← Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset
Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset
The Turning Point: Adversity, Discipline & Mindset Shifts
00:55:38
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- [00:00]
Matthew Hedden
At 12 years old, you were writing hooks for rappers just to earn studio time.
- [00:06]
Coey Red
Somebody's cousin did rap in the Bay Area. They were like, oh, she's like 12 years old writing these songs. She's got the hooks, she's dope, she's got the bars. Like, let's do it. I sold that 2019 Jetta. Sold the only thing I've ever owned just to come out here, to move to Nashville and fund basically that move. Because if you don't go all in on yourself, then nobody else will.
- [00:26]
Matthew Hedden
I'm listening to what you're saying. That's not country music.
- [00:29]
Coey Red
That was the number one comment I used to get all the time. That's not country. That's not country. I'm like, okay, cool. Now to really go and. And hold true to your comment, you can buy my merch.
- [00:39]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, buy her merch. You country people don't act like you don't like hip hop. What's up, guys? We are back, and we're in a different space today. We're at Nashville Creative Spaces, Rory Vaden studio here in Nashville, Tennessee, And I have with me today Coey Red. You guys are in for an amazing treat. She is the epitome of determination, discipline, and resilience. Country artist from California in my neck of the woods. Welcome to the show, Cody.
- [01:11]
Coey Red
Thank you so much for having me.
- [01:12]
Matthew Hedden
I can't believe we're finally here. It's been like a year or two
- [01:14]
Coey Red
since we've been connected and so crazy. It's so crazy. It's so funny when you meet people through social media and then you meet them in person, you're like, I feel like I've known you forever, and it's my first time meeting you, and it's
- [01:23]
Matthew Hedden
actually cool when the energy matches, right? It's like, exactly. You can be one way online and then meet somebody, and, like, they're completely different.
- [01:32]
Coey Red
Exactly.
- [01:32]
Matthew Hedden
And that's al. That's always, like, so hard because in. In my line of work, I meet a lot of great people, like yourself. And, you know, I got to do a show with my favorite. He. You know, Tony Goldman's my favorite actor. And it's like, when you meet people like that, you just hope they measure exactly, you know? And. And it's. And it's always nice when they do. So. Yeah, you did it. You match. Like, it's all good. It's all good.
- [01:54]
Coey Red
I feel like it's probably harder for you too, especially having a podcast and if you interview somebody and they're, like, very lively on Social media. And then you meet them and they're
- [02:01]
Matthew Hedden
just like, dude, I've done some show. Dude. You're like, oh, I've done some shows where it's like, you know, it always happens virtually if you do a virtual show.
- [02:11]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [02:12]
Matthew Hedden
It's like you're staring at the camera and you're like. Or the screen. You're like, yeah.
- [02:16]
Coey Red
It gets a little awkward.
- [02:17]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, well, it can. But then. But you can see the time. You're like, all right, cool. I can see the time.
- [02:20]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [02:21]
Matthew Hedden
You know, and some. But it just, you know, you're not going to always mesh with everybody, but as long as the audience gets what they need out of it, I'm good.
- [02:30]
Coey Red
Exactly.
- [02:31]
Matthew Hedden
I am so good. So. And just like, with you, with your music, it's like you want to impact your audience.
- [02:37]
Coey Red
Yes. You know, always. Always. That's always the goal, for sure.
- [02:41]
Matthew Hedden
Vacaville, California.
- [02:42]
Coey Red
Good old Ev. Let's go.
- [02:44]
Matthew Hedden
Dude, it's so crazy. Like I told you, I used to play baseball in Vacaville, right by the Budweiser factory. Every weekend from the time I was 13 and 14. And my allergies were so bad there.
- [02:56]
Coey Red
Oh, so bad.
- [02:57]
Matthew Hedden
Like, my eyes would itch and they'd. They'd go red. I couldn't see, but I was. I was playing ball, girl.
- [03:02]
Coey Red
All those rolling. All those rolling hills, you know, all those. All those trees and I mean, it's beautiful. I'm just. I was. I'm not gonna lie. When. When, you know, you were like, oh, my gosh, such a fail. Like, where are you from? When you knew where Vacaville was, I was like, oh, okay. Yes. Because typically, especially out here in Nashville, and I'm like, I'm from Vacaville. And they're like, what? Vodka. Vodka. And I'm like, yeah. I'm like. It's like in between San Francisco, Sacramento. It's like, right outside of Napa. Like, I have to. It's preface.
- [03:31]
Matthew Hedden
It's very small, but, like, it's part of my childhood, too. I mean, because I was there a lot, you know.
- [03:37]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [03:37]
Matthew Hedden
And we. It's so. It's just. It's such a small world. And that's why I do love social media. I use it the right way.
- [03:45]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [03:46]
Matthew Hedden
As you do as well. I use it to build relationships. I use it to, you know, build my show. And, you know, everything else is off limits for me, you know, But I want to get into your story because it's. It's amazing what you did. And for, you know, for the Audience sake. Like, you know, you're this artist now and it. But it didn't start that way. You were behind the scenes.
- [04:13]
Coey Red
Oh, yeah.
- [04:13]
Matthew Hedden
Right. At 12 years old, you. You were writing hooks for rappers just to earn studio time. Walk us through that there. Because that, that is amazing.
- [04:23]
Coey Red
Pretty interesting. Yeah, I, I think I knew from like a really young age that I loved music, I loved writing of storytelling, I love all of that. And I come from, you know, my dad was a garbage man, my mom was a stay at home mom. We didn't come from money, I didn't come from connections or knew anybody in the music industry. So it's kind of like a get in where you fit in. My parents were always super supportive, but it was also like, my dad came from the baseball world too. And, you know, you gotta, you know, if you really love something and, and want something, you have to do it too. It can't just be everyone pushing you. You know what I mean? You can't just throw money behind your kid.
- [04:56]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [04:56]
Coey Red
You know, like, oh. Because then it becomes, you know, inauthentic. It becomes something forced and not something that genuinely like, oh, I want to fight for this. Like, I want this. Yeah, I just, I, I loved writing and I started kind of doing like skeleton tracks to where I would like take songs and then I would kind of write my own melodies and my own L to them and it was kind of getting where you fit in. And there was a couple kids around the corner and one of they were a little bit older than me actually, and he worked at Burger King. I'll never forget that. It's so funny. He worked at Burger King. He was like 16. My mom grew up with his dad and. But they knew that I could like write and sing and I was just always doing music stuff and I was doing small shows and talent shows and stuff. And they were making music on like, you know, garage band and all that stuff. And I'll never forget we had like a Jordan shoebox and he had like a headset from Burger King because he didn't have a microphone. And we stuck it through the shoebox and wrapped it with toilet paper, kind of like make a makeshift studio. And we would just go on like YouTube and like just rip instrumentals. And I would just write hooks and things over it. And it ended up somebody's cousin did rap in the Bay Area and they were like, oh, she's like 12 years old writing these songs. And so then it was like, oh, yeah, we like what you're doing. Okay, come here. Okay, we have this show. Do you want to open for this guy? Yeah, sure. Okay. Come to this, you know, studio in the Bay Area or whatever. And what's even crazier is my parents were, like, so supportive. Like, I'd be like, rolling up to, like, Straight Trap Studios and like, the middle of Oakland. And my mom was just like, all right, like, lock the doors, but let's go. Like, let's get out. Like, go do this. Like, they were always supportive and just. But in a way of if you want it, you have to. You have to work for it. But the thing was, was music was music, and I just wanted to create so badly that I didn't really care. And the hip hop community was so. Especially in the Bay Area at that time was just so welcoming and, like, just didn't. Didn't matter my age, didn't matter what I looked like. Didn't matter that I was a girl. Like, nothing. Like, everybody was just like, yo, like, she's. She's got the hook. She's dope, she's got the bars. Like, let's do it. Bay Area man progressed from there. And ultimately, I mean, if you were a music producer living in Northern California, you probably were able to afford to make a steady living there off money. And I didn't have money.
- [07:25]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [07:25]
Coey Red
To make music. So it was like, get in where you fit in.
- [07:28]
Matthew Hedden
You know, it's such a cool story because, you know, I look at adults now, they say they want something, but they. But they want the map. They want everything figured out for them instead of just taking action and moving. And that's the one thing that I really love. At 12 years old, you understood the secret to success. It's like, if I want this, not only do I have to take action, but I gotta work diligently in order to, like you said, get in where I fit in right now. Because you don't know where it's gonna lead. Now you're sitting here in Nashville.
- [08:01]
Coey Red
Exactly.
- [08:01]
Matthew Hedden
Like, it's. It's wild to me.
- [08:03]
Coey Red
And I feel like it was always part of the journey to, like, where I am now is what I've always wanted to do. And it's funny because I've always considered myself a songwriter first, because storytelling's my favorite thing in the world.
- [08:16]
Matthew Hedden
I love it.
- [08:17]
Coey Red
So in any facet of that and. And so combining kind of the genres and the fusions that I do now is just kind of a product of where I come from and who I am. And, you know, people might not get it, but people that do come from where I come from or know who I am or know how I got my start or, you know, know all the background. Know my background. They are like, yeah, like, dude, I'm
- [08:40]
Matthew Hedden
getting goosebumps right now because it's like, I'm. I'm listening to what you're saying, and I'm looking at your hat. That's not country music.
- [08:48]
Coey Red
And.
- [08:48]
Matthew Hedden
And so for the audience, you know, her hat is so sick. It's one of her merchandise.
- [08:53]
Coey Red
It is.
- [08:53]
Matthew Hedden
And it says, that's not country music. Because a lot of people put country music in a box, and you've exploded that freaking thing.
- [09:00]
Coey Red
Oh, yeah. And the thing is, is, you know, I. I actually. The reason why I wanted to make my merch of that's not country music. That was the number one comment I used to get all the time. People, that's not country. That's not country. I'm like, okay, cool. Like, now you have a hat. So now. Now to really go and hold true to your comment, you can buy my merch.
- [09:19]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah. Buyer merch. You know, coryred.com Right.
- [09:21]
Coey Red
Exactly.
- [09:21]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah. Buy the Merchant. But, you know, it's. But the thing is, is, like, I got it very early on, as, you know, like, I. I'm like, you definitely did.
- [09:30]
Coey Red
I remember. I remember when you wrote me, and I was like, hey, like, you know, you're like. And you said something along the lines of. You're like, oh, you kind of remind me of, like, a country pop, like, Aaliyah, kind of. And I was like, yes. And I'm so. That's another thing is I love 90s fashion. That's, like, my thing, you know what I mean? As, like, a mid-90s baby, you know, like, grew up in that era. So, like, I just. I love all that. I love throwbacks. I love. You know what I mean, that type of era. And I think I kind of missed the curve of being able to really, like, be able to participate in that era.
- [10:04]
Matthew Hedden
But it was a dope era, dude. Is a dope era.
- [10:07]
Coey Red
Yeah, essentially. Yeah. I just. I love, like, the baggy stuff and, like, the Calvins. That's, you know what a lot of people. And it's funny now, and I love it so much because people get, like, weirded out. They're like, oh, I see people wearing, you know, like, oh, they're the Calvin thing. Just like you do. And I'm like, that's freaking awesome. Yeah, Like, I love it. Like, yeah, like, 90s fashion. Like, please make a comeback. I love it.
- [10:28]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, no, it's funny because I picked up the Aaliyah vibe right away. She was. She was my favorite. I remember when she passed, I was in college and I just remember just reading it in our school paper in Louisiana, and I literally got up and walked out of class. Like, it's so. So, like when I saw you and I saw just the bars and just the way. And then the way you dress like you had the. The Calvin Klein's up, I'm like, wow. Yeah, like, bringing it back. She's bringing that shit back. I got to be. I got to be along for this ride. So let me ask you a question. So with. With the writing, the bars and everything like that, where you came from, that's obviously influenced how you write and produce music. Yeah.
- [11:14]
Coey Red
Yeah. And it's so funny because even out here, like, I'm just. Even the more pop or the more country stuff that I do, I'm just very wordy. And that comes from the fact of writing hip hop for years. Yeah, I mean, it's. It's kind of embedded into my writing style and just who I am, and it's also what I love. So I was like to say, yeah, like, that genre, like, chose me. I don't feel like I chose it.
- [11:41]
Matthew Hedden
I don't think people realize, like, because they look at me, you know, and like, vanilla dude. No, no, like vanilla dude dude. I mean, like growing up in the San Francisco Bay, like, it was all hip hop. It was.
- [11:57]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [11:57]
Matthew Hedden
You know, I grew up in. In the ghetto. Like, I was running away from the bloods after. You know, when I'm walking home at eighth grade, I'm like, what? Sorry, probably sixth, seventh grade. But it's like that area can give you such a cultural vibe that nobody can understand.
- [12:19]
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- [13:18]
Coey Red
it's crazy. There's so many innovators that come from Bay Area, too. And it's funny because Vacaville's like, the outskirts. You know what I mean?
- [13:24]
Matthew Hedden
Silver B.
- [13:25]
Coey Red
But it's still. Yeah, it's still. You know what I mean? Considered. Considered that. And there's just so much culture, and there's so much, like, just artistic vision out there. I mean, you can even see it with artists that have come out directors. I mean, you have Ryan Coogler just did Sinners. You have Kehlani that just won a grammy. You have E40, who is literally considered, you know, one of the goats, kind of an innovator of hip hop because he did it in his own way. Mac Dre, who still.
- [13:57]
Matthew Hedden
Did you ever hear RBL Posse?
- [13:58]
Coey Red
RBL Posse. That does sound. Wait, give me something.
- [14:02]
Matthew Hedden
Balance of this.
- [14:03]
Coey Red
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.
- [14:04]
Matthew Hedden
Okay. There it is. There.
- [14:05]
Coey Red
Sometimes I'm like, I've grown up around so much Bay Area music that sometimes I'm like, yeah, which one? Like, in 2D. Like, you know, like, I got to respect the OGs, too.
- [14:15]
Matthew Hedden
You have to. And, like, like RBL. I mean, I. I still listen to it in the gym, you know, because that's my childhood. It brings me back. But, like, just. Again, my point for everybody listening and watching is, you know, in order to understand an artist, you have to understand where they come from, and then you'll fully understand and appreciate it. You know, I look at what you're creating, and I'm very proud of you, by the way.
- [14:41]
Coey Red
Thank you.
- [14:41]
Matthew Hedden
Very proud of you.
- [14:42]
Coey Red
Thanks so much.
- [14:43]
Matthew Hedden
Absolutely is. You have made it your mission not to fit in, but to stay authentic. How has that blessed you but also caused you stress? Because I think there's two different paradigms here, right?
- [14:58]
Coey Red
Oh, yeah.
- [14:59]
Matthew Hedden
You know, like, we talked about rejection earlier off camera.
- [15:01]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [15:02]
Matthew Hedden
Right.
- [15:02]
Coey Red
Yeah. That rejection really is protection sometimes. And even though you might not see it at that time, usually later you'll have that aha kind of moment.
- [15:12]
Matthew Hedden
Thank God.
- [15:12]
Coey Red
Oh, my gosh. Okay. Like, I. I understand it now. You kind of need those. You need those kind of divine interventions to kind of, like, you know, to get frustrated, to just be human, because then that'll also frustrate you, but it'll put you in a position to, like, listen. You're either gonna go one of two ways, you're gonna go 10 times harder, or you're gonna give up.
- [15:32]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [15:33]
Coey Red
And giving up, for me is not an option. I don't think my family would Ever let me give up at this point, even if I wanted to. And that's actually happened before, you know,
- [15:43]
Matthew Hedden
so that right there. Okay. Because this is something that drives me crazy. There's so many people out there that say, I've never wanted to give up. I know. I'm it. You're a liar.
- [15:52]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [15:53]
Matthew Hedden
Or delusional. Or like, maybe you need medicine. Because, I mean, I think I've wanted to quit 10 times last week.
- [15:59]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [16:00]
Matthew Hedden
But. But it's not an option. It is a. It is an current state of emotion.
- [16:05]
Coey Red
Oh, yeah.
- [16:06]
Matthew Hedden
You know, and so. So dig into that, because the audience listening and watching, some of them right now are in the middle of wanting to give up their dream.
- [16:15]
Coey Red
Oh, yeah. No, and the thing is, like, don't do it. Don't do it. Thing is, is once you give it up, then it's like, then what?
- [16:22]
Matthew Hedden
Then cool, you lost.
- [16:24]
Coey Red
Exactly. And. And I. I truly believe in the. In this. In the phrase or the saying, you only fail when you give up. You. You. That's the only time you'll ever fail. And when you have that mindset and that mentality, you'll realize that even the slow progressions, like with me, I was sitting at, you know, I had, you know, over a million followers on TikTok and all this stuff, and I was putting out music, and I'm, you know, serving in restaurants on weekends and funding all my own stuff and doing all this. And with that being said, my Spotify numbers were only, you know, 50,000 monthly listeners. And I sat there for a really long time, and my goal was just, I just want to break a hundred thousand monthly listeners. And I gave everything that I could. You know, I moved out here. I won a car on the Price is Right and sold it to take that money to.
- [17:16]
Matthew Hedden
You were on the Price is Right?
- [17:17]
Coey Red
Yes.
- [17:17]
Matthew Hedden
Get the hell out of here.
- [17:18]
Coey Red
That's another, like, fun, funny fact about me. Yeah, man, I won. I actually. I won the Showcase Showdown. And that 2019 Jetta is the only thing I've ever owned. And I. Yeah, and I remember it was. It was in 2019, and it was around the time where, you know, TikTok and stuff, everything started happening in 2020. But it was always part of the plan of me being here and doing the music that I'm doing now. It was always. I wanted to kind of infuse the two worlds that I grew up in, you know what I mean? And what I listened to and what my mom loved and. You know what I mean, that was kind of embedded in Me to really just. This was all part of the plan. And so it's funny. Yeah, I. I sold that 2019 Jetta. Sold the only thing I've ever owned just to come out here to. To move to Nashville and fund basically that move. Because you gotta go all in on yourself. See, if you don't go all in on yourself, then nobody else will.
- [18:14]
Matthew Hedden
This is so good, you know? This is so good. Like, the only. Like you said, I want the audience to hang on to this. Cause, like, the only thing you ever owned. When you own something for the first time, it's like, I'm. I'm never letting this shit go because I don't know if I'm gonna get something else ever. And I want something of my own. But you saw it as leverage.
- [18:35]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [18:35]
Matthew Hedden
You saw it as a tool to get you where you wanted to go ultimately. And I think that's such a special quality of you about you.
- [18:43]
Coey Red
Oh, thank you.
- [18:44]
Matthew Hedden
Absolutely. It's just, you know that that moment is the reason why you've gone from 50,000 to. To almost 200,000 now to almost 200,000 monthly. You know, I'm a little offended that Church is not. At least at 1.5. Can you guys start streaming Church, please? What the hell is wrong with you? That is my. I. I love that song. It's so deep.
- [19:09]
Coey Red
That was my first release.
- [19:10]
Matthew Hedden
Church was. I thought Wild Card was.
- [19:12]
Coey Red
No, no, Church was first release.
- [19:14]
Matthew Hedden
So good.
- [19:15]
Coey Red
And that. That song came from such an authentic and organic place because I was at that. I was at that pivot point of wanting to quit, wanting to give up. But it also, like, back to what I was saying before. If I give up, okay? So I spent my entire life almost signed to this invisible contract, knowing that this was what I meant to do, not trusting my journey, and just give it up. Like, no way.
- [19:41]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [19:41]
Coey Red
So instead, my. My roommate, or my old roommate at the time, was going through a hard time, and he was also my producer, and he was sleeping on my couch, was going through breakup, having a really, really hard time, and he was on my couch, and he started singing, like, this little hook melody, and I was like that. And at that time, I was in a really, really rough spot, and I kind of didn't know what my next move was. I wanted. I was coming out here, but I wasn't getting. I mean, I would show up and have 10 sessions, and every single one of them would cancel. It was just. It was really, really rough. Like, and it put you in that. In that position of, like, maybe this is a sign, maybe. You know what I mean? And it's like, no, I'm gonna make something happen. And I, of course, was singing that melody and had that guitar rift, and I was like, sit. And we sat on my couch that night, and we cut the entire song within, like, 30 minutes.
- [20:33]
Matthew Hedden
Are you kidding me?
- [20:34]
Coey Red
Yeah. And I just, like, almost, like, freestyled out, like, the verses and stuff, and I just knew that I need to define, like, so. And that's what the song was about. And it's not necessarily. And people always, like, take it as, like, oh, like, actually going to a physical church. It's like, no, church isn't here. Like, church is in here. Like, your relationship with God, Like, I'm, you know, a follower of Jesus Christ and God.
- [20:58]
Matthew Hedden
And, like, we can say that here.
- [21:00]
Coey Red
Yeah, but, like, whatever you believe in, you know, like, it's in here. You know what I mean? And. And. And that's church. And that's. You know what I mean, is. Is admitting to yourself sometimes. Like, man, I'm down. But you know what? Like, I have so much faith, and, like, I'm gonna. I'm gonna crawl out of this.
- [21:15]
Matthew Hedden
There's two. There's two. I don't know what you call them because I'm not a musician, but there's. I'm gonna call them lines or verses or whatever that I resonate with so much. And here they are screaming out, but nothing's leaving your teeth and overlooking the flowers just to dwell on the weeds.
- [21:38]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [21:39]
Matthew Hedden
Those two make me feel some type of emotion because at some point, we've all felt like we are screaming, we are trying to say something, but nothing's coming out.
- [21:49]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [21:49]
Matthew Hedden
No one is hearing it. And then in life, there's so much adversity, so much adversity with anything. I don't care if you're a teacher, hotel. You know, you work in hospitality. Musician, podcast host. Like, the amount of adversity that you're going to face on a daily basis is astronomical. And so when I looked at the. When I heard the line overlook the flowers just to dwell in the weeds, I'm like, dude, I'm doing that shit right now. Yeah, look how beautiful this is. I don't have to go and check in with a boss anymore.
- [22:23]
Coey Red
Oh, for sure.
- [22:24]
Matthew Hedden
I don't have to do anything. I get to talk to great people every single day. I'm living a freaking dream. Does it look like what I want it to yet? Nope.
- [22:31]
Coey Red
No, but look at how far I've come.
- [22:33]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, but, like, I'm In Nashville right now, dude.
- [22:36]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [22:37]
Matthew Hedden
You know, like, what. What in the world happened? But, like. And this is something that I want you to answer, too, because I'm having to reflect on this a lot lately. I keep. I keep looking at, you know, the. My brand, you know, the business. It's like, I gotta get to that next level, and I gotta get there quick because I get somewhere and I'm like, okay, this is neat. But what's next? And what we forget is to reflect back.
- [23:07]
Coey Red
Oh, for sure.
- [23:08]
Matthew Hedden
And understand how far we've come.
- [23:10]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [23:10]
Matthew Hedden
How do you deal with that?
- [23:12]
Coey Red
I'd say, you know, I've had, like, some divine intervention. So when I would say about this time last year. Exactly. I was probably the most miserable version of myself. I was very comparative. I was very frustrated. The. Why me? Like, why. Why am I. Like, I'm doing this and I'm, you know, all of these things, and I. I just wasn't happy.
- [23:36]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [23:37]
Coey Red
And what I realized was that I was not trusting my journey. I wasn't trusting myself.
- [23:46]
Matthew Hedden
It's hard. Cause it's insane.
- [23:47]
Coey Red
And then it. It's crazy because I have to remind myself, like, it's about trusting the journey. It's about trusting yourself. Like, nothing. The universe isn't going to reward you when you're over here worrying about this, that, this, that, and the other. It's going to reward you when it's like, oh, she's ready. And I've always said, you know, there's no such thing as luck. It's always when preparation meets opportunity. And the universe has been. And I haven't had a big moment. I haven't been put on by a big artist. I haven't had a big record deal. I haven't had, like, a big moment or an opportunity. But I know it's coming. And I know that when it does happen, I'm going to be so ready for it and so prepared because I've gone through all of these steps. So it's always reassuring that. And telling myself that. That, you know, going back to that. And I kind of had this moment spiritually with myself, and I. It dawned on me of, yeah, why haven't I been. Like, look at. Like, I'm in Nashville. Like, I'm doing this. Like, I'm going on tour. Like, I have all of these great things. I have fans. I have people that relate to my music, and that's all I've ever wanted. Like, focus on that. Focus on the good.
- [24:56]
Matthew Hedden
Dude. You got three in this room.
- [24:58]
Coey Red
Yes.
- [24:59]
Matthew Hedden
And the little one Right there that
- [25:00]
Coey Red
just adores you with the cutest cowgirl hat on. Now, she is cute, but it's one of those things. Yeah. Like, you have to trust your journey. And I am a very spiritual person in that aspect. I don't relate all of my spirituality to, like, biblical. Like I've said. I've always said, it's. It's in here. Like, your relationship with God. Everything's in here.
- [25:20]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [25:22]
Coey Red
And so, yeah, I just relate back to that of. There's such a plan in store that's bigger than I ever imagined.
- [25:29]
Matthew Hedden
We don't know it.
- [25:29]
Coey Red
And I'm trusting the journey, and I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. And I know that when those opportunities
- [25:35]
Matthew Hedden
come, you're gonna be ready. You're already ready. Just the world hasn't caught up yet. And that's just kind of one of the things. No, absolutely. It's just. It's just what it is. And it's funny because, you know, my good friend Dan Tuffarello, he was my boss at Paychex, and we ended up becoming like brothers, and he is now on my team. He left corporate America. He went and taught for years. Like, I'm not doing lesson plans. I'm out. And he said to me, he goes, I promise you guys, the audience, I'm going somewhere with this. He goes, I'm done. Let me know if you know anybody. I'm like, well, do you want to come work for me? Like, yeah. He's like, yeah, absolutely. And so, like, I brought him along, and this is what he says to me yesterday, you know, because I told her, you know, I told him that, you know, my wife was coming and, you know, and everything, and Mia. And I go. He goes, look, dude, I want you to understand something. And he texts me this after we had the conversation. He goes, dads don't get a whole lot of credit. Like, they don't hear how great of a job they're doing from their friends, etc. He goes, but the fact that you're able. That you were able to build something that your family can be along with and enjoy. He goes, dude, you're winning. And I. I looked at that. I'm like, what? Like, it's so true. It's like, because this all pertains to the journey.
- [27:03]
Coey Red
Exactly.
- [27:03]
Matthew Hedden
Like, this isn't normal.
- [27:05]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [27:07]
Matthew Hedden
There's somebody right now that is a podcaster going, like, I want that. And I'm looking up here and go, I want that.
- [27:16]
Coey Red
Exactly. There's always this. The grass is always greener on the other side kind of thing. But you're. But you're so right in that aspect of, like, the opportunities that come from. Come from what we do, whether it be music, whether it be entertainment, whether it be whatever. Are things that'll last a lifetime. Like, yeah, I mean, just like a small thing. So I grew up riding dirt bikes. That's like a passion that's.
- [27:44]
Matthew Hedden
Surprised. Not surprised, but it's one of those
- [27:47]
Coey Red
amazing things where when I first came out to Nashville, or, like, official, like, I would say it was like, I was like, two years in. Two years ago, Supercross was happening in Nashville, and I was working with wme, and they were like, hey, we have these tickets, like, these, you know, really cool tickets. Do you want to go to Supercross? And whatever. And I was like, yeah, so of course. Me and my dad used to go to supercross every year. Like, we still to this day, that's like, kind of our bonding thing. We call and talk about, like, the races and heats and, like, who's with, like, big fans. And it's just a bonding thing that we do every week. Like, if it's baseball, it's either baseball or supercross.
- [28:27]
Matthew Hedden
Okay, so. So baseball. What's his background in baseball? Because you mentioned that he was a pitcher. Where.
- [28:31]
Coey Red
So he was drafted in his high school parking lot when he was 16. He was a stud. And. Yeah, and then he tore his rotator cuff to college and was trying to kind of get back into it. I'll be honest, not to circle back, but he's one of the reasons why no matter what's happened or any setbacks that I've had in music, why I'm hungrier than I've than ever, why I'm always come back. Because, you know, he put into perspective one one night when I called him and said that I was, you know, I'm done. Done. I'm not. I can't do this anymore. I'm just tired, Dad. I just didn't. And he was like, I love you. I'll support you through whatever, but I can't let you quit. And I was like, why? And he was like, because. Do you. Can you. Do you have two legs? Can you write a song? Can you sing? And I'm like, yeah. And he was like, well, guess what? I had a dream. And I worked really hard for baseball. I loved baseball. It was my first passion. And he was like. And it was out of my control to still continue that dream. I got hurt. I couldn't do anything. You don't have that excuse. Think about kids that are sitting in hospital beds right now that don't have the even luxury to even go after something that they want, and you're sitting here complaining, saying you're tired. Like, think about how. You know what I mean? And he was like, granted. And it always makes me emotional when he said this. He was like, granted, my dreams changed, and it was to be your dad. And he was like, but my dream is also to see you live your dream.
- [30:12]
Matthew Hedden
Come on.
- [30:13]
Coey Red
And I was like, someone says that. What the hell?
- [30:18]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah. Okay.
- [30:19]
Coey Red
All right.
- [30:19]
Matthew Hedden
Well, I guess I can't quit now
- [30:21]
Coey Red
on the overalls again. Like, let's go. We're running it.
- [30:24]
Matthew Hedden
You know, the Calvins.
- [30:25]
Coey Red
What do you call the Calvins again? No, but it's one of those things, you know? And it's all about perspective. It's all about perspective. When you look at. You know what I mean? Things like that, you're like, wow, you're so right. Like, I feel. I feel like such an asshole. Like, oh, my God. Yes, but you need that. You need those divine interventions.
- [30:48]
Matthew Hedden
You do. And one of the things that I will say about your dad, I also had that injury. I went to lsu. I played in the College World Series, and I didn't have that choice because I got hurt my first year there. And then for two straight years, I was working so hard to get back on the field. When I came back, I wasn't the same. Like, I couldn't throw like I used to. I. You know, it just got in my head. So to your dad's point, like, that's one of the things, too, that keeps me from quitting. What I'm doing now, other than the fact that I'm obsessed with it, and I honestly think I love this more than I love playing baseball.
- [31:26]
Coey Red
Oh, yeah.
- [31:28]
Matthew Hedden
In some weird way, the. The thing that nobody knows about me, and I'm gonna say it right now for the first time on air, is what I love more than podcasting is being on stage. What I love more than that is being a husband and a father.
- [31:40]
Coey Red
I love that.
- [31:41]
Matthew Hedden
So I understand your dad's paradigm, where he's coming from. And my biggest fear is, when I look at my three beautiful children is I don't wanna ever see him quit anything. If you make a commitment and you're doing something, you're gonna. You're gonna finish the season, the year out, whatever it is, and then we can pivot. If that's not your thing, cool, you tried it. But if it's your passion and it's your purpose. You're not allowed to quit. You can't, you know, and. And that's what I want the audience to really pay attention on, is because what you said about your dad and how he walked you through that. So if you're a parent, you have a child looking to quit something. Replay that.
- [32:20]
Coey Red
Yeah, run it back.
- [32:21]
Matthew Hedden
Run it back, dude.
- [32:23]
Coey Red
Because run it back.
- [32:24]
Matthew Hedden
And run it back in your own mind, right? I don't care if it's a fitness journey. I don't care. Fixing a marriage or. Or being promoted in your career. You cannot see the future.
- [32:36]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [32:37]
Matthew Hedden
You don't know what's coming. Like, two weeks ago, I didn't know I was gonna be sitting in Nashville.
- [32:42]
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- [33:40]
Coey Red
oh, here we are.
- [33:42]
Matthew Hedden
I. I didn't know. I had no idea. Yeah, you know, opportunity with Janet Kramer came up, an actress, and I'm like, okay, cool. I'm like, wait, co. Is there. Wait, wait a second. Fillmore's there. And. And I'm so opportunities aligned. All the opportunities line went to a friend. I said, hey, best studio in Nashville. He goes, nashville. Creative spaces, brand builders, Rory Vane. I'm like, dude, set that up. And then we got Rory coming on tomorrow too, which I haven't. I haven't met, but I've known of him ever since I've been in the space.
- [34:19]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [34:19]
Matthew Hedden
And it's. It's so funny. I'm gonna tell him yesterday. I mean, tomorrow. But I'll say here on the air. So many of my close friends are because of Rory Vaden. And Rory Vaden doesn't even know it.
- [34:29]
Coey Red
Really?
- [34:29]
Matthew Hedden
He doesn't know it.
- [34:31]
Coey Red
That's actually amazing.
- [34:32]
Matthew Hedden
Matthew, you meet tomorrow? Yeah, we're gonna, we're gonna Hang out. We're gonna do a show.
- [34:36]
Coey Red
Oh, I love.
- [34:37]
Matthew Hedden
That's gonna be neat. So, like, one of my good friends, Matthew Hedden, like, heard a podcast with someone that I'm no longer connected with. I'll leave his name out. And he's like, well, hey, if Rory Vaden's on this pod with him, then maybe I should join his community. And I was in that community, and we both left, but that's how me and him met, and we've been close friends forever, like, three years now.
- [35:03]
Coey Red
Love that.
- [35:03]
Matthew Hedden
I mean, so it's like there's. There's this big spider web. Anyway, I'm getting on a tangent, but. But, like, two weeks ago, I didn't know. It's my point. Right. You don't know what the next second's gonna bring. So if you quit, like, what. What the hell.
- [35:16]
Coey Red
I think the thing is that's always brought me back to. Is just my love for it. Like. Like, kind of like you said, like, there's nothing more that you love and that. That was my whole thing, too, is it's like, I can't picture myself doing anything else in the world. So even if I'm 80 years old, still. Still doing it. Like, I'm still gonna do it because I. Because I love it.
- [35:33]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [35:34]
Coey Red
Even, like, regardless of my success level, when I pee. Whatever. Like, when you love something and the intention behind it is just genuine, like, you just. You love it.
- [35:45]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [35:45]
Coey Red
You know what I mean? Like, I don't. You know, I've never been signed to a record label. I've never been signed to anything.
- [35:53]
Matthew Hedden
I don't get it. I'm sorry. What are you.
- [35:56]
Coey Red
Like I said, rejection is protection. Because like I said, when that does happen and when the right people come around, they're gonna get it, and then it's gonna be off to the races. Like, I love the fact that. And I used to hate it. I used to be so envious. Like, why can't it just be easy? But nothing worth it is ever easy. You know what I mean? Nothing worth it. The long Jack. Think about some of the most successful people in the industry, regardless of, you know, like I said, entertainment, music, sports, whatever. Think about, like, Tom Brady, dude. You know what I mean? Like, the rise out of the ash and to. To end up being one of. One of the greatest football players of all time.
- [36:42]
Matthew Hedden
Oh, yeah. He's definitely the best quarterback.
- [36:43]
Coey Red
You know what I mean?
- [36:44]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [36:45]
Coey Red
Hall of Famer.
- [36:46]
Matthew Hedden
Oh.
- [36:46]
Coey Red
And last. You know, last. Last drafting class. Right. Like, nobody expected him. And he came out of Michigan. And he wasn't, like, crazy in Michigan,
- [36:54]
Matthew Hedden
but, like, no, he wasn't.
- [36:56]
Coey Red
Then he came out and just. He understood. He put. He put everything into it.
- [37:03]
Matthew Hedden
I want to tell you something, because I saw this clip of Tom Brady being interviewed on stage, and you've probably seen it, Everybody's seen it. But if you guys haven't, listen up and watch. So he went up to his coaches at Michigan and said, hey, look, I'm only getting three reps of practice, three snaps of practice. How am I going to develop and get better with only three snaps? You know what the response from his coach was? Those three snaps you take make them the best three that you've ever done.
- [37:35]
Coey Red
And clearly he did.
- [37:38]
Matthew Hedden
So, like, the. The. The thing is with that, right, it's like, it doesn't matter how much playing time you're getting or how many interviews you do or how many stages you're singing on that moment. Make it the best that you can do. And now he is the best quarterback of all time.
- [37:58]
Coey Red
Oh, for sure.
- [37:58]
Matthew Hedden
Which kind of offends me because I was a Joe Montana guy, so that sucks. But I did meet Tom Brady.
- [38:03]
Coey Red
Oh, really?
- [38:04]
Matthew Hedden
I met Tom Brady. So he's from San Mateo?
- [38:07]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [38:07]
Matthew Hedden
Okay. So, yeah, he's a. He's a Bay guy. So right before the draft, I went to college of San Mateo in junior college, before I transferred, lsu. We walk out, and he's playing catch with his dad on the football field. I said, hey, man, what's going on? You ready? He's like, yeah, we'll see what happens. I was like, well, hey, man, nice to meet you. Good luck.
- [38:26]
Coey Red
So crazy.
- [38:27]
Matthew Hedden
The rest is history. Because he trusted his process.
- [38:30]
Coey Red
He had his journey. He knew he didn't give up. He knew that he was going to go on to be greater than what he probably could have imagined, what anybody could have imagined at the time. And that's what I'm saying is that perspective of, like, just. Just run with it. Like, don't think, why me? Think why not me?
- [38:47]
Matthew Hedden
Why not? Or what is this teaching me? What am I supposed to learn from this? Right? There's got to be a reason. It's like, I haven't peaked yet. You haven't peaked yet. There's a reason. Because we need to learn a lesson and we need to enjoy this. And like, if for. For me, when I look at everything, I. I go, would I have wanted it quicker? Yeah, damn right. I have a family to take care of. I would love endless amounts of money so I could travel with Them, you know, when I'm not recording, you know, I'd love to just hop on a plane, you know, and shoot off the Yellowstone for the weekend on a surprise. It's just not time yet. But the one thing I'll say is, through all the adversity and the pain that I've gone through and that you're going through, when we get there, we are going to appreciate it so much more than the flash in the pan. Overnight success, like, let it take another five years.
- [39:43]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [39:43]
Matthew Hedden
I'm only 47. Only 47. Jesus Christ.
- [39:47]
Coey Red
Listen. 26. Run with 26.
- [39:50]
Matthew Hedden
That's fine.
- [39:51]
Coey Red
You're good.
- [39:51]
Matthew Hedden
That's fine. Hey, look, I feel young, you know, but I think the journey and all the pain, because we talk about this a lot on the show, it's determination and discipline. That's what we go through here.
- [40:01]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [40:01]
Matthew Hedden
It's like leaning into those moments. A lot of people like to run from them. I, and my wife knows this. I feel that pain so deeply, and I put my face in it because then I know what I'm feeling. And then when I get out of it, I'm like, I can appreciate the next moment.
- [40:20]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [40:22]
Matthew Hedden
Do you also find yourself, like, really accepting the pain and not running from it?
- [40:27]
Coey Red
Yeah, no, definitely. I think it's one of those things, too. Especially recently. Like I said this time last year, I was, you know, and kind of like a rougher spot, and it's one of those interesting things. You said something really interesting in the fact of you said, do I wish it would have happened sooner? Yes, sure. I. Looking at myself now, thinking back to a year ago when I wanted that. That success, I wanted that overnight success. I look back now, I'm like, shit, I was not. I wasn't ready, like, right now, like, who I am now. I'm writing the bet and hasn't come out yet. But I've been writing the best music I've ever written in my life, and I needed to go back to that. Oh, I'm. I'm standing by it. Like, the records that. That I have been doing, I would say this past year, are the best records I've ever made, and they haven't come out yet. And you know why? Is because I embraced my authenticity. I realized that I chased so hard that. And I put so much pain on myself and so much pressure on myself to kind of be something that I wasn't. In a way, you did, in a way. I mean, moving out here, you know, I really wanted to be kind of accepted into the country World. And I really wanted, you know what I mean, to make friends and rub elbows with all of these up and coming people that clearly didn't want anything to do with me because they're like, who are you?
- [41:52]
Matthew Hedden
What's this hip hop shit?
- [41:53]
Coey Red
And, you know, kind of in a way, or like. Or like a. Almost like a dance monkey dance kind of thing. Like, I'd get called into sessions and I'd be super excited to write because what people don't realize is, like, I come from. Also, I took songwriting courses when I was 10 years old. When I was 15, and I paid for those. Wow myself through on Skype. Every day I would meet with this songwriter from Berkeley College of Music, and he would basically go over the curriculum that he went through for songwriting and taught me the basic formula of pop. Pop writing. So people sometimes don't realize that I do have that background as well. And they'd call me into sessions and be like, okay, what? I want you to put a verse on this. And I'm like, okay, well, that's not writing a song together. That's like you wanting.
- [42:36]
Matthew Hedden
That's you wanting to collab with me.
- [42:37]
Coey Red
Yeah. Like, that's like a feature. You know what I mean? That's like a fee. That's not like me coming in and writing a song with you, you know, but, like, it's one of those things. Yeah. Where I. I definitely had to face that a lot, but like I said, it was. Now I'm like, so confident in what I'm doing and who I am, and I don't care what people think.
- [42:59]
Matthew Hedden
I love it. You know, you shouldn't, you know, like. Because I think everything about your music is what I love.
- [43:09]
Coey Red
Thank you.
- [43:10]
Matthew Hedden
Because I love pop, I love hip hop, and I do love country.
- [43:14]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [43:14]
Matthew Hedden
It's like, wait a second, I can go to one place and hear it all.
- [43:17]
Coey Red
Exactly.
- [43:18]
Matthew Hedden
Like, like. And you. You country people don't act like you don't like hip hop.
- [43:22]
Coey Red
I think it's funny too. And I think that all the time I'm like, country and hip hop are the cousins in the genre.
- [43:27]
Matthew Hedden
Sure.
- [43:27]
Coey Red
They're a lifestyle genre, and they're also a storytelling genre. And that's what I fell in love with with hip hop originally.
- [43:32]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [43:33]
Coey Red
Was storytelling. I mean, like, I loved TLC and Outcast.
- [43:38]
Matthew Hedden
I'm throwback, man. Like, we've talked about this before, haven't we? Yeah, yeah.
- [43:43]
Coey Red
Tlc. Left Eye is like, what inspired me to wanna. You can ask my mom. Growing up, when I was a little girl, I Used to love love. There was three music videos that I loved that would come on, and they're so random and so weird, but I loved Waterfalls by tlc.
- [44:02]
Matthew Hedden
It's great song.
- [44:03]
Coey Red
Oh, my gosh. I actually. I have a country cover of it coming out.
- [44:06]
Matthew Hedden
Stop.
- [44:07]
Coey Red
Yeah. And it's actually phenomenal. And when you hear. Makes you're like this 100%. Oh, yeah, it's phenomenal. Of course, I hit the left eyebrow.
- [44:18]
Matthew Hedden
Of course you did.
- [44:20]
Coey Red
But Thriller by Michael Jackson, and of course, Man, I Feel like a woman. Those were like. And any man of mine I used to love.
- [44:32]
Matthew Hedden
That's a great one. I really like that song.
- [44:36]
Coey Red
Yeah. Like. Or I'm thinking of the. Yeah, I think. Yeah. That was the music video of her, like, with like the cropped jean and the jeans. And she's like. I'm thinking, is it. Who's better? Have you. No, no, that. It is any man of mine.
- [44:49]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [44:49]
Coey Red
When she's like on the tractor out. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. And I thought she was so beautiful. I was like, you know, like, when you're little and you just like, yep, watch. You know, things like that. But yeah, no, I loved all. They're just. They're all kind of related genre, you know, it's.
- [45:07]
Matthew Hedden
It's awesome because it allows you to create this art that's so different.
- [45:12]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [45:13]
Matthew Hedden
And sometimes, you know, people are like, I'm not ready for different. But when they are, they are. And it's. It's astronomical. And I'll tell you what, you. You. I want to go back because you. You talked about at one point, you know, they didn't get it. I remember having this conversation with my wife very early on. I'm like, nobody gets the determined society. And I said, you know, in fact, I don't even know if I get it. I don't know what it means. I don't know what it is. It didn't make sense. Now it makes perfect sense because of consistency. Right. And overcoming certain things. And, you know, I. I made a move in my own life to get very healthy. Because about, you know, November of 24, I was probably the most depressed that I've been in a very long time. And I remember laying down on the couch and not being able to get up and do anything unless I was recording. I was just. I wouldn't work out, wouldn't do anything. But then I changed that, you know, and I got lean and I got in great and better shape, and now I'm in better shape. And we keep moving on that. But I became the brand. I became the determined society. Instead of just talking about determination, discipline, I'm now the billboard for it. And then that's when the show went. And so, you know, I just think that's such an important point because, you know, people will get it.
- [46:42]
Coey Red
Oh, for sure.
- [46:43]
Matthew Hedden
People will get it. Now it makes perfect sense. The determined society. Oh, you live a determined lifestyle and you have people on that talk about determination and discipline. That makes sense. It's like, duh.
- [46:53]
Coey Red
And then you'll have people that are inspired by what you're doing. And I think that's also like, just a magical thing, is seeing people that love what you do, that get what you do, and then you inspire them to do their art form or their. What they're doing in a different way. The.
- [47:10]
Matthew Hedden
The most rewarding part about this isn't the amount of listeners a month, the streams, the ad revenue. It's when I get messages like I did from this dude in New Zealand. I got it two days ago. He had just found out about an affair that his wife had four years ago. And he's struggling in his marriage, trying to figure out what he's going to do to stay and, you know, if he's going to stay and is it okay to stay or do I need to leave? How do I become a. How do I be a great father? Only seeing my kids half the time. That's some heavy stuff. But he was searching through Spotify and found my show, and he started binging it, like, a couple weeks ago. And he wrote me a message and I responded and, you know, and I followed him back and I'm pouring into him. That, to me, is the most rewarding about this whole thing. I read somewhere that an army vet. And I don't know if you know this, but an army vet said your music helped him open up about his emotions.
- [48:13]
Coey Red
Yeah, Yeah. I actually. So crazy story. And I remember I. I cried when I got. So I've had. I've had a couple vets reach out to me. One, unfortunately, Mark, he passed away, and I sent him a Kobe red hat and I sent him a video.
- [48:31]
Matthew Hedden
Damn.
- [48:31]
Coey Red
And he was. He had Parkinson's, and he was a. I think he was a Vietnam vet. He was older. And my manager reached out to me and was like, chloe, I'll talk about. I know exactly what you're talking about, but I'll talk about that one.
- [48:45]
Matthew Hedden
Sure. No, of course, no.
- [48:48]
Coey Red
And Nico, my manager, reach out to me was like, coe, you'll never guess what just happened. I'm like, What? He's, like, one of my homies, like, in, like, North Carolina. He's a caretaker for this. For this vet. This, like, Vietnam vet named Mark. And, you know, he's Parkinson's. He can't really, like, talk or, like. You know what I mean? He's kind of. Yeah, he's kind of towards the end, and. And he's in his wheelchair, and he was like, I've seen you post this. This girl stuff that you work with. And he's like, okay. He was like. And Mark is over there just jamming on his phone, and it was your artist, Koe. And he was, like, listening. I can't remember what song it was or what it was, but he sent Nico a video of him, and he was, like, rocking back and forth, like, with, like, in, like, his thing. And he was like, oh, Mark, you like it? You like co Red? And he was like, yeah. And he was like. And he, like, was like, just jam in. And so I sent him a video message, and Miko's like, listen, like, totally up to you. But, like, I just had to send this to you. And I was like, let's run it. Like, let's send him a hat. Like, let's, like, I'll send him a video. Like, a personal video. Like, hey, what's up? So, like, Mark, oh, my gosh. Like, I love you. Like, thank you for your service. Like, I can't wait to meet you when I come to North Carolina. You know, all this stuff. He ended up passing away, unfortunately, but I was like, I'll have a ticket waiting for you.
- [50:07]
Matthew Hedden
Damn.
- [50:08]
Coey Red
And then the caretaker sent a video of him watching my video, and he's like. He's watched it, like, 20 times. Like, he just is, like, so. And he was, like, getting excited and, like, just. It's things like that that just put. Like I said, make. Make everything. All the. All the pain, all the. The. The hardships, all of the doubt, everything that you go through. Like, I'm exactly where I need to be. I'm doing exactly what I've always wanted to do.
- [50:39]
Matthew Hedden
That's it.
- [50:40]
Coey Red
But I did. I did get a. I got a direct message from this. From this guy one time, and he was like, hey. He's like, I feel comfortable sending you this because I don't think you'll ever read it. He's like, because you have a lot of followers, we get that a lot, you know? Like, but I do. I do. I try and reach. I try to read everything as much as possible. I mean, I'm only human. And I, you know, have. Have things going on and I can't get back to everybody, but I really try to, cuz I'm so appreciative. Like there's thousands of great artists in the world. You could listen to anybody. Like, you want to listen to me. Like, I want to give you a hug. Like, I wish I could hug everybody, you know, and just like, thank them. Because I, like, I said I had to work really hard. Like, I. I haven't had a lot of people believe in me, especially coming up, Like, a lot of people. I was like, laughed at. I was mocked, I was. You know what I mean? I know that feels and bullied for, you know, so having, like, oh my. Like, you have no idea what this, what this means to me. But I got this message and he was like, hey, you know, you'll probably never read this, so I feel comfortable saying this, but I, you know, did three tours in Iraq. I have a beautiful wife. I have two beautiful little girls. But sometimes it just. I don't feel strong. I don't feel like I'm strong enough for them. And I listened to your song Cry Like a Man, and for the 3 minutes and 2 seconds, made me feel like I was seen for the first time, dude. And he was like. And I just want to let you know, thank you so much for writing that. And you have no idea how much that song meant to me in these type of moments. And I was just like, I remember crying. And I was like, I remember I called my mom because I was calling my mom for, like, stuff. Like, I'm like, what do I do? And I was like, shit, do I write him back? Like, do I let him? Like, is he gonna be like, oh, my gosh, she opened it, she saw it.
- [52:27]
Matthew Hedden
Now I'm mortified.
- [52:27]
Coey Red
Now I'm like, mortified. Like, oh, my gosh. Mom's like, yeah, just write him back and say like, you know, thank you. And I'm like, yeah, but I don't want to. You know, it's kind of like, man, you know, he's like buff dude, tattoos like Jim.
- [52:38]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [52:38]
Coey Red
You know what I mean? And I was like, oh, shit. Like, I don't want to. You know. But I also was just like, oh, my gosh. Like, I'm so touched. Like, I love that you love that song. You're exactly who I wrote it for. I'm so happy that my music found you. And I think, yeah, that's, you know, with church, with Cry Like a Man, even Wildcard, like, I get that all the Time. And I can't tell you how much just connecting with people through writing, it makes me feel so seen because like I said, I've always considered myself a writer first. So getting that people, even you saying some of the specific lyrics to me, I'm like, get it.
- [53:14]
Matthew Hedden
I get it.
- [53:15]
Coey Red
You got that?
- [53:15]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, you know, I get it. I do get it. I think it shaped the way you've written your music because it's deep. It's not empty. And the world needs deep right now. Yeah, the world needs deep. But I have one more question for you before we shut it down. I could go like, I know, seven hours with you.
- [53:32]
Coey Red
I feel like I spiral too, sort of like.
- [53:34]
Matthew Hedden
No, you're. No, you're great. This has been a very fun conversation with a lot of value.
- [53:40]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [53:41]
Matthew Hedden
That is literally the root of this show. And I'm just grateful that for your friendship, first and foremost and then secondly that we got to connect and do this together.
- [53:51]
Coey Red
I'm so grateful too. I was, I was just telling somebody I'm a little bit shy in the sense of I don't put a lot of myself personally out on the Internet. I get a little bit nervous. The Internet's a scary place, dude.
- [54:02]
Matthew Hedden
You're telling me.
- [54:02]
Coey Red
I get picked apart already for music that I'm like, ah, like, you know, it's hard to. Hey guys, how's it go? Like, you know, to do the.
- [54:09]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, the camera. Yeah, yeah, that's hard.
- [54:11]
Coey Red
It gets a little nerve wracking. I'm like, am I even. I'm boring as, like, I just sit with my, with my Pomeranians, like, you know, so, So I can't tell you how much it means that you invited me to come on.
- [54:23]
Matthew Hedden
Absolutely. We'll do it again, you know, and we'll do it when you're on a big tour. Yes, that'll be really cool. Right? But don't worry, we don't get much hate here. Like on the show. You're not going to get destroyed. Okay, but one more question again. When I started the show, you know, one day I said this statement. I just want to wake up in a society where people are determined to chase their dreams no matter how they feel emotionally at that time. Yeah, that's my definition. That's my definition of determination.
- [54:53]
Coey Red
What's yours of determination of? That's a good question. My determination or my definition of determination? Trusting the journey and just doing it. Just doing it. You can sit around and sit and think about it forever, but until you just go out there and do it and it's going to be scary. It's gonna be scary. You're gonna put yourself out there for whatever it is you wanna do, whatever it is you're pursuing, it's gonna be scary. You're gonna feel silly. You're gonna feel. Oh, my gosh. You know, if you're putting yourself out there with music for the first time, whatever, let's just say that. Or a podcast, you're probably gonna get three views. You're probably gonna get five views. Yeah, keep doing it.
- [55:36]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, keep going.
- [55:37]
Coey Red
Keep doing it. And it's. And it's hits the ego a little bit. It hits your pride. You're like, yeah, but I'm so good. Why. Why is it. You know what I mean? Trust.
- [55:47]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah.
- [55:47]
Coey Red
Trust the journey. Trust yourself.
- [55:49]
Matthew Hedden
You gotta earn it.
- [55:50]
Coey Red
Yeah, exactly. You gotta earn it.
- [55:51]
Matthew Hedden
You have to.
- [55:52]
Coey Red
Because when you do earn it, when it's not handed to you, when you do earn. Makes you a better person. It genuinely does.
- [56:00]
Matthew Hedden
Truly does.
- [56:00]
Coey Red
I mean, think about, you know, people that have, like. Like we were talking about people that, you know, didn't have it easy or wasn't handed or it wasn't like this God gift and just. They just happened for them. They really had to work for it most of the time. Those people are also the most humble, appreciative people.
- [56:18]
Matthew Hedden
That's true.
- [56:18]
Coey Red
In their. In their. In their craft. That's whatever they're doing.
- [56:21]
Matthew Hedden
True.
- [56:22]
Coey Red
Because they. They knew what it was like. They knew what it was like to be in those positions.
- [56:25]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, it's true.
- [56:27]
Coey Red
And they. They did it then.
- [56:29]
Matthew Hedden
They're real people and they're down to earth and they're exactly cool. A killer like yourself. Thank you so much. I. I'm so happy we did this.
- [56:37]
Coey Red
I'm so happy.
- [56:38]
Matthew Hedden
That was an amazing determination definition, by the way.
- [56:40]
Coey Red
Oh, thank you. I feel like I spiraled a little bit, so.
- [56:43]
Matthew Hedden
No, it's okay to pause.
- [56:44]
Coey Red
I'm like, it's okay.
- [56:46]
Matthew Hedden
It's okay to pause and think. That's called authenticity.
- [56:49]
Coey Red
Yeah.
- [56:49]
Matthew Hedden
See, we don't cut things out like that. I want the listeners to hear that.
- [56:52]
Coey Red
Oh, I love that.
- [56:53]
Matthew Hedden
Yeah, we don't.
- [56:53]
Coey Red
We don't like, we don't cut nothing.
- [56:55]
Matthew Hedden
No, no, no, no, no. Nothing fabricated here, my friend. All right, guys, thank you so much for listening. Please do me a favor. Go to Oy Red on Instagram, go to her website, search her on Spotify, and listen to her music. My personal favorite is church, but there's so many great ones. And like, she said she's writing some more stuff and recording some more stuff. So check her out, because I'm gonna tell you one thing, one thing. One day, she'll be the biggest country female artist on this planet. And you want to be along for the ride to watch her growth. So go get it done. And until next time, stay determined.