- 3 days ago
Em Beihold talks with Bru inside our Los Angeles studios about the making of her new album, 'Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter,' her feelings after the success of "Numb Little Bug," and more.
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00:00And by hold, it's so good to see you.
00:02It's so good to see you too.
00:03Thanks for coming in.
00:04It's been like years.
00:07It's been a whole high school experience since I saw you last.
00:10We graduated.
00:10That's such a funny thing to put in there.
00:12How much trauma have you been through?
00:14A whole lot.
00:15Middle school and all that.
00:17It's so good to see you though.
00:18And when I heard you were coming in, I was so excited because we got to catch up right
00:22when like Numb Little Bug was out and blowing up.
00:25And now you're back with a new album, February 27th.
00:27I would love to start with the title and just dive into the meaning and how you landed on that.
00:32Yeah.
00:32Well, the title is Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter.
00:34And I wrote it very much about my experience after Numb Little Bug.
00:38And I think maybe trying to fit into roles that weren't supernatural to me as like this pop girl.
00:44Because like my favorite artists are Fiona Apple and Regina Spector and like Mitski and stuff like that.
00:48And I feel like, you know, it was amazing what happened with Numb Little Bug,
00:52but it was all so fast that I didn't really get to like, I guess, decide like what kind of
00:56artist I want to be.
00:57And so it's just like, oh, pop, dancing in the lineup with like Five Sauce and Tate McRae.
01:02Oh my gosh.
01:02You know, which is an honor, but also just like a different lane.
01:05Yeah.
01:05You know?
01:06Yeah, absolutely.
01:07So what are the themes like when you explain this album to somebody?
01:10Like what are we touching on?
01:11What are the sounds?
01:12Like you're right, four years has been such a big chunk.
01:15Where did you land on the sounds?
01:17The sounds are, I think it's definitely a Marina inspired album.
01:22And also like the references I'm saying like Regina Spector and Feist and just like these sort of early 2000s,
01:27like singer songwriter ladies.
01:30But the themes are very much like journey back to self, going through depression.
01:34And still a mental health theme because I experienced a lot of mental health after Numb Little Bug.
01:40And it was a tough time.
01:43Having a hit is awesome, but they don't often talk about the time after.
01:46Oh my gosh.
01:47And that was challenging.
01:48It's going to be so like cool and also important to have you shed some light on that because not
01:53a lot of people know what that is.
01:54So like what are some of those adjustments after having a song like Numb Little Bug that's so big and
01:58then, you know, to where we are now?
02:01I think you have the pressure of like, you know, a number one radio song and you're like, well, I
02:06need to get back there.
02:07That's what everyone paid attention to me and my career was going well.
02:10But again, like I don't necessarily write for the pop standard.
02:13So I think it was kind of confusing.
02:15I was doing like tons of sessions and meeting lots of collaborators who are all lovely people.
02:19But like when you have so many voices in your ear, you kind of forget who you are and why
02:24you make music in the first place.
02:25And the way I like to write is like starting with a little snippet and bringing it to people I
02:28trust.
02:29It's hard for me to be with like hundreds of people over time.
02:34Yeah.
02:35Yeah.
02:35No, I mean, it is so unnatural to like what you were used to, you know, and having all those
02:39people.
02:40It's yeah.
02:40What a weird big adjustment.
02:42And something else we went through was like a writer's block, right?
02:44Very much.
02:45So what is that like?
02:47Like, I mean, for something that some I feel like is so natural to you is writing.
02:51What was it like hitting that?
02:52And how do you get out of it basically?
02:54Well, it's so bad.
02:55This is the worst time ever.
02:57This is my job.
02:57This is my job.
02:59And I couldn't do my job.
03:00And it was very much because I had been writing so much with so many people.
03:03All my snippets of what I would bring were out.
03:05Like I just couldn't produce at the rate I was working.
03:08Really?
03:09And I think that's what, you know, I just music wasn't fun.
03:12I was stressed out.
03:13I took a step back from being an artist in general, which I thought would be great.
03:17But then it led to more depression because I had no schedule and like I didn't really
03:22know what to focus on.
03:23And I like when I'm busy.
03:24And I also just I literally my brain believed like Numb Little Bug was like the greatest
03:30feat I'll ever achieve.
03:31And that's it.
03:31And I'm done.
03:32That's a scary thought, too, where it's like, well, all downhill from here, which is not
03:35the case, obviously, I really did.
03:37It was hard to break out of that thought pattern.
03:40But then I did a whole lot of therapy.
03:42I did outpatient.
03:44I took a whole journey just to get my head on straight again.
03:48And yeah, at this point, I'm approaching music from a very different place where it
03:52really is very fun again.
03:53And I'm not so concerned about, I guess, I mean, the success aspect, of course, everyone
03:58wants to be successful, but it's not like I need to be on the on this, you know.
04:03So plus, I feel like we probably tie so much of our identity to these jobs, you know, and
04:08like when you get into that place, we're like, oh, my gosh, I can't keep up with it.
04:11It just gives you that weird feeling that I'm sure would respond to you to do like a therapy
04:17thing.
04:17So that's so interesting with outpatient.
04:19How did that like get you back on track to unlock what you were going through?
04:23Yeah, I mean, outpatient was a very neat experience because I realized how many people
04:28from different walks of life, different ages have the same core feelings.
04:32And I think it was neat to just like talk to, I don't know, just people I'd never, I would
04:38never speak to who would give me advice just from, most of them are older from years of
04:43experience.
04:43And I remember there was one woman who was like, if Regina Spector tried to be Britney
04:48Spears, wouldn't you be upset?
04:49And I was like, yeah, that's so true.
04:52But like that was kind of this like pop pressure that I was feeling.
04:55And I guess it's still a pop album, but it's like weird and it's me.
04:58And it's not trying to fit any sort of standard.
05:01Well, shout out to her.
05:02That's a, that's a banger line.
05:03Yeah.
05:04She should be the therapist.
05:05Agree.
05:06Was she or was she a patient?
05:07You say?
05:08No, she was a patient.
05:09But I think what was interesting is how many interesting things were said by other patients.
05:13Yeah.
05:14More so than like the therapist, but how we all helped each other.
05:16Like there was another guy who just like didn't speak much.
05:20And then at one point he just said to me, like, what if everything isn't as personal
05:23as you're taking it?
05:24Oh, and I was like, so true.
05:26Write that down.
05:27And I don't like literally since that particular guy saying that in that moment, I don't take
05:32things personally.
05:33I don't know.
05:34I love that.
05:35Yeah.
05:35It's so cool how different perspective too really does weigh into the grand scope of things
05:39to like, it's so true.
05:41I mean, I think we all could take that advice and learn a lot from it.
05:43But you being back and getting to work with people like James Flanagan and Jason Suido,
05:48how was that and how does it really like help you find your true sound and like what you
05:54wanted to do with this album?
05:55Oh, it was magical.
05:56I love my collaborators on this album so much.
05:58Nick Lopez as well.
05:59But James Flanagan did not the last Marine album, but the one before that.
06:04And that's why I started working with him just because I'm such a fan of hers.
06:07And I think the way that he approaches music is also similar to me where he's like a bit
06:12of a tinkerer and wants to find the right sounds and lyrics and everything.
06:16And it's not like a song in a day kind of thing, which is also some people's way, but
06:21that's not really mine.
06:23He's also very silly and I'm very silly.
06:25So we laughed through making this album.
06:26And I think that's honestly an important piece to making music is like just the time flying
06:31by.
06:31You're having fun.
06:32Yeah.
06:32You know, I can tell just by the way, every time you say depression with a depression,
06:37you're probably someone who like uses humor to cope, right?
06:40Yes.
06:41Do you, how do you think that plays into the music at all?
06:43That's the music.
06:44Yeah.
06:44It's, it's everything I felt with a little bit of humor.
06:47Yeah.
06:47Yeah.
06:48Oh, that's so funny.
06:49I love that.
06:49The few songs you put out before the albums here, right?
06:52How do you decide those three songs to put out and why, why them?
06:56Well, Brutus was the first song I wrote kind of coming out of the writer's block.
07:00And so I wanted to sort of honor that being like the, the breaking point of, I guess not
07:05the breaking point, the starting point, the starting point.
07:07Yeah.
07:07The opposite.
07:08Yeah, exactly.
07:08The starting point of like being able to write again.
07:11Hot Goblin, that one was just fun.
07:13I was like, love the title.
07:15It's silly.
07:16I just thought we should put it out.
07:17Yeah.
07:17And then scared of the dark.
07:18I wrote the course of that one when I was 13 years old and it, the course has been stuck
07:22in my head since 13.
07:24What?
07:25And, but I was like, this song is silly, whatever.
07:27And then I like, actually, to be honest, I think I had my first session with James and
07:31I wasn't prepared.
07:32And I was like, well, I brought this in.
07:33I really worked on this, but it was like something I had written forever ago.
07:37Wow.
07:37Um, and then we made something I really liked.
07:39And, and so that was that story.
07:41That's so funny.
07:42How does it, when you say it's stuck in your head, like how often would you think about
07:45it since you were 13?
07:46I mean, it was just like, it was like a vocal stim sort of thing.
07:48Yeah.
07:49Like, like maybe I wouldn't be singing it out loud.
07:51Right.
07:51It's like your Roman empire where it just comes up living in your head, red free.
07:55Wow.
07:56Uh, so the album pulls from years of like voice memos and journals.
08:00I was curious if, do you have specific ones for music or like for everyday life or does
08:04it all blur together?
08:05I have two journals.
08:06Yeah.
08:06I have one where I rant and then I have another one where I only write the positives.
08:11Oh, that's nice.
08:12Because I will only reread the positive ones and the rant is more like, I'm going to burn
08:15that.
08:16Oh, I love that.
08:17That's such a good, like life goal and thing to live by.
08:20I don't know.
08:21Maybe I should be more honest with myself.
08:23No.
08:23No, because what benefit would it give you to reread the, the rants, you know, the stuff
08:27that like annoyed you?
08:28Yeah, I guess.
08:30You know, I think of like memories you have where, you know, like you get in a fight with
08:34your family on vacation, like 10 years, you're like, oh, that was such a good vacation.
08:37You never remember that stuff.
08:38So it's like, it's a good mental thing to remember the positives.
08:42So I love that.
08:43Um, what do you hope this album means to those that get to listen to it?
08:46Not even just fans of you, maybe people that stumble across and hear it for the first
08:48time.
08:49What do you hope they take away?
08:50I hope that they feel more empowered to be themselves and to not fit, um, who they think
08:57will be more accepted by society.
08:59And I also just want to give power to the introverts and the crafters and the cat moms
09:03and all the little grandmas.
09:05Yeah.
09:06Because that's what I am.
09:08Yeah.
09:08And I feel like, you know, when you're in a world of so much sexy and you just, that's
09:14not you, it can be, you can be like, where do I fit in?
09:17Yeah, absolutely.
09:19But I love that.
09:20Um, shout out to the hot little goblins too, right?
09:23Yes, absolutely.
09:24Can't forget that group.
09:25Were you, um, by the way, I was just thinking about that period you were going through.
09:28Were you listening to a lot of music during that?
09:30Or did you find yourself stepping away from music as like an entirety?
09:34Oh my gosh.
09:34I didn't listen to any music.
09:35Really?
09:35I listened to only books.
09:37Audio books.
09:38Yeah.
09:39Wow.
09:39What was music that you first like introduce yourself to again that made you realize like,
09:43oh, this is why I love doing what I do.
09:45Hmm.
09:46There's like, there are songs here and there.
09:48There's a song that, um, CJ Barron, a producer on the song soup on my album showed me called
09:53son of a gun by Oh land.
09:56And that was one that I just like, couldn't stop playing.
09:59That's how my brain works.
10:00It's not like an artist always per se.
10:02It's just like this one song and I will listen to it for a month.
10:04And that's the only song I listen to.
10:06Yeah.
10:06Then you end up hating it for a little bit, but then you find it a few years later.
10:09You're like, oh yeah, I love playlists.
10:10You know, you just find those songs that you're like, yeah, God, that was a banger.
10:14I had great music days, but yeah, listening to it.
10:16Like on, again, stims is so real where you're like, I just got to play this nonstop.
10:20Yep.
10:20Um, I love that.
10:21Uh, what is something besides like your journals and writing that you do to, uh, I don't know
10:27what the right term is like to, to keep you on earth.
10:30If you know what I mean?
10:31Like I've been, I've been doing too much screen time lately.
10:33So I'm like trying to find those creative things.
10:35I feel like that's what refills you and not consuming.
10:37Arts and crafts.
10:39And I've been working actually on, I'm like hand making these merch necklaces of unicorns
10:44because I have a song called unicorn on the album.
10:46Um, and it's just been fun to like put those together and package them.
10:50And I've like signed every little thing and said like handmade by M.
10:53Oh my gosh.
10:53How many are you making?
10:55I'm making 250.
10:56Okay.
10:57Rare.
10:57Limited edition.
10:59Also because they take a long time.
11:01I was going to say, hire some people, get them in there to help you.
11:03We get assembly line.
11:04No, but it's, it's made by M.
11:05We can't.
11:06Yeah, you're right.
11:06You're right.
11:06No assembly line.
11:08No, not reproduction.
11:09Yes.
11:09I got to find one of those if possible.
11:11Think about it.
11:12Yeah.
11:12You're in Glendale.
11:12I'm over here.
11:13We got to, I'll come get one if I have to.
11:15I want to have one of the 250 if possible because I'm a hot goblin.
11:19Um, I love that.
11:20Well, I'm so happy.
11:21Air dry clay.
11:22Have you experienced this with that at all?
11:23Yes.
11:24I don't love it.
11:24No, not your thing.
11:25That's my truth.
11:26There's a lot of cracks in there.
11:27I like when it's crackless.
11:29Oh, that's a good point.
11:30I do that because my girlfriend is like big into it.
11:32And now I haven't seen any cracks.
11:33Maybe you're doing it just a little wrong.
11:35Maybe me and Anna need to, we got to talk.
11:37Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
11:38She made me like a whole charm thing with it and it looks great.
11:40It's like a radio thing and like a music note and all the stuff I love.
11:42And, um, she's all in on it.
11:45Okay.
11:45I'm doing it wrong.
11:46Air clay.
11:47But good to know.
11:48Everyone has their specialties.
11:49Mine's like, uh, I'm trying pottery.
11:52Not my thing.
11:53Hard.
11:53Really hard.
11:54Yeah.
11:54I tried to make mugs for every family member.
11:57I won't have it done by Christmas.
11:58I'm starting now and I'm not going to be able to do it.
12:00So anyways, I, I overpromise embroideries to people.
12:03And then I'm like, one takes two months.
12:06Yeah.
12:06I can't, can't do it.
12:07No.
12:08Big old, you give me a quilted jacket by the time, uh, you know, Christmas comes around.
12:10It's a lot.
12:11Uh, and I'm so happy you're back.
12:13Um, what else is on the agenda?
12:15Like, what would you want to happen this year?
12:17If you could be in December and be like, oh, I'm so happy these things happen.
12:21What would you say?
12:22Well, I'm touring May, June and I'm going to Europe as a, I've done a few Europe shows
12:28once as a co-headline.
12:29This is like a proper headline.
12:30So I'm really excited about that.
12:32Um, but I mean, I just want to keep, I want to keep doing all of it and doing more
12:38shows
12:38and hopefully, I don't know, just like reaching more people.
12:43That's awesome.
12:44I would love to do that.
12:44That's the goal.
12:45When's the last time you were at a concert?
12:47Like not, not yours.
12:48Last time I was at a concert.
12:50Hmm.
12:52Hmm.
12:53Long time ago.
12:54Been a while?
12:56Tate McRae.
12:56Wow.
12:57That wasn't that long ago.
12:59That was at the Kia Forum.
13:00It was a couple months ago.
13:01Yeah.
13:01I tried to do those dance moves for fun.
13:04Nope.
13:04Me too.
13:05Body doesn't work like that.
13:06No.
13:07See, that's what we're saying.
13:08Not everyone can be those pop girlies.
13:10No, exactly.
13:11Including me.
13:12But I can still love it from afar.
13:14And I do.
13:15Yeah.
13:15Yeah.
13:16Absolutely.
13:16What are the dance moves people should do at your shows?
13:18Um.
13:20Yeah.
13:20The, this is our zone is the right to left.
13:23Yeah.
13:24Perfect.
13:24It's just easy, doable.
13:26Yeah.
13:26Easy and doable.
13:27Feel comfortable.
13:27Feel good.
13:28Yeah.
13:28Viving.
13:29I love that.
13:30Speaking of songs, how are you at identifying them?
13:32I know you haven't listened to music in a little bit.
13:34So we were just talking about this before the camera.
13:36And I saw that you did this with Freya.
13:38Yes.
13:38We got to talk about Freya real quick.
13:39You, um, helped write on some of her music, her new music.
13:43How did that come to be?
13:44How'd you meet Freya?
13:45Um, we had the same manager.
13:47Mm-hmm.
13:48And he was just like, you know, she's, she's looking for some songs on her EP.
13:53So then we had a session and I, I was, you were like, I got a great line from a
13:56song
13:56when I was 13.
13:57No, I'm kidding.
13:58Yeah, exactly.
13:58There was more where that came from.
14:00Yeah.
14:00Um, but then it was, it was Jason Suido and Nick Lopez who also have songs on my album
14:05and, and me and Freya.
14:06And, uh, she's just such a light and like, you know, for 16 has such a work ethic and
14:11so impressive.
14:12So yeah, it was really special to, to co-write.
14:15I love that.
14:15Olden Boy and maybe Tomorrow.
14:17That's so cool.
14:18Yeah.
14:18She was our last guest.
14:19That's so crazy how it's back to back.
14:20I know.
14:20That's so weird, but in a cool way.
14:22Um, how was it writing for other artists?
14:24Do you like, like it?
14:25Is there less pressure on it or is it?
14:27I love it.
14:27You do?
14:28Yes.
14:28Is it cause like you're almost acting and you get to be something else, you know, like
14:32write about something that you don't really isn't personal.
14:34It's just a, yeah, it's like a different part of my brain.
14:37And also like, you know, I'm talking about not necessarily fitting into this pop thing,
14:41but like, I actually love to write pop songs.
14:43Yeah.
14:43Maybe not for my project, but like that is a part of my brain.
14:46Also, I have a song coming out with the fray, which is crazy for like middle school
14:51me who was singing how to save a life in the talent show.
14:54Like you sang that in talent show?
14:56Of course.
14:56You win?
14:56Who didn't?
14:57Oh no, come on.
14:59I didn't get into college acapella either.
15:01Oh man.
15:01But, um, yeah, I mean, it's, it's, it's really special to be able to write for, for other
15:06people.
15:06That's awesome.
15:07Well, we're going to listen to some music from other people.
15:09Maybe yours.
15:09I don't know.
15:10I don't know what any of these songs are.
15:11This is beat the intro.
15:12It's one second of a song.
15:14Who, not the, whoever notices it, who it is first wins.
15:19We have like five songs.
15:20Okay.
15:21Here we go.
15:21First song up beat the intro with M by hold.
15:24Um, welcome back.
15:25I'm so excited.
15:26You're here.
15:26Let me find the right mouse.
15:28I'm scared.
15:29Do you know what this song is?
15:30Do you know the muffin man?
15:31Can you imagine if that was the song?
15:32Okay.
15:33Here it is.
15:33First one.
15:35Is that chapel Rhone?
15:37It's fine.
15:38Yeah.
15:38It's cool.
15:39What's the name of the song?
15:42Good luck, babe.
15:43Good luck, babe.
15:44Okay.
15:45Half a point because I got the artist.
15:47You got the song.
15:47Well, you gave it.
15:48You can have it.
15:49We can tag team it.
15:50I feel like we are on a team here.
15:51I feel, I don't feel right competing with you right now.
15:53Oh, okay.
15:54You're so nice and friendly.
15:55I feel like I'm, we gotta, we gotta join.
15:58Okay.
15:58So we got half a point each.
16:00Song number two.
16:00Here we go.
16:04I have no idea.
16:05I am.
16:05I think.
16:06Wait, it's not Santeria.
16:07Santeria?
16:08Oh, that's a good guess.
16:09But no, it is.
16:11Doja Cat, Woman.
16:13Oh.
16:16I took my vitamins today.
16:18So my brain is like really working.
16:19I mean, I, so did I, but.
16:21Sorry.
16:21Yeah, I guess I shouldn't.
16:23Are you sure?
16:24How strong are they?
16:25Next song up.
16:26Let's see what we got.
16:28Oh, yes.
16:29That's me.
16:30That's me.
16:31Brutus.
16:32Brutus.
16:33Gosh.
16:33I did have to think about him for a second.
16:37Which song?
16:38This is so good.
16:39I love his song.
16:41Also, every artist that's been here, I've never gotten their song.
16:44So I, don't take it personal.
16:46No, I mean, I would, it would be strange if you got it first.
16:49Why?
16:49I love your songs.
16:50Well.
16:50Okay.
16:51Give yourself more credit.
16:53You're great.
16:53You're a great artist.
16:54Here we go.
16:54Next song.
16:56That is, um.
16:58Oh my gosh.
16:59Damn it out.
17:00I have not the slightest clue.
17:02Do you like Hozier?
17:04Whiskey.
17:04Whiskey Neat.
17:07That's great.
17:09Whiskey Neat.
17:09What's the name of the song?
17:10It's just the first ever, number one.
17:13Too Sweet.
17:14Too Sweet.
17:15Is it Too Sweet?
17:16Too Sweet.
17:17Too Sweet?
17:18That's what it's called?
17:19I don't know what the score is, but I'm having a blast.
17:22Let's try the next song.
17:23We got two more.
17:24I'm not an intro girl.
17:25Oh, oh, oh, oh.
17:27Smile, Lily Allen.
17:29What?
17:30Smile, Lily Allen.
17:31Is that right?
17:32Okay.
17:32That's an iconic intro.
17:36Also a TikTok trend.
17:38That's the one where, yeah.
17:40I think we're tied, and this is the last song.
17:42Are you ready?
17:43I'm okay to lose.
17:43Are you a competitive person?
17:44I am, but like, but I know what I'm good at, and it's not this.
17:47Okay.
17:48Yeah, you're right.
17:49If we were into songwriting, if we were in the talent show, you would have killed me
17:51with the fray.
17:52Last song.
17:53Here it is.
17:54Oh, we found love in a hopeless place.
17:57That's the first ever tie.
17:58I think it beat the intro.
17:59We found love in a hopeless place.
18:03People are going to be mad about this one.
18:07Thank you so much for playing.
18:08Beat the intro.
18:08It's so fun.
18:09It was fun.
18:10Em, you're the best.
18:11Thank you so much for coming by.
18:12Is there anything I missed?
18:12Anything else we should, you know, let the people know is going on in your life?
18:16I don't think so, but they should definitely stream the album.
18:19Yeah, stream the album.
18:20Check out Em.
18:20Took four years.
18:21Four years of your life.
18:22Yeah.
18:23High school you lived.
18:24High school.
18:24Another high school period.
18:26No one should feel that.
18:28No.
18:28Wow.
18:28Congratulations on all the success, and can't wait to see you on tour.
18:31Tour kicks off when?
18:32May 12th in London.
18:33I love that.
18:34Day after my birthday.
18:35Maybe I'll come to London.
18:36Perfect.
18:36For my birthday.
18:37Excellent.
18:37And I'll get one of those charm necklaces, bracelets.
18:40You got it.
18:40I'll just give it to you.
18:41You don't need to come.
18:41Yeah, I'll just give it to you.
18:42I want to hold up my end of the bargain here.
18:43Thank you, Em.
18:45Appreciate you.
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