"Stories, Songs and the road ahead with singer songwriter Luke Tyler Shelton"

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Stories, Songs and the Road Ahead with Singer-Songwriter Luke Tyler Shelton"

Podcast Information:

• Title: takin' a walk
• Host: Buzz Knight, iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: "Stories, Songs and the Road Ahead with Singer-Songwriter Luke Tyler Shelton"
• Release Date: August 15, 2025

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the "takin' a walk" Music History on Foot podcast, host Buzz Knight sits down with rising singer-songwriter Luke Tyler Shelton. The conversation delves deep into Shelton's musical journey, his inspirations, and the creation of his debut EP, "Blue Sky."

---

Early Musical Influences

Luke Tyler Shelton begins by highlighting the profound impact of country music on his songwriting and style.

“If you listen to the right stuff and you know, you kind of start from towards the beginning of country music, there's a lot of beautiful stuff and so that definitely influenced my writing and my style as well.”
[00:00]

Shelton emphasizes the diversity in his musical upbringing, thanks to his parents' eclectic tastes. His father, a reggae singer and writer, exposed him to reggae and oldies, while his mother introduced him to contemporary and classic rock bands.

“My dad always playing reggae... my mom, we would listen to more of stuff that was currently popular... and then my mom, I would get more of the rock music through her and all the classic bands.”
[08:06]

Growing Up in Los Angeles

Growing up in LA provided Shelton with a vibrant music scene that significantly shaped his career. He started with piano and drums, participating in school orchestras and bands before teaching himself guitar in high school.

“I never felt influenced by like, one specific type of music or closed off from any...”
[09:41]

The COVID-19 pandemic became a pivotal time for Shelton, allowing him to focus solely on writing music. Post-pandemic, he decided to pursue music professionally, leading him to meet like-minded artists and ultimately sign with a label.

“I graduated high school at 17... meeting other bands... the label found me and I've been able to tour...”
[10:06]

Musical Inspirations and Influences

Shelton's musical palette is a rich tapestry woven from classic rock, folk, and country influences. He cites legendary bands and artists such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Fleetwood Mac as major inspirations.

“Neil Young, who I credit as the main person that got me to want to write songs and learn how to play guitar... Crosby, Stills and Nash...”
[18:07]

He also discusses the subtle infusion of country elements into his music, drawing parallels to bands like The Eagles who seamlessly blend rock and country sounds.

“A lot of my favorite country stuff comes from bands who weren't country but did their own versions of country music... The Stones were country at one point.”
[21:27]

Creating the EP "Blue Sky"

The conversation shifts to Shelton's debut EP, "Blue Sky," co-produced by Shooter Jennings and Jonathan Wilson. Shelton explains how his A&R Mark Williams facilitated this collaboration, aiming to blend the producers' strengths to complement Shelton's retro-inspired sound.

“They hadn't worked on an artist together until that point. And I think they were very excited to work together... reminiscent of older stuff.”
[24:46]

Collaborations with Shooter Jennings and Jonathan Wilson

Shelton shares his positive experiences working with both Shooter Jennings and Jonathan Wilson, appreciating their collaborative spirit and dedication to capturing the essence of his live performances in the studio.

“They are both the nicest, best hangs ever... we have the whole band in there... we got to play it like how we play it live, which I enjoyed.”
[28:51]

Favorite Tracks and Stories Behind Songs

Discussing specific tracks from the EP, Shelton highlights his favorites, each with its own unique backstory:

• "Anna"
  The opening track, "Anna," holds a special place as it was the first song to resonate strongly with listeners and his team.

  “Anna was the first song I'd written that was clicking with people... it's the most popular and has stayed the most popular up until this point.”
  [26:56]

• "A Bus Ain't a Home"
  A heartfelt song written for his girlfriend about the challenges of touring.

  “I wrote it for her... really beautiful... recorded at Sunset Sound with the whole band.”
  [27:57]

• "Hell of a Ride"
  This track captures the authentic sound of his live performances, thanks to the full band's involvement during recording.

  “We have the whole band in there... play it like how we play it live, which I enjoyed.”
  [28:51]

• "Blue Sky"
  Shelton's personal favorite, written in a single sitting, encapsulating his emotions and delivering timeless lyrics.

  “I wrote it one morning, like, in one sitting... I never get tired of singing or playing.”
  [29:54]

Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

As the episode wraps up, Shelton shares his aspiration for listeners to find both comfort and novelty in his music. He aims to blend familiar sounds with fresh emotions, ensuring his music resonates deeply and evokes genuine feelings.

“I want my music to provide, like, a layer of comfort and nostalgia... still bringing something new and that feels unique to me.”
[31:44]

Buzz Knight commends Shelton's wisdom and respect for musical history, expressing confidence in Shelton's bright future.

“You've done amazing work... nothing but blue skies ahead for you.”
[32:37]

---

Notable Quotes

• Luke Tyler Shelton

  “I want my music to provide, like, a layer of comfort and nostalgia in hearing something that sounds familiar.”
  [31:44]

• Buzz Knight

  “You've done amazing work... nothing but blue skies ahead for you.”
  [32:37]

• Luke Tyler Shelton

  “A lot of my favorite country stuff comes from bands who weren't country but did their own versions of country music.”
  [21:27]

---

Conclusion

This episode of "takin' a walk" offers an insightful look into Luke Tyler Shelton's musical journey, his diverse influences, and the creation of his debut EP. Shelton's dedication to blending classic sounds with contemporary emotions positions him as a noteworthy artist in the evolving music landscape. Listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate process behind Shelton's music and his commitment to crafting songs that resonate on multiple levels.

---

Listen to this episode and more on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Taking a Walk if you listen to the right stuff and you know, you kind of start from towards the beginning of country music, there's a lot of beautiful stuff and so that definitely influenced my writing and my style as well.

[Buzz Knight]

What happens when the sun soaked vibes of LA's DIY scene collide with a fresh twist on the classic Laurel Canyon sound? Buzz I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast and today.

[Unknown Host]

With Luke Tyler Shelton, songwriter, storyteller and rising architect of unforgettable hooks. If you've ever wondered what it takes.

[Buzz Knight]

To carve out your own space in a city buzzing with musical legends, you're about to find out. From the first chords in a garage.

[Unknown Host]

To the roar of a live crowd.

[Buzz Knight]

Luke's journey is equal parts nostalgia and brand new adventure.

[Unknown Host]

We'll dig into the moments, melodies and community connections that have shaped his sound and we'll find out what his dreams.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Are about next this is an iHeart podcast.

[Unknown Host]

This episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the Club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply Hello, I'm John Lithgow.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

That's one Small Step for Man About.

[John Lithgow]

Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Buzz Knight]

You're a great pilot. Bu.

[John Lithgow]

That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz Starring me, John Lithgow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lola Blanc]

Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult. But it happens all the time to people just like you and people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the hosts of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust me New episodes every Wednesday on. Exactly right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?

[Lola Blanc]

Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Lola Blanc]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah de Barrasso]

I'm NOAH and I'm 13. And I started this podcast because, honestly, adults don't ask the right questions. Now, you know, with Noah de Barrasso is a show about influence. Who's got it, how they use it, and what it means for the rest of you. It's not the news. It's what the news should be if someone Gen Z or Gen Alpha made it. Politics is wild, and I'm definitely not here to tame it, but I'm here to make sense of it. Listen to now youw Know with Noah de arrasto on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

Taking a Walk. Well, hello, Luke Tyler Shelton, welcome to the Taking A Walk podcast.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Hello. How are you?

[Buzz Knight]

I'm doing awesome. Thank you. Thank you for joining us. So hope you're doing well. And since we call this podcast Taking a Walk, I want to ask you the opening question, the opening volley, as it were. If you could take a walk with someone living or dead, preferably in the music scene.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Right.

[Buzz Knight]

Who might you take a walk with? And where would you take that. That walk?

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Wow. Let's. There's a few off the top of my head. I don't want to sound too basic for saying it, but I would say probably one of the Beatles for sure. Maybe Paul McCartney, just because he's alive still and he's the greatest musician arguably, like, of all time, and he's still living. So he's experienced a lot of life from the beginning till now in his time. But I also would be interested in meeting John Lennon, too, because I've actually had many dreams where I've met John Lennon and we've just been, like, hanging out. So that would be cool.

[Buzz Knight]

That's pretty awesome.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Probably one of the Beatles.

[Buzz Knight]

Can't. Can never deny that. Might we dig slightly deeper into the John Lennon dreams there for a second? I hate to sound like a shrink and. And be probing.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

No, no worries. Well, it's John. John was my favorite beetle for a while, for a couple years. And now it's more like. Now it's more so George Harrison. But I've had a couple dreams, sometimes super randomly. It wasn't even when I was listening to his music a lot or like being super into him, but it would just be something where I was like, in a house or something, like a house or an event was going on and he happened to be there. And we would end up meeting, like in a room and he would just be hanging out and he would start showing me, like, things around the room, like some kind of weird instrument that I've never seen before, or he had, like, music lying around and stuff. And the dreams were always super casual. In my mind, I knew that it was John Lennon. And I was. I feel like part of my subconscious was thinking, how is this possible because he's not alive? But also thinking, oh, my God, this is happening and it makes sense and I'm here and I just need to do this right now. But I would just be hanging out with him throughout a dream, doing, like super normal things. I don't know.

[Buzz Knight]

Relaxed. Very relaxed. Not high pressure moment.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

Thank you for sharing.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Sure.

[Buzz Knight]

Congratulations on Blue sky, your debut ep, which is wonderful. I want to walk through that, your work with certainly Shooter Jennings on it and Jonathan Wilson as well, and dig into some of the behind the scenes on. On some of the songs. But I do want to ask you, of course, the Beatles, a tremendous early inspiration, but what role did your family's musical background play in. In shaping your early love for music?

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Well, both my parents love all music, and I think the main thing about how that impacted me was just that I never felt influenced by like, one specific type of music or closed off from any. My dad, what I can remember at an early age is my dad always playing reggae because he. He's a reggae singer and writer and playing just oldies all the time. And he has his own record collection, so he'd always play oldies. And. And then my mom, we would listen to more of stuff that was currently popular, stuff that would be on the radio, also oldies, too. And then my mom, I would get more of the rock music through her and all the classic bands. My first band that I got really, really, really into from the 70s was Led Zeppelin in, like, middle school. And I distinctly remember being in the car and my mom playing like, Zeppelin 2, I think, and me just not like hearing it for the first time and being like, what is this?

[Buzz Knight]

Right.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Blowing my mind. Yeah, I was probably like 12 or something, you know, they both played a part in my Musical like expansion, knowledge of different genres and allowing me to like, explore all of that.

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah, if you haven't seen the Led Zeppelin documentary, Becoming Led Zeppelin, you got to see that. It's pretty. It's pretty incredible. Really is.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

I just saw it actually on an airplane like a two weeks ago, and I loved it.

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah, it's tremendous. But tell me about growing up in LA and how that also shaped the scene for you.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Yeah, well, growing up in la, I. I started playing music in school and my parents. It wasn't necessarily like you were gonna be a musician, but my parents thought that for me and my sister, that just taking music lessons of some kind for any type of instrument is just a good thing to do. So I remember the first lessons I got were for piano. Then I got really into drums in middle school, so I started taking drum lessons. I was in orchestra in middle school playing percussion. And then going into high school, I kept playing drums. I started my first band, played through high school, was also in choir, so just always doing music in school and around school. It wasn't until high school, though, and the end of high school that I was playing guitar and teaching myself that because I wanted to write songs. And then coming out of high school, I had Covid. So I spent all of COVID just writing. I had some best friends that lived across the street for me that I was able to still jam with because they also played. So we would do it in my garage. And yeah, once, once I was coming out of COVID I was really like, music is what I want to do. And I graduated high school at 17, didn't really see why I should go to college, and I just thought I should start playing shows around Los Angeles and meeting other bands that were outside of where I grew up in. So I did that. And through playing shows and going to shows, I met a lot of my bandmates. Now people that I write and make music with, people whose bands I play in, vice versa. And we kind of have a really great scene of really talented artists and writers. And I feel really lucky that they're like my best friends and glad that I didn't go to college. The label found me and I've been able to tour and so I really feel like I made the right decision.

[Unknown Host]

We'll be back with more of the Taking a Walk podcast in a bit. Now, if you're looking for a rock and roll oriented podcast, we invite you to check out the imbalanced history of rock and roll. The history is fascinating. There's so much to uncover The Imbalanced History of Rock and Roll explores moments in time, albums, songs, events, and people who had an impact on the history of rock and roll. They keep Rock and roll fun. The Imbalanced History of Rock and Roll Find it wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

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[Unknown Host]

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[Buzz Knight]

The Disney Plus Hulu HBO Max bundle plan starting at 16.99amonth. All these and more streaming soon. Visit Disney Plus Hulu hbo max bundle.com for details.

[Unknown Host]

This episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert in Chase, Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. Travel is one of the most precious things in my life, and the memories of each of the experiences live on forever. Chase Sapphire Reserve allows me to travel with ease with a $300 travel credit and access to a curated collection of hotels through the edit. So no matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover more with Chase sapphire [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply. A foot washed up, a shoe with.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Some bones in it. They had no idea who it was. Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was salvageable.

[Unknown Host]

These are the coldest of cold cases, but everything is about to change.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Every case that is a cold case.

[Unknown Host]

That has DNA right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. A small lab in Texas is cracking the code on DNA using new scientific tools. They're finding clues in evidence so tiny you might just miss it.

[John Lithgow]

He never thought he was going to get caught and I just looked at my computer screen. I was just like, ah, gotcha.

[Unknown Host]

On America's Crime Lab, we'll learn about victims and survivors, and you'll meet the team behind the scenes at othram, the Houston lab that takes on the most hopeless cases to finally solve the unsolvable. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Attention passengers. The the pilot is having an Emergency. And we need someone, anyone, to land this plane.

[Unknown Host]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

And they're saying like, okay, pull this.

[Unknown Host]

Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny.

[Buzz Knight]

I'm Noah.

[Unknown Host]

This is Devin.

And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions left like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence.

[Buzz Knight]

Those who lack expertise, lack the expertise.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

They need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Unknown Host]

And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway. I'm looking at this thing.

[Lola Blanc]

See?

[Unknown Host]

Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bob Crawford]

American history is full of wise people.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Walt Whitman said something like, you know, 99.99% of war is diarrhea and 1% is glory.

[Lola Blanc]

Those founding fathers were gossipy AF and they love to cut each other down.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, the show where you send us your questions about American history. And I find the answers, including the nuggets of wisdom our history has to offer. Hamilton pauses, and then he says, the greatest man that ever lived was Julius Caesar. And Jefferson writes in his diary, this.

[Buzz Knight]

Proves that Hamilton is for a dictator based on corruption. My favorite line was what Neil Armstrong said. It would have been harder to fake it than to do it.

[Bob Crawford]

Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

Welcome back to the Taking a Walk podcast. I compare the sound and others have to a lot of the Laurel Canyon sound, obviously the, the seventies Laurel Canyon scene. So it's interesting hearing you talk about influences which are very diverse, but then also, you know, hearing your deep connection to the. The Laurel Canyon sound and all those musical heroes that were. Were part of that. So tell us where that influence came from in terms of either some of your bandmates or just the things that you heard from your. Your parents or others.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

So my. So once I got introduced to rock music in middle school, I. That's when I started exploring just like all 70s and 60s bands, all the popular ones. Yeah, it was always kind of the big ones like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, getting into like the Rolling Stones and the Doors and bands like that. And then once, and I was a drummer at this time. So once I was. Once I was starting to sing more and learning guitar to write. I was turning more towards singer songwriter type bands and people and exploring them. So then I was moving on to Neil Young, who I credit as the main person that got me to want to write songs and learn how to play guitar. The band America, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills and Nash, which is, you know, the Laurel Canyon type songwriters and groups. And so it was really like the end of high school when I was listening to all that stuff. And then when I started to meet some of my now friends that I play music with a lot, a lot of them were super into country artists from the 60s and 70s. I was always more rock and folk. But hanging out around my friends and hearing them write, I found that country music is extremely infectious. Sometimes, especially growing up, like in LA or something, people never listen to country. That's not something that they put on, you know, or when they do, they have this idea of it that it's something that just isn't good. But if you listen to the right stuff and, you know, you kind of start from towards the beginning of country music, there's a lot of beautiful stuff. And so that definitely influenced my writing and my style as well. On top of the folk and rock that I kind of had and was using for my songwriting.

[Buzz Knight]

I had this debate a lot of times with folks where I'll. I'll say to somebody, I'll be like, hey, do you like. Do you like country music? And as you know, country music spans all different shapes and forms and. And styles. And they'll say exactly as you had said it. They'll be like, well, I don't really like that, that sound. You know, it's not my thing. And I'll kind of look at them, this is the one that's always up my back pocket. And I'll be like, okay, wait a minute, let me get this straight. Are you fan of the Eagles? And they'll be like, oh, yeah, the Eagles. Are you kidding me? The Eagles are like one of the best of all time. I'm like, well, what do you think? So much of their music is embedded around. It's embedded around country.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, I guess you're right.

[Buzz Knight]

This happens all the time.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Very true. That's. Yeah, it's a lot of my favorite country stuff comes from bands who weren't country but did their own versions of country music. So I 100% agree with that. The Stones were country at one point, you know, so.

[Buzz Knight]

That's right. I mean, I would imagine you. You been exposed to the band.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Of course, of course. Right.

[Buzz Knight]

But I would also imagine you've been exposed to somebody like Townes Van Zant as well.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

I have, yeah. I. I still need to do like a deeper dive into him. The way I listen to music is very not so productive sometimes because I'll. I'll just kind of fixate on a single artist or like maybe two or three. And I won't listen to much else until I' listen to them and like, can't anymore. But I'm sure I will end up doing that with Town soon. Some other honorable mentions would be George Harrison. I really, really like his solo albums that he made after the Beatles. And his singing style and writing style have had a really big influence on me. Also Bob Dylan, more so like his kind of mid-70s, early to mid-70s era. I really like his full band stuff. I also love his acoustic and early stuff as well. But in terms of influence on my music, stuff like the Rolling Thunder Review and that whole tour I really, really like. And the versions of some of his songs that he did. And also really, really like early Fleetwood Mac, although I'm not sure much of that influence comes through in my music.

[Buzz Knight]

The Peter Green side of Fleetwood Mac.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Peter green through like 1969 through to 1975, I'd say is my favorite, probably. And even after Peter Green left and they had, you know, Bob Welch and Danny Kerwin and Christine, and I love Stevie Nicks and Lindsay too, but there's just so much before them that I find to be really, really interesting stuff.

[Buzz Knight]

Sure.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

And Carole King.

[Buzz Knight]

Oh, I mean, it's, you know, the hall of Fame. You've just laid out the. The Giants. Right?

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Yeah, there's. There's a lot. There's a lot of them.

[Buzz Knight]

So let's dig into Blue Sky a bit. First of all, Shooter Jennings I want to talk about. I've been fortunate. I've had Way Jennings on the podcast and Struggle Jennings, but never Shooter Jennings. How did you end up working with Shooter and. And Jonathan Wilson on the ep?

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

So my A R Mark Williams at the label I'm signed with, when he found me, he was trying to think of some producers he knew for me to work with, to record with. And it was his idea to hook me up with Shooter and Jonathan and he really wanted to have them do it together and not it just be one of them separately or at different times. I was stoked as I was like, hell yeah, I would love to work with both of them. I had met Jonathan a couple times previously in Topanga because I have a lot of friends There, and he's in that area. So we had met before and hung out, and. Yeah, I had met Shooter, like, in within the year before we actually went into the studio to record and was kind of forming a relationship with him. And I love both of them. They're both the nicest, best hangs ever. Yeah. So we went in the studio, and I think what made it really special as well was not just that I was excited to record with them, but the two of them hadn't worked on an artist together until that point. And I think they were very excited to work together. And I think the fact that me trying to make the music that I make, which is very reminiscent of older stuff, I think was also an exciting thing for them to work on together.

[Buzz Knight]

So I've got a few favorite tracks. I was given access to hear it all. That's one of the fun parts of the job, hearing stuff before it actually truly hits. So I'll give you a couple of my favorites in particular, and then I want to hear about your favorites, which probably is all of them. But that's the correct answer. Right. But first of all, tell me about the lead track, the opener, Anna, which is absolutely adorable.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Thank you, Anna. I wrote a while ago, in terms of when it got recorded. I feel like when I was figuring out the style I wanted to go into musically, Anna was kind of the first song I'd written that was clicking with people when I wrote it and was showing it to people. And my A R felt the same way. And he thought that it was a really strong song to start with. And he wasn't wrong because it is the most popular and has stayed the most popular up until this point. So, yeah, that one was. That one was fun to make in the studio, and that was the first one we recorded.

[Buzz Knight]

And another one. I love. I love. I love the title, and I love the. The sound of it. A Bus Ain't a Home.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Right. Thank you. That one is also one of my favorites, too. That one was written more recently, and I wrote it for my girlfriend about me leaving and being out on tour because I had kind of just started doing that more regularly. So that is a song I wrote for her. And, yeah, I think that one's really beautiful. That's one that we recorded at Sunset Sound rather than at Jonathan's studio, where the first four singles were cut. Those ones are recorded at Jonathan's. And then Hell of a Ride and A Bus Ain't a Home were recorded at Sunset Sound, where Shooter had been renting out a studio there.

[Buzz Knight]

Hell of a Ride's pretty damn cool. Tell me about that one.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

That one? Yeah, that one recorded at Sunset Sound. That one was fun because it felt like the first one that was really sounded like how my band and I like, play live. Because the first four singles, Anna through where the West Begins, those ones are recorded before I had the current band that I have now. So when we were in the studio, we had Jonathan on drums, Shooter's friend, Ted on bass, me on guitar, and only one of my bandmates on piano. But once we were at Sunset Sound recording, I had my whole band with me. And so that's why I really like Hell of a Ride is because we have the whole band in there. Same with A Bus Ain't a Home. And we got to play it. We got to record it like how we play it live, which I enjoyed.

[Buzz Knight]

Tell me about your favorites.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

I think my favorite song on the EP that I've written is probably Blue Sky. That one is a very special song to me and for other people I've played it for. And yeah, it was the last one recorded. I recorded it with a producer named Josh Block, who was also introduced to me through my A R. And we did it somewhat quickly. I did it right before I went on a tour with, like, literally. We recorded it, I think, the day before I left to go on tour with this other band I play in. And we. We recorded it pretty, like, quickly, and it went really well, and I was really happy with it. And we got the overdubs done. Josh got them done while I was away. And then the song came out. While the song came out when I got back from tour and I was. I was really, really happy with it and how it sounded. And. Yeah, I just. I just love the lyrics in it. It just. It. I wrote it one morning, like, in one sitting, and I kind of was just singing how I felt. And it's a song that I never get tired of singing or playing, which is hard to. Hard to have, comparatively.

[Buzz Knight]

Congratulations on Blue sky, the new ep. In closing, I want to ask you, what do you hope listeners feel or experience when they hear your music for the very first time?

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

I want my music to provide, like, a layer of comfort and nostalgia in hearing something that sounds familiar. But I don't want. I want it to be something that still feels new and provides new emotion and feeling. So whatever I can do, you know, obviously, being a huge fan of older music, whatever I can do to convey a general feeling of those styles and what was going on then while still bringing something new and that feels unique to me. Then I feel like I'm doing something right. I just want to make good music that makes people feel something and feel good or make someone cry.

[Buzz Knight]

Well, you've done amazing work. You have this incredible wisdom beyond your years and I love your respect for the the history of it all as well, how that fuses together and creates your sound. Luke Tyler Shelton, Congrats on on Blue sky and I know there's nothing but blue skies ahead for you.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Thank you very much. Thank you.

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah, thanks for being on Taking a Walk. Thanks for listening to this episode of of the Taking A Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

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[John Lithgow]

Hello, I'm John Lithgow.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new Friction podcast. One small podcast about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Buzz Knight]

You're a great pilot, Buzz.

[John Lithgow]

That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz starring me, John Lithgow, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lola Blanc]

Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult, but it happens all the time to people just like you and people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the hosts of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust me. New episodes every Wednesday on Exactly right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You the listener, ask the questions.

[Luke Tyler Shelton]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?

[Lola Blanc]

Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers. I am so glad you asked me this question.

[Lola Blanc]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah de Barrasso]

I'm Noah and I'm 13 and I started this podcast because honestly, adults don't ask the right questions. Now you know what Noah de Barrasso is a show about influence. Who's got it, how they use it and what it means for the rest of you. It's not the news. It's what the news should be if someone Gen Z or Gen Alpha made it. Politics is wild and I'm definitely not here to tame it, but I'm here to make sense of it. Listen to now youw Know with Noah de arrasto on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. This is an iHeart podcast.