Norah Jones Is Playing Along
Original podcast
Lucius, the duo of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, join Norah for a warm conversation about the chemistry that shapes their music.
7,807 words · 18 speakers
This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Cash flow crunch? OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds, up to $200,000, right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
This is the story of the one. As a shipping manager, he's running the dock, stocking supplies, and making sure every order goes out on time. And Granger helps him stay prepared. From shipping supplies, to PPE, to hand tools, he counts on Granger to keep products moving and trucks rolling. So his operation runs smoothly, no matter the shift. Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Granger.com, or just stop by. Granger, for the ones who get it done.
This episode is also available as video on YouTube. You can visit Norah Jones' channel and be sure to subscribe while you're there. Hey, I'm Norah Jones, and today I'm playing along with Lucius.
I'm just playing along with you. I'm just playing along with you.
Hey, I'm Norah Jones. With me here is Sarah Oda.
Hello.
Hi.
How are you?
Good. How are you?
Can't complain.
Really?
About anything?
No.
Because we had an awesome episode today.
Yes.
With singer-songwriters Jess Wolfe and Holly Lessig, the duo leading the band Lucius.
Lucius. I just want to say it over and over.
Lucius.
They are Grammy-nominated artists known for their signature harmonies.
Are you quite finished?
I'm sorry. Go ahead.
And they are highly sought after collaborators, contributing vocals and songs to projects by Brandi Carlile, Roger Waters, The War on Drugs, Harry Styles, and many more. Like, everybody wants to sing with them.
Yeah, they're everywhere. They do. They pop up in a lot of places. They are beloved.
They're amazing. In this episode, you're going to hear how they kind of approach songwriting as a duo and how they are creative partners and how they arrange their harmonies whenever they work on new music.
It's a very unique partnership. I've never really seen anyone who sings together like this. And they've been together for so long. And they just, they sound so amazing together.
Yeah, it's like they share a brain, or they share two brains.
Or a set of lungs.
All the things.
No, they're very distinct individuals, but somehow, when they come together musically, it's just, it's a very special collaboration.
They just know what to do.
Yeah.
You're going to hear reimagined versions of songs from across their catalog. And also, maybe you also will cry, like I did.
Yeah, I cried rehearsing for it.
You'll see.
Emotions.
You'll hear.
Emotions. Please enjoy this episode with the lovely ladies of Lucius.
You look good like I remember
With all that sunshine on your face
I let you sit there without talking
You let me sit there in your shade
Let me dream about the future
All the plans we had to make
I hope I'm wrong about the after
And these are not your final days
Could've sailed right, but I couldn't I didn't ever
I was scared of dying I couldn't, I didn't ever
So sad it's way Your own true paradox You didn't have the heart, so I lied Just to not see you cry Yeah, I didn't, I didn't have the heart
The world will go on spinning
Another day, another scene
I'll be left with just a memory
Yesterday will be the dream
I'll be looking out there for you But all they see is empty sky
The space you left reminds me
That we don't have to say goodbye
Could've said I'm frightened, but I couldn't. I didn't have the heart.
I scared of dying. I couldn't. I didn't have the heart.
So I said it's waiting. Your own true paradise. I didn't have the heart. I didn't have the heart. So I said it's waiting. Your own true paradise. I didn't have the heart. So I lied just to not see you cry. Yeah, I didn't. I didn't have the heart.
That was awesome.
Yeah, that was great. That felt great.
God, you're so powerful. Not bad for 10:00 in the morning, huh? Amazing.
Yeah, we both looked at each other like, huh?
I can't believe you sing like that at 10:00 in the morning. It's incredible.
Thank you.
I love that song. It is really, it's epic. It's a journey.
Yeah, it sort of started the whole record, that song.
It did.
Holly had a tree in her backyard. You want to tell the story?
Yeah, I had it, we had, when we had bought our house, we had like these two huge, we called them dinosaur trees, like on either side of the property. And that was kind of part of the, big part of the reason why we bought the house. And then, one of them died. And then the other one had to be cut down because it also got sick and it was becoming a safety hazard to the houses around it. So I was sitting outside the day before she had to get cut down. And I was just looking at this tree being like, oh no, she doesn't know what's coming. And that's kind of like where...
Sad.
Where the song started.
Wow, it's beautiful. I love that. Because you think it's about something else, maybe. That's not where you would go with it.
Well, simultaneously, our guitar player was losing his mom. And we had both suffered miscarriages. And there was a lot going on in our lives in that moment. And it sort of was connective.
You choose like a symbol for a lot of things.
Yeah, yeah.
That's really beautiful. It's nice to have music, I think, to put all that into.
Totally, for sure. And sometimes you don't even realize it in the moment. You know, you, once the song is done, or a collection of songs is done, you look and you're like, oh, wow, I really, this is, this is what I was living.
I agree, I agree with that. I have that same thing. Yeah, you go back and you're like, holy crap, that's really how I was feeling.
Right, yeah. And also because, I don't know, at least for us, when you set out to write about a specific thing, it's usually not what you, right? Yeah, what you hope it would be. It's always the ones that just, that just come to you.
Unfortunately, you just can't control it the way you want.
Yeah. How do you guys write, like, historically, now, has it changed?
No, it's pretty much, I mean, there's no real order to it.
I mean, as a collaboration specifically also.
Yeah, I mean, one of us might have a lyrical idea or a melodic idea, and the other sort of fills in the gap. Or we'll start from scratch together. For this record, we actually, several of the songs we wrote in the studio with Danny, kind of building tracks as we were writing, which was.
Is that the first time you've done that?
Yeah, really. For the most part. And that was really, yeah, it was just fun. Because you could build, you know, a sonic world as you're building this sort of. This sort of spirit and ethos of the song. But there's not really a formula.
Yeah, I mean, other than just like setting aside time.
Yeah, which now is harder with kids, right?
But.
We do it. I mean.
I used to do it in the bathtub.
Yeah, if I'm in the bathtub, that's when I have.
We should try that sometime.
When they're little, they're in the bathroom with you.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, we are good about setting the time, though.
That's good.
Because we can't, we're not the type of people who can write from the road. I don't know how people do that. No.
Interesting.
Compartmentalizing.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
I just, we can't focus.
Always, even before kids, like, it's always been like that.
It's always been like that. Not that we wouldn't collect, we always collect like voice memos and, you know, journal entries or whatever, but not, yeah, not sitting down to write. We tried and it didn't work.
There's two different modes, yeah.
So this album is, you all self-produced it with your band?
Yeah, Danny, our drummer.
Can you tell me about your band? Because it's a real band. It's not just you two.
It's a real family, right? Like, collective?
Yeah, it's us and Pete and Danny. We've been together. I mean, Jess and I started Lucius, oh, God, like 20 years ago.
Yeah. And then we moved, and we were in Boston at the time. We moved to New York. And that's when we kind of linked up with Pete and Danny and put out Wild Woman and all the records.
And Wild Woman, we did mostly ourselves, too. And then we worked with other producers and collaborated with other writers even on the last record. And for this one, it felt like we wanted to come back to.
Ourselves.
Yeah, ourselves and just working with the guys again in a room.
And Danny and Pete are longtime collaborators before knowing us as well. So they were in a band called Elizabeth and the Catapult, who was, you know, like, they did a lot. And Elizabeth's actually still doing a lot. But they each, in their own time, sort of parted ways from that and. Danny and I used to be married. So we started working with him when we were first dating. And he brought Pete into the mix. And then, yeah, yeah.
Wild.
And we're still doing it.
That's great.
Drama free, actually.
Yeah. I love the new album so much.
It's beautiful.
I remember when I first saw you at that festival. And I was like, who's this? You know? And Sasha, my bandmate Sasha Duff, said, oh, my God, you're gonna love them. And you had on the outfits. And I was like, they look so cool. It's been sort of my dream always to dress like that on stage. But I think because I started out a little more just myself, I've never been able to transition to that, you know? It's hard to like, start without it and then add it.
So.
You can do it.
I don't know, man. I don't know. But it's amazing. Your whole vibe.
Well, in the beginning.
You dress alike.
We do. We dress exactly alike.
And you have the same hair on stage.
Yeah, and I mean, we.
That's the problem when you start with it. I was gonna ask that.
Yeah, you can't undo it.
Can't dial it back, right?
People expect it now. I mean, at the time, you know, we couldn't afford a set. And so it was like an automatic.
Set piece.
It really is.
And we'd show up to a festival and people are like, who's that? Because it's sort of weird.
They either think that we're lovers or.
Sisters.
Or sisters, yeah. It sort of helped, you know, solidify a visual, connect people to us, or at least build a curiosity.
It really is a thing. And, but it's such a cool thing. And then, and then when you open your mouth, I mean, it's just like, oh, none of that matters because you're amazing. But when you put it all together, it's just so cool to have that, I think.
I think it's really special.
It helps us like get in our uniform. And if we're, you know, having a long day and we're tired, like, we automatically are sort of transported and hoping other people, when they look at us and when they hear us, are seeing one unit. What did you see the other day on TikTok?
Oh, I saw one of those like, those videos where it's just like, make it from 2016, make it from 2025. And I sent it to Jess. I was like, are we 2016?
Probably.
We're gonna be those old ladies, like, still doing the same makeup routine.
Yeah. Yeah, just wait. I think I'm a little older than you. Just wait. I can't even believe it. I feel so old lately. It's insane.
We're embracing all these. It's gotta go with the flow, you know? Totally. It's what it is. Yeah. Yeah. I mean. We're fabulous. We are fabulous. Hey. It's fine. Eventually, 2016 will be back.
That's exactly what I said.
Right now, the early 2000s is back, which is working for me.
Right. Just stick with what you're doing. It'll come back around, everyone.
Exactly.
OnDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, OnDeck's loans up to $400,000 make it happen fast. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of five-star TrustPilot reviews, OnDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes at ondeck.com. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Hey, it's Nile Rodgers, host of Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series. I'm driving across the country, meeting some of today's most fascinating artists. We're exploring the stories before the moment that changed everything. This week, I'm joined by my friend, John Ledge. So you're helping Will.i.am write hooks. What made "Ordinary People" become the one song from those sound checks you knew you had to make your own?
I was just writing for the Black Eyed Peas. I wasn't expecting to write something for myself in that session, but I wrote the hook for "Ordinary People." And I recorded a demo, and I'm like, I would rather keep "Ordinary People" for myself. This station in Chicago, WGCI, they start playing it before we're promoting it. The song spoke for itself. It became the defining song for my first album. I knew it was special, but you never know how special it's going to be and how much impact it's going to have in people's lives. And you never believe that you're going to actually change people's lives with a song.
Experience before the moment. A Lincoln original series on the iHeart Radio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Do you want to try another song from the new album?
You want to try "Borderline"?
I really love this one. It's always funny seeing how new songs come alive. Which ones sometimes don't want to work.
Yes, yes.
Darn it, this works. Why isn't it working? And then you find it.
We've had a couple of songs like that, even on past records, that we couldn't figure out for entire tours. And then like, like when we did the Wild Woman reunion one, finally figured it out.
Hey, Doreen.
Yeah, after a decade.
Yeah, we could not do it.
In, in, in the early days. And actually, there's a lot of songs that were, you know, for whatever reason, on record feel really fun and lively and maybe are even the single. And then we just can't, we can't figure it out live.
Like it just doesn't land for some reason.
Weird chemistry.
Yeah, for better or for worse.
Can't control it.
No, you can't control it. Although labels haven't been very happy.
Maybe in time, we'll be starting over. On the other side, you walk the line. No kind of life looking over your shoulder. You'll only find what you're trying to hide.
Even when you say that it's over
Trying to convince me you're doing fine I can see that borderline
Maybe in time
When hell freezes over
I'll be surprised you'll be satisfied Honey, I'm tired
Looking for the old you
The one that I would recognize
Trying to convince me you're doing fine
I can see that borderline in your eyes
Ooh
I was a little jingle jangly with this. I thought that was beautiful. Yeah. I'm sure, no, phones is easier to blend vocally. Mostly, yeah. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure you're used to everything now at this point, but how did you find each other? How did you find that you can do this as such a tight unit? Singing, it's such a thing, you know? I think that the singing together was a happy accident. Yeah. Like, we both wanted to be, we met at school. We met at Berkeley in Boston.
And over, you know, there weren't so many ladies at Berkeley, so we had a very tight little girl group. And over wine, one night and a couple of years into school, we were talking about our influences, our musical influences, and...
I was a little jingle jangly with this.
I thought that was beautiful.
I'm sure, you know, phones is easier to blend vocally.
Mostly, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, I'm sure you're used to everything now at this point, but how did you find each other? How did you find that you can do this as such a tight unit? Singing, it's such a thing, you know?
I think that the singing together was a happy accident.
Like, we both wanted to be, we met at school. We met at Berkeley in Boston. And over, you know, there weren't so many ladies at Berkeley, so we had a very tight little girl group. And over wine, one night and a couple of years into school, we were talking about our influences, our musical influences and... We decided we were gonna do a white album cover show, but like a girl group style white album cover show.
What a cool idea.
Yeah, we've never done it.
We never did.
You never did, but it...
But we did get together and talk and brainstorm. And we started rearranging Happiness is Warm Gun. And then we were just like, let's just write our own tunes. I think Holly had brought a song.
You were already writing.
Yeah. Holly, I wasn't writing a ton, but Holly was writing regularly. And I don't know, we got into the studio probably for a class project or something.
It was like an ensemble.
Ensemble, yeah. And we both wanted to be lead singers, but we wanted to be lead singers together. We didn't want to just sing in harmony. And a lot of the artists that I think resonated for us did double their vocals, like Elliott Smith.
That's right, yeah.
And, you know, obviously, Wall of Sound, Phil Spector, those recordings, all about the doubling of vocals. But we're like, oh, we can do this live.
That's so cool.
So that's kind of where it started. And I would say that the mix, our vocal sound, sort of just... It was sort of a happy accident. It did just become one voice, sort of instantaneously. But yeah, we were lucky.
That's really cool. I mean, just to want to do that together and to have done it now for so long together.
And to have developed such a sound and...
We spent a lot of time nurturing the craft before we got, put ourselves out there too, I think.
Yeah, I think we were seeing a lot of people lose a lot of money on the road before they had anybody showing up for them. And we couldn't do that. And we didn't know what our sound was yet. And there were a lot of artists that we had started listening to, Little Dragon and Boney Bear. And they were coming on the scene and we were super excited, I don't know, just to explore. And...
That's so smart.
Did a bunch of... You know, bar four, um, open mics every week.
Here in Boston.
It was in Brooklyn, yeah.
In Brooklyn, yeah.
Yeah, you were here for a long time.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Yeah, seven years, which felt like a lot, a lot longer and now eight, almost eight years, yeah.
If you're in your twenties, I feel like seven years is forever.
Yes. And then we, now we've been in LA for over 10 years, so.
Oh, wow.
Which is, that feels crazy.
That is, yeah, it's crazy.
We, we just gave it the time that it needed before we really put ourselves out there. And I think that.
That's pretty great, the way to do it.
The lack of pressure, but the consistency in, in honing, I think was, was what really helped us find ourselves.
Well, it's so interesting, cause your, your voices are so beautiful and there's just a thing. You could sing anything and it's just a thing, but then the songs are so good. I'm really, really, I, I think your songwriting is amazing.
And the songs are, I'm always like, damn, that's a good song. Damn, that's a good song. Damn, that's a good song. It's like every one of them.
So, it's so special when everything just comes together, you know?
Congrats on that.
Yeah, it's beautiful. Um, I, I love this song, "Two of Us on the Run."
This is sort of a, a crowd favorite, you were saying?
Yeah, this is, this is off "Wilder Woman," our first record.
So, it's an oldie, but a goodie.
Do you do it in every show?
Do you end with it?
A lot of times, we end with it.
Yeah. On, on our first, uh, tours, like in our first tour cycle of our first record, we used to go in the crowd. We played a lot of small clubs and especially when we went to Europe and everything, it was like really small, little cool, divey clubs and we'd always go into the middle of the crowd and do this song.
Wow.
Like all of us would just go right in the middle without mics or anything.
No mics at all?
And just do that song. And now it's, we do that still sometimes, obviously with, um, amplification now, but it's, it's fun. We try and do it when we can.
That's fun.
People cry.
Well, I gotta tell you a story. Um, yesterday I was going through all the songs. I was down here, had my headphones on, learning, making sure I know them well enough to do this and, um, I got like halfway through this song and I started bawling.
Oh.
Full disclosure. I think that means I'm gonna keep it together today. I already got it out, but um.
Let it out.
There is like such an emotion in this, this song.
And yeah, I get why it's a crowd favorite. Yeah. So that happened. Yeah.
Holly cried onstage once during this song.
It was the first time we played a sold out
show in your hometown.
Yeah, and it wasn't because I was feeling like sentimental. It was because I was feeling incredibly anxious.
Overwhelmed, right?
That's so funny. You were just thinking about the after show. Everyone judging you. Hometown shows are impossible.
Yeah, where's your hometown?
Cleveland.
Okay, and where's yours?
Los Angeles.
Oh, really? Okay, so you're kind of back, back home now.
Back home now.
Okay. Yeah, I'm from Dallas and every time I play there, I have a panic. I have like a nervous breakdown.
And my mom invites all these people to the show that didn't even know about it, that didn't even maybe want to come, but she's like invited them. It's like a whole thing.
Well, you know.
You can't blame her.
No, it's nice. It's very nice. It's just, it's overwhelming.
Yeah, totally. Yeah, it does sort of stir up, you know, sort of feel like you're revisiting.
Things.
Totally. Yeah, it like drags your whole childhood into it.
Nobody needs to do that, no. No.
OnDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, OnDeck's loans up to $400,000 help make it happen fast. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of 5-star TrustPilot reviews, OnDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes at ondeck.com. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Hey, it's Niall Rogers, host of Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series. I'm driving across the country, meeting some of today's most fascinating artists. We're exploring the stories before the moment that changed everything. This week, I'm joined by Miguel.
That last year, finishing that record was the hardest experience of my life. To find your creativity and to believe in yourself, because somewhere in the midst of it, I stopped believing that my voice mattered and that I could find it again. That's a challenge. I was not feeling very confident creatively, only, again, defiant in my belief that what this is about is express something honest. Say something honest.
Experience Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
I love hearing these songs this way. Yeah, okay. Because we don't get to do that. Yeah, it's really cool.
Yeah, if you're into it, it's a fun change. You have to change up. Do you guys play guitar?
We play keyboards mostly onstage. Yeah. Synthesizer, Mellotron and Moog bass.
Cool.
Holly plays. Juno and Nord.
I knew that you played a lot of synth stuff and I was like, I don't have a big synth collection for them. That's why I was gonna, I was gonna bring something in if you wanted it.
No, I like this. Yeah, this is nice.
I'm not a synth-y knowledgeable. I don't know anything about synths. Matt knows a lot, but, our engineer, but I was gonna have him, like, provide.
No, this is, this is so, this is so much better. Yeah, I like this.
When you write, do you write on keys?
Mostly, yeah. Some guitar, too.
But just like for writing, not for performing.
Yeah. Well, I started playing guitar probably when I was 25, so.
And I still stink, but I do it. I've been taking guitar solos live.
It's a tightrope walk, I'll tell you. Any audience member can tell you.
Keeps you feeling alive.
It's actually really fun.
And my bass player plays guitar, so he gives me a lesson before the show every night.
Awesome.
It's awesome.
Who's your band now?
Right now, it's Brian Blade on drums.
Oh, my gosh.
And Josh Latanzi on bass.
Is there anyone nicer than Brian Blade?
No. No? That's true.
I'm such a fan, and I used to go to his shows at Smalls and 55 Bar or whenever he was playing in New York.
We probably crossed paths.
I'm sure.
And I, we did this Joni Mitchell, the, she was getting the Gershwin honor in DC, and he was in the band, and, God, I mean, I was like starstruck. And he's just as kind as humanly possible.
And just a hero. I mean, a total legend.
Same. The first time I saw him play, I was 16. I went to see him at a jazz club with Josh Redman. And I've been a fan since.
Still a fan.
Yeah. That is, that is an awesome band, right there.
Yeah, and I have Sasha singing, Sasha Dobson and Sammy Stevens. So it's the first time I've had real dedicated female harmonies. Because everyone in my band's always kind of saying and chimed in. But to have that strong ooh, you know?
It's really fun.
Ah.
That's awesome.
It's been super fun.
That is really cool. Mm-hmm.
We toured with some of people who've played with you, Gus.
Gus and Joey.
And Joey.
Yeah. Gus Seifer and Joey Warrengrove.
So you guys did the Roger Waters tour with them? Yeah. Was that like years? That was like three years. That's a lot.
Yeah, that's long.
With Lucius in between.
Enough breaks to sort of do your own thing.
Yeah, sort of, but then pandemic hit, like, the year after. So it was sort of elongated time away.
Gotcha. Unexpected elongated time away. Yeah. But what an experience to do all those arena tours. Oh, my God, it was wild.
It was epic.
But, but. With a pretty great group of people, sounds like, like a little bit of a family vibes.
Totally.
Absolutely, and we were very adventurous, all of us together. I would say that in a unique way, that we were always looking for things to do and
You have to.
Places to go, yeah.
Otherwise, it gets, that's when people get bored, when they never leave their hotel room.
Well, and a lot of times, we were in the same city for, you know, weeks.
Oh, really?
The production was so big, it would take a long time for the whole thing to travel to the next city, so we would have like, days off in Europe and
Brazil, and like, all these places, so we would go.
That's crazy.
Adventuring, it was really cool.
It was so cool.
That sounds like a cool experience.
And everybody was down, for the most part, almost always, so we really had, yeah, it was a special time.
That's great. I remember Joey always being pretty down.
And Gus, definitely.
Gus.
We had a pretty epic Halloween once in London.
We all dressed up and slowly realized that nobody in London dresses up, and so we were like, the only weirdos in town. I was dressed like a dead farm boy, and Gus was amazing, he dressed up, um, he was Sherlock Holmes.
Gus was Sherlock Holmes, yes.
In London.
You know, I could see that.
It was hilarious, and he's like, you know, so tall.
And Joey was a Frenchman, and he had a mustache and a moustache, and like, a striped shirt and a beret. And I don't know where my pictures are, but there's pictures somewhere of that night.
You're gonna have to show this photo.
And Nigel came and hung out, he did not dress up, of course.
Of course.
Well, he's English.
Yes. But we had a great time.
That's amazing.
Yeah, it was fun. Good times.
Going so fast, every doubt we had is coming undone in. Falling behind with everything we left there.
We held on for far too long. And now we pass so many people on the road.
They could come along, I wish they'd been told in. They may call it a shot in the dark. From what we know, it's not unheard of.
And we'll one day tell our story. Oh, well, we made something of self-love.
Our favorite parts are what we'll keep.
Ornamental parts of love and parts of memories. So, everything else has room to grow. Cause in better light, everything changes. So we can one day tell our story.
Of how we made something of ourselves now. Ooh.
Ooh.
There's no risk, there's only running. Just keep one foot in front of the other. There's no risk, there's only running. Oh. One, two, three, and even when you get tired, just keep one foot in front of the other. There's no risk, no ending in sight. No second to show, no window to turn. Turn on the lights when you leave.
Cause we had everything we're gonna need.
We're on the run, we're on the run, we're on the run, child. We gotta run, we gotta run, we gotta run, child.
One day, tell our story. Of how we made something of ourselves now. One day, tell our story.
OnDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, OnDeck's loans up to $400,000 make it happen fast. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of five-star Trust Pilot reviews, OnDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes at ondeck.com. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Hey, it's Niall Rogers, host of Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series. I'm driving across the country, meeting some of today's most fascinating artists. We're exploring the stories before the moment that changed everything. This week, I'm joined by rising star Sienna Spiral.
I love the 60s. I feel really jealous that I wasn't alive for it. I'd be interested, like, knowing what that was like and seeing the way culture and art has progressed today. How do you find it?
Wait a minute. I'm...
Sorry, I have so many questions. Sorry.
You're not nervous, are you?
I am nervous.
You are?
I am. I feel, like, insecure about my experience. I know I shouldn't, but, you know, I'm 20. I haven't really lived my life yet. And then sitting in front of somebody that has lived an enormous life is intimidating. And sometimes I feel like talking about myself is just not as interesting. So that's why I feel a bit nervous. I'll try and ignore it, though.
Please, dude. Experience Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Wow, this has been so fun. Just a quick question about singing. Do you always take the high note, Jess? Or do you guys switch? You swap all the time? I couldn't really focus, because I was so focused on the piano. You are low on this one?
Lower on this one. But yeah, we are always... Yeah, final days, you're higher. I'm higher.
Flippity-floppy.
And dusty, we switch in the middle. I mean, a lot of times, we'll switch in the middle. I'll take the lower on the verse and then the higher in the chorus, because I have more of like a masky...
Beltier sound in my upper register and Holly's got more of sort of like a soprano, classic soprano.
You just kind of swap it up to see what sounds best, right?
Yeah, like just for the right sort of dynamic.
That's cool. All right, one more dork singer question.
Somebody broke down our song recently and we're like, wow.
That's what's happening, okay.
I'm not a singer-y singer, I don't think about this stuff sometimes, but I think people who listen might be curious, number one, do you like tea?
She loves tea.
Holly's a coffee all day kind of guy.
Coffee, okay, cool. You're not a tea before you sing, kind of, it's not a ritual?
Well, I'm a tea gal, like I drink.
Just in general?
In general.
I've always been iced tea, hot tea, herbal tea, all of the teas.
Occasional tea before singing, but not, yeah, not like a definite ritual.
Okay. And do you do warmups, like every single time?
Not every single time.
She's better.
I'm better about it than Holly.
Because you're singing, I mean, these songs and a lot of your material is, it's very, I would find it really difficult without warming up.
Yeah, I, as I've gotten older, I'm more diligent about it because, and with lack of sleep with baby, I can go hoarse. So I, and I am carrying like a heavy load with the belting.
So I just, I have to honor that and I'm pretty good about it, at least straw phonation and then always a cool down.
I've never heard that word.
It's a straw.
And in like a cup of water and you're basically stretching your vocal cords with the straw in your mouth.
Oh, and you're singing into it?
It's pretty low impact, but it's, yeah, you're not really singing into it at first. Yeah, at first there's a little bit of.
Vocal Fry.
And then. Which is a side note, you should watch this YouTube video.
Oh, my God.
About Vocal Fry?
Yes. What's the guy's name? He said, it'll come to me.
Is he making, he's, he's being serious about it, right?
He's.
It's very funny.
Yeah, I do, I have like a, I, I do a warm up, usually before sound check. And then I do like just a really quick warm up before the show. And then like a seven minute ritual after the show.
You do warm down?
Always warm down.
I've never done that.
Okay, I think that's what saves me more than anything.
And I think especially before talking to people.
Oh, smart.
Because the talking is what really wears me out.
Yeah, bars are off limits on tour.
Absolutely.
And I don't, I almost never drink.
Loud, that's great.
Loud restaurants are impossible, I find.
Yes. That's why like sushi usually works out.
He's quiet.
We used to, we used to sell our own merch after all of our shows and that killed me the first tour.
Just talking to everybody, yeah. Interesting.
That was weird.
I mean, considering how much we did it.
But we couldn't do that now.
Yeah, it's a lot.
It's a lot.
Well, it's all a lot and you're going on tour. Are you gonna do a big tour this year for the new album?
Yeah, we just got off our first leg.
And that was great.
And you're bringing all the kids and everything?
Two, two of three.
Holly's youngest and my baby. And.
That's fun and also a lot.
All of the things.
Yeah, it's all of the things.
But mostly sweets.
Yeah. No, it's great, but you just, you're multitasking your butts off.
Yeah. The hard part is just sleep, honestly. Sleep is what kills your voice, the lack of sleep. So.
But he's such a good, happy boy. And it's so nice to have them around.
It's fun to have them together and they're gonna grow up together. It's a really special thing.
Yeah. Yeah, it's super sweet.
And when they get old enough, are you on a bus?
My kids are obsessed with the bus.
The bunks are just so fun.
They sleep pretty well, considering. I mean, it's like a big sound machine.
Yeah, exactly. It's a giant sound machine.
Yeah, and it's moving, that's right.
Mm-hmm. Yeah, well.
Hopefully, they continue to like it.
Yes. Well, I think if you get them used to it, it's like anything.
It's just gonna be the norm.
Yeah. Yeah.
Good. Well, I hope you have a great tour.
Woman Why in my every moment? Why in my every mood? And when I look at you It's through the pouring rain
Woman I see you searching for the answer In another universe And your world away
Run Meet me in the place Of no goodbye
I'll be there You can't miss me
Meet me in the place
Of no goodbye
Woman We wanted to have everything Or maybe not to this degree Is this the epiphany? Woman
Such a painful thing to see When beauty's taught to crouch and leap In the clover leaf
I'll be there You can't miss me Meet me in the place Of no goodbye
Meet me in the place Of no goodbye
Woman. I say I'm gonna leave tonight. Don't let me go without a fight. You know I wanna stay. Woman. The cord is wearing down to nothing. And love is rolling down your face as you float away. As you float away.
As you float away. As you float away. As you float away. As you float away. As you float away. As you float away.
As you float away. Yay! We did it! Thanks for that!
You're gonna make your flight. Thank you. Thank you so much.
I love that song.
Thanks for joining me.
And making the time. It's really great to hang with you.
So nice.
Next time, a meal or something. For sure. Yeah. Yeah, we gotta hang more.
Yeah, I'm like, I don't know why it took this long.
Yeah, it's a pleasure. Thank you.
Yeah. Thank you.
Yay. Yay. Cash flow crunch? OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds, up to $200,000, right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Man, I'm a Black and Mexican kid from San Pedro, and I grew up in Inglewood as well. I never liked to be boxed in. Both of my parents colored outside of the line. I mean, even them being together at the time in L.A. was just not typical. And so I think that has always been a part of my DNA. There's a defiant something in me that feels like what we get to do with what we're given that's greater than us is to maybe connect people to ideas that they wouldn't naturally, you know, connect to. That's really me. I'm just kind of defiant with love, though.
Experience Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series on the iHeart Radio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Oh, thanks for joining us. That was fun.
God, they're great.
They're so good.
Amazing.
Amazing. Incredible singers, and it was fun. I love their songwriting, don't you?
Yeah, like, that's why I was crying.
I know.
That the third song, that was the one that really got me.
Me too. Two of us on the run. Well, the first song we did was "Final Days" from the self-titled album Lucius, which came out in 2025.
Second song we did was called Borderline from that same album. The third song, where me and Sarah cried, is called Two of Us on the Run from Wild a Woman, released in 2013. And the fourth song, called Woman, from Nudes in 2018. God, I love that song, too. Woman. So deep. So powerful. I know, it's so good. Special thanks to Lucius for joining us today. Thank you, and we'll be back next week with my old friend, one of my oldest friends, and incredible songwriter, Richard Julian. Norah Jones is Playing Along is a production of iHeart Podcasts. I'm your host, Norah Jones.
This episode was recorded by Matt Marinelli. Video by Heckmore Media. Mixed by Jamie Landry. Additional video and video editing by Kay Loggins. Audio post-production and mastering by Greg Tobler. Artwork by Eliza Fry. Photography by Shirvin Lanaz. Produced by Norah Jones and Sarah Oda. Executive producers Erin Wong Kaufman and Jordan Runtog. Marketing lead, Queen Anaki. Thanks for listening.
With ChatGPT, you can do more than get answers. You can get things done. Whether you're leading a big project, planning an elaborate trip, or trying to balance work and life, ChatGPT can help. Give it a goal, plus things like files, notes, or project plans. Develop a trip itinerary with daily updates, or create a prioritized schedule. So you can spend less energy sorting out the details and more on bringing your biggest ideas to life. Get started at ChatGPT.com.
Hey, it's Covino and Rich Davis from Covino and Rich. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. That's Toyota affordability. And it starts with a great deal on an off-road, ready Tacoma or half-ton Tundra, two of Toyota's most capable and longest-lasting trucks. Combining power for work, tech for adventures, and style in between. Built on reputation for quality and reliability, Toyota trucks are known for holding their value, which can mean big savings when it's time for your next Toyota. So get a great deal today and great value tomorrow. Shop Toyota.com for more. Toyota, let's go places.
Hello?
Hey, it's me, your wallet.
Oh, hey.
I was just wondering if we could maybe take it easy this week?
Yep, I'm shopping at Food Lion.
Wait, you mean low prices?
And MVP savings.
Oh, you do care.
Obviously.
Okay, I feel better.
Good, now let's go get some snacks.
At Food Lion, low prices and MVP savings make it easier to shop for what you need without spending more than you have to. When your wallet needs a little TLC, head to your local Food Lion or shop at foodlion.com.
Hey, I'm Niall Rogers. This fall, I'll be driving across the country, meeting some of today's coolest and most fascinating artists. We'll explore the stories before the moments that changed everything. Because every musician remembers the moment where it all began. Experience Before the Moment, a Lincoln Original Series on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This is an iHeart Podcast.
Guaranteed Human.
Page updated October 31, 2026 · transcript and summary are machine-generated