Reflecting on Bass and Legacy

Are you not interested in sharks at all? Because because I don't think they're interested in us either. No, they're not. But what I mean is like that you know, like Sharks. I'm addicted to shark films, to be honest with you. I like Shark Week. Yeah. Shark Week's good. I can Deep Blue Sea, do you remember that? That's pretty funny. That's a good film, right? One of the greatest film deaths in all time for Samuel Samon O'Jackson when it comes out the thing. Yeah. You know, like you know try to Put some buying. The Meg? Did you watch that? Meg Yeah. Did you like that? Rides the line between shit and and and and fantastic. That's my favorite line. That's my career. Hi, I'm Thundercat and I'm gonna be on the Ramesh Ranganathan show. Uh my guest today is a double Grammy winning musician from California, Rolling Stone named in one of the greatest spaces of all time. He's worked with Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, Mac Miller, uh, and many, many more. I'm gonna try and play it cool as I'm genuinely Fucking huge fan of yours. It's Thundercat, everybody! Dude, you're one of the best, man. Thank you. You I'm just gonna get this out of the way, 'cause I have to say it, right? I uh I think drunk was when I first like got into your you know c your s your s when I sort of came across you as a a a a a solo artist. I just think the w I I'm gonna gas you up for a bit and then we can have a proper chat, right? But I think the way that you cross genres, I think the way that you blend both being so tight. with feeling so loose with what you're doing, I think the humour And the honesty that you the the line that you walk between those lyrics. Some of your songs are really thought provoking. Some of your songs make me laugh out loud. I think you're an incredible artist, man. And that's why we wanted you on the podcast. I just think you're amazing. You're amazing at what you do. One of the reasons we want I wanted you on the podcast is I I just think you I think you're massive, but I think you should be big I I would do anything I can to make you as big as I possibly can, man. Like like I just think you're you're brilliant at what you do. Everybody should know about you. I genuinely believe that. Thank you. Uh a while ago I did a thing On BBC Radio too called Tracks of My Years. And um I um Uh, they are you know, you choose a song for every day of the week and you talk about what moment in your life and why you like why you chasing this song. Dragon Ball Do rag was uh a song that I picked. And um I talked about it and I talked about you in the way that I'm talking about you to you now. And then the tracks on my ears came out or whatever. And then about two months later, it made me so happy, man. I was i in Birmingham and I was just getting ready to go and do a tour show on a stand up by trade. So I was going to d uh do a tour show. I I got to the train station and this sixty five year old white woman came up to me and she said, Romish, can I can I just um speak to you for a second, she goes, I have to tell you this. So what is it? And she goes, um, I like all your stuff. She goes, I love all your stuff. She goes, but the reason I want to speak to you is you did tracks on my ears. And she goes, And you recommended a guy called Thundercut? And I said, Yeah. And she goes, I had no awareness of him. I I I was I hadn't I didn't know who it was your recommendation. She goes, I listened to that song. I loved it. She goes, I love Thundercut. She goes, You brought Thundercat into my life. I got used to you, man. It made my day. It made my day. But anyway, I just wanted to get that out of the way, man. You're brilliant. You're brilliant. Is it how are you hearing stuff like that? I just keep I don't know, I just uh try to keep playing bass. Plain bass. Yeah, because I learned one thing while I was here. I played the bass. I got that part down. Yeah. Yeah, you really did. It kinda. Oh no, yeah, you're doing all right. You're doing all right with it. Can't have it all together. Yeah. Now we always start the podcast by giving a gift. To our guests. And uh I know that you've got lot obviously you can tell now you've got a very s you've got a you style is important to you. So we thought we you're either gonna like this or you're gonna hate it. That's full disclosure, okay? We got your hat. Now we know you like Japan. So we've got you a ramen noodle suit hat. Now this is where I want to ask some before you give me any feedback on this hat. There are some moral issues here. Okay? I'm fully aware of that. Because like myself, you're a vegan, right? We're both plant based. Yeah. And it's chicken and rooster. Hey. The memories I think the reason why I'm laughing so hard is like You haven't been broke until you've tried to like really like zhuzh like Zhuzing. Yeah. Like you're like, Oh, let me dress up this tire I'm about to eat. Yeah. And the I think I've had some of the funniest moments in life. Trying to zr this specific Do you haven't almost wound up in the hospital, you're not doing ramen noodle soup right now. No. Like if you if you're digesting this Well it's got a shelf life of three millennia. Yeah Not inside of you, but definitely outside Yeah outside three millennia Inside what seventeen minutes. If you know, you know, the I think the the one thing that take away from having eaten too much of this is like, you know, if you want to see your pee turn real thick. There you go. So there you go, man. That's that's for you. That is happening. Oh my god, dude. Yeah. I definitely have almost wound up in the hospital. It actually looks good on you. You know. Thank you for the ramen hat. This is great. This is a reminder of what. Welcome to Thundercat and words you never thought you'd say out loud. He's just said thank you for the ramen hat. I mean you can wear it, you don't have to wear it, but you know that's I'm wearing it. I'm wearing it. Oh we got we actually have a plant based option. Do you want me to wear this? You can have that, if you want. I don't know if you wear a baked beans. Have you come across baked beans? I I do love beans. Okay. But that you very specifically did not say baked beans. I do love baked beans. Do you? Yes I do. Do you really? I love baked beans. Look here. I'm I'm a very flatulent man. I enjoy my fiber. You know? I enjoy a good fart. Yeah, me too. You know? And they're funny, right? No one's beyond farts. I don't feel like technology has driven us too far. I feel like uh You know, let that shit out. Sorry, I excuse me, I don't know if it's the case. You can swear you can fuck fuck ity fuck fuck. Yeah, yeah, there you go. Yeah, no good fart joke never uh fails. So listen, I'm coming to see you on tour, you're doing a European tour. Uh how are the preparations going for that? Uh, you know, I'm alright. Uh I would like to think I'm okay. Uh Yeah. I got you know, that's kind of where I'm at right now. Um I'm just w ready to play. I'm ready to try not to divulge too much personal information with in between songs. Um I think every s you know I think it exists, you know, I think as as a songwriter, uh Your personal life is somewhere in between those lines of there. And uh You know, there's just uh I was always told to be honest in your music, so sometimes I mean there is a line of too much information, I think. Do you think so? You know. But I enjoy uh I enjoy the jokes that I do. You know, 'cause it does it you know, sometimes I know it does translate like humor. So when you go and watch an a a an artist, obviously you've got a lot of what they're about from their music, but it's nice to actually get to know somebody, right? And often in between songs is when that happens. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know. The next song is about my fourth wife leaving me. I hate you, Sharon. And it's just like It's just like It's like it's like your number one hit record. Uh what are European crowds like compared to American? Do you feel like there's a difference in response? Like what's it? What's it like? uh here really love The pay or like how you show up. You know, um I think in America every now and again, you know, somebody's goes, Shut up and play Dragon Ball Durag. It's just That happens. Yeah. You know, um I don't know. I uh personally I uh I think there's different qualities in each You know, aspect of it from America to here. But I really I think uh I've spent so many years of my life touring here in different Shades and gradients between Erica and Suicidal and stuff like that. So it's a different experience. And I think the fun part is to see for me personally. is to see the people in you know see the type of people, you know, that come to my shows and I like I just love them so much because it's it's hilarious because every now and again somebody will be like, I think the n the never ending joke is that there are girls that like my music It's always like with my friends, it's like you know, you're a jazz musician is kinda like, you know, a bunch of dudes cross like you're no Alan Holdsworth. You know, it's like, Okay, buddy. You know what I mean? But then it'd be like My friends would be like, There's girls at his concert. It's like it's pretty yeah it's and what's it like in America right now? We Br Britain we're fascinated about Uh I mean we're looking across at the States going, it feels pretty funky right now. Yeah, it's uh bit bit uh it's interesting. The environment's a bit weird right now in certain respects, but uh I I think It's always Very much like You know, uh art will still thrive, things will still you know, it still goes But also things are meant to change and I think that's what's happening in many different directions. So be it good or bad. Well I d I think like I guess you know without When things push in one way, then inevitably you get the reaction to that. And that's that can be positive, right? Absolutely. You're m from a musical family, were you always gonna be a musician? Definitely, like growing up in a house of musicians, it was like it was kinda like You will be a musician. You know, there's moments that pushed me in that direction. But I at one point in life I also did want to be a illustrator. Like, you know, I had a I I grew up around not just my family being musicians, most of my friends were musicians. But So in That kind of shaped it too. I saw the joy in it because even as a uh my friends that like to hang out and play video games, they also like making music. Yeah. So we we never really separated. me, I never really s that my mind never really separated from it. It was like when I turn away from it, I'm still facing it. Yeah. And a lot of the time that also was very informative to how I would Progress in life. But when you when you said like when you were always if you're always gonna be a musician because c because you didn't end up becoming an illustrator as you wanted to. Oh not you know, you thought about it, ended up doing music. What does like a s what does a music career look what do you think it looked like for you? Because Actually, the career that you've got now Probably didn't feel like it was ever on the cards because Bass player, right? And y and and and the you know, the b even the bass players that you influence you, it's all about providing the spine to that thing and it's like Shut up, don't play too much four strings. Yeah. So so Did what did you think that was gonna be for you? Like when you were did you have an idea of what Did you just want to play for a band or is that was that the ambition? In a nutshell I'm pretty sure I saw this spinal tap when I was about Yeah. Really? There's moments like I remember like the moment I realized I could get paid to play bass. Yeah. You know, and it was like w what was like peak for me was like You know, we got a gig. You know, and it's like It's a hundred bucks. And I was like, I can go buy Marvel cards. Like, Hey Mom, don't ever cook for me again. I clearly can feed myself. Like that happened like Did that happen early? Oh yeah, that happened early. I was like I'm a man, Mom, I'm making money. She's like, shut up. You know? It's like, Mom, stop cooking for me. I I ate when I did I ate when I was out playing music. I brought my own comics. I don't need your money. I don't need I don't need an allowance. Leave me alone. You know, but that was you know, that's the joke, but it's like no I The reality of being a musician hit really early for me. Yeah. Yeah, no, I just I just knew that that was what would come. And then whatever came with it was what uh what existed for me. But then I mean I feel the same way because when I s you know, I l I love I grew up loving stand up comedy. Yeah. And then when I started doing it I don't think anything, regardless of whatever T V I've done or whatever I've done since then, nothing matched. The feeling. Paying my grocery bill. through doing comedy, right? I I don't think anything's added to my happiness. Everything that was peak. That was it. I I I like you know, and I felt I've had things happen to me since that I felt good about. If you're talking about the immediate increase in my f sense of fulfillment. Yeah. Nothing. Paying for electricity. From telling jokes. It felt Incredi I just could not believe it, man. Yeah and that's like that's kinda what you're talking about, right? Yeah. Just that thing of also not getting paid was it's pretty because it's like the pain of it, you know what I mean? Like it's like I'm taking I take myself serious. I will sacrifice for this. And then it's like, Am I being sacrificed for this? Like That's kind of Well you gotta switch that you gotta switch a mindset a little bit, I think. Yeah. But then what happened? Because uh like so how did you 'Cause the transition from playing in bands you're in suicidal tendencies and you and you did work with various artists and stuff. To become now as I look at you now when I we people f fans of yours, you look couldn't be anything else but the front person you know like the whole way you are. So at what point when did you I'm like useless otherwise? Yeah, I think so. No no no but do you know what I mean? Like I I feel like you've you've got that vibe about you know, that you know, when you listen to music now you don't you don't It doesn't you know, you just go this guy's supposed to be His own artist, right? So at what point did you start to like did the goalpost move for you? Wha wh what point did he start to think And and was that difficult, I guess, making that change? think I've talked about a few times where like flying Lotus was literally like You should sing. And I was like Okay. I was like, Well since you put it that way, I never thought about that. Wha why did he say that? What was uh what had made him say that? I don't know. I think he just saw something. Yeah. He saw something and I trusted him. So you weren't sure you weren't sure about it at that point? Well I w yeah, it was like I I still remember the moment 'cause it was like uh pretty wild, you know, emotionally I know whatever it was, but I think that even Regardless of what was going on. He just was like, Hey, you should try this. And I didn't say no. Yeah. I just was like, Okay. And I was like, I don't know what that means for me, but I just would do it. And You know, uh in the earlier moments in my career my friends didn't even know it was me singing. They would be like, Who is this? And so like I would have I would find myself in the in the moments w weird moments with somebody where they would be talking to me about me, but didn't know it was me. Right, right, right. I've been literally listening to Thundercat. I'm like, that this is be one of my good friends. And I'm like That's me. Like you're talking about me. And it'd be like, what? He's like, Oh, you're playing ba 'cause a lot of musical friends, Oh, you're playing bass and I was like, No, that's me singing. And it would be like this moment for you know, and early on it was like really weird because I was Not known as that. I was very quiet. Yeah, like beating myself and would rather be drawing or like, you know. So When it showed up, I didn't shy away from it. You know? And I leaned into it. Which is also its own kinda like insanity. 'Cause I I think there's an argument that your music is is difficult to d it's tricky to define, right? And so sometimes when you're doing something that is uh sufficiently different, people struggle to pr figure out how to process it, right? Did you find did you find that when you when you first putting out your stuff, did you w was it uh universally people going this is great or was there some Kind of friction in terms of what you were doing. Oh yeah, it was definitely friction. And because of where it came out with Brainfeeder, everybody at many points and thought I was a DJ. Yeah. Especially in the beginning. Um You know, then uh the introduction of like an intense live playing. Uh it was very Sometimes I would hear every now and again like this is really a lot. You know, you didn't know what the process and two hours of just full on just you know insanity. Yeah. And then every in every now and again I'm talking about my cats or like broken heart. Yeah. But I think it's it balanced out as time progressed because I uh uh again, I feel like nothing makes up for the live experience of something and just in general, r regardless of me, it's like personal level, even when I think about experiences and stuff like when you go out to go see concerts and stuff, there's performers and then there's artists, I think. And there's those worlds definitely meld every now and again or all the time, you know, where it's like again, where we have an amalgamation like pop. But at the same time it's like, you know a Nick Drake or like a you know, like a performer versus an art like a artist, I think that It's just one of those things that I would love I love the notion of being able to see something live. Uh again, like um, you know. Because that's the ethos of what performing is. So be it artist or performer, you still have to perform. And I think that I've always my whole life has been spent performing. So it it as the seamlessness of it That um I would like to see that. I just hope that that's what I'm providing for somebody. that they want to see what that is. And then and then do you feel like 'Cause obviously in your live shows you go off, right? And and you'll you're kind of really kind of go for it, right? Yeah. You do, right? And I hope so. Yeah. You really do. And so what what's Is the 'cause the thing is about your the the w I'm really interested in the relationship between a record being tight and and you being technically proficient. And then cutting loose and doing you know, there feels to me, there feels that as a non musician and somebody who has no musical talent whatsoever. I don't believe that. You don't believe that. I believe God gives somebody gives everybody something. Okay. But the relationship between like being really technically proficient and then being loose. How does that w I don't you know, what what's your attitude towards that? Uh something that's kind of resonated in my mind. Oh, is that is is that um nothing makes up for time spent? When it means like practicing or like just spending time sitting and doing some said things or like learning and trying to do things of this nature. Uh, but I think that because I've spent a lot of time with these things like again growing up the way I I I did, it just hammering on your craft or whatever. Yeah. Um It's it's uh it kinda makes it a bit um Easier for me because uh Once you uh get to speak the language a bit better, you can communicate better. Yeah. And be it like it's meant to be Uh the um uh the uh the intensity of improvisation versus like the songwriter versus the You know, the psychedelic versus the all the different things and aspects that these things can touch and cover. I think that um Uh it's just Time spent. Yeah. And Like a was it like a learning to flow and be open with those things. are like uh no different than anything else. It's like, you know, you get to you get to play when you know more. Yeah. And the flowingness of it, it just kinda feels like what Bruce Lee said, just be like water. But you can only do that when you have the language of it. D do you um 'cause sometimes I bec I bec I went for about six months I became obsessed with flow state, right? This whole thing of like just being completely in the thing. Yeah. And then It's so difficult it's so difficult to create that to get to that and and what you said, time spent is like when you read anything about that kind of getting into the flow. And by flow state I mean Just it you're just doing the thing without thinking about doing the thing, right? And it feels incredible. Do you get into flow state regularly with music? I try to do that in life. A lot of of magnesium helps. Uh Okay. This is a good tip because Hydration and magnesium, you know those are the keys. You know, some C moss gels, some minerals that help. I I think I don't think I've experienced it that m even doing a stand up as much as I have. couple of periods where I've been on stage and I'm like It feels really good. It feels like everything I'm saying is a punchline. Yeah. And then as soon as I become aware of that. Then it's like it locks up and then you just you freeze in that state. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. Look, magnesium and hydration, if that helps me, man. I'm dehydrating now. I'm fucking in, me too. Yeah, it's definitely up the dehydration again. Man, it's just You could feel it in your muscles. Yeah, and your lips start to feel I've been I've been licking my lips for a long time. Yeah, and we start getting a bit you can feel yourself getting grumpy, you know, when actually water though. I know but I don't want to I'd rather talk about being dehydrated than hydrate. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But let's just see how far we can push this. Yeah, licking your lips. look sexy until you pass out and hit your head on the counter. Yeah. Yeah. Um now we've got a question from my mom. Now uh I had her insta. Yeah, I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't know what this question is. So I Yeah, thank you. But and um but and I don't know how relevant this will be. I I don't know. So let's see. Hello, Tanagay. I am Roman's mom. I have seen videos of you performing and you have so much confidence. What are your tips for being confident and advised? Have give young people. for dealing with bullies. Doing it way. That question is a roller coaster. She's seen you performing videos and she's seen you in videos performing. Yeah. Have you got any advice for children to deal with bullies? You can sue 'em. What? You can sue somebody. I don't know. I grew up I grew up in an era where my mom would push you out the car to go back to fight. Yeah. Yeah. She'd push you out the car and go, I'm not letting you in the car until you go fight. Yeah, that's there's I'm not gonna say get out the car and go fight. Yeah. No I I had a w I I don't know if this is worse or better than what my mum did. My mum saw me getting into trouble at school. She got out of the car and started attacking the guy with her handbag. Find the guy. For you. For me. Now obviously in the moment I felt gratitude. Yeah. Socially I'm a pariah. You don't you don't you don't really recover from that. Yeah, your mom jumping out the car to beat somebody is pretty intense. Just and then everyone going, Oh, is your mom around? Yeah yeah, no, that's that's uh that's a good that's a good point of getting uh Ripped on. Um I don't know. If I had any advice, you guys need to watch some Chuck Jones, Bugs, Bunny, and Daffy Duck. I don't know. I think the you know, different uh Yeah, it's like it's just be smart. Yeah. I don't know, I guess. Bucks Bunny most of the time he would outsmart um sort of Elma Fudd by and pointed at his face, you know? Exactly. Exactly. And mostly seem to be cross-dressing from Bugs Bunny. We want to talk about like, you know, ahead of his time and groundbreaking and like Bugs Bunny was you know he switch it up on you real quick. One minute you're angry, next minute you're aroused. Yeah, yeah. What the hell's going on? Sexy bunny. Good Lord, what are we doing here? I don't know, but I d I would say that sex like Like out sex your bullies. Yeah. Yeah, out sexy the bullies. We'll just clip that up and put it out. And I imagine some of the schools over here will start using that. Maybe just sue them. Yeah, sue them. Yeah. Threaten leg don't threaten legal action, but um But but threaten legal Yeah, but don't threaten it in the moment. Yeah. Um you talked about uh banana on the floor, I don't know. Yeah, banana on the floor gag or something. Yeah, yeah, that's good. Buy an air horn Oh no. That's actually that is actually good advice. We're like bright neon colours. What's I If you go to school with Brightney on colours and an air horn. I feel like I don't think that's gonna turn attention away from you. Who do you want to beat up? Maybe the kid in nail with the air horn? Yeah, let's fuck him up. See how many times you're gonna raise the bottom while you're beating the shit out. I don't know, get a life alert. Yeah, we just found him on the floor. His nail's been ripped off and there's an air horn up his ass. I don't give you any responsibility for this. The question was I got bullied. The question was ridiculous. Yeah, no, because I definitely got bullied. I got bullied. What I get called what Yeah, I'll never forget. Somebody I think I grew up somebody who I used I had it somebody call me sweet cheeks of like my ninth to eleventh grade year. Sweet cheeks. Yeah I'm happy I have a beard now. I'm happy my beard grew in. Yeah. I didn't have that kind of problem. Yeah, no, it was like every now and again I I was I I could have also maybe, you know, there's that moment in life where it can go either way, you know, it's like I could've could have or could not have had a belly button kind of built like a Barbie doll with no genitals. Yeah. And it is like I had a round face and really big eyes and I would get mistaken for a girl without even trying. Like people thought like This is a real thing. This is a real thing. And my first girlfriend could attest to that. They just thought that we, you know, they thought we were like, oh, you guys are lesbians. And I was like, I'm a boy. It It was a real thing. It was a real thing. Kamasi would probably tell some stupid stories too of what he had seen growing up. And so I don't know, I got called sweet cheeks all of high school at the most violent high school. The most vi like Lock High School, like there was like my graduating class was like twenty people. Yeah. That's not a good thing. Even if it was well versed in many things like music and the arts and this. You know, having a graduating class of twenty people like you know's And uh just getting called sweet cheeks from ninth to eleventh grade. And you could hear it in it but there was it was one guy that was like I was afraid for my life. Other than joining a crib gang, I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I was like, I am not sweet cheeks. And I would turn Am I is do I is my do I look like my name should Yeah I was uh But I was so used to that, so I was just kinda like I knew not to let it bother me. Yeah. You know? And by that time I was already touring too, so it was a part of me that would be like Sir, you say what you may, but I am going to Germany next month. You will be hanging out behind the school at a liquor store. Like you know, know your worth. I mean maybe that to a There you go. There we go. We got there, didn't we? There we go. We got there. Know your worst. Yeah. Come on. 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Coconut rice, spicy Mexican, Caribbean rice and peas, two minutes and done. The kind of versatility I honestly aspire to. Live like you mean it with Tilda Rice in major supermarkets and at tilde.com. Can we talk about your fashion sense a little bit? First of all, you've seen Ben, you've seen John, you've seen myself. It's in b Really so But you know, d when you dress as uh what's the best way of describing how you dress? You've got your own look. Uh you're it's an extroverted fashion, so. Well And when your shoes have got toes. Uh I just thought yeah, maybe I thought that bring that into the photo. So when you see people that are dressed like the three of us, do you think come on, guys. You know? There's so there's so many ways you could express yourself. What the fuck are you doing. Be you can be honest with me, we're unaffendable. Why'd you bring us into it? I'm try Of the th by the way, of the three of us, I'm the most f I mean at least I've got a bit of colour, didn't But John's in all black, like he's You know he's staffing a six film drama thing. Like it's offensive to someone like you, isn't it, the way we're dressed No no no no I honestly believe But You uh it it's a chance to express yourself. Right. Uh I was you know, uh again Like I said, the way I grew up with my parents and said things and I grew up at a like, you know, when it was when you could have a arts middle school or like, you know, programs or this that was very encouraging to be yourself. And even when I would see like a lot of my heroes as musicians and stuff. It was very much like it be who you are, you know, express, you know, and um I always have this feeling like, you know She's gonna leave either way it goes. So It's just do you, man. I just genuinely believe like I think I remember some earlier moments, like, you know, I I I'll joke with my mom about it where, you know, like I would be in the backyard, you know, with a helmet on. It was a toy. It wasn't Oh man, that was incriminating. No, but like in like I would I would always be into the aesthetic of things. I think it partially comes from the illustration. You know, and like when you see like a lot of your favorite heroes or like when you see You know, the colours and cartoons and stuff. Um I would always process it. I wouldn't see a difference. I wouldn't see like a a line between Sonic the Hitchhog and myself. I would be like I am Sonic the Hitchhog. Yeah. Clearly. You would so so you would Get the same shoes that's on in the head shot. Absolutely. Um And I think that when I first got introduced to Uh uh uh the moments of my like learning about myself was when somebody told me what to wear and I would be like, No. Or I would like I would again here we go. This is why I say it's important to learn Chuck Jones bugs Bunny and Deffy because uh growing up as a musician or you know, growing up in growing up in church and playing jazz You know, there's always like this notion of like, you know, the aesthetic that comes with it. So ev at every formal event but I want you to dress formal. Like it from that to like put a suit on. Because you know, like It looks respectable or like, you know, when people, you know, we want it to be like, you know, it's got a d and I remember it's um I feel like there's a video of the first and last time I ever wore a suit and I was like L Catalina's Bar and Grill with The Kamasi and the you know, we were it's the there's the one video of me wearing a blaze. That's it. That's the one. But it was it started with my music teacher in high school, Reggie Andrews. And he would always be like, Okay, this is a formal e you know, it's something and I hate it whenever somebody would tell me what to wear. Yeah. You know, uh it's one thing when your mom and dad do it, you know, pull your pants up, you know, sure. But it would be like, you can't tell me what to wear. And It was one of those things where I can hear you. I can hear what's supposed to happen. I I don't wanna do it. Yeah, I was like you know, no. Like no. And uh um even when it comes to how I would approach playing bass, it was kinda like everybody would always want me to Play upright all the time, you know? It's like it don't get me wrong. Absolutely. This play up, right? But I feel like that's not where m where my road was supposed to stop or end, you know, with these restraints that people put on stuff. So sometimes things would um Left alone in my own vices, I would show up in a fucking cape. So Mr. Andrews every now and again would be like, Why are you wearing a Leotard? But at least it was black? So You thought you get in the But then would you would you ever be too Too shy to wear something like is there anything now that you wouldn't like are there are there things that you think I would wear that if I had More courage to wear something like that. I've always lived in it. Really? I've always lived in Express yourself with this. 'Cause I uh I I get shit scared. I bought I I b I'll buy something and then I'll try it and I'm thinking I can't wear that. Well, I mean it in a way, like the I think that uh In a way, the funny way that it exists, the world has a way of meeting you in these places. So whoever you are and how and how you show up with it sometimes is like I think sometimes when people make me aware of it it it's it like you say it takes me out of the flow state of it. Right, right, right, got ya. But at the same time No, I've never cared. I've always been like, you know, formal is relative. Yeah. You know, it's And not when you got guys like Yoji Yamamoto walking around. Yeah. You know, in in Rick Owens and stuff like that. It's like It's relative. It's what you make it. You know, it's uh Yeah, I I've been a great appreciator of these things forever. And I think it was instilled in me by my mom and dad. It's great, man. I mean it's worked out great for you. And I'm I just hope we don't make you too angry the way we look. Um you've just put out two new songs, right? Mm-hmm. Uh is there a new album coming? Yeah. And that y the way you said yeah. Makes it seem like that it's a loose t there's a loose timescale on that. Um well Things always change and even like the uh I mean, I to be honest, yes, there's uh clearly music coming. At some point. Yeah. At some point there will be there has to be, right? Well it doesn't have to be. You could It doesn't just go wrong. Yeah. And you could just whenever you feel like touring the stuff you've already done, you can do that and then You know, I um I have been working on music. I think I it uh uh it it takes a moment. You have it it it takes its own time. You know, and a lot of the time I think especially in the world we live in with the streaming and everything and how give it to me now or like sh I w Shut up, bro. Where's the album? It's like that's a W like it's a interesting way to like but it's a good It's a good uh necessary thing at the same time because it just reminds you to Stay on your you know, stay focused or like keep I appreciate it, you know? But I also like life as a way of like informing you how to move. And um I think that uh it's taken the time it's taken. Do you 'cause I just recently interviewed Jill Scott. And she's about she's putting an album out after ten years. And she was saying That she just had to go and live her life and stuff like that. And that Whenever she was ready to put out music, she had Faith that people can have we're gonna come to it. Yeah. Do you do does does time exert any pressure on you to put music at, or do you really feel like Whenever it happens, it happens. Is that kind of Um I've uh I I've always looked at time as a construct. Like um I n I never did good with tests. 'Cause it's not I I don't really do good in car crashes either, because I can see clearly 'cause everything slows down. Right. Mm. I'm sorry if I made it seem like any good job, brother. Listen, honestly, most of life I'm a fucking nightmare, but you know where I'm absolutely top of the game. Car crashes. That's when I'm coming to my own. I guess a good better explanation of that is like things slow down for me. When uh I whenever there seems to be trauma or pressure or things or stuff like that. Things slow down in a way where Uh, if I had to compare it to a car crash. I can see clearly. Like I don't tense up. I don't really uh my reflexes are n really relative to what my brain considers fight or flight. It's relative. Yeah. In a sense of like, you know, like yo, wow, you didn't duck that at all. And that's what I mean, walk through the doors backwards sometimes. But I think that Just also as in said processing So does my music exist. So It is what it is where it shows up. And a lot of the time, as I've always understood things like time When it comes to uh nothing makes up for time spent, it wouldn't it's almost like it's creates its own current. And Learning to be okay with it. 'Cause like a lot of the time it's like, Oh now drop the album. It's like My best friend just died in front of everybody simply. And it's like It's also like that was traumatic as hell. So it was like Cool, let me you know, it's like I couldn't There wouldn't it life had a way of telling me to sit down. Be okay sitting down. It doesn't matter if there's money. It doesn't matter if there's an album. It doesn't matter if You know, you know, like the tour oh we need to get this together. It's like I had to sit with that. And from I mean, it's like not to make it so dark, but it's like Yeah. That has nothing to do with an album. That has everything to do with like life and learning and from that to like The decisions m everything was everything is not a point of s of uh exploitation or selling or like Even though it may seem that way. Um And again, like we don't again, f knowing that we really are us as a whole are bad about let it uh letting artists grow old and like or letting them change and grow or like process and learn. You want that microwave burrito real quick. Yeah. You know, like here's the but it it it can be the undoing. It could be again being made aware of these things can be like insanity for somebody. And um To try to keep up with yourself when it comes to this as compared to being able to sit and think and process it. That's how you got to where you are anyway. Yeah. We've got a little game for you. that I think I hope you like. Uh we play every week. Um it's called Misquoted. Okay. I'm going to give you three real quotes from you. Oh. And too fabricated. And it hopefully leads itself to some discussion. Now, full disclosure, when we started doing this, how long ago did we start doing this podcast? Uh since September. Since September. So in September I was very opposed to this. Yeah. Now I'm I'm kind of on board with it. Okay. No, no, no, listen, it's not I'm not saying you're not gonna get cancelled off the back of this. If anything if anything, we'll both get cancelled for the Bugs Bunny stuff. It's been a great ride, hasn't it? Yeah, hasn't it just It's quoted. So here uh here's your first quote. And you've just got to tell me if it's true or false, if you said it or not, in your belief. Uh oh. Uh I don't give a fuck about TikTok. I I'm pretty sure I I've I've probably have said that. The time's twenty twenty four, you said that. Twenty twenty four? Yeah. TikTok was around then? Yeah, and you would alwa you were already angry with it. Well you weren't angry with that actually indifferent about it. You didn't give a fuck about it. Oh, you know it's a w wh ha wh what's your do you not like social media? Or is it just TikTok in particular? Well social media overall is just like everything is a you know, is it w Everything is something on social media. Yeah. You know, everything. It's too it's a it's It's like it's so encompassing where it's like and it's also like now these day nowadays they're putting uh What you what's that m what's the what is it modified corn star? What's that one thing that keep multixtrin It's like the ingredients they're using to do it, you can't even turn it off in your brain. It's like it's you know, it's like it's meant to be this just you can't even blink anymore. Yeah. And it's getting to that. And even you know, even though that has its pluses, it's also some negatives to it. Yeah. So it You know Are you on socials personally? Like will you s will you doom scroll? Oh, I think it's the inevitable. Like my feed has gotta be the most gnarliest feed. Anytime I send somebody a video, they It's like I've been ruining my friends' feeds with the words. Yeah, no, no. It's good. Bucking up their algorithm. I get it. I ch I I I'm very selective how I pick and choose my battles of what stuff is, but I always I've always felt like if it isn't fun, it's the worst thing ever. Okay. Yeah, but I I'm I could I could own that. Uh probably is two thousand four? Twenty no, twenty four. Twenty four. Ah twenty twenty four. Yeah. Well here is it. Twenty twenty six? Sure. Yeah. Fuck TikTok man. Fuck tick fuck Instagram. Unless you're watching this on TikTok, stop scrolling and keep check out the Thundercut episode. Um okay we've got You're one for one. Congratulations. Here's your next one. The reason we love guys like Dave Chappelle and Jim Carrey is because they bear their soul. It's the same principle with music, especially with jazz. You're putting yourself out there. Oh, I definitely said that. You did say that. I did say that. Even to a f it's even to a fault, no matter what the case is. It's like I I take that Say I would think that that's something that even in comedy is a is a real principle where it's like being you don't if you're not being the honest who you are with it, and are willing to take the tomato in the face for it, you're not doing it right anyway, right? No, I th that's true. You said that in The Garden in twenty twenty. I I think Being honest. It's like the big it sounds so easy, but it actually isn't that easy at all. Do you think No, yeah, you get it? It's really it's really hard. I do I you know and you know, obviously I um I'm a Mac Miller fan. I I think that that's one of the things that's so magnetic about about his music as well, is just that Uh that le that the the level of honesty about how he was feeling and stuff like that is is pretty It's pretty incredible, man. You don't need me to tell, but but like you know I've seen some moments with Mac You know, even when it came to interviews and stuff where like, you know, you see the way that the Questions will be poised or like these moments. And it was like even though those things were open books for him. Yeah, I could see moments where it would be like Good Lord, the world And how it It'd be complicated, you know, talking to him about drug addiction and stuff. And I'll be like, This good Lord. You know, it's like he isn't even gotten to thirty yet. Yeah. You know? And I hated to see it, but at the same time it's like He poured his soul out while he was here. And that's That's a complicated thing for anybody. You know, you you know, a lot of the time of like learning to be honest about how you feel in the reality, realizing like somebody said to me at one point, the truth is nuanced. Because what the truth is to you is It is not the same truth as somebody else. Yeah. And um n navigating those things. Will always be complicated, I think. But um and g everything from get you in trouble to You know, but at the same time I think Even my mom will probably say it where it's like, I would rather you tell me the truth. You know. And uh but it took a lot probably to ask too. Yeah. See what I'm saying? It's like it's a double edged sword. It's like It takes somebody A lot. To ask. So consider that with said truth when it comes to this stuff. Yeah. And I think that like again with mediums that we use like comedy and music Your truth is Nuanced. Yeah. U it is. And the other thing I think is You know. S sometimes when you're creating something I always feel if you feel slightly uncomfortable about sharing it, you're probably in a good place, right? Oh yeah. Or if you can laugh. Yeah. Oh yeah. Um, okay, here's the next one. Uh you're two for two, congratulations. There is no prize, I should say. Well Oh there you th I mean you got my ramen head. Yeah. Uh my mum wouldn't buy me the toys because she thought I'd fucking destroy them. Dest not destroy. Uh Worship them. You have nailed this. Yeah. So We took a quote that you said and we adapted it. So the real quote is my mom wouldn't buy me the toys because she thought I'd fucking worship them. Yeah, and I grew up in church and uh You know, idol worship is not acceptable. No. And It at the same time, you know, you know, in a very interesting and truthful way that's understandable, you know, based on history and But that's not the again, like uh That was like It's hard to see the line with I guess like a kid of a very obsessive nature. You know, um you know, that stops breathing for a second. Yeah. Like it doesn't really scream at pain or like You know terrifying shot to bring up. Many moments my mom would have like I think she always reminds me of the story of like where uh Uh, we lived in Detroit for a small period of time. And it snows in Detroit and Uh, you know, I guess I would just kinda wander off in the you wouldn't have to go catch me from walking in the street. But there's one instance my mom always reminds me of that I've t clearly like not old enough to remember. Where I'm sitting out on the porch. In my underwear while it's snowing. And they couldn't find me for a minute, but I'm just sitting on the porch. And I was playing with a truck. And when they came when they found me, I was just still sitting with the um the truck is moving. way slower they like panicked like oh my god he's about to die freezing. But I didn't make any noise. I didn't I just sat there and was like this is fine. Um probably concerned about my Hyper fixations. You are th you are you are obviously are Thundercut. How big a Thundercutts fan? Wor slash are you? I mean there's seeing the original cartoon and there's knowing that the two reboots of it and then you know. What did you think of the reboots? I'm gonna say this across the board about cats in space. That's uh that's not I don't think these kids are interested in cats in space. They're more interested in in you know, in WAP and like You know, b els and like depression. Yeah. So you w but you were a Thundercats fan? Absolutely. Hmm. Who's your favourite Thundercut? Favorite. Ooh. See, like everybody always goes Panthro because he's black. I'm just like, it's dead off the Cosby show. My favorite line My favorite My favorite Thundercat was Jaga cause he was already dead on arrival. Yeah. He couldn't disappoint. He was a ghost. He's like I could help you, but only so much. Yeah. And it was like he was cool. I like the color. It was like this weird translucent blue. You know, with still with said, you know, it's like glowing but like, you know. And then learning of like he was Lionel's dad's best friend later. It was just kinda like crazy work. So Uncle uh Uncle Jagger. Yeah. You know Ben, who's your favourite? Chitara. Chitara. Yeah, she wasn't yeah. No, Chitara was pretty cool. Did you ever see the episode where she fell in love with a feral from a It would jump through mirrors, kinda gaslighting her basically, and just lift left her alone at one point. I haven't seen it since I was like It's six. But there's the part where the realization basically that the Thundercats was just like An orange cat. File. Basically getting his head trapped in a bag. He's always getting caught. And then pointing a red laser. At the wall, the sky. And all the cats come chasing the laser. And I think I just I think I wanted to run in traffic after somebody said that. I was like That is the dumbest and also think about it, you know, it's like thunder, thunder, thunder cat's ho, and then there's like this big red light comes out. Yeah. And then everybody all the cats get They all gravitate towards They all get really muscular and then they just like chase the laser. Uh who's Mamra? No, but I mean in that and I'll in that Who's Mamra in the bigger scheme of things? Yeah. Of that? Yeah. I don't know, maybe a car? He represents the car. I guess so. I guess so. The street. Um okay, here's your next one. You are three for three. Uh huh. Sorry, I just that's good. Get lost. Uh, everyone tells me stop calling your cat sexy, but I'm like, She's a sexy cat. Did you Well did you not say that? Yes. Yes, yes, I did say that. The reality is uh Tron is very sexy. Okay, you are four for four. We've got one more. My base is my soul. Did you say that or did you not? No, I couldn't have said that. That that feels like that that sounds like a It sounds like a like the album cover would be me on the beach with my bass looking off into the sunset. That's I don't think did I say that? No. Thank you. Good Lord. You said my base is my crutch. But the best crutch I could have. No, I didn't. You did. Twenty thirteen. I said that? 2013? Yeah. What the hell was I thinking? What was I What was I thinking? What is that supposed to mean, like my Base is a penis. No, you Crutch, not I think it was crutch. Crutch. Crunch. Crunch. Good Lord, I'm gonna stay crutch for crutch. I was like that's two very different quotes. Yeah. Yeah, bass being a crutch versus a crotch. Yeah. Yeah. No bass is a more of than a crutch, it's more again, it's been a tool. Yeah. Um It's never it's like it it's like I said, it's always been all encompassing for me, uh right from my base, you know? Yeah, I hiding behind my base always, you know? It's like uh the role like we were talking about earlier with the role of a bass versus like uh Yeah um the role of a bass player always being somewhere between, you know, hey, that's not a bass. to like, you know. Players play four strings or like Yeah. You know, going You're playing too many notes, so you just go like It's relative to the success of what that is for you. And then at the same time, those are all points of learning and uh things that you shouldn't be You should be knowledgeable and concerned about and all these things about what you're doing and the you know, and all these things like this. But um Good Lord, how did I mix up crutch and crutch? I mean those are they're very close together. Yeah, they're very close together. And also there's an accent issue. I mean there's a language barrier here, isn't there? Uh right, listen, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast, man. It's been genuinely such an honor. to chat to you. You've been incredible artists. You've been great in this chat. I I had high expectations you've surpassed them, so thank you so much for that. Oh man. Thank thank you for having me. Guys, please give it up for Thundercat! Thank you so much for watching this episode of the Romishwang and Nathan show. I've been told that some of you are watching this, enjoying it, wallowing in it, but you still haven't subscribed. That's mad behaviour. You're gonna miss episodes. Very silly. So follow and subscribe to the Romishwang and Nathan show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple. Or wherever you get your podcasts. We drop new episodes every Monday and Thursday. On Monday I'm here with amazing guests talking about their career, what they're up to, having a laugh with them, and then on Thursdays I'm joined by my mum, widely regarded as the audience's favourite Ranganathan. And we answer your questions, your stories, and your family dilemmas. So I'll see you on Thursday when I'm back here with my mum, Shanti. Send your questions and stories to podcast at Rangabee.com, voice note or text on 07731-623-1. 355. We genuinely love hearing from you and there's a good chance you hear yourself on the show. See you next time.