Podcast Summary: takin' a walk – "Hooks, Hits & Heart: AJR's Jack and Ryan Met"
Host: Buzz Knight (iHeartPodcasts)
Guests: Jack Met & Ryan Met (AJR)
Date: September 12, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode of takin' a walk, Buzz Knight welcomes Jack and Ryan Met of the acclaimed indie pop trio AJR (joining previously-interviewed brother Adam) for an insightful, lively stroll through their creative journey, the making of their new EP What No One’s Thinking, sampling odd sounds, dealing with criticism, and the emotional milestones of their career. The brothers open up about loss, creative blocks, musical influences, and the pulse of honest self-expression—with anecdotes, playful energy, and a few memorable canine interruptions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The “Taking a Walk” Question – Dream Companions
[05:15–08:00]
- Ryan’s Pick: Steve Jobs – For his generational vision, innovative genius, and unique approach to blending art and commerce.
"I think visionaries like that come once in a generation...How to combine art and commerce in the most elegant way ever." – Ryan Met [05:45]
- Jack’s Pick: Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) – Deeply influenced by his songwriting, Jack wishes he could express his appreciation and explore Schlesinger's creative mind.
"Absolutely my favorite band of all time, really shaped...a lot of our sound." – Jack Met [06:50]
- Reflections on the lasting bonds formed through music—even with artists one never meets.
2. Exploring New York City’s Infinite Inspiration
[08:18–08:57]
- The brothers muse on always finding new places in NYC, even as lifelong residents.
"I'll be walking and be like, this is a block I haven't been on before...so rich with locations." – Jack Met [08:34]
3. AJR’s Quirky Sampling – Sound Experiments Behind the Songs
[08:57–12:17]
- Creative boredom drove AJR to sample everyday and unusual sounds instead of stock ones.
- Standout sample: The iconic New York City subway voice (from "Bang!").
"We enlisted the guy...who goes, 'stand clear of the closing doors, please.' [for] 'here we go' on Bang. That was almost like a fun collaboration more than a sample." – Ryan Met [09:21]
- Other samples: school bells, whistles, animal sounds (elephants, horses galloping), all to evoke vivid, cinematic emotions.
- The brothers cite their love of movies as an influence on making songs feel 3D and character-driven.
4. Film Influences – All-Time Favorites
[12:17–13:41]
- Ryan: The Social Network for its snappy dialog and magnetic, complex characters.
"It's the most rewatchable movie. The dialog just feels like candy." – Ryan Met [12:37]
- Jack: Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen) for its New York vibe and rich characterization.
"It just encapsulates New York perfectly. Characters are...so well thought out." – Jack Met [12:56]
5. The New EP "What No One’s Thinking": Origins and Emotional Honesty
[13:43–15:26; 15:48–17:26]
- The project began unexpectedly during a break focusing on their upcoming Broadway show—prompted by anxiety about creative stagnation.
- Writing became cathartic, tapping into recent losses, family changes, and personal struggles.
"We realized there was a lot going on in our life, and we weren't really tapping into that...it all kind of came out and we put all of that into the music." – Jack Met [15:26]
- Emphasis on raw honesty—writing as diary entries, drawing less on metaphor and more on direct experience.
- The "Dog Song" is written from their dog's perspective, striving for sincerity over gimmick.
6. Breaking Down Songs on the EP
[17:26–20:09]
- "Betty" – Evolved from a catchy, nonsensical demo ("Benny") to an introspective meditation on commitment anxieties, inspired by therapy.
"What are we feeling? Me and Jack divulged to each other...in therapy about a fear of commitment." – Ryan Met [17:55]
- "The Big Goodbye" – Built around a barbershop quartet sample (auctioneer chant). Years in development, it transformed from party tracks to an emotional story about leaving home.
"We always thought that that was just...so percussive and so interesting and had never been done before." – Jack Met [19:13]
7. Navigating Creative Disagreements
[20:09–21:29]
- The brothers rely on each other's strengths (catchy melodies—Jack; emotional depth—Ryan), trusting one another’s instincts to resolve disputes.
"If Jack comes to me and says, I promise this melody is catchier...I'm just gonna trust him." – Ryan Met [20:36]
8. Independence – DIY Ethic and Fan Connection
[21:29–23:09]
- AJR’s skillset grew from necessity: making their own art, videos, and social content for authentic connection.
"Looking back, I'm really grateful that we did...fans sense it." – Ryan Met [21:51]
- Jack relishes seeing more artists take independent routes, believing it fosters honesty in music.
9. Handling Criticism and Internet Backlash
[23:28–24:54]
- Early years: negative comments stung and led to unhealthy habits.
- Now: criticism is "noise"; the brothers embrace what makes them unique—whether others like it or not.
"The things that people don't like about us are the things that we love about us." – Jack Met [23:51]
10. Fan Base, Friendship, and Live Show Atmosphere
[24:54–26:17]
- Their shows are crafted as playful, friendly, safe spaces—encouraging audience participation and not taking themselves too seriously.
"There's just, like, an understanding. Like, we're all friends here...Like, it's kind of this subconscious thing that we like to establish." – Ryan Met [25:20]
11. Career Milestones: Madison Square Garden & The Hollywood Bowl
[26:17–27:39]
- Buzz notes their recent MSG appearance and upcoming Hollywood Bowl debut.
- The brothers reflect on nostalgia and excitement at such iconic venues after 20 years as a band.
"It's really cool...to still have milestones that we can check off, especially something so huge." – Jack Met [27:18]
12. Closing Reflections – Lyrics That Resonate Now
[27:40–29:08]
- Jack: Quotes AJR’s "Karma," expressing frustration with life’s unpredictability despite trying to do good.
"If I am such a good person, why are things still going poorly for me? Where is that karma?" – Jack Met [27:56]
- Ryan: Remembers lines from "Turning Out, Part Three" about living in the present—"One day at a time…Let’s do today."
"One day at a time. Be here present right now." – Ryan Met [28:56]
Memorable Quotes
-
On the joy of sampling:
"When you produce for long enough, you get a little bit bored of the same kind of snares...you start looking for real things in your life and recontextualizing them." – Ryan Met [09:21] -
On honest songwriting:
"I think this new music...is like, directly from our lives...literally demonstrate exactly what our dog is watching us do...from his naive, innocent perspective." – Ryan Met [15:48; 16:41] -
On their bond as brothers and co-creators:
"I feel like at this point we kind of know what to trust each other for." – Ryan Met [20:36] -
On embracing criticism:
"The things that people don't like about us are the things that we love about us." – Jack Met [23:51] -
On the band’s present mindset:
"One day at a time. Be here present right now." – Ryan Met [28:56]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [05:15] Dream “walking” companions
- [08:57] Weirdest sample/sounds in their music
- [12:17] Favorite movies and creative influence
- [13:43] Making the new EP: "What No One’s Thinking"
- [17:26] Songwriting: "Betty" and therapy
- [19:01] Song breakdown: "The Big Goodbye"
- [20:09] Creative disagreements and division of strengths
- [21:29] AJR’s independence & fan connections
- [23:28] Handling criticism and internet backlash
- [24:54] Building a fan community and live show ethos
- [26:17] Reflections on Madison Square Garden & Hollywood Bowl
Concluding Remarks
Buzz thanks Jack and Ryan for their openness, humor, and musical candor, celebrating their honest artistry and the huge milestones achieved and ahead—including the Hollywood Bowl show. The episode offers both casual fans and devoted AJR followers a window into the band's evolving sound, creative process, and brotherly dynamic—cementing AJR's unique place in contemporary pop.