honestav’s passion for his craft is evident as soon as our call connects - his broad smile can be heard down the phoneline. He’s speaking to BRICK from the road, taking a detour from his nationwide tour to return to his home town of Pierce City, Missouri, and shoot a rambunctious video for “Livin’ Wrong,” a song he fittingly describes as feeling “like home.” His choices for our playlist weave a tapestry of childhood fandoms inherited from his older brothers, along with memories of meaningful moments shared with friends.
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What song reminds you most of your childhood?Probably “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance, or maybe “Behind Blue Eyes” by Limp Bizkit. That’s a band that my dad jammed a lot, so anything Limp Bizkit reminds me of my childhood for sure. It really was like a cultural thing down here in Missouri, not just my dad playing it but all my friend’s dads playing it too. |
What was the first record you remember buying?
I grew up in a house where I couldn’t ask my mom for money to buy a CD, they would have been like “hell nah!” But at the time when Soulja Boy was at his peak, and artists like Nelly and Lil Wayne - “Ice Cream Paint Job” era Lil Wayne, I remember wanting to be like those three artists. I was wearing the baggy shorts to be like Soulja Boy, I remember putting a Band-Aid on my face like I was Nelly. Those were my earliest “I love music” moments. As far as physical records, my first time burning a CD was from Limewire, and I would just look at what my five older brothers had downloaded, then just pick the songs I had heard of and make a CD. That’s where my memories of My Chemical Romance are attached to. I was seven years old, thinking I was emo.
What song reminds you of traveling to a specific place?Any time I hear “Brain Stew” by Green Day I think of travelling, because the very first time I ever drove 20 hours to Miami, I had no internet on my phone and “Brain Stew” was the only song I had downloaded, so I just listened to that song like 500 times. Also, when I got my first music paycheck I was in a car playing that same song. I saw the money hit my bank account and I pulled over. My friends were in the car with me and we turned the music all the way up and were just jumping around and screaming, so excited to finally feel like it was happening. |
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What song is the best representation of your hometown?
Wow dude, that’s a loaded question. It would have to be a country song, right? There’s a band from my town called Mark Chapman Band, and I think the peak of their career was opening for Florida Georgia Line on tour. Whenever this guy came back to our town, there would be like 15 people waiting to get a CD signed. If I had to speak for my town, I would have to say one of those guy’s songs, but if I’m telling you a song that represents Missouri as a whole, it’s got to be “Livin’ Wrong.” It’s the first song I’ve ever released that feels like home, that feels like Missouri bullshit - backroads, drinking beer, having fun. Honestly, that’s a song for the whole Midwest - anywhere that has a backroad and Bud Light.
What song do you wish you had written?
Any song that relates to a massive amount of people would feel really good to write. I only listen to music to make me really feel shit - I really like for it to speak to me as a person. I could name ten, twenty, thirty songs like that, but the important thing to me is when music speaks for itself and touches people, and that’s what I try to do in my own songs.
What song would you want played at your wedding?
Whatever my wife chooses. Whatever is making her feel good in that moment - right now, it would probably be “30 for 30” by SZA and Kendrick Lamar.
What song would you want played at your funeral?[Singing:] “I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend,” that song by Third Eye Blind - I love that song. |
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What’s the best song to play at a house party?
“Ribs” by Lorde right now is the best house party song for me.
You’re abducted by aliens, and when you wake up on the spaceship, they pass you the aux. What is the song you’re playing to convince them not to destroy Earth?
I’m looking up the 2016 XXL Freshman Cypher on YouTube, and I’m playing it from start to finish, bro. 21 Savage, Lil Uzi, Denzel Curry. Boom. Lil Yachty’s on there too. Show these aliens the talent that exists on Earth.
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