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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
00:11be shifting the culture within 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
00:21in 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
00:33as a personal nomination, but my friends from Big Pink
00:36also nominate you as well.
00:38Wow.
00:39Shout out.
00:40Shout 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.
00:57I'm a brother, you know, my 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
01:17first.
01:18I know that's right.
01:18That's a good man, Savannah.
01:19I got married in August last year.
01:21Come on.
01:22Congratulations.
01:23He said, let me put that first just so that wifey can hear.
01:26You got to.
01:27That's right.
01:28Yeah.
01:29But when you're talking about being a multi-genre and multi-disciplinary
01:33artist, I feel like this might be hard, but which one like speaks to your soul the most
01:40out 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.
01:58Designing.
01:59I just like everything matching.
02:01It like bothers me if it doesn't.
02:03No, I get it.
02:04Half the time you see or you hear a song or you see a cover art and it just doesn'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 events and for your music.
02:25Right.
02:25Exactly.
02:26I know that's right.
02:26And I know that you just said that it's a little bit too much of a hassle.
02:30Do you feel like you've gotten to a point where you're ready to kind of take your hands
02:37off the reins a little bit and like delegate or are you still like holding on to your baby
02:41a little close?
02:42I 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 in
03:05to 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, yeah, 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.
03:50Yeah.
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.
04:02That'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
04:18idea of 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?
04:36A hundred percent.
04:36That's the goal.
04:37I just know, I mean, I've been in a music world for almost a decade.
04:41My 10 year anniversary is going to be in April.
04:44Yes.
04:44Happy 10 year.
04:45But everything I've seen is just, it doesn't make sense.
04:49Nothing makes sense in the music industry.
04:52So I kind of took the last three years to just stack up a bunch of music,
04:58which probably a lot of people don't know about.
05:00And then also kind of go with a game plan of like stepping out and then just literally
05:06kind of what I say online every time.
05:08I'm just like earning one fan at a time.
05:11Yeah.
05:12Basically.
05:12I feel like a lot of what you also do is just very intentional.
05:17I believe it's in your Instagram bio where you said that you create from an instinct experience
05:24and emotion.
05:25And I feel like that all encompasses in what you're doing, because not only are you giving
05:30the 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?
05:45It's kind of insane because it really does feel like that.
05:48And 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 crazy.
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.
06:31Like, you know, obviously it's still your art, but like, I personally think that the fans
06:36should 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 to stay
06:46out till four?
06:47Right.
06:48You know what I mean?
06:49And 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 not a common thing is very interesting
07:03because 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, but just at all
07:13the entities that you're creating is because you're so, um, 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, basically my marketing plan was to treat myself like a
07:30Costco sample, right?
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.
07:41Uh, yeah, usually 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, but then I was like,
07:56I'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 for 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
08:23the future, but 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, like most people go out Friday, Saturdays to a place already.
08:58Right.
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.
09:12Right.
09:12And that way I can walk up to different locations in Detroit and be like, hey, I have so many
09:20different
09:20like 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, but throughout
09:34your journey so far, what has been that moment that was like, okay, this is why I do this.
09:39This was, this was it.
09:43Honestly, 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 people 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 and people just chilling.
10:40It was that small.
10:41Like that's a big, yeah, 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 than you probably realized until that moment.
11:04Yeah.
11:05I don't want to move.
11:06I, I 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 pretty much all the music label side,
11:19music business side.
11:20Cause usually what happens is the saddest thing is that like a lot of Detroiters get plucked
11:28out of here and they go to a major city and they, they're really good at making art,
11:33but then they get screwed over by these like different labels.
11:37And they're just like, they basically squeeze the juice out of our artists.
11:41And so 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.
12:03Cause they feel cringe or whatever.
12:05I don't, I 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
12:32this.
12:33We know that.
12:33Yeah.
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 that
12:53a little bit better.
12:54And other people probably wouldn't have even thought that that would have come up as a challenge.
12:59Uh, in regard to like anything, whether it's music, house of Harlow.
13:06I think, I mean, there's two that kind of float to the top, um, working with different artists,
13:11if they're not taking it super serious, they don't understand a lot of the work that goes in,
13:20like post just being in the room for like 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, 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, where could I
13:57expand 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
14:07a full, wow.
14:08Yeah.
14:09Which 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.
14:30I guess.
14:30Yeah.
14:30I guess that'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.
14:36Yeah.
14:36It'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 of how much
14:51time I 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.
15:17He has a lot of content, but like, how 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,
15:33but how 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.
15:50To me, it's like another alley of representation,
15:54because Detroit is a melting pot of a lot of different culture.
15:58And, you know, that's what makes Detroit like a, such an amazing city.
16:04Right.
16:04You, there's literally like different pockets of culture everywhere that you,
16:08that'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,
16:18going to like all these different grocery stores and whatnot,
16:23eating food, learning a little bit of the language.
16:25And then the minute that like I played in Dearborn for the first time,
16:30a lot of the same people that I would see on a regular basis were like super
16:35shocked because they didn't know I was a 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.
16:45I 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,
16:53I also want to point out the Filipino heritage,
16:55because something about the great country.
17:00Y'all got some musical gift down there that I'm trying to snag somehow,
17:06somehow, some way.
17:08What do you think has been the most rewarding part of showing off your culture
17:14and not only showing off your culture, but just, you know,
17:17having it ingrained into who you are?
17:20Like, what do you think that being Filipino has added to your music
17:24or to your business mind?
17:27Yeah.
17:28I mean, to be honest,
17:30it, 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,
17:39I didn't, I didn't realize how much all of it affected me, you know,
17:44growing up with karaoke all the time. We 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. It's just really cool.
18:00I was hoping that you said something like that,
18:02because that's kind of the, um, the atmosphere that you're making.
18:05Yeah.
18:06Is that family reunion feel?
18:07I mean, the entire bell out situation you were just talking about
18:09seems to be like a family reunion that happened.
18:12It was anyone that was there, like,
18:16can probably vouch saying it was the craziest and 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,
18:33damaged or yeah, everyone's safe.
18:36And then literally as we're packing up, everything was spotless.
18:39And it looks like nothing happened.
18:42We kept it clean.
18:43And 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,
19:00like 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.
19:08So 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 because I get like, I don't know, I 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, yeah.
20:03It's just, I mean, if you kind of just have to, you have to talk if you want to grow
20:09a business.
20:09Exactly.
20:10It's impossible.
20:12So Detroit summer or winter, but creatively?
20:16Summer.
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.
20:43Probably Chase.
20:46Poe.
20:47Okay.
20:47Chase USA.
20:48Did I say his government name?
20:50I don't know.
20:51Chase.
20:51For sure.
20:52Chase.
20:52I think he's, yeah, he's, he's incredible.
20:55Okay.
20:56Pantset or Lumpia?
20:58Probably Lumpia.
21:00Period.
21:00Yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:01Yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:01For sure.
21:02A hundred percent.
21:03First time.
21:05Say it again?
21:06Your dream collab.
21:08Oh.
21:10You can do it music or for House of Harlow.
21:12My brain is just like.
21:13You can do both.
21:14You can do both.
21:15Splitting 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.
21:40And then last one.
21:42A song that you wish you made that you didn't.
21:50A song that I wish I made.
21:56Probably Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran.
21:59That's a good one.
22:00It'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, need it real bad.
22:18But 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?
22:38I would definitely say like Stoop Lee.
22:41I don't know if you know Ade.
22:43Mm-hmm.
22:43I'm familiar, but I don't know.
22:45Oh, yeah.
22:46He's the kindest human.
22:49Him and honestly Gabriel Duran too.
22:53Who's that?
22:54He founded Southwest Fest and he's also a fellow artist.
22:58Wow.
22:59Voice of an angel.
23:01But either those two are just like the top of the on my mind that's like, oh, they're giving back
23:07so much, especially Gabriel.
23:09Yeah, I'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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