Hozier

And then I was like, I don't know that I want to show this to people or even weirder, monetize this thing. Mm-hmm. And leave it open for people to criticize it, to judge it, to validate it, to compliment it. It didn't really matter what their response was. I didn't want to externalize my self-worth that way because it was so close to my heart.

And then I was like, I don't know that I want to show this to people or even weirder, monetize this thing. Mm-hmm. And leave it open for people to criticize it, to judge it, to validate it, to compliment it. It didn't really matter what their response was. I didn't want to externalize my self-worth that way because it was so close to my heart.

And then I was like, all right, I'm going to send it to like five people. And I sent it to five people, including you and Mike Posner, who's a great friend. And Mike was the first person that got back to me. And my criteria for sending it out was, okay, if one person hears the album and hits me back and says, hey, this was moving and meaningful to me, like this landed. then I would put it out.

And then I was like, all right, I'm going to send it to like five people. And I sent it to five people, including you and Mike Posner, who's a great friend. And Mike was the first person that got back to me. And my criteria for sending it out was, okay, if one person hears the album and hits me back and says, hey, this was moving and meaningful to me, like this landed. then I would put it out.

But if everybody was like, yeah, this is good. I really like it. I think you should, then I wasn't gonna do it. And so Mike hit me back right away and he was like, Literally, he goes, if you don't put this album out, he said, I'll pry it out of your cold, dead hands. And then I sent it to you guys and you listened to it and had a similar but different response.

But if everybody was like, yeah, this is good. I really like it. I think you should, then I wasn't gonna do it. And so Mike hit me back right away and he was like, Literally, he goes, if you don't put this album out, he said, I'll pry it out of your cold, dead hands. And then I sent it to you guys and you listened to it and had a similar but different response.

Then I was like, all right, let me lead by example, even though it's hard and scary.

Then I was like, all right, let me lead by example, even though it's hard and scary.

If I get rejected, if I put this project out and people don't respond to it or worse, they really don't like it, then at least I know they don't like something that's really me. I mean, I know that the art is separate from me. It's not really me, but it is as close as tracing paper could come when I made it. And so I'm like, all right, if they don't like it, at least I know I showed up.

If I get rejected, if I put this project out and people don't respond to it or worse, they really don't like it, then at least I know they don't like something that's really me. I mean, I know that the art is separate from me. It's not really me, but it is as close as tracing paper could come when I made it. And so I'm like, all right, if they don't like it, at least I know I showed up.

rather than making something that's perfect that everybody's gonna love and then they say wow i love this thing and i love you but i don't even feel it because i was never there Yeah.

rather than making something that's perfect that everybody's gonna love and then they say wow i love this thing and i love you but i don't even feel it because i was never there Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

How do you do that? For example, I was thinking about many things that you have shared over the years driving over here and the courage that it took to do that. What was and is your process?

How do you do that? For example, I was thinking about many things that you have shared over the years driving over here and the courage that it took to do that. What was and is your process?

I very much relate to that. I have a line that says, you have to be willing not to be liked in order to be loved. Otherwise, it's your representative they're thinking of. It's like that disguise thing that you're talking about, that character that you're playing, and you're doing it for good reasons. Survival.

I very much relate to that. I have a line that says, you have to be willing not to be liked in order to be loved. Otherwise, it's your representative they're thinking of. It's like that disguise thing that you're talking about, that character that you're playing, and you're doing it for good reasons. Survival.

you know mental emotional physical spiritual if you felt unsafe in your life that's where the character came from exactly but the thing is it's exhausting to walk around with all that armor draining what was that what's that poem called that you were just i think it's called bird song you know i never really like named my my pieces until i actually put them out can you share that one can you perform that one do you have that one yeah i actually do

you know mental emotional physical spiritual if you felt unsafe in your life that's where the character came from exactly but the thing is it's exhausting to walk around with all that armor draining what was that what's that poem called that you were just i think it's called bird song you know i never really like named my my pieces until i actually put them out can you share that one can you perform that one do you have that one yeah i actually do