Standing On My Own Name

0:00This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. On the new podcast, Solita, we share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I choose option B. I'm Julie Pinero and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word Solita, trading the pity for possibility. Listen to Solita on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I survived nine months in captivity and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the survivor files. Every week I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. Abducted, stalked, controlled and nearly silenced.

1:00These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the survivor files with Elizabeth Smart on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're a bookshelf and you're a for you page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. Pro Society is a weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for anyone who thinks pride and prejudice and love island deserve the same level of discourse. Each week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet and pop culture. With your favorite writers, book talk creators and plenty of overthought opinions. Yeah, I'm obsessed, so I'm obsessed. Listen to pro society on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Our hometown is not a test tube. 90 miles northeast of Nashville, a battle for the future of America plays out in one small town. Developers with right wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land. We need cities on a shining hill. This is our town, a podcast about what happens when a small town becomes the site of a social

2:03experiment and fights back. I guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to our town on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Didn't catch the latest Roland Martin unfiltered podcast. People wake up and go, oh, damn, wait and hold up. They change all of that. Yes, it's real. This is a wholesale attack. It is targeting black people in every federal agency. It's wrong. White folks have never allowed that reckoning to last more than a decade. Catch Roland Martin's daily commentary on the black information network. And download Roland Martin unfiltered on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts. Or wherever you get your podcasts. Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazard. And this is the Keep It Posit Sweetie Show. Welcome to Keep It Posit Sweetie, the place where we heal, grow and learn together. There's something powerful about a season where you stop creating from expectation and

3:06start creating from instinct. Where the music gets more personal, the decisions feel more intentional, and the artist gets a little closer to the person. Today's conversation is about what happens when you give yourself room to follow your own voice. Today I'm sitting down with Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter Johnny Venus. For years, people have known him as one half of Earth Game. But now he's stepping into a new chapter, released in new music and giving us a more personal look at who he is as an artist and a man. We're talking about his solo journey. I love creativity, purpose, and what it means to trust your own voice in a new season. Kids, family, please give a very warm welcome to Johnny Venus. Johnny, how you doing? How you doing? I'm good. I'm good. So happy to have you here. I'm happy to be here. This is the furthest I've been back in Tyler Perry Studios. Really? Yeah. I feel like we getting in some real work right here. Some real business going on. A real big business. Yeah. I love it.

4:07We're welcome. It's always exciting when people come through the gates and actually get to like see the property. They're like, oh my goodness, I didn't know all this was here. So I'm glad you got to witness it. It's really dope to see Ann inspiring. I haven't. It hasn't gotten to me and I've been working out of the studio since 2015. Yeah. From working here to acting here and then now having my podcast. Yeah. I mean, I'm from the West End. So like I've passed by this complex, countless times. Right. And once 60 C is going out the green bride coming back and forth. So like being able to like see a container of flowers and like, you know, little Tyler continue to keep profit of them coming out. It's really, really far. I appreciate that. Thank you. Well, welcome. We're happy to have you here. Our producer, Shelley, and you go way, way back. She just singing your praises all day. She loves you. But we're happy. Shelly's family. You are family. So welcome. We're going to break the ice by playing a game called Johnny's call. You are now entering this chapter of being a solo artist.

5:10So we want to know how you move when you have to make the call. I'm going to give you a situation. You have to give an immediate answer. No overthinking. No team meeting. Just Johnny's call. You ready? All right. The first one is a record is emotionally perfect, but technically imperfect. Do you fix it or protect the feeling? We put it out. He's it. Put it out. OK, I like that. Somebody you really like leaves you on red. You double text him, hey, what's up? I text you. Or do you just let them come find you? They got to see me in person. I love it. You hear a song idea in the middle of the night. Do you record a voice note or a trust that the feeling will find you again? Voice note. So you waking up in the middle of the night? You're not going to get that again. That's the message you got to tap in, right? You got to grab that phone. That's it. I love that. You meet somebody incredible, but the timing is terrible. You explore it anyway or you respect the timing. You got to explore it. The timing is the time.

6:11You know what I'm saying? It may not have to be whatever you think it's supposed to be, but you got to acknowledge it. That is a great answer. I love that. Because the first time I'm going to say, I think be aware of the time. If you know you're not available, but I like that explore it because it could, you could think it's not the right time. It should listen. Yeah. I like that. Make something that sounds nothing like what people expect from Johnny Venus. Do you follow the curiosity or you question the direction? I think you follow the curiosity. You know, how you put it out is up to, you know, I'm saying the team and the strategy and stuff. Or sometimes, you know, you just put out sketches and, you know, fans gravitate towards that also, but like, it's art, you know, put it out. Right. For sure. What's one decision Johnny Venus makes now that an earlier version of you would have needed way more reassurance to make? That's a good question.

7:12Oh, I hop on a plane like that. Listen, out of here. Like that. I hit me was like, I need to leave here and go pack. You will leave us. I mean, not afterwards. That's crazy. It's a right now. Out of us. No, after this. I go. I love it. Are you type person that'll just like get on the plane with no bags or you got a pack and I got a chest. I'll need it like an hour. Okay. The hour. You don't take too long. I love it. Thank you so much for playing with me. I like that. 90's for questions. You know how to make the cause. We like that. All right. So I'm excited to sit down with you, especially in this new chapter of your life. Many of you don't know that you are from Atlanta. You played football back in the day. Went to May's high school. Then went to Hanson University on a scholarship where you studied architecture. Come on. Like that's so awesome. I love you. I love you. Multi-layered and I love it. So your fans know you from Earth Gang and Dreamville.

8:15But now you're getting to experience Johnny Venus. Who is he? Like you said, I'm very complex. Yeah. I'm saying I have a multitude of gifts and talents. And on the inside looking out, I'm just being me. Yeah. But on the outside looking in, I feel like people constantly are asking me to define myself and put myself into a space that's palatable or marketable or comfortable. Sometimes I just can't do it. I can just be you know. Do you feel like this industry tries to box you in sometimes? Yes, but I don't think it's in a vindictive type of way or anything. Like there's no negative energy around it. I think that's just the nature of product and marketing. And they see what's working on what you're really good at. So like let's take a guess. And that's important because I mean, we say it all the time in the industry.

9:16Like if you want to just make art, you might as well make art for you or your friends. But if you want to market it internally into a business, then you have to understand and decide what parts of you you want to present. Make sure that it's authentic. You know what I'm saying? You being yourself. But like what size you want to present and promote? I love that. I love that. So you spent years with EarthGain. I want to know what are some of the lessons in business that you learned then that you're now utilizing as a solo artist now that you're calling the shots. I got to keep it a butt with you, man. I feel like being an EarthGain and having the people around me that I gravitated towards and I reached out to sometimes I feel like I put myself kind of behind the eight ball because I allowed the people to do what they're best at and I kind of just focused on making music. You know what I'm saying? I think I'm like, okay, you good at, you know, I'm saying handle the tour.

10:17You're a manager. You can talk to people in the buildings and get them to do what we need to do. You're good at helping us, you know, I'm saying increase our international exposure and I'm going to just trust you out and do it. But now that you know what I'm saying? It's just me, me, me, me. I feel like I'm back in college, you know. I swear. Like every day it's a lesson. It's like you know what I'm saying? It's goes with this, it goes with this and I feel like it's like putting a puzzle together with the pieces, keep changing shapes. You know what I'm saying? I feel like trying to figure it out. But I think the essence of it is be yourself and put yourself in the spaces where people naturally gravitate towards. You know what I'm saying? I don't go chasing something or don't go try to, you know what I'm saying, run after things, let be things and people and opportunities come to you and put yourself in those like spaces. Yeah, I love that.

11:18As the pieces of the puzzle keep changing shapes, have you ever found yourself getting frustrated in this new area of business that you're learning as a student now? Oh, every day. Every day. I mean, it's love always. But I think people don't really know like what it takes to do what we do as actors, as artists, as musicians, as producers, as anybody who is not being told what to do every day from nine to five. It takes a lot of discipline and it takes a lot of collaboration, teamwork, risk, faith to continue to navigate and be innovative, you know, and fail your too. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. Absolutely. And I think with me, because of the success that I've had in Earth Gang, a lot of times I'll look at the 10 years plus of Earth Gang and compare it to the one and a half to two

12:22years of Johnny Venus and be like, why is this not moving like this? You know what I'm saying? It's like I kind of have to give myself some grace, you know? Absolutely. And continue to hustle, but I still have to give myself some grace. I love that. That is so good. What feels different now that you're no longer contributing to the vision of a group, but now you're defining it? I think that it's a lot more pressure, you know? It's a lot more pressure. Not like it's insurmountable, but it's a lot of pressure. The vernacular is crazy. It's a lot of pressure. I love it. As it may, it's high school APS education right there, you feel it? Let's go. It's a lot of pressure to, like I'm basically the CEO of a business and I'm learning and

13:24I'm putting on a different hats every day. I put on 12 hats a day, you know what I'm saying? So I try to make sure that I am giving myself time to be time to create and then time to market. It's all learning. It's all learning. It's all learning. It's still a collaborative effort because you know, going into the studio, making music, working with different producers, different writers, different executive producers and enjoying the process and then you're like, all right, let me take this hat off and put this other hat on and go study these marketing trends and see what's working. But I think it's just a lot more pressure, but I'm ready for it. I believe in myself, the people around me believe in me and I believe in them. So it's just funny being on the outside looking in and on the inside looking out and seeing what the difference is of what it actually takes. For sure, to be a successful artist, especially now, you've been in the industry for a long time. Even from 10 years to now doing it, or 12 years now, doing it being in the industry,

14:29I'm sure you've seen how it's changed. Things have changed drastically. You know, like, I mean, today my managers hit me up and was like, you know, they're counting you two, like the first second of a YouTube video watch is a view now. Yes. And like that change is so much. I'm like, thank you, Lord. You feel me? Because your attention's man has changed. People make, that's all they might watch because they're like on their phones, you didn't distract it. So thank you. But like somebody who isn't in the industry or in the content industry or in the documentary or video space or podcast space, they're looking at it as like, oh, so, but like for other people, like, does life change you? Yes. And like a decision that some people made thousands of miles away who we never met has effectively changed how we approach our business today. For sure. And so it's like things like that that I think a lot of people don't really take into consideration. Yeah. No, for sure. When I was 14 years old, I was kidnapped and health captive for nine months.

15:32I survived. And I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the survivor files. I just remember this low taunting voice next to my ear saying shut up. Don't say anything. Every week, I'm with survivors who lived through the unthinkable. I knew if he woke up without a doubt, he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed and I just started screaming. They are abducted, stalked, controlled and nearly silenced. But these aren't stories about what's taken from them. Their story is about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the survivor files with Elizabeth Smart on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. On the new podcast, Solita, we share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman.

16:33I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I choose option B. I'm Julie Piñero and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word Solita, trading the pity for possibility. Every time I tried to be alone, I kept meeting people and they were like, you smiled at us, not a lot of people smile around here. It's when you're alone that you're most receptive to the world as it is and not the lies you're sold about it. It can be a time where you push your limits, change your mind or wake up to a new version of yourself. So whether you're a solo travel veteran or you're too nervous to book your first trip, I hope you listen to Solita on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're bookshelf and you're for you page are equally important to your personality, welcome home.

17:33This is Pro's Society, the weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for thought daughters, pop culture obsessives and anyone who thinks pride and prejudice and love island deserve the same level of discourse. I'm Eli Rallo and every week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet and the conversations everyone can't stop having. I'm going to have to look up this story. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. As I think from bestselling authors and your favourite book talk creators, to the latest pop culture moments, nothing is off the table. It's like if you can hide some real messages inside compelling characters, and that is the Trojan horse. Whether you're looking for literary deep dives, smart pop culture conversations, or a community of readers who love to think a little too much, you're in the right place. Listen to Pro's Society on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. between the pages. Our town is small taters by most standards, right? But to the people who grew up here, it's everything.

18:34What happens when a quiet Tennessee town becomes the front line in a battle over the future of America? Developers with right wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land in the area. The first thing you see when it pops up is high nears and apple at you. But they weren't just planning houses. We need cities on a shining hill that exemplify and embody the Christian way of life. Stop right there. Is that normal? A podcast about what happens when a small town becomes the site of a social experiment. God need men to rule great! And decides to fight back. Do not use my hard work to sell your bulls**t. They're not just opposing what's being planned for here. Our hometown is not a test to. They feel like they're standing in opposition to an entire administration. I guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to our town on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Didn't catch the latest role in the Martin Unfiltered podcast?

19:36Here's what you missed. And the argument is, do you want to win? If you don't win, you have no power. It's real. Those are the very people who I always say vote against their own economic interests. And they complained about the very thing they were seeing. It's raw. I knew that the issue of transgender athletes was not going well with a lot of black men. Roland Martin Unfiltered. I went off. I said, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Y'all go scream at Chanel, but you don't want to see a black luxury company in the same bag. Catch Roland Martin's daily commentary on the black information network. 12 seats. Those are moving south. So if you Democrats, you don't wait to 2030, you better be hitting the ground, going to heart in the south now. And download Roland Martin Unfiltered on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts. Or wherever you get your podcasts. We talk about the pressure that comes along with doing it on your own.

20:37Now you have a team, so you're never really alone, but as an artist, in an aspect you are, in saying you're alone in it. I want to know, does that also come with a freedom now that when it comes to the sound that you want to explore or the different type of genres you want to tap into? How do you navigate that new found freedom that you have? It's funny because in Earth Gang, a lot of the stuff that I would do would just be in tour, saying I wouldn't go into the studio with a plan of like, I want to make this type of music for these type of people that do well in this market. I'm saying like, no, I was just going out there coming up with the first thing. We're on saying we having fun in the studio, we making records, whatever. And then you start to see, I mean, you could call it success, but you just start to see certain patterns of like, what works, what are people gravitating towards? And then you take a step back and kind of redefine how you want to insert yourself into the business. So I think a lot of people do that, even if it's not an attainment business thing,

21:39but just in people's personal life, it's like you take stock of where you are, and what's been working, and what you want to increase, and what you want to change. And I think going into the studio is a little bit of the same thing. It's more fun right now because I think when we go into the studio with the idea of just a feeling or something that inspires us, we come out with so much more, but we have a goal in mind, you know what I'm saying? Like we know what the end goal is, and it's not just throwing paint at the wall and seeing what sticks. Right, absolutely. I love that. So you grew up as an only child. Now you're in your solo era. What part of this chapter is reminding you of that child? Are you starting to pick up any of those? I was like, okay, I'm used to this. I'm being by myself is something I'm used to. I grew up by myself, or were you always around other people? I was around other people so much that I am surprised more and more

22:39by the long time that I spent. Especially at this part of my career. You know what I'm saying? I mean, I got my cameraman right here. I met him like three days ago. If he wasn't here. Stranger danger. I'm not. James Kool-Doo. But if he wasn't here, I'd be here by myself. I'd have pulled up by myself. If you don't say I go a lot of places by myself. Like, and I'm used to it. The old I get, you know, I'm used to it. But it's still kind of weird. You know what I'm saying? Like knowing that I have all of this support, but still there are times where God is like, you don't need anybody else to be in it, which you just go out there. You'll be fine. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes I think it's weird because I see my contemporaries. They got, you know what I'm saying? I'm just like, I'm just, I'm just, I'm just, people who hold towels, so people who hold the towels, it was like, you know what I'm saying? Everybody is there. So I'm like, you know what I'm saying?

23:40And I'm just dolo. You know what I'm saying? I'm cool in it by myself and I, but it's like, yo, I have the energy to hold the space, you know what I'm saying? Like, and that's fine with me, you know? And I'm leaning into it. I'm learning to just appreciate it and accept it. Yes, I love that. And good for you. Do you feel like a part of that is because, has anybody come to you and said, bro, you do realize you're Johnny Phoenix, why are you here by yourself? All the time. Yeah, like, do you feel like you sometimes forget who you are? No, I'm always, I like, I, I try to, I don't know, it's just me personally. If I'm not like, on, if I'm not on stage about to do this, like, I'm cool and I'm chillin' like that. I ain't really trying to bring a whole bunch of attention because I like to have the one part and then my personal part of life, you know what I'm saying? But I'm just really surprised because people just be like, yo, like, what are you doing here? I'm like, bro, I just wanna get some food.

24:40Like, I can't get no food too. Like, I gotta have some type of norm of seeing life, but I mean, apparently, like, people think I'm supposed to be, you know what I'm saying? Living some other type of life, but I just, I enjoy being able to still be reachable to a certain extent. But I think that's really important because people like, personable people. For sure, you know what I'm saying? And then it makes those moments where people see you on TV or people see you on the war shows or like they see a video or you got new music out. It makes those moments that much more impactful. Yeah, absolutely. Because people is like, they brag and today friends, it's like, yo, I actually had a conversation with dude. He cool, I know the music hard, but like, I got the meat dude, you know what I'm saying? And they had a profound impact on myself. I love that, that's good. So I wanna talk about your music because right now it feels very open emotionally. There's desire, there's romance, there is longing and vulnerability where most guys,

25:42they try to play it cool, but you've put it all out there. Where do you feel like that comes from, especially in the world where everybody is committed to just acting like they don't care? I just, that's always been who I am. It's funny because I, like you gotta embrace the dark side, right? You gotta embrace the shadow side or whatever, whatever you wanna call it, you gotta embrace the uncontrollable. I'm saying, a lot of people wanna have control. Like you can't, sometimes the long game or the yearning or the desire and stuff, you're like, man, I might look a fool if I go tell this person exactly how I feel. I can't control their response, so I can't control, you know what I'm saying, what is this gonna go? But those are really the moments where you find, what you made up, find out who you are. So I think that is what people gravitate towards and the music is like that passion. And that intensity, but the honesty and that rawness of not always trying to be perfect,

26:44you know what I'm saying? And it's like I was playing the album for my mom a couple of days ago and she was like, you gotta a lot of, somebody break your heart. I was like, I was like, my people like sad music, man. They don't say that. Because it helps people feel something. Because most people aren't happy. They're going to be sad. Most people on the outside. Most people are going to do heartbreak than being happy. That's so true. On the outside, a lot of people want to project that everything is fine. And you know what I'm saying? I think when you hear music that has that passion and that rawness like a shot, that is it a crime, you know what I'm saying? People seeing that song happily married people. Yeah. Seeing that song, you know what I'm saying? Because it's just raw, it gives you that. And that's what I want to do with my music. I love it. And you're doing it. You are doing it. When you go into the studio, you say like, you don't go in with like an actual like, you know you're in goal, but you're not. Take me through a day in the studio. When you wake up, you're like, we're going to hit the studio the day.

27:44What is a day like that look for Johnny Venus? A day like that, okay. So I call my engineer or I call the intern at the studio, tell him, you know what I'm saying. I'm pulling up. Can you get the flowers ready? We might want some rosé in there. You know what I'm saying? Like if I had some guests come and they might like the hook, I'd like bring the hook or whatever. You can be around smoke. Yeah. You don't bother me. Like it. Yeah, some of them. The only time that bother me is like on tour. Uh huh. Because the tour bus be like 12 degrees. Because you got to keep it really cool. So people don't get sick like germs and all of that stuff. For sure. Yeah. Tour buss is be freezing and then it's most sometimes. That's the only time that bothers me. Okay. But in the studio, it's cool. Like air purifiers and stuff. You know what I'm saying? We do it the right way. I know. We do it the right way. So we got air purifiers in there. But I have a producer in there who, you know, I really, really like the relationships that I have with my producers. Like we'll call each other up, go see live shows, ask each other like what you're listening

28:45to right now, what you're working on, what's something that you're trying to do. And then we'll come in with ideas of like certain sounds, certain directions where we want to go certain elements that we want to focus on. And then we'll just start, you know what I'm saying? And it'll be, we might put a fashion show on the TV or something, you know what I'm saying? It's just being inspired by the clothes and by the way, the women who walk in and with their wear and the attitude, you know what I'm saying, from the models and stuff that can inspire a song. So I got a song on a project called Runway Killer. And it really was based off of like us continuing to like just put on fashion shows and it's like man, what we do is a form of storytelling, it's a form of art. And the same thing is going on in this fashion show. So let's find something here that speaks to the lifestyle that these women are experiencing. You know what I'm saying? Right here they look fly, they go crazy, they look amazing. But who knows what it's like hopping on a plane to go do a show, get your makeup done,

29:48stay up all night, take the makeup off then. Maybe get back on the plane and go to another city who knows what you're going through. You know what I'm saying? You got relationships stuff, you got family stuff. But like people expect you to be the finest thing on earth for 20 seconds though. You know what I'm saying? Like it's just like that. It's just like that. So it's like we're inspired by things like that and we pour all of that into the music that we make. I love that. You have worked with one of my favorite song rising producers, The Dream. I'm going to wear. Yeah. Sad out, Jerry. I want to know what was it like working with him and what was that conversation like when you talked about like the direction that you wanted to take this new project? I'm going to get you to rock, I'm going to get you to real story. So my managers reached out to his team like you know, you know, I love them small. Everybody. Everybody nervous. Everybody. So they sent them like four records, four demos. Some of them was already done, some of them was demos. Yeah. He responded back. You know what I'm saying? He loved the music he wanted to work.

30:49So we went to sessions. A tricky studio studio. Yeah. I love tricky shout out, tricky. Shout out, tricky. That was the first time we met. We had a studio session in sessions. That was the first time you in Dream, man. Okay. Wow. So I think we did like two nights, two or three nights. First night he came through and he's rapid fire. He's like what we doing? Pull, pull something up. You know what I'm saying? Like pull up a record, pull up anything. So we pull up a couple of records that I've already been working on. And he going there. He started moving stuff around and that and that and that and that and doing this. And then he's at a part right here and there's some stuff. He's some stuff he had listened to. I see what you're going right here. And then he started working and stuff. So like me, I've never like had this one on one type of experience with somebody. Yes. You know what I'm saying? Somebody creative genius or somebody. And a creative genius is just basically somebody who trusted the flow of the downloads that they get. You know what I'm saying? They don't always have to be the biggest thing in the world. Right. Just trust the flow. That's happening right now. So I'm in there.

31:50I'm working. I'm responding to, you know what I'm saying? His coaching, his direction. He asking me to sing notes that I'm like, yeah, that okay. I'm going to hit that note. Yeah. I heard you. I was like, that is definitely a dream. You know what I mean? Sometimes he'll just like, he'll do, he'll just do like a, he'll say a few words and then do some notes and then he'll be like, you put the rest of the words in there. You know what I'm saying? All right. Let's do it. That's like the first night. Second night we do another record and stuff. I got personal stuff I'm going through, you know what I'm saying? Figuring things out, moving and stuff. So like, my mind is in the studio and outside the studio at the same time. So we spend the first two, two nights working and then I don't see him for like, maybe like a month. And during that month, my team, his team, we're trying to figure out how we want to move forward. Right. I was a little hesitant because I, even though I think that I was being challenged and pushed

32:53to pull out my comfort zone in the music, which I think is necessary, I personally felt like we hadn't spent enough one on one time outside of the music. You know what I'm saying? I got none to do with the music. Right. For him to know who I am, the type of person I am, for him to translate what I'm saying and what I'm doing. You know what I'm saying to put into the music. So like I said, I was a little hesitant and I'm like, man, as far, you know, you great. You know, love on top. You want me to favorite songs? One of the best songs ever. You know what I'm saying? One of the best songs ever written and performed. Shall I be honest? Yes, shall I be honest? But I'm like, I just want to make sure that this is right for me, you know, because a lot of times artists get in with producers and then it don't sound like the artists no more. You know what I'm saying? Or producers are trying to like just like flood their sound and like make that their second chance of like being heard or seen against like, I made another one.

33:56I produced another one. You know, and but he never, that was never his intention. For sure. You know what I'm saying? But it was just me making sure that like this is the right person to do this for me. So like over the course of the next few months, sent a couple of songs back and forth, worked on some more things and then I kind of just got to the point where I was just like, look, man, this is how I feel about it. This is what I told you. It's like I want to make sure that we're on the same page, you know what I'm saying? Like not just musically, but it's just like, you know what I'm saying? People to people. Right. And this is my hesitancy. This is my fears about it. And you know what I'm saying? Put that out there. I love your work. I love what you do. And from there, I feel like, you know what I'm saying? I get what you're saying. I understand it. And you know what I'm saying? We just continue to develop the relationship. I think we really click when I went out to Vegas. That was one of them times where I was out there on Cascade. You know what I'm saying? My partner, he was just running for election like my boy Nate.

34:59This is what I was saying. So I'm at his like election watch party and stuff. I get a call from my managers. They like, you got to go out to Vegas. I'm like, he can't work here. We both live here. We from the A and stuff. And he's like, no, he's working in Vegas because that's where he gets energy and stuff. You know what I'm saying? So hopped on the next thing, smoking. Casey put on that flight. I was on that flight. I was on that flight. I bought that flight, packed my bags late at night. You know what I'm saying? And was out there. So we out in Vegas. And I think for both of us, we got a chance to like get away from everything else that was calling us. Yes. What it was, Aaron's household stuff, business stuff, family stuff. Like we got a chance to fully immerse ourselves in the creative process. He was working on his project in another room. I was working on mine in another room. Yeah. And we used to just jump back and forth to each other's rooms and like see what we were working on, sit down for a second, come in and like have conversations and play music that we love listening to and inspired and stuff.

36:00And I think we got to a point where the trust was built. You needed that. Yeah. And I needed that. For sure. I think that's the most important thing with anybody who I work with regardless of who you are, what you've done. You know what I'm saying? Like as long as we build and share trust and understanding of what we're trying to do and who we are, and there's a quality of something that we're trying to achieve, let's get it. Absolutely. I love that. And I think that the trust shows through the music as well. You can tell when an artist isn't comfortable. We've heard it. We've seen it where artists will start working with a new producer because of who they are. And then it's like, I don't even sound like they're so silent. It's not the person we fell in love with. Who is this? And a lot of times because they're trying to do something else. But the fact that you stood strong and like, this is what I want. I want to make sure this is right before I just jump into this. It was honorable and we can tell like it worked out in your favor. And Vegas definitely was the move. I'm sure. Yeah.

37:00We did. We got this record on this called American Dream. He wrote it. I produced it. Shout-out. Loads late to his producer late to foundation first. But then I went out there and put my soul song in and turned it into something that feels right for me. And it was like, man, you don't even know what you got right. You got to go out and buy something right now, man. You got to put that energy right back into the world. You got to go out and buy some. It don't even matter. I'm like, boy, y'all boys really live here. I like that. I like that. I like that. Living. Yes. It's crazy, right? That's crazy. That is, buddy. I want to ask you, in Port 9 and 11, it feels like a clear example of where you are in this chapter. It celebrates joy, fun, adventure of love instead of centering around everything that could go wrong. Why is it important to make a love song that lets love just simply feel good and does that reflect where you are personally right now? Port 9 and 11, little ghetto love song. Yeah. I think it's important to enjoy life.

38:00Because if you lose your joy, nothing works. You know what I'm saying? Like people, and you could be the most successful person in the world. You could be winning games. Or, you know what I'm saying? Like taking care of this, this is that in the third, but like when the joy is missing from your life, it's noticeable. You know, like you move a little differently. You're not laughing at the same jokes. You're not a silly. You're not checking in on people. You don't have enough to give. You know what I'm saying? When the joy is going from your life. So it's important that we find joy constantly and hold on to it. I've learned through tragedy, hard work. You know what I'm saying? It's like the joy is a most important thing. My father passed in the 2018. And I thank you. He had congested part failure for like eight years before he passed. And I could just see him like fighting for his joy consistent. You know what I'm saying?

39:00Yeah. It was tough, but like to see somebody continue to fight for their joy, despite their health declining. And what they're able to do. You know what I'm saying? Being limited more and more by a day. It's like, yeah, but like they don't stop this person from smiling. And from like seeing the beauty and the little things. So this record to me was about finding the joy. Despite everything that's going on. You know what I'm saying? It's like city on fire. I'm right with you. Downtown, they ride out fight by you. Or I took your rain drops and helped you translate them. Basically, you know, I'm saying like, I help you make sense of your tears. Yeah. And we're going to enjoy this moment. We're going to let the top back. You know what I'm saying? It's a nice day outside. Like it don't matter. It's cool. We don't bend through a lot. But we've been enjoying this moment. So I think it's really important that people, you know, hold on to their joy. Yeah. No, I love that.

40:00I also heard you play the drums. Is there any other instruments that you play? I mean, I play. I produce. So I produce that record for tonight. Yeah. I play whatever needs to be played in order to get the sound and produce. Not really. So you read music and everything like your... I could read. It's been a long time. But you just naturally tell. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been a long time since I read some music. You know, shout out to Brown Middle School. You feel on the end, man? I was in the van. That's when I like, you know, I said, read a couple of half notes and quarter notes. But it's all just feeling. Yeah. I look at him and he said, you drink and do something. And then you go and add your sauce that I was wondering if that was instrumental or how that worked out. I love that. I think that it's always so cool when producers can get in and they're like playing on the keys and then they're adding the eight o'clock ways in there. I'm just like, how are you doing all this? This is so fascinating. So I would love to tell you how to go sit in on a session. Cool. Yeah. Cool. Yeah. When I was 14 years old, I was kidnapped and health captive for nine months.

41:03I survived and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the survivor files. I just remember this low taunting voice next to my ear saying, shut up, don't say anything. Every week I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. I knew if he woke up without a doubt he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed and I just started screaming. They are abducted, stalked, controlled and nearly silenced. But these aren't stories about what's taken from them. Their stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the survivor files with Elizabeth Smart on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. On the new podcast, Solita, we share the message. I can wait 4 hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle.

42:08I choose option B. I'm Julie Beniero and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word Solita, trading the pity for possibility. Every time I tried to be alone, I kept meeting people and they were like, you smile good that's not a lot of people smile around here. It's when you're alone that you're most receptive to the world as it is and not the lies your soul about it. It can be a time where you push your limits, change your mind or wake up to a new version of yourself. So whether you're a solo travel veteran or you're too nervous to book your first trip, I hope you listen to Solita on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're bookshelf and you're for you page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. This is Pro's Society, the weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for thought

43:08daughters, pop culture obsessives and anyone who thinks pride and prejudice and love island deserve the same level of discourse. I'm Eli Rallo and every week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet and the conversations everyone can't stop having. I'm going to have to look up this story. I'm obsessed. So obsessed. From bestselling authors and your favorite book talk creators to the latest pop culture moments, nothing is off the table. So like if you can hide some real messages inside compelling characters and that is the Trojan horse, whether you're looking for literary deep dives, smart pop culture conversations or a community of readers who love to think a little too much, you're in the right place. Listen to Pro's Society on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See you between the pages. Our town is small taters by most standards, right? But to the people who grew up here, it's everything. What happens when a quiet Tennessee town becomes the front line in a battle over the future of America?

44:10Developers with right wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land in the area. The first thing you see when it pops up is high nears and apple etch. But they weren't just planning houses. We need cities on a shining hill that exemplify and embody the Christian way of life. Stop right there. Is that normal? A podcast about what happens when a small town becomes the site of a social experiment. God need mental rule. Great. And decides to fight back. Do not use my hard work to sell your bull. They're not just opposing what's being planned for here. Our hometown is not a test tube. They feel like they're standing in opposition to an entire administration. Guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to our town on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Didn't catch the latest roll in the Martin unfiltered podcast. Here's what you missed. And the argument is, do you want to win?

45:11If you don't win, you have no power. It's real. Those are the very people who I always say vote against their own economic interests and they complained about the very thing they were receiving. It's raw. I knew that the issue of transgender athletes was not going well with a lot of black men. Rollin' Martin unfiltered. I went off. I said, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Y'all go scream at Chanel, but you don't want to see a black luxury company in the same bag. Catch Rollin' Martin's daily commentary on the black information network. 12 seats. Those are moving south. So if you Democrats, you don't wait to 23, you better be hitting the ground going hard in the south now. And download Rollin' Martin unfiltered on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts. Wherever you get your podcasts. Sounds like I want you back. You're being very direct about desire. Was there ever version of you that didn't feel control being so emotionally honest in the song?

46:14Yes. Really? But to me, I used to even with an Earth Gang, you know what I mean? We got a whole lot of love songs. Just a lot of adolescents wild and out. You know what I'm saying? A lot of young young 19, 20-year-old lifestyle and stuff. So they ain't really trying to tap into the emotions like that. For sure. But the older I get the more confronted with parts of myself that have to be revealed, or they have to be acknowledged. You know what I'm saying? Like, you don't got to act like this party was bad or like, you know what I'm saying? Show yourself. But these are parts of you that deserve to see the light, because you never know what a comfort for sure. And they can only do that if you're being honest with your delivery and stuff that you talk about. Thanks. No, I love that. You seem really aware about yourself. Not just about yourself, but about people, the culture, and what's happening around you. What are you noticing around the world right now, even through music that a lot of people aren't

47:16addressing or noticing? I think there's a lack of people talking about the societal issues that's going on. In a clever way, you know what I'm saying? Like, because that's what matters. You know what I'm saying? You don't want to feel like somebody preaching to you. Right. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. But in a clever way, I feel like people want to feel heard and seen. You know, I think a lot of people are talking about, you know, stuff that's like real surface level. It's cool for a moment, but those records that stand to test the time are the records that like really, really are speaking to like the lifestyle. What's going on? What's going on here? Going on. One of those records, you know what I'm saying, that I speak into it to what people are living in. People love those records as well. And it don't always have to be like I said, like somebody preaching or doom and gloom.

48:19But like, you know, let me think. What's one of the works she works hard for the money? Like, that's one of the records, you know what I'm saying? Like people love singing the records. It's cool, but it's talking about the women stepping up in the workplace and like being taking care of themselves and like trying to figure out how to balance, you know, saying, sustaining themselves and like enjoying life, you know, saying so like that. No, for sure. I love that. I know as an artist, I'm sure you pull from a lot of different situations, whereas community, people, places, experiences, what do you most pull from when it comes to creating your music? I pull from the women in my life, you know. In all areas, you know what I'm saying? Because it's, it's, it's, it can't really put words on what the existence is like as a woman. You can't really put words into it. And the more that they open up to you, the more that you see like there,

49:19there's a lot happening at once. And it's being held together with grace and poise. For sure. You know, but behind, behind very beautiful concealer and blush and foundation, you know, I was saying being held together. So I have the opportunity to like just listen and learn so much and understand so much of that, you know, that creates the room in the space for great music. Yeah, I love that. That's good. So you've been creating professionally for years. And oftentimes when you do something for so long, it can begin to feel like work. Have you ever hit that while where you're like, I'm not enjoying this? Yeah. Really? So what did you do to get past that? Well, I took a trip. I went out to, this was top of 2024. I took a trip to Bali. I went on a yoga teacher training retreat. I've been doing yoga. It's like 2019. And then in 2024, I was like, man, I might as my, my manager's been telling me like,

50:20bro, go get certified so we can make some money. Yeah, some money. We can make some paper. Okay. So I was, I'm gonna get certified, but I'm also doing something for me. You know, I'm saying I'm gonna do it just for the money. So I went out there and it was a teacher training retreat, but it was also a personal retreat for myself. It was the first time where, first time in my entire career, where I took a month off and didn't do anything, you know what I'm saying? Didn't do anything. In your entire career? In my entire career, I've been making music since I was 18 years old, you know. So it was the first time where I took a month off. And if a decision had to be made, I trusted my team, you know. And I got a chance to kind of like get away. And, and, and dive into something that felt like a hobby. Something that I didn't have to be perfect at. Something that I didn't have to always get right. Something that allowed me to get closer with myself.

51:23And to like get closer with the people who were there, two people all walked a life, all different colors, all different shapes. Tides for the world, you know, is that people coming from Brazil and Australia and Atlanta, you know what I'm saying? All these different places and you get a chance to be around these people. And, and enjoy like the, what's the way I want to use it. Enjoy the unknown and uncertainty, I think, with the onset of social media and all the metrics and constantly being bombarded with like performance, engagement and all of this stuff. It's so much information that we take in. We were just talking about today. Every day. Man, what's it going to get flip on? Yeah. All right. Yanksters. Yanksters. It's going to get flip on so we can just tap out. Just so much information and you need to be able to have the certainty of like stillness. Yeah. Yeah. That's so real. Yeah. That's a certainty that a lot of people ain't able to tap into anymore because you wake up

52:27at, you know, I'm six, five in the morning, seven o'clock. You get notifications from. Already. From time magazine, you know what I'm saying? Like you just get notifications and hitting you up. Da, da, da, da, da, da, da. So a lot of people don't have that stillness. So I got like a month of stillness and you know, it took me a while, took me almost two years to be able to translate that month of stillness into this music. Wow. And into this album. And to not discard the parts of me that the mistakes that I've made as in like, I don't want to be this person anymore, but you just be like, like, this is a part of you, you know what I'm saying? Like embrace this part of you, give space for this part of you and see what happens from it. Right. Exactly. I love that. I hear that Bali has some of the most kind people that you'll ever meet in your life. Yes. There's no crime there because the punishment for crime is so. Why? It's so crazy that they don't commit any crimes there.

53:30On the penalty of death. Literally. The plan with you. Yes. I'm going to go back. It's a rap song. Like, I thought I'd stop playing with you folk, man. Oh my goodness. So like, when you went out there, what are some of the things that you brought back with you? Because I know when I travel, there's different things and ways of life that I see other countries and cultures live. I'm like, man, we are, when I look back at America, it's like a lot of the things that we put so much attention and focus on our trivial. What are some of the things that you brought back from that trip that you were like? Really good question. I think they just have a certain relationship with nature that it doesn't, it doesn't really matter. You can make money, you can have businesses and shops and run all of these things but there

54:34are certain moments and times where life comes first. I feel like the only time life comes first is like, maybe Christmas, maybe because people people shopping, people trying to make sure we get in the right toys and the right material things and like so maybe life comes first during Christmas but like I feel like over here there there is no moment where like we put life first where it doesn't it doesn't involve buying something to show that we're putting life first. You know what I'm saying? It's like over there. There's like I man like we're gonna we're gonna put out this hustling bustle down for me. Like the closures they're like shut down for like a month. Yeah. And nobody goes to work or they close early every day. Yeah. We're certain times we could go vacation. Yeah. I'm like we never do that. We never do that. You know. And it's dangerous you know what I think over there I really enjoyed that it'd be moments

55:36where I'm like why everybody walking around with flowers today. Like oh it's just it's it's that a dog day of the year and I'm like that's tight. That's what y'all be doing. Like yeah people close they shops and like we do this you know it's it's fun have fun. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. It's it's not a super commercialized thing right. I'm saying it's they they had respect for it's been going on for thousands of years you know what I'm saying. So it's not like a corporation that can you know saying control it or be like this is the thing. Yeah. So you got to come shop with us in order to enjoy this day. Exactly. Yeah. I love that. In closing I want to ask you with everything that you have going on you talk about the many hats that you have to put on throughout the day that's a lot of pouring. How do you pour back into Johnny Venus? I pull up on my doll Shelly. Yeah. Pull up on her new year's easy when she got going. Oh.

56:37You know what I'm saying. But to be honest I think the way I pour back into me is I don't know still figuring that out. I can't you know I'm saying I can't flex like I work out. I love doing that every now and then I get my yoga and I'm trying to be more consistent with that. But I still got to figure that out. Yeah. You know because I feel like I'm carrying so much and I'm trying to do so much that every day it's like I get up and do what you got to do today and I think that's pouring into myself. I think having discipline is a form of pouring into yourself. Yeah sure but I started DJing recently. I tried to do fun things like you know we should have had him do. He feel me like I just started you know you just started I just thought it was like I got you.

57:37I'm trying to you know what I'm saying but then my mind is like okay I got to do this for a job now let me go find a check with this you know what I'm saying is like hey bro chill out dude. I'm trying to like find other ways to do things for fun you know I like to travel and stuff but my my I'm different you know I got I'm different I think about business all the time. You know what I'm saying. I'm not getting it. I was rolling. I'm not getting it done. Anything I'm doing I'm like a scale this I can do this. It's like everywhere. I'm brushing my teeth like a scale brushing my teeth. You know I know a way it's a way bro. It's exactly like like like like like like a chill out bro. Yeah chill out. Seriously. I know man I might have to like go to Iceland or something just sitting one of them like saying bitches and stuff. Throw my phone in the water. No for myself like that. Yeah no definitely I think that if you love to travel that's a wonderful way to

58:38pour into yourself and disconnect and learn new cultures and be with the community and people that is that is my way. Honestly like I don't get a chance to do it often because I do travel for work but it's exactly what you said it's like going into different spaces and embracing culture but embracing like the multitude of like what it is to be alive. Yes. Because you learn a lot from me dude. You know what I'm saying? You learn how to live from different cultures that have been living thousands of years longer than this western experience that we in. Talk about it. That's so true. Well we are going to challenge you to take time for yourself to pour into yourself to travel more. And like I always say for me like because I'm the same way I'm constantly thinking we're creative so our brains never really shut down. So I have to steal my moments whether it's alright to have them get a 90 minute massage put my phone down you know I'm saying just put the phone down don't answer it no texting because it's easy to have your phone still in your hand while you face down. You know you're crazy.

59:39You know I'm talking about. I'm going to put your phone down for massage. Now I do. I was about to start up this big business right here. Yeah. People who will be on a phone during a massage handle a big business. They're so crazy. I'm like hey I guess crazy. No I had to put my phone down because I will yeah I'll still be handling business on the phone. So yeah I want to challenge you to do that. And in closing I want to ask you we always choose one word to guide the conversation and this season our word is purpose. How do you feel you are living out your purpose right now or is there something that you could do better? I'm living out my purpose right now by being brave. I think a lot of people what they appreciate about me is just my fearlessness to do things and to set my mind on a goal. And I think that's really important you know in our communities for to see somebody

1:00:40live authentically the life that they want to live without shrinking themselves you know saying without being afraid to make mistakes you know because we're always told like this is how you be a black woman in America you know I'm saying this is how you be a black man in America or this is how you be creative and it's like you know I just want to live authentically and bravely myself and I think that's my purpose. Yeah I love that I love that Johnny thank you so much. Thanks for taking the time and not leaving us to go catch a flight today. Please let us know where we can follow you and if there's anything you have coming up that we can continue to support you on Let us Know as well. You can follow me on all social media platforms Johnny Venus. I have my album sample that I'm releasing right now. Five songs. I'm slow rolling the music out because I want you to take time with the music. I want you let's have shared experiences and we can't arrest one one arrest none of this

1:01:43stuff. This is real real real treasure that we have that me and my people I created so I have a sample of coming out I want you to go check that out. We will definitely check it out. Make sure you guys download it. Do you have anything on YouTube? I got videos on YouTube Johnny Venus pull up to make sense of my YouTube channel and stay for the journey. Yes love it thank you so much. Thank you. Yes of course. And Johnny thank you for being so open with us and for letting us into this season. Not just the music but the intention behind it. Sweeties I hope today's conversation reminded you that sometimes growth looks like giving yourself permission to explore more of who you already are. Trustless pulling at you and follow the work that feels most aligned. Make sure you stay tapped in with everything Johnny Venus has coming out and keep the conversation going with us on Instagram at the Sweetie Social Club.

1:02:43This conversation moved you be sure to like share and subscribe and as always keep you positive sweetie. See you guys next time. On the new podcast Solita we share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I choose option B. I'm Julie Pinero and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word Solita trading the pity for possibility. Listen to Solita on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I survived nine months in captivity and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them.

1:03:45I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the survivor files. Every week I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled and nearly silenced. These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the survivor files with the Elizabeth Smart on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're bookshelf and you're for you page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. Pro Society is a weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for anyone who thinks pride and prejudice and love island deserve the same level of discourse. Each week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet and pop culture. With your favorite writers, book talk creators and plenty of over thought opinions. Yeah, I'm obsessed. So obsessed. Listen to pro society on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Our hometown is not a test tube. 90 miles northeast of Nashville, a battle for the future of America plays out in one

1:04:47small town. Developers with right wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land. We need cities on a shining hill. This is our town, a podcast about what happens when a small town becomes the site of a social experiment and fights back. Guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to our town on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Didn't catch the latest Roland Martin unfiltered podcast. Here's what you missed. People wake up and go, oh, damn, wait and hold up. They change all of that. Yes. It's real. This is a wholesale attack. It is targeting black people in every federal agency. It's raw. White folks have never allowed that reckoning to last more than a decade. Catch Roland Martin's daily commentary on the black information network. And download Roland Martin unfiltered on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.