Digest

This podcast features a conversation between Brandi Carlile and Maren Morris, who joins as a guest questioner. They delve into the formation and experience of The Highwomen, Morris's surreal encounters with Dolly Parton, and the challenges of vocal stamina as singers age. Carlile's ability to connect with music icons is highlighted, leading to Morris's question about balancing family and career. The discussion broadens to working mothers and the pressures of live performance, particularly on shows like Saturday Night Live. Carlile shares insights into her new album, "Returning to Myself," exploring introversion and solitude, and reflects on her childhood environment and the element of risk in performance. The Indigo Girls are celebrated for their significant influence on Carlile's musical development. They also touch upon the personal and political significance of hair, touring habits, sleep preferences, and rider requests. The conversation concludes with reflections on aging, bridging generations of artists, and the profound impact of working with heroes like Elton John and Joni Mitchell.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction of Guests and The Highwomen

The podcast opens by introducing Maren Morris as the guest questioner for Brandi Carlile. They discuss Morris's musical achievements and her connection to Carlile through the supergroup The Highwomen, highlighting the group's conceptualization and the experience of singing with Dolly Parton.

00:06:51

Vocal Stamina, Iconic Connections, and Motherhood

The conversation explores Dolly Parton's exceptional vocal stamina and contrasts it with the vocal challenges faced by many singers as they age. Morris praises Carlile's talent for connecting with legendary artists and poses a question about balancing family life with a demanding music career, leading to a discussion on the broader challenges faced by working mothers.

00:10:54

SNL, New Music, and the Concept of Solitude

Carlile discusses her experiences performing on Saturday Night Live and the unique pressures of live television. She then talks about her new album, "Returning to Myself," and explores the themes of introversion, extroversion, and the personal journey of understanding oneself in solitude, admitting a preference for company.

00:14:34

Quiet Activities, Performance Psychology, and Musical Influences

Carlile shares an anecdote about trim carpentry as a solitary activity and discusses the feeling of being near a party without actively participating. The conversation touches on childhood environments and the psychology of performers, including how mistakes can be energizing. The Indigo Girls are highlighted as a major influence on Carlile's musical style and decision to play guitar.

00:23:21

Authenticity, SNL Memories, and Musical Duets

The discussion contrasts artists who create their own worlds with those who are inviting and authentic, using the Indigo Girls as an example. Carlile recalls a memorable SNL skit and spontaneously duets with the host on the Indigo Girls' "Closer to Fine."

00:27:18

Early Performances and Handling Pressure

The conversation shifts to the impact of hearing one's voice praised for the first time and Carlile's first stage performance at age eight. They discuss the ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations and the psychology behind performers' ability to handle intense moments.

00:31:10

The Role of Fun and Relaxation in Performance

Carlile emphasizes the importance of fun in performance and shares how she used to relax before shows, now abstaining from alcohol. The discussion touches on humor in performance, referencing her role in "Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny," and a humorous stage mishap.

00:36:16

Embracing Aging and Bridging Generations

Both Carlile and the host express a preference for their current age over their youth, appreciating the growth in reverence, humor, and self-acceptance. Carlile declares her fifties as her favorite decade and is praised for her ability to connect older artists with contemporary audiences.

00:38:42

Working with Heroes and Cherishing Moments

Carlile discusses the profound experience of working with musical heroes like Elton John and Joni Mitchell, emphasizing the sacredness of these interactions and cherishing moments of realization. She describes Elton John as exceptional and discusses the high standards set by Dolly Parton.

00:43:57

Collaboration, Impulsive Decisions, and Impact

Carlile recounts inviting a young student, Benicio, to perform with her on a TV show, highlighting an impulsive decision and the impact of collaboration on song performance.

00:47:18

Hair, Identity, and Gender Expression

Carlile delves into the personal and political significance of hair, discussing how changes in her hairstyle have coincided with shifts in her identity and self-expression, linking it to queerness and gender identity.

00:50:47

Touring Habits, Sleep, and Mattress Preferences

Carlile discusses touring, sharing memories of the SNL cast, and explains how her touring approach has evolved to prioritize rest and experiencing cities. She emphasizes the importance of sleep, sharing her bedtime routine and preferences for mattresses like Tempur-Pedic and Purple.

00:57:51

Rider Requests and Guest Questioner Role

Carlile describes her rider as simple and routine. The host explains the segment where individuals who know the guest provide a question, introducing Maren Morris's role in this episode.

00:59:54

Motherhood, Music, and Daughters' Interests

Morris reflects on The Highwoman experience and expresses a desire to reunite the group. The discussion shifts to the challenges of being a working mother in the entertainment industry and how daughters are more interested in public persona and the intersection of music and politics.

01:04:32

Competition, Collaboration, and Comedy

The speaker contrasts their own driven but non-competitive nature with a more traditionally competitive attitude. They share favorite comedy movies and TV shows, including SNL, and discuss favorite sketches and comedic talent.

01:09:15

Clarification on Live Performance

A correction is made regarding the late-night performance of "The Joke," clarifying it was on "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

Keywords

Q&A

• How did Maren Morris and Brandy Carlile first meet, and what was their initial impression of each other?

  Maren Morris and Brandy Carlile first met at a Beatles event. Carlile expressed admiration for The Highwomen album, and Morris was initially embarrassed because she had been crying when she met Carlile, finding her very sweet.

• What is the significance of Brandy Carlile's new album, "Returning to Myself," and what themes does it explore?

  "Returning to Myself" explores the push and pull between introversion and extroversion, and the need for personal space. It delves into understanding oneself when alone, a concept Carlile admits she is still exploring.

• How did the Indigo Girls influence Brandy Carlile's musical journey?

  Carlile credits the Indigo Girls with motivating her to pick up the guitar. She was drawn to their unique vocal harmonies, musical complexity, and authentic, unaffected sound, which made her feel invited into their world.

• What are some of the challenges and rewards of being a working mother in the music industry, as discussed by Maren Morris?

  The discussion highlights the difficulty of balancing a demanding career with family life, ensuring children feel seen, and modeling a fulfilling life. It's a constant negotiation of time and priorities.

• How does Brandy Carlile approach performing under pressure, such as on Saturday Night Live?

  Carlile loves the pressure of live performance, finding it a unique environment where brief moments feel like extended periods. She notes that performers often need to lack contextual intelligence to handle such intense situations.

• What is Brandy Carlile's perspective on aging and her favorite decade of life?

  Carlile expresses a strong preference for getting older, finding her fifties to be her favorite decade. She appreciates the growth in her sense of humor, self-acceptance, and overall enjoyment of life.

• How does Brandy Carlile manage working with her musical heroes like Elton John and Joni Mitchell?

  Carlile describes these interactions as sacred, emphasizing that she remains in touch with her fan self. She cherishes these moments and sees them as a reminder of life's full-circle nature and shared humanity.

• What are Brandy Carlile's thoughts on the connection between hair, identity, and gender representation?

  Carlile views hair as political and a significant form of self-expression. She believes cutting her hair was a moment of stepping into her authentic self and discusses how hair choices can reflect gender exploration.

• What are Brandy Carlile's recommendations for mattresses and why?

  Carlile highly recommends Tempur-Pedic and Purple mattresses for their "zero gravity" feel, which she believes promotes circulation and healing during sleep, preventing pressure points.

• Can you clarify the late-night performance of "The Joke"?

  The performance of Brandy's song "The Joke" with Benicio Bryant was on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," not another show as initially misremembered.

Show Notes