- 4 months ago
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00:03What up, though, Detroit?
00:04It's Leisha B. from The Morning Rollout on 105.1 The Bounce.
00:07And today we are back with another Detroit culture shifters.
00:09Because one thing about the 313 is we do be shifting the culture
00:12within our city and across the globe.
00:14Let's be for real.
00:15And this man has definitely done so.
00:17And just a little bit more, we got With Love Harlow in the building.
00:21Good morning.
00:22How you doing?
00:23What up, though?
00:23What up, though?
00:25It's been a very, very long time of me trying to figure out
00:29how it was going to get you on this show.
00:31Really?
00:31Because not only did I nominate you just as a personal nomination,
00:35but my friends from Big Pink also nominate you as well.
00:38Wow.
00:39Shout out to those guys.
00:41So first, I just want to get to know who you are.
00:44So who is Harlow?
00:45Like, who are you?
00:46What do you do just for people who are living under a rock?
00:50Well, man, such a crazy, such a crazy question.
00:55But I mean, I'm a husband, I'm a brother, you know?
00:59I'm a son.
01:01I do art of all kinds.
01:04So music, graphic design, videography, pretty much everything
01:09that doesn't get you paid at first.
01:11And then you just kind of hope and spray.
01:14That's so real.
01:15But I also want to point out that I love that she said husband first.
01:18I know that's right.
01:18That's a good man, Savannah.
01:19I got married in August last year.
01:21Come on.
01:21Congratulations.
01:23He said, let me put that first just so that wifey can hear.
01:26You got to.
01:27That's right.
01:28But when you're talking about being a multi-genre and multi-disciplinary artist,
01:34I feel like this might be hard.
01:36But which one speaks to your soul the most out of all of them?
01:41Man, I honestly, I love design the most, but also music is also like sound design.
01:52There's like just, I guess design is just such a broad term.
01:56So just designing the curation of it.
01:58Designing.
01:59I just like everything matching.
02:01It like bothers me if it doesn't.
02:03No, I get it.
02:03Like half the time you see or you hear a song or you see a cover art and it just
02:08doesn't
02:09even match.
02:10It doesn't make sense.
02:11But I guess the best part about it is making everything kind of like match.
02:17Right.
02:17And you're very hands on with everything.
02:19Like when it's a graphic that comes out, it's you doing that for your dance and for your
02:24music.
02:25Right.
02:25Exactly.
02:26I know.
02:26That's right.
02:26And I know that you just said that it's a little bit too much of a hassle.
02:31Do you feel like you've gotten to a point where you're ready to kind of take your hands off
02:37the reins a little bit and like delegate?
02:38Or are you still like holding on to your baby a little close?
02:41Yeah.
02:41I mean, I'm always back and forth because obviously it kind of everything goes through
02:48me right now.
02:49Right.
02:49But I've been essentially building four companies at once.
02:53And then I'm trying to like create the roles as I go.
02:58Right.
02:58So that way at some point, like, you know, the bigger I get, I can just plop someone
03:05into what I would do that day.
03:07Right.
03:07And for those who don't know, what are those four companies that you are currently building?
03:12Well, two is like a long term thing.
03:14But right now.
03:15Yeah, exactly.
03:16So right now it's like With Love Harlow is a artist, is a CMO, chief suite, every single
03:25role ever.
03:26So I can always talk about that CEO.
03:30The other company that basically I'm building is like House of Harlow, which is essentially
03:38this bigger highlighting event thing that I do around Detroit areas.
03:45And essentially, like, I kind of have that run by the people.
03:50Yeah.
03:51Having them vote on like where, what time, what the theme is, and kind of just facilitating
03:57that and then trying to make it happen, like trying my hardest to make it happen.
04:01That's what brought me to your attention or that's what brought my attention to you.
04:07And I thought that it was such a clever and a very, very unique way of presenting an event,
04:13because I think that a lot of people, when they're creating anything, they forget the idea
04:18of exclusivity.
04:19They forget the idea of like having people walk the path with you.
04:24So I feel like the fact that you have people like putting their input on the event, it makes
04:29them feel a part of it.
04:31Is that the goal or was that just something that fell onto your lap and you were like,
04:35this is what I'm going to do?
04:36No, 100% that's the goal.
04:37I just know, I mean, I've been in the music world for almost a decade.
04:41My 10 year anniversary is going to be in April, but everything I've seen is just, it doesn't
04:49make sense.
04:49Nothing makes sense in the music industry.
04:51So I kind of took the last three years to just stack up a bunch of music, which probably
04:58a lot of people don't know about, and then also kind of go with a game plan of like stepping
05:04out and then just literally kind of what I say online every time I'm just like earning
05:09one fan at a time.
05:11Yeah.
05:11Basically.
05:12I feel like a lot of what you also do is just very intentional.
05:16I, I believe it's in your Instagram bio where you said, um, that you create from instinct
05:22and instinct experience and emotion.
05:25And I feel like that all encompasses and what you're doing, because not only are you giving
05:29the experience and the energy within House of Harlow, but also just the idea of like,
05:36it's just coming from you, but it's also coming from the people.
05:38Yeah.
05:38A hundred percent.
05:39It makes it feel like Detroit is with you.
05:41And does that feel like that when you're creating these experiences?
05:44It's kind of insane because it really does feel like that.
05:48And it, it, I don't know.
05:51I've been reflecting a lot.
05:52My birthday was literally Saturday.
05:54Happy birthday.
05:55Yeah.
05:55Thanks.
05:55I just turned a three, five, 35.
05:58Yeah.
05:58Crazy.
06:00Damn.
06:01But, um, yeah, I've been reflecting a lot.
06:04I just feel like even as like an artist or even a small business owner, why wouldn't I
06:11listen to the people that are going to support and fuel whatever idea I have?
06:18Right.
06:18Right.
06:18So a lot of the times, like when I talk to other creators or business owners,
06:22when they're asking me for input, I'm like, why don't you just ask your fans?
06:26For real.
06:27Like that's, those are the people that are, you know, supporting you directly.
06:31Right.
06:31You know, obviously it's still your art, but like,
06:34I personally think that the fans should have a say every time.
06:38Right.
06:39So like, why would I, you know, play late night when majority of my fans don't want
06:45to stay out till four?
06:47Right.
06:48You know what I mean?
06:48And then that kind of mindset changed a lot, especially around Detroit.
06:54I could see it happening more and more.
06:56Just the fact that you think like that and that it's a,
07:00not a common thing is very interesting.
07:03Cause you would think that you would be catering to your audience and your fans.
07:06So why not bring them a part of that?
07:08So that's why I feel like you're doing so well, not only with House of Harlow,
07:11but just at all of the entities that you're creating is because you're so
07:16um, community focused.
07:18It's not just about you.
07:19It's about all of you winning at the same time.
07:22Yeah, exactly.
07:23I love that.
07:24Yeah.
07:24And from like the House of Harlow stuff,
07:26basically my marketing plan was to treat myself like a Costco sample.
07:31Right.
07:32Right.
07:32So like a lot of my fan base isn't in Detroit, which is weird.
07:37Um, a lot of my fan base is in like Germany, South Africa.
07:42Yeah.
07:43Yeah.
07:43Usually for the music world, but like Detroit wise, because I didn't play here
07:49like ever, rarely, um, I didn't have too many supporters from here.
07:54But then I was like, I'm from the city.
07:57I know, I know how it works.
07:59Like you kind of have to earn it and like, you have to get back.
08:01Like, I don't, I think people can tell if you're like just taking.
08:06Yeah.
08:07Really fast.
08:08For sure.
08:08Right.
08:09So like what I wanted to do was just play out for free, treat myself like a Costco sample.
08:15And I kept saying it for like a whole year.
08:17I was like, okay, I'm playing for free to earn your support for like ticketed shows in the future,
08:23but I'm still going to do some free stuff.
08:25It's just, you don't know who I am.
08:27So why would you support me?
08:29Correct.
08:29So you're giving them a reason to want to before they have to put their money into it.
08:34And I think that will be the cost every time because I'm building a legacy brand.
08:37I'm not.
08:39Yeah.
08:39And I love, I love that you're thinking legacy wise.
08:42And I loved the example of Costco sample.
08:44I've never heard someone explain it like that, but I feel like everyone would understand that
08:49just from that analogy.
08:51Yeah.
08:52Like, why would you go?
08:52Like most people go out Friday, Saturdays to a place already, right?
08:59So like the only differentiating thing is like the artist that's playing.
09:04Right.
09:04But some places are always packed every time.
09:06I wanted to make sure that like, if I'm playing, all these people are coming because I'm playing.
09:12Not, and that way I can walk up to different locations in Detroit and be like, Hey, I have
09:19so many different like eyes.
09:22Right.
09:23That could see whatever business or wherever I'm at.
09:27Let me create.
09:27Yeah, exactly.
09:28So I feel like you're probably gonna have the answer that I'm thinking in my head,
09:33but throughout your journey so far, what has been that moment that was like, okay,
09:37this is why I do this.
09:39This was, this was it.
09:42Honestly, I think it happened a few times, but I think the biggest time was when I like
09:49pulled up to Belle Isle in like 24 hour notice.
09:53I like dropped the location.
09:57I think like over 1200 people pulled up.
10:01The video, all the receipts are there.
10:03So like, I don't, it's like in and out.
10:06People are like, even at,
10:08I remember looking up because everyone voted for me to open as well.
10:13So like I played a three hour set and the first hour I was like,
10:17more future beats and like just vibes.
10:21Right.
10:21Right.
10:21And then I did it during sunset hours.
10:24It was like 645 to 945.
10:27And then people started pulling up at like 645.
10:33And then by like 715, there was just like hundreds of blankets.
10:39And people just chilling.
10:40It's not like Belle Isle is that small.
10:41Like that's a big.
10:42Yeah, it, yeah, it was nuts.
10:46I, I don't know.
10:47I go, I bike there all the time.
10:48I walk there.
10:49I mean, I've seen it change a ton.
10:52Right.
10:52I just never seen anything like this.
10:55I feel like also growing up here and being able to like do it here.
11:00Yeah.
11:00Was so much more rewarding.
11:02Yeah, I probably realized until that moment.
11:04Yeah, I don't want to move.
11:06I really don't want to move to LA.
11:08I don't want to move to New York.
11:10I put my head down for like almost a decade to learn
11:15pretty much all the music label side, music business side,
11:20because usually what happens is the saddest thing is that like a lot of
11:26Detroiters get plucked out of here.
11:28Yeah.
11:28And they go to a major city and they, they're really good at making art, but then they get
11:34screwed over by these like different labels.
11:37And they're just like, they basically squeeze the juice out of our artists.
11:41Until there's nothing left.
11:42Until there's nothing left.
11:43Yeah.
11:43But there's also, I can see why a lot of people move a hundred percent.
11:48I'm just trying to find another way.
11:50So I don't have to, you know, so like even, you know, treating myself like a Costco sample
11:57is like, I don't see a lot of people just kind of like talking to their fans.
12:02Yeah, exactly.
12:03Because they feel cringe or whatever.
12:06I don't know why, but I don't really put that much energy into understanding why.
12:12That makes sense.
12:14Yeah.
12:14But I feel like a lot of the conversation recently, especially around Detroit is the
12:17fact that we just want Detroit to be like those bigger cities like New York and LA.
12:22So how are we supposed to get there if we're not starting to put the grassroots of like
12:27keeping our artists here, making events that feel like Detroit where no one else could produce this.
12:33We know that.
12:34So why not produce it where it's going to make sense?
12:39I mean, I'm, yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
12:42So throughout this, I can obviously understand that there's probably been ups and downs.
12:47What has been one that one challenge that you're thinking like, okay, I could have handled
12:53that a little bit better and other people probably wouldn't have even thought
12:56that that would have come up as a challenge?
13:00Uh, in regard to like anything, whether it's music, House of Harlow.
13:05I think, I mean, there's two that kind of float to the top.
13:10Working with different artists, if they're not taking it super serious,
13:14they don't understand a lot of the work that goes in like post just being in the room for
13:22like 30 minutes or an hour.
13:24So it's like, there's like an ego kind of thing.
13:28And also like a lack of knowledge kind of thing.
13:30And I was guilty of that as well.
13:32Like I would walk in a room and think like, you know,
13:36I don't, yeah, this is, this is what we're now.
13:39It's just absolutely not like that.
13:41Um, also running events for the first time, basically all last year, every single time.
13:49Kind of like, I look back and reflect like maybe two days later and see like,
13:54where could I expand the growth and like not waste time every time.
14:01Cause like, we've gotten it down to about like, I don't know, an hour and 20 minutes to set up
14:07like a full, yeah, which is kind of insane.
14:10And then also breaking down is if we're like fed, if we have like these little Costco wraps or
14:16something, we can get it done in like an hour, you know?
14:19And you're not doing like a small scale thing.
14:22Like, let's be very clear.
14:23Like that's a fully operational production that you're setting up in an hour to an hour and 20 minutes.
14:29Yeah, I guess.
14:30Yeah, I guess.
14:31That's insane.
14:31No, no, no.
14:32I need you to have yourself up, friend.
14:34I need you to understand that that's insane.
14:35Yeah, it's just, it's just crazy.
14:37Cause I was talking to my wife about it.
14:38Like, I feel like I give a hundred percent on everything I do.
14:43So it takes like what I'm, what I do takes significantly less time because how much time
14:51I put in before.
14:52Correct.
14:53Like even making music or like mixing or making a cover art,
14:59it would take somebody a long time.
15:01Like even for editing a two hour video, I do it in a day and a half.
15:05Because you've put in the work to understand what it takes to get there.
15:09And I think a lot of people miss that step, miss the.
15:12I think a lot of people don't even know, they just kind of consume on the internet
15:15and they're just like, oh wow, he has a lot of content, but like.
15:19How did he get here?
15:20I don't have a big team, you know?
15:22Um, what about, um, how do you see yourself contributing to the culture?
15:28Like I w I know that there's probably people telling you how they've made you feel, but
15:33how do you feel like you're impacting the culture here?
15:36I mean, I'm, I'm Filipino, right?
15:39I don't see a lot of Asians in Detroit being represented.
15:43Um, to me, that's really important.
15:46That's why I have like a Filipino flag.
15:47My parents are from the Philippines.
15:49To me, it's like another alley of representation because Detroit is a melting pot of a lot of
15:56different culture.
15:58And, you know, that's what makes Detroit like a, such an amazing city.
16:04Right.
16:04There's literally like different pockets of culture everywhere that you, that's super welcoming.
16:11I mean, I love it.
16:12I mean, I got, I played in Dearborn and I grew up around Dearborn area, going to like
16:19all these different grocery stores and whatnot, eating food, learning a little bit of the language.
16:25And then the minute that like I played in Dearborn for the first time, a lot of the same people
16:31that I would see on a regular basis were like super shocked because they didn't know I was
16:36a musician.
16:38And so they were kind of like freaking out.
16:40And then the whole city, I don't know.
16:42There was so many people that came and it was just beautiful to see.
16:46I think, I don't know.
16:48It's just, yeah, it's crazy.
16:49I love that you're getting so much support.
16:51Yeah.
16:52Yeah.
16:52First of all, I also want to point out the Filipino heritage because something about
16:57the great country.
17:00Y'all got some musical gift down there that I'm trying to snag somehow, somehow, some way.
17:08What do you think has been the most rewarding part of showing off your culture and not only
17:15showing off your culture, but just, you know, having it ingrained into who you are?
17:19Like, what do you think that being Filipino has added to your music or to your business mind?
17:27Yeah.
17:28I mean, to be honest, it, I didn't really think about it too much until like the past,
17:35maybe a couple of years, like as I'm getting older, like I'm 35 now, I didn't,
17:40I didn't realize how much all of it affected me.
17:44You know, growing up, we'd karaoke all the time.
17:47We'd dance all the time.
17:49And then somewhere along the way, like, I feel like a lot of people lose that.
17:53And so every time I play, it just feels like a big family reunion.
17:58I don't know.
17:59It's just really cool.
18:00I was hoping that you said something like that, because that's kind of the, um,
18:04the atmosphere that you're making is that family reunion feel.
18:07I mean, the entire bell out situation you were just talking about seems to be like a
18:11family reunion that happened.
18:12It was anyone that was there like can probably vouch saying it was the craziest
18:19and it was just spotless.
18:20That's what that was.
18:21That's what's crazy is that a lot of the cops were like kind of chilling,
18:26like around like eight, because they didn't know what was happening.
18:29Right.
18:29And they just wanted to make sure everything wasn't like, you know, damaged or yeah,
18:35everyone's safe.
18:36And then literally as we're packing up, everything was spotless.
18:39It looks like nothing happened.
18:42We kept it clean and it was just, I don't know.
18:45We, we didn't have a bar, you know, none of my shows really have a bar,
18:49unless like the place has a bar, I guess.
18:52Right.
18:52But I've been trying to, I don't know, I say it all the time.
18:55I'm, I'm coming for legacy.
18:57You know, I'm trying to like, like highlight different spots that should be highlighted.
19:03I love it.
19:03And new spots to be welcoming.
19:05I love it.
19:06Continuing the legacy.
19:08Yeah.
19:08Okay.
19:08So are you ready for a quick little lightning round?
19:10Let's go.
19:11Hold on.
19:11Let me get this.
19:12Let me get this water in me.
19:16All right, let's go.
19:17All right.
19:18So is it giving studio or live performance?
19:22Which one is better for you?
19:25Oh man.
19:30I started off with a hard one.
19:31This is not a lightning round.
19:32This is a turtle round.
19:37I'm no one's going to believe me.
19:38And I feel like everyone who's going to watch this is never going to believe me,
19:42but I'm naturally introverted, like literally.
19:48And so I would say studio.
19:50Cause I get like, I don't know.
19:53I get shy too.
19:54Like I'm on the radio and I'm naturally introverted and no one will believe it.
19:58Yeah.
19:58And I'm like, no, I'm actually a real shy girl.
20:01Yeah.
20:02Yeah.
20:02It's just, I mean, if you, you kind of just have to, you have to talk if you,
20:08if you want to grow a business.
20:09Exactly.
20:10It's impossible.
20:11So Detroit summer or winter, but creatively.
20:15Summer.
20:17Obviously, obviously.
20:18That's like, that's a, yeah.
20:20Favorite place to clear your mind.
20:28Um, maybe like, just like biking around the city.
20:35I like it.
20:36I like it.
20:37One Detroit artist that we need to know.
20:44Probably Chase Poe.
20:47Okay.
20:47Chase USA.
20:48Did I say his government name?
20:50Chase for sure.
20:52Chase.
20:52Chase.
20:52I think he's, yeah, he's, he's incredible.
20:55Okay.
20:56Pantset or Lumpia?
20:59Probably Lumpia.
21:00Period.
21:01Yeah.
21:01Yeah.
21:01For sure.
21:02A hundred percent.
21:03Dream collab.
21:05Say it again.
21:06Your dream collab.
21:08Oh, um.
21:10You can do it music or for.
21:11Yeah.
21:12My brain is just like.
21:13You can do both.
21:14Splitting in half.
21:20I don't know.
21:21Maybe like Hans Zimmer would be really cool.
21:23Come on now, Lion King.
21:25Yeah, literally.
21:26Yes.
21:27Hans Zimmer.
21:31Christopher Nolan of like a live experience would be quite cool.
21:34Christopher Nolan would be crazy.
21:36Yeah, we need that.
21:38Chris, call it.
21:39Yeah.
21:40Um, and then last one, a song that you wish you made that you didn't.
21:49Um, a song that I wish I made.
21:56Probably Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran.
21:59That's a good one.
22:00That's a good one.
22:01That's a classic if you know.
22:02Mm-hmm.
22:04Yeah, I think that song's.
22:06That's a good one.
22:07That's a good pick from Ed too.
22:09Mine would be As by Stevie Wonder.
22:12Good pick as well.
22:14Need that Stevie.
22:15Sorry.
22:15Need it real bad.
22:17Um, but as we're wrapping up, congratulations on just everything that you're doing.
22:22And I can't wait to see how House of Harlow and the other entities that you're creating continue to flourish.
22:28But as we want to continue to pass flowers to the next Detroit culture shifter, who is someone who you
22:34feel is shifting the culture and making positive change in our city?
22:39I would definitely say like Stoop Lee.
22:41I don't know if you know Ade.
22:42Um, I'm familiar, but I don't know.
22:45Oh yeah, he's the kindest human.
22:49Um, him and honestly, uh, Gabriel Duran too.
22:53Who's that?
22:53He founded Southwest Fest and he's also a fellow artist.
22:58Wow.
22:59Voice of an angel, but either those two are just like the top of the, on my mind.
23:06That's like, oh, they're giving back so much, especially Gabriel.
23:10Yeah.
23:10I'm gonna have to listen and figure out what I have been missing, clearly.
23:15Insane.
23:16Insane.
23:17Well, thank you so much for being here.
23:19I appreciate you.
23:20Continue to be great.
23:21And you are officially a Detroit culture shifter.
23:25Thanks for having me, guys.
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