The Unscripted Blend Podcast
Where faith, culture, and marketing meet — with a side of coffee and conversation.
Join creative consultant Victoria Stackhouse as she explores the stories behind brands and the people who bring them to life. Honest dialogue. Creative insight. Plenty of soul.
The Unscripted Blend Podcast
Hamilton Hardin: Filled with Wonder
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What does it really take to build a lasting career in music? Hamilton Hardin, a Grammy Award-winning producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger, joins Victoria for a conversation spanning multiple genres and decades in the industry. Hamilton opens up about the discipline, humility, and faith behind his career, plus his honest take on AI and where he sees the future of music heading.
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Welcome to the Inscripted Blend. I'm your host, Victoria Stockhouse. Today I'm sitting down with someone whose story and artistry really embody the blend of faith, life, and creativity. Basically, what this show is all about. Hamilton Harden is a Columbus, Ohio median, a Grammy Award-winning producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer for Big Bang Orchestra, and a ranger who's worked with a wide range of musical influences. In 2004, he completed a degree in jazz studies and taxical performance from the Ohio State University. Since then, he's toured, recorded, produced, and arranged for an incredible list of artists. From the Brandy and Monica tour to Kirk William, Stevie Wonder, Jay Ivy, Yolanda Adams, Patty LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Dave Cobb, Kenny Lattimore, Fred Hammond, Ty Reese, Israel Hilton, Norman Brown, Layla Hathaway, Mike Phillips, Take Six, Don Rowan, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Warren Treedy, Fantasia, and Tyler, just to name a few. Just a few. Hamilton has also released three records, Just Wanna Say, Pray, and his latest from 2025, Filled with Wonder. He's also the founder and executive director of Future Star, a nonprofit that brings music industry professionals into schools around the world, teaching young people to use art to bring environmental awareness to their communities. And now, Hamilton has new music on the way. The Gospel drops on August the 28th, and you can pre-save that now. The link is in the show notes. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the blend. Hamilton, welcome to the inscripted blend. I am so honored to have here with me today Hamilton Harding. Welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01Hey, glad to be here. Glad to be here.
SPEAKER_00Welcome, welcome. And I have to do this because of how my brain works, so I can just get this out of the way. I'm so excited again to have Harding first name Hamilton because I'm like that. So you have to do it just to get it out the way.
SPEAKER_01All the time. Yeah. Yeah. I get that all the time.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Thank thank you for indulging.
SPEAKER_01Yes, indeed.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yes. Now, actually, is that a musical that you like?
SPEAKER_01You know, I actually haven't seen the musical. Okay. But when I introduce my name as Hamilton, the common thing that strangers say, oh, like the play, I'm like, okay. We'll go with it. Like you had it before that, but you know, you know, I am gonna be the one to say that, but yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Well, when you do, I I definitely would be interested to hear your feedback because you have that ear. It's gonna you'll probably pick up things we didn't even pick up.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_00So take us into your journey into how you got started in music. Because like you sing, you have so many instruments, you do a thousand things. So take us into the journey, really.
SPEAKER_01Music started early for me. It was pretty clear, even as a kid, that was like my thing. Um, I would have liked for basketball to be my thing, and I'm in the NBA, but music was my thing, and uh that's sort of where my passion took me. Um started when I was four years old. I started playing piano and drums. And then at the church that I was involved in, that I grew up in, there were like nine drummers, so I didn't get a chance to uh uh play as often as I'd like. So um I started gravitating more towards the piano. And um, yeah, when I was 12, the uh the music director at my church, her husband, um uh became a pastor, and so she went to pastor the church with him. And I was sort of the next person standing. So I started, I was music director at my church when I was like uh 12 or 13. And yeah, and then I don't know, from there it just started evolving in sixth grade. I started playing saxophone as like a band instrument, and then that continued through high school, and in high school, I had access to all the school's instruments. So the school had a bunch of trumpets, the school had a bunch of trombones, and I was able to sort of sign it out, take some things home, and just sort of try things out and see what I was liking, see what I was into. And um, so that's sort of how I started playing a lot of different instruments. Um musically speaking, I got involved in my um city, Columbus, Ohio. We had the Columbus Youth Jazz, and so I started getting involved in jazz in that way and getting really introduced to another world because before then, all I really was knew was gospel music. I was, you know, raised in the church, and that was primarily what I knew, what I played. And so um youth jazz introduced me to more friends that that do jazz and improvisation of that sort. And and so really started getting into that. Um, started playing in jazz clubs when I was like 16. Um, I did my first international travel when I was 17. Um man, and since then it's just sort of continued. Um college, I started, obviously, uh I was I got my degree in in jazz studies, but I also started doing a lot of writing uh and scoring for strings and big band. Um took a lot of L's at first. Uh it does not sound good when you're first starting, but I think the important thing I tell uh my students is is you know listen objectively and identify what's whack and try not to do that anymore. Try to make those changes. And so, yeah, so from there, I mean, in my adult years, I've just been doing a mix of producing, touring, scoring, arranging, mixing in the studio and and and mastering and that type of uh sort of post-production work. So that's I feel like that's a uh summation of my musical journey. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00That that's awesome. Was that was there at any point where you felt like you were gonna have a plan B or you just always know, like in some way, shape, or form, music is it?
SPEAKER_01Music was sort of it, just because of the time invested in it. Like to get good at one instrument, let alone multiple instruments, it was a it's a lot of practice. And so it's equivalent by the time you know I graduated graduated college, it's about the same time that a doctor would put in med school. Like it's it's a lot of developing muscle memory, developing uh omburger for wind instruments. If you're a trumpet player or a flautist or a trumpet player, or I'm sorry, saxophone player, if you're playing a wind instrument, you have to develop a lot of things. If you're a piano player, you have to develop a lot of technique, and that's not an overnight process, that's years and decades of work. So by the time I was of working age, that was clear what I wanted to do. And I was making uh decent money by the time I was 16. And so I'm I'm thankful for that. But that was sort of it was clear to me, even as a teenager, like I can do this as a career.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's great. And to know that from an early age, that that's definitely a blessing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, it is, it is.
SPEAKER_00Awesome. So I guess the the next thing I would say, um what are some career highlights for you? Because like your your resume is ridiculous, but what are some like major moments that stuck out to you along the way?
SPEAKER_01You know, I would say the first would be um probably in my mid-20s, I started touring with someone who's now like a dear friend of mine, almost like a like a brother to me, a guy named Christian House. He's a violinist. And we toured as a sort of a jazz trio, um, both domestically and internationally. We, you know, I my first time going to Spain was with him. We did probably eight cities in seven days, um, and really just got a chance to tour the world with him. But what I enjoyed and what I appreciated, he always encouraged me to sound like myself. A lot of times, as a working musician, you find what the artist wants and you sort of have to get into um, in order to deliver what they want, you sort of have to get into the sound that they're into to try to make sure the client is happy. That's how you stay working. Um but every now and then you'll get the artists that say, No, I want, I want Hamilton Harden's uh creative uh energy and all that thing, all that stuff. And so it was real cool to tour with him because, like I said, he allowed me to um be myself and even explore artistically who I am and to sort of get to new um uh new realizations of where where I am artistically.
SPEAKER_00I like that. That's good.
SPEAKER_01He's yeah. No, no, no. I was I I just remembered your question. You asked from other highlights. I would say another highlight that that's happened probably recently in the last um year, I've been have a chance to work a lot with Stevie Wonder. And so um to be in the studio with him, see his workflow, sit at the piano with him, hang, talk, and develop a friendship. Um that's he's someone that's that was sort of on my uh bucket list of sorts, like somebody I always want to work with. Um, and so that's that's just a major highlight, and just because it's sort of more recent, it's definitely at the top of the mind.
SPEAKER_00Oh, that that is cool. He's look like one of my favorites of all time.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah. And other than I mean, he's also like a really down-to-earth, cool person. You know, sometimes you meet certain artists and you you meet them and it's like, wow, I didn't know um you were this um maybe caught up in yourself or anything like that. Um, but you know, I've I've had an opportunity to work with a lot of artists that are just cool people. Like when you get to meet them, they're not stuck in their own fame and they're not um, you know, into themselves like that. And they make you feel like you're you're the star. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00Hello there. I have something special to share with all of you. Listen, if you're planning an event and need a speaker, I'd love to be considerate. I'm available for keynotes, conference hosting, panel moderation, and workshops. And listen, we can do that either in person or virtually, either way. So if you're looking for someone who can connect with your audience and bring something meaningful to the room, let's talk. I want to speak with you. Details are in the show notes on how we can connect, and that's it. Now back to the show. That's always good. So now, because you do so many things, in what capacity did you work with him?
SPEAKER_01So with Stevie, I did um some string arrangements on an upcoming record that he's working on.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_01And so um, and I was able to travel with my wife, who you've interviewed as well. Yes. The lovely, talented, beautiful Nicole Harden. And uh, we got to travel together, and she she she played, you know. I sort of conducted the strings and and sort of got to um, you know, produce the string section along alongside Stevie.
SPEAKER_00Okay, I love that. I gotta chat with both of you one day. That'd be cool too.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. But that is so awesome. So now let me uh ask you this. So, when did you realize too that you wanted to do your own solo work? Was that always on the list or like, and then it was just kind of like you'll get there when you get there, how'd that come into play?
SPEAKER_01That happened sort of early. I did my first record when I was 19. Okay. Um uh and I sort of have always um, I think what I used to do when I would produce for other artists in my late teen years, even early 20s, I would try to shove all my ideas onto their projects and shove all of my ideas into their thing. And it became evident, like, I need to just do my my own music and sort of do what I'm hearing. And as soon as I do that, I was able to sort of get all that art, build up artistic uh uh energy and sort of put in my own thing, and then I'm able to focus on what they want and not have to do that, um, you know, push my stuff in. And so um I knew I knew at an early, semi-early age, and then it's just you know, developing writing, develop developing in um lyrical writing, because lyrics, I was weak with lyrics. Um, and the older I get, I'm starting to get better um with that, with conveying an idea in a more poetic um fashion, and um, you know, combine that with the musicality.
SPEAKER_00Is it kind of hard sometimes to decide what you would keep for you versus you know, pitch to another artist?
SPEAKER_01It's actually not so I for me, I sort of get these what I call downloads from God. And when it comes, I'll hear the full song as is. And then the the challenging part is getting what's in my head, uh trying to produce it to sound as clear as it's in my head, um, and to actually bring that into fruition uh with real musician and real, you know, and and um over speakers. And so that's probably the biggest challenge, but I sort of know when music comes, um it's it's for me to do, you know.
SPEAKER_00Okay, yeah. So I recently I'm still going through the catalog, but I definitely just checked out your latest uh project, Filled with Wonder.
SPEAKER_01Oh wow, thank you.
SPEAKER_00And it's awesome. Um I want you to describe the project in your own words. I'll share real quick what I what I got from it, but right away, it was just so colorful for me. Because like I see like colors and I hear music, so it was just firing off left and right. I love the surprise that we would get with different songs. We start off in one area and then it might end completely differently from where I thought we were going, but it was fun, so it was unpredictable, it was whimsical. Like I felt like you just got to be in your musical playground, you know. Thank you, thank you.
SPEAKER_01You know, I I um I have sort of a musical ADD, and so like you know, when I'm when I'm driving in the car, if I am listening to music, it's generally on shuffle, and so it's going between different genres, different artists. Um, and I think my records sort of reflect that. Um yeah, I just think there's so many ways to so from from a content standpoint, I want my music to glorify God. And so there's so many ways, and there's so many emotional facets and and uh uh musical lanes to um to describe and to illustrate um how I experience him. And what I my my goal is to just be as authentic as possible, even if it comes to me in a way that's not really highly commercial. I'm sorry, highly commercial or commercially accepted. Um, I just want to be authentic to what I'm hearing, how I'm hearing it, and to produce it as best as best as I can. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And you know, that's what I like about that though, because that's one of the things um I should have like taken notes as I was listening, but I was all over the place. Like I was overly stimulated, but in a creative way. In a good way. And there were definitely some songs that were calming too, but it was just my level of excitement because I'm gonna have to go back and listen again because it's one of those things where you're gonna pick up something different every time you listen to it. And I love it when songs do that. That is fun to me. So I'm definitely gonna have to listen to it again because I already know it's one of those ones. Oh, that happened. I missed that before. But as I was listening, one of the things that came to mind, this sounds like an artist who is free, free to do whatever he wants to do and not have to worry about we want it this way for sales. And it sounds like I'm in charge. And because you can tell sometimes when people you know, you have to do what you have to do in the business, depending on your goal, you know, and you can sometimes tell when this is something they're doing, going along to get along. Yeah, but one of the things I also picked up from this was the freedom in it to just you know have that fun. I almost thought about at some point Alice in Wonderland just like going, we're just floating through. Because again, for me, it was just like a burst of colors and sounds and like living inside of a painting. Like it was it was really an artistic high for me.
SPEAKER_01Well, I appreciate you saying that, and uh that's interesting that you use that Alice in Wonderland thing because my my um philosophy is the difference between first of all, there's nothing wrong with commercial music, and there's nothing wrong with artistic music. I think um neither is better than the other, it's just sort of what it is. And I think um someone told me a long time ago that commercial music, you come to where the consumer is and give them what they want. With artistic music, you bring the listener into your world. And so um that was sort of my goal. Well, it's it's honestly my goal with anything I do under my name. Like I sort of want to bring people into my world. And it may not be for everybody, but for those that identify with it and feel maybe what I felt when I was playing it or singing it, then um that's sort of my contribution to the world because um, like as great as James Brown is, or as great as Prince is, uh I I didn't want to, I never want to do like to be a clone just to put that out because it's already out there. And they were in their most authentic form. So I have to believe that there is a demographic of the world, even if it's 0.000001%, whatever demographic of the world um uh is gravitated towards the music that I produce, I'm supposed to do that for and and sort of and give that to the world. And um I think everyone has their uniqueness artistically, and the older I get, the more comfortable I am getting with my uniqueness. I realize it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for some that that experience it, it's really gonna identify with them. That's just how you know art works.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that and that's a great way to be a freeing way to be. And you can definitely tell when you listen to this that yeah, you own that sound, you own your uniqueness. And I love that. What's interesting too, though, is lyrically, like there's a lot happening musically, but then lyrically, there's some heavy things happening at times too, and yet especially um the invitation to faith, you know, um, the reality of what it is to be a believer. Um correct me on the title. I'm sorry. Was it acting a mess?
SPEAKER_01Oh, act a mess. Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_00Okay, yes, thank you. Like that one, you know, some that you really let the lyrics sit with you. That's serious. And yet you also made it palatable for us to accept that message at the same time.
SPEAKER_01Uh, you know, when I I lived in Memphis back in 2016 for like four or five years, and I got a chance to work with like a Hall of Fame songwriter, a guy named David Porter, um, who wrote like Hold On, I'm Coming, and I'm a Soul Man, like back in like the you know the 70s with like Isaac Hayes, like Hall of Fame songs. And I really learned how to make uh lyrics more conversational and write that way. I think there's times too you can write more um um vaguely or uh poetically in a way that someone has to look at the lyrics and really think about that. I think that has value too. But I think there's also value when uh there's a different type of value when you can express lyrics in a conversational way and people feel like you're talking to them uh as you're singing. And so that's that's a goal for a lot of my music. Sometimes I try to be poetic and I go that way, but um, I just think it's it's good to be able to explore both worlds.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. And I love I love the message of faith that's still there throughout everything, but it's definitely out of the box, and we need that because there's some people out there who they're not gonna go for the traditional sound, and that's not the bash that you know we can't like we came up with it, you know. And actually, there's there's moments, you know, you put that working in there, you get come on now. I heard I heard the old gospel crewing coming out of your voice at different points, you know. So we're not throwing it away, right? Right. Exactly. The reality also is though there's a group, they're gonna this will appeal to them first. Yeah, and so we need to we need to be everywhere in different show in in different ways. So um if you don't already can't tell. I loved it.
SPEAKER_01Oh, thank you so much. That means a lot. Thank you. Thank you.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely looking forward to more. So let me um ask you this. So, for someone who you know is in the music industry, maybe they're brand new, like what's a good way to start? What's your advice for them? Just kind of shoot.
SPEAKER_01Um, I think it's always important to develop your craft. And so if you're a bassist, if you're a drummer, if you're a vocalist, um, you know, having good rhythm, having uh tech technique and facility on your instrument, um, if you're a vocalist being understanding the different parts of your voice, um, getting mastery over your breathing, you know, all that stuff is important just to get mastery of the of of um of your art. Um, and then I think you have to realize if you're gifted, that means that someone has gifted you. And if someone has gifted you, then you have to sort of go through the mental exercise of thinking, okay, if someone's gifted me, what did they gift me to do? Why did they gift me to do that? Um I think different people will answer based upon who they think gifted them. Some people think the universe, some people think, you know, vaguely the man upstairs. But for me, I'm very clear that Jesus Christ has given me everything I have. And so for me, and I would say for others that would answer that Jesus Christ is the one that has gifted them, you have to ask those questions, what did he gift me to do? Okay, uh, and then the why. The why I would say is always going to be to glorify him. And so the first thing I would say to artists is like really um embrace your what and your why, and and let that um inspire your art. As far as working in the industry, um, you know, for for me, I sort of look that look at that as um tent making, and I say that to make reference to the apostle Paul, like in in the New Testament, he made his living not by preaching the gospel, he made his living by making tents. He was a tent maker, and that's how he made his income, that's how he fed himself, but that's how he economically worked in order to spread the gospel. And so if you're a believer in Jesus, um when I become a believer, I'm I'm it's not that I'm no longer an artist, it's now I am a uh a Christian artist. Christian comes first. And so um other things that I may do, like it's stuff I'm working on today for various artists. Um, I do that to the best of my ability, and I do that to make sure their vision um is executed, but it all funnels to where I can set aside um the funds I need to work on my artistic calling.
SPEAKER_00Hey there. If you are enjoying today's episode and you're on YouTube, hit that subscribe button and go ahead and like the video. Also, if you're listening on Apple, Spotify, other podcast platforms, follow over there, subscribe over there, leave a top-notch rating too while you're at it. It's all greatly appreciated. Okay, now back to today's episode. Good, thank you. And I'll drill um a little bit more into the business part of it because it's one of the things I love talking to entrepreneurs on my podcast, whether the creative or, you know, in another lane. And I'm always fascinated from the creative um standpoint too. So what does that look like, you know, if you want to, if you are, you know, a songwriter, if you are a composer, and what does that look like with networking and establishing a lane for yourself?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So in any industry, um music, I'm sorry, money is tied to any industry. So if we're in the music industry, it's that's an industry that's um uh dedicated to using music to make money. And so if you're making money, your customer comes first. Your customer is the either the producer that called you, the artist that called you to produce them. Um it may be you know the artist that calls you to play on their record. Um and in the same way, when someone comes to uh McDonald's and says, you know, I want a large fry, I'm not gonna say, well, no, you don't. You really want what you really want is this. No, they they came, they came there for a certain thing. And so you got to deliver what they want. So a lot of times, a lot of records I play on people don't even know because I don't necessarily sound like myself. I sound like what they want. And I remember someone told me when I was 19, he said, if you want to work, give the person that's paying you what they want, and you'll continue working. And that sort of has worked for me. Um, it's just important to be able to, when you when you go in the studio, if you're a vocalist, you're a background singer, um, and you're supporting an artist, you don't go in there trying to outshame them and show them I can sing and show them who I am. You go in there delivering and make them sound good. Make that that's my first priority. Whoever I'm producing, my goal is to make you sound good. If I'm playing, if I'm touring with you, my goal as a touring musician is to make you sound good. So when I pick up the six, I'm from if I'm on the drums or on a bass or something, it's not to try to get, you know, all my facility and all my technique out to show them all that I practice. It's to play the song and deliver what they want. And then on my own time, from my own music, I can show all the technique or do whatever I want, but deliver what the artist wants and you'll stay working.
SPEAKER_00That's good right there. That is a good tip. And you'll stay working. I think that's what we want to do, right?
SPEAKER_01Yep. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned along the way?
SPEAKER_01Biggest lessons I've learned along the way. Um not to allow to be more selfless and not allow my ego, and sort of what I was along the lines of what I was just saying with working for someone else, not trying to push my brand and push my ego in a musical environment when someone hires me to do something. Um I think the more comfortable I get being a chameleon and being almost invisible to where when someone hears the music, they're looking at an artist or they're looking at who whoever hired me, um the the better I can do that, um, the more I get called. And people people sort of will call you with an expectation, oh, he's he's gonna do the job that I that I need him to do. Um, there's other practical things too. When you go on, when you start touring on the road, and you know, you're flying from city city, you know, you get back to the hotel at 1 a.m. and then you got to be at the airport at 5 a.m. Um, having a good attitude, having um emotional intelligence to, man, I only got four hours of sleep, but let me not walk around here grumpy and make a weird, like vibey um atmosphere amongst the bandmates that everybody's tired. So why do I gotta walk around um you know, drawing all the attention to myself and being in my own world and all that stuff? Like just have to the best of your ability, have a good attitude, um treat people right, be as ethical as you can, have have good integrity, show up on time. Um if if the artist wants you in the lobby of the hotel so we can leave at 7 p.m., you know, don't make your way down at 7.05, like 6:50. Be downstairs, be 10 minutes early, like be on time. Stuff like that matters, and a lot of musicians and singers think on the musically, oh, I need to have all this, all these drum feels, I need to have all half, I would say 90% of the time as a drummer, when I go out, people just want solid rhythmical undergirding under the music. Sometimes I'll get opportunity to do some more soloistic or virtuous virtuous virtuistic things, but 90% of the time, people just want you to play the song, play it well, and all the attitudinal and sort of integral aspects of the of the business. Like get that together in your work. That's good, good advice. And last thing, stop trying to push your resume on everybody. Like, I you know, I work with some people that that have some of the deepest resumes, they work with everyone, but you don't know until you like there's one guy I was tournament with, um, he was the music director. I was just playing uh keys. And really quiet guy, like I asked him, I said, so you know, the tour is coming to an end, which what you do next week? He's like, Oh man, you know, I gotta go to Dubai and work with Janet Jackson. And he's so unassuming. But unless I would have asked him, I never would have known. And that's sort of the way to be. A lot of people will work into their conversations, you know, everybody they've worked with and all the experience they have. You don't gotta do all that resume uh uh peacocking. You know, I mean, you don't you don't have to do all that posturing yourself to look a certain way, just be good, be good at what you do, execute, be on time. Someone asks you, then you can say what you're doing next week, or you know, maybe what you just did. But you know, stop trying to push your resume. That gets that gets old real quick. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Sounds like just you know, let the opportunities happen as they happen. Yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and just be a regular person, stop trying to be a superstar. Right.
SPEAKER_00You know, that's good advice, right? That's good sound advice. So uh because you wear so many different hats, I'm curious to know. Do you kind of have like a favorite lane that you're in? Like whether like producing to being the one to play, like touring?
SPEAKER_01Um, I would say selfishly speaking, working on my own music is always like the most fulfilling lane because I feel like that's what I'm here to do. Sometimes, um, well, I would say most of the time, um, because I do this as a career, and my own music necessarily isn't, you know, when it comes to streams on Apple Music and stuff, um, you're making 0.0003 cents per stream. And so that's not the most lucrative aspect, and I'm not able to do my own music full-time right now. And so um a lot most like today, I'm working on someone else's record, trying to deliver their sound, what they want. And um when I can carve out time to work on my own music, to work on new music, then I'll do that. And that's sort of for me, like the the happy place because artistically it's like you're exhaling into the, you know, into the into the music.
SPEAKER_00I like that. That's cool. It's only definitely excited for more whenever you, you know, get the opportunity to put out more. We are excited to hear more. Speaking of being excited for more, did you know, did you know that you can pre-state the latest single, The Gospel from Hamilton Harden right now? Yeah, you can do that right now. The link is in the show notes. The gospel drops on August the 28th, and you can pre-state that right now. Okay, back to the show. So we're getting ready to wrap up, but I I want to ask you this too, because I like to talk about tech on here a little bit as well. How do you feel about the rise of like AI and music? Like, do you think that can be a threat to humans down the road? Like, what do you think?
SPEAKER_01I have that conversation a lot, both with like videographers, content creators, and musicians, producers like I think it does um take, I would say, a percentage of your clientele. So there's the percentage of the clientele. For example, if I'm doing like a um an opening theme for a TV show or um a streaming show, a lot of times I can deliver them um original music so they don't have to use like um a licensed song from like Bruno Mars or for, you know, whatever. They want, they can get, you know, original content for their thing. Um some of those clientele will go to AI and type in a prompt and get something. And so it does take some of the clientele, but I think it takes sort of a it takes some of the uh lower paying uh clientele. The higher paying clientele already projects budget for the the music. Or uh uh a lot of artists that are a little more serious about their music will already lay aside budget to do something the right way. Not the cheap way, but the right way. I think those that want to do it the cheap way, and I am mad at you, if you can do it for free, you can type to AI and it will make your record, you know, put it out. I guess do what you need to do. But I I, you know, I haven't um I haven't been hit too hard as of yet by like a decline from AI. Because generally people that call me have already sort of they know there's gonna be a certain budget that they need to set aside, and and in order to do something right, it costs money. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00Right. Yeah, I'm not for me. Um I'm kind of on the fence. Like, I see where it's useful, especially as I probably would be someone that could even benefit from using it too. Yeah. But I I think one thing I don't like, and I don't know if you notice this too, I feel like on social media, there's an unnatural push and promotion of AI artists. And I was really like upset the other day. There's um one gospel artist, and she um was putting she put out some new music not too long ago, and I make a lot of faith-based content on TikTok. Every time I went on TikTok, it auto-suggested this AI Christian artist, but it never suggested her new her this humorous new music that she dropped. And so that's a thing I don't like, but I'm like, is there even a way for us to fight that, or are we just kind of stuck? Like, what do you think?
SPEAKER_01I think I think the general public is going to consume what they want to consume. I think for I think that real music uh enthusiasts are going to crave real music. And when they hear, I was actually talking to an Uber driver um a few days ago. Um, I was out of town and we started talking about music, and he was, you know, we started talking about AI. And he said, Yeah, man, like the AI can't duplicate, you know, a good Rolling Stones record. And you know, like when whatever the genre, you know, the the human experience, I just think is felt. I think for those that listen to music as like uh like talking music, like that you play a rollout to talk over, and they're not really consuming the music for itself for art's sake, I think they're fine with you know downloading AI-driven music.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, that's true. And it it is here to stay. Um, I'm always gonna be pro-human. Yep. And then I'm always thinking about like the because like what are the kids? Like, I always think of the next generation. I'm like, so are they even gonna realize the value in music down the road as it increases? Or like I don't know. I don't want to like get all sci-fi and be like it's a battle, but I feel like we're gonna have to make sure we really play like this is these are humans that you hear, yeah, and hear difference, and even some of the air voices they're they're good, but I feel like there's a a quality of like lifelessness to all of them that I usually can keep. And I don't know if they'll ever be able to improve that with time, but there's something for me that's usually missing from the voice, at least for the vocal the ad vocalists, that I'm usually like, you're there, but not there yet. Yeah, and and I hope it never does get there, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, there was a time in and from what I talked to like older musicians in the 90s, like drum machines came out. Oh and it was like, you know, like the Teddy Riley thing and at Jimmy Jam. Well, yeah, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, they were using drum machines, and there was a thought from drummers that okay, they're trying to replace real drummers. And uh one of the drummers I was talking to, who toured with everybody and played with everybody, he was like, We realized pretty quickly that a drum machine can't do and can't evoke the uh the human expression that that I can that I can with some sticks, you know, and I think the same thing is gonna happen. I think AI is gonna get more sophisticated, it's gonna get more realistic, but I think there is gonna be that um percentage of um I don't know, percentage of the experience that the listener is gonna miss. Like something's not landing right. And even if the AI is more uh perfected in its execution of something, even the human mess up has a thing to it that that feels more human. And so I you know, I don't think it's gonna totally replace artists, but you know, it is being downloaded by a lot of um sort of the general public.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you know, I'm I'm glad you brought up the point about the drum machines because this does remind us we have been through this before in a way.
SPEAKER_01Yep, yep.
SPEAKER_00So that that's a good a good perspective too, with all the different things, the different developments with technology and music over the years. So this isn't brand new in the grand scheme of things. So that's perspective. Right. Definitely a good perspective. And you brought something else to mind um with craving that human sound. I know some of us, especially that grew up with like uh gospel music, you know, 80s, 90s choirs, some of us have been talking about missing that original recording sound where like it wasn't completely polished. Like you can tell they were like in this like church sanctuary and turn that auto-tune off.
SPEAKER_01Turn that auto-tune off.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah. And maybe maybe the soprano section wasn't pristine. Yeah. But it wasn't bad either. And we and we like that. Not in a like not in a negative way, but you know what I mean? It was just that that raw recording.
SPEAKER_01And some for some reason I can listen to that and have a tear coming down my eyes. Like, why am I crying right now? Because out of tune or something, maybe, or you know, as unperfect as it may be, I felt that joint. You know what I'm saying? Yes.
SPEAKER_00Like this past um Resurrection Sunday, I kept playing um He Would Not Come Down from the Cross. Yeah, man. And I love that raw recording so much. Like it sounds like that church is 90 degrees. You know, it feels like everybody is packed in. It absolutely feels like someone is in the basement frying chicken while they're singing. Yep. Yep. And I love it.
SPEAKER_01And I love all of it. Because all that all that's part of the experience. That that when we heard it, it's it's encompassing the the uh the social aspect of it, it's company the encompassing the experiential um aspect of life that's all part of the music. The AI just ain't gonna be able to do that. Nope.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, won't be able to do that. So that that's some hope we can leave off on on a hopeful note. Yes, absolutely. Yes, so don't don't give up. There's still hope. Well, we're going to wrap this up for real, but since you definitely clearly are a believer, praise the Lord. You might say a prayer for like the future of the music industry as a whole, or just scrolling your leg.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Thank you. Father, thank you for just this conversation today. And you are at work, you're doing things in the world, you're doing things in life, and you've given artists the ability to do something special. Artists aren't architects, artists aren't necessarily artists aren't necessarily attorneys or acting that way, but artists have a way of um illustrating you to a world that needs to see you. And God, I ask that you allow we as artists that are called by your name to make that our priority. Despite of how much or how little money is involved in it, help us, Lord, to consider our eternal reward over the um right now immediate payoff that this money, I mean, that this world tries to offer. And help us to be inspired by you as artists. Help us to see you and help us to be full of you so that as we make our art, um we display you, that to the listener that hears the music, that we would disappear, and that you would be vibrant as ever. And we're thankful for the gifts that you've placed in people. Uh a lot of people have the ability to write um masterful lyrics that make you think. Other musicians have the ability to do uh great musical exploits wherever we are in our artistic journey, Father, may we glorify you. And we thank you for everything that we have because it is from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
SPEAKER_00Amen. Thank you so much. Listen, how can we keep up with you, stay connected, all that good stuff?
SPEAKER_01You know, I think Instagram is probably the best way. Okay. I try to, I'm I'm getting better at posting. Um, I'm a little guilty sometimes of not posting enough, but definitely when new music is coming, that's the first place I'm going. Generally, Instagram and my Facebook accounts sort of full, like I can't add more people. So Instagram is always a good way. Okay. Um, but there are some things coming this year, and uh between this year and next year, like I'm I'm I'm working, I'm at work. And so um yeah, be on the lookout.
SPEAKER_00That's a good thing. So listen, I'll make sure I drop your um Instagram handle in the show notes, everybody, so you can follow. There's a very cool, you have a lot of cool videos, but um there's one, I don't know if it was from 2020 or I forget the year, but it's you across all the screens, you're singing all these different parts, and you got these instruments in your hand. And I'm like, oh wow, so it's just just another day for you, huh? Hey, you know, that morning I was inspired, and and you know, that's what came out, yeah. It was good, it made me want to play the flute because I was like, I just want to play the flute, not so I can like be on your level, but just you know, if I have song association all day long at any given moment, split out. Yep, yep, hey, go for it. But first, I have to be a good student with this guitar. I've been taking forever to learn. So come on, guitar! There's that. I gotta buck buckle down. I love it, I love it. We'll get through it. Be patient with yourself. Thank you. Yeah, yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm working on that. Thank you. Yeah, yep. But thank you so much. This was good, and we're excited, excited for more.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Thanks so much.
SPEAKER_00I hope you enjoyed today's episode of the unscripted blend. Listen, before you go, make sure you pre-save Hamilton Harden's new single, The Gospel, which drops August the 28th. The link is in the show notes. Now, if you enjoyed the conversation from today, please do us a huge favor. Subscribe, like, and share. Also, don't forget to leave us an amazing rating. All of these things help more people find the show and join the conversation. Please support the show. We appreciate it. Last but certainly not least, don't forget I am now available for speaking engagement. I'd love to work with you, and you can find all the details about that in the show notes as well. Until the next time, stay in the blend, my friend. Take care.