THE BEAR with LXNNY

The Bear is one of my favorite shows of all time, and it hasn’t even ended yet. And luckily enough, it's a favorite of my guest today!

LXNNY is a hip-hop artist who draws inspiration from the meticulous detail and care found in FX's The Bear. We set off on a fascinating exploration of LXNNY's music, his influences, and the journey he has traversed in his artistic career. You'll get a taste of his music, as we share a track from his recently released EP Mango Sherbet, an album that serves as a testament to his creativity and commitment to his craft.

In our discussion, we uncover the depth of LXNNY's passion for the culinary arts, stemming from his childhood love for Food Network shows, and how The Bear presents similar concepts in a more raw and unadulterated light. Delight in the unique mix of his music and culinary inspiration as he weaves stories of personal experiences and connections into his creative process.

Finally, we delve into the reality of being an artist, the challenges it presents, and how LXNNY, inspired by The Bear's dedication to detail and purpose, strikes a balance. We discuss how he navigates creating relatable music while maintaining artistic freedom amidst the chaos of life. Our journey concludes by exploring how The Bear draws the viewer in and and blends chaos and tranquility like jazz. Get ready for an immersive journey through LXNNY's world of art, life, and everything in between.

Transcript

Taylor D. Adams: 1:14

Hi, I'm Taylor and welcome back to the Film that's Podcast, a show about why we love what we do. So right off the bat I'm going to say that the Bear is one of my favorite shows of all time, and it hasn't even ended yet. There's something presented in this show that I truly appreciate, and that is the importance of care. The Bear itself is a production whose attention to detail and purpose is evident in every episode, and the Bear's characters are all trying their best to put so much care into their work and relationships. Are they perfect in their attempts? Absolutely not, but the characters' intentions are one of the many reasons why the Bear has inspired my guest today.

Taylor D. Adams: 2:01

Hip hop artist LXNNY was hooked by the Bear's portrayal of the raw and honest process of making food, equating that to the process of creating art. Lxnny and I talk about imposter syndrome, finding ways to work through loss and the chaos and tranquility of the Bear. Be sure, and stay tuned to the end of the episode where you can hear Summer Blaine's music, but for now let it rip. Here's Lxnny talking about the Bear on the Film Nuts Podcast.

LXNNY: 2:34

Today is actually a really cool day because my EP that just released Mango's Sharbert just came out, so I'm feeling good man. It's been all day trying to figure out that between work and everything updated on the website links, things like that.

Taylor D. Adams: 2:53

Yeah, that's awesome. How long have you been working on a particular project?

LXNNY: 2:59

That one. It wasn't really long, to be honest. I feel like maybe with writing and recording and everything like that, like a couple of weeks. It was just kind of waiting and figuring out the timing after that.

Taylor D. Adams: 3:16

So I've talked with actually a number of hip hop artists have been on the show. It's been really cool. What's your creative process? I know it's like a generic term, but how do you get inspired to make what you make?

LXNNY: 3:29

Yeah, I love that question. For me it's like really just living life and just consuming different things. If you will, I kind of create my own world and my own bubble of things I'm interested in. So just taking that and incorporating those thought processes into what I do, and then just hearing the things and paying attention to things that's in front of me If I'm outside, seeing some beautiful nature or hearing a sound, if I'm out in public at a store or something at a restaurant, hear a song that I've never heard before gives me the inspiration to sample it. And then, with like rapping and writing the lyrics, that just kind of comes on a day to day I randomly start thinking about different lines or different ways to put things together. So it's kind of going with the flow.

Taylor D. Adams: 4:27

You mentioned using that word like consume. What types of things are you consuming that lead to? I mean, if you want to talk about the project specifically, what kind of things did you consume or were you inspired by when you were working on this one?

LXNNY: 4:44

Yeah, for me it's definitely different movies and TV shows and just music as well. With this project it really was just me trying to have fun, not really overthinking the process of writing and just flowing with what comes to mind. It felt like production that I wouldn't say is like always my main go to, if you will, but kind of in the same vein.

Taylor D. Adams: 5:14

So yeah that was cool. So what kinds of movies and shows were you, were you watching?

LXNNY: 5:21

Yeah, so definitely the bear when it came out.

Taylor D. Adams: 5:50

What about the bear?

LXNNY: 5:56

I really have always loved cooking and the idea of being a chef. I used to watch Food Network a lot when I was a kid and when I first watched Season One of the Bear it was really nice to see that thing that I appreciated and that I like in such a direct and adult way, if you will. I didn't cut any corners, not trying to appeal to anything, really just raw, uncut experience. But experience that's like man, things are tough but you can do it as well. And yeah, just watching that it's crazy hearing people talk about it. I went to a cooking class with my wife and the chef. I talked about how like some of the scenes really got to her and like made her hyperventilate in things like that, taking her back to the days you know in the kitchen, especially like the ticketing scene.

LXNNY: 7:32

For me. I'm like man. Watching the show actually made me like want to be a chef, like more. I tell people I'm like dude. If I ever had to make like a life pivot, I might just go to culinary school and just just full floods and go that way. That'll be my midlife crisis.

Taylor D. Adams: 7:51

Have you ever worked in a restaurant?

LXNNY: 7:52

No, I'm not. No, just been like a consumer yeah.

Taylor D. Adams: 7:57

I got you.

LXNNY: 7:58

Yeah, so, but I've been in the vein of like retail and service, just that yeah.

Taylor D. Adams: 8:04

I feel like I'm a firm believer of everybody in their life needs to either work in a restaurant or work in retail. Yeah, yeah.

LXNNY: 8:10

Yeah, for sure, you definitely get a true understanding of people, like from all sides. To be honest, I feel like people are their most vulnerable, if you will, when they're like eating or shopping. Hmm. When you're wet.

Taylor D. Adams: 8:26

So what kinds of food shows were you into when you were?

LXNNY: 8:29

younger 30 minute meals. Rachel Ray, our chef, america. Yeah, it was like the how it's made, but, like for food, I can't think of the name of it Unwrapped. I think it might have been unwrapped. Yeah, yeah, I think it was about a day. Lorenz's um watch barefoot contests every now and then as well.

Taylor D. Adams: 8:51

Yeah, I was a big food Me and my family were watching Food Network on Fridays. I was, it was, it was, it was emerald and then it was the original iron chef. Oh yeah, like from Japan, yeah.

LXNNY: 9:02

Yeah, I remember they used to come on like like, if you cut off Food Network, like two in the morning or something, it would just have like a marathon of that. Yeah, it would be wild.

Taylor D. Adams: 9:13

Yeah, and the first thing that I had seen that was like food and theater at the same time. I was like this is extra Like these guys are going hard on this show.

LXNNY: 9:21

I love it. This is crazy Chopped too Chopped.

Taylor D. Adams: 9:24

Oh yeah, Actually my partner and I are watching chopped right now. She had never seen it. I was like, oh, you actually dig this show, yeah, and we're watching it. And I realized like how, like me and the judges are like we were going back and watching all the episodes and the judges are so mean. But like you know, it's, it's a part of the, it's a part of the gig. So, watching the bear, uh, he talks about kind of the things that inspired or appealed to you. So what was your initial reaction to it? Like how did you get hooked on it?

LXNNY: 9:55

Initial reaction and just like waiting to see, kind of like all right, let me absorb the first few moments and kind of get a feel of where I feel this was going. And then when I realized it's like, okay, here's this extremely experienced chef who's coming back to his hometown, a place that he really wanted to run away from, but is now have to go back and, in a way, like save a portion of his like family's legacy through a restaurant, and you know it's obviously focused on the restaurant and, like you know, as you watch it, especially season two, you're really like deep into the story of like wanting to see that come to fruition. But in that background it's like these are the things that he's really battling. You know, like he's having to do this in the middle of really truly confronting all the stuff that he left behind in real time. So it's just crazy.

Taylor D. Adams: 10:56

What an intense battle I just loved. So it seems to me you're kind of like someone who is very thoughtfully Experiencing the things that he's like watching or listening to, or you know, or eating for lack of a better term like thinking about what is like just contemplating a lot on what you're actually experiencing. But was there a moment in the show that you went Okay, I'm in this for however long this story is told?

LXNNY: 11:23

I got you, oh, I think it was when they were first Trying to Like put it all together in season one, like hiring the staff, like having the dinner that Sid made and everything to see if she can be the chef. It's like, alright, this is gonna be. It's gonna be a nice little roller coaster. I'm excited to see what's going.

Taylor D. Adams: 12:30

That was a good moment. I really appreciated that. The thing that hooked me was just, I mean, I used to work in a restaurant and I didn't work back of house, I worked front of house. But you're, you're around each other and I always like and like you cooking shows, like I always like the energy behind things and so that's what I was in. I was, that's what I was into is like how fast things felt, but also Everyone's from. I was just kind of like pulled back and yeah, sit in a particular moment.

Taylor D. Adams: 12:57

What's there? Is there one of these? Care you, when you're describing Kind of like what you first were inspired by with the show you're very focused on Karmie's character Is that the character, character you most identified with?

LXNNY: 13:11

So actually, no, I feel like as you watch it, naturally, especially being a creative, you want to attach yourself to that because it's like man, the idea of being able to attain your dream and taking that knowledge to come back and bring it to your city. But for me it's more so cousin and seed, and mainly from the standpoint of like being only children and Having people in their family that they lost. They're close. So those two stories, for me I connect with a lot because for them both of them it's like they feel like they failed in a sense. Both of them express it in different ways, but they both want that chance for redemption and they have both Express that in different ways as well and they have each have their own journey of how they have to like figure that out and understand. Like, alright, I Know where my niche is, I know I can provide value and this is why I need to double down.

Taylor D. Adams: 14:16

Mm-hmm, I Don't. I don't mean to pry, but do you mind sharing a story, the story of loss that maybe connected you to these two characters?

LXNNY: 14:24

Yeah, so for me, my dad passed away back in 2017, so learning that portion of Sid Um definitely hits home, because that's like another level to you know, on top of being like an only child, just like another level of a way to live life, if you will, yeah, wait, yeah, and trying to maneuver through that and still, like you know, realize your purpose and like still attain those dreams that you have.

Taylor D. Adams: 14:57

So yeah, I understand. So With the characters of Richie and Sid, how do you, do you think they handled this loss the same way, or did they handle them differently? And is there a process to which you identify, you particular attach yourself to?

LXNNY: 15:20

Yeah, I think like Richie is more outward, sid's more inward, yeah, and I'm definitely more on the inward side To where it sounds like Richie inside my head, but it's just in my head, yeah, but yeah, I mean, I think that's the biggest thing it's like for him. He felt like he needed to be forceful To get his point of gross and and stake his claim where Sid felt like she needed to play the background because Of maybe her mess ups in the past, when in reality it was like they both needed to do the opposite to grow.

LXNNY: 16:49

Like Richie needed to fall back, get in line and actually understand the process and know how to be a team player, where Sid actually needed to learn how to step up and understand that she's here for a reason. And you have to like go with your thought processes and be comfortable in the choices that you may and stand on it, but be prepared for the consequences also, but know that we can always Adjust. You know whatever consequences happen and whatever bad things happen, we can adjust and correct it.

Taylor D. Adams: 17:25

So I Feel like you identifying with those two characters and the fact that you are an artist. I feel like there's. I feel like if I asked a bunch of artists, they would almost pick the same thing, because both of them have this have. They both have imposter syndrome and and the confidence and just constantly swapping back and forth. Is that kind of how you see it?

LXNNY: 17:47

Yeah, cuz I mean, if you think every day, it's like you know where you can be, you know you've been envisioning so long, like you do become delusional to the sense that it sounds far fetched, but I feel like this can really be a thing. But at the same time, through going through that, you're also faced with like the reality of where you're at. So it's like man, like kind of having that internal, like humbling yourself, if you will. But you just see the world in that way of like I feel like I'm up here, like it's as far as talent and what my ability is, like I feel like I'm on par. It's just that I have like a lot more steps in between that outside of just the talent ability.

Taylor D. Adams: 18:39

So which one of the characters do you feel like you are right now? Whoo.

LXNNY: 18:48

I feel like I'm sitting. No, I'm in a sense because I feel like I've already done the work in the process to get through Richie's part. Well, let me actually rephrase that. Hmm, I feel like Sid, when it comes to the art and the product, if you will, and Like as far as the next steps that I need to take, like I feel like Sid in that regard, it's like I need to go out and claim it, you know, reach out, touch people, you know Fellowship with folks and like really continue to foster that community.

LXNNY: 19:30

But then, like, on the big, like, larger scale of it, as far as just like, just being an artist and like having a certain niche, if you will, maybe knowing that I have the versatility to be able to do things, but also, again, going back to that reality of understand, like what people think about when they hear my music. You know, or expect, if you will, and then feeling like Richie in that sense, to where it's like man, like I gotta figure out where I like, truly like land in the world, if you will, with all of the way I feel with the art and stuff, like that it's like all right, but presented to the world, I have to figure out where I fall, because I feel like I can do so many different things, but like where can I fall to make that impact?

Taylor D. Adams: 20:20

So yeah, that makes sense. Well, one of my I mean one of my favorite moments in season two is when Sid is going around and trying all the food in Chicago.

Taylor D. Adams: 20:50

They keep cutting to the shot of, like the blank, empty black bowl and like it's just random stuff in there, like her brain going through that process of putting the things together. She's very much focused on the art, the accolades, the self-expression, in a way, trying a bunch of different things, but she wants, you know, people to eat it. She wants people to enjoy it. You mentioned earlier about just the music you put together. What is your goal with how someone receives your music?

LXNNY: 21:22

Yeah For me. I want them to feel like it's something that they can like live life to and be vulnerable to and with. If that makes any sense For me, music was an escape.

LXNNY: 21:37

So I want people to be able to get lost in my music, no matter what they got going on in the world, and feel like, okay, I can relate to this person. I'm not the only person that may be like dealing with something, but there is like light on the other side and I always want that to be in my music. You know, like, yeah, we might hit some like topics and I might, you know, talk about how I'm feeling. That's in a very deep, direct way. But I want to take it back and have fun as well, because I want to have fun in life, you know, but again, I just have to be like cognizant of like what's really going on. You know what I'm really thinking about.

Taylor D. Adams: 22:25

Where did it seems I was listening to somebody who was like, and it very much to me creates kind of a movement and it's kind of a mood. I feel like a lot of hip hop artists, a lot of rappers, the prominent part of their music is the message and the word play.

Taylor D. Adams: 22:47

But I feel like with yours that's present, but also the music is very like it's tranquil, I think, for lack of a better term like it's just for me, I was just like in a space where I was so calm that I ended up just like paying attention to only you and I wasn't even like realizing that I was like doing that. And to me the weird thing is that the bear is such a show that does such a good job with creating chaos. How do you, someone who creates very like chill, inward, contemplative music, how like what is that balance like of like creating one thing but enjoying something else?

LXNNY: 23:29

Yeah, I guess, because for me, I feel like everything is chaos in reality. You know, when you try to compartmentalize, like maybe one specific scenario, maybe it's not chaos. You know, like right now we're having a great conversation, talking about a great show, great topics. It's no chaos going on right now, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's no chaos going on in the world, where you continue to take a wider lens and a wider scope of things. So, and that's kind of how I feel about everything, if you will, it's like I like to say this a lot, at least in my head like I feel like everything is jazz, like jazz is like a very. It can sound chaotic if you don't really know what's going on, but if you know what's going on, it doesn't sound chaotic. It actually sounds very put together and methodical, but if you don't, it's just noise for some people.

Taylor D. Adams: 24:32

Yeah, but yeah, is there an episode of the show that really hits home for you?

LXNNY: 24:42

It's definitely out of everything. It's for sure, richie's episode.

Taylor D. Adams: 24:49

Oh, the Forks episode yeah.

LXNNY: 25:32

It felt like we really watched him hit rock bottom in that episode, like he was already feeling like, you know, low and like I don't really know our stand, like kind of getting paranoid, if you will, creating his own thought processes of how people are feeling about him, because it goes to, like his upbringing, you know, moving around a lot. I didn't have that necessarily, but yeah, you know only child moving around a lot and feeling like relationships could be fickle if you do like one thing and like mess up once or something, so like crema truly in your head, severing the ties, if you will. So that way, if it happens, you're not surprised. So like the way he was talking to cousin, like I know you wanted to get rid of me, you know you, that's why you sent me here, you know, then understanding what's going on with his ex-wife, that's just like the point where it's like, alright, he's as low as he can be right now, like he has nowhere to go but up. And then, once he humbled himself and honestly got to that point of just like days of I'm just going to focus on what I'm doing in front of me and just like whatever happens next happens next, and then in that, figured out his value and understanding the like dog.

LXNNY: 27:01

Like you're a people person, you know. Like yeah, you are who you are, but that's why people want you around. You know what I mean. Like you don't have to like not be that person, it's just like just tame it down a little bit, you know, still play the instrument, just don't like be blast in the horn. Like just tone it down just a little bit, take it down a couple of decibels and keep doing what you're doing. And then him realizing that in real time in such a like, you know, prestigious scenario and realizing that if I can be valuable here, like I can do this anywhere. And you and then, once you know the finale, it's like he's coming in there, like yeah, I wear a suit. Now he gets up like five clean. You know what I mean. Like his whole thought process on everything is like different. It was like a shift. So, yeah, that was what?

Taylor D. Adams: 28:04

Why is that episode one that hits home for you?

LXNNY: 28:08

Because I just love seeing that process and seeing somebody get out of that, because I feel like it's a lot of times where you see stuff where folks like I don't know folks are not able to get out of those situations and I just like seeing the hope you know in, like the realistic scenarios, and it was just beautiful to watch man Like person just really finding like their purpose and value and real time, like putting it in a practice and just having the switch click. It was just beautiful to see.

Taylor D. Adams: 28:50

So sorry for the interruption, but I will be brief. I am so grateful that you decided to listen to the Film Notes podcast today. If you are enjoying what you're hearing, please consider supporting the show on Patreon. With a small monthly amount, you can get access to behind the scenes, early access to full episodes, and you can vote on what movie we watch the first Monday of every month on the Nut House Discord. The Nut House itself is free to join and is full of other film and TV lovers, so you'll fit right in.

Taylor D. Adams: 29:18

You can check out info on all these things in the show notes, and if all of this sounds like a bit too much, that's totally okay. But if you want to keep up to date on all our episodes, please be sure and subscribe on your favorite platform of choice, and if you're listening on Apple podcasts, go ahead and leave a rating and review so we can get in front of other awesome people like yourself. Okay, enough of me rambling Back to the good stuff, because you said you connected with Richie. Like is that? Are you someone that has been down low and had to overcome that by realizing certain things?

LXNNY: 29:52

Yeah, I mean definitely with the passing of my dad and, like you know, moving out to an entirely different state, starting a whole new situation in that regard, while dealing with stuff with my dad, it's just a lot.

LXNNY: 30:12

And then even with the music knowing you're maybe like a late bloomer, because he spoke about that as well Him really figuring stuff out I mean, he was like 45, he spoke about it. But with me and music, compared to most people, I'm a late bloomer. A lot of folks started whenever, like 14, 12, super young, and for me, I was in a band from third grade to high school and that was my musical school, if you will. But I wasn't creating anything on my own, whether it was raps or beats or anything, so I didn't start until I was already in college. So I didn't really start getting my groove with things and get into the point where it's like, okay, I'm pretty good at this until like a couple of years ago, realistically, so it took time. So feeling like a late bloomer and trying to figure out, okay, where do I fit now in competing with, maybe, folks that started at a younger age and have a head start, if you will. So it's like, how do I maximize the time and the situation.

Taylor D. Adams: 31:31

Yeah, Every second counts right.

LXNNY: 31:33

Yeah.

Taylor D. Adams: 31:34

And that's where I end up with my musical goals, speaking of music. So from a musical standpoint I mean, this show does a lot of needle drops, indie bands or a lot of stuff from the 90s too. But just from the musical standpoint of this show, the way it flows, the way that all the elements of production kind of mingle together, is there a rhythm or a sound to the show that you've noticed?

LXNNY: 31:59

Yeah, and it's kind of crazy, though I can't lie like through watching the show. I don't necessarily remember like the score, if you will like a lot of songs that were played. A lot of my favorite moments are when there was really no music. You know, it was really the sound of the atmosphere, yeah, and in the silence of conversations, just the noise in the kitchen, you know, just hearing whatever song. If they were like playing something on the radio or something, cause it's like immersing you in the experience with them. You just feel like a person who's just like standing in the room as they're going about all these things.

Taylor D. Adams: 32:42

For people who are watching this show and you know there are. There are characters to identify with, there are scenarios to identify with. Why do you think this show has become so successful? Cause, like on paper it it seems like it doesn't seem like anything special, but then you watch it and it's got a lot to say. So what do you, what do you think might be drawing people in?

LXNNY: 33:10

Yeah, I think really cause at its core is the show about triumph through hardships and I think, with everything you know the world has been going through, like really just an existence of humanity, like folks love that story.

LXNNY: 33:30

But then when you add another layer to it, the demographic, as far as like the, the age and the time we're in, a lot of the folks on the show are in an age rage to where it's like, you know, you got some probably like late 20, you know, but then you got some 40, mid 40s and it's people from and even older.

LXNNY: 33:57

Honestly, when you start to think about the staff, so older than that, all these people trying to figure life out, you know, from all different walks of life, and being put in a scenario that, in a context that everybody can appreciate, because we all eat, we all love food. Yeah, you know, I don't think I've ever met anybody that hasn't appreciated going to a good restaurant. So being able to see people come together to be able to provide that experience and really try to make it, it's inspiring, you know, especially with stuff happening, you know, with the pandemic, and a lot of folks are just trying to be independent, figure out different ways to get things going and work for themselves, or even just like go back into school, you know, figure out different things that they can learn and different, you know, industries that they can get into and kind of having a fresh start. So I think a lot of people can latch on to that, whether it's from the creative aspect or the full-fledged like nine to five scenario.

Taylor D. Adams: 35:08

Yeah, I think we all like to see those stories of people to use your word triumphing, accomplishing something that is difficult. I mean it also helps that all the characters are incredibly entertaining to watch too. They all have their quirks and the way they talk and the way they act. Exactly.

Taylor D. Adams: 35:30

So one of the things that I love, that I sometimes get eye rolls about, is that this does a really good job. This show does a really good job of presenting food as art, but it also doesn't make it seem pretentious Like it makes it seem interesting. Yes.

Taylor D. Adams: 35:53

What are your thoughts on kind of? I guess in that sense it boils down to what is accessible to people. So, when you're creating your art, what kind of level of accessibility are you keeping in mind? Do you want it for a specific audience? Do you want it for everyone? Do you want it for underrepresented or some set of people? Who are you targeting when you are making your music? If you are targeting anyone?

LXNNY: 36:25

In a sense, I feel like I'm targeting people that are like minded, like me, if you will.

LXNNY: 36:30

I feel like, if you have an appreciation for hip hop and jazz, just honestly, those two things at its core, or let me add a third, just like old school music, and that ranges from like 60s, 70s, 80s, all the stuff our parents listen to If you have an appreciation for those three things, I feel like you will be able to find something in my catalog that you will appreciate.

LXNNY: 36:58

And then you know, as far as thinking about the audience, definitely nowadays, as far as the new cadences and drum patterns, if you will, because I don't like to say like call them a type of drums, because they're all drums to me kick, snare, hi-hat, it's just the rhythm and the flow that you put it into and gives it a certain bounce. So the new bounce that's happening right now and that's really the wave of a lot of things. Again, that's where I feel like I'm rich and then when I get into that and make sure like I'm able to continue to appeal to you know, a larger audience, because everybody likes to do that artist, but still not like compromising my art, because I am an artist at the end of the day, but there is the middle ground and it's trying to figure out that middle ground and write that love.

Taylor D. Adams: 37:56

Yeah, there is a sense in the artistic world that the idea of compromise like what do you compromise for? Are you someone who will compromise for the right thing, or are you very steadfast in your vision of things?

LXNNY: 38:12

I don't know if I'll say it's compromise for me personally, because I have a lot of things that I'm influenced by.

LXNNY: 38:26

So you know like, yeah, I really love the alchemist, but I really love Metro Boomin you know, I really love Jay-Z but I really love Future, so the idea of maybe doing something that can appeal to a larger audience like doesn't feel like compromise, because I'm interested in those things. Like if Future or Young Thug or, you know, estg, ever wanted to work with me in any capacity, I would be extremely excited and I feel like I need to be able to have things in my repertoire to allow for that to happen Just at the same time. Like if Earl Sweat shirt, you know Triggyn Boldy, james Freddie Gibbs, you know Currency Action Bronson, if these folks want to hop on a song with me as well, I'm definitely trying to be in those rooms.

Taylor D. Adams: 39:29

You're not too picky. You've got standards, but you're not too picky.

LXNNY: 39:33

I just have standards within those genres of the things that I like, but I like it all. I would love to be on just a record where it's just like a jazz band going crazy and I'm just boom rapping some bars. I want to be able to go into every room because I genuinely appreciate every room.

Taylor D. Adams: 39:54

So what I'm trying to get. I don't know the right way to really phrase this question, but one of the things that I really took away from it at least the second time watching through it I probably noticed at the first time, maybe was how much emphasis this show puts on caring about what you do.

LXNNY: 40:14

Yeah.

Taylor D. Adams: 40:17

I mean, you seem like a person who appreciates that and I think, as any musical person, they're caring about what they're making. Did that come from somewhere for you?

LXNNY: 40:29

I feel like it's really my tenure in the band and just that upbringing of just liking design and liking the processes of things. And then it's interesting because being in the band you're like a part of the process. You're like you know me as a producer. If I take some drums here, you know, take some sounds here, I'm kind of like a conductor in a sense and like a scientist in that way. But when you're just playing that instrument you're the person kind of just being moved around and picked and where do you need to go when most do you need to play?

LXNNY: 41:09

Oh you're talking about marching band, yeah, and even like, just like concert band in general, like with the different parts and stuff like that. I was in the jazz band as well, very cool. What did you play? Trombone, nice, yeah, so yeah. And then my band director like I don't know if you've seen the movie Whiplash. That's what I should have picked on the load.

Taylor D. Adams: 41:33

Have you seen the movie Whiplash though? Yes, I've seen it many times.

LXNNY: 41:36

Okay, so this is going to sound extremely dramatic. Okay, but my band director was that guy.

Taylor D. Adams: 41:46

Really, and I'm surprised you stuck with music after having that guy's band director.

LXNNY: 41:52

But I understood where he was coming from. I like people that are straight with me. Okay, even though I'm not necessarily. I mean, I say what comes in my mind and things like that. I like them when people are very like, just straight with me, no matter their thought process, if you will like, I just like it when they're straight with me. And what I appreciate about band director is that's what he was. He might say something that was harsh, he might like get on you for something, but it was all from the sense of like I want this to be good, like, and I want you to be the best that you can be within this, to make it the best it can be.

LXNNY: 42:32

You know this is a guy who was a band director for 30 years at this high school. I was from Riley. He brought in high school he was a band director from for 30 years. You know, going to band competition, winning awards, like I mean you go in a band room as plaques, everything that he's won. So like, this guy has a standard. You know he's known in Riley and like, respected, like people know this guy. So, yeah, he was like that in Whiplash, like literally, I've seen him throw drumsticks. Like inside. I've seen him throw a chair, like for real. I've just seen him throw things in the room and like he used to keep us and like cut into our lunch when we would be outside marching if he weren't getting things right. Wow, and this is like so, but at the same time, yeah, but at the same time, like I remember, we went to Florida for a parade, like, and we rose face mountain with a meal, my friends, because we were joking around, like you know, because we were everybody in high school, like in a band. They some people didn't like him because he was like the guy with blast, you know, they just were like whatever, but we still were always cool with them. Like one time we went up and just like he had on these like cool, like fresh Prince type sweatpants. You know, and this is an older, you know white dude, he's like at the time I feel like he's in his fifties and maybe sixties. He's wearing these like super crazy sweatpants and we're just like yo, those are some really cool sweatpants.

LXNNY: 44:08

So in the process of complimenting, you know, we're just talking about the trip and he's asking us about space mountain and we're just like, no, we've never been, never been on the ride. He's like, all right, well, we get there, we'll ride it. And we're just like okay. And then I remember, we get there, we get off the bus. He looks at us. He's like, hey, gentlemen, we might as well go ahead and knock that out. Let's go to space mountain. So I'm just like okay. So for me it's like, even through all the yelling because he yelled at me and, like you know, got on me, but I never, like took it hard- I mean, it sounds like, sounds like there was a lot of influence there, though, so yeah look at you now I mean, yeah, no, seriously, I do it all over again, that's for sure.

LXNNY: 44:56

So to bring us home what is your favorite moment or scene from the two seasons of the bear, you know, it might have been when the gas didn't leak, when suppression seems to be working, I will now check the gas line. Ten.

LXNNY: 45:26

Nine. That was, I felt, the genuine relief sigh of whoa, we're really about to do this. Yeah, I felt that Because, again, we're talking about that anxiety, I felt the buildup of yo. I felt like I was in the room just like, oh my gosh, if this thing does not go, this is going to be absolutely terrible. And when it didn't, it's like okay.

Taylor D. Adams: 45:55

Yeah, like you felt, you sighed and jumped up and down with everyone in that room.

LXNNY: 45:59

But then got a little nervous because in a way, like now, there's no excuses. See, that's the other like anxious part about that moment. It's like, okay, nothing went wrong. But now it's like whoa, we like it's like, yay, we get to do this. But it's like no, no, no, no, no, no. Now we really have to do this. So like it's not a jump anymore, it's not a game. So yeah, it's crazy.

Taylor D. Adams: 46:27

Lenny. Thanks so much for coming on, man. This has been a great talk.

LXNNY: 46:30

Yeah, absolutely man. Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it.

Taylor D. Adams: 46:35

It's evident in talking with Lenny that balance is something that he strives for, and I think we can all relate to that. Whether it's embracing the ebbs and flows of life or integrating seemingly contrasting elements into some form of jazz, he has his own unique way of achieving that balance. For the characters in the Bear, especially the lead, karmie, that process is a lot more difficult and I think we can all relate to that as well. We feel we're only good at one thing, so we dedicate all of ourselves to that one thing, shutting out everything and everyone else. Or maybe we think we're not deserving of love, so we self-sabotage our relationships with other people and maybe we get so accustomed to being out of balance that all we can do is remain in that precarious state. Personally, I struggle with a couple of these and on my latest rewatch of the Bear for this episode, I've realized that that concept of care that I mentioned earlier should be applied in balance and that the process of getting to a good place should be embraced, I guess. A huge thanks to Lenny for chatting with me today and a very, very special thanks to all you bears for listening. If you want to check out some of Lenny's music, go ahead and check out the show notes for links to that, as well as stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear a little preview.

Taylor D. Adams: 47:58

If you enjoyed what you heard today, please go ahead and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform of choice to stay up to date on all of our episodes. And if you happen to be listening on Apple Podcasts, please leave a rating and review to help us get noticed by more awesome folks like yourself. If you want to support the show on Patreon, please check out the show notes or visit patreoncom. And one quick, important announcement Our next episode will be a very special mid-season finale on Wes Anderson's the Life Aquatic with Steve Zizu. To find out why it's a very special episode, please be sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel.

Taylor D. Adams: 48:35

After that episode, I'll be taking a few months off, but we'll be back in early 2024 with brand new Film Nuts goodness. Our theme this season is brought to us by the D-Bend, our artwork is designed by Madunga Subahudi and all episodes of Film Nuts Podcast are produced and edited by me, taylor D. If you want to get in touch, you can email Film Nuts Podcast at gmailcom or follow us on Instagram, tiktok and Twitter at Film Nuts Podcast. And don't forget to join the Nuthouse Discord community absolutely free by checking out the link in the show notes. Thank you all so much for listening today. Until next time, merry Christmas, lizards. Okay, I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Anyway, as promised, here's Calypso by Lenny to play us out.