Yeah. So Okay. Cool. Yeah, man. No.
I was just telling Victor, I just accepted the offer for Edge Fest, which is a little up from you guys in, Jerome, Twin Falls area Yeah. On by 30th. So we're actually getting a hold on a venue in Idaho Falls for the night before Friday, July 29th. So I think I'm gonna be up there, man. Oh, perfect.
That'd be fantastic. Yeah. We're wanting definitely always open to you. Yeah, man. No.
So just to say, let's, maybe we'll find you on Facebook or something. But I'd love to stay in touch. And, again, man, at the end of the day, I really appreciate the support. It means more than you know. So Oh, yeah.
Well, thank you very much for the whole thing, man. It's awesome. Thank you. The artist interrogations podcast is a production of Riverbend Media Group. For more information or to contact the show, visit riverbendmediagroup.com.