The Confessionals - Quick Hitter | Skinwalking To Utah

Episode Date: September 2, 2022

Today's Friday and I know that at the end of the week you can be running low on listening material. Well, we have you covered this week because Joel and Sean from Kill The Mockingbirds are in the studio with me to talk about Merkel Media's next film coming this fall and the world premiere single, "30 Hours To Utah", off the music album we created for this film! As we look for new ways to create great content and contribute to developing a culture that we can pass on to the next generation we thought it would be a great opportunity to try something different and new. So from now on, every film will have its own album connected to it!30 Hours To Utah:YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RsKz1qSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3CS69IAApple Music: https://apple.co/3RAWgTXKill The Mockingbirds:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3elEYeUSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3AKNGehBecome a member for AD FREE listening and EXTRA shows: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinSPONSORSGET Cerebral: getcerebral.com/tonyGET SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGET Hello Fresh: hellofresh.com/confessionals16 Promo Code: "confessionals16" for 16 FREE MEALS!!!Get Emergency Food Supplies: www.preparewiththeconfessionals.comGet Beard Oil: bit.ly/2FbOhN5CONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: [e-mail] to the Newsletter: https://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/the-newsletterSOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaITikTok: @theconfessionalsDiscord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkel

Merkel Media All right, welcome to a quick hitter Friday. What's that? I don't freaking know. That's just what I'm calling it. What's up, guys? Yo.

I'm in studio here with Joel and Sean. Now, these are the guys that come into the studio and they both have first and last names that are first names. I find that very interesting. We have Joel Thomas from Van Teslo, and we have Sean Chris from Sean Chris. No, I'm just kidding.

From Kill the Mockingbirds. Now, Kill the Mockingbirds is a podcast that you started, how long ago? Two years ago. Two years ago? And for the most part, or was it the whole existence of that show, were you flying solo? Off and on. Off and on. Yeah.

So when you started that show, you wanted to have a co-host from beginning. You were just looking for one. Yeah, I just needed someone to fit. Gotcha. And you were coming up on almost 100 episodes, and you finally found your marriage partner there. Yes, sir. All right. So these two guys here.

So we got Joel from Van Tessley. here. And he also teamed up with Sean to start the whole podcasting game. Now, many people out there know who Joel is from the show. You've been on the show several times. And you are somebody who I felt should always be podcasting. And I'm really glad that you're working with him. You came to me and said, hey, can I get on the confessions of your co-as? I said, get out of here, bro. That's my money. Trying to sneak in here and take food off my kids' table here. No, I'm playing. That conversation never happened. But I have had people email me asking to be co-hosts. I'm like, I don't even know who you are. And I've never asked for a co-host. I never wanted one. So anyways, before I get too far off

track, the reason why we're doing the quick hitter Friday here is because today you are releasing a song. In fact, it's out right now. And what is the song titled? 30 hours to Utah. 30 hours to Utah. And actually, Sean is on that song. Yeah, he's guest featured on it. So you guys were on that song together. And obviously people know that. Joel is a musician. That's what we brought you on. Episode 331, Devils in the Music is what I called it, right? That's right. Yeah. And now, Sean, you're a musician as well. So it's crazy. You guys are podcasting together, making amazing magic on the podcast front and also making great music together. Now, the reason why we're doing this is because Joel, you've been coming out with music since

I've known you. Like, it seems like every other week, you're dropping another singer. Like, hey, man, I'm dropping another single. I'm like, oh, really? How unique? You know? Like you're always in the studio recording. You're always writing music. And it's like, it's nothing new to me. Like, you're always making music. But the thing is, the reason why you're here is because this 30 hours of Utah is actually one of the songs that's going to be on the album that's being released for the film we

just filmed out in Utah. So we just went out to Utah filming a Skinwalker film. That's what I'm going to call for now. I'm not going to give out the name. And I'm not going to be talking about the other very famous location. out there because apparently you can get a suit if you say that name. And so we're not going to go down that route. We're going to call them shape shifters.

So we go out there and we shoot this film. Amazing things happened out there. Crazy stuff happened from the jump. Before we even arrived there, two of our other team, our producer and director arrived a day before us. And they had crazy visual things happening before we got there. Things, even before they got there, we before the owner of the property that told us We could stay out there, said, hey, guess what happened?

Blah, blah, blah. Ain't you going to drop it here? They'll find out. But holy crap, things were popping off there. And so we're excited going out there. We spend a week out there. Crazy stuff happening. We found tracks of things.

Right. Yeah, I was just leaving it at that. Redacted. Redacted, right? Like Trump's search warrant. So we go out there and we do our thing. and I mean, I could not tell everybody all the things that encompasses what happened out there. It's too much. It's too much. It's a developing thing. The film is going to drop this fall. We're still filming. Like, me and Christian still have to fly out to Vegas and then probably go to San Diego because we're doing some interviews, hopefully, with a couple whistlers. Which are going to be good.

I mean, anytime you have a whistleblower, it's like, yeah, I'm down for that. We kind of had a couple two already that we met with when we were out there. I was actually just texting with him, the DOD guy. And he said he might come in studio with me to sit down and talk and stuff. But if not, he said we can definitely do it remotely. So I'm pretty excited about that, to be honest with you. But we went out there. We had that great journey. And it really was.

It was a great journey. And before we even went out there, we had in our mind that from now on, since we have somebody on our team that is extremely talented with music, you rap, you sing, you do rock, you can do pop, You can do country. I mean, like, what am I missing here? I mean, like, you can play the piano apparently, right? I've heard that and stuff. He plays the cello. I mean, I don't know what else you play banjos. I know you came from the hills of North Georgia. So you're very talented. And so it would be a shame to just utilize you as, hey, we found a portal. Joel, jump in it. Yes, that's your job. And it's a great job to have for you. But I felt like there's more to the game. And when Joseph came up with the idea why we just come out with a soundtrack, an actual album attached to every film we come out

with and have Joel make. It's like, genius. Right. And so that's what we're doing for this film. This film that's going to be a million times, I'm telling you, a million times better than Dogman. And Dogman was great. It was great. Like, especially for a shot in the dark, like, I put the team together. I'm like, let's see what happens. No plan. No storyboard. We showed up. And it's like, hey, let's just shoot and see what happens. Christian as a director is phenomenal. Oh yeah. And so giving having that talent and Christian going out there, him having a game plan, it's a rap, guys. I'm telling you, it's a rap. And this album puts it over the top. I've heard several songs that's on this album. They are like another level, another level. And so today, 30 hours of Utah has dropped and

released to the public. We're releasing it early so people can hear it, tell people about the song, How did it come together and where can they find it? Yeah, so the song actually came together when we were coming back from Utah. So, you know, everything just sinking in from the trip. And, you know, my whole mind frame when I was putting together the soundtrack was, I wanted to soak in the trip first. There was, I didn't touch anything. You know, I might have had a few beats like I was playing around with.

There's some instrumentals. But there was, I wasn't doing anything until I got back. Because to me it didn't make any sense to start doing anything because how could I, you know, know, make something that was based on this trip if I didn't experience the trip first. Right. So for me, coming back home and just being able to put that together in words, and this isn't, this is going to be a soundtrack in the truest sense. Like, these songs hold weight on their own.

They're not, you're listening to a song like a jingle or it's something like that. These songs mean something to me personally. I just use the trip as like a metaphorical basis for what I did. So 30 hours of Utah happened when we were on the ride back home. We're all exhausted. We just saw Nephlin Petroglyphs up on. Yes, we did. Six-figure giants.

Six-finger giants. Yes. So mine's already like blown again on the way home. And I remember we were joking around about the trip. It was 30 hours to Utah. And I remember Ward saying, I'd be a good name for a song. And I'm like, it would. So I literally planned from that moment I was going to do it.

I just didn't know when because it wasn't the first. song that I recorded off the soundtrack. So as I was like dabbling with different songs or different sounds, I came across the instrumental for it. I mean this is it. And the hook came to me pretty quick. Like it all started fitting. And I had just heard Sean one of his songs that he sent over me. It was unreleased. And he was singing on the hook and it was very like country and this like raspy thing. I'm like, man, he's got like this whole other side that he hasn't tapped into yet. So I hit him up with like, look, I got this idea. I want you to do a verse to it.

But I want you to do this. He's like, yeah, I got you, man. So like three, four days later, he sends me a verse and it's gold and it fit perfect. We get in the studio. We mix, master everything. He comes back. And then we got this, like, gem. It's a gem.

It's an absolute gem. Like, when I heard it, I just repeat, repeat. Yeah. And I was listening to it in the truck on the way over to the studio today. I was like, 30 hours to Utah. I got to just butcher it. They feel like, oh, I don't want to. hear that. Trust me, you want to hear it, okay? There's a reason why I'm not the recording artist. I

actually dabbled with rapping back in the day and stuff. I just wasn't good at it. I did rap in front of 500 people, though, I once. Hey. Yeah, it was my first time rat. Let me tell you this. I was in college, right? Right. I was actually married. And it was my short stint where I got married. I started working and stopped going to college. And I was like, hey, let me go back to college, right? Well, it was Bible college and they were doing this thing. I don't even remember what it was. but my one professor was heading it up. And I said to him, I said, you know, are you looking for anybody to do any kind of entertainment stuff?

And he's like, yeah, absolutely. And I was like, hey, I'm a rapper and stuff. Would you? And he's like, really? I said, yeah. Now, mind you, I never rapped in front of anybody before. I had like one or two recordings and like. But it just shows the cahoons that you had that been.

Like, if people are shocked that you're successful now, like you hadn't even wrapped in front anybody that's like, I'm a rapper. Put me out there right now. Like, I literally recorded two, like, one or two songs within, like, a month period or two months period. Like, I was new. Like, I was trying to figure this out, right? Like, I would spend, like, a week or two trying to write a song. It was like, what rhymes with, you know what I mean?

Like, I had no idea, right? And he's like, you're a rapper. I said, absolutely. And he's like, he's like, yeah, I would love to have you. I said, great. And so we booked it all up and stuff. And we were talking. And he, he said something to me a few weeks later, referencing about, like, like, he's so.

happy that he has somebody who has experience rapping to do this on stage. And I was just, and I just kind of like skirted it because I, like, he's my professor at like a Bible college. I don't want to lie to him. So I was just like skirt, you know? And I was just like, so how about the Eagles, you know? I was like, yeah, let's stop talking about music, you know? I talk about musical all time, bro.

You know? And so it was like the day before the concert. And I just felt like this conviction, right? And so he brings it up again about how he's so excited that. somebody that, and I was like, yeah, this is actually my first time performing. And he's like, wait, you've never done this before? I said, no. And he's like, like, you could tell he wanted to take me off the, the whole thing.

But it was too late. It was too late. Like, he already promoted it and everything. And so I was like, here we go. And so I go in there. I didn't know how big the crowd was going to be, right? Well, I had an idea it was going to be pretty big. I didn't know 500 big.

You know, I thought maybe like 100 people and stuff. Yeah, yeah. And so I saw the crowd. I was like, dude. dude all right time to time to blow up and glow up you know this is it I go off there and I'll tell you what

I went up there and the I hear my soundtrack come on and I had a very brief moment where I blanked out like I just like it was like a black guy I was like I can't believe I'm doing this and like my body just kind of took over and I started going and stuff

and I had my friend Chaz hop up there and just kind of ad lib with me and stuff to keep me going and it went great it really did it went great and people afterwards were trying to talk to me and stuff, I was like, oh, this is kind of crazy. You know what I mean? And then I did another show for a small group, right?

It was like a church youth group kind of thing, like maybe like 50 kids. And I was up there. I couldn't hear my instrumental real good. And I lost track of it where I wasn't my song. Because I lost track of where I was in my song with the rhythm and everything, I forgot my lyrics.

And I was just like, ha. And I was just like, I'm never doing this again. And that was the last time I did. I was like, I'm done. I'm not rapping. Well, actually, that was pretty good.

That's like what they do now, the da-na-na-na-na-da. I'm a transcendent. I'm a transcent. You're in a time. But yeah, so that was like my short stint with rapping and stuff. I did produce instrumentals for a while in college. They were good and stuff, but I did. And I'm dabble with the mash-ups and stuff.

But the actual rapping thing, I was just like, and I don't know if you remember Joel, but I asked you if you, would you prefer to perform in front of people or actually just maybe record music and put it out online? You're like absolutely record or perform in front of people and stuff. I'm the exact opposite. Like, maybe that's why I'm a podcaster. Yeah. I love both. Like, to me, like, it's a certain thing about getting like quality music with a quality sound out to people.

But then there's a certain thing about being in front of people and then giving them like what. they've heard already and being able to deliver that life. And you get that energy, man. It's like, it's like, it's like, probably what stand-ups would say as well. Like, you get that energy from the crowd and it's like, it's something that you can't get anywhere else. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. So, we got 30 hours of Utah coming out. And we have more music that's going to drop on, are we going to drop any more before the album or before the film or no? I'm going to keep it. Okay. How many, how many songs are you planning for this album? Seven. There's going to be seven songs on the album. How many are recorded right now? Six.

You have one more to record. One more. And didn't you say you're going to be doing that soon? Yeah, in like a week. About a week and stuff. So people can look forward to that. We're going to be dropping an album with this film. I'm really excited about it. I'm excited that I have guys around me in my inner circle that are so talented. You know, like for me guys, like straight up, like, I really believe that God has blessed me and this whole endeavor. and put me off in a direction on purpose. Yeah. And I haven't had to try too hard of getting people around me.

People have come to me and the right people have come to me. And I just kind of believe that God has been bringing people my way over the last couple years. Yeah. For the first five years, it was just me by myself kind of solo grinding and just, I knew we can get in this on your other podcast because we're actually, after this recording, we're going to record a show for you guys on your podcast. we'll get that at a second. But I just want to say I'm very grateful for this team that I have,

you know, Ward, Christian, Joel, Jack, Joseph, like the whole crew, if I missed anybody on that crew, I think I got all you guys, right? Yeah, one, two, three, four. Yeah, that's it. But I'm just so grateful for that because everybody, like, you guys came in on your own time, you know, it started as a relationship to me, and it was very strategic outside of me. Like, it was, it's very, it's very, apparent to me that somebody or something was strategically putting people along my path at a certain point in time to make sure this team came together the way it did. And I really believe that. In the fact, we all get along really well too. Oh, absolutely. It's really wild.

You don't see that happen a lot. And that itself is almost like an afterthought for me. Because it's like, because of how I view this whole thing coming together, it's like, of course we're going to get along. Right. Because of how everything else went, you know? So I'm very excited about it. And before we end this quick hitter, I want people to know where to find you guys. And then on the way out, we're going to play 38 hours to Utah.

And then they can go into links in the description of this little quick hitter and they can go listen to it on Spotify. Where do you prefer people to listen? It doesn't matter. So all the streaming comes to us regardless of where it's at. Whatever you prefer. We do have a lyric visualizer up on YouTube for this, though. So it's going to be nice. It's going to be some animated stuff with the lyrics.

So people get to understand what's being said, and they can enjoy it in that way, too. That's something I like to do with, you know, some, you know, heavy hidden singles that I put out for sure. Cool. So with that said, guys, where can they find you guys online and follow you guys and all that good stuff? Operation Kill the Mockingbirds. Kill the mockingbirds. Kill them. Bird killers.

And Van Tesla music. That's where you could get everything at. Both of that. It's either the podcast or the music, whatever you prefer. Absolutely. We're going to do a recording real quick. Actually, it's probably not going to be real quick. But we're going to do a recording now next for your podcast.

What's the goal with that whole recording so people know? So just if people want to see an uncut version of Tony Merkel. I didn't know we were getting into that. This is our 100th episode. It's called Merkel Uncut. Geez. If you want to see the pressure's mounting. The heavy hitting everything.

What do you talk about on your podcast normally? Things we probably wouldn't talk about here. Ah. But with news, paranormal, and conspiracies. Yeah. We talk about everything. That's a great way to go about it. We have a myriad of people that we have on the show, guests.

So it's not just one thing. But we do delve into a lot of topics that some people may be uncomfortable with. We're okay with that, though. That's who we are. If anybody's heard my music, they know what I feel about the world today. It's a woke summer. Listen, like people, there's certain songs of yours that I will send up people. Because they'll be like, oh, I love Van Tess.

I love Joe. I'm like, have you heard all his music? and they're like no I just heard head in the clouds I'm like here's woke summer tell me who so like them you know because like if you if you still like them out the woke summer then you like Van Tesla

yeah yeah yeah but if that hurt you in any emotional way you should probably stop at head in the clouds just stop right there just enjoy heading the clouds and that keep your head in the clouds your brother told me he was like

your first line on that song he's like oh my God he's like I heard it and I'm like he just say that I'm like listen when we wrote that song we're putting it together because Sean's on it too with me and Kwan when we first did it I was like I'm getting first first guys I'm just like no and Kwan already knew he was like oh god Kwan knows yeah he's like I already know man he's like I just hope they can get to mine like he's like they're going to cut it off early and I'm like I'm going to get out the first line and if they want to

get off the train they they can get off early like you don't have to hang around too long to get bamboozled but the good thing is it is the music all of it is so good that you don't know what they're saying. So sometimes people will be bobbing their head to it. And I'm like, you know what they're saying. You don't know. They're talking code. But there is no code talking when it comes to this album.

It is all about Utah and our trip to Utah. Correct. The artistry is absolutely phenomenal. 30 hours to Utah world premiere today. Let's get to it. He's down a dirt road. Installation mountains in the district scene. to follow me that's five