A (3:11)

Thank you so much. What a great intro. Thank you for that and thanks for having me.

D (3:16)

It's. It's our pleasure. Let's start off by having you give us a glimpse of what shaped you in life that made you become such an advocate for discussing mental health issues. You weren't supposed to be doing what you're doing right now, were you? No.

A (3:31)

Yeah. So it came out of nowhere. I really actually grew up playing sports. I played baseball, football, and really dedicated a lot of my life to basketball. I played for about 18 years and as an athlete, it just wasn't a popular thing to speak up about if you were dealing with mental health. You know, I was kind of the, the jock guy where I'm just gonna not talk about it and then everything's gonna be okay. I'll go get shots up or I'll go play a game and we'll figure it out. And then so that's just how I lived for a lot of my life. And then I got to college and went to, got to play college basketball and I ended up having an injury and that was the first kind of big injury I've ever had. And then I end up in the dorm room, in my dorm room by myself. My teammates are at practice and working out and that was the first time I was alone, not with family, not with friends. And I was just very depressed and didn't. It was like I really need to speak up because this is an awful feeling. And that's what I finally did. But yeah, I started doing music right then. That was my way to kind of cope. And like that was my therapy session, was writing songs about what I was going through. And that's when I started speaking up. And it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

D (4:48)

How did you know writing songs was going to help you?

A (4:51)

Yeah, I think because I was still a little too scared to speak up to people and I knew I could if I could write a song about what I was going through. I grew up listening to a lot of different types of music. I didn't know really how to write a song, but I knew how to like a melody. I knew melodies and that type of vibe. So I think that that was my easiest way to be by myself still and get out what I needed to say. And then I was able to post it, and I still wasn't really having the conversation with people yet, but I was able to post it and people were relating to it.

D (5:26)

So, yeah, posting a song or putting something out there that you created is like. Is like birthing a child, and you have no choice but to receive whatever you get back. So was it instant that you got that immediate response that people were connecting?

A (5:42)

It wasn't instant. It was. I really. And it was scary. I'm not gonna lie, because I. You're right. I didn't know if people were gonna think it was terrible or if it was okay. I didn't. What I did know is it was real. It was how I was. And that's all pretty much I could do from my side. The rest was out of my control, and I wouldn't. It wasn't instant. It was kind of just a build, a slow build, and then one really connected, and then it brought in other people, and then it started growing pretty, pretty quick.

D (6:12)

An epiphany from a basketball player to a songwriter. Like, unbelievable. There's a song you wrote called Take this Pain. I'd love for you to share with us a bit about that song and how it came to be.

A (6:25)

Yeah, that's one of my favorite songs we've ever done, just because I remember thinking I could do it my own way. And that's what that song's about. It's about calling out to, like, a higher power, something to just take away this. I'm done trying to do this myself. I'm done trying to act like I have all the answers. I need someone to take this pain because it's not going away. And I think a lot of people feel that way. So we wrote that song in, like, 45 minutes, and it was really fast, but it kind of just flowed out. It was natural. It was real is what we were feeling. And people seemed. That one was a quick one. That's when we. When we posted. When I posted that on social media, I think it's as. It's as vulnerable as I could be, and people were relating to it. So, yeah, I love that song, and I'm glad it's been able to reach people and help people for sure.

D (7:20)

At what moment in your life did you realize, I mean, Obviously, you can see there was a connection with your music and your song and being vulnerable. But when did you realize the healing power of music? Was it an epiphany or did it happen overnight?

A (7:36)

It was kind of an overnight. I'd known that growing up listening to a bunch of different types of music, music healed me. So I knew it was a possibility, but I had no idea my music was going to be able to do that. I was really just writing things that I was going through or my co writers or producers, and we were just putting it out because it made us feel better, and we were just hoping people would connect. So it kind of was like a little overnight video that. That where I woke up, I went to sleep, and I woke up and a video had went viral and comments were flooding, and it was all about, I'm going through this. I needed this. This is saving my life. And it was a. It was a lot to take in. And it was just like, wow, this is. This feels really good that I'm able to help people that are going through the same thing that I've been going through or worse, or, you know, just. Just helping through music. It was. It. It was insane, honestly, to. To have music heal me and then to be able to put out music that can heal other people. Wild feeling, you know, you.

D (8:38)

You brought something up. I'm going off script here, but my questions are flowing with what you're saying. And in my mind, as you're talking, I'm thinking, you're young, you're starting out. You weren't even supposed to be what you are. You were going to be this big basketball star, and your life changed. You write all these songs that connect with people. Do you ever feel that you need to keep that secret sauce with the songwriting going? I mean, you understand now how a lot of artists have to stay relevant or keep connected to their fans. And that could lie in and of itself, could be a potential pitfall for you as well. So how do you navigate that?

A (9:17)

Yeah, I have. I have. I try to be as real as possible because I do have my ballad side, the mental health side, where I'm going to advocate for it at all times. I also have a very fun side where I love. I'm a happy guy. I love happy music. So I think if you go back and look at my catalog from the beginning, when I had no idea what I was doing, there was pop music, there was happy music music, there was sad music. That's kind of my life. It's just a little bit of everywhere. But it's real. So I, I like to write in seasons is how I call it. So whenever we're in March, like March time, we're going to be writing for summer because it's a few months away. At the end of summer, we're going to start writing the slower ballad type vibes because it's, because it's seasons and it gets cold and people are just, they get bundled up in the house and they want to hear some sadder music. And then in the winter time, you start getting ready for the SP break. It's all seasons. And that's just how I prefer to write.

D (10:16)

I love that. I've never heard that before, but what. That totally makes sense. It, it's great.

A (10:22)

Yeah. Thank you.

D (10:23)

Jake, why is it important for you to talk about such personal challenges that you've had in your life publicly through your songwriting?

A (10:31)

I, I, I think because I, I know, I know whenever I was going through things, I was looking for someone to be as real as possible. And I could kind of tell when people were just doing it because it might get a lot of streams. But I always looked for someone that was going through something I, I felt like I was going through that I could relate with. And whenever I found music like that and artists like that that were, that were willing to speak up about their real life stuff, I had a different connection with them. So whenever I decided I was going to do music and I was going to go into that lane, I was like, I remember the feeling of looking for an artist that would say what I'm feeling or say something about what, like, similar. And that's what I just try to do. That's just, it's a big deal. I want to just help people and, and you know, there's a lot of, whenever you, you go through that sat, there's just a sadness where you feel alone. And I remember being able to put out these songs and people would just feel like this feels like we know each other like family. Like, I can talk to you like you're my therapist or you're my dog. Like, and it's, that's what I want. I want people to just know they're not alone. That's probably my biggest saying because I felt so alone in that dorm room and I had people around me. It just, there was a feeling inside. So I know a lot of people feel that way. And I just want my music to let them know that you're not going through it or you're not the only one going through it. And you Will get through it. So.

D (11:58)

Yeah, well, it's. It's such a giving way to live your life. And. And speaking of that, you are not only a musician, a singer, songwriter, performer all around. Adorable.

A (12:12)

Thank you.

D (12:13)

Can't help it. But you also have a podcast called A Break with Jake on Hooch Country. I would love to hear what you talk about on your podcast. Something tells me it's a. It's a. Is very creative. And who do you have upcoming that we can. We can check out?

A (12:30)

Yeah. So the podcast, I have a really cool bridge. I feel like I grew up an athlete, like I said. Now I'm a singer, songwriter, and that's kind of a. It's a unique kind of path. So I blend both. And so I have artists on there, singer, songwriters, producers. I have athletes on there sometimes at the same time, but we talk about sports on some. We talk about the music industry. And in all, every single episode, we talk about mental health and how, you know, I want. I just want to hear what these people have to say about mental health. I mean, what's your story? As much as they're willing to share, they don't have to share much at all. But I make it. It's every episode we talk about mental health because people have different stories and maybe they don't speak up right now, but I just like to bring light to that, no matter who it is. And we're on tour right now, so we don't have the schedule of podcasts, but I will be posting that whenever we get off a. And we'll start loading episodes and getting them out.

D (13:31)

And you can take a break with Jake. I love that.

A (13:34)

That's it. You got it.

D (13:35)

Jake, thank you so much for joining us on the Music Save Me podcast and for everything that you do to help in the world. Because, you know, when we lift each other up, then we all win. It's a simple solution and we all have things to participate and give to that. So thank you for doing that here with us on Music Save Me. And good luck with your tour, your podcast and come back and see us.

A (14:00)

Yes, ma'. Am. Thank you so much for having me and I'd love to come back if you'll have me.

D (14:04)

Always.

B (14:09)

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D (15:07)

This is an iHeart podcast.