Jan Jan (Part I)

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You're listening to local programming produced in KU NV studios.

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The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jas and more the University of Nevada Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

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You're listening to rebel radio with your host Malika Bella

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lyrics locals love on the rebel HD two.

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What's good everybody. Welcome back to rebel Radio. I'm your host Malika Bella here with our very last guest, Jan Jan. Hi. Welcome, welcome. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you for being here. So to start us off, we're going to do a little word association game. It's very customary on our show. So you get to say a word or a phrase, whatever comes to mind, right? Instinctively there's no right or wrong answers. And don't worry, your life depends on

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so our very first word, Vegas, ah, dolls.

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And we can explain these throughout to Okay, brunch. Happy.

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Jam, toast

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enthusiasts, awesome. Happiness. Joy. Like, wait, is it just one word? Write whatever you want. It'd be a phrase and.

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And last but not least music. Everything. Yeah.

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So for Vegas, you said dolls? Yeah. Explain. For some reason, as you said Vegas, I thought of that. The new the Vegas archway that's almost like its Boulevard when you're heading downtown, and it has girls on it. And I know technically show girls will show girls are not dolls. But for some reason that just made me think of like the icons, or like the iconography of Vegas. And like the layouts of that and what that means to certain people. And, and I don't know, I just really liked the word doll.

Unknown Speaker 2:12
It's very cute. It is and Vegas can be incredibly cute. I can. So speaking of Vegas, are you Vegas? Native? I am. Yeah, I was we were talking about I went to high school here. I went to unlv. So it's great that this isn't a green button. So as I was parking telling you this earlier, it was just like, wow, I'm reeling.

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I was in the inter marketing communication course. And I also did like the broadcasting one. So the studio that were right by I was like, wow, the memories are flooding through my veins. And then how do we seen each other in the hallway, when I was leaving the bathroom? When I was in that bathroom? I gotta show this interview to my friend Mary. We also took the same courses. And I had this memory where we were in the bathroom and that very bathroom and she was like, you have the best voice for like broadcasting or like podcasting or something. And that really like it just like struck a lovely memory in my brain. So yeah, full circle. As I say you're like, wow, I remember when she said that and look at me today. Like that. Look. I'm here to say that. So not only UNLV, but also just like literally Journalism and Media Studies. Yeah, in the building. It's beautiful. And it's such a beauty of Thursday. The National Student advertising competition. Are you familiar? That's happening this weekend? I think so I was like, wow, that was also a thing it was really heavily involved in so I'm just like, full circle. I love it. I'm here. Thank you for having me. Thank you. So, um, I want to go into this like, so who is Gen Gen? I asked myself this all the time. So

Unknown Speaker 3:48
it's a daily daily thing. Jan, Jan is as you're asking me that now when you were like can I call you Jan or Jan Jan? I chose the artist named Jan Jan because it is like my familial name. And it also reminds me of just like growing up and becoming who I am now. Jan Jan is just this sweet little force right now. Sweet little force.

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Should get that tattoo. Sweet little for some fine line on my forearm. That's so funny. I was just talking to my friends about getting tattoos. We do have

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not yet I have tattoos. Yes, but I'm always I am starting this collage on my rent here. Yeah, and it's very like sentimental but also kitschy because it's it's very like random but it also means a lot. So yeah, it can be as random. It's your body. It's your art like whatever you want it to be as long as it means something out it

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as long as it means something to you. That's what matters. Thank you for saying that. This is the best radio show. Thank you. Thank you, Jan Jan is me. And it's so I feel like I can like articulate about

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Have things to appease what people may want to hear, but I don't know. I'm just like, I'm John. John, nice to meet you.

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If that makes any sense, it does. Okay. It does. And I asked that question because I was, you know, doing my research or my stocking, if you will love that. And I have to pull up your Spotify bio because it was just, I love I'm not going to read the entire thing. But I just I was already immersed. And I'm like, Did you wrote this? No, actually, my friend Jackie shadow Jackie, she might do this. She is an incredible writer. And she wrote that for me. As her husband, James, he produced my EP, and we just like sat together and she put it in she wrote it down. She's such a brilliant writer. Thank you, Jack. So let's see if I can do it justice. But I'll read one paragraph.

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Somewhere. No, just kidding. Which boys somewhere? Like those movie trailers somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a metallic pink but dazzled flip phone rings, and Jan Jan emerges from the Joshua trees to answer no manic pixie dream girl. Jan Jan is a musical force combining chill bedroom pop with lyrics as raw and original as they are infectious. Her songs firmly plant their way in the back of your brain where they stay like Sonic glitter, leaving you humming their tunes for eons. Hearing your voice say that was like music to my ears. I loved I love how you read that. I think Jack will be very appreciative of that.

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Well, thank you and the writer. Yeah, it's like wow, Jack. That's incredible.

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So I think that really encapsulates not to like, try to put you in a bottle or something like Tinkerbell or something. But it really encapsulates like your energy and just the overall vibe that you bring. So thank you for saying that. I'm glad it's cohesive. So one of the words was brunch. I bring that up because to Verna, yes. Do you want to talk more? Oh my gosh, I cannot say enough incredible things about different costera.

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So have you been? No Oh my gosh, not yet.

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200 costera is this incredible place in the arts district and shout out to Jeff Huang who owns it. It is such a hub for like a community for live music for artists for for, regardless of like where you're at in your career, or even if you just want to check out the open mic. It's just such a wonderful space that welcomes everybody. And I went to there was an open mic that took place two years ago. And my friend Daniela shout out to Daniella Coiba.

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She was like there's this place doing open mic in the arts district. It just opened you should really do it. It's like okay, that sounds cool. And then we went. And I feel like everything just like exploded from that I met so many people. I'm like I'm having I'm reeling from another interview that I did when I was like, like, tripping out and like bragging about it. But yeah, to Verona is amazing. As I was saying it's like a hub. It's a hub of, of artistic, artistic communities. And everyone is just there to enjoy and have fun and share their art and work and collaborate together. It wasn't until last year I had at the start. I performed with my band on New Year's Eve. And then the next day

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I think like another band was supposed to perform or something but they had to cancel. And then Jeff was like, Can you pick up this gig? And then I did. And it was just my brother and I we did a little duo thing. And then after that he had asked if I could do like a brunch residency thing and perform there every Sunday. And yeah, the rest is history. I'm like getting getting thinking about how that unfolded. And it's just, it was a beautiful path. Yeah, every time people reflect on something, it's like they have a smile on their face.

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And that's the hope, right? That's the dream because you're like, wow, I really did so much. I met so many cool people along the way. It's like, if this happened, this happened. Like everything fell into place. And it's just wonderful. Looking back, because you're like I'm here now. Yeah, because of that. 100%. Yeah. And thinking about all of the connections I've made, and all of like the people that I've met who've, like inspiring me tremendously in my own work. Just like wow, it's for like a two story spot in the arts district.

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Again,

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yeah. And you mentioned your band. So Jan, Jan, and Jan Jan. Yeah. Champion and band band. It's gentleman, the gentleman. And it has I alternate between drummers that has James who I talked about who produced my first up.

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And he he's a drummer and then my basis Dean, and then another drummer named Eduardo, who is this beautiful, like seasoned musician from Portugal, and he's incredible. And then my brother, who is who is also a force, he is a mole

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The instrumentalists he plays the cello, the keyboard, he sings all of the above. So that's our little like, group that gets together every Sunday. And it's just such a joyful time. The vibes are immaculate.

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You took You took the words out of my mouth. So inclusive, so happy. I was actually on the way over here getting really excited because on Sunday, there's this lovely woman named Patty, who I met at to Verona. Her birthday is on happening this following week, and we're gonna do a whole like, animal theme.

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It's those kinds of things like with community where it's like, we're gonna celebrate your birthday, and we're gonna dedicate this brunch to you are.

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And we're all gonna wear animal print, which I love. I love a leopard moment. So wholesome. So it's so wholesome. It's so it's such a beautiful thing to know that this place that I had never expected to mean, so much, to me actually means, like, insurmountable amounts of things to me because of the people and the energy and just the opportunities to like, spread joy, while people are drinking Bottomless mimosas, right, how could you not?

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So you mentioned the residency as I was like, reading, I think this was probably in your Spotify bio as well. But you also had a previous residency at the Virgin Hotel. Yeah, it's, that's another community that I am blessed to be a part of.

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It's this place called the shag room. It's at the Virgin hotel. And they do these incredible open mics everyone's day. And it's like, it's like a season. There's I think there's yeah, there's four seasons per year. And then the winner gets basically this incredible residency where they get to perform weekly, and then like a hotel stay and like, oh, yeah, it was the very first time I saw myself on a billboard. I was like, Whoa, yeah, there's that. And the musicians there are so just phenomenal. You're just like, in awe. And every time I step in, I'm just like, wow, I get to be amongst these incredible artists who I get to, like copiers or like, I get to sit down and listen to them and like swoon to their music. Like, how lucky but yeah, that was my residency there. And that was, that was just such an amazing time and like a really

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a significant portion of my growth as an artist when I think about that, so thank you for bringing that up. Yeah, of course. And you mentioning like, spoon and I see like, on your Instagram at least do you like see useful? Is it is it a word that's close to your heart? Very much. So. That's that's so funny because my friend Kevin has a song called spoon. And I really like resonated with that. So yeah, I love anything. swoony swoonworthy

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Yeah, I love that word. And like the meaning and just the feelings that it evokes when you think about it. So speaking of evoking feelings.

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No, I just, I haven't had a chance to see you live yet. Right? But really your performance style as I was like, watching YouTube videos, or even you know what you post on Instagram, too. I'm just like, wow, I'm there melting. I'm there swooning. And I'm like, and I find I mean, you can correct me if I'm wrong. And I know that art is subjective, right. But I find the theme of love or the theme of longing throughout a lot of your music. Yes, absolutely. That is. That's accurate.

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Yes.

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I think love and all of its forms will always be like the underlying or overlying theme of the things that I create, because I love to create in love with love. Yeah, regardless of what that is defined as, but hence this morning.

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So some of the songs like I took a bunch of notes, like, let's see, let's see, you are an amazing journalist. Thank you. So I know that you have your EP, how do you do? So do you want to talk more about like that process? Oh, I'd love to, actually. So my friend James. He lived in Jersey at the time. And he had heard this was when I was like, barely putting music out. And he knew that I made music through my best friend, Sam. And he was like, You should like come to the studio, and we should record and like he was very encouraging of my artistry at the time. And I was actually going through so much at the time. I was like losing my mom, and my dog had cancer. I was I was losing my dog. It's like what is going on in life. It was like peak, maybe end of pandemic, but he had invited me to fly out to Jersey to record in his studio. And that entire experience was just so eye opening to like my potential as an artist. And I think there's a track on there called melting into the night that I had just like scribbled words in my journal about and I did not know that that was going to be my most favorite song that is out right now. So it's it

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It's nice thank you for taking me down this stroll of memory lane. But the whole experience was great James. James is such a homie. So he made it beautiful. And Jacqueline who wrote my bio. Yeah, it was just basically hanging out with family the entire time for like, a weekend. And then we did that. And then I think we recorded melting into the night, like the hours before I had to leave for the airport. So that was, it was just so meant to be and so perfect and timing. Wow, that's beautiful. Yeah. And like seeing your music video too, for that song. So enchanting. Oh, thank you. Shout out to Jamal. See? Oh, there's a theme here. So Jan, Jan, James. Jacqueline.

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brother's name is Jay. I love that. That's a good.

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And speaking of your brother, so I know that you said he also is a forest. He's also like, all these different instruments. capabilities. I saw that the two of you ended up doing like comedy.

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We Oh, Seth Rogen show who is a shout out to Seth. He is incredible artists. He He's a comedian. He was doing this beautiful showcase.

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Called he was like, What should I call it? And I was like, You should call it till death do us part. And then. Oh, yeah. I'm obsessed with pond. It's so cringy. But I like I can't I can't help that.

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It's right there. Yeah.

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What did they call it? Low hanging fruit? Yeah. He, yeah, he did the showcase. And he also comes to brunch all the time. And he's just a wonderful artist. And he invited my brother and I did have a set during his showcase. And then while he had to do like a wardrobe change, because he was so fabulous. He was like, You should tell some jokes. And that did not. Jay and I were like,

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but as you saw on the onstage and it unfolded beautifully, and hilariously and I thought that was really great. I just love how you word things. So I quoted this from your posts, but you're like laughs and lunacy. And I think that that is that is sad that it sounds rubbish. Oh, really? Yeah, but we do love alliteration. Yeah, sad. There's also a fellow Virgo. As we were talking about, there's a theme there.

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Yeah, with the soy chicken. Just I it's so funny. I have to. I wish I was there. Thank you for bringing that up. That came out of nowhere. Tanto was like this is a sibling like wavelength. You're probably very right.

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People have been performing together for so long. Now. It's like just comes off like that. But yeah. So chicken me.

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Have you ever found somebody that you don't? You don't have to name drop them or anything or call them out? But has there ever been a moment where you perform or collab or like, whatever it is on stage that you're like, I wasn't feeling it at that time? Oh, that is a great question. I'm like digging into my archives.

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I want to say yes, because I'm sure there's space for experiencing that.

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But I can't I can't target one specifically, I'm going to be thinking during this interview.

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I'm just wondering, because, you know, it seems like things happen so naturally and so beautifully. And that's what we want, you know, and I wonder if there's ever a point where you're like, I know like my whole body. My body has this vibe. And I'm like, it's not it's not the same wavelength with this person. Yeah, I've definitely have had experiences where I've collaborated with another artist and I was like, Oh,

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my entire being

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is like, girl, you should not do this. But as far as like stage performances, I can't know. Okay, yeah, that's good. That's part of the creative trajectory is to experience it's like dating. Yeah, like experiencing if you hate that, or like, love those and whatnot. Yeah. Well said, Well, again, referencing your bio, like citing my sources here. It's just that why do you hear that Jack?

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It gives me all the information I need to know. So one of your influences is Regina Spektor. And I love her. You do I love her. And I've recently gotten into her like maybe the past two years. I love that and I'm obsessed with all the robots so that one is on on repeat for me. Oh, there's that we should talk about this one that's like all my favorite brands. But oh my gosh, Regina Spektor. To me she is like this miraculous magician.

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Alliteration honestly, or 3.0.

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She is such an influence from like her artistry, how chill she comes across as

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every album is so immensely different from the other. And yeah, I know regardless of what she puts out, there is always somebody who

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relates incredibly to what she makes. And she's also so gifted. Yeah, like the education she's received. She's like a prodigy so I sad to see her alive. My brother has this really cool story about how he

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To live in Brooklyn, and he saw her at a concert. And then Josh Groban was like capitalize through the crowd. And I was like, that sounds like a great time. I would love to see somebody else who's also obsessed with Regina Spektor, who also happens to be an incredible musician. That would be so great. Oh, another Jen Creason. Shout out to Jen over at Verna eye. She's new. And I first met her earlier this year. And she was telling me about how she too is a Virginia Spectre fan. And she's met. She's like, met her in person, like a handful of times. And I'm like, wow, that's just wow, what is that? Yeah. She is so beautiful. I'm like gushing about or just like thinking about? Yeah, I'm thinking about her songs. Now. What's your favorite track other than which robots? All the robots? Yeah, all the robots?

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Just I'm thinking like, there's Samsung, there's fatality. I'm trying to think I would have to see visually and be like, Oh, I know this one Samsung. Wait, you were talking about How I Met Your Mother. Do you remember that episode where Samson was brought? I think it's season one or season two, but like tides going through something. It's been a while. Okay. I mean, everybody watched all these clips after this. Please do. Samson is such a lullaby. And it also made me think about like biblical things with like, the Lila and her writing style is just so poetic. And she's not afraid. There's just one interview that she did with Terry Gross, she was talking about her. She uses her vocal cords. It is her instrument like through and through. And like, regardless of how gifted she is, at several other instruments, like she is like a classical pianist through and through as well. But her use of her vocal cords is so vast and she's just so creative. And you know, that she like she's made every atom in her in her her existence in front of creativity. And I just love her. As far as you saying, like Biblical stuff. I think it was priming me because you're saying Adam like molecule, but I was thinking like Adam, Adam and Eve and I was like, Wait, the creation, everything. Play onward. Yeah.

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And I think what got me into her like my, my Virgo sister actually would listen to her a lot. And I didn't really pay attention to her music, but I did know her name. But what got me into Regina specters watching Orange is the New Black. And then she has the intro song.

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The amount of times I sing that song way off key, but it doesn't matter. Neither here nor there. And more than a line. There are so many instances where I think I'm running out of time and I'll be like, ah

Unknown Speaker 22:31
so to your point of like, her vocals are her instruments and with that song, the different versions of it. And I think like at the end of the series ended up creating more three theatrical version of it or something. And I was sobbing watching this and everything. But it's just so miraculous. Miraculous is the word by Regina Spektor. She

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the way that she just conveys her art. You're just like, I, I want to be like that. Or like, also, she's not obnoxious. Like she's not in your face. She's not like, I don't know. She's not ostentatious in the way that she presents her art. And I think that is very important. Yeah, a lot of my friends are very artsy and very, like spiritual. And I find myself dabbling a little bit. But I

Unknown Speaker 23:24
I bring that up because they end up posting stuff on Instagram or quotes or sending me like memes and stuff or like inspirational messages. And one that is like a theme throughout my life is don't chase attract, attract. And I think everything you've been saying about Regina like that is apparent. Yeah, she just knows that there is space for her to share who she is. And then that attracts people who are like, healing, able to express themselves through her music. There's it's just She's a true artist. Thank you for bringing her up. But yeah, I'm absolutely influenced by everything. She does certain phrasing, raisings phrases in the way that she sings her song so I was like, Oh, I love that. And then sometimes what I'll like sing a song. They'll be like, I reminded me of Regina Spektor and I'll be like yeah as a matter of like little do you know Yes. Little do you know I am obsessed with

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that would be a dream for her to see you

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well, you don't have to know till the

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end she also just seems really chill like chill as hell. I don't know her side.

Unknown Speaker 24:37
Well, we'll find out Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 24:40
Speaking of her like influence and stuff, as I'm like, as I was listening to your music and like, again, stalking. I ended up so I know we talked about How I Met Your Mother. Yeah, there's also Are you familiar with new girl? Yes. So So Ed Chanel, she and him like I love this like folky pop. Yeah, like vibe.

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And you bring that he reads

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that was another thing when I picked up the ukulele I'm having more flashbacks again because I was like leave class at UNLV to go play the ukulele. Oh, look forward to it.

Unknown Speaker 25:14
We were talking about equally so.

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I got a lot of like, you remind me so much of Zoey. Like she and my friend Matt and I, we made music back in the day. And I would joke we'd be like, Oh, working on her.

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We like have like a funky little set that we would do. And yeah, so we nationals. So dope. She and him. I've seen them live. They're incredible. Wow. I don't even know they were performing. Yeah. I don't know if they're on tour right now. But I actually perpetually have the CD of their Christmas album. I think it's the second one. I have it in my car. Always. I know. That's like so like, that's a comfort. I do have a collection. Good. Yes. D what do you what do you mean? Well,

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a CD compact is for those that don't know. Yes. a dying art. No. Yeah, honestly. I love a CD. But yeah,

Unknown Speaker 26:11
definitely. I definitely see that vibe. Thank you. Yeah, she's so cute. She's very, she's very kitschy. Yeah, so that's another one who is a very astounding voice. She also uses her vocal abilities for art, you can tell that she's very.

Unknown Speaker 26:27
There was one time my brother and I were doing karaoke. And he was like, Can you do that in a silo? So he doesn't at all.

Unknown Speaker 26:33
And he was like, Oh, that was really good. Have you ever played like that kind of game? I don't know what it's called. But I know like Jimmy Fallon does this too. Like having different genres or different artists? Like you're singing something? But then using it, like seeing this like Elvis? We're talking about? Yeah, no, but I would love to play that. Especially like with my artist friends that would treat me ideas. Yeah. Let me know how it goes. I will make it into a showcase.

Unknown Speaker 27:01
I will. Yeah. Regina has to be one of one of the people. She's so incredible discussion about Virginia specter for the rest of this interview. But your Samsung and fidelity. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Just top tier. I don't think I can choose right top songs. It's it's always tough for me. What we saw from the cheap seats, were really beautiful album that came out like as I was finishing college as well. I was like, Ooh, that's really that hits. Yeah, she's she knows how to target your strings and your heart.

Unknown Speaker 27:35
And I identify with that. Thank you so much for your time today. Oh my gosh, thank you for having me. This has been such like a breath of fresh air. I'm glad. Thank you so much, everyone for listening. I do want to say check out Jan Jan. And there's so many other things that you're doing too. So if you want to plug Yeah, there is this beautiful music and arts festival happening in the East Las Vegas Library next Saturday. So Saturday the 27th a bunch of like local bands are coming together and there's artisans there and like it's just it's a whole thing where you go on at a level and I believe it'll be the gentleman and I and then some more local acts will be really fun. Another thing to celebrate community and art and music.

Unknown Speaker 28:17
And then that Sunday is that fashion show so come hang out with me entire weekend that weekend. Yeah, we'll do the library festival and then we'll do brunch and then we'll do the fashion show. There you go back to that. You have plans now You're welcome.

Unknown Speaker 28:30
I love that you switch it up you're like the gentleman and I

Unknown Speaker 28:37
was like you should do Jan Jan and the gentleman but it's Jan Jan with two G's.

Unknown Speaker 28:44
No gentleman would should be with the gym. Yeah, that one I think is more palatable.

Unknown Speaker 28:51
They're like GanGan and again, switches up there right and they forget. Honestly, whichever way you want to spend it. I'm here to listen. Well. Thank you Good good.

Unknown Speaker 29:01
Anytime.

Unknown Speaker 29:03
Where can they find you? I am it's just for one through Jan Jan grabs J NJN.

Unknown Speaker 29:13
Thank you for listening to rebel radio with Malika Bella lyrics locals love on the rebel HD two

Transcribed by https://otter.ai