Jason Paige

How did you end up singing the Pokemon theme song? All kinds of different places contacted me and said, what's the story? One of the most famous songs ever. This song is going crazy right now.

How did you end up singing the Pokemon theme song? All kinds of different places contacted me and said, what's the story? One of the most famous songs ever. This song is going crazy right now.

It became the number one most viewed video on YouTube. Wow. I created a Pokemon Go theme song.

It became the number one most viewed video on YouTube. Wow. I created a Pokemon Go theme song.

That's the thing that hooked them in the beginning and that stayed with everybody throughout their entire lives. I think, you know, when you mix it up too much, you lose people and they really want to identify with this one song. And it was the right song. lyric and the right song to sell the show, which it obviously did.

That's the thing that hooked them in the beginning and that stayed with everybody throughout their entire lives. I think, you know, when you mix it up too much, you lose people and they really want to identify with this one song. And it was the right song. lyric and the right song to sell the show, which it obviously did.

And then the show was sold after that, but the song remains in your head afterwards. And the song was also a big hit song in that sort of time period. It ended up on Billboard. It ended up on Billboard. It got its radio life and that cemented it in people's minds. So after that, you just, you know, it's like your first girlfriend. You just always remember her. Definitely.

And then the show was sold after that, but the song remains in your head afterwards. And the song was also a big hit song in that sort of time period. It ended up on Billboard. It ended up on Billboard. It got its radio life and that cemented it in people's minds. So after that, you just, you know, it's like your first girlfriend. You just always remember her. Definitely.

They have their phone ringing with me. There's tons of people that phones ring and it is a Pokemon theme song. So might as well have some lyrics that make sense. Have you ever been out and about and heard that? I've heard not that one, but I've heard the Pokemon theme song come on people's phones when it rings.

They have their phone ringing with me. There's tons of people that phones ring and it is a Pokemon theme song. So might as well have some lyrics that make sense. Have you ever been out and about and heard that? I've heard not that one, but I've heard the Pokemon theme song come on people's phones when it rings.

Actually, I have, but it's my friends that had it. So not just randomly. It is available on my website. If you sign up for my newsletter, you get a free one.

Actually, I have, but it's my friends that had it. So not just randomly. It is available on my website. If you sign up for my newsletter, you get a free one.

Yes, it's in the works. We just did an EDM version that's really cool that I did with a DJ in the Netherlands named DJ Aino, A-I-N-0. The Netherlands votes on and they're voting. They've just completed the votes so far. On the top songs of all time in the Netherlands, that is. And for the past six years since Pokemon Go came out, the Pokemon theme song is in the top 200.

Yes, it's in the works. We just did an EDM version that's really cool that I did with a DJ in the Netherlands named DJ Aino, A-I-N-0. The Netherlands votes on and they're voting. They've just completed the votes so far. On the top songs of all time in the Netherlands, that is. And for the past six years since Pokemon Go came out, the Pokemon theme song is in the top 200.

And Legomania, Legomania, which we're actually doing a remake of that's going to be out very soon with a full two and a half minute version of the Legomania theme song to blow your mind.

And Legomania, Legomania, which we're actually doing a remake of that's going to be out very soon with a full two and a half minute version of the Legomania theme song to blow your mind.

This year, I think it's number 140. And so the Netherlands is huge for the Pokemon theme song. The English version, not the Dutch version. And so we did this remix of... with this EDM incredible producer. And it's out there. Everybody can get it and download it off of all the major platforms.

This year, I think it's number 140. And so the Netherlands is huge for the Pokemon theme song. The English version, not the Dutch version. And so we did this remix of... with this EDM incredible producer. And it's out there. Everybody can get it and download it off of all the major platforms.

Next year, I want to do one that, and I've already written the arrangements, that's kind of like a Bohemian Rhapsody type of version. It just goes into the choral part and the rap part and the breakdown and the ballad part and the rock part and the anthem part. I want to make the Pokemon theme song Like Bohemian Rhapsody. That's sick.

Next year, I want to do one that, and I've already written the arrangements, that's kind of like a Bohemian Rhapsody type of version. It just goes into the choral part and the rap part and the breakdown and the ballad part and the rock part and the anthem part. I want to make the Pokemon theme song Like Bohemian Rhapsody. That's sick.

I think in this world, there's only a couple of songs that have this kind of an impact on humanity. And Bohemian Rhapsody is one of them.

I think in this world, there's only a couple of songs that have this kind of an impact on humanity. And Bohemian Rhapsody is one of them.

What else can you compare it to? Bohemian Rhapsody doesn't have toys and games and cards and TV shows and all of that stuff. But it certainly has this appeal that has lasted a very long time globally. But not as pervasive as the Pokemon theme song. I don't know if you're getting the Bohemian Rhapsody in kindergartens in the Netherlands or, you know, in India in small little areas, remote India.

What else can you compare it to? Bohemian Rhapsody doesn't have toys and games and cards and TV shows and all of that stuff. But it certainly has this appeal that has lasted a very long time globally. But not as pervasive as the Pokemon theme song. I don't know if you're getting the Bohemian Rhapsody in kindergartens in the Netherlands or, you know, in India in small little areas, remote India.

But you got Pokemon in those areas because they're contacting me to go to them. So you sing this song in 1997, 1998.

But you got Pokemon in those areas because they're contacting me to go to them. So you sing this song in 1997, 1998.

Oh, yeah. Yes. I mean, it was revisited by Smosh, and we saw that it generated YouTube's highest video count with Smosh making basically the music video for the theme song that never existed that I should have made. Instead, these two kids in their bedrooms made it, and it became the number one most viewed video on YouTube, almost up until the point where YouTube sold to Google for $5 billion.

Oh, yeah. Yes. I mean, it was revisited by Smosh, and we saw that it generated YouTube's highest video count with Smosh making basically the music video for the theme song that never existed that I should have made. Instead, these two kids in their bedrooms made it, and it became the number one most viewed video on YouTube, almost up until the point where YouTube sold to Google for $5 billion.

Wow. I think it kind of broke their algorithm. YouTube just couldn't handle what was going on because it was such a great idea. Not Pokemon theme song by Smosh, but YouTube in and of itself. However, that was very much in part because of that stupid dancing guy video and the Smosh video that blew YouTube up. But yeah, that was definitely a moment of revisiting. I revisited it in 2008.

Wow. I think it kind of broke their algorithm. YouTube just couldn't handle what was going on because it was such a great idea. Not Pokemon theme song by Smosh, but YouTube in and of itself. However, that was very much in part because of that stupid dancing guy video and the Smosh video that blew YouTube up. But yeah, that was definitely a moment of revisiting. I revisited it in 2008.

In the year 2000 when, I think that was when, 99, when it became a radio hit on Radio Disney and it was playing every time, every like 15 minutes they would be playing it again on Radio Disney. It was incredible.

In the year 2000 when, I think that was when, 99, when it became a radio hit on Radio Disney and it was playing every time, every like 15 minutes they would be playing it again on Radio Disney. It was incredible.

Yes, it was the first official time I heard myself on the radio. My band was dropped, so we never actually got the band on the radio, but yeah. But I had heard myself on TV many, many times from all of the jingles that I had done.

Yes, it was the first official time I heard myself on the radio. My band was dropped, so we never actually got the band on the radio, but yeah. But I had heard myself on TV many, many times from all of the jingles that I had done.

Zero involvement up until the Ron Paul. And I have no involvement with actual Pokemon, the actual corporation. Only with the ecosystem and the fan communities and the Comic Cons. Which in 2012, 2016 when Pokemon Go came out, I started getting...

Zero involvement up until the Ron Paul. And I have no involvement with actual Pokemon, the actual corporation. Only with the ecosystem and the fan communities and the Comic Cons. Which in 2012, 2016 when Pokemon Go came out, I started getting...

contacted by media organizations saying who's the dude that sings the you know what's what's the story what's the story because this the song was spiking on spotify new platforms and new sharing of this and the the kids that had it in their minds had finally grown up and wanted to know who I was. But in their minds throughout their lives, they hadn't really had that opportunity.

contacted by media organizations saying who's the dude that sings the you know what's what's the story what's the story because this the song was spiking on spotify new platforms and new sharing of this and the the kids that had it in their minds had finally grown up and wanted to know who I was. But in their minds throughout their lives, they hadn't really had that opportunity.

Yes, yes. Protection from gangsters and nations causing grief in human relations. Michael Jackson.

Yes, yes. Protection from gangsters and nations causing grief in human relations. Michael Jackson.

They weren't grown. They didn't have disposable income and they weren't customers to media organizations and buyers of the products that are advertised. So Billboard, TMZ, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, all kinds of different places contacted me and said, what's the story? this song is going crazy right now. And I told them the story, pretty much what I'm telling you today.

They weren't grown. They didn't have disposable income and they weren't customers to media organizations and buyers of the products that are advertised. So Billboard, TMZ, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, all kinds of different places contacted me and said, what's the story? this song is going crazy right now. And I told them the story, pretty much what I'm telling you today.

18 years of being trapped in a Pokeball. And I finally popped out in 2016 and started realizing this incredible ecosystem of creative people thriving in Comic-Cons and thriving in cosplay and thriving online with their own Pokemon channels and Pokemon music channels. And I wanted to create content for them because I thought, wow, this is amazing. This is an amazing opportunity.

18 years of being trapped in a Pokeball. And I finally popped out in 2016 and started realizing this incredible ecosystem of creative people thriving in Comic-Cons and thriving in cosplay and thriving online with their own Pokemon channels and Pokemon music channels. And I wanted to create content for them because I thought, wow, this is amazing. This is an amazing opportunity.

Yes, I was the rapper in black and white during the Michael Jackson 30th anniversary. In addition to singing backgrounds for the whole show with the Jackson 5 and every all the all the crazy artists that were in there in the beginning of that show, which was amazing. And Aerosmith? Aerosmith, a friend of mine was a keyboard player for Aerosmith. We started hanging out backstage, warming up.

Yes, I was the rapper in black and white during the Michael Jackson 30th anniversary. In addition to singing backgrounds for the whole show with the Jackson 5 and every all the all the crazy artists that were in there in the beginning of that show, which was amazing. And Aerosmith? Aerosmith, a friend of mine was a keyboard player for Aerosmith. We started hanging out backstage, warming up.

I created a Pokemon Go theme song. Those were some of the first people that were contacting me, people at Pokemon Go events that were producing.

I created a Pokemon Go theme song. Those were some of the first people that were contacting me, people at Pokemon Go events that were producing.

Huge, massive. And they didn't know quite what to do, but they wanted me to be involved singing the song. So I was like, all right, well, I'll sing the theme song at your Pokemon Go event and I'll create another Pokemon Go song because there wasn't a good Pokemon Go song. There was that kid, I play Pokemon Go. Horrible, horrible thing.

Huge, massive. And they didn't know quite what to do, but they wanted me to be involved singing the song. So I was like, all right, well, I'll sing the theme song at your Pokemon Go event and I'll create another Pokemon Go song because there wasn't a good Pokemon Go song. There was that kid, I play Pokemon Go. Horrible, horrible thing.

Which, of course, is way more viral than my Pokemon Go song, which is excellent. You guys can check that out. It's an amazing...

Which, of course, is way more viral than my Pokemon Go song, which is excellent. You guys can check that out. It's an amazing...

sister to the theme song that uh that it's doing all right now but uh once again one billion people have downloaded the pokemon go app and only 300 000 have watched the youtube video of the pokemon go theme song so we got to get that one blown up on the on the you know spotify and all of those platforms as well

sister to the theme song that uh that it's doing all right now but uh once again one billion people have downloaded the pokemon go app and only 300 000 have watched the youtube video of the pokemon go theme song so we got to get that one blown up on the on the you know spotify and all of those platforms as well

I have profound gratitude for the energy and effort that you have put into your Pokemon reality, and I'm just trying to catch up. I spent four hours almost 25 years ago, and you spent 4,000 hours. And I didn't know that I could invest in this ecosystem until 2016. It was a job that was a good job, a fun job that created something that was great, but I didn't understand it

I have profound gratitude for the energy and effort that you have put into your Pokemon reality, and I'm just trying to catch up. I spent four hours almost 25 years ago, and you spent 4,000 hours. And I didn't know that I could invest in this ecosystem until 2016. It was a job that was a good job, a fun job that created something that was great, but I didn't understand it

until I invested in your imagination and what you've experienced. And I have gratitude for your experience and your selfless joy, whatever you, I'm saying 4,000 hours, might it be more than that, that you spent on Pokemon as a child. And that experience of loving something as a child and then having, the ability to carry it into adulthood is very, very rare.

until I invested in your imagination and what you've experienced. And I have gratitude for your experience and your selfless joy, whatever you, I'm saying 4,000 hours, might it be more than that, that you spent on Pokemon as a child. And that experience of loving something as a child and then having, the ability to carry it into adulthood is very, very rare.

I can carry some of my Speed Racer enthusiasm, but there's not enough content for me to really be an adult and still be loving Speed Racer or even like Matchbox cars. Like, cause I was very into the Matchbox cars and all those crazy tracks that you could build, but there's not enough content to bring that into my adulthood and actually create adult content about Matchbox cars.

I can carry some of my Speed Racer enthusiasm, but there's not enough content for me to really be an adult and still be loving Speed Racer or even like Matchbox cars. Like, cause I was very into the Matchbox cars and all those crazy tracks that you could build, but there's not enough content to bring that into my adulthood and actually create adult content about Matchbox cars.

but the Pokemon generation is Pokemon. Pokemon puts out this thing, but then the generation of people that grew up on it and loved it really create the ecosystem. Pokemon may be a hundred billion dollar company, but the Pokemon ecosystem of people that are not associated with Pokemon in an official way are probably in the trillions of dollars.

but the Pokemon generation is Pokemon. Pokemon puts out this thing, but then the generation of people that grew up on it and loved it really create the ecosystem. Pokemon may be a hundred billion dollar company, but the Pokemon ecosystem of people that are not associated with Pokemon in an official way are probably in the trillions of dollars.

because of the content they create and the peer to peer experience that they have with each other, the love they share, the trading. So I'm really just I'm really just swimming in that love. And that pool of love is vast and varied and really beautiful. And that's the goal of any artist, of art, is to impact the world in a loving, positive, powerful way.

because of the content they create and the peer to peer experience that they have with each other, the love they share, the trading. So I'm really just I'm really just swimming in that love. And that pool of love is vast and varied and really beautiful. And that's the goal of any artist, of art, is to impact the world in a loving, positive, powerful way.

And I started going... I'm one of the original beatboxers before the current trend of dudes that are just blowing me away. I used to be the best beatboxer I knew. And now these guys are just, they got all kinds of... D-Lo is...

And I started going... I'm one of the original beatboxers before the current trend of dudes that are just blowing me away. I used to be the best beatboxer I knew. And now these guys are just, they got all kinds of... D-Lo is...

And that intention is behind everything I do in the same way that I'm intending that for this interview and your followers and your viewers to feel that. From you. And that's your intention in your interview, to bring the best that you are to the world. So this is just, it's an amazing thing. And it doesn't happen from one person or one Jingle House or one writer.

And that intention is behind everything I do in the same way that I'm intending that for this interview and your followers and your viewers to feel that. From you. And that's your intention in your interview, to bring the best that you are to the world. So this is just, it's an amazing thing. And it doesn't happen from one person or one Jingle House or one writer.

It happens from a billion people all around. Investing their energy in something that they love to create value for each other. So, you know, I can't say enough. I mean, no amount of money is equal to this giant pool of love that's out there. And I can probably swim in it for the rest of my life and only see a very tiny percentage of it.

It happens from a billion people all around. Investing their energy in something that they love to create value for each other. So, you know, I can't say enough. I mean, no amount of money is equal to this giant pool of love that's out there. And I can probably swim in it for the rest of my life and only see a very tiny percentage of it.

that there are going to be more fan spinoffs of Ash and Pikachu moving on in ways that they should have a long time ago. And we're going to see a lot of great content coming out from people. And some of them may contact me to sing the theme song to the Ash when he gets his facial hair. And when he gets married, I'm singing the song at Ash's wedding.

that there are going to be more fan spinoffs of Ash and Pikachu moving on in ways that they should have a long time ago. And we're going to see a lot of great content coming out from people. And some of them may contact me to sing the theme song to the Ash when he gets his facial hair. And when he gets married, I'm singing the song at Ash's wedding.

And, you know, there's all kinds of stuff that's going to happen. Can't wait for that. That's going to be, you know, yeah, there'll be and it'll be in VR and a metaverse of, you know, Pokemon like creatures or something. I don't know. Lots of stuff is happening. I'm, you know, I am here to serve many different, many different companies, many different motives.

And, you know, there's all kinds of stuff that's going to happen. Can't wait for that. That's going to be, you know, yeah, there'll be and it'll be in VR and a metaverse of, you know, Pokemon like creatures or something. I don't know. Lots of stuff is happening. I'm, you know, I am here to serve many different, many different companies, many different motives.

And and there's quite a few of them in the Pokemon ecosystem that are really beautiful.

And and there's quite a few of them in the Pokemon ecosystem that are really beautiful.

Yeah. I think at this point there are – more tools for the creator than there ever have been. And I need advice from the new creators that are finding the tools like you are. My creative process had to go through the legacy systems back in the day, cassette tapes that were handing out at actual jingle houses that we got a knock on the door.

Yeah. I think at this point there are – more tools for the creator than there ever have been. And I need advice from the new creators that are finding the tools like you are. My creative process had to go through the legacy systems back in the day, cassette tapes that were handing out at actual jingle houses that we got a knock on the door.

unbelievable this guy but uh i started beatboxing backstage with my my friend who wrote russ russ irwin wrote the legomania song with me oh wow um he became the keyboard player of aerosmith we started rehearsing backstage steven tyler and him are warming up i show up and uh they're going warming up and i go and i started beatboxing during that and steven was like yo What the fuck? Oh, my God.

unbelievable this guy but uh i started beatboxing backstage with my my friend who wrote russ russ irwin wrote the legomania song with me oh wow um he became the keyboard player of aerosmith we started rehearsing backstage steven tyler and him are warming up i show up and uh they're going warming up and i go and i started beatboxing during that and steven was like yo What the fuck? Oh, my God.

That's what the modern-day BandLab or TikTok and all of these new platforms are. They allow everybody to do it from their houses and not have to go to New York, knock on doors with cassette tapes they can play. make their own content on their phone.

That's what the modern-day BandLab or TikTok and all of these new platforms are. They allow everybody to do it from their houses and not have to go to New York, knock on doors with cassette tapes they can play. make their own content on their phone.

So my advice is to use all these new platforms to spread the art that you love to make and do what you love so that you have enough energy to do it enough to build your own community of people that support you. And you don't need 2 billion people to support you. You will need a very small amount of people to support you in your craft. And you can keep it pure. You can keep it close to your heart.

So my advice is to use all these new platforms to spread the art that you love to make and do what you love so that you have enough energy to do it enough to build your own community of people that support you. And you don't need 2 billion people to support you. You will need a very small amount of people to support you in your craft. And you can keep it pure. You can keep it close to your heart.

You can keep it uncorrupted. like the world has been for so many years, which is why we have so much great content coming out on these platforms because people can do what they want in their private realities from anywhere in the world.

You can keep it uncorrupted. like the world has been for so many years, which is why we have so much great content coming out on these platforms because people can do what they want in their private realities from anywhere in the world.

And we're seeing it and I'm stuck on it whenever I start swiping, I'm just loving this amazing, the singing, the beatboxing, the art, the creativity that's happening is unparalleled in history.

And we're seeing it and I'm stuck on it whenever I start swiping, I'm just loving this amazing, the singing, the beatboxing, the art, the creativity that's happening is unparalleled in history.

uh because it's it's happening from so many people at the same time as opposed to just in the creative centers where you'd have to move to do it so you know my advice is figure figure it out on your own and then contact me and tell me what worked for you because there's lots of ways to do it and lots of things are working i wanted to ask because this is just something i'm curious about what is uh what is sag exactly and how does it work

uh because it's it's happening from so many people at the same time as opposed to just in the creative centers where you'd have to move to do it so you know my advice is figure figure it out on your own and then contact me and tell me what worked for you because there's lots of ways to do it and lots of things are working i wanted to ask because this is just something i'm curious about what is uh what is sag exactly and how does it work

Well, when you get old, you know, your skin just kind of hangs. It's gravity pulling on you.

Well, when you get old, you know, your skin just kind of hangs. It's gravity pulling on you.

The Screen Actors Guild is a way to protect actors from unscrupulous producers who will abuse and use actors. Back in the day, there were a lot of people being abused by Broadway theater producers. I mean, prior to TV and film.

The Screen Actors Guild is a way to protect actors from unscrupulous producers who will abuse and use actors. Back in the day, there were a lot of people being abused by Broadway theater producers. I mean, prior to TV and film.

And they created an actor's union and the actor's union said, you know, you have to get paid this much and the workers have to have a break that's this long and you have to have the proper whatever, all the kinds of safety things that need to go down. Unions protecting people. I think SAG has over 250,000 members in the Screen Actors Guild and only 5,000 of them make more than 50 grand a year.

And they created an actor's union and the actor's union said, you know, you have to get paid this much and the workers have to have a break that's this long and you have to have the proper whatever, all the kinds of safety things that need to go down. Unions protecting people. I think SAG has over 250,000 members in the Screen Actors Guild and only 5,000 of them make more than 50 grand a year.

Wow. So most of those people are just trying to get work. or getting just a little bit of work. So now that the world is spread out onto all the social media platforms, I think they're having a harder time containing the talent because now it's everywhere. And they're not making as much movie money on the box office releases and stuff.

Wow. So most of those people are just trying to get work. or getting just a little bit of work. So now that the world is spread out onto all the social media platforms, I think they're having a harder time containing the talent because now it's everywhere. And they're not making as much movie money on the box office releases and stuff.

But it's a way to protect actors from unscrupulous producers, basically.

But it's a way to protect actors from unscrupulous producers, basically.

Um, well, like I said their auditions at first their sag gives you a if it's a sag signatory And they're they're they're going the sag route They have a demo fee that they pay and that demo is just an audition for the final when it goes final depending on how often it runs That's how they pay the the residuals and on what on what networks and how many people are supposedly watching those programs and

Um, well, like I said their auditions at first their sag gives you a if it's a sag signatory And they're they're they're going the sag route They have a demo fee that they pay and that demo is just an audition for the final when it goes final depending on how often it runs That's how they pay the the residuals and on what on what networks and how many people are supposedly watching those programs and

Because, you know, people didn't really get to experience beatboxers that much back in 2000. And actually, it was 1998. Wow. When this was happening. So I've been beatboxing for a very long time. At that point, for at least 10 years in my bands and my own internal projects. So when I started beatboxing, he fucking lost his mind. He said, you got to come out on stage and fucking beatbox during Pink.

Because, you know, people didn't really get to experience beatboxers that much back in 2000. And actually, it was 1998. Wow. When this was happening. So I've been beatboxing for a very long time. At that point, for at least 10 years in my bands and my own internal projects. So when I started beatboxing, he fucking lost his mind. He said, you got to come out on stage and fucking beatbox during Pink.

So you would get the major platforms would all be governed by SAG and be harder to get it through if it wasn't a SAG project. But there's always, people are trying to cut corners always and pay less money for more content. And that's just going to be how business is done, you know? Efficiency.

So you would get the major platforms would all be governed by SAG and be harder to get it through if it wasn't a SAG project. But there's always, people are trying to cut corners always and pay less money for more content. And that's just going to be how business is done, you know? Efficiency.

I get called for sessions like the Muppet movie session where I sang, Life's a happy song when there's someone by your side to sing along in a group as Kermit. And then I sang, Life's a fillet of fish as this character. Life's like a lamb as the butcher.

I get called for sessions like the Muppet movie session where I sang, Life's a happy song when there's someone by your side to sing along in a group as Kermit. And then I sang, Life's a fillet of fish as this character. Life's like a lamb as the butcher.

life's a bunch of highs as the you know the stoner dude and that's so cool you know all these different characters so i'm an efficient way for a company to save money because i can do 10 20 different characters for the cost of one dude and and those are sag jobs as well

life's a bunch of highs as the you know the stoner dude and that's so cool you know all these different characters so i'm an efficient way for a company to save money because i can do 10 20 different characters for the cost of one dude and and those are sag jobs as well

Well, definitely look out for that Legomania, Legomania remake, because that's going to be really cool. It's going to be a, and I wrote that, like I said, with my partner, Russ Irwin, and New York Jam, the Jingle House. And it will connect with people's childhoods again and give them that nostalgic feeling.

Well, definitely look out for that Legomania, Legomania remake, because that's going to be really cool. It's going to be a, and I wrote that, like I said, with my partner, Russ Irwin, and New York Jam, the Jingle House. And it will connect with people's childhoods again and give them that nostalgic feeling.

And once again, go to my channels, subscribe, become a follower, and come see me live at multiple events that I'll be performing at next year. Collecticon, the best con for Pokemon card collectors. I'll be at all of those. Vanilla Ice will be performing with me, and Steve Aoki is now slated to be at a couple of those as well. So, you know, just keep sharing the song. Let people know I'm the dude.

And once again, go to my channels, subscribe, become a follower, and come see me live at multiple events that I'll be performing at next year. Collecticon, the best con for Pokemon card collectors. I'll be at all of those. Vanilla Ice will be performing with me, and Steve Aoki is now slated to be at a couple of those as well. So, you know, just keep sharing the song. Let people know I'm the dude.

You can go to my website and you can get autographed materials and other things like this autographed bass set, unlimited pack that PSA actually slabs and authenticates, which is really cool. And any other cards that you want, you can send stuff in. People send in all kinds of crazy items for me to sign. Like these Pokemon room greeters. Which, well, the batteries are dead.

You can go to my website and you can get autographed materials and other things like this autographed bass set, unlimited pack that PSA actually slabs and authenticates, which is really cool. And any other cards that you want, you can send stuff in. People send in all kinds of crazy items for me to sign. Like these Pokemon room greeters. Which, well, the batteries are dead.

That's your voice, right? Yeah, that's my voice on there. Amazing. And, you know, check out the Sea-Watch. Old school Sea-Watch. That used to play the song before the batteries died on that one as well.

That's your voice, right? Yeah, that's my voice on there. Amazing. And, you know, check out the Sea-Watch. Old school Sea-Watch. That used to play the song before the batteries died on that one as well.

Thank you, man. I'm really glad you're here and be the very best like no one ever was.

Thank you, man. I'm really glad you're here and be the very best like no one ever was.

Oh, yes, yes.

Oh, yes, yes.

I need a keychain. Check me out. Wow, I didn't know that was, that's sick. I'm just like, yeah, there we go. There we go. Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it.

I need a keychain. Check me out. Wow, I didn't know that was, that's sick. I'm just like, yeah, there we go. There we go. Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it.

All right. Thank you so much. Excellent. Catch them all, you guys. Catch them all. And we're out, out, out, and we're out.

All right. Thank you so much. Excellent. Catch them all, you guys. Catch them all. And we're out, out, out, and we're out.

And I was like, yeah, yeah, sure. And he went, told the band. He was like, you guys stop right here. And then, Joe, you just keep the drums going.

And I was like, yeah, yeah, sure. And he went, told the band. He was like, you guys stop right here. And then, Joe, you just keep the drums going.

And we're out.

And we're out.

The Pokemon ecosystem of people are probably in the trillions.

The Pokemon ecosystem of people are probably in the trillions.

And then you cut off the drums and let him do the beat. And I'll come over, get him a mic. And I was like, what? Really? He was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll do it. And I was up there on the side of the stage thinking, oh, he's going to forget. They're not going to really do that. And sure enough... 25,000 people in an outdoor arena in Hartford, I think it was. Wow.

And then you cut off the drums and let him do the beat. And I'll come over, get him a mic. And I was like, what? Really? He was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll do it. And I was up there on the side of the stage thinking, oh, he's going to forget. They're not going to really do that. And sure enough... 25,000 people in an outdoor arena in Hartford, I think it was. Wow.

He came over, handed me the mic. I went out on the stage. Unbelievable moment. And then it led to many more moments with Aerosmith beatboxing on the Howard Stern Show, on WNEW, on some live recordings. And then every time Aerosmith would be in town or I'd be in a town that they were in, I would jump on stage and beatbox.

He came over, handed me the mic. I went out on the stage. Unbelievable moment. And then it led to many more moments with Aerosmith beatboxing on the Howard Stern Show, on WNEW, on some live recordings. And then every time Aerosmith would be in town or I'd be in a town that they were in, I would jump on stage and beatbox.

That's correct.

That's correct.

Well, this band that I had was called the What's Up the Band, and we got dropped from our label, as most bands do, You know, back in the day.

Well, this band that I had was called the What's Up the Band, and we got dropped from our label, as most bands do, You know, back in the day.

A lot of people. Yeah, yeah.

A lot of people. Yeah, yeah.

It's a very common story. We retained the Masters after we were dropped and we started playing in New York City to try to build our following. And our following was building. The band kind of had some internal problems, broke up and became a TV show. And that TV show on public access, Manhattan Public Access, was a huge, huge hit.

It's a very common story. We retained the Masters after we were dropped and we started playing in New York City to try to build our following. And our following was building. The band kind of had some internal problems, broke up and became a TV show. And that TV show on public access, Manhattan Public Access, was a huge, huge hit.

Back in the day, there was 18 cable TV channels and we were number 19. It was like YouTube before YouTube, right? YouTube before YouTube. Wow. Pretty much. Pretty much. All of the crazy, jackass, skits, weird, real-world stuff that was happening on our TV show is what the whole YouTube world manifested into. So Russ and I were in this What's Up TV show. We said, let's start a jingle house.

Back in the day, there was 18 cable TV channels and we were number 19. It was like YouTube before YouTube, right? YouTube before YouTube. Wow. Pretty much. Pretty much. All of the crazy, jackass, skits, weird, real-world stuff that was happening on our TV show is what the whole YouTube world manifested into. So Russ and I were in this What's Up TV show. We said, let's start a jingle house.

Let's write jingles. We made a fake jingle reel of just products that we just made up. They weren't even 30 seconds. They were just like, you know…

Let's write jingles. We made a fake jingle reel of just products that we just made up. They weren't even 30 seconds. They were just like, you know…

When you want the purest water you can think of, try Evian. And we had music underneath. We did a little... Oh, wow. We made our own fake jingles, various lengths, put them on a cassette tape, and started circulating it to jingle houses.

When you want the purest water you can think of, try Evian. And we had music underneath. We did a little... Oh, wow. We made our own fake jingles, various lengths, put them on a cassette tape, and started circulating it to jingle houses.

No, in a cassette tape form. Pre-CDs at this point. Dropping off cassette tapes at Jingle Houses with this seven song reel with fake commercials that we made up to show a variety of skills and styles that we could play. Russ is a virtuoso, keyboard can play any style, had a home studio and we would be doing all kinds of styles

No, in a cassette tape form. Pre-CDs at this point. Dropping off cassette tapes at Jingle Houses with this seven song reel with fake commercials that we made up to show a variety of skills and styles that we could play. Russ is a virtuoso, keyboard can play any style, had a home studio and we would be doing all kinds of styles

on this tape, dropped it off, and then started getting hired by the Jingle Houses to produce some of these jingles. And then we landed Legomania, Legomania, which we're gonna, like I said, we're gonna bring that one back very soon with a full remix that's two and a half minutes.

on this tape, dropped it off, and then started getting hired by the Jingle Houses to produce some of these jingles. And then we landed Legomania, Legomania, which we're gonna, like I said, we're gonna bring that one back very soon with a full remix that's two and a half minutes.

One of the houses that we worked at, Rave Music, had done the Domino's Pizza Delivers, and I've done other sessions for them, and was hired as a singer for them, and they knew that my voice type was the correct voice type. When they got the assignment to do the Pokemon theme song, they called me in.

One of the houses that we worked at, Rave Music, had done the Domino's Pizza Delivers, and I've done other sessions for them, and was hired as a singer for them, and they knew that my voice type was the correct voice type. When they got the assignment to do the Pokemon theme song, they called me in.

And in the jingle world, everything is kind of like a paid audition, a paid demo, which is an audition for it going final. So... They call the people in and make the thing sound like what they think it needs to sound like with the proper metrics that are delivered to them by the company. In this case, it was catch him if you can. They didn't even have the Gotta Catch Em All at that point.

And in the jingle world, everything is kind of like a paid audition, a paid demo, which is an audition for it going final. So... They call the people in and make the thing sound like what they think it needs to sound like with the proper metrics that are delivered to them by the company. In this case, it was catch him if you can. They didn't even have the Gotta Catch Em All at that point.

So we recorded Catch Em If You Can and sent it back in to them. And they went through their people. And maybe they even did some testing. I'm not sure. But the Catch Em If You Can was eventually scrapped.

So we recorded Catch Em If You Can and sent it back in to them. And they went through their people. And maybe they even did some testing. I'm not sure. But the Catch Em If You Can was eventually scrapped.

And then that became the TV show's... chosen tag. It went on the TV show. The TV show became huge. And then they wanted to make a record, so they had to write a guitar solo and a second verse and re-record it and add a whole bunch of other songs to it. So all of the Jingle Houses went to work producing songs, including Rave, which is Paradise at that point.

And then that became the TV show's... chosen tag. It went on the TV show. The TV show became huge. And then they wanted to make a record, so they had to write a guitar solo and a second verse and re-record it and add a whole bunch of other songs to it. So all of the Jingle Houses went to work producing songs, including Rave, which is Paradise at that point.

Also, the guys at New York Jam that we had done the Legomania theme song with wrote one of the songs on the album, which was

Also, the guys at New York Jam that we had done the Legomania theme song with wrote one of the songs on the album, which was

I gotta have my effects when I break into song. So New York Jam did Viridian City and the Paradise Rave music guys, Leffler and Sigler, who had written the Pokemon theme song and produced for the TV show, did the Pokemon extended version. And the rest is history. Oh, well, it's not history. There's tons of other things that happened. Radio Disney picked it up.

I gotta have my effects when I break into song. So New York Jam did Viridian City and the Paradise Rave music guys, Leffler and Sigler, who had written the Pokemon theme song and produced for the TV show, did the Pokemon extended version. And the rest is history. Oh, well, it's not history. There's tons of other things that happened. Radio Disney picked it up.

People started, it got on these videotapes. Millions and millions of these videotapes were distributed because that's how you distributed things that you couldn't instantly get on TV. The movie featured the song. And... It started running in people's minds when they were playing the cards and when they were playing the games.

People started, it got on these videotapes. Millions and millions of these videotapes were distributed because that's how you distributed things that you couldn't instantly get on TV. The movie featured the song. And... It started running in people's minds when they were playing the cards and when they were playing the games.

And it became this phenomenon because of all of the imaginative process of all the people that were involved in the Pokemon ecosystem at that time. And the kids that were just hooked to this thing. And now those kids are grown up and they are creating content. And it's still cycling in their minds no matter how many other theme songs they replaced the original one with. Which is crazy, by the way.

And it became this phenomenon because of all of the imaginative process of all the people that were involved in the Pokemon ecosystem at that time. And the kids that were just hooked to this thing. And now those kids are grown up and they are creating content. And it's still cycling in their minds no matter how many other theme songs they replaced the original one with. Which is crazy, by the way.

With like 15 or 16 of them. I recently watched a YouTube video of them. And there's a couple of them that are really good, actually.

With like 15 or 16 of them. I recently watched a YouTube video of them. And there's a couple of them that are really good, actually.

The first session was, you get the brief, we wanted to sound like a young rock kid. And we watched the Japanese TV show, a clips of it, but it's not dubbed yet. So we're just kind of getting the vibe.

The first session was, you get the brief, we wanted to sound like a young rock kid. And we watched the Japanese TV show, a clips of it, but it's not dubbed yet. So we're just kind of getting the vibe.

yet right because they didn't have the theme oh the japanese show did have a theme and it was occur we didn't hear the japanese theme we're creating the english theme but it was we were told it was popular in japan and and here's what it looks like and it kind of looked like go speed racer go speed racer go

yet right because they didn't have the theme oh the japanese show did have a theme and it was occur we didn't hear the japanese theme we're creating the english theme but it was we were told it was popular in japan and and here's what it looks like and it kind of looked like go speed racer go speed racer go

and Speed Racer was my jam, so I was like, oh, kind of looks like Speed Racer, that kind of vibe. Didn't really understand what anime was, but the job of the jingle singer and the job of the human being, not just the jingle singer, is to invest themselves in every moment to its fullest.

and Speed Racer was my jam, so I was like, oh, kind of looks like Speed Racer, that kind of vibe. Didn't really understand what anime was, but the job of the jingle singer and the job of the human being, not just the jingle singer, is to invest themselves in every moment to its fullest.

Whether we're getting paid or not, we are here on this planet to go for it, to get as many views as possible, to hit the ball out of the park, to score that touchdown every single time on every single play. So in the jingle world, that's what's happening. What are we communicating here? What does the client want? And how can we best support the message that we are here to deliver?

Whether we're getting paid or not, we are here on this planet to go for it, to get as many views as possible, to hit the ball out of the park, to score that touchdown every single time on every single play. So in the jingle world, that's what's happening. What are we communicating here? What does the client want? And how can we best support the message that we are here to deliver?

Just like, what is the message I'm here to support in your channel? I'm there in the studio going, all right, how do we make this the very best? And, of course, the lyrics echo exactly what we had to do, which is to make it the very best. So that's kind of how I approach it when I go in. What do you want out of this and how can I support you in achieving that goal?

Just like, what is the message I'm here to support in your channel? I'm there in the studio going, all right, how do we make this the very best? And, of course, the lyrics echo exactly what we had to do, which is to make it the very best. So that's kind of how I approach it when I go in. What do you want out of this and how can I support you in achieving that goal?

So we see the TV show and we go in the studio and we cut this thing. This 30-second jingle takes a couple of hours.

So we see the TV show and we go in the studio and we cut this thing. This 30-second jingle takes a couple of hours.

It was a theme. You know, we call it a theme. But, you know, we're in the jingle world. We either call them music houses or jingle houses. But, you know, we want an earworm that everybody's going to remember. And the tag is even more important than the whole song often because it gets used over and over again.

It was a theme. You know, we call it a theme. But, you know, we're in the jingle world. We either call them music houses or jingle houses. But, you know, we want an earworm that everybody's going to remember. And the tag is even more important than the whole song often because it gets used over and over again.

That's it.

That's it.

Bam, that's it. That's really what we want.

Bam, that's it. That's really what we want.

Yeah. Then I don't recall exactly how long. It was probably a couple weeks later the revisions happened. And we go in and sing the Gotta catch them all! And we sing it multiple different takes, multiple different ways in the studio to give them lots of choices. I like to give them, as many choices as they want. You probably improvise some melodies.

Yeah. Then I don't recall exactly how long. It was probably a couple weeks later the revisions happened. And we go in and sing the Gotta catch them all! And we sing it multiple different takes, multiple different ways in the studio to give them lots of choices. I like to give them, as many choices as they want. You probably improvise some melodies.

Gotta catch em all! You know, and they go through it, they pick the comp it, pick the ones they want, and the one that they picked was... Gotta catch em all! Basically.

Gotta catch em all! You know, and they go through it, they pick the comp it, pick the ones they want, and the one that they picked was... Gotta catch em all! Basically.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. There's all kinds of improvisation throughout, you know, every session.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. There's all kinds of improvisation throughout, you know, every session.

I'm just this is something I'm curious about. You know, in you, in in the reality of of No, it does not because we're... It should. It should, but it doesn't because... It just doesn't. I mean, any more than I just did all these songs for you. I'm in the... I'm trying to serve... the project.

I'm just this is something I'm curious about. You know, in you, in in the reality of of No, it does not because we're... It should. It should, but it doesn't because... It just doesn't. I mean, any more than I just did all these songs for you. I'm in the... I'm trying to serve... the project.

And that's not really part of the deal to stop and say, hey, before we do this interview, we gotta sign this contract. I'm getting publishing for all the things that I've just created right here. For me, there is no reality. You cannot own music. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere.

And that's not really part of the deal to stop and say, hey, before we do this interview, we gotta sign this contract. I'm getting publishing for all the things that I've just created right here. For me, there is no reality. You cannot own music. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere.

It's in our speech, it's in our tone, it's in our rhythms, so... Though there is this thing called music publishing, it's really just borrowing from what already exists in nature. For sure. But yeah, in the real world, that would be a discussion that would have to be had before I did any improvs and before I did anything other than exactly what they told me to do.

It's in our speech, it's in our tone, it's in our rhythms, so... Though there is this thing called music publishing, it's really just borrowing from what already exists in nature. For sure. But yeah, in the real world, that would be a discussion that would have to be had before I did any improvs and before I did anything other than exactly what they told me to do.

How did you end up singing the Pokemon theme song? All kinds of different places contacted me and said, what's the story? One of the most famous songs ever. This song is going crazy right now.

It became the number one most viewed video on YouTube. Wow. I created a Pokemon Go theme song.

That's the thing that hooked them in the beginning and that stayed with everybody throughout their entire lives. I think, you know, when you mix it up too much, you lose people and they really want to identify with this one song. And it was the right song. lyric and the right song to sell the show, which it obviously did.

And then the show was sold after that, but the song remains in your head afterwards. And the song was also a big hit song in that sort of time period. It ended up on Billboard. It ended up on Billboard. It got its radio life and that cemented it in people's minds. So after that, you just, you know, it's like your first girlfriend. You just always remember her. Definitely.

They have their phone ringing with me. There's tons of people that phones ring and it is a Pokemon theme song. So might as well have some lyrics that make sense. Have you ever been out and about and heard that? I've heard not that one, but I've heard the Pokemon theme song come on people's phones when it rings.

Actually, I have, but it's my friends that had it. So not just randomly. It is available on my website. If you sign up for my newsletter, you get a free one.

Yes, it's in the works. We just did an EDM version that's really cool that I did with a DJ in the Netherlands named DJ Aino, A-I-N-0. The Netherlands votes on and they're voting. They've just completed the votes so far. On the top songs of all time in the Netherlands, that is. And for the past six years since Pokemon Go came out, the Pokemon theme song is in the top 200.

And Legomania, Legomania, which we're actually doing a remake of that's going to be out very soon with a full two and a half minute version of the Legomania theme song to blow your mind.

This year, I think it's number 140. And so the Netherlands is huge for the Pokemon theme song. The English version, not the Dutch version. And so we did this remix of... with this EDM incredible producer. And it's out there. Everybody can get it and download it off of all the major platforms.

Next year, I want to do one that, and I've already written the arrangements, that's kind of like a Bohemian Rhapsody type of version. It just goes into the choral part and the rap part and the breakdown and the ballad part and the rock part and the anthem part. I want to make the Pokemon theme song Like Bohemian Rhapsody. That's sick.

I think in this world, there's only a couple of songs that have this kind of an impact on humanity. And Bohemian Rhapsody is one of them.

What else can you compare it to? Bohemian Rhapsody doesn't have toys and games and cards and TV shows and all of that stuff. But it certainly has this appeal that has lasted a very long time globally. But not as pervasive as the Pokemon theme song. I don't know if you're getting the Bohemian Rhapsody in kindergartens in the Netherlands or, you know, in India in small little areas, remote India.

But you got Pokemon in those areas because they're contacting me to go to them. So you sing this song in 1997, 1998.

Oh, yeah. Yes. I mean, it was revisited by Smosh, and we saw that it generated YouTube's highest video count with Smosh making basically the music video for the theme song that never existed that I should have made. Instead, these two kids in their bedrooms made it, and it became the number one most viewed video on YouTube, almost up until the point where YouTube sold to Google for $5 billion.

Wow. I think it kind of broke their algorithm. YouTube just couldn't handle what was going on because it was such a great idea. Not Pokemon theme song by Smosh, but YouTube in and of itself. However, that was very much in part because of that stupid dancing guy video and the Smosh video that blew YouTube up. But yeah, that was definitely a moment of revisiting. I revisited it in 2008.

In the year 2000 when, I think that was when, 99, when it became a radio hit on Radio Disney and it was playing every time, every like 15 minutes they would be playing it again on Radio Disney. It was incredible.

Yes, it was the first official time I heard myself on the radio. My band was dropped, so we never actually got the band on the radio, but yeah. But I had heard myself on TV many, many times from all of the jingles that I had done.

Zero involvement up until the Ron Paul. And I have no involvement with actual Pokemon, the actual corporation. Only with the ecosystem and the fan communities and the Comic Cons. Which in 2012, 2016 when Pokemon Go came out, I started getting...

contacted by media organizations saying who's the dude that sings the you know what's what's the story what's the story because this the song was spiking on spotify new platforms and new sharing of this and the the kids that had it in their minds had finally grown up and wanted to know who I was. But in their minds throughout their lives, they hadn't really had that opportunity.

Yes, yes. Protection from gangsters and nations causing grief in human relations. Michael Jackson.

They weren't grown. They didn't have disposable income and they weren't customers to media organizations and buyers of the products that are advertised. So Billboard, TMZ, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, all kinds of different places contacted me and said, what's the story? this song is going crazy right now. And I told them the story, pretty much what I'm telling you today.

18 years of being trapped in a Pokeball. And I finally popped out in 2016 and started realizing this incredible ecosystem of creative people thriving in Comic-Cons and thriving in cosplay and thriving online with their own Pokemon channels and Pokemon music channels. And I wanted to create content for them because I thought, wow, this is amazing. This is an amazing opportunity.

Yes, I was the rapper in black and white during the Michael Jackson 30th anniversary. In addition to singing backgrounds for the whole show with the Jackson 5 and every all the all the crazy artists that were in there in the beginning of that show, which was amazing. And Aerosmith? Aerosmith, a friend of mine was a keyboard player for Aerosmith. We started hanging out backstage, warming up.

I created a Pokemon Go theme song. Those were some of the first people that were contacting me, people at Pokemon Go events that were producing.

Huge, massive. And they didn't know quite what to do, but they wanted me to be involved singing the song. So I was like, all right, well, I'll sing the theme song at your Pokemon Go event and I'll create another Pokemon Go song because there wasn't a good Pokemon Go song. There was that kid, I play Pokemon Go. Horrible, horrible thing.

Which, of course, is way more viral than my Pokemon Go song, which is excellent. You guys can check that out. It's an amazing...

sister to the theme song that uh that it's doing all right now but uh once again one billion people have downloaded the pokemon go app and only 300 000 have watched the youtube video of the pokemon go theme song so we got to get that one blown up on the on the you know spotify and all of those platforms as well

I have profound gratitude for the energy and effort that you have put into your Pokemon reality, and I'm just trying to catch up. I spent four hours almost 25 years ago, and you spent 4,000 hours. And I didn't know that I could invest in this ecosystem until 2016. It was a job that was a good job, a fun job that created something that was great, but I didn't understand it

until I invested in your imagination and what you've experienced. And I have gratitude for your experience and your selfless joy, whatever you, I'm saying 4,000 hours, might it be more than that, that you spent on Pokemon as a child. And that experience of loving something as a child and then having, the ability to carry it into adulthood is very, very rare.

I can carry some of my Speed Racer enthusiasm, but there's not enough content for me to really be an adult and still be loving Speed Racer or even like Matchbox cars. Like, cause I was very into the Matchbox cars and all those crazy tracks that you could build, but there's not enough content to bring that into my adulthood and actually create adult content about Matchbox cars.

but the Pokemon generation is Pokemon. Pokemon puts out this thing, but then the generation of people that grew up on it and loved it really create the ecosystem. Pokemon may be a hundred billion dollar company, but the Pokemon ecosystem of people that are not associated with Pokemon in an official way are probably in the trillions of dollars.

because of the content they create and the peer to peer experience that they have with each other, the love they share, the trading. So I'm really just I'm really just swimming in that love. And that pool of love is vast and varied and really beautiful. And that's the goal of any artist, of art, is to impact the world in a loving, positive, powerful way.

And I started going... I'm one of the original beatboxers before the current trend of dudes that are just blowing me away. I used to be the best beatboxer I knew. And now these guys are just, they got all kinds of... D-Lo is...

And that intention is behind everything I do in the same way that I'm intending that for this interview and your followers and your viewers to feel that. From you. And that's your intention in your interview, to bring the best that you are to the world. So this is just, it's an amazing thing. And it doesn't happen from one person or one Jingle House or one writer.

It happens from a billion people all around. Investing their energy in something that they love to create value for each other. So, you know, I can't say enough. I mean, no amount of money is equal to this giant pool of love that's out there. And I can probably swim in it for the rest of my life and only see a very tiny percentage of it.

that there are going to be more fan spinoffs of Ash and Pikachu moving on in ways that they should have a long time ago. And we're going to see a lot of great content coming out from people. And some of them may contact me to sing the theme song to the Ash when he gets his facial hair. And when he gets married, I'm singing the song at Ash's wedding.

And, you know, there's all kinds of stuff that's going to happen. Can't wait for that. That's going to be, you know, yeah, there'll be and it'll be in VR and a metaverse of, you know, Pokemon like creatures or something. I don't know. Lots of stuff is happening. I'm, you know, I am here to serve many different, many different companies, many different motives.

And and there's quite a few of them in the Pokemon ecosystem that are really beautiful.

Yeah. I think at this point there are – more tools for the creator than there ever have been. And I need advice from the new creators that are finding the tools like you are. My creative process had to go through the legacy systems back in the day, cassette tapes that were handing out at actual jingle houses that we got a knock on the door.

unbelievable this guy but uh i started beatboxing backstage with my my friend who wrote russ russ irwin wrote the legomania song with me oh wow um he became the keyboard player of aerosmith we started rehearsing backstage steven tyler and him are warming up i show up and uh they're going warming up and i go and i started beatboxing during that and steven was like yo What the fuck? Oh, my God.

That's what the modern-day BandLab or TikTok and all of these new platforms are. They allow everybody to do it from their houses and not have to go to New York, knock on doors with cassette tapes they can play. make their own content on their phone.

So my advice is to use all these new platforms to spread the art that you love to make and do what you love so that you have enough energy to do it enough to build your own community of people that support you. And you don't need 2 billion people to support you. You will need a very small amount of people to support you in your craft. And you can keep it pure. You can keep it close to your heart.

You can keep it uncorrupted. like the world has been for so many years, which is why we have so much great content coming out on these platforms because people can do what they want in their private realities from anywhere in the world.

And we're seeing it and I'm stuck on it whenever I start swiping, I'm just loving this amazing, the singing, the beatboxing, the art, the creativity that's happening is unparalleled in history.

uh because it's it's happening from so many people at the same time as opposed to just in the creative centers where you'd have to move to do it so you know my advice is figure figure it out on your own and then contact me and tell me what worked for you because there's lots of ways to do it and lots of things are working i wanted to ask because this is just something i'm curious about what is uh what is sag exactly and how does it work

Well, when you get old, you know, your skin just kind of hangs. It's gravity pulling on you.

The Screen Actors Guild is a way to protect actors from unscrupulous producers who will abuse and use actors. Back in the day, there were a lot of people being abused by Broadway theater producers. I mean, prior to TV and film.

And they created an actor's union and the actor's union said, you know, you have to get paid this much and the workers have to have a break that's this long and you have to have the proper whatever, all the kinds of safety things that need to go down. Unions protecting people. I think SAG has over 250,000 members in the Screen Actors Guild and only 5,000 of them make more than 50 grand a year.

Wow. So most of those people are just trying to get work. or getting just a little bit of work. So now that the world is spread out onto all the social media platforms, I think they're having a harder time containing the talent because now it's everywhere. And they're not making as much movie money on the box office releases and stuff.

But it's a way to protect actors from unscrupulous producers, basically.

Um, well, like I said their auditions at first their sag gives you a if it's a sag signatory And they're they're they're going the sag route They have a demo fee that they pay and that demo is just an audition for the final when it goes final depending on how often it runs That's how they pay the the residuals and on what on what networks and how many people are supposedly watching those programs and

Because, you know, people didn't really get to experience beatboxers that much back in 2000. And actually, it was 1998. Wow. When this was happening. So I've been beatboxing for a very long time. At that point, for at least 10 years in my bands and my own internal projects. So when I started beatboxing, he fucking lost his mind. He said, you got to come out on stage and fucking beatbox during Pink.

So you would get the major platforms would all be governed by SAG and be harder to get it through if it wasn't a SAG project. But there's always, people are trying to cut corners always and pay less money for more content. And that's just going to be how business is done, you know? Efficiency.

I get called for sessions like the Muppet movie session where I sang, Life's a happy song when there's someone by your side to sing along in a group as Kermit. And then I sang, Life's a fillet of fish as this character. Life's like a lamb as the butcher.

life's a bunch of highs as the you know the stoner dude and that's so cool you know all these different characters so i'm an efficient way for a company to save money because i can do 10 20 different characters for the cost of one dude and and those are sag jobs as well

Well, definitely look out for that Legomania, Legomania remake, because that's going to be really cool. It's going to be a, and I wrote that, like I said, with my partner, Russ Irwin, and New York Jam, the Jingle House. And it will connect with people's childhoods again and give them that nostalgic feeling.

And once again, go to my channels, subscribe, become a follower, and come see me live at multiple events that I'll be performing at next year. Collecticon, the best con for Pokemon card collectors. I'll be at all of those. Vanilla Ice will be performing with me, and Steve Aoki is now slated to be at a couple of those as well. So, you know, just keep sharing the song. Let people know I'm the dude.

You can go to my website and you can get autographed materials and other things like this autographed bass set, unlimited pack that PSA actually slabs and authenticates, which is really cool. And any other cards that you want, you can send stuff in. People send in all kinds of crazy items for me to sign. Like these Pokemon room greeters. Which, well, the batteries are dead.

That's your voice, right? Yeah, that's my voice on there. Amazing. And, you know, check out the Sea-Watch. Old school Sea-Watch. That used to play the song before the batteries died on that one as well.

Thank you, man. I'm really glad you're here and be the very best like no one ever was.

Oh, yes, yes.

I need a keychain. Check me out. Wow, I didn't know that was, that's sick. I'm just like, yeah, there we go. There we go. Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it.

All right. Thank you so much. Excellent. Catch them all, you guys. Catch them all. And we're out, out, out, and we're out.

And I was like, yeah, yeah, sure. And he went, told the band. He was like, you guys stop right here. And then, Joe, you just keep the drums going.

And we're out.

The Pokemon ecosystem of people are probably in the trillions.

And then you cut off the drums and let him do the beat. And I'll come over, get him a mic. And I was like, what? Really? He was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll do it. And I was up there on the side of the stage thinking, oh, he's going to forget. They're not going to really do that. And sure enough... 25,000 people in an outdoor arena in Hartford, I think it was. Wow.

He came over, handed me the mic. I went out on the stage. Unbelievable moment. And then it led to many more moments with Aerosmith beatboxing on the Howard Stern Show, on WNEW, on some live recordings. And then every time Aerosmith would be in town or I'd be in a town that they were in, I would jump on stage and beatbox.

That's correct.

Well, this band that I had was called the What's Up the Band, and we got dropped from our label, as most bands do, You know, back in the day.

A lot of people. Yeah, yeah.

It's a very common story. We retained the Masters after we were dropped and we started playing in New York City to try to build our following. And our following was building. The band kind of had some internal problems, broke up and became a TV show. And that TV show on public access, Manhattan Public Access, was a huge, huge hit.

Back in the day, there was 18 cable TV channels and we were number 19. It was like YouTube before YouTube, right? YouTube before YouTube. Wow. Pretty much. Pretty much. All of the crazy, jackass, skits, weird, real-world stuff that was happening on our TV show is what the whole YouTube world manifested into. So Russ and I were in this What's Up TV show. We said, let's start a jingle house.

Let's write jingles. We made a fake jingle reel of just products that we just made up. They weren't even 30 seconds. They were just like, you know…

When you want the purest water you can think of, try Evian. And we had music underneath. We did a little... Oh, wow. We made our own fake jingles, various lengths, put them on a cassette tape, and started circulating it to jingle houses.

No, in a cassette tape form. Pre-CDs at this point. Dropping off cassette tapes at Jingle Houses with this seven song reel with fake commercials that we made up to show a variety of skills and styles that we could play. Russ is a virtuoso, keyboard can play any style, had a home studio and we would be doing all kinds of styles

on this tape, dropped it off, and then started getting hired by the Jingle Houses to produce some of these jingles. And then we landed Legomania, Legomania, which we're gonna, like I said, we're gonna bring that one back very soon with a full remix that's two and a half minutes.

One of the houses that we worked at, Rave Music, had done the Domino's Pizza Delivers, and I've done other sessions for them, and was hired as a singer for them, and they knew that my voice type was the correct voice type. When they got the assignment to do the Pokemon theme song, they called me in.

And in the jingle world, everything is kind of like a paid audition, a paid demo, which is an audition for it going final. So... They call the people in and make the thing sound like what they think it needs to sound like with the proper metrics that are delivered to them by the company. In this case, it was catch him if you can. They didn't even have the Gotta Catch Em All at that point.

So we recorded Catch Em If You Can and sent it back in to them. And they went through their people. And maybe they even did some testing. I'm not sure. But the Catch Em If You Can was eventually scrapped.

And then that became the TV show's... chosen tag. It went on the TV show. The TV show became huge. And then they wanted to make a record, so they had to write a guitar solo and a second verse and re-record it and add a whole bunch of other songs to it. So all of the Jingle Houses went to work producing songs, including Rave, which is Paradise at that point.

Also, the guys at New York Jam that we had done the Legomania theme song with wrote one of the songs on the album, which was

I gotta have my effects when I break into song. So New York Jam did Viridian City and the Paradise Rave music guys, Leffler and Sigler, who had written the Pokemon theme song and produced for the TV show, did the Pokemon extended version. And the rest is history. Oh, well, it's not history. There's tons of other things that happened. Radio Disney picked it up.

People started, it got on these videotapes. Millions and millions of these videotapes were distributed because that's how you distributed things that you couldn't instantly get on TV. The movie featured the song. And... It started running in people's minds when they were playing the cards and when they were playing the games.

And it became this phenomenon because of all of the imaginative process of all the people that were involved in the Pokemon ecosystem at that time. And the kids that were just hooked to this thing. And now those kids are grown up and they are creating content. And it's still cycling in their minds no matter how many other theme songs they replaced the original one with. Which is crazy, by the way.

With like 15 or 16 of them. I recently watched a YouTube video of them. And there's a couple of them that are really good, actually.

The first session was, you get the brief, we wanted to sound like a young rock kid. And we watched the Japanese TV show, a clips of it, but it's not dubbed yet. So we're just kind of getting the vibe.

yet right because they didn't have the theme oh the japanese show did have a theme and it was occur we didn't hear the japanese theme we're creating the english theme but it was we were told it was popular in japan and and here's what it looks like and it kind of looked like go speed racer go speed racer go

and Speed Racer was my jam, so I was like, oh, kind of looks like Speed Racer, that kind of vibe. Didn't really understand what anime was, but the job of the jingle singer and the job of the human being, not just the jingle singer, is to invest themselves in every moment to its fullest.

Whether we're getting paid or not, we are here on this planet to go for it, to get as many views as possible, to hit the ball out of the park, to score that touchdown every single time on every single play. So in the jingle world, that's what's happening. What are we communicating here? What does the client want? And how can we best support the message that we are here to deliver?

Just like, what is the message I'm here to support in your channel? I'm there in the studio going, all right, how do we make this the very best? And, of course, the lyrics echo exactly what we had to do, which is to make it the very best. So that's kind of how I approach it when I go in. What do you want out of this and how can I support you in achieving that goal?

So we see the TV show and we go in the studio and we cut this thing. This 30-second jingle takes a couple of hours.

It was a theme. You know, we call it a theme. But, you know, we're in the jingle world. We either call them music houses or jingle houses. But, you know, we want an earworm that everybody's going to remember. And the tag is even more important than the whole song often because it gets used over and over again.

That's it.

Bam, that's it. That's really what we want.

Yeah. Then I don't recall exactly how long. It was probably a couple weeks later the revisions happened. And we go in and sing the Gotta catch them all! And we sing it multiple different takes, multiple different ways in the studio to give them lots of choices. I like to give them, as many choices as they want. You probably improvise some melodies.

Gotta catch em all! You know, and they go through it, they pick the comp it, pick the ones they want, and the one that they picked was... Gotta catch em all! Basically.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. There's all kinds of improvisation throughout, you know, every session.

I'm just this is something I'm curious about. You know, in you, in in the reality of of No, it does not because we're... It should. It should, but it doesn't because... It just doesn't. I mean, any more than I just did all these songs for you. I'm in the... I'm trying to serve... the project.

And that's not really part of the deal to stop and say, hey, before we do this interview, we gotta sign this contract. I'm getting publishing for all the things that I've just created right here. For me, there is no reality. You cannot own music. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere. Music is everywhere.

It's in our speech, it's in our tone, it's in our rhythms, so... Though there is this thing called music publishing, it's really just borrowing from what already exists in nature. For sure. But yeah, in the real world, that would be a discussion that would have to be had before I did any improvs and before I did anything other than exactly what they told me to do.