Overview of 907. - Audrey Hobert
This episode of How Long Gone (hosts Chris Black & Jason Stewart) features musician Audrey Hobert (album: Who's the Clown?) in a wide-ranging conversation about touring, songwriting, promotion, fame, personal routines, and creative decisions. The episode mixes guest interview with the hosts’ habitual banter (Lunar New Year, food/drink anecdotes, and pop-culture riffs). Sponsors and upcoming video program notes are also mentioned.
Guest background
- Audrey Hobert — Los Angeles–area musician; album Who’s the Clown? released and currently being promoted.
- Touring: playing small rooms and festivals (solo acoustic sets and festival dates), upcoming LA show at the Wiltern in June.
- Promotional approach: heavy radio promo (early-morning acoustic appearances) and Triple J (Australia) engagement; considering adding a cover to radio sets.
Main takeaways
- Radio still matters to some artists: Audrey values radio performances and the emotional resonance of hearing music on the car radio—despite the dominance of TikTok virality.
- Virality is unpredictable: planning for TikTok-style success is unreliable; rollout strategy often overshadows the music but can't guarantee attention.
- Creative control: Audrey wants ownership of her songs/rollout; her label reportedly gives her latitude to lead ideas.
- Touring realities: early-career touring exposes artists to surprising audiences (e.g., lots of straight men at her shows) and can involve DIY logistics (solo travel, small-capacity rooms).
- Personal routines and wellness: Audrey has invested in skincare (Jan Marini products, red-light mask), Pilates, walking, and recently tried transcendental meditation; she’s smart about putting resources into appearance/health for career longevity.
- Covers as strategy: Audrey is debating covers for Australian radio—options discussed include Cat’s Eye’s “Gnarly,” Dido’s “Here With Me,” and other contemporary/pop choices; acoustic reinterpretation favored.
Topics discussed (high-level)
- Host banter and cultural asides: Lunar New Year, Johnny Cake (food anecdote), Coldplay/Chris Martin gossip, and pop-culture riffs (Cat’s Eye, Taylor Swift, Drake/Kendrick).
- Album and live show:
- Who’s the Clown? is the current record being promoted.
- Set design included a trench-coat reveal and height illusion (people assumed stilts).
- Preference for performing album material but open to one interesting cover.
- Promotion and rollout:
- Grind of national radio visits (early acoustic slots).
- Tension between expensive visual rollouts/short films and the value of simpler assets (photos).
- Audience composition and early touring lessons: surprising demographics, the joy of impacting younger listeners (especially teens).
- Industry commentary:
- Rollouts sometimes trump the product; virality is largely out of one’s direct control.
- Fame moves fast for some (mentions of SNL hosts, Connor—rapid ascents).
- Personal/beauty:
- Skincare routine (Jan Marini products, layered regimen).
- Exercise trends (Pilates addiction, walking, Hokas, sneaker/footwear choices).
- Wellness: experiments with transcendental meditation and ayahuasca retreat mentioned in host banter.
- Anecdotes:
- Host Chris: encounter at a festival where an audience member got aggressive.
- Audrey: Dries bottle impulse buy in Australia, walking and living differences between Venice and East-side LA.
Notable quotes & insights
- “Radio to me is powerful still… whatever song is on is going to soundtrack my feelings.” — Audrey, on why she values radio.
- “Virality can't be planned for.” — Audrey, on social-media-driven rollouts.
- On Taylor Swift’s lyrical focus: if you haven’t experienced something (like high school), it becomes fantasy—hence some recurring themes in her writing.
- On covers: Audrey prefers acoustic reinterpretations rather than copying the recorded version, and wants to pick something that people will emotionally connect to.
- On creative control: “I was the ideas woman” — Audrey on her label giving her space to lead.
Concrete takeaways / action items (for artists & listeners)
- Artists: consider the balance—invest in sustainable practices (skincare, fitness, mental health) as part of career longevity; don’t rely solely on engineered virality; radio and real-life touring still create meaningful fan moments.
- Musicians considering covers: acoustic reinterpretations of culturally current songs can be effective for radio and international audiences (suggested targets discussed: Cat’s Eye “Gnarly,” Dido “Here With Me,” Olivia Dean / “Man I Need,” K-pop “Golden” as a vocal stunt idea).
- Fans: check Audrey Hobert’s album Who’s the Clown? and catch her on tour (Wiltern show in June confirmed).
Episode housekeeping & sponsors
- Hosts note upcoming release of a new video program (fixing licensing/YouTube issues).
- Sponsors read during episode: Dart Collective (weddings/DJs), Squarespace, Rocket Money, Factor, CarMax, Quantum Fiber (fast internet).
- Misc: congrats to Alex Cooper on hosting the Hannah Montana 20th-anniversary special (hosts’ commentary).
Episode highlights (quick list)
- Opening banter: Lunar New Year, Johnny Cake story (Boston/Neptune Oyster).
- Guest intro: Audrey Hobert — album and touring talk.
- Deep dive: radio promo grind, Australian Triple J and cover debate.
- Lifestyle: skincare, Pilates, walking, fashion (Burberry fitting anecdote).
- Industry reflection: rollouts vs. music, fame’s rapid ascent for some artists.
- Closing notes: Wiltern LA show in June; host thanks and sponsor spots.
If you want a super-concise takeaway: Audrey Hobert is a rising pop artist focused on authentic songwriting and hands-on promotion (radio-heavy), skeptical of manufactured virality, invested in self-care and creative control, and weighing an acoustic cover to expand her international radio reach.