The Adam Friedland Show – "MJ Lenderman CALLS OUT Cameron Winter (not clickbait)"
Episode Date: February 11, 2026
Guest: MJ Lenderman – Singer, Songwriter
Host: Adam Friedland
Episode Overview
This episode features a candid and playful conversation between Adam Friedland and indie rocker MJ Lenderman. Celebrating Lenderman’s rise, his songwriting approach, and the culture of indie music, the episode is an insight into the realities of modern music-making, post-COVID career shifts, and the random events that fuel creative life. Adam and MJ riff on everything from Catholic childhoods and awkward fans to Kanye West controversies and the pressures of social media, all interspersed with their signature banter and jokes about indie rivalries, Catholicism, and basketball.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Musical Performance & Show Format [00:11–04:12]
- Opening Song: MJ Lenderman performs live, setting a relaxed, emotional tone with evocative lyrics about struggle, nightlife, and the pursuit of worth in a "sleazy bedroom town."
- Adam introduces a new segment featuring live musical performances to the show audience.
2. MJ Lenderman’s Early Influences & Band Life [06:16–08:40]
- Coach Rolling Green: MJ made beats for his middle school basketball coach, who tried rapping.
- Musical Heroes: Lenderman credits the band Drive-By Truckers and Dinosaur Jr., and expresses awe at meeting “goats” (great musicians).
- Generational Shifts: Adam comments on how young people are getting back into bands, reigniting old rock traditions.
"It's cool that kids are in bands again... We had a millennial conversation... there's never gonna be another band. And now you guys are all like... Neil again." — Adam [08:21]
3. On Catholic Upbringing & Growing Up in Asheville [09:31–10:38]
- MJ describes his journey through church positions: book bearer, acolyte, and crossbearer.
- Adam jokes about the progression—“You were one of the best altar servers of all time. You didn't drop that shit once.” [10:12]
4. Celebrity, Popes, and Name Changes [10:58–12:06]
- Humorous riff on Sufjan Stevens as the first American pope, pondering his music preferences:
“Do you think he ever listened to Chief Keef? The Pope? Certainly.” — MJ [11:18] - MJ reveals the origins of his stage name—Mark Jacob (“MJ”) Lenderman—preferring it to Jake, which he felt sounded too much like a jock. "Jake Lenderman... sounds like a kid that definitely has... a Pulp Fiction poster." — Adam [12:06]
5. Playing in Ireland, Slang Mishaps, & Road Stories [12:29–13:29]
- MJ recounts mistakenly calling people "slags" in Ireland, not realizing it meant “sluts” instead of “lazy people” or “hooligans.”
- Tour anecdotes include rowdy passengers and a drunken plane incident.
6. Family, Heritage, and Support [13:31–14:52]
- MJ’s jazz-player great-grandfather, esteemed in family lore but before MJ’s time.
- Supportive parents who, despite late gigs and minor fashion critiques, never dissuaded his music.
7. Location, Fashion, and Life Phases [15:01–15:48]
- Banter about the importance of getting a “New York coat” if moving north, and going through various life phases—motorcycle, Christian, reggae—before possibly making artistically or socially controversial choices.
8. Kanye West & The Modern Music Landscape [16:13–17:16]
- Adam and MJ satirize Kanye's headline-grabbing controversies and discuss the overwhelming, unfocused access new generations have via streaming:
"I think focus is totally gone. But I'm thankful that I had the resources to listen to whatever I wanted to at any time." — MJ [17:16]
9. CDs, Dads, and Eminem [17:24–18:19]
- MJ remembers bonding with his dad through burned mix CDs for basketball tournaments.
- He admits to being "the Eminem kid in school."
"He was my iPod background." — MJ [17:52]
10. Humor in Music vs. Comedy [18:23–19:02]
- Adam argues for the value of funny songs, a divisive topic in comedy circles. MJ agrees that humor in lyrics can be powerful but feels full-on comedy music is harder to categorize.
11. Songwriting, Self-Critique, and Growth [19:02–23:37]
- MJ: “The first song I ever wrote was called Nightmare… about a nightmare I had.” His teacher hated it, but Lenderman sees moving forward as key to creative advancement.
- Both discuss finishing projects, embracing imperfection, and not letting perfectionism kill output:
“If you're just trapped up, super concerned with only putting out things that are genius, then you'll never put anything out.” — MJ [22:53] “If anyone finishes something and they're like, this is amazing, then they suck.” — Adam [23:05] - “Putting up shots” and persistence are likened to basketball practice.
12. Basketball: Childhood Stardom & Indie Rock Pickup Games [23:40–26:10]
- MJ boasts “10 threes” in a 7th-grade game—“I was a sniper, dude.”
- Adam riffs about basketball legends, indie rockers' potential in pickup games, and MJ's obsession with other musicians’ heights.
13. COVID, Ice Cream Jobs, & Creative Surges [31:29–32:16]
- COVID halted touring, leading MJ to work at an ice cream shop and collect unemployment—resulting in more free time, more money, and his “most prolific period.” "Just time to actually focus on making stuff… That was the best I'd felt about making things." — MJ [32:16]
14. Fans, Boundaries, and Annoying Encounters [30:15–31:28]
- Some fans cross lines—one asks MJ repeatedly to take his shoes off for possible photos ("maybe he was from WikiFeet"). MJ finally tells him to stop, gently but firmly.
15. Motivation, Validation, & Peer Respect [33:02–34:43]
- MJ is motivated by writing and self-improvement, yet says he’s already “achieved all of my goals” and must create new ones.
- Both agree that peer respect is especially meaningful, even more than audience adulation.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On growth and self-critique:
"If you're just trapped up, super concerned with only putting out things that are genius, then you'll never put anything out." — MJ Lenderman [22:53] -
On writing music:
"The happiest I am is when I make music. But I've achieved all of my goals… maybe they're unrelated to music." — MJ Lenderman [33:40] -
On awkward fan encounters:
"This guy was in, like, three shows in a row and kept telling me to take my shoes off. He said, let me see those feet." — MJ Lenderman [30:47] -
On the pressure of output:
"You fight against it and you just... end a project and you put it out. You forget about it. It's the best way to work." — Adam Friedland [22:21] -
Peer validation:
"That means a lot to me. My own validation from myself... but you hate all your stuff, right? That's why you're good." — Adam Friedland & MJ Lenderman [34:11-34:23]
Important Timestamps
- 00:11 – Live performance by MJ Lenderman
- 06:16 – Interview begins: musical influences, comedic banter about rapper culture
- 10:38 – MJ explains the stages of altar boy progression
- 12:06 – The origin of the “MJ” stage name
- 13:31 – MJ’s family support and early gig stories
- 17:16 – Reflections on streaming vs. physical media and focus
- 19:02 – Discussion of first songwriting attempts, creative process
- 23:40 – Comparing music practice to basketball
- 30:47 – Annoying fan stories (the “show me your feet” guy)
- 31:35 – The creative benefits of the pandemic period
- 33:40 – Motivation and seeking new goals
- 34:29 – Peer respect as the most important validation
Tone & Style
Casual, irreverent, and self-deprecating with abundant inside-jokes, friendly teasing, and genuine reflection. Both Adam and MJ blend deep insights on creativity and struggle with a comedic, freewheeling spirit characteristic of “The Adam Friedland Show.”