Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Hey guys, how we doing? Welcome back to the, in the Round podcast, you've got Matt and Tyler and the Coda Bear and the Studio Cats. The podcast, as we like to call them, they are, uh, off hiding Mr. Felix and Mr. Cake. And today we have got a great one for you. Uh, all of our guests so far have been awesome. We love, we we love the opportunity to talk to some really talented people that are here in Nashville, Tennessee. It is Music City. You, you can sing, you can write. There's a lot that people can do down here.
Speaker 1 00:00:29 And everybody does it.
Speaker 0 00:00:30 Everybody does it. Everybody plays. Everybody sings Hollywood with a touch of twang. Be a star. You got a bang, bang, bang. What song?
Speaker 1 00:00:37 Crazy Town. Jason Aldeen. Oh
Speaker 0 00:00:38 Yeah, there we go. That's one of her partners. Buddy Pound it. So the guy we have on today, certain people just have that it factor that it, where it's like you drop what you're doing. Holy shit. This cat can sing. Why haven't I heard of him or her? Yeah. And uh, this guy's got it. He's a humble, super nice guy as well. I got that vibe from at least, right? Didn't you Tyler?
Speaker 1 00:00:58 Yeah, he's a great guy. I've hung out with him a couple times. Uh, seen him at work all the time. Like every time just the nicest dude cares about you. Care about how your day's going, man. Just great
Speaker 0 00:01:08 Guy. First and first time you heard him singing, you were like, just stop what you're doing. Yeah,
Speaker 1 00:01:12 I I think I was like playing video games or something like that and I heard it on somebody's phone and I literally like paused the game, turned around and was like, who was that? And for me, like I'm in live music. Like I I,
Speaker 0 00:01:24 You hear people that sing well all the
Speaker 1 00:01:27 Time. It's my 40 hour a week job. Yes. You know, like that's what my job is. Yeah. That's what pays the bills for me, is to listen to people sing and do all that kind of stuff and produce people and all that. And it's very rare nowadays that I go, who is that? And this guy, first time it was just like, holy crap. And then people started playing me more and more of him and it never stopped. Yeah. Like every time he opens his mouth.
Speaker 0 00:01:48 So he's a boy from Carolina. Carolina. Absolutely. Can we talk about his Christian background? We talk about how he got into music and how he ended up here in Nashville, Tennessee. He's a guy that's taken advantage of a lot of great opportunities that's been in the right place at the right time and it couldn't be happening for a better guy. Y'all get ready? Gear up for this one. Grab your bridges. It's time to go in the round with none other than Mr. Jacob Lutz. Tyler, hit that music. What is going on everybody? How you doing? Welcome back to the In the Round podcast. We're hanging out in the studio. Got an awesome guest here today, right? Tyler?
Speaker 1 00:02:30 Oh yeah, man.
Speaker 0 00:02:31 Like one that we have been very excited about getting a guy that, uh, our buddy Colton Parker was like, you have to get this guy just moved to town. He's a good buddy of mine. And, uh, we've started working with you downtown and we've gotten to know you a bit better and we were able to set something up. It's a guy that can freaking sing. It's a guy that can write. It's a guy that'll, you have a lot of good times with that. We enjoy spending time with downtown here in Nashville. It's our buddy Jacob LUTs. Jacob, how you doing, brother? Good, man. How you guys doing? Doing all right. Thanks for having me. Yeah, no problem buddy. No problem. So let's get right to it. So you've been to town, it feels like you've been in town for a long time. It
Speaker 3 00:03:05 Does,
Speaker 0 00:03:05 Yeah. And you've been here, what, two months?
Speaker 3 00:03:07 I've been here just a little bit less than two months. But, um, I was telling, like I was saying earlier, um, I'm from North Carolina and, uh, in Raleigh you just don't go out every night. There's not stuff to do like on Wednesday or definitely not on Monday and Tuesday. And so just being downtown every, you know, every night either running sound or just hanging out with people, it feels like I've been, you know, here a long time. So it's a
Speaker 0 00:03:29 Lot. Right? Yeah. The day you, you forget what day it is. Yeah, that's my biggest problem. Like, I put something up, I think it was on my Instagram where I put like a, uh, way back Wednesday and then I had a buddy text and be like, dude, it's Tuesday. Yeah. <laugh>. And I was like, shit. Like
Speaker 3 00:03:42 <laugh>. It's so true, man. It's so true.
Speaker 1 00:03:44 And also like with us, like, you know, especially me and you, like the way we work, like your Monday is Saturday and my Monday is like Wednesday. Usually my weekend's Monday and Tuesday. Yeah. It's all,
Speaker 0 00:03:54 It's
Speaker 1 00:03:55 All over the place, so it's all over the place for us.
Speaker 0 00:03:57 Yeah. But how do you like being in town? Dude,
Speaker 3 00:03:59 I've loved it. Um, my first day is when I met Colton and all these guys and, um, I was, I unpacked the U-Haul and I went straight to a rehearsal and as soon as that happened I knew like I was gonna love it here. I was like, there's so many talented people here trying to pursue what I'm pursuing and there's no feeling like that. So it's cool.
Speaker 0 00:04:20 So backing up, going way back in the, in the early part of Mr. Jacob Lutz here. So you started out, you come from a spot that's kind of a honey hole for producing great country singers, great musical acts as of late there, there's that saying Carolina can mm-hmm. <affirmative> and, uh, coming from North Carolina. So what part of Carolina are you from?
Speaker 3 00:04:37 I'm from a small town, uh, called Clayton. Okay. North Carolina. It's a little bit to the east of Raleigh. Okay. And so it's about 45 minutes outside of there.
Speaker 0 00:04:44 Okay. Sweet. And uh, when did you start doing this music thing?
Speaker 3 00:04:48 Uh, my parents were, um, pastors. They were actually like worship leaders and stuff, so I grew up in the church and um, I started as a drummer when I was 11. My dad used to be a drummer, so I'd watch him and that just, that's where I started was drumming. And so, uh, I guess 11 as a drummer is uh, kind of my start. And uh, yeah, I didn't really start singing until later on.
Speaker 0 00:05:12 Oh, worship stuff. That's something I don't really know a whole lot about coming from north, like the worship bands and all that, that seems to be a huge thing down here. Like, that seems to be the way so many people get involved with music.
Speaker 1 00:05:22 I mean, that's part of the way that I got involved in music. You know, it was like whenever I was younger, there would be bands that came to our church. You know, I was in church before I was born, you know, like ever since the womb I've been in church. But like, um, you know, that's how my parents noticed that I had interest in music cuz a band would come and I literally would just sit there the whole time and wouldn't move. And for me, that was literally something that never happened in church. Like, I'd fall asleep or I'd be running around all the time, but like a band comes to town and takes over, you know, like I would just sit there and was literally mesmerized.
Speaker 0 00:05:56 And it seems like that's the, the way a lot of guys got started. Like, I mean, as rough as Brantley Gilbert looks with his tattoos and riding on the bike, that's how he got started, was playing, playing leading worship at his church in Georgia, Florida, Georgia Line. They've got blinked up at Belmont playing leading the same worship services. Wow. I didn't know
Speaker 3 00:06:10 Like Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:06:11 Like it's at, that's so that's another, that's a cool single,
Speaker 1 00:06:13 Even like a lot of like your big guys, like, you know, timber Lake Gaga, Katy Perry, like those people started off in the Christian industry and started playing in church and stuff. And the Christian industry kind of was like, mm, don't think so. And then they come to the pop side and are the superstars They are now. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:06:29 So
Speaker 3 00:06:30 I mean, even for me, like, um, I mean obviously I was in church, you know, since I was my, I think my parents' first day as pastors, I was like seven, like eight days old or something like that. And so I didn't miss any church growing up. Um, maybe for like a soccer tournament here or there. I, I would miss a weekend. But, um, yeah, I was always in church and so I even was trying to write when I started songwriting, uh, I don't know, when I was like 18, I tried to write, I was still a worship leader. I tried to write Christian stuff and it was fine. It was good. But um, for some reason it was always easier for me to, uh, to write the secular stuff. Like, I don't know, it just came to me a little bit easier. And so it's been, it's been a fun, a fun ride as far as songwriting with people here.
Speaker 1 00:07:14 I was the same way as you. Like I did write Christian stuff for a while. I was in a worship like ministry program and all at college. Yeah. And so we were forced to write Christian stuff. But for me, like, you know, as far as like Christian, a secular song as it's probably 20 to one mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, and every now and then I'll even have that kick where I'm like, all right, like, this has come to me. But like, you know, for me, I always felt like with worship of music, like I was put with a box. Like I couldn't say this or couldn't go there with a song. Right. And so like with secular stuff, there's not that, there's
Speaker 3 00:07:44 Not as much stuff to write about that. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I definitely understand that.
Speaker 0 00:07:48 So when did you make the jump to like realize like, hey, I can do this. Like I can go to Nashville. Yeah. And I can do this because there, as you know, there's a lot of people. I mean, songwriter is the number one, I would say occupation in the, in the city limits of Nashville, Tennessee, and maybe the entire section of Middle Tennessee. Yeah. For that matter. So what made you feel like I can pack up from Carolina, from Clayton, North Carolina? Yeah. And come to town and, uh, try to do something. Well,
Speaker 3 00:08:13 My parents wanted me to move to, uh, they wanted me to move to Nashville probably for a couple years before I, before I actually did. And um, I was like, I'm not going. I I had a job in, uh, in Raleigh at
Speaker 0 00:08:27 The time. What were you, what were you doing?
Speaker 3 00:08:28 I was working in the church.
Speaker 0 00:08:29 Oh really? Wow. So you were really into it? Oh
Speaker 3 00:08:31 Well I was working in the church. Yeah. And so, like, I had a little studio there and recording and um, so that's what I was doing. And I was happy. I was making, you know, I was making money, I was playing gigs here and there. Not, you know, not nearly as much as as what you can here, but I was, you know, I was making ends meet and uh, playing music. So I was happy. And uh, and then I met this guy, Hubert, Hubert Payne. He plays drums for a little big town and like my parents had been wanting me to move here for so long and I just said, I'm not moving there. There's too much competition. I don't know anyone. And I said, if I'm gonna move there, then every door here is gonna have to close and every door there is gonna have to open and it's gonna have to be super obvious. It's
Speaker 0 00:09:14 Gonna have to take a lot. Yeah. Oh yeah. How real quick sidetrack, how was the music scene in that Raleigh area?
Speaker 3 00:09:20 The music scene in the Raleigh area is completely different than here. And that's understandable. Cause obviously this is Music City, but uh, there's just not nearly as many people pursuing full-time. And I think that's the difference. I think here everyone's like music is the end goal. Were
Speaker 0 00:09:37 You able to gig though? Cuz I know there's a lot of colleges in the area. There's what, like a triangle? Yeah. The schools,
Speaker 3 00:09:43 Well I, Carolina actually there are, yeah. Obviously Unc do Kinzie state, all those three. But there's
Speaker 1 00:09:48 A Wake Forest in that too. Well,
Speaker 3 00:09:49 Yeah, wake Forest there too. Um, I wasn't playing at schools really. I was trying to do the more higher end things, the, the stuff that I could make more money doing. Okay. Uh, so I was at, you know, wine bars and really you're just background music there. So the two main differences between Nashville and Raleigh as far as the music scene is less people are pursuing full-time. That's not the end goal for people in Raleigh. And here you can see how restaurants are built around stages. Yeah. They're literally built so that you're paying attention to to
Speaker 0 00:10:20 The music. Oh yeah. It's, it's a music venue that also serves food and drinks. Exactly.
Speaker 1 00:10:22 And we're like, you know, a sound guys at where we work, you know? I know. I'm trying to keep it like around 95, maybe a hundred decibel. Right. Like hundreds like max for me. But like Right. You know, that's a nighttime shift for me too. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> like, you know, no other place is allowing a band to get to that level outside of Nashville really. Unless it's like an actual concert venue. Right?
Speaker 3 00:10:44 Yeah, yeah, definitely. Because when you're, when you're riding that high audio wise, people can't have conversations. Right. And so, um, there you, it would be low in Raleigh, it'd be, you know, way lower than that. Not even close to that. Your background music when you're in Raleigh,
Speaker 1 00:10:57 An acoustic guitar, like finger pick cause like acoustic, what
Speaker 0 00:11:00 Did they want? Acoustic? Maybe a piano, something like that. Level mellow,
Speaker 3 00:11:03 All
Speaker 0 00:11:03 Acoustic stuff. So was all, was it all covers?
Speaker 3 00:11:05 Oh yeah, definitely covers. Um,
Speaker 0 00:11:07 What was your go, what was your go-to cover where it's like, I'm playing the Raleigh Winery, I gotta play this. Well,
Speaker 3 00:11:12 If I'm playing, if I was playing like a wine bar, it's definitely different. I could play some like old school Maroon five like songs about Jane. Like I could play some old school stuff like that if it was a wine bar. But then you're, sometimes you are at a bar that's a little bit more country. And so, um, I don't know. I go, I go to like Tennessee whiskey and stuff like that. Okay. I love some Chris Stapleton.
Speaker 0 00:11:31 You love the soul love. You're just a soulful bastard, aren't you?
Speaker 3 00:11:34 I love dude. I love soul. I love it. Uh, Chris Stapleton blows my mind. I also, when ju when Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton started working together, that was like my dream pairing for sure.
Speaker 0 00:11:45 And Timberlake's a Tennessee guy. Like he loves, he loves Nashville. Yeah. He love he loves the, that that scene and that, that soul. A lot of people forget about that. Absolutely. The stuff that he used to do and whatnot. Now Hubert, that's a big name to be. <laugh> a big guy. So how does that get connected? Where was he in Carolina? Like, was that a Carolina connection? Was that a, he sees you playing out kind of connection or Yeah. How did you guys get linked up? Literally
Speaker 3 00:12:07 Just, uh, I get, I get a random message on my Instagram. Uh, I hadn't actually been posting for a while and I was just like, I need to get back into this. And I posted and I get a message from, from Hubert and I didn't know who he was at the time. He didn't say, Hey, I'm a drummer for little Big Town. He was just like, dude, I love what you're doing. Would love to make music with you one day. And uh, it's funny, I just recently went back and tried to like find out when he sent me that April 6th, uh, 2018 is when he sent me that. And he just said, I would love to make music with you one day. And I said, absolutely, man. I started as a drummer and cuz he told me he was a drummer. And so we just found that common ground real quick.
Speaker 3 00:12:49 And he said, well, you should come to a show of ours. And I said, of course I'll be there. Tell me when and where. And he tells me the Greensboro Coliseum, which is a, which is an arena, it's a bet. So I was like, what? I kind of just laughed and was like, what are you doing there? Like, who are you playing for? And he's said, little Big town. And I was like, dude, I would love to, I would absolutely love to. So he left me, uh, he left me ticket at Will call and I show up. That's about an hour drive from where I was from. And, uh, I just raced down there. I had, I had work, you know, I had like band practice that night and I left early and I just raced down there. I made it right before, right before little Big Town came out and I sat second row and like dead center second row. It was awesome. And they were amazing. And, uh, then I, I hung out after and he, you know, he brought me backstage and I got to meet, I got to meet all those guys and that's where I met Akil Thompson, which we ended up working on, uh, a couple songs later on in the year. But yeah, when I first met Hubert, it was Instagram and then went to a show of his. And so it's pretty cool dude. Instagram's a powerful thing. That's
Speaker 0 00:13:58 Just kind of how it works in this industry too. It's just people get linked up through through different, different things and whatnot. But that's so cool. Now was it a certain video that he saw you singing or was it just kind of the whole, what you had on your, what you had on your feet as
Speaker 3 00:14:13 Well? I think it was just an overall thing. Uh, it might have been the latest video I posted cuz like I said, I hadn't posted in a while, so that could have grabbed his attention. But, you know, I think a lot of people, I mean, I think almost anybody can sound good in one video. Yeah. And so if, you know, most people will go to that profile and just kind of check out, is this kid really? Yeah. Is he really got it like to this level? Or did he just get lucky in that video? You know? And you've
Speaker 0 00:14:37 Got a pretty good base on there too. You've got a nice, nice little following for a guy that's just kind of getting here now. How did, um, how do you get a lot of, lot of traction? Like when you're putting something up where you're like, where, where you're getting people from all over the place kind of jumping at you
Speaker 3 00:14:51 Or Oh, yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Um, I really was taking my Instagram seriously, uh, a while back before I met Hubbert. And, uh, just engaging with a lot of people. And if you wanna reach people outside of your, you know, 50 mile radius, then you wanna be online. Yeah. Like, that's how you reach people across the country. That's how you reach people in other countries. Yeah. Um, so it's just, if you're not on social media, you're not gonna be very relevant. And and that's sad kind of to some people. Yeah. You know, some people think that's sad.
Speaker 0 00:15:22 It's all about the shadow boxes and all all what's popping up up there.
Speaker 3 00:15:25 Right, exactly. Because, you know, everyone knows that our generation is all up in their phone. But, um, as far as for a career and business mindset with music, you have to be like, there's not really a choice if you want that to be your life. So, you know, you play the game, you gotta do what you gotta do. But, um, it is really fun. You know, when you do post something and you get in a lot of engagement with fans, you're interacting with fans. And, and that's why we do what we do. People tell me how, uh, it helped them through a breakup or, or whatever. Like, they're in that place and they really needed to hear it that day. Like stories like that and fans talking to you and telling you, uh, how much they needed to hear that, or just how blessed they were or how much they loved hearing you sing or whatever. Like, that's so awesome to me. I love that.
Speaker 0 00:16:13 So that, so that's Jacob Lu, the singer now, Jacob Lu, the writer. And this is in the round where we're talking about the writing side of things. You and Tyler were really getting, getting, getting a good vibe before talking about how, I mean, it just seems like so easy. We were playing us some stuff before mm-hmm. <affirmative> and whatnot. But you were saying how you kind of just need to do it mm-hmm. <affirmative> like just to like stay like centered kind of thing. Like, it's just like a release. Like you have to do it like as a writer, even you, if you wanna touch upon this Tyler, like, what is that like, like, like kind of like where music is, like therapy kind of thing where you just gotta kinda let it out.
Speaker 1 00:16:44 I mean, for me it at times becomes like a sacred thing where, you know, you're sitting there and you're writing and you know, you're not writing for a mass audience at that time. You're writing for yourself. Um, I had a guy tell me one time, he is like, write a song for a thousand people and it'll sing, be sang by a few, write a song for a few and it'll be sang by a thousand. And you know, a lot of times I feel like that's where a bunch of the bigger songs come out of, um, from back in the day was, you know, it wasn't somebody that was writing to, you know, sing to thousands of people. You're
Speaker 0 00:17:19 Not trying to write a hit record, you're
Speaker 1 00:17:20 Right. You're writing
Speaker 0 00:17:21 Something personal.
Speaker 1 00:17:22 You don't, honestly, man, you don't have a care about what anybody else is feeling like at that time. Whenever you're writing and it's therapeutic, you're writing for yourself. You're, you know, Jacob touched on this earlier and I think I have two before. Like, it's your voice. Like that's how you're getting out your emotions. Like, you know, I know like in stuff, I don't have the greatest ability to voice my, like how I'm feeling at the time, but I can write a song in 20 minutes and you'll know exactly how I feel.
Speaker 3 00:17:50 Yeah, dude, I definitely agree with that for sure. Um, as far as singer songwriters go, yeah. Like if you're writing a song that has no meaning to you, when you sing it, people will be, they won't feel nothing. You know what I mean? It
Speaker 0 00:18:04 Ain't gonna be shit. Yeah. Right.
Speaker 3 00:18:04 Exactly. But if you're writing a song, like, like Tyler was saying, if it's, if it means the world to you and you were in that moment, at the time when you go to record that or when you go to sing it live, um, people will feel what you were feeling. And, you know, if you're, if you're really truly expressing what's inside of you and what you were going through in that moment, the rawness of, of the vocal because of where you are in life, like those emotions are gonna come across and people are gonna feel something and they're gonna be able to relate. And that as, as far as the success of a song is like people just being in the same place as you. Like, they're just relating to where you were in that moment. And that's why it's so powerful. Like, that's why I have to do it.
Speaker 0 00:18:47 Now. Are there, are there songs that you won't play for people that are just so deep and heavy? Like are there songs you guys have <laugh>? Right, so again, I've, I've, I've got nothing as far as songwriting and whatnot. I've been at writers things where I've had buddies like that I happen to be hanging out with. And then they'll just get an idea and they'll just bring the guitars out and start picking and I'll just be kinda off in the corner like playing Xbox or doing something. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But for you guys, like are there songs that are that deep where you're like, I can, I'm not ready to share this right
Speaker 1 00:19:13 Now? Yeah, yeah, definitely. Like, I have a notebook that I keep back home. The other day my mom actually texted me and was like, Hey, found this notebook, uh, can I throw it away? And I was like, no, don't touch it, don't open. Put it back into
Speaker 0 00:19:24 Where it was. It's like your diary. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:19:26 Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. I totally agree, dude. Um, and some that I may not ever play for anybody. Dude. Some of those songs are me at my most vulnerable state. And I think, I think at some point, yeah, step out and like trust. But it's a scary, I mean, as a songwriter, you're being vulnerable. Like literally your job is to be vulnerable and share what you're going through. Like, that's a scary thing.
Speaker 1 00:19:51 There's times where there are songs that are like literally your kids, like mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you, you know, these things are so personal. And to share that and to go, somebody be like, eh, it's all right. Like that, that hits you on a deeper level than other
Speaker 0 00:20:06 Songs. Yeah. Which has gotta be crazy. Like for, for as a writer to when somebody else cuts your song and it's that one of those deep ones, that's gotta be a tough feeling. That's gotta be something that's tough in this town. I'm sure you're getting a, when you're getting a when you, when you're doing, doing that kind of thing, like if you've got a really deep one, like,
Speaker 3 00:20:23 I mean it could be, it could be better though that they cut it because you're almost hiding. Oh, absolutely. You're almost able
Speaker 0 00:20:28 To hide behind it. You're back. Unless somebody's looking at like composer credits and Right. Looking on like BMI and things like that. Right. So as far as your writing, uh, how's co-writing been for you in town?
Speaker 3 00:20:37 It's very new to me.
Speaker 0 00:20:39 Um, right. Is, that's something that I hear from a lot. Like, like our buddy Dave who came down from Jersey. Yeah. He had been writing by himself for years Yeah. And then came down here and he said it's, it's such a different thing to get used to mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Like, it's awesome. But it, it takes them getting used to.
Speaker 3 00:20:51 Yeah. There, there's give and take for sure. I mean, in Raleigh I wasn't really co-writing too much, um, but it is a different animal for sure. There's no, it's good. And sometimes it can be kind of annoying, you know, <laugh>, at least in my opinion, it's,
Speaker 0 00:21:08 It's, you have, it's like working with, it's like going to work and working with a team on a project mm-hmm. <affirmative> or working at a school, on a school project with somebody.
Speaker 3 00:21:14 Yep. It's give and take. Like if you have this line, no, I really think we got, I think we should use this line. I'm, I'm feeling it, it feels great. And you know, somebody else is like, ah, I don't really know. I don't really know about it. It's just like realizing, um, which lines to choose or which ideas to really fight for. But at the same time, you gotta keep in mind the big picture and, and the overall message. And all of us are viewing that message differently, which is how it's, is how that song's gonna turn out. Super powerful is, is if everybody kinda shares their 2 cents in that song of how they see it, you know.
Speaker 0 00:21:52 Now are you a guy that'll come out with more words or are you more the melody guy? Are you more the guitar guy or do you not like to put a label on it?
Speaker 3 00:21:59 I can sing melody all day. Okay. I got, I got melodies for days for sure. Um, if the topic means something to me, I could write a, I could write lyrics like, like Tyler was saying, in 20 minutes, if it means something to me, I'll, I'll knock like this song that I'll play for you guys in a bit, this one that I wrote last night, I had everything I needed to say and uh, and you know, within an hour I had to record it. You know, I had recorded a little demo of it within an hour, just acoustic guitar and vocals. But that's lyrics the whole story, you know, and so it's gotta mean something if for the lyrics at least. Yeah. So
Speaker 0 00:22:37 Yeah. Man. Damn. So, so going back to coming, coming into town and whatnot real quick, uh, what's been your favorite part of just being like in national, besides just going out downtown and enjoying the, the party that is national Cause that's everybody. Thanks. It's like, I get buddies that are texting all the time, like, you must be loving it. It looks like just a, a bachelor party 24. Which at times it can be. Right. We've had a lot of nights that end when the sun's coming up and whatnot. But, but for you, what's, what's the, uh, favorite part where you're like, I'm so happy I did this?
Speaker 3 00:23:08 Uh, I think there's probably two things. There's just like this first initial experience that I had that I share with you. Um, like I said, I was going to this garage, my friend Matt's garage to rehearse. And so my first day here, like I said, I went to that garage and I sung with those guys and they're so good. Colton was there, Trevor McKay, Hubert's playing drums, Matt, you know, uh, Johnny my friend, he's on the road with, with uh, hunter as well. So I was playing with, with those guys the first day, singing with 'em. Well, I actually moved in on January 7th. That was my first day. And so we had another rehearsal on that Wednesday. And I'm in there, you know, singing with the guys. I was loving it. And Hubert just nonchalantly kind of goes, Hey, hunter Hayes is on his way over here, <laugh>.
Speaker 3 00:23:59 And I'm just like, you mean to this garage that we're in right now? Practicing, don't get me wrong, it's not like a stingy garage. Yeah. Like, he's redone this garage. It's really nice. Uh, it's a really nice rehearsal space, but we're still in a, we're we're in a shed, you know, it's a, um, hunter Hayes is on his way and of course as soon as Hunter gets there, we're doing the song that I'm, you know, that I'm about to sing on. And I'm just like, oh man, this is great. But I'm really scared, you know, at the same time, this is my third day really in Nashville. My second, you know, second or third day really living here. And Hunter Hayes is about to watch me, you know, sing and I'm just, I'm already nervous with
Speaker 0 00:24:38 A group That is very good. Exactly. That those guys are no slouches that you're playing
Speaker 3 00:24:42 With. Exactly. Yeah. So I was already, I was already nervous cuz those guys were so good. And, and then to add him into that, into that mix was, was crazy. And it's funny, like a week later those guys had an official audition to become his band and then he ended up hiring him and now they're all overseas, you know, touring. So <laugh>, that was my first week or so. Um,
Speaker 0 00:25:05 Did you get to talk with Hunter
Speaker 3 00:25:06 At all? Oh yeah. Well it's funny because Hunter was like about to leave. He comes up to me, it's crazy. It's, first off, it's crazy that I, I now talk about Hunter and just like by his first name, just say Hunter. Yeah, yeah. Cuz I've hung out. You know, we hung out since then, which was really awesome. But, um, yeah, so at the end he's about to leave that rehearsal and he just comes up to me and I was like, Hey man, so good to meet you. Like, thanks for hanging out. He's like, dude, your, your voice is really good. Like, it's intimidating. And I was just like, holy crap, I've made it. I've made it like it's all good from here. And um, so that was huge. That was a huge boost from not only just like, just to get that compliment, but just from my confidence, you know, to have Hunter Hay say that to me was, was a big deal
Speaker 0 00:25:49 On your second or third day in town.
Speaker 3 00:25:51 Exactly. Yeah. So it was, that was freaking awesome. The other, the other um, kind of pleasant surprise coming from Raleigh being outside of the Nashville scene looking in, I think at least I did a lot of people probably have this assumption that the, the best of the best are in Nashville and it's, you better bring your A game or else you're gonna be in a, in a tough spot. And I bet you it's super competitive and there's a bunch of weird tension cuz we're all pursuing the same thing. Yeah. A lot of
Speaker 0 00:26:20 Cliques and things
Speaker 3 00:26:21 Like that. Right, right. And so, but when I got here, and I don't know, maybe it's just those first guys, the, this first batch of people that I've kind of met, they've all been super supportive and we're all trying to do the same thing, but everyone supports each other and it's so different than what I was thinking. I was thinking people were gonna, you know, see me as a threat and maybe not even get along with me, me or whatever. But since I've been here, like I met Skylar Anderson, I met Skylar Anderson at Great Dude. Yeah. Whiskey. So I met him at Whiskey Jam, my f my like a week from when I moved in, I went to Whiskey Jam and it was packed like shoulder to shoulder. I met Skylar Anderson through Colton and you know, he's doing the exact same thing I'm trying to do. And I was like, ah, you know, it's cool. Maybe we'll kind of support each other. But no, he text me four days later, dude, what are you doing tomorrow? You wanna gig with me? I was like, dude, this is awesome. This is so cool cuz it's just not what I was expecting. So that community is way different than I was, you know, I was expecting from moving from Raleigh. So Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:27:22 And that's something that I've, I've picked up on too, coming down from, from a place like New York mm-hmm. <affirmative> where it's very competitive. Yeah. And people are very much like what you thought Nashville would be, but you come down here and it's just everybody playing music and sharing cool experiences together and, and everybody's trying to do the same thing, but it's like a family environment and, and the best thing, it's, I remember, uh, Brandon Ray said this to me once I was out in San Diego with him and some crazy thingy and, uh, he was like, dude, it's all about the hang, it's all about the hang. Just hanging and making friends and nothing like crazy business. So I was like, some of the best, some of the biggest deals that go down are like sitting at the bar losers. Yeah. Like, it's just, that's that's it's just those, those intimate hangs of Yeah. Just friends getting together and stuff. So when did you really start singing?
Speaker 3 00:28:06 Um, cause
Speaker 0 00:28:07 You got a voice and people are gonna be hearing that in just a little bit when you play for us.
Speaker 3 00:28:11 I appreciate it. Um, I, it wasn't really, I don't know, I did the whole chorus thing in elementary school, but when I got into middle school, it wasn't the cool thing. It wasn't the cool thing anymore. And definitely not in high school. It wasn't the cool thing to, you know, to be in chorus or sing in or anything. It's at least for guys like, that was kind of, at least where I was from in Clayton, it was more of a girl thing to sing. And so I kind of unfortunately let that determine how open about my singing I was gonna be. And so I really wasn't singing, uh, for anyone or really that much. I started playing guitar at about 14. So of course I would try to sing along with my playing as I learned my favorite songs. But really to sing for people, I had a really, uh, I had a kind of a big problem as far as insecurities go that everyone has, I feel like everyone has this insecurity that they're not good enough.
Speaker 3 00:29:02 And, um, and this song, I'm, I'm gonna play for you guys at the end kind of goes into, into a little bit of detail, but the, the way my dad was raised, you know, single mom in Jersey, like she was working three jobs and you know, she would, him and or her and her and my grandpa had split. And so my dad's parents were split and, and um, she was working three jobs to kind of keep them in this tiny apartment. And, uh, sometimes she would drink too much and come home and kind of, uh, tell him he was no good or not good enough and stuff like that. And so that kind of scarred him as it would anybody. Yeah. And, and that, that kind of bled over into my childhood a little bit. And so, um, for a good amount of years, I, I heard kind of the same thing that I, that I wasn't good enough or that I wouldn't be good enough.
Speaker 3 00:29:54 It didn't really matter what I did. And what's really cool about this story is that because my dad loved music, like my dad's major love of music, I ended up loving music and that became a common ground to now it, it brought me and my dad, me and my dad have a great relationship now. And now that whole past, um, relationship between parents and, and kids of you're not good enough is kind of gone. And and my kids won't have to go through that because me and my dad have kind of squashed that and it's, that's awesome, dude. Yeah. So it's awesome
Speaker 0 00:30:28 That, that is very awesome. So, so you start singing and as far as like influence, what for you was good music growing up? Because I know you grew up in the church. Yeah. So sir, there was, there were some Christian bands Yeah. That were really big for you and things like that. Definitely. But you're in Carolina where it's country music, but you're also very soulful. Yeah. So for you, what were you, what were you playing on your iPod way back in the day?
Speaker 3 00:30:48 Um, well when I first started learning guitar, I was learning stuff like John Mayer, Jason Raz all day. Like that's when my dad listened to. So I would listen to that. Even some old school like Billy Joel and stuff. My dad loved Billy Joel. He still loves Billy
Speaker 0 00:31:02 Joel jersey boy. Of course. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:31:03 Yeah. So, so I would learn a good amount of Billy Joel and I liked some of the old stuff. Some, some lion on Richie, easy, easy on Sunday mo easy like Sunday morning and stuff like that. So that was where the soul kind of came from. Uh, or some like EDTA James or, or something like that. So that's where the soul came from. Uh, Christian's stuff. I can't really remember, man, I, that, that was so long ago and it was, I mean, I say so long ago, but you know, I'm still kind of young
Speaker 0 00:31:34 <laugh>. Yeah. I feel you. <laugh>. I feel you.
Speaker 3 00:31:37 Um, man, as far as Christian stuff, I guess like casting crowns was like really big then. And Jesus culture kind of had just started. Jesus culture kind of blew up. And so I really liked them. I loved the drummer. He always was rocking that Mohawk and I was the drummer first, so I always connected on that level. Um, but yeah, so then, and I tell this story to everybody I used to, so I used to listen. I was, my parents got these least cars and they were really nice and you could listen to the music on your phone and that was awesome to me. And so I would listen to whatever's on my iPod. So I was listening to John Mayer and all that kind of stuff. Well, it came around to where I bought, you know, my, the first car that I purchased for myself, it was old, it was the 95. It was like almost as old as me.
Speaker 0 00:32:26 What do you drive it? Was it 95? What
Speaker 3 00:32:28 A Nissan Pathfinder. Oh man. So there was an old, you know, an old radio, you can't listen to the phone. So I couldn't listen to my phone. And so I would turn on the radio and pop radio had garbage on, like pop radio was trash. Uh, there was just all kinds of crap coming out on pop radio. And so I just start, I was slipping through the stations, I was like, I'm just gonna try country. Every country song I've heard has a story and I'm a storyteller as far as my songwriting goes. And so I started listening to country music and Garth Brooks, my dad loved Garth Brooks too. So, uh, I started there kind of Garth Brooks. And, but what we've seen lately in country is a more, I don't wanna say a more talented singer, but I always had this feeling that, you know, country music was just about being a normal guy singing. Yeah. You know, uh, and there's a cool aspect to that. But I think what we're starting to see with Luke Combs and you know, obviously Chris Stapleton, these super talented singers, these vocalists,
Speaker 0 00:33:32 Right?
Speaker 3 00:33:32 They're vocalists Exactly. And there's still the story there, but adding that level and that quality of vocal on top of it takes country. It's taking country music genre to another level. And I love it. And so I like to pride myself as a vocalist and, and just trying to continue that. I chase guys like Stapleton and Luke Combs, like I chase those guys to try to get as close to that level as I can because that's where country music's headed. And like, it's, it's really cool to see, uh, country being on that talent level as far as vocalist is, is concerned. So I love it.
Speaker 0 00:34:06 Yeah. <laugh> that's awesome. And even some other guys vocally, like a guy like Mitchell 10, penny that can just belt it out. Absolutely. And then on the girls side, you obviously you have Carrie and you have Yeah. Carrie, you have, you have, you have Mary Morris and people like that where there's such a crossover with, with Pop and Yeah. And country and whatnot. Yeah. Where people that weren't listening to it before,
Speaker 3 00:34:25 I, I also would like, I would also love to see some vocal groups. Like I gotta give a shout out, obviously Little Big Town. Yeah. There, there's, there's some friends of mine now, but I would love to see some vocal groups coming back. You know, they, they got four singers. The harmonies are insane live. And so, I don't know, maybe they're out there, but I just, I'm not seeing 'em around as much, but I would love to see some vocal groups coming back
Speaker 1 00:34:47 And even like branch out into the stuff that's, you know, not country, like to the stuff that I listen to a lot. Like you got your guys like Sturgill mm-hmm. <affirmative> Simpson, Tyler Childers, they're coming outta Kentucky along with Chris, and like, all those guys are phenomenal vocalists. Yeah. You know, and Tyler, I mean, Tyler Childers, I love him. He's a storyteller, but he can sing like no other.
Speaker 0 00:35:09 That's the thing is that they're, these guys like Combs and, and Stapleton and those guys, they're all phenomenal vocalists, but they're also incredible writers. Yeah. Like, they don't, it's not like being that're so focused on their vocals that they're writing's hurting at all. Absolutely. Like Staple, like those guys can write hits per days.
Speaker 3 00:35:24 Right. Yeah. That's, yeah, that's what I, that's what I was saying. Like, the story's still there. Yes, very much so. And they're just adding on, you know, from vocal ability and I don't know, I think it's really cool.
Speaker 0 00:35:36 Yeah, man. So for you, what, what does, uh, success look like in terms of 2019? What are you trying to get done in this year? Now you're, it'll be, it'll be a full, your first full year here. What are you looking to try to get done?
Speaker 3 00:35:48 Um, man, I, it's hard to say because my, my short time here has been insane. And, um, my, you know, when I was first talking about moving here, people would say, Hey, it's hard to get a gig here. But I had four gigs in my first three weeks. <laugh>, I had four paid gigs in my first three weeks, which was like insane. Yeah. People were just like, that doesn't happen. You know? And, and, uh, I guess I just met the right people when I first came here and been around really supportive people who are just trying to help. And it's been, it's been amazing. And then things like Hunter Hayes walking in. So I have, I have no idea what 2019 really holds for me, but I, I haven't released any music on Spotify in my entire career yet. I would love to do that.
Speaker 3 00:36:34 Um, more co-writes, more mu just more music, more getting into the Nashville scene and the culture that's here. It's, it's so different. You know, I feel like I've kind of only gotten my feet wet. I have so much to explore. I would, you know, I would love to play, you know, original music. I, I'm, I love the covers and I love showing that respect to those, the people who have come before me and those hits that have been written, those awesome songs. But there's just something about singing your own, your own stuff. Yeah. That original music Man is, is what that just, that does it for me. I, I wanna play writer's rounds and I wanna, I don't know, dude, I just, I love that. I love the original culture here. Writing your own music,
Speaker 0 00:37:19 The authenticity of it. Absolutely. That doesn't exist in other places. Absolutely. And whatnot. Now for you record dealer pub deal, what would you, what what's, I know, I, I mean, if you're a vocalist, it's probably a record deal. That's probably a stupid question. I
Speaker 3 00:37:29 Would, yeah. Shoot, dude. I would love a record deal, but, uh, either, I mean, <laugh> either. I mean, there's, to me, there's nothing wrong with either one man. I think one can lead into the other. I think you get a pub deal. I think that leads to a record deal. If you're working with the right people with the same vision as you. Uh, if you can get a team around you with a pub deal and you're all working towards the same goal, I think it leads to the other and whichever comes first, honestly. Because I'll be so happy with either dude. That's the dream. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:38:00 Man. And you're working hard, you're writing how many songs a week would you say? I know it depends. I know it depends on what I wanted. It hits, and I ask this question almost every episode, and Tyler gives me the look like, man, it depends. Like I've told you, it depends. Why are you still asking this? But yeah, I'm asking it anyway.
Speaker 3 00:38:14 Yeah, it's almost, yeah, it's almost an impossible question just because some weeks it could be 10 songs, you know, some weeks it could be two, it could be one, it could be zero songs in a week. Um, it really just depends, man. Um, but with the culture here, as far as writing and co-writing, if you get around the right guys, you're writing every day. And that's cool. It's also very challenging. Also very emotionally draining if you're writing from, you know, from experience or from whatever. And you almost run out of experience to write from if you're writing every day. But, uh, I would say first, when I first got here that first week, I probably wrote like seven, seven songs that week just because I was so inspired. I had just gotten here and it was just like, holy crap, I'm ready to go and just start writing. And then, you know, as every creative person ever goes through a little bit of a lull or they go, they go on ups and downs and ups and downs. And that's just, you know, that's normal. And how many songs you write will, you know, vary with that.
Speaker 1 00:39:17 So talking about, uh, ups and downs, let's talk about something real quick. Writer's block
Speaker 3 00:39:22 <laugh>. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:39:23 How do you deal with that? Man,
Speaker 3 00:39:25 The answer to writer's block is co-writing. I'm so convinced that that's why you co-write. You get three very talented songwriters in the same room. What are the chances that all three of you are completely blocked that day? Very low. They're very low. And so you get in the room with three people say, man, honestly, I'm really struggling lately. And I I almost guarantee you by the end of that right, those other two guys will have you out of your writer's block by the end of that session. Which is another huge deal in Nashville. When you have all these people to co-write with other people's passion, there's no way all of us are gonna be in a low at the same time. So someone else, you, you get in the same room writing with someone who's on a high and you're in a low, hopefully if you're doing it right. And they're a good friend by the end of that session. And they're a good friend, like their friendship, you know, deter <laugh>. Yeah. The, you know, anyway, um, if
Speaker 0 00:40:17 The chemistry's there,
Speaker 3 00:40:18 Right, if the chemistry's there, hopefully by the end of that session you are out of that lull. You're like, this is why I do it. And you're right, there is something to look forward to
Speaker 1 00:40:28 A lot of times, you know, you go into a right and you're like you said, in that low, and somebody who's on a high mm-hmm. <affirmative>, and you all write a song together and it gives you the motivation, the, you
Speaker 3 00:40:37 Know, the jumpstart. Yeah, yeah. It is
Speaker 1 00:40:39 The jumpstart and it gives you the energy. But I've also been in the room where that person's on the high and you're in the low and there's like a looking down on Yeah. And like, why, why aren't you tripping? You're in the room,
Speaker 3 00:40:50 You're in, in the room with the wrong person.
Speaker 1 00:40:51 Yeah. And that's,
Speaker 3 00:40:52 You just gotta leave that room.
Speaker 1 00:40:53 Yeah. Yeah. That's, that's a
Speaker 3 00:40:54 Bad place to me. And someone giving you that vibe, man, you don't, don't stay. Yeah. I wouldn't stay. Are you a
Speaker 0 00:40:59 Believer in vibes like energy and things like that?
Speaker 3 00:41:02 I think, um, I believe that you, that you should walk around with a good energy. I think if somebody is like you, you're, every time I see you, you're smiling all the time. Unless you're running security and some dude's annoying you. Oh yeah. Then you're that guy, then you're that guy. But, but pretty much the
Speaker 1 00:41:19 Most time man, it's just a front. It always
Speaker 3 00:41:20 Is. Yeah. For the most time. You're smiling all the time. To me, the only way I can describe that is, dude, you have a great energy about you. And, uh, I appreciate
Speaker 0 00:41:29 That about you,
Speaker 3 00:41:29 Jacob. Yeah. I don't know about getting into all the details. How do you appreciate Oh, yeah. I, I don't, I don't know about getting into all the details about energy and, and all that, but like, I, if you got a good energy and you make me feel happy because you walked in the room and you were happy and you're, and you're lighthearted and you're feeling good, you have a good energy to you, and that's freaking awesome. And I'll hang out with you every day because you're always, you got that vibe, you know, and that's the only, that's just, maybe it's for lack of better words, but yeah. I say, you got a good energy or you got a good vibe and it just feels good. And so that's good enough for me, you know?
Speaker 0 00:42:02 There you go. That's awesome, man. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, Jacob, man, it has been an absolute blast. Uh, where can people find you on, uh, social media and whatnot? Because that Instagram, it's a big one.
Speaker 3 00:42:14 <laugh>. Um, so like I said, I haven't really put any music out on Spotify yet. Um, pretty much Facebook, Instagram, Instagram is my main focus. Yeah. I don't know. I love Instagram. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:42:25 As you should be. That's the way. See, I wasn't a huge Instagram guy. And then I started getting more involved with industry stuff and I was like, it's a great way where people connect. It's quick. People are always on their phone. Yeah. That's, that to me is like one of the number one apps. Where is people, if you're like, absolutely. If you're just chilling somewhere and you gotta pass the time, they're just scrolling on their feet. Yep. Why not see Jacob Lutz when you're scrolling on your feet? Yeah. So,
Speaker 3 00:42:44 And the story thing has been brilliant also. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And that's, I mean, that's even bled over into Facebook, you know, because Facebook bought Instagram, they're kind of, they're kind of going in the same direction. But, uh, yeah, so basically everything that I'm on as far as social media is all just my name Jacob Lutz. And it's really, I mean, it's, a lot of people don't get just their name, which is, there was actually another Jacob Lutz who had it, and there was on Instagram, there was this, there was this kid, and I just searched Jacob Lutz my first and last name, and he was just this, you know, he was like a high schooler and he just was hunting, fishing all the time. And I said, dude, you know, I would love to, I'm a, I'm a singer and all this stuff. And he checked out my page and I was like, I would love if I could have that name. If you don't wanna give it to me, it's fine. But I would love to just have my first and last name. I'm gonna start taking my na my, uh, music more seriously. And he was like, dude, you can have it. Just take it. He immediately changed his name for free. I just got my, got my name and I was like, dude, this is awesome. So I, I still follow that kid and I still talk to him, you know, on a somewhat regular basis. He's just like, dude, you're doing so good. And it's
Speaker 0 00:43:48 Jacob Lutz and Jacob Lutz exactly's.
Speaker 3 00:43:51 Awesome.
Speaker 0 00:43:51 Yeah. So was he a Carolina boy
Speaker 3 00:43:52 Too? Nah, I don't know. I didn't ask him
Speaker 0 00:43:54 Some, some hunting, fishing, hunting
Speaker 3 00:43:55 And fishing. Loving every day. Yo, he's
Speaker 0 00:43:57 Out there doing that. Yeah. Well, that's awesome, man. And, uh, now real quick, the song you're gonna be playing for us, you wrote it last night?
Speaker 3 00:44:03 I wrote it last night. Yeah. Kind of the story I've been, I told you guys about, you know, my dad's childhood and then my childhood, kind of that whole insecurity not being good enough and how we overcame that is kinda what this song is about. And, uh, it means a lot to me. And, uh, yeah, I wrote it last night, the whole thing, about an hour recorded a little demo, and I'm gonna see if I can't play it for you guys, guys today right now. Hopefully.
Speaker 0 00:44:29 All right. Awesome. Not even a title yet, right? This is, this is Grand Spanking maybe.
Speaker 3 00:44:32 Yeah. Not even a title. So I don't know, maybe maybe you guys could help me out with that, but, uh, yeah, for now it's just a song about my dad, so.
Speaker 0 00:44:40 Awesome, man. Well, if you wanna grab that guitar, awesome. Start getting that all tuned up. Yep. You guys, thanks for tuning in to the End The Round podcast once again. Uh, it was awesome. This was another great episode. As always. You can jump on in the round podcast.com. Our webmaster another Jacob, Mr. Jacob Albert is on there. We're, we're posting the weekly roundup. We got all kinds of cool features on there. Coda Bears operating the YouTube. You can check out all those cool videos. We've got live sessions that are dropping each week on Instagram, on Facebook, and all that good stuff. So make sure you jump on there. Make sure you also click subscribe wherever you're listening right now. Give us a little rating and if you think we did pretty good, throw those five stars in there. Now, without further ado, Jacob Lutz taking us out with a brand new song here on In the Round.
Speaker 4 00:45:31 Just a kid. Just a kid. Mama worked three jobs, so you both could live in that tiny New York apartment. You would wait for her alone every time. Stay in and rest. Always keeping on the front porch light. Well, sometimes the drinking got to her and she would come home late night. Will she walk in? And you'd never know if there was going to be love or so you, you never, you re you never be you swore you never, you swore you never be that way. Just a kid, just a kick. Just trying to make is that proud of him. He didn't know any better way. Grew, made, how did, it was never going to be good enough. One day took notice his son singing in a room. He walked in with tears in his eyes, said, son, I need to talk to you. Oh son, I swear, I swear I'll never be that. Well just a man, just a may all grown up. And now he understands that that and him push to pass aside for the next little boy. It's a different life for the next little boy. It's a different life. Cause now I don't have to, now I don't have to now I don't have to now. I don't have to be
Speaker 4 00:48:26 Now.
