Artist Friendly with Joel Madden - Awsten Knight of Waterparks

Episode Date: February 8, 2023

As Joel says, to know Awsten Knight is to love him, and in this episode we get a peek into the mischievousness and playfulness that has helped attract an epic base of unique and inherently cool Waterparks fans. In this episode of Artist Friendly, Awsten and Joel talk about sleepovers in haunted studios, catfishing as a crazy brunette in the back of the tour van, which meditation tools they rely on, and about whether being made to return a Linkin Park CD by his mom had a lasting impact on an eight-year-old Awsten. Waterparks' much anticipated fifth full-length studio album INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY will be out April 14, just ahead of a massive 30-date North American headline tour kicking off April 28. ------- Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠ ------- Follow Artist Friendly! IG: @artist.friendly TikTok: @artist.friendly YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly ------- Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, what's up everybody? It's Joel Madden here, and this is artist-friendly from Alternative Press. On today's episode, I'm talking to my friend Austin from the band Water Parks. What's up, Austin? I should have wore more jewelry. You should have worn more jewelry today. Yeah, I went to my phone on, Do Not Disturb, because I don't want to be disturbed. Put the phones on, do not disturb. That's a good idea. Welcome, Austin. Thank you. Thanks for coming. Of course. Thank you for having me.

Do you like my two drinks? Dude, that's ridiculous. Two heroin drinks. Mr. L.A. walk in. That's right, baby. Hit me in the face with like 3K. That's somebody's rent. It is.

That's why the only thing I drink. That's someone's North Dakota rent. That's right. It's the only thing I drink. I slept in this room once. He did? After we shot the Royal music video, we all stayed here. Overnight?

Oh, that's cool. Was it a good sleepover spot? Yeah, there was couches in here before. Well, there's a couch there now, but there was like couches before. Yeah. And then this side of the room was like just a bunch of stuff, like boxes. Yeah. But right there was like couches.

Yeah. Yeah. You had a sleepover. Yeah. We had way more sleepovers in the first studio you all had. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

That was a good studio. Yeah. It was haunted, though. It was haunted. Yeah. It was haunted. I texted you, Benji, and I talked to Courtney about it, like all separately and everybody confirmed.

It was haunted, yeah. We didn't want to tell you that before, though. That would make me want to go there. Yeah. Like, yeah. Yeah. That wouldn't steer me away. I wouldn't be like, let's go stay at El patio again.

Yeah, exactly. How you doing? I'm hanging. It's working on a whole bunch of stuff. The fuck about it video is almost done. Dude, so much VFX and like editing going on. They sent it like every single frame. It's like 0.2.3 seconds.

You know what I mean? But I'm trying to see, make sure. all the effects line up with like the framing and all that. Are you always hyper-focused on all the details like that? Mm-hmm. I'm trying to be less. Well, because I would micromanage so much before. Right.

And now I've realized that, I mean, this quote just like kept coming up and I was like, ah, it's following me. It's like, what was it? It's like perfection is the, like, enemy of progress or something like that or like productivity, whatever it is. and I was like, you're really right. And so, and the thing is, I still get everything how I like need it to be. Yeah.

But I also don't like get angry if something's like a slight pantone shade different. Right. You guys are funny, man. How long have you guys been together? About 10 years. How many times have you told the story of how you guys got together? I don't know. I mean, a few, I guess.

How did you guys get together? Okay. I met Otto because I've been in band since I was like 13. That's awesome. I gave him a flyer. Is it? I gave him a flyer. Dude, Jeff is lucky.

This is Jeff's first band. Lucky. He's so lucky. He didn't have to go through like all the like local band phases, you know, and being like, I'm 14. I have no experience. I'm going to make some songs. Like, you know.

Yeah. And. but I gave Otto a flyer and at the top it said like needs a drummer at the time. And then yeah, just wound up, you know,

meeting him through that. I wish he was here because he has a way better story. A better side of it. Because I just, you know, I met him and I was just like,

oh my God, he can play like double bass. Like, like, you know, like two pedals. Yeah. And I was like, whoa. His thing was like,

yeah, this kid in a swimsuit like showed up to like where, were practicing. Was there like the community pool? No. It was John's house.

Okay. Yeah. And yeah, he was like, it was about me. He's like, yeah, he just came through in like a swimsuit and one of his legs was shaved. And he had like bleach spots on his hair. And like, it was good. You know, he was like, yeah, I'll join this band. And then I was driving, when I was driving him home after, or like, no, we were driving

to Chipotle. We haven't got Chipotle. Yeah. I was driving my dad's car because I didn't even my car yet. Yeah. And I was nighttime and he, I don't even remember this, but he's like, you had the windshield wipers on and it wasn't raining. And I was just like, I don't remember that at all. I also couldn't see before I got LASIC.

Yeah. I was just like fucking blind. Like I could see like lights and stuff. They wouldn't let me drive the van a lot because of that. Did you wear glasses? A few times. I would mostly just operate blind. Wow.

Everything kind of looked like, you know, like on. webcams you look fucking awesome yeah everything kind of looked like that and then i got lacy and i was like oh no my skin yeah you have good skin thank you i drank i drink crystal geyser water your whole life mm 20 bottles a day delicious refreshing in houston in houston yeah i didn't move here until 2018 so 10 years ago you could say that like being in like whatever you whatever the genre is forget about genre but like you could say like the world of music you guys come from is is like steeped in like pop punk and emo and all this different stuff that comes from this world of garage bands so it's really what I saw what I call like a garage

music like you started in the bedroom or in the garage yeah yeah um you could say that 10 years ago that wasn't actually like in vogue or in fashion to start a band. No, not at that point. It was kind of like EDM. It was EDM. It was EDM. Pop.

Yeah. Like, obviously like hip hop pop. Like the, what was it? It was like very like, it was like post-MySpace like neon. There was like neon vibes to it. And you know, like obviously like Young Money shit was really like Little Wayne was like the dude. Yeah. Yeah.

Obviously like Kanye and stuff too. Um, yeah, that was what was going on back then. And yeah, being in a band was not on the upswing. It was definitely not like what it means now to start a band. No. And being a band is a different thing. No. 10 years ago, it was, it felt like it was kind of a, it was strange.

It wasn't as many band. It's weird how that was. I just, I still like it, the idea of doing something like by yourself feels so strange to me. Right. Like, I feel like that would be hard. Even if I do, you know, like a lot of. of what happens or what, you know, people see. You know, I'm like directing this or, you know, making this or doing the merch for this,

drop or whatever. Like, it would still feel weird doing it, like, alone. Yep. You know what I mean? And also, I want to give people room to hate me and like Jeff. Like, be fans of Jeff. Right. You know what I mean?

I used to catfish dudes in the van on OKCupid. I was like real bored. What is OKCupid? OKCupid's like OG dating site. Like, if you still use it, you're weird. But like, okay. But, okay Cupid was a dating site. I was Claire Bear 69.

And I just Googled like Brunette Girl and like use that as the profile picture. Wow. That's weird. It wasn't even like an over the top like, you know, like here's my boobs. It was like, you know, it was nothing like that. It was like I found the most like down the middle. Who are you looking to wreak? Boys.

Just any or like a certain like guy you don't like. Well, here's the thing. I never reached out to anybody and I typed really crazy. seeing basically like how crazy I could be and they would still talk to me and they always would no matter what. There's like dudes are so horny. You know? What?

That's that's that's, that's, I didn't know that you did that. That's an interesting thing I've found out about you. I got screenshots. Wow. I'm in the high deaf folder. Let me get out of here. It's not in there. What in your mind?

Dude, what if I made a shirt that was just like all the screenshots. Me catfishing dudes. That is so crazy. Why? It was funny. Is it just to entertain yourself? Yeah, or a show like the guys. I'd be like, yo, I talked about eating shit.

This guy really likes me. Take him out. He just told me all about his life. But people's opening lines are so ridiculous. So are you trolling? Are they particularly bad people? No. Or just like.

I think all dudes on dating apps. All dudes on dating apps, when they're horny, they're bad. Okay. They do things that you don't agree with. Yeah, horny boys need to be punished. I'm trying to find the, I'm trying to find the kind of the principle you were acting on. No, dude. It was like 20, like 12 through 16.

There's no principles. Oh, yeah. This is not a short thing. This is a hobby. Yeah, like, this dude just said, he's a chef. He said, I love food. He's a chef and he's giving a thumbs up.

And I said, I loved my grandpa, Archie, but the Lord and Shepherd took him away. So, okay? And some question marks. I'd say, like, shit like, and they've always still alive, like, trying to keep it going. It's just weird shit. Yeah. What in your mind in your thought process drives you to these, this is like... I'm Anna Mena.

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on shopify The point is bar records. You showing me that actually like makes sense that you would do that. Because you're, you have a kind of a mischievous. Yeah, I like to side to you. Yeah. I don't have that. It doesn't live in me.

Really? It doesn't live in me at all. It drives so much of what I do. It doesn't live in. And to be honest, like, and maybe the way you've had to. interact with the world you came up a little you're way younger than me so you came up in a time where like i never used a dating app ever in my life oh me either not for real so all i'm saying my mom likes bread is is i don't know what it is maybe it's maybe i'm simple in that way okay i'm not

saying i'm a simple guy very yeah but there's sides of us that we all have that are different yeah right your mischievous side is feels like a big part of your of of of you you you continuously weave that into a lot of things you do there's a lot of yeah there's a lot of mischievous which is interesting if there was ever any negative feedback which i actually think there's more from my experience especially around your band which is one of the big reasons you're here right talking is is you're in a very important rock band uh one of the bands, I think is one of the most important bands of its time when you think about, when I look at

it as a music scholar, right? Love music and I love to study why I think things are what they are and where, how did that become what it is? It's what I enjoy the most about music is breaking down how it became, like who the person is where they come from, what they went through. to make the art for the art to organically grow. Well, see, there's certain things I wouldn't have written if I wasn't petty like that.

Yeah, exactly. So what I think part of what makes Waterpark's music so special is the mischievousness of it. And the way you approach expressing what you think and how you feel in your music is it is pointed. You know? Yeah. So it's part of why we like water parks.

Because you say things in a way that I could never say it. And then you said it and I digest it and go, wow, like the way he delivered that is different than how I've heard anyone do it. That's the whole thing. One time I heard somebody say it was, I mean, I'm not going to quote it correctly, but it was like the best way you can try and like make, whether it's like lyrics or poetry or whatever. It's like you pick a feeling like that like you're dealing with like really. strongly and you try and word it in a way that nobody else has yet that's like genuine to your thing and like that's that's like the goal that's what you've done you have done it record over record yeah well that that's the thing that's like i think i think i heard that during the first album like

recording that to me okay so this is to be your friend right to be someone who knows you is part of what makes you uh what attracts people to you and what i think makes you and what i think makes you you of fun to be friends with is that side of you that's mischievous, that's what you would say is petty. I would say more. And environment, detail oriented. So you would get caught up on a detail that no one else would actually notice. So maybe it's how I said something or I said something in passing or they did that.

You get your detail oriented. If you look at how you dress and the words you use and how you mole, how you, you know, scrutinize every detail of the video you're making or their album you're making, you're very detail-oriented. And that plays out in relationships as well. And your relationship with the world, your relationship with other people, maybe even your relationship with yourself. Some of it probably good.

Some of it probably not, right? He's right. But you're the kind of friend where I go, I'm going in to see Austin. And I think of something fun to do, like I'll come in with two. Two aeron drinks. Two drinks. Not just two drinks, two aeron drinks. But think about this.

Because I'm making a point here. Yeah. Because I think it affects everything. Yeah. This is not my thought process when I'm coming in to do a podcast. Right. Is like, what can I walk in with that will Austin? Only Austin would make a big deal out of.

Right. And I go, you know what I'll do? I'll get two protein shakes and walk in with them in my mouth. Like this. And Austin. And it elicited the same exact reaction I thought it would, which was fun. Yeah. Right?

Yeah. So it's, I was like, okay, Rich, just hit me in the face with like five grand. And it's funny and it's fun. And it's inspired by who you are. And that's interesting to me when I think about it. I go, okay, that's just how my brain's wire. I always dissect the greatness of people and why are they so special and how did they become who they are?

And I go, okay, to know Austin's to love him, I've known you a long time now. And it's your, you're uniquely you always. So I never am offended by anything. But I'm also not someone who's hard. I think I'm lucky enough to be one of those people that I just don't get offended by people. Just not in my, I'm not wired that way. I think the attraction with you and your band and the music is, A lot of it is that like that mischievous, like pointed, you know, sharp way you point things out in really creative wordplay is what it's what I love about your music.

But the wrong person could take that personally and they could say, what's he saying about me? Right. That's the problem. a lot of people I think if I think not everybody sometimes you know people are a lot of like things or like this like things fine but I feel like a lot of people especially in alt world that don't like me are just feeling they they like it's it's rooted in themselves I feel like it's something where they're like projecting out some like well I feel like I can't do this kind of thing or say this kind of thing of course why does he want to do all these things or you know that's interesting though because by the way I like the idea that you walk around to air one

drinks everywhere ago, not just for me. You know what? That's a good character. For your, for the sake of you respecting me more and liking me more, I will say that I do every day. But the truth of the matter is I did that today because I thought you would think it was funny. I do think it's funny. I love it.

And that is the only thing, the only way it would be better is if you were like, I post-made those here. You're walking with the postmate receipt too? I did. Yeah! Rich, rich, rich, rich. in fact I pulled up

and the guy was standing there he had just gotten here and he was holding it and I went that's for me Joel Madden this is for Jolathan Madden so but

it is a very it's a nice thing to be a guy who inspires that out of people to to to have that kind of fun because it's fun that being said

a person who may hear something so here's the nature of music we say you or they or i or me yeah we uh in songs so people are going to interpret that when they listen to it in their headphones yeah and then you say you they go he's talking about me like when drago's you broke bitch i'm like he's talking about me exactly like why like why are you saying that to me yeah i'm like too i hate you Why are you say that? And you're not. You're saying it to the, to the, the, the, the, um, the invisible antagonist. That lives in your, that, that lives rent free in your head.

Yeah. Right. So we all have that. We have the invisible antagonist who lives in our mind, you know. Yeah. And when we say we, we're saying, we the best. Right. Is he saying, I'm the best?

Is he saying me and my, the people I work with, me and my family. We take those things very literally when we listen to art and music that strikes us good or bad. I always wonder when someone's so angry about a song, why do you hate it that? Who cares? Keep it moving. Let this artist live. Let them have their success. If there is anybody that I hate like that, I just mute their name in every variation.

I mute their handles. I mute everything. Because I don't, like, this is the thing is, one, I don't have the energy to be like, angry about shit. You know what I mean? But can you see it and feel nothing? Sometimes. I can.

I feel like I'm missing out on some good things because of it. And I know it's not nice. And I know it's not good and it's not cool and all this stuff. But there's just certain people that for some reason get me. I get it. I don't. You know what? I'll take that back.

You have one? No. I've seen people on social media. Oh, okay. That are I find are mean. well yeah and it really like hurts my feelings i don't put it like i don't put it like i don't put it i don't like bullies no of course not and i don't like mean for no reason i don't i don't like uh it that's where i've stopped and when like oh that guy burns me he's really like what he's

saying is dangerous what he's saying is mean what he's saying is hurting someone right now like that hit for whatever reason it hits me deep it hits me deep when i still see people that are being actively, aggressively, like, mean. I get that. Yeah. And that just, like, it's, that's on Twitter, isn't it? It is on Twitter. Sometimes on Instagram.

Really? Yeah. I don't see bullying on Instagram. I also don't read Instagram comments nearly as much. It's not as prevalent as Twitter. Twitter has more bullies. Actually, yeah, that is true because, I mean, just another thing. And you're faceless on Twitter.

So you just get to be. So the thing I think we naturally do is we read things and we give the face. faceless person behind it as much credit as we give ourselves. See, and that's so crazy. And I think about that. If I get like, well, first off, I just, I don't look at Twitter messages. Right. Ever, ever, ever.

Huh. Instagram ones, I look at if I'm like really bored. And even then sometimes someone might say some really crazy mean shit. And I go to their thing. I'm like, of course it's private. And there's like a cartoon profile picture. You know what I mean? And I think about it.

And I'm like, this, like, it's been a difficult thing to get used to over the years, you know, people just being really mean out of nowhere. It's unnatural. Yeah, no, it is. Like, nobody should, nobody should have to, like, absorb that much information about themselves, especially, like, unelicited, like, from, from all these strangers who don't even fucking, like, it's a very unnatural. Also, if we were all in a room together in real life.

We should all know less. And if we were all in a real, in a room together in real life, we would want to be, we would all be, at the very least, like, we would probably be friendly. Yeah. at the very least we'd be respectful. Right. See, I think that, or the thought that I have is, like, I picture who it probably is. Or if I see someone saying some mean shit, and I'm like, bro, your profile picture is like us in a meet and greet.

What the fuck is this? You know what I mean? Like, I think about it. I'm like, if you were here right now, you would never say that to me. No, and you wouldn't say that to them either. I know, that's the thing. You would all just be respectful. But people feel safe.

It's kind of like when people are in cars. You know what I mean? Like when they're, like, honking and fucking. around. Road rage. Dude, it's two pieces of metal between you both. Digital road rage. Yeah. Yo. That's good. You should coin that. I, well, I just said it as soon as this airs, it will be, it will be coined. There we go. Culture being made. Doesn't seem fair. What, how so? I think in general, people like fair, too. Yeah. I think it's our nature to like things to be fair. Yeah. Even if we see it's not fair for someone else in real life. we would actually give up to have it be fair.

Yeah. I think that's like our nature. I think so too. If you're a good person. Yeah. Sometimes if they're like angry or scared, they'll project and be like, you know,

fuck you. But I think 99 out of 100 people are good people. You think so? Yeah. I do. It's crazy. I think I'm too online. I think we're on a 1%.

I think the 1% ideas is a real thing in all directions. Really? Yeah. I think most people are good. Well, there's some days where I don't post anything. I don't go online. I'm like, you know what? I don't want to share anything and have that perception come in.

You know what I mean? Like is, I mean, if you look at like the analytics on a tweet, it's so fucking freaky. It's like this tweet apparently reached like 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, whatever people. I'm like, ah, no one should have to see like, that's a shit post. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I'm just like, I was like, hoo-ho-ho, you know, like da-da-da-da-da-da.

Being. Yeah. Cheaky. And then. It's like, oh, God, this is out there. Is there a side of you? I always wonder this, because I know it exists in you, because we've had some really great, deep, meaningful conversations.

Is there a side of you where a fan or someone that you meet that's maybe really looks up to you? I use the word fan broadly. So I'm not using it to categorize anyone, but really, because all the, the people, you know, I've gone to a lot of your shows. I think you have this really, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a cool. The, the people that like your band are cool. They're, they're, they're, they're, they're, they're music fans. They're also, it feels to me like they're all really kind of individuals and unique and like, because you have this like, you have a super cool, uh, the archa type of your fan is, is cool. Um, now, I'm also, um, guessing they've all, they're all, you know, it's not a surface level. It doesn't feel surface level. It feels like they really care about your art, care about your music. Yeah. They listen to the words. They understand. They, they particularly like you. And then there's a water park, water parks fan who likes Jeff and Otto and maybe, you know, they have a relationship to you guys.

but they're unique. They're a special kind of fan. Is there a side of you where someone who meets you shares something that maybe they've been through? Yes. And something that's painful. Yes. They're sharing that your music has helped them through that.

Yes. Every day. And sometimes on tour it gets really heavy. And is there a side of you that stops, listens, and maybe gives that, that fan some encouragement some comfort yeah and like is there a side of you that that i would say is that softer maybe more that it's not mischievous it's not it's actually like the guy who who who you know i think probably the austin maybe someone in a relationship with you he gets to see

right yeah um i've gotten to see it so that's why i know it exists but i don't think the world gets to see it. Yeah. Well, it's because you have to have a wall, dude. You know what I mean? Like, you do. I don't have as much of a wall. I think I have a little bit of a wall. You have a wall. Of course you do. I do. I do have a wall. I guess I do. Yeah. But I share. I pretty share. I share pretty. Oh, yeah. That's the thing is I also share. You know what I mean? Like, I mean, not everything. There's like, there's like pieces that I like to compartmentalize a bit and like keep separate. But I'm, so where I'm going is I actually think that that, that who you are to the world is who you are. I don't think that should change. I think it's interesting to think about the kid somewhere out there that has gone through a lot. Well, dude, that's the thing is sometimes, okay, at meet and greet, if we are like talking or like meeting after a show or whatever and, you know, something is brought up, then yeah, like they're not getting like the, you know, like, they're not getting like, they're not going to get like a fuck around answer. Like, there's obviously like, I'm a genuine person. The guys are genuine people. Yeah. Yeah. Of course you guys

care deeply. And sometimes, also, you know, like, I don't, because I can't, I don't reply to, like, everything that I see, but I'll get messages that are- Something will strike you. Yeah, and I'll be like, fuck. And, like, sometimes I do reach out. I'm like, yo, thank you so much for sending this. Like, I hope things get better. Like, you know, but it's also, like I said, I mean, there are times I go to therapy,

like multiple times a week. There are certain times where it's like you don't have that much to offer. Well, yeah, other than the truth of the matter is, is that as artists, the only way we can actually help people is making art. Yeah. But then if you get that opportunity where someone can meet you, like, it's happened to me a million times. And they tell you, they tell you their story.

They tell you, they share with you. And you can just tell them, keep going. Yeah. Hey, I'm sorry. You know, you can give them a hug. You can, you can tell them how much that means to you. You can tell them. You know, those moments, I actually, those were, those were always some of my favorite moments

when I was out there doing it, when I was out there meeting people all the time and there's playing shows all the time. It was those moments where I could tell they were going through it or they'd been through it. Yeah. And I had as well. And I could, so you know when you see it because you know, you know it. You know the look. You know the.

Oh, yeah. You can recognize it. And I could just tell someone, you know, hey, I hope. even just to hear like I hope it yeah especially someone that they like you they look up to you they like your music to just give them uh some warmth to tell them that you know you care well that's the thing is sometimes I think I don't recognize like the weight of something so small like something like that a small gesture like what you said like keep going how much that can do for somebody you know what I mean because I feel like if I said it to me I'd be like

yeah, duh, or like, whatever, man. But that's because you're, that's the, the humility of you, right? Is you don't actually understand the power of what you have. Right. To offer. And that's a good thing. It's not, that's why you can make genuine art because you, because you're being honest. And if you were walking around with the weight of like, every word I say could actually,

you can't, you can't walk around with that. but every now and then To be able to handle that you'd have to be like an egomaniac asshole You would you would have to To be able to like process it and be able to be like To carry on normally like my words a goal Well it's like to want that

It is a certain kind of thing And you know and what I'm saying though is is what You don't realize it but like a lot of people are no one No one's telling them keep going Yeah They're actually living in a world every day where all the people around them are negative and no one's in cheerleading them. We just live in a different environment because we chose to be in this environment.

Right. We left the environment we were in to be in this environment. Right. And now we're in an environment where we're probably surrounded by much more positive than negative because we chose to be here. So I think that people that would move from a, what you could say is a negative environment to a more positive environment. And then they continue to move towards that more.

more positive environment is the natural, it's like the natural progression of someone who's trying to reach for better in life. That makes sense. And so I think that we live in an environment where we have at least a few consistent people around us saying, like, you can do it, keep going, keep trying, you can do it. That's, to me, actually, the most important thing that human beings can get is support, cheerleading. And then the rest you figure out as you go, of course there's so many different, like

philosophically, there's a lot of things you can, we could talk about that like all the different ways we grow. But the main through line for me with, I think with success as far as your environment goes and the people you're around is positive reinforcement, cheerleading versus negative toxic. Right. All that stuff. Well, dude, I think all those things make those people feel worse.

They might not know it yet. But like when those people like engage in that kind of thing, it kind of like subconsciously creates like a like more anxiety or more like a defense thing. It makes them go more inward as opposed to. I mean, so yeah, I mean, I guess. But when they get to meet someone that they listen to every day and they love and he says like something. positive, they take that, that's actually like maybe even more impactful. Yeah. Then the people around them in their kind of local environment. Yeah. I think that like that is, is interesting. I just think

it's, it's the side of you that was that, that stops because I know it happens when when someone comes to, whether it's a meet and greet or outside of a show or on the, you know, you're at Starbucks and someone sees you and goes, hey, I love your band. And this song in particular helps me because I went through this, blah, blah, blah. Actually, that did happen at a coffee spot like a week ago. Of course. Somebody was like, I listened to, they're like, I listen to 21 questions like 30 times like in the last couple days. I'm like, I am so sorry for whatever you're going.

I hope that gets better, man. Yeah. And that's important. I think that's one of the powerful things. about making art and then having people love it is they're they're they're they're going to it as a source of something yeah we're not just listening to me when songs strike us they're not just it's not whatever right this song's catchy there's especially in the kinds of music we make it's more emotional yeah you're gonna you're gonna you're gonna you're gonna feel something yeah it's like it's it's

steeped in emotion it's and and and a feeling yeah so people are listening to it because it kind of evokes, it inspires something that they've either been through or they feel. Right. So they're going to have a different relationship with you than say, you know, a algorithmic pop song that also has a place in the world because sometimes we need to shut our brains off and listen to. Old Navy commercials can't be quiet. Exactly.

And we need that as well. That's why I don't get. personally like mad at different you know at music if I if I don't like something you know actually as a parent sometimes I'll hear lyrics or something that some music my kids are listening to and I'll be like damn I wish that artist would think a little bit more about what they're what they're what they're saying and how they're talking about things because they have all these young kids listening to the music and that's crazy how that's actually how I feel as a parent I'm like damn I wish there was a little it felt like there was a little bit more

thought put into like what you're saying and how you're saying it because you're teaching this kid how to talk about this kid and I get it. I feel like you fuck off whatever. You know, I get that. Well, right, because that's so crazy. Like, like, because you, there's no way like that you can like, I mean, maybe you would recognize it, but like that shift because when you're younger, you'd probably be like, yeah, you know what I mean?

And like, be about it. I've also been around. Right. And I've seen it all. And a lot of times I know they're not really about what they're talking about anyways. Yeah. So I'm like, you have a catchy song here, but you're not even about that because I've been here too long. I know, I know you.

Yeah. And sometimes I'll just feel that way, but I don't want to say it because I'm not the parent that's censoring. I tell my kids, you're going to decipher yourself. Right. You figure it out. You listen. You ask me what I think. I'm going to tell you.

But no, but it's interesting, though, because, like, I recognize this with my dad, like, earlier this year, I think, or last year or something, where one of his, like, his favorite movie was dirty dancing for a very long time. Great movie. Great movie. But I asked him. I never, yeah. I don't remember exactly how it came up, but I was like, is your favorite movie still dirty dancing? He was like, you know, I don't know if it is anymore because he's like, I was watching it. And I just, I didn't like how Patrick Swayze was disrespecting the dad and like going against his wishes.

And I was like, I was like, dad. Holy shit. I was like, you feel this because now you're older. And like I've got a younger sister. And it's like, and she's, you know, with her boyfriend. And like you now identify. Like how does it feel to be the dad? Like how does it feel to be the dad?

Yeah. I'm like, you now identify with the dad. And it's a way less fun point. a view for you and he's like, it could be that. I'm like, it is that? How do you not see it? It's crystal clear. Like, you, you identify with the old dad now as opposed to like the cool young guy. I was like, that's crazy.

Yeah. I was like, it's crazy that you don't see it. It's crazy. Funny. Anyway, yeah, that just like that brought me back to that. I was like, no way. Like when the perspective of something that you've like been around for that long changes based on your position in the world. That's crazy.

And your experience. And, you know, like, sometimes I hear stuff and I'm like, I'm, I'm, I'm, I don't feel any thing towards the artist. Right. I'm not like, you know, the kids are like, you know, the kids are like, sitting there and, and it's catchy. Sometimes I'll be, but I, I listen. I hear lyrics. So it's just my ear is trained. Yeah.

So I hear every word. Right. And I hear how they said it. And I can, I can. I can almost hear all the way through to like them recording it in the booth. Yeah. I can hear like. I listen to things like that sometimes where I'm like, man,

that would sound so strange coming in dry. It's actually like I think it's called critical listening. Well, you probably get it from like being in studios and hearing your own stuff back and like me at home like demoing. I hear my dry vocals more than like anybody has. It's tens of thousands of hours of a specific thing, right? Vocal recording. Yeah. Is one of those for me.

and recording in general. So I think I hear every lyric and every performance. Dude, it sucks how I hear things. I'm like, my kids are like, Dad, I don't even know the words. I don't even listen to the words. Oh, cop out. And I'm like, okay, well, I do. You asked me what I thought.

Yeah. Like me and my son listened to music a lot together. We are in the car to like, we're traveling across around the state for like baseball or something. And we're like driving in the car a lot. we listen to a lot of music. And I'm down, like, he'll, he'll DJ and he'll just play all the music he wants to hear. I'm way down. I love it.

It also is good for me. That's crazy because, like, I was always nervous to play music around my parents. I have a zero, like, there's zero, like, shame around, like, like, like, you know. But I was always kind of listening, like, are you guys, do you guys like this? Is this weird? Should I turn this off? And I don't always get it, though. Sometimes he likes something in it.

And he's like, what are you? you think and I'm like I don't know actually I don't get it yet that's a good answer I don't get it yet and will and he but he so but he's confident in what he likes and he likes what he likes yeah and and and I'll listen and and or if he says what do I think and I actually have an opinion on like what they're talking about right I'll be I'll tell him and he's like he's always like yeah dad I know you feel that way because you you don't think they should be talking about like this yeah drug or this thing or this because Because of course, because kids, he'll break it down to me and he'll say, of course, you feel that way.

But I just have to say how I feel. Yeah. If you ask me. You're like, maybe you shouldn't take Molly and drive and he's like, whatever, dad. Yeah. He's like, okay, dad. I was like, do you and your friends even know what lean is? You know, you know, it's a, it's a tricky one because it seems so nonchalant.

It looks so good. And it seems like it's not harmful. Yeah. But it's fucking dangerous. Yeah, of course. And he's become a drug addict. You know, but it's so easy because it's just. And, and he's like, I know, dad, I know dad.

That's, and that's the thing is like, I actually don't want him to stop or my kids or anyone's kids. That's my perspective. I'm not going to police my kids. Exploring, like, art and music. And I got a Lincoln Park CD for my birthday. day when I was like eight and my mom solid CD. My mom returned it. Really? Yeah. But

a friend put them on a like a mixed CD for me and. My mom didn't let me listen to secular music either when I was a kid. Yeah. Well that's the thing is it was very like I think she didn't like when they were like shut up. You know what I mean? She was like he's going to start saying

Shut up. He's going to start saying shut up. Yeah yeah. He's going to start say shut up. And so. And you did. I did. I say it a lot. Regardless of the Lincoln Park City staying in your possession or not. The people that like your music will tend to have had somewhat of a in the world of the same experience you had.

Dude, it's surprising. Sometimes I see tweets or whatever, like on the timeline or like I said, that side private one. Like I'll see like random people who, you know, have like interacted with or liked their stuff before. They're talking about stuff in their life. And I'm like, oh my God. Like a lot of people have like religious shit specifically. For those people, let's say that there's someone out there right now struggling with maybe their mental health. Would you say to them that you feel like therapy is the first step in the direction of like working that out?

Yeah. Getting support. Yeah. Of course. I mean, there's like other little things you can do. Well, okay. So what if they say, what if they said, well, I can't afford therapy? I'd be like, fuck.

No. I'd be like, I mean, okay. This is tricky because I've seen people get. Their asses beat online for trying to suggest, like, things that may help your mental state. Right. And I think people misinterpret it. Okay, I'm not going to be your ass. No, I know.

I know. But listeners, man, we're not alone right now. They have the room bugged. They do. I'm saying, like, and I think maybe people misinterpret this as a way of, like, it's like, obviously this isn't, like, a cure. Like, these aren't. There's just things you find helpful.

Yeah. Like, like, going on walks. Not, like, having a shitload of, like, energy drinks and caffeine and stuff. Like because it makes me fucking anxious. Like if I stay inside, I'll feel worse. Like I don't get out of bed. Make sure you shower. Get dressed.

Any reading materials out there? I mean, yeah. Like I've got this app that like makes you read. It's like, what are you interested in? And I'm like, okay, I'm going to read this for like five minutes a day. You know what I mean? You know what app I like? Because I meditate.

Another thing that doesn't. Is it calm or headspace or breathe? Breathe. Yeah. I don't know that one. It's great. It has like really great meditations. It's got hypnosis stuff in there.

Ooh, dude. I have a, or I had a hypnopopoporpefors. person for like a little over a year where I would do that I would do normal therapy and then I would do hypno I love hypno I love hypno I too and I've got my normal guy doing some hypno stuff now or like the brain spotting I don't know that they get like a like a silver thing with a red thing on the end yeah and they like talk to you about like some you know traumatic shit or whatever oh wow and you like keep watching the thing and then you know like I guess they're like watching if your eyes do something or if they recognize some kind of like, you know, whatever.

They're like, what was that? And I'm like, what do you mean? And they're like, well, what were you just thinking about? I'm like, oh, I guess like, you know, this and this and this. And then they're like, interesting. And they keep it held there because it's like there's parts of your brain that store different memories or whether it's like painful things or whatever. Yeah.

And it's kind of about like finding those spots and like processing them and trying to like get it out. You know what I mean? that's cool yeah but like for someone out there that's like saying can't I can't afford therapy and you know I always try to think of like there's a few steps ahead of like every every every know that I can get I want to think of a of a I want to try to find a yes there are a lot online things yeah like I mean there's meditation things that I use all the time like there's like some transcendental meditation for me meditating is is a is a is a really like clutch thing to have. It's hard sometimes. Like when I've got like 10 things do and you know I'm like

oh god I know so and so's blowing me up right now and I've got this going on and whatever. It's hard for me to focus. Yeah. But if somebody can't afford therapy. But also I think with meditation, you can't judge how you do it. No, I know. You can't. You can't. So if you do it for five minutes or three minutes or two minutes to start, it does, you do grow in it. And like the main thing I always try to tell people is with any of this, with meditation, with therapy, with, with self, with, with, with personal growth, right? I mean, some people say self-help, like I always say personal growth. They look at people and they, and they, and they could say, well, I can't do that.

Well, I can't do that. And I'll offer like 20 things. And usually there's one in there they can do. And then one leads to another. You end up doing another and another and you start to grow. That's personal growth. I think it is the number. The number one thing I tell people is self-love comes first.

Don't judge yourself. Love yourself. And then try. I mean, we all need to do it more. Yeah. We all need to love ourselves more. Austin. Hey.

You need to love yourself a little bit more. But that's it, man. I think is when I think about the fans I've met of yours, and I think about not. Not to say they're all, they're all, it's a, it's not all your fans, it's, but, but it's all people, really. Like, it's, especially people who, everybody, I think everybody should have therapy, right? Yeah.

Absolutely, I agree with that. I think that therapy should be in school. I mean, I know it's idealistic and there's no way, like, schools could afford this. Taxes. But like, the idea that there would be like a therapist in your school, I think that, that a lot of people that listen to our music, yours. end line need to continually need to be be given the support and the encouragement to take care of their selves yeah to love themselves and to um seek out ways to grow you know and and and to get

better yeah you have a very kind of a uh uh a fun way of sharing um the real shit like in an in a light way that makes it feel like, you know, I think normal. Yeah. It's good. I like it. Thank you. How's the new record? You're excited?

It's the best one. I know people say that shit. Sometimes. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't. But I'm just saying like every single song, I'm just like, oh my God. Like I don't know when this is coming out, but I'm like, dude, y'all have heard funeral gray, self-sabotage and fuck about it.

Straight bangers. so far. And I'm just telling you it gets better. That's great. It's crazy. I love all your records. Thank you. Dude,

have you not heard this one? I haven't heard the whole record. It's wrong. We've got to change that. Yeah. I want to play it for people. I want to go places and be like, hey, sign this and put your fucking phone on airplane mode or whatever.

And like, let's listen. Yeah. You can do that. They're called listening. Listening sessions. Listenings. Yeah, listening sessions. If anybody is listening to this and wants to do a listening, what's it?

Tweet at Austin. At Austin. Spelled bad. I reached out to peeps. Did you? You know the marshmallow birds? Yep. I like them.

I just fucking love them. Yeah? And I wanted to do something. And they actually responded, but it didn't go anywhere. What do you want to do? I want to do a collaboration. Like, what do you mean? Like, beeps.

and peeps wouldn't that be sick make merch? First off that's crazy I like it sick I would rock that

dude so that'd be amazing colors are are purple yeah okay peps is very purple yeah

you do throw a little yellow in there yeah purple hoodie veeps in yellow with peeps

on the back or I don't know it's just something fucking cool yeah get the name and white embroider across it

that'd be good everybody who uses Veeps and buys like a VIP thing through there should get some Veepes well that's the thing is we should do a collaboration yes where we do merch and we do candy and we have Veeeps peeps it's really good I love good marketing actually at the company at beeps yeah every we have a the big company-wide monthly stand-up meeting and um and there's when people get highlighted for their work, you know, like, they're doing great work at the company. There's a Veeeps Peeps Award for them.

I like it. If you want to know what kind of, if you want to know what kind of CEO I am. I like it. Beeps, beeps, most important part. Yeah. But that's funny. Peeps are good. They're polarizing.

They're kind of like candy corn in the way that people are like. Love them or hate them. Fuck that. Yeah. I'm a fan of peeps. You know, I don't necessarily, like, love the way they taste. I have a sugar issue. I just have, like, a nostalgic feeling whenever I see them reminds me of, like, being little.

And, like, I actually think... Easter? Making s'mores with... Hey, peeps. That's a good idea. Would actually be a better or more fun experience because the little sugar... You should be marketing for them. It would be...

The little sugar would burn, like a... creme brule would caramelize and it would make a really good and so I use I try to use peeps whenever I can

for smores are you sure they're not a sponsor no dude okay they're not a sponsor I think I just am telling you

we should run peeps I think we could be make it a campaign called member peeps and it's like remember how they made you feel but we implement them

member M-E-M-B-E-R like that too like yeah it's very the whole thing is nostalgia base but the way you do it is you implement

peeps into places they weren't before in the past. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's like sitting by the campfire and it's like, remember sitting by the campfire? Well, think about this. Okay. Okay. Austin, this is why creativity matters, right? Because we are the best marketers.

Yeah. So imagine the 4th of July peeps. Because it's a whole new holiday that Peeps now has. They shoot into the sky. It makes a peep. There's not a real, besides hot dogs and hot dog buns, right? It's not everybody these days eats hot dogs. Right.

We know too much now. I'll still eat a hot dog, dude. I'm going to shit. I'm from Texas. But peeps! Yeah. We still accept. We do.

Corn syrup. Yeah. For now. For now. That's really good. It's like we can make two. Santa, like a Santa peep.

Peeps. It's like, like as part of the nostalgia thing, it's for Christmas. He comes down. His face is a peep. Imagine this. Imagine this.

Peeps. For Christmas. Yeah. And Hanukkah. Yeah. Right? And all of the holidays, Kwanza, everything. You have little marshmallows that are in the peeps box, but they're like this big.

Yeah. Right. And they're little snowmen. Yep. And you put them in your hot chocolate. You break them off and you put them in your hot chocolate. Why are we giving them this for free? This is crazy.

Dude, car horns. Beep. Yeah. It's peep instead of beep now? Yeah. We just implement them everywhere throughout our lives. Anywhere that it will fit. Yeah.

Where that'll fit. Okay, back to the Christmas one because I'm like, I just fucking love Christmas time. Christmas is very best. I'm saying like

Mall Santa, but like his face is a peep on like a classic photo of like some kids with them. Yep. Dude, they could really do something with this. Little videos of stop animation peeps.

Yes. Press cast. So the idea is, can you guys finally fucking make a shirt that says Alt press is good press? Like all press is good press? That's a great shirt.

I've been pitching it for years and nobody fucking listens to me. All press is good press. That's actually the tagline of the podcast now. I'm just saying I've been trying to get them to use this for so long. So the magazine, you know, which I love is to me, it's it's morphing into this like the interviews and stuff are becoming to me more true to like if two artists were hanging out.

And I actually think these conversations are like, it's like a cover interview. essentially where I'm not trying to fish information out of you so that I can get a little, you know, something salacious. What do you think of so and so? You know, like get some headline that really starts something. Like that's the nature of media. Media is meant to, to, originally media was just getting information out. What a media became, though, is it's a, it's, it's,

getting headlines that people click through. And then as long as they click through and they read for this long period of time, it's worth this much. And it became this metric thing where like they're now just fishing for that headline versus like an artist being able to be themselves and express themselves. Stream gladiator by Water Parks featuring Josh Madden. Exactly. Josh nails it there.

Dude, there's people like fan or like people like really listen to us and follow us closely know. But I thought like, so that was from, we were driving around, it was right before fandom came out. And we were just like talking in the car about her. He was like, you know, doing one of, like, Josh is good at just like going for a while. You know what I mean? Like talking about stuff. And at a certain point, I was like, do you mind if I record this? And he was like, go ahead.

And he kept going. And I was like, boom. There's like a 20 minute version of that song where I just like let him just. But then I felt better like condensing it. And also, well, it was very actually, it was actually the way you got out all the good parts. was actually like you get the message. Right. You have to condense it.

And to me, so that's the thing as I was talking to alternative press going. So look, this podcast, it has to feel like artist to artist, it's a interview, but it's more just people getting to sit to feel like they're in the room sitting at the table with artists actually just being themselves. Right. And like, we're not, listen, you're going to promote your record. for the next two years. That's just part, that just happens when you're out there

in the world living and doing whatever. But what for me, the most important thing is, is what the people that I've been inviting to come and hang and talk, it's more for me

imagining what a fan's getting out of the experience of hearing someone that they maybe loved or maybe they love you more now or maybe like, who knows, but I want them to get to, to have a, to hear a like a true conversation, the part of this that I really like is being able to like hang out with people that I like

and also show other people why I like them so much because, you know, ultimately like they're good people. And you're a good person. Thank you. Even though like catfish dudes. You would argue with me that you're not. Even though like catfish fucking dads.

I still don't understand what motivates you to do that. It's so funny. It makes me laugh so much. I mean, everybody's got their hobbies. Yeah. I never, like, arranged meetups. I mean, yeah, that would be mean. I'd be mean because I waste gas money.

Well, you wouldn't go. Well, no, I'm saying for them. I don't want to waste a gas money. Right, right. I just want to fuck around on my rectangle. Right. Yeah. Yeah.

Don't arrange a meetup ever. I'm not. Yeah, I know. Awesome. Great. Hell, yeah. When are you guys going back on tour? Fucking never.

Good. Stay here. I just want to hang out. Yeah. I just want to hang out. I want to make dope shit. And that's it. I don't want to sleep in a bus with 12 dudes.

Uh-uh. It's a tough life. It's yucky. Yeah. People don't understand that sometimes. Because it looks like so much fun because it is fun. It is fun. The show is fun.

Sharing the 12, the bus with 12. Yeah, you sleep bad for like three months. Lose your voice all the time. Lose your voice. And then like people online are like, wasn't as good. I'm like, dude, I've been out. We just did four.

Tour is back to back. I don't want to think about that shit. That's good. So you have nothing lined up. Well, we have the UK in February. Oh. It's not for too long. It's for like two weeks.

UK shows are really good. Food is fucking butt. Absolute butt. It depends on what kind of food you're eating there. The Indian food is good, but I can't have it because reflux. Right. Thai food pretty good there too. Thai food in L.A. is the best.

Yes. It's really good Thai food. Sure. Now, what's your top three Thai food in L.A.? I don't want to tell him. Why not? Share the love with people. I just don't want people to go there.

Night Market? It's a really good one, yeah. Now, my favorite one closed. What is it called? It was Thai Pepper, like in Hollywood. It was on Franklin. It was run by this, like, the oldest lady you've ever seen. And she was so funny.

Do you do Talasai? No, I've never had it. Dude, it's on Ventura. It's really good. But this lady, I brought my parents there. And my dad was like, like, hey, should I get this? And she was just like, no, it's not good.

And he's like, what? And she's like, don't get that. And he's like, well, what should I get? She's like, get this. Have you ever done Jitlata? Yes. It's great. Yeah.

Anajack and Encino? No, I haven't had that one. Good. You got to do my favorites around like this area. You got to go to Now Online. Okay. It's crazy. That's my favorite Thai iced tea for sure.

Cool. Yeah. They got the best one. There's, because that's the thing, there are actually, dude, you know what's one of the craziest, like, crossovers for me? And this is the only place I've seen do it. So my favorite soup in the world is Tom Yum soup, right? Oh, yeah. Chicken.

So there's a place called spice season on Ventura. Spice season's good. It is. Yeah. But they have a Tomium fried rice. Oh, wow. Dude, it is stupid. Yeah.

Yeah. That's like one of the craziest things. Love it. Yeah. We'll have Thai. Yeah. Very good. Thanks.

Thank you. All press is good press.