Exploring Evolution with TOW'rs: Celebrating 10 Years of Music and Transformation
In this episode of Curious Goldfish, host Jason English interviews Kyle and Gretta Miller of the Arizona-based duo TOW'rs. The conversation delves into the couple's reflections on their 10-year journey in music, encapsulated in their upcoming album 'Versions'. They discuss the evolution of their sound, their spiritual and personal growth, and the significant moments and perspectives that have shaped their relationship and artistry. Kyle and Gretta share candid insights into songwriting, intentional living, and navigating both challenges and joys in their musical and personal lives.
00:00 Introduction to Curious Goldfish Podcast
02:51 Discovering TOW'rs: The Journey Begins
04:38 Kyle and Gretta Miller's Pros and Cons
10:04 The Evolution of TOW'rs Music
18:38 Faith and Personal Growth
29:28 Embracing Uncertainty in Faith
33:20 Inclusivity in Modern Christianity
34:31 Reflections on Spiritual Upbringing
37:15 The Evolution of Songwriting
43:02 Balancing Literal and Poetic Songwriting
46:33 The Influence of Parenthood on Music
54:42 Upcoming Album and Future Plans
56:18 Curiosity and Final Thoughts
I think that we all contain many different versions of ourselves and
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:part of the work of any human is to accept
all of those versions and celebrate and
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:laugh at it and take forward the things
that were worth taking forward and not,
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:and this maybe gets into the goldfish
You know, of Ted Lasso and bring, bring
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:forward the things worth bringing forward
and forgetting the things that, um,
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:are just unnecessary, heavy baggage.
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:So we actually, I interfaced a lot in
this record with a few of songs that, um,
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:I was feeling that way towards because
I wanted to, I wanted to like hold.
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:my younger self and be like, I love you.
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:Jason English (Host): Welcome to
curious goldfish, a podcast community
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:where music and curiosity come together
through interesting conversations
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:with the music makers of our world.
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:I'm your host, Jason English.
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:You can find curious goldfish and all the
major podcast and social media platforms.
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:And of course we have all of our content
on our website, curious goldfish.
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:com.
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:MacBook Pro Microphone: That guitar
riff, from a song called "girl in Calico.
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:Has stuck in my head ever since
the first time I heard it.
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:Soon after joining Spotify and
having the streaming service to
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:you by random radio playlist,
based on music I had already liked.
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:It's a song by Arizona based duo TOW'rs,
comprised of Kyle and Gretta Miller.
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:Who are married and have
two children together.
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:I reached out to them in the summer
of:
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:bit about their background, very
similar to mine from the standpoint
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:of having spent a good chunk of
formative years in a Christian college
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:organization called young life.
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:MacBook Pro Microphone-1: I was
intrigued to hear their perspective.
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:On that and how it shaped
their music in marriage.
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:Both when they first met, and today.
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:They've changed and evolved
for sure, as most should.
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:And now 10 years since the first
album, that evolution is embodied
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:in a new album called "versions.
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:A reimagination of 10 songs
from the first five albums.
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:MacBook Pro Microphone-2: There
sound remained soft and sweet.
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:In these new versions, similar to
what Kyle was just referencing.
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:Represent different versions of the
musicians just as there are different
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:versions of ourselves as humans.
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:I encourage you to listen intently to
their comments, not only about faith.
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:But about each other
and their relationship.
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:They are an inspiration for all of us.
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:That true love is out there.
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:MacBook Pro Microphone-3:
And we can continue to become
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:better versions of ourselves.
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:each and every day..
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:MacBook Pro Microphone-2: And yes,
there's a new version of "girl in Calico.
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:On this new album.
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:So be sure to check that out.
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:Also, stick around to the end.
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:As they perform my new
favorite version song.
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:Called tightrope Walker.
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:From Flagstaff, Arizona, here are
Kyle and Gretta Miller of TOW'rs.
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:Let's dive in.
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:Jason English (Host):
Gretta and Kyle Miller.
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:It's such an honor.
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:Thanks for your time.
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:Kyle Miller: for having us on.
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:Gretta Miller: Yeah.
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:Excited to be here.
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:Jason English (Host): I saw you out
in, uh, you're on Flagstaff, right?
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:Is that your, is that your house?
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:Kyle Miller: We are in flag right now.
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:Yeah, this we're right now we're
in our studio that we built.
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:And, um, 2016,
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:Jason English (Host): Okay.
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:Kyle Miller: It's a detached
building in our backyard.
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:Jason English (Host): Okay.
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:Well, that's cool.
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:Well, again, it's a pleasure.
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:Uh, I know you have a lot going
on with family and with, Albums
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:and probably shows and stuff.
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:So thanks for taking the time.
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:I guess I want to talk about the project
that's in the works, but I just have
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:a couple of like random questions to
kind of get us going if you don't mind.
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:So, um, so Gretta, I'll start with you.
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:What's the one thing you appreciate
most about Kyle as like a life partner?
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:Kyle Miller: Oh man, you're
on the spot right now.
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:That's a
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:Gretta Miller: good one.
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:What's the one thing I
appreciate about Kyle?
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:Kyle Miller: His dishes.
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:Gretta Miller: He does all the dishes.
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:Jason English (Host): Okay,
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:Gretta Miller: Um, no,
that is not my one thing.
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:That is very kind and gracious though.
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:I do other things, but
he's amazing at that.
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:Um, I would say Hmm, he's,
I just have to pick one?
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:I want to list, like, three.
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:Um, if I just have to pick one,
I would say He makes me laugh.
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:We laugh together, and I think laughter
is medicine, especially in a relationship.
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:I think we have to laugh and play
together, um, so that's the big one.
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:But he also is quick to say sorry, and
he's kind, and he's curious, and open
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:minded, and I love all those things too.
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:Jason English (Host): well, that's cool.
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:All right.
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:Those are good things.
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:Good job, Kyle.
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:Way to bring it.
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:That's good.
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:And I just think same thing for you.
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:What do you, what do you
appreciate most about Gretta?
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:Kyle Miller: I think it's, you
know, because people are always
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:changing, I think probably what I most
appreciate is always changing too.
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:I think right now the thing I
appreciate most about Gretta in this
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:season of life is um, a listening ear.
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:I don't, it sounds like maybe you've been
in a partnership or have been married
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:for a long time but for us it's just
I think the value of having someone to
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:bounce ideas or thoughts off of without,
um, Without them wanting to fix it,
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:or without them wanting to fix you or
the situation, is, is something that
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:Gretta is really good at, and I, I've
been needing, I've been in need of those
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:conversations lately, so, I've been
really appreciating that about her, but
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:she has a multitude of qualities that
would also fall under that category.
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:Jason English (Host): All right.
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:Well, that's awesome.
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:And I appreciate you sharing.
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:That's great.
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:Um, I'm not going to ask the opposite,
but I will, I will add something that
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:I've wanted to ask you all is, You know,
uh, do you ever get sick of each other
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:just given all the, you know, all the
things that you guys got going on, I,
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:you know, and it, I guess it's okay if
you say no, but I, I would kind of call
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:bullshit on that, but you know, like,
what do you, like, what do you, uh, Yeah.
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:Gretta Miller: like, are
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:Kyle Miller: you sick of me?
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:Gretta Miller: Um, I mean, I
definitely need alone time sometimes.
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:Um, I don't think it's because
I hate Kyle or don't want Kyle
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:around, but I do think that solitude
is so important for my spirit.
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:And, um, so yeah, I, I guess, I
mean, we do a lot of life together.
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:Yeah.
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:We have this.
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:We have this band together when
we're on tour, we're crammed in a van
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:together and You know, doing these
big, you know, sometimes stressful
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:things for a month, solid together.
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:Um, but in general, I, I mean,
I really like having him around.
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:I feel like we've kind of figured
out a way to make it work.
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:And I feel like we just
have to communicate a lot.
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:Like, Hey, what do you need?
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:Like I gotta, I need to just like go on
a walk or I need to, you know, go, go
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:read or go be with a friend or something.
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:But, um, so I definitely need alone time,
definitely need time away sometimes.
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:But we do a lot of life together
and I'm really grateful that we
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:get to do a lot of life together.
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:Jason English (Host): Oh, that's awesome.
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:No, that's good.
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:Yeah.
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:I mean, again, not to rehash it, but
that, that, that is a lot that y'all do.
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:I mean, not just the band and the, and
the kids and the family, but I think
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:y'all are like entrepreneurs, right?
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:Like you, it's like your own business.
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:So that just, all those things kind
of can contribute to a lot of stress.
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:And, uh, so kudos to you guys for figuring
it out and, and doing life together.
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:It's, it's, it's really cool to see.
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:Um, so thank
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:Kyle Miller: I don't know
if we've figured it out, but
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:we're, we're trying really hard.
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:We're having fun.
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:Yeah, I don't feel like I get tired of
Gretta, but yeah, I think the, it is,
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:yeah, it's a funny thing to think about.
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:I don't, I genuinely don't think
I've ever been sick of her.
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:I think it's mostly being just like in
a space where I understand I need to be
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:alone, but I'm pretty introverted because
I, my day job right now, right when we're
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:not, you know, touring as I work in the
studio and do mixing and engineering.
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:So I'm naturally by myself a lot in that.
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:So that's,
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:Jason English (Host): Well, I know your,
your story is pretty well documented
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:about, you know, northern Arizona and
the music with, uh, you know, some of
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:the young life stuff and everything.
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:So I'm not going to go into that because
I think that's pretty well documented.
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:But I am curious about sort of, I
think you guys played music together,
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:weren't dating, but like there was a
crush kind of back and forth, I guess.
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:Was it love at first sight?
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:And then what was the first move that
Kyle made or Gretta did you make the move?
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:Like, I, I haven't found that answer out.
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:can you take us back to that moment?
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:Kyle Miller: it's debated in our
relationship with who made the first move.
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:so we were friends for two
years before we started dating.
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:Um, but yeah, love at first
sight is maybe like, not to be
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:unromantic, but I don't know if, I
don't know if it was that, was it?
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:Did you love me?
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:I'm sorry.
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:Gretta Miller: I feel like there was
always a certain, like, energy and
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:attraction, um, but yeah, it wasn't like
certainty or love by any means, but I
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:mean, I remember I had maybe seen him
around when we went to college together.
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:I had seen him around at a couple social
events and then I ended up going to a
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:friend's house and they were kind of
hanging out and doing a bunch of just
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:goofy stuff and the first time I ever like
heard him play a song on the guitar, he
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:was just like belting Since You've Been
Gone by Kelly Clarkson, which is like not
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:in his normal repertoire by any means.
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:But, um, but I just loved like, yeah.
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:The goofiness and the joy behind that.
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:Um, and I'm trying to think,
I mean, the first move,
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:Kyle Miller: I think, I think
genuinely the first move was probably
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:made by Gretta, but I made myself
available for the first move.
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:Jason English (Host): All right, there you
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:Kyle Miller: So, I mean,
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:Gretta Miller: the first real move,
if we want to get into details here,
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:like we were hanging out with like
a few friends and watching a movie.
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:Um, and I think I had like a pillow on
my lap and we were sitting next to each
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:other on a couch and I had a pillow
on my lap and we were all just like
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:a group of friends watching a movie.
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:And at some point Kyle like laid his
head on the pillow that was on my lap.
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:So, I don't know if that's the first
move, okay, so he's on the pillow,
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:but then I, at a certain point,
started playing with his hair.
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:Jason English (Host): Perfect.
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:Gretta Miller: So, I feel like
my move was a little bolder,
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
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:Yeah, definitely.
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:All right.
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:Well, thanks for sharing.
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:Gretta Miller: that night, later that
night, he texted me and was like,
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:we should go on a walk and talk.
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:And so, then we started talking
about what this is a little bit
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:more, and it was really sweet.
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:Jason English (Host): I love that.
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:Yeah.
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:Um, all right.
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:So, uh, you all are six albums
in and it's been 10 years since,
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:since y'all started making music.
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:Is that right?
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:Um, I think, I think you guys are about
to announce or have announced sort
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:of a 10 year Anniversary project, I
guess, you know, what is that about?
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:Uh, what's the timing of that and
kind of what does that entail exactly?
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:Kyle Miller: yeah, so that's gonna
we're actually gonna announce this
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:next week that we're gonna release
that on august 23rd um The idea of
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:the project so we have six albums.
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:This project didn't include Um any songs
from our christmas album, but what we
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:decided to do is kind of our more um
normal times of the year albums Uh, we
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:decided to take two songs from each of
those And redo them kind of so yeah, the
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:the angle That we took was doing almost
a collaboration with our older selves
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:and covering basically the old songs and
playing them in the way that we sing now.
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:Um, we changed up a couple of lyrics.
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:We changed the keys cause I, I
can't sing quite as high as I did
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:on the first couple of records.
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:So, um, yeah, it was just sort
of this collaboration between
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:our old selves and who we are now
and who we've journeyed to be.
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:Um, And it was a really fun process
at first, semi, um, what's the word?
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:I don't want to use the word painful
because that's not the right word.
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:Uncomfortable, maybe.
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:Some of the songs we don't play anymore.
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:So it was interesting to interface with
them again in a way that's like really
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:intimate because when you're recording
a song and working on a song you really
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:need to give a big part of your heart to
it in order, in order for me to feel like
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:it's genuine and something worth sharing.
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:So it was great, lots of good
conversations were had in the midst
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:of all that about who we've become
and Um, wrestling with who we were
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:then and celebrating that and all,
all of the kind of like mixed bag
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:of emotions that came with that.
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:But that in a nutshell
is what the project is.
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:Two songs from each of our five main
albums, excluding our Christmas album.
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:And we basically re covered
them, so, or covered them.
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:Jason English (Host): All right.
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:Well, that's exciting.
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:Gretta Miller: Yeah, they feel
unique and they feel way different
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:than the originals, but still
the heart of it and the melody of
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:it rings true to what they were.
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:But it was really fun to dive back
in and, you know, there's two of the
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:songs that normally Kyle would lead
and now I'm leading and one song
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:that I would normally lead that now
is more of a call and response duet.
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:Um, and really, yeah, some songs
It's where it's changed less in
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:some songs where we rewrote the
whole, you know, half of the chorus.
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:And so it's exciting.
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:I'm really excited to
share it with everyone.
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:Jason English (Host): so Kyle, you've
talked in other interviews about
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:the challenges you had with singing
the early music, I think, you know,
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:through like, I think that there's
a couple of interviews where you're
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:like, oh my gosh, I can't do it.
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:You know, I just can't, you know?
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:Um, so I guess.
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:Tell me, like, was that easy to overcome
some of those, uh, some of those, I
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:don't know if there are emotional gaps
or challenges with that, or have you, had
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:you kind of moved beyond some of that?
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:I think you had references a little bit
of bitterness, you know, in terms of,
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:you know, some of those early works.
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:Cause I think you think if I
recall, you guys didn't really
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:intend to build a career on music.
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:So you, you sort of just made the
music and not really thinking.
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:And obviously you were inexperienced,
but not really thinking like
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:this was going to be the thing.
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:So you, I think you at one point
indicated, yeah, like I wouldn't have
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:done it the, the, the way it was, but
it was, that was the moment in time.
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:Kyle Miller: I'm glad you brought that
up because I feel like there's, there's a
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:lot around, um, it's been interesting for
me, um, to try to figure out how to like.
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:Accept the wholeness of the journey
when it's been so out in the open.
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:Um, I, and not that TOW'rs
is some famous project.
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:Like I'm very aware that we're an indie
small to mid level band, but I think it's
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:interesting to, to try to figure out.
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:Um, the ego in the midst of
all of the sharing, um, and
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:how to, how to let the ego die.
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:And I, there was a big season of
my life where it was very difficult
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:for me to sing certain songs in our
discography, um, based off of what I
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:felt like they represented at the time.
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:That I wrote them and then contrasting
that to who I feel like I have become.
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:But I think, um, over the last couple
of years through thinking and, and, um,
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:just being able to, I think just growing
as a, as a person, I'm trying to not
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:take all that so seriously, I guess.
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:And just understanding that we all,
there's a great poem that we have
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:on, we have a little line of it on
the back, um, of our, Uh, of our
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:vinyl and it's by Emerson, I believe
I need to look it up, but he says I
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:contain multitudes and I, I like that.
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:I think that we all contain many different
versions of ourselves and part of the
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:work of any human is to accept all of
those versions and celebrate and laugh at
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:it and take forward the things that were
worth taking forward and not, and this
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:maybe gets into the goldfish um, ideas.
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:You know, of Ted Lasso and bring, bring
forward the things worth bringing forward
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:and forgetting the things that, um,
are just unnecessary, heavy baggage.
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:So we actually, I interfaced a lot in
this record with a few of songs that, um,
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:I was feeling that way towards because
I wanted to, I wanted to like hold.
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:my younger self and be like, I love you.
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:I love who you were then.
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:And I love who you, we've
become all the Kyle's.
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:Jason English (Host): Right.
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:Kyle Miller: And I, I want, I think
that's the story I want to tell as an
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:artist is, is to be for Gretta and I,
in our relationship, the journey, um,
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:of figuring out what it looks like to be
in a partnership and the challenges and
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:celebrations, but also, yeah, to have
so many albums and have like, To be, um,
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:lucky enough to have had a long enough
career and put out enough, um, and put
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:out enough music to kind of, I guess, have
to work with a lot of different versions
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:of yourself every time you put a gig on.
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:You're like,
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:Jason English (Host): Well, I don't
want, I don't want to assume anything,
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:but are you mostly referencing like
your old self and your new self
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:sort of to that spiritual journey?
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:You know, is that, is that
kind of the crux of it or is
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:it, is it, am I missing that?
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:Kyle Miller: no, you're not,
you're not missing that.
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:I think that's a part of it.
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:I think there's also parts of it.
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:The way that the songs were written
or, um, but that's also, I think why
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:maybe they're special and why I've
come to fall in love with them again,
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:is that there was a beginner's mind
that I think is important to take
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:on all creative endeavors of not
really knowing what you're doing.
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:And that being kind of the magic of
why it ends up being kind of cool and
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:why people seem to be drawn to it.
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:And yeah, the spiritual side of
it was, was a big piece of it.
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:Um, but also, um, that, that's
another part of my life.
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:I feel like I've kind of come back
around on to having a bit more just
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:gentleness and softness with maybe I
have had in the last, um, five years
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:just because, I, I really, I really
do think, um, that the intentions of
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:that, of that space in my life was to
be kind and love people, and, um, it's
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:the same now, and there's a lot of
similar avenues that I take to get there
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:spiritually, um, some of them have
changed, but, and that's a big part
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:of the Tower story that is important,
I think, to tell and not avoid, um,
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:about, you know, our walk with, um,
with faith and, um, Figuring out, out
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:what that looks like to us now and how
to take forward the things we're taking
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:forward and leave behind the things
that are maybe we're evolving out of,
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:Gretta Miller: Yeah.
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:I think that, you know, it was a, it was
a big one and the, the two songs that we
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:chose to cover from our very first album
are, uh, belly of the Deepest Love and.
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:Swelling Sea.
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:Mm hmm.
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:That's from the first album.
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:I almost forgot.
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:And Swelling Sea, and yeah, Belly
of the Deepest Love is the song
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:that we changed the most lyrics in.
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:I mean, really the only song
we changed a lot of lyrics in,
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:and, um, it was so interesting.
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:I feel like it took us a longer time
than we expected to do that rewrite,
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:and to really sit with the song and
feel out what it means to us now.
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:Cause the hope was not to critique or
slam anything or anyone, but just to
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:realize like, oh, when we wrote this
song and we were singing about this
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:sweet connection we feel to the divine,
like we don't want to minimize that.
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:We want to make it bigger.
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:We want to make it even more
beautiful and expansive and inclusive.
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:Um, so yeah, getting to sit with
some of those words and taking out
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:some of the blame and shame language
and getting to add words about just.
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:Always being carried
and always being free.
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:Um, this type of language just feels so
much more full and connective and, um,
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:yeah, cause that's still a sweet part
of our life, but we get to, um, yeah,
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:just kind of resonate it with the way
that's authentic to who we are now.
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:Jason English (Host): Okay.
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:That's beautiful.
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:Yeah.
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:Well, well said.
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:Um, so y'all referenced
something that I think is a
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:really perfect analogy for this.
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:I think you guys said that you had a
bike in your backyard that at one point
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:that you were trying to fix up and it
was, you're trying to make decisions
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:around, okay, which parts to keep that
are worth keeping and which parts needed
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:to be kind of refreshed, I guess, and
I don't want to get into doctrine or,
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:or, you know, if it's too personal,
like, let me know, but I'm, I'm, I'm
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:actually curious cause I, I have, I
spent a lot of time with young life.
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:Uh, and another organization
called K life, which is based on
381
:a camp in, uh, in, in the Midwest.
382
:And I mean, I grew up going to church
three times a week, religiously,
383
:like literally religiously.
384
:And, uh, it's a big, big, big part of my
childhood and I don't have really regrets.
385
:I mean, there's, I guess a few here
and there, but my, my faith is, you
386
:know, some days I'm like, okay, what,
what is it that I actually believe?
387
:I guess I'm just curious.
388
:Because that is such an
important part of your life.
389
:Like, what are those things about the
faith, about your faith as a Christian
390
:that you still back to the bike are
going to keep, and then, you know, and
391
:then other things you've sort of like,
you know, swapped, swapped in and out.
392
:Would you consider yourself Christians
anymore I'm just curious because your
393
:music is so beautiful and your journey
is so relatable to, I think a lot of
394
:Christians like in their early to mid
thirties to like fifties that are,
395
:that have really kind of like looked
back at their childhood and high school
396
:and college experiences going, okay,
that was cool for a lot of reasons,
397
:but like, I'm not so sure anymore.
398
:And I think a lot of us are still
kind of like working through that.
399
:Kyle Miller: Yeah.
400
:No, I think you're right.
401
:Yeah.
402
:I was just going to say that.
403
:I think there's a lot
of people who grew up.
404
:In in that in that world and there was so
much beauty in it, too Um, I think both
405
:Gretta and I would probably land on a
similar Space I would say um but you know
406
:to me the whole conversation around like
giving a title to what I believe feels
407
:really difficult because um, I think as
in like three years ago, if you would
408
:have asked me this question, I would have
been like nah, man I would have felt like
409
:I have some sort of ego to preserve or
Like, I felt, like, embarrassed, but I,
410
:I do think there's so many people that
resonate with it, and the, the great
411
:thing is, is like, if people disagree
with me, they don't, that's totally fine.
412
:Doesn't matter to me.
413
:Um, but where I personally land
these days is, I feel more mystic
414
:and more, um, of just like a
seeker of, of what I would maybe
415
:capitalize as, like, just the divine.
416
:Um, and there's still aspects
of Christianity that are really
417
:important to me, um, caring
for the poor, um, nonviolence.
418
:There's lots of, there's lots of,
I think, pillars of that, that
419
:I, that I hold really dear to me.
420
:Um, so, and, and there's like,
still a community here that is a
421
:welcoming community to, to Um, to
us that we love to participate in.
422
:It, it, it is not traditional in any
sense with like the, the way that it
423
:goes about, um, talking about that.
424
:But yeah, for me personally, I think I
land more in, in a space of, mysticism
425
:and being really okay with not
knowing things and that actually, that
426
:actually being sort of a foundation,
a comforting foundation for me.
427
:Um, and yes, in truly seeking and being
open to whatever, um, the divine and God
428
:can look like and, and seeing that truth
in Other spaces besides Christianity.
429
:To me, it's not exclusive Christianity,
um, but it is still a space that I
430
:find truth in, but yeah, I don't, I'm
not sure I would, it involves a larger
431
:conversation to me to be able to say like,
are you, are you this or are you that?
432
:To me, I'm just kind of like, man, I
think I'm a, I'm a human who just I
433
:want to love people well while I have
time on this earth, and I want to, um,
434
:And if that, if my faith practice helps
me to do that, then I think it's true.
435
:And I think that for other people too, if
it's causing them to, it's causing them
436
:to live a life in a way that, Is being
kind and taking care of other people
437
:and is rooted in loves and I don't know,
I just think, I think it's kind of all
438
:in, but I know a lot of people wouldn't
agree with that and that's totally fine.
439
:Jason English (Host): Thank you for that.
440
:Yeah.
441
:Gretta anything to add, add to
that from your perspective or
442
:Gretta Miller: Yeah, I mean, I don't
want to talk too long, but, um, no, I
443
:mean, I, I love, I love what you said.
444
:I think there's, there's so much good
in, I think, seeing, Like, the beauty
445
:of the world around us and the, and
the, the bigness of maybe the idea
446
:of God, if you resonate with that.
447
:And I think with me, there's just been
such a, such a shift of like, that's
448
:not something that's outside of us
that we need to like, go attain, like
449
:it's something that's already in you.
450
:It's something that's
already in each of us.
451
:It's um, so I think really resonating
with like, Oh, like that is, that is
452
:in me and that is like love and light
and like, I can care for myself and
453
:I can love myself and how that is
connective and I can, yeah, I just
454
:think that, I mean, I really still do.
455
:Um, love like the ideas of, of Jesus and
learning about that and, um, and I think
456
:it's sad how our culture has taken so
much of that, um, and flipped it upside
457
:down and used it to persecute and exclude
people and to pick sides and to, um, cause
458
:violence because it's just the opposite.
459
:Um, I don't think that, um.
460
:Learning about God or Jesus means
like, hey, you have to believe these
461
:things and say this certain prayer.
462
:Like, I just think that that's bullshit.
463
:I think that it's like, I think that
it's about like, literally loving
464
:everyone and like, let's care for this
earth and let's care for each other and
465
:let's like, make this a kinder world.
466
:So, um, if that's the type of Christianity
we're talking about where We are partying
467
:with our gay friends and our female
pastors and our immigrant friends and
468
:our people who look different and speak
different, and I'm here for that party.
469
:Jason English (Host):
Yeah, that's well said.
470
:Um, I don't know.
471
:I don't know if this was one of the
two songs that you picked off of
472
:joy alchemy, but Uncertainty comes
to mind like on this topic, right?
473
:Um, and I think, uh, and again, I'm taking
a stab here cause I don't know if it's on
474
:the, the, the album that you're about to
announce, but you know, one thing I had
475
:a conversation with another artist named
a Cereus Bright, he, he's from Tennessee.
476
:He moved to Mexico
477
:Kyle Miller: Yeah.
478
:Jason English (Host): grew up.
479
:Kyle Miller: I'm aware of street.
480
:Jason English (Host): Yeah, he has
a pastor's kid and I just had this
481
:conversation with him like a week and
a half ago where we both were talking
482
:through and it's like, it's okay to
be uncertain, like the nuance, the
483
:mystery, you know, like, cause we,
we both were talking about, you know,
484
:growing up, there was a lot of like
pressure around, well, this is truth.
485
:It's black and white and like, as you
grow older, at least my, my experience
486
:was, you know what, it's not, it's not
that clear, you know, and it's okay.
487
:Right.
488
:And to your point, like being a seeker
and, you know, being okay with that.
489
:I think that's, you know,
I can relate to that.
490
:Right.
491
:but like the lyric that I love was like
each path we're taking, I'm on your side.
492
:There's no way of knowing
which one is right.
493
:Right.
494
:But we can dance in the hour dance
in the unknown and if heaven gets
495
:too heavy, we'll just let it go.
496
:Like, is that, is that not that
every lyric has to have a, like a
497
:literal kind of tie back, but is
that kind of the, the, the message
498
:that we're kind of talking about?
499
:Kyle Miller: Yeah, I think it falls into
that for sure that that song Uncertainty
500
:has like an umbrella in my in gretta and
i's life And that certainly fall felt
501
:falls underneath it and that that line
specifically specific to spirituality.
502
:Um, yeah, I think there was
growing up in that world.
503
:There was such a fear.
504
:If I could add anything to what
this conversation, I think there was
505
:such a fear of the other and fear.
506
:Um, around, like, being outside of
the, the bubble and of Christianity.
507
:Um, and, and now feeling like I'm on
the outside of that, it just feels like,
508
:it's a, to me, everything in my life is,
I just feel so much, it feels so much
509
:bigger than what words can describe.
510
:describe.
511
:in this way.
512
:And so, yeah.
513
:Um, the word, the word Christianity and
Christian feels like it's just, it feels
514
:too small for me to encompass all things.
515
:But yeah.
516
:Anyways,
517
:Jason English (Host): That's
518
:Kyle Miller: side tangent, that that
song Uncertainty, it is, it's a song
519
:about even relationships and, um, and
Gretta and I's relationship and how
520
:True, true Love has to choose each other.
521
:It can't be.
522
:I can't, I cannot hold it.
523
:So a big part of that song was
about a big part of the record.
524
:Joy Alchemy was about how do
you, how do you detach from the
525
:person that you're so crazy about?
526
:Um, in a way that's not, um, being,
indifferent, but in a way that's like
527
:recognizing them as like a beautiful song
that passes us, passes through us or a
528
:beautiful sunset that we get to observe.
529
:And so Uncertainty was about
trying to wrap my head around.
530
:That aspect of our relationship
and choosing one another and
531
:choice being an actual choice.
532
:So, that was the other side of it,
533
:Jason English (Host): And
Gretta, like back to your point.
534
:So when I was in college, again, in
my, uh, I'll call it my conservative
535
:Christian Bible belt era, for lack of
a better term, I wrote, I submitted,
536
:uh, I was a, I was a journalist,
uh, and I was a journalism major.
537
:And I started to like write a lot
and I submitted an article to a
538
:Christian magazine for publication.
539
:And the title of it was,
Exclusively inclusive.
540
:And it was the idea about like Jesus
is exclusively, you know, again, if
541
:you're a Christian, the son of God,
you know, et cetera, et cetera, et
542
:cetera, but it's exclusive, he's, he's
exclusively inclusive of everybody, right?
543
:The poor, the homeless refugees,
you know, all those things.
544
:And I think, um, I love, I love
how you said it, Gretta, because.
545
:whatever you call it, if
that's Christianity, great.
546
:Like I'm all in.
547
:Um, and I think, or whatever it is.
548
:Um, but that inclusiveness I think
is really important, especially
549
:like in, you know, in today's world.
550
:And it's, it's a shame that like,
you know, some people have sort
551
:of thrown shade on that concept
for lack of a better term.
552
:Right.
553
:Gretta Miller: Yeah.
554
:I know.
555
:I think that it's a confusing thing
because I think people, when you're fed
556
:bad theology that, um, that says that
you have to believe a certain thing.
557
:Or you're going to burn forever in hell.
558
:Like then it feels like love to, to tell
someone, Hey, you can't be this way.
559
:Or you can't live like this
because you're trying to save
560
:them from burning forever in hell.
561
:Right.
562
:But, but when you like deconstruct
that and you're like, Oh, What if
563
:a loving God actually wouldn't burn
their children in hell forever?
564
:Then, like, maybe there's freedom
because, like, maybe hell's not
565
:a thing in that type of context.
566
:Maybe we can bring hell on earth now when
we choose to live in violence and hate.
567
:But, like, when we can
remove that, like, fear.
568
:Living in fear of the other and fear of,
like, this Morbid, wretched afterlife,
569
:like, makes us act in such a way that's
not fully human, I don't think, and so,
570
:yeah, I, I, I think that when we can
be free of that, then, When we approach
571
:the other, or someone who's different
than us, or thinks differently than
572
:us, we don't have to save them, we
don't have to push our beliefs on them.
573
:We can say, oh, like,
tell me what you think.
574
:Who are you?
575
:What do you believe?
576
:I want to learn from you, because
you hold something different, and
577
:that's exciting, and that's not scary.
578
:We can be curious, and we can be
kind, and, so, blah blah blah.
579
:Lots of,
580
:Jason English (Host): No, the,
yeah, the, the curious aspect,
581
:like I'm all about curiosity.
582
:Right.
583
:Um, and I love your song curious
woman from the, from the Christian,
584
:uh, Christmas album, but like
curious curiosity is so under
585
:underestimated these days.
586
:And I think, um, again, that
my spiritual upbringing, that
587
:there wasn't a lot of that, you
know, um, but you know, whatever.
588
:And I love Kyle, your point.
589
:Cause I think there's the time
when I was jaded and I was, you
590
:know, pissed and and everything.
591
:And Again, judging, you know, and I love
the fact that you've kind of come full
592
:circle and sort of are gentle and sort
of more, more sympathetic, you know,
593
:I think that's, that's really cool.
594
:And I think your music, I
think your music completely
595
:reflects that, which is awesome.
596
:Kyle Miller: Yeah, yeah, bitterness
is a tough ground to build on.
597
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
598
:Kyle Miller: So,
599
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
600
:And that's
601
:Kyle Miller: um, it's a hard place.
602
:It's a hard place to stay, but for me it
was, um, yeah, I like what you said there.
603
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
604
:Well, no, thank you.
605
:Um, all right.
606
:So I guess back to the, sorry, back.
607
:Yeah.
608
:That was, that was deep by
the way for, for Monday night.
609
:Kyle Miller: Yeah,
610
:Jason English (Host): it was cool.
611
:Kyle Miller: it's great.
612
:I
613
:Jason English (Host): love it.
614
:Yeah.
615
:I love it.
616
:Um, so I guess back to the 10 year album,
I guess, how, how did the two songs
617
:per album minus the Christmas album?
618
:Like, how did you come to those decisions?
619
:Kyle Miller: wish there was a
really concise way to say what
620
:we did, but it was pretty random.
621
:Um, we took it record by record.
622
:Some of the songs, we still do today.
623
:Like we play the kitchen at
almost every show that we play.
624
:Um, and there's a few others off of
our early albums that we still enjoy
625
:playing every, um, once in a while
we'll still play whiskey and wine.
626
:We didn't do whiskey and wine on,
on this, um, particular album.
627
:I think maybe if, maybe there was
actually a way that we did look at it.
628
:I think the way I tried to view it was.
629
:I looked at the songs and said, like,
is there anything more to say 10
630
:years later with this piece of art?
631
:Um, and that was a cool opportunity
because I think all artists probably feel
632
:they understand that you could write and
write and write and record and record and
633
:record and mix and mix and mix forever.
634
:Songs could just keep, like,
evolving and growing and continuing.
635
:And I think I was thinking, like, if
these songs had done that for 10 years.
636
:Which ones would be the ones that I
feel like I could add something to.
637
:In our old, we had for the first
four years of TOW'rs, we had a
638
:cello player, four or five years.
639
:And she since has moved on into
doing a bunch of really neat things.
640
:And, uh, we had her come back and arrange
all the strings for the most recent music.
641
:So it's been a while since she's played on
our records, and so we thought it'd be fun
642
:to To do the most recent stuff
with like a player who had played
643
:with us like a few years ago.
644
:So
645
:Jason English (Host): Please tell me,
please tell me in Girl in Calico, you
646
:keep the riff, little guitar riff.
647
:Kyle Miller: we keep the riff and we
started out acoustic and then we actually
648
:have a um, Almost like a counter melody
that happens with it If you can even
649
:imagine it's like the busiest riff in the
entire world and i've made it even busier
650
:But I like it though and and
I liked it enough to share it
651
:Jason English (Host): gateway song.
652
:I'm sure like a lot of other people,
because I think it has a ton of streams,
653
:but that was my You know, that's a
great, I mean, streaming, everyone's got
654
:an opinion on streaming as a listener.
655
:I love it because I get
introduced to music.
656
:I would have never ever heard.
657
:And again, I think that popped up.
658
:Um, so I got, you know, I got divorced
after 25 year marriage, three years ago
659
:and a move from Colorado to Atlanta.
660
:And, uh, one of the first people I met.
661
:You know, she was like, do you,
how do you listen to your music?
662
:And I was like, well, I'm Apple music.
663
:And she's like, no, yeah,
you gotta do Spotify.
664
:It'll, it'll change your life.
665
:And kudos to her.
666
:She was right.
667
:Cause one of the reasons is I,
I've, you know, I came across girl
668
:in Calico listening to a random
radio playlist, you know, and it
669
:came up and it's, it's incredible.
670
:So I can't wait to hear that.
671
:That's awesome.
672
:So one thing I am, uh,
again, curious about is.
673
:If you can go back to the songwriting
of all these songs, you know, I
674
:think again, you, you all have
talked about the fact that I'm
675
:with, I'm with you, Gretta on this.
676
:Cause I was, I, you know, used to
be a reporter, you know, I, I'm
677
:like, okay, the sky is blue, the
grass is green, you know, and I feel
678
:sad, you know, like very literal.
679
:Um, and then, you know, and then you've
got, you know, Edgar Allen Poe there,
680
:uh, as your husband, it was like, Mr,
uh, Mr, you know, just beautiful poetry.
681
:It works like with you guys,
you know, working together.
682
:Um, but have you, have you learned to
become more poetic Gretta and artistic?
683
:And have you, um, Kyle, you know,
learned to become more, you know, literal
684
:have you guys kind of found a way to
come together a little bit or is it
685
:kind of standing in your swim lanes?
686
:Kyle Miller: Oh man.
687
:I, I feel like more than ever we've
met each other in the middle with our
688
:songwriting styles and yeah, we're at
a point now where, um, we can write
689
:and finish a song in a day together.
690
:'cause where it used to take
months of fighting and, um.
691
:Like, seven different versions,
and yeah, I think, I, I really
692
:appreciate the way that Gretta can,
um, observe something and say, this
693
:is enough to just say you observe it.
694
:And you don't have to, like,
make it so prosy, um, to the
695
:point where no one will get it.
696
:Like, you're not, you're gonna People are
going to miss what you're talking about.
697
:And then there's a balance in that too,
because also, I think the gift of poetry
698
:is that it shows us what we have seen
a million times through a new lens.
699
:And that's why I keep reading
poetry, even about, like, the divine.
700
:To me, to read a Hafiz poem about
God, or to read Walt Whitman, um,
701
:It's like I get this new lens because
the language is not what I'm used to.
702
:So I think we meet each
other in the middle.
703
:Oftentimes what we do is we kind of err
more on the side with our first drafts
704
:now being a little bit more literal
and a little bit more straightforward.
705
:And then we go back to words and we
say, how could we say this differently?
706
:Um, this is what we want to say.
707
:If we were putting out like a
really boring PR, like press
708
:release, this is what we would say.
709
:But how do we make it,
like, new, you know?
710
:So.
711
:Gretta Miller: Yeah, I think that
we have definitely learned things
712
:from each other, indeed, yeah.
713
:But, um, it is still sweet coming to
the writing table, and, you know, maybe
714
:I'll bring an idea, or maybe Kyle will
bring an idea, and, you know, if Kyle
715
:has an idea, I feel like what I want
to know is, Like, what does this mean,
716
:or like, what's the story behind this?
717
:Um, I don't think every song has to have
this like, clarity, perfect story, but
718
:um, just yeah, I want to like, know, I
want to like, put myself in the scene,
719
:I want to like, feel the feelings and
know what is like, the message, where's
720
:the tension, where's the hope, where's
the, whatever we're searching for to
721
:find balance and communicate something,
and um, Yeah, I think that that's been
722
:a sweet thing for us to just push and
pull with each other to find how we can
723
:still have it not be hyper literal or
in your face or cheesy, even for lack of
724
:better words, but also have it, um, say
something that people can resonate with.
725
:And it's awesome though.
726
:I feel like we'll have songs and
we'll dial in so much clarity on
727
:like what the story is for us.
728
:And then we'll go play a show and it's so
fun to interact with people at the show.
729
:And they're like, Oh, like.
730
:We'll, we'll play, we'll play, you
know, there'll be one song someone's
731
:talking about and someone will come
up and say this song like helped me
732
:through my divorce and the other person
will come up and say that same song
733
:like was my first dance at my wedding
or you know, like opposite situation.
734
:Kyle Miller: We had this exact
conversation with a guy where two
735
:people came up and then a third
came up and was like you're the
736
:music I listen to when I'm pregnant.
737
:Coming out of my like psychedelic
trip and I was like, I love it, man.
738
:.
Gretta Miller: Yeah.
739
:And then there's someone coming up
and like, like yeah, wanting to like
740
:talk spirituality with us and then
someone coming up and just like,
741
:fuck yeah, this was a kickass show,
742
:And we're like, I'm
just here for all of it.
743
:And like, and I love that, I guess.
744
:Um.
745
:That is what art is, like it becomes
art when it gets to be interpreted by
746
:the consumer and by, by the audience
and I mean, it's art on its own,
747
:but it's so much more alive when it
lives within people's stories, so.
748
:Jason English (Host): no, that's cool.
749
:I mean, Kyle, one of my favorite quotes
that you've said is what makes TOW'rs
750
:cool is the fact that you and Gretta
write songs together, you know, like
751
:that's, that's, that's pretty special,
um, for you all to be able to, to do that.
752
:Right.
753
:Yeah.
754
:I love that.
755
:That's
756
:really good.
757
:Kyle Miller: I think it's become like
a pretty selfish practice for us.
758
:Um, I think, and I hope, no matter.
759
:TOW'rs is to everybody else.
760
:I think, hope that Gretta
and I write songs together.
761
:Um,
762
:how, how have, how have the kids
changed your, uh, your songwriting,
763
:you know, like, do Do you see the
world through their eyes more or is
764
:it, you know, more, more about the
relationship and your own experiences?
765
:Right.
766
:No, that's, that's, that's awesome.
767
:Um, and it's solace and Rowan.
768
:Is that right?
769
:Great.
770
:Yeah.
771
:Great names.
772
:That's, that's, that's incredible.
773
:Um, all right.
774
:So yeah, so back, I guess, uh, speaking
of like eras in the, in the, the five
775
:albums that you based this, the, the
tenure on, uh, I'm not going to ask you
776
:like, what's your favorite or whatever,
because that's like picking solace or
777
:Rowan, um, cause they're all your kids.
778
:But, you know, if, if someone was,
um, you know, if I go over here to
779
:my neighbor and like, Hey, I want
you to, to listen to TOW'rs, which of
780
:the albums do you think is, is best
representative of the entire journey?
781
:Is that possible?
782
:snapshots in time?
783
:Yeah,
784
:right.
785
:Yeah.
786
:Okay.
787
:No, it's good.
788
:Yeah, that's really good.
789
:Sure.
790
:I'm here for that.
791
:Perfect.
792
:And like, I've got, I actually have
the lyrics to, uh, swinging evergreens,
793
:which is on, on that, uh, on that album.
794
:This might be the first Christmas song.
795
:Her holiday song.
796
:I've heard that manages to weave in,
but making love to her in the morning.
797
:Like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, damn.
798
:I'm like, all right.
799
:All right.
800
:That's, uh, yeah.
801
:Good for, good for them.
802
:Good for the married couple with the kids.
803
:Right.
804
:Yeah.
805
:It's good.
806
:No,
807
:it's great.
808
:It's like, you know, touch of her
soft skin, the swing evergreens,
809
:the snow silently falling, making
love to her in the morning.
810
:It all seems a Holy thing.
811
:That's beautiful.
812
:Yeah.
813
:Again, not to like beat the horse
dead, but like on your spiritual
814
:journey, are you, that you were on?
815
:Was it different making a
Christmas album having kind of,
816
:you know, gone through that?
817
:Like, did you see the words differently?
818
:Did you feel the music differently?
819
:Okay.
820
:Oh my gosh.
821
:Purity Culture.
822
:Haven't heard that term in so long.
823
:It's so funny.
824
:No,
825
:just a couple more questions.
826
:I know it's getting late.
827
:Um, so with the announcement of the album,
are you guys going to promote it in tour?
828
:Are you still working through that?
829
:Like, what does that look like?
830
:So the fans can, can get
excited for some of that.
831
:Okay.
832
:Yeah.
833
:Yeah.
834
:Awesome.
835
:All right.
836
:Well, that sounds great.
837
:Well, um, again, thank you.
838
:I guess, uh, and we, I don't think we
talked about this overtly, but you know,
839
:this, this podcast that I've kind of
started is, it's inspired by Ted Lasso and
840
:curiosity, which we've talked about kind
of indirectly is, is a big part of that.
841
:I'm going to ask each of you, Gretta,
I'll go, I'll let you go first.
842
:You know, you're a mom,
musician, wife, all those things.
843
:I guess.
844
:What?
845
:At this point in your life, what are
you, what are you most curious about?
846
:All right.
847
:Well, that was a great answer.
848
:Thank you.
849
:That's awesome.
850
:That's exciting.
851
:Kyle, what about you?
852
:That's amazing.
853
:Perfect.
854
:And you have kids and you've got a
business and you've got all the things.
855
:So.
856
:It was an honor.
857
:I, I, I just, I can't thank you guys
enough for your time and, um, we're
858
:excited for the, for the new album.
859
:Um, yeah, we just really appreciate it.
860
:No, thank you.
861
:Oh yeah, no, that's, it's my pleasure.
862
:Thank you all.
863
:📍
864
:📍
865
:📍