Why Make Music… Episode 067 - Don’t Let Them Fool You” Intro Segment An illustration of Willa May (DJ Warm Cookies), the host of "Why Make Music…" podcast, ready to kick off the show. Willa (DJ Warm Cookies): 001 Hey hey, what’s good everybody! Welcome to Episode SIX SEVEN of Why Make Music…, titled “Don’t Let Them Fool You.” I’m your host, Willa May, aslo known as DJ Warm Cookies, coming to you with that warm, fresh-baked vibe. First off, let me send a big hug and a warm welcome to all you beautiful people tuning in. Thank you for joining me for another week of music, real talk, and good energy. I hope you’re feeling cozy and ready to dive in – get your milk and cookies, ’cause we’re about to get warm! Willa: A few quick shoutouts before we jump in: Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky – all the socials – I love connecting with y’all there. I’m also on SoundCloud, where a ton of you have been listening; in fact, we hit over 15 hundred streams just last week on SoundCloud alone! (Can you believe it? Fifteen hundred, That’s wild.) Thank you for streaming the music and spreading the word – it truly means a lot to this indie artist’s heart. And if you haven’t already, join the party on our socials and say hi; I promise I don’t bite, I just bake. 💜 Willa: Quick plug: we’ve got fresh merch available – you know I gotta keep you swagged out. Hit up TeePublic.com and Tread less.com and search “ThinkTimm” to find our designs. We’ve got some dope t-shirts, hoodies, maybe even a coffee mug so you can sip while you listen. Your support there helps keep this show going (and keeps me in cookie dough, hah!). We do technically have a Patreon and a Discord server hanging out in the digital void – I’ll be real, I haven’t been super active on those yet (your girl has only so many hours in the day). But they exist! So if you feel like supporting on Patreon or hopping into the Discord to chat with fellow listeners, the door is open. I promise I’ll try to drop in more often – scouts honor! And seriously, thank you to the patrons who are there despite my sporadic posts; you are the real MVPs of patience. Willa: One more thing I’m celebrating – aside from it being 2026 already – is the incredible streaming love. I mentioned it briefly, but let me just give you all your flowers: 15 hundred + streams on SoundCloud last week! Fifteen hundred. That’s our highest weekly number ever. I see you, I appreciate you, and I’m raising my warm cookie in salute to each and every listener. Those numbers aren’t just stats – they’re people around the world choosing to bump our tracks. It’s humbling and exciting, and it makes me want to push even harder on this journey. So thank you for rocking with me and this show. We’re building something special here, one stream at a time. Willa: Alright, let’s get into today’s episode. I’ve got a packed show for you: we’ll update the music catalog situation (Volume 7 just dropped, Volume 8 on the horizon – I’ll spill the tea on that), and then dive into our main topic – “Don’t Let Them Fool You.” That one’s inspired by a certain YouTube video making the rounds, and oh boy, do I have thoughts. We’ll also get personal with some creative life reflections, do a fun pop culture news roundup (Marvel, Star Wars, and a WNBA event here in Philly – yes, sports corner is back!), chat about the snowy situation and local life, drop a quick segment about my latest promo video for “Another Lover,” and wrap it all up with our usual warm fuzzy outro. Sound good? Great! Let’s ride. Why Make Music… Episode zreo six seven, here we go! 🎙️ 🔥 [Musical transition – upbeat intro jingle fades out] Music Catalogue Update Willa: Okay, first segment of the show: Music Catalogue Update. You know I always like to keep you in the loop on what’s cooking in the studio. So, let’s talk about Volume 7 of “If I Was Your Producer.” If you’ve been following along, you know Volume 7 officially dropped on January 23, 2026 – just last week – and it’s out on all streaming platforms for your listening pleasure. Volume 7 has a bit of an origin story behind it, which I want to share. The whole “If I Was Your Producer” series, in fact, has its own origin: it started as a creative experiment, a challenge to myself. The idea was, if I were producing an album for someone (maybe an artist I admire, or even an imagined artist), what songs and sounds would I create for them? It began almost like a fun “what-if” game, but it quickly turned into a serious project series. With Volume 7, I particularly had a concept in mind: I wanted to blend genres in a way that tells a story from track 1 to 10, almost like I’m producing a movie soundtrack for an imaginary film. The origin story of Volume 7 involves late-night brainstorms, a few scrapped drafts, and one breakthrough track (“Another Lover To Give”) that set the tone for the whole volume. I remember coming up with the hook for that track and realizing it encapsulated the vibe I wanted – a mix of old-school soul and modern indie pop, with lyrics that play on classic themes of love and dedication. Once that song was in place, the rest of Volume 7 fell together like puzzle pieces. If you’ve listened to it, you probably caught some recurring motifs and callbacks between tracks – that was very much intentional, part of the little story I weaved into the album. I’m really proud of how Volume 7 turned out, and I hope you all are enjoying the new songs. Willa: Now, looking ahead – mark your calendars – Volume 8 of “If I Was Your Producer” is coming February 20, 2026! Yes, Volume 8 is on deck and scheduled to drop on 2/20. That’s just a few weeks from now, and trust me, it’s going to be a great continuation of the series. Without spoiling too much, Volume 8 will introduce some fresh flavors; I’ve been experimenting with different instruments and even some subtle world music influences on a couple of tracks. It’s all about evolving the sound while keeping that core Willa/ThinkTimm production style you know. We’re sticking to this one-volume-per-month release plan – an ambitious schedule, I know, but it’s part of the grand plan. In fact, believe it or not, we’ve already completed over 30 volumes worth of material behind the scenes. That’s right, as of now Volume 30 is done and dusted (sitting in the vault), and Volume 31 is currently underway in production. Insane, right? If you do the math, that’s hundreds of tracks. When I say I’m playing the long game, I mean it. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon – or maybe an ultra-marathon. 🎵💨 Willa: Let me explain the strategy here for anyone new: The idea is to build a massive catalog of music over time – we’re talking 100 volumes, 1000 songs as the ultimate goal – because I’m aiming for sync licensing opportunities. By that I mean placing these tracks in films, TV shows, ads, video games, you name it. I’m not chasing a one-hit viral TikTok wonder; I’m building a library, a legacy, that can generate income and exposure steadily over the years. Think about it – if you have a thousand quality songs out there, each one is an asset that could find a home in some project. Maybe Volume 7’s moody track ends up in a Netflix drama scene, or a funky beat from Volume 3 lands in a video game soundtrack. That’s the vision. And crucially, I own everything 100%. There are no samples, no uncleared loops from someone else’s record – it’s all original composition and production. Why? Because I don’t want any legal baggage when a music supervisor comes calling. The music is fully owned by WDMN Media (that’s our little outfit), which makes licensing straightforward – no worrying about clearing a sample from a 1970s funk song or splitting royalties with five other writers. It’s all ours, ready to go. This is intentional: we want to be sync-ready. As I’ve said before, our mission at WDMN Media is to create, share, and license – not necessarily to tour or chase chart-topping fame, but to get the music heard and placed in powerful ways. It’s a long-term, sustainable approach, and honestly, it feels empowering to take control of our destiny like this. Willa: For those interested in supporting or just exploring the catalog: all my music – including the “If I Was Your Producer” volumes (1 through 7, and soon 8) – is available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon, you name it). Just search ThinkTimm or WDMN Media or the album title, and you should find it. Additionally, I have everything up on Bandcamp as well. On Bandcamp, it’s set to pay-what-you-want, meaning you can download for free or throw a few bucks if you’re feeling generous or want to directly support the cause. Bandcamp’s great for that direct artist-to-listener connection. So feel free to snag the albums there in high quality – and if you do toss some coin our way, thank you! But no pressure; I’d rather you have the music in your ears than worry about the price. 🎧 The goal is to remove any barrier for you to listen and share. We’re building this one volume at a time, and having you along for the ride – listening, giving feedback, sharing favorite tracks with friends – that’s what keeps me going. So truly, thank you for being part of this journey. Willa: Alright, that’s the catalogue update! Volume 7 is out now (go spin it if you haven’t yet), Volume 8 is coming Feb 20 (get ready!), and we are nowhere near slowing down – in fact, it feels like we’re just getting started on this hundred-volume trek. Remember, it’s about the long game. By steadily creating and releasing, we’re constructing a foundation that can stand the test of time. Sometimes the music industry glamorizes the overnight success, but here we’re about consistent, purposeful output. Or as I like to say, we bake new cookies every month, and eventually we’ll have the whole bakery. (Did I take the cookie metaphor too far? Haha.) You get me though. So stay tuned and thank you for supporting the catalog. Now, let’s shift gears to our Main Topic of the day – and it’s a juicy one. [Transition – a brief musical interlude, like a record scratch leading into a beat] Main Topic – “Don’t Let Them Fool You” Willa: Now we arrive at the heart of this episode: “Don’t Let Them Fool You.” This segment is basically me putting on my big sister/mentor hat and giving you some real talk, prompted by something I saw recently that got me all fired up. If you’re an indie artist or just someone trying to make it in the creative field, listen up especially. So, a few days ago I came across this YouTube video (yes, it’s made the rounds enough that folks have been asking my opinion on it). The video’s basically promoting this idea of making passive income with AI-generated music. You’ve probably seen the type: flashy thumbnail, some guy confidently proclaiming, “You can make $5,000 a month on Spotify by cranking out AI music – no musical talent needed!” Ugh. The particular one I saw (I won’t name-drop the channel, but if you know, you know) was basically a dude showing how he used an AI music generator (like Suno AI or something similar) and ChatGPT to create songs in minutes, upload them to streaming services, and supposedly rake in money while he sleeps. It’s the classic get-rich-quick pitch, just repackaged for the AI music era. And let me tell you, I have feelings about this. Buckle up. Willa: First off – don’t let them fool you! These schemes are not as easy or universally successful as they’re made out to be. Whenever someone on the internet is pushing “passive income” hacks that sound too good to be true, especially in a creative industry, you gotta approach with skepticism. The video made it seem like anyone can generate a bunch of AI songs, upload 100 tracks to Spotify, and then just watch the money pour in from streams. It’s a seductive idea, I admit – who wouldn’t want to wake up to thousands of dollars from songs you had an AI whip up in five minutes? But the reality on the ground for indie artists is very different. The video conveniently glossed over the streaming realities – and I want to break those down clearly: Streaming does not pay big bucks unless you have massive, massive play counts. Here’s a hard truth: on Spotify (and similarly on Apple, etc.), about 1 million streams yields roughly $3,500 in payout. Yes, you heard that right: one million streams, only around three-and-a-half grand. As one industry analyst bluntly put it, “That’s not livable or sustainable” for an artist. And they’re correct – you can’t pay rent on a million Spotify plays (crazy, huh?). To put it in perspective, if you wanted to make, say, a minimum-wage monthly income from streaming alone, you’d need on the order of 500,000-600,000 streams every month. Think about that: around 567,000 streams a month just to approximate a bare-bones living. That’s like having a viral hit every month continuously. How many independent artists do you know pulling those numbers consistently? Very, very few. So when some YouTuber brags that they’re making 5k a month off AI-generated songs, I have to suspect either (A) they struck some unusual gold and are an extreme outlier, or (B) they’re… shall we say, embellishing the truth to sell a dream. And often it’s a bit of both – maybe they had one or two tracks catch some algorithmic playlist, and they extrapolate that into a narrative that anyone can do it easily. But for the vast majority of people, uploading a bunch of auto-generated music will just result in an ocean of songs sitting there with virtually no listeners. Spotify gets something like 100,000 new tracks uploaded every day (thanks to how easy DistroKid and others have made distribution). The competition for ears is unreal. If you’re not bringing something genuinely compelling to the table – whether that’s authentic artistry, a unique angle, or real human connection – your tracks (AI-made or not) will likely just float in the ether unnoticed. That’s the cold truth the hype videos won’t tell you. Willa: Another angle to this – and this is something I’m especially passionate about – is the artistry and authenticity aspect. These AI-music hustle videos treat music as a pure commodity, like you’re drop-shipping widgets from a factory. They’re essentially saying: “Don’t bother with learning an instrument or honing your songwriting craft; just press a button and spam out content.” That rubs me the wrong way. Because music, to me and to so many of you listening, is not just content. It’s art, expression, a piece of a soul. I know that sounds lofty, but even on a practical level, I believe listeners can tell the difference between a song that has human heartbeat in it versus one that’s purely generated with zero human touch. Now, I’m not anti-AI – you all know I’ve talked about using AI ethically as a tool in past episodes (heck, I’ve even dabbled with AI for things like idea generation or sound design assistance). But the key is human intent and creativity guiding it. The issue I have is with this notion of churning out AI music with no human input or care, purely to exploit a perceived loophole for cash. It’s soulless. And ironically, I suspect it’s not even that profitable for 99% of people who try it, because the songs likely won’t catch on. Streaming algorithms might pick up one novelty track, but if a listener realizes the music is generic or emotionless, they won’t stick around, they won’t become fans, and they certainly won’t remember you. There’s no shortcut around genuine quality – at least not in a sustainable way. Willa: Let’s also touch on the legal and ethical side for a second. We’ve had some very interesting discussions in the music world lately about AI and copyright. For instance, in the US, the courts and Copyright Office have been weighing in on whether AI-generated works can even be copyrighted if there’s no human author. In a recent case, a federal appeals court straight-up affirmed that works created solely by AI (with no human authorship) cannot be granted copyright protection. Basically, if a machine cranks it out and you just hit “submit,” you might not legally own that music in the way you think you do. The Copyright Office has indicated that only material with meaningful human creativity is eligible for copyright. So if your grand plan is to have an AI pump out hundreds of tracks and you collect royalties, be aware: if there’s ever a dispute or if platforms start requiring proof of human authorship, you could be on shaky ground. We’re in Wild West territory here, but signs are pointing to “no human, no copyright.” And beyond legality, there’s the ethical dimension: some of these AI music generators are trained on other artists’ work. If you blindly use AI outputs, you might inadvertently be copying someone’s style or even melodic fragments. We saw controversies with AI “ghostwriters” mimicking famous artists’ voices and styles. It opens a can of worms about originality and who deserves credit (and payment) for creative work. So the shortcut might land you in hot water or moral gray zones that you didn’t anticipate. Willa: Here’s my personal take, summing it up: Hard work + intentional music-making > any shortcut hype. I’ve been grinding in this music life for a long time, and one thing I know is that you cannot cheat the process. You can expedite certain technical aspects with new tools, sure, but you can’t download passion, you can’t fake genuine inspiration, and you definitely can’t automate perseverance. If you want a sustainable music career (or hobby or whatever it is for you), build it on something real. Yes, use technology – I’m not a Luddite shaking a cane here – use AI as a helper if it suits your workflow. But don’t buy into someone on YouTube selling you the idea that you can skip the human part of music and still strike gold. That mentality will have you chasing mirages. The people making the real money off those videos are often the ones selling a course or getting affiliate revenue from whatever service they’re promoting. Classic confluence of “those who can’t do, teach (or at least make YouTube about it).” Don’t let them fool you into thinking there’s an elevator to success – most of us have to take the stairs. And honestly, the climb builds character. It makes you better. Every volume of music I produce, every song I painstakingly mix, is making me a stronger artist and producer. That’s something no quick hack can give. Willa: So to my fellow indie artists out there: keep doing your thing. Stay focused on the craft. If you see these sensational claims, take them with a grain of salt the size of a boulder. By all means, learn new tech and evolve, but always center your unique voice and effort in what you do. In the long run, a dedicated artist with 100 true fans will outlast a spammer with 10 million botted streams that lead nowhere. Quality over quantity – ironically I say that while releasing enormous quantities of music, haha! But you all know, I strive to keep quality high even with a large output. Intent and authenticity guide me. So yeah, don’t let them fool you. Keep your eyes open, keep your heart in the music, and remember why you make music in the first place. Spoiler: it’s probably not just for a quick buck. And if it is, you might be in the wrong field, friend. 🎶 [Transition – a short DJ scratch into a chill background beat] Personal Reflections & Culture Commentary Willa: Alright, after that lecture of life, let’s lighten it up a bit and get a little personal and reflective. This next segment is a mix of personal reflections and some culture commentary, lovingly baked together like a good batch of cookies. Consider it the part of the show where we just chat, friend to friend. Willa: I often get asked how I juggle being a working creative with life’s other responsibilities – family, day job, social life (what’s that? haha). Let me tell you, it’s a balancing act. I know a lot of you can relate. By day, I’m doing the needful to pay bills and be there for family; by night (and often by very early morning), I’m in the studio or scribbling ideas in a notebook or coordinating a podcast episode. It’s not glamorous – there are many 2 AM coffee-fueled sessions – but it’s real. And something I’ve been reflecting on is how, ironically, in this era, sometimes the content about making art gets more attention than the art itself. Like, I could spend a month producing an album that maybe a modest number of people will actually sit down and listen to – but if I made a YouTube video titled “How I Produced an Album in a Month,” it might get way more views. Isn’t that funny? The instructional or behind-the-scenes content often outperforms the actual music content. I see this with other creators too – their tutorial or “the making of” videos blow up, while their finished songs or films have a smaller audience. It’s a weird quirk of our culture now. People love learning how the sausage is made (or maybe they just have FOMO about not knowing the secret tricks), sometimes more than tasting the sausage (okay that metaphor went weird places…). I’ve had to make peace with that in a way. That’s partly why I do this podcast – I realized folks seem keen to hear the insights and process talk, and if that can draw them in, maybe they’ll also check out the actual music I pour my soul into. It’s all connected. But yeah, it’s a bit bittersweet when your “how to” content outshines your “here it is” content. C’est la vie in the 2020s. Willa: Speaking of the internet’s advice overload, have y’all noticed this phenomenon of these self-proclaimed coaches popping up in every corner? I swear, every time I log on, someone’s offering a masterclass on something: how to get 1 million streams, how to build a fanbase overnight, how to manifest a Grammy by next Tuesday… It’s crazy. I joked to a friend the other day that it feels like we’re surrounded by what I call “the guy in the chair” types. You know that trope from the Spider-Man movies? Ned Leeds proudly proclaiming, “I just want to be the guy in the chair,” feeding intel to Spider-Man. These online coaches often remind me of that – they’re not out there swinging from webs themselves, but boy do they love to sit in the chair and tell you how you should do it. (Shoutout to Ned though, he was a lovable guy in the chair! But you get my drift.) It’s like everyone wants to be the strategy guru or the life-hack expert. Now, don’t get me wrong – there are some legit mentors and educators online, and I’ve learned a ton from generous people who share knowledge. But there’s also a fair share of what I call “cheerleaders without credentials” – folks who maybe haven’t actually achieved what they’re teaching, but they’re great at hyping it up. They’ve got the ring light and the whiteboard and a lot of catchphrases. After a while, it’s like, “Dude, are you out there releasing music or just selling the idea of releasing music?” I know that sounds a bit snarky, but I’m just encouraging you (and reminding myself) to be discerning. Consider who you take advice from. If Spider-Man’s life is on the line, he needs a guy in the chair who actually knows what they’re doing, not just someone who watched a bunch of YouTube and thinks they’re an expert. Same with us – if we’re dedicating our life to this craft, we want guidance from those who’ve walked the walk, not just talked the talk. Willa: On a more introspective note, I’ve been thinking about the habit of starting too many things vs. completing things. Oh boy, this is a big one for a lot of creatives. We are idea machines – I bet some of you listening have like 50 half-written songs, or a notebook with 20 business ideas, or a folder with 100 unfinished beats. Guilty as charged over here too. I constantly have to rein myself in and say, “Finish what you started, Willa.” It’s so tempting to jump to the next shiny idea, because new ideas are exciting and they don’t have the hard work attached yet. Finishing a project, though, that’s where the grind kicks in. Those last 10% of tasks that take 90% of the effort – mixing and mastering the album, editing the video, proofreading the article – that’s when it stops being fun and starts being work. But that’s also where so many people fall off. I read somewhere that the difference between a professional and an amateur is often simply finishing. And I feel that. I’ve been training myself to close loops. If I start Volume 31, I’m going to see it through to completion before I allow myself to wander into Volume 32’s ideas. (Okay, small confession: I might have a file of notes labeled “Vol. 32 ideas” already… I can’t help it! But I won’t start actual production on it until 31 is done, that’s the rule.) The same with this podcast – consistency and follow-through are key. We’re at Episode 067 now, and I fully intend to hit 068, 069, and onward without skipping, because showing up week after week is its own creative discipline. And to tie this back to our theme: there are tons of folks who talk about their grand plans (“I’m gonna make 5 albums, write a novel, start a company…” etc.), but far fewer who actually execute and complete. I want to be in the latter camp, and I want to encourage you to be there too. It’s better to finish one song than to have twenty 8-bar loops that never see the light of day. Better to publish that short story than to have a thousand story ideas jotted down that no one ever reads. Completion is king. Willa: This all circles around to a reaffirmation of my long-term creative vision that I mentioned earlier: I’m aiming to create 100 volumes (yes one hundred!) of original music – that’s roughly 1000 songs – as my magnum opus catalog. Some people hear that and go, “Are you insane?” Maybe a little. But hey, it’s my mountain to climb. It’s like my version of writing the Great American Novel, except it’s the Great WDMN Music Catalogue. Having that audacious goal keeps me motivated. It’s a North Star that reminds me why I’m putting in the hours. It’s not for overnight fame or any external validation; it’s because I genuinely love making music, and I want to leave behind a body of work that represents who I am and what I’ve learned. Legacy is a big word, but that’s kind of what it is – a creative legacy. I think about artists like Prince who had vaults of unreleased songs, or someone like Frank Zappa with his gigantic discography – they treated music like this vast continuous exploration. I aspire to that. It’s the slow and steady hustle. And I know many of you out there have similar big visions for your own life or art. If you do, I salute you. Let’s keep each other accountable to not get distracted by every fad or discouraged by the slow pace. We’re playing the long game together. 100 volumes, 1000 songs – one warm cookie at a time. 🍪🔥 Willa: Whew, okay, that got a bit deep! But I hope you found some resonance in there. Sometimes I just need to speak these thoughts out loud, and it feels like I’m talking to friends who get it. If any of that hits home for you – the balancing life and art, the frustration with internet “gurus,” the need to focus and finish projects – know that you’re not alone. We’re out here in the trenches together, making the best of the chaos and trying to create something meaningful. And we got this. Alright, how about we shift into a fun zone now? Enough introspection – let’s do a Pop Culture Roundup! I’ve got some cool news bits I’m excited about and you know I can’t resist geeking out on some sports and nerd culture stuff. Here we go. [Transition – a playful chime or pop-culture stinger music] The Grammy’s Are Here! Willa: “Alright, let’s talk Grammy nominations, people! The 2026 Grammy nods just dropped, and it’s a wild mix of the expected and the completely unexpected. First off, Kendrick Lamar is leading the pack with nine nominations – including a shot at Album of the Year for his LP GNX. He basically cleaned up last year and now he’s back aiming to finally snag that elusive Album of the Year win (he’s been nominated seven times for it but never won). And get this: none of this year’s Album of the Year nominees have ever won that prize before, so whoever wins will be a first-timer. It’s a stacked AOTY lineup with some real surprises: Bad Bunny (scoring only the second Spanish-language album ever up for Album of the Year), Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Tyler, the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, Clipse, and Leon Thomas. Yes, you heard right – Sabrina Carpenter is in Album of the Year territory, alongside heavy-hitters like Gaga and Kendrick. (Sabrina snagged six noms overall, which – who had that on their bingo card? Not me.) And Clipse – the reunited rap duo of Pusha T and Malice – landed here with their first album in 15 years. Talk about a comeback! We love to see a left-field pick like that shaking up the category. It’s also Leon Thomas’s first big mainstream recognition – an R&B upstart going toe-to-toe with superstars. We love to see a non-major label vibe artist in the mix with the big names, right? And with Bad Bunny’s album, the Grammys are going global again, embracing Latin music at the highest level. Overall, Album of the Year is a free-for-all this time, and I am here for it. Now, Record of the Year and Song of the Year – these two are always a bit confusing, but basically they’ve nominated a lot of the same tracks for both. We’ve got Bad Bunny’s bilingual banger “DtMF,” Lady Gaga’s dance anthem “Abracadabra,” Doechii’s viral hit “Anxiety,” Billie Eilish with a sweeping ballad “WILDFLOWER,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s soulful collab “Luther,” Sabrina Carpenter’s sly pop track “Manchild,” and ROSÉ (from BLACKPINK) with Bruno Mars on the disco-pop “APT.”. Those are up for Record of the Year. For Song of the Year (which is about songwriting), it’s almost identical – except they swapped out one cool indie pop tune, Chappell Roan’s “The Subway,” for something totally bonkers: “Golden” by HUNTR/X. Don’t know HUNTR/X? You wouldn’t – it’s a fictional animated K-pop band from a Netflix movie! Yup, an imaginary band is nominated for Song of the Year. It’s wild – we have officially blurred the line between real and virtual in music. I mean, do we send a Grammy invite to the CGI characters? Regardless, “Golden” has been a streaming juggernaut, and it shows the Grammys are embracing global pop in new ways. In fact, Rosé’s nomination is historic – she’s the first K-pop artist ever up for Record of the Year(thanks to “APT.”). We love to see it! It’s a banner year for international vibes. A couple more notes on Record/Song: Billie Eilish is back in the big categories after a little hiatus – “WILDFLOWER” got her on the list, even though fun fact, that song actually came out back in 2024 and only got released as a single now to qualify. Sneaky, but hey, Billie’s in the race. And Kendrick & SZA’s “Luther” – now that one dominated the charts (13 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100!) – so you know it’s a frontrunner. I wouldn’t be shocked if “Luther” takes Record and Song of the Year, it’s that good. Meanwhile, Gaga’s “Abracadabra” is a bop but maybe not her most memorable – one reviewer quipped nobody will remember it as a year-defining song. And Doechii’s “Anxiety,” love the energy, but it apparently borrows a bit heavily from a 2010s hit (some say it’s basically a remix of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”). There’s some debate on those picks. It’s the Grammys – we gotta have opinions! 005.5 Alright, Best New Artist – this category is stacked with curveballs. This year’s class of newbies is all over the map (in the best way). You’ve got Olivia Dean, a soulful UK singer; The Marías, a dreamy indie band making bilingual waves; an alt-rock singer called Sombr; Lola Young, a buzzy British songwriter… and then on the flip side, you have Addison Rae – yes, that Addison Rae, the TikTok dance queen turned pop singer! If you told me a year ago that Addison would be a Grammy-nominated Best New Artist, I’d have spit out my coffee. But here we are – her nomination actually “defies the Academy’s usual neglect of social media acts,” as one outlet put it. We also have KATSEYE, a manufactured K-pop-adjacent girl group – even they said they never dreamed they’d be up for a Grammy. (They’re so new, half of us are Googling them right now.) That group apparently scored two nominations, so clearly the Grammys are feeling the K-pop wave. And then there’s Leon Thomas, an R&B singer-songwriter who’s actually been in the industry for a decade behind the scenes – now finally getting his spotlight. Leon is interesting because he’s also the only R&B act in the Best New Artist bunch and his album MUTT is up for Best R&B Album. Double duty! Honestly, this Best New Artist lineup might be my favorite in years. It’s got a little bit of everything: industry veterans finally breaking through, indie darlings, a viral social media star, even a touch of K-pop. We love to see the Grammys embracing such a mix of newcomers. It keeps things exciting, and it’ll make for a fun race – imagine the collabs and cutaways in that category on awards night! Now for the genre heavy-hitters: Best Rap Album. This one is a murderer’s row of talent. We’ve got Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, Tyler, The Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA, Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out, plus the new school represented by JID (with God Does Like Ugly) and GloRilla (with GLORIOUS). That’s right, GloRilla – a rising female rapper – snagged a nomination here, which is awesome to see alongside the guys. The cool storyline: Clipse (Pusha T and Malice) not only came back after ages, they got nods in both Album of the Year and Best Rap Album. Fifteen years since their last album, and they stormed back into the Grammy spotlight – if that’s not the comeback of the year, I don’t know what is. And Tyler, The Creator – this man refuses to be put in a box. Chromakopia is up for Rap Album, but Tyler also dropped another album this year that’s nominated in Best Alternative Music Album. Yes, he might win a rap Grammy and an alternative Grammy in the same night – talk about genre-bending artistry! And speaking of genre-blending: the hardcore band Turnstile pulled off nominations across rock, metal, and alternative categories. Not directly related to rap, but I have to shout it out because it’s just so cool – the Grammys really said “who cares about genres, good music is good music.” I’m here for it. Best R&B Album is another category I’m keeping an eye on, because it’s a great mix of established voices and new blood. The nominees are GIVĒON (for Beloved), Coco Jones (Why Not More?), Ledisi (The Crown), Teyana Taylor (Escape Room), and our guy Leon Thomas (MUTT). It’s nice to see a spread from a legend like Ledisi to a breakthrough star like Coco Jones (who’s been steadily rising) to Leon Thomas making a splash with his debut. Leon’s nod here, as I said, is huge – he’s possibly the most “new” of the bunch and already rubbing shoulders with veterans. If you needed proof the Grammys are giving fresh talent a chance, there it is. And by the way, Leon’s also up for Best New Artist, so he’s doing something right. Also notable: R&B performance and song categories have him and others (Kehlani, Summer Walker, etc.), indicating R&B had a strong year of new voices – but I digress. The album category is the big one, and I’m curious to see if the Academy goes with a beloved newcomer or an established favorite here. Now, what’s a Grammy discussion without some drama? Let’s hit the snubs and surprises real quick – the stuff everyone’s arguing about online. Major snub alert: The Weeknd. He had a highly anticipated album (Hurry Up Tomorrow) and… zilch, nothing. It’s wild – after his famous falling-out with the Grammys a few years back, we thought fences were mended when he appeared on some nominations last year, but apparently not. The Weeknd is again nowhere to be found, which has fans (and probably Abel himself) rolling their eyes. And he’s not alone: Lorde dropped a critically acclaimed fourth album (Virgin) and got zero nominations. Ouch. Fans are definitely side-eyeing the Academy for that one. Also missing in action: rising pop singer Gracie Abrams, who many expected might sneak into Best New Artist or Pop categories, got shut out entirely. Every year we get a few “Wait, how did so-and-so not get a single nod?” – this year it’s Lorde, The Weeknd, maybe a few others like that. On the flip side, the surprise nods have people buzzing. We mentioned Addison Rae and KATSEYE in Best New Artist – totally out of left field. And how about Justin Bieber? His album SWAG had almost zero promo and lukewarm reviews, yet it sneaks into Album of the Year. Even Justin might have been like, “Wait, what did I get nominated for?” Laughs. And I have to say, Sabrina Carpenter emerging as a six-time nominee – including in top categories – has definitely turned heads. Don’t get me wrong, Sabrina’s great, but I don’t think anyone predicted the former Disney Channel kid would score more nominations than, say, Taylor Swift this year. (To be fair to Taylor Nation: Miss Swift just missed the eligibility window with her new album, so don’t call that a snub. She’ll be back next year, I’m sure.) All in all, the 2026 Grammy nominations are giving us plenty to chew on. You’ve got indie breakthroughs, genre-bending artists, global music making waves, and a few egos bruised by snubs. It’s the perfect recipe for a juicy awards season. As a music fan, I’m excited – we have non-traditional nominees going up against industry titans, and you just know the Grammy night performances are going to be fire with this mix of artists. It’s wild that a fictional band might win a Grammy, and that a TikTok star could beat veteran acts for Best New Artist – what a time to be alive! And I am absolutely thrilled to see some underdogs in the race – it keeps everyone on their toes. So, mark your calendars: the awards go down Feb 1, 2026, and until then we’ve got lots of debating and predicting to do. Will Kendrick finally get that Album of the Year? Will an independent-spirited act take Best New Artist? Will the Grammys send an acceptance speech Zoom link to an animated K-pop group? Who knows! One thing’s for sure: we’ll be talking about it. Stay tuned, and congrats to all the nominees – even those of you who aren’t technically “real” musicians. This year, the Grammys are truly off the charts in the best way.” Pop Culture Roundup Willa: Time for the Pop Culture Roundup, where I hit you with some of the latest happenings in the world of sports, movies, and all that good stuff – basically Willa’s quick tour of what’s poppin’. Let’s start local and sporty: WNBA Unrivaled Tour is coming to Philly! Yes, Philadelphia is about to host a stop of the Unrivaled women’s basketball tour, and it’s happening tomorrow, January 30, 2026 (depending on when you’re listening, that’s Friday night). This is a really exciting event because it’s bringing some big names in women’s hoops to our city in a unique 3×3 format. They’ve got two showcase games lined up: the Breeze vs. the Phantom, and the Rose vs. the Lunar Owls. Now if those team names sound a bit abstract, let me drop the star power: The Phantom squad is led by Philly’s own Natasha Cloud, and they’ll be facing the Breeze led by college sensation turned pro Paige Bueckers. Meanwhile, the Rose team, featuring WNBA champ Kahleah Copper (another Philly hometown hero), will go up against Napheesa Collier’s Lunar Owls. So yeah, basically a ton of talent on the court. I was reading that this is the first time in over two decades that we’ll have professional women’s basketball games in Philadelphia – the last time was back in 1998 if you can believe it. So it’s a bit of sports history in the making. The games will be at the Xfinity Mobile Arena here in Philly, which they chose because ticket demand was so high they needed the biggest indoor venue. We’re talking over 16,000 tickets sold – Philly showing up strong! If you’re going, bundle up (more on the weather soon) and be loud. If you can’t go, they’re broadcasting it on TNT, truTV, and even streaming on HBO Max, which is pretty cool for a women’s off-season league to get that coverage. I’m personally thrilled to see women’s basketball getting innovative with this tour format and bringing the game to new cities. And yes, as a Philly native, I’m rooting for our hometown players to put on a show. Go Phantom (Natasha Cloud’s team) and go Rose (Kahleah Copper’s team)! I’m allowed to root for two, right? It’s all Philly love. Willa: Now on to the Marvel universe – because you know I gotta feed my inner nerd. Wonder Man has finally dropped on Disney+! This is the new Marvel series that just premiered on January 27. I’ve binged the first few episodes (for research purposes… okay, also for fun), and I’m happy to report it’s getting some pretty great early feedback from critics. In a surprising twist, a lot of reviewers are saying Wonder Man is a refreshing change of pace for Marvel. It’s been called “the best Disney+ Marvel series yet” by TIME Magazine, no less. They praised the show’s smart casting, witty writing, lively directing, and overall character-driven approach that “finds the human underneath” the superhero story. I have to agree, the show has a very different vibe – it’s more of a dramedy set in Hollywood, very meta and self-aware. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II absolutely shines as Simon Williams (a.k.a. Wonder Man) – he brings this endearing intensity to a wannabe actor-superhero who’s kind of a hot mess. And get this: Ben Kingsley co-stars, reprising his role as Trevor Slattery (remember the faux Mandarin from Iron Man 3?). The dynamic between Yahya and Sir Ben is chef’s kiss – one review mentioned their chemistry is a huge highlight and even said these two make the show a “must-watch”. The show is less about big superhero battles and more a satirical, almost buddy-comedy take on fame and heroism. Don’t worry, there are still some powers and action (Simon’s got ionic energy powers, after all), but it’s grounded in character humor. I love that Marvel’s taking a swing at something offbeat. If you’re feeling burnt out on the usual cape stuff, give Wonder Man a shot – it might surprise you. And no spoilers here, but I will say, keep an eye out for some fun cameos and Easter eggs. Marvel nerds will be pleased, and casual viewers will just enjoy the ride. So yeah, Wonder Man on Disney+, two thumbs up from me so far. Willa: Sticking with Marvel for a moment – because the content train never stops – we’ve got Daredevil Season 2 (of the rebooted series) coming in March 2026. I know, it feels like we waited forever for more Matt Murdock. The first season of the Disney+ Daredevil: Born Again series left us with a lot of questions and a craving for more kingpin-smashing action. Season 2 is reportedly dropping in mid-March, and I’m hearing it will ramp up the intensity. Expect more courtroom drama meets brutal alleyway fights (that hallway fight in the old show – all-time classic, let’s see if they can top it). I won’t speculate too much, but rumor is Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin has an even bigger role this season, and honestly, that’s enough to get me hyped. Keep an eye out for official dates and trailers in the coming weeks if you’re a Marvel street-level fan like me. Official teaser poster for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, premiering on Disney+ April 6, 2026. The infamous Maul steps out of the shadows in this dark, stylish poster. Willa: Now for some Star Wars excitement: We have Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord coming up. This is an all-new animated series focusing on Darth Maul (well, technically he’s not “Darth” anymore at this point in the timeline – just Maul, the rogue Sith). It’s premiering on Disney+ April 6, 2026, with a two-episode kickoff. As you can tell from my voice, I’m pretty hyped for this. The teaser trailer dropped recently and it looks dark and stylish – exactly what you’d want from a Maul story. It’s set a few years after the Clone Wars, during the rise of the Empire, and Maul is out there building his criminal syndicate (if you watched Solo: A Star Wars Story or Clone Wars/Rebels, you know Maul had his hands in the crime world). The animation style, from what I’ve seen, is like a blend of the Clone Wars look with some gritty graphic novel vibes. They even talked about using old-school animation techniques to give it a painterly feel. Sam Witwer is back voicing Maul (he’s phenomenal in that role), and the cast includes some cool additions – one being Wagner Moura (Pablo Escobar from Narcos) as a new character, and even Richard Ayoade (from The IT Crowd) voicing an alien character, which is wild and awesome. Early buzz says the show is highly serialized and fast-paced, like a 10-part crime saga in the Star Wars underworld. I’m so ready for that. We haven’t had an animated series since Bad Batch, and this one looks like it’s aimed a bit older (darker themes, presumably some intense action). The Shadow Lord series is also interesting because it ties into the bigger Filoni-verse that’s been building (more on Filoni in a sec). Anyway, April 6 – Star Wars fans, mark it down. Two episodes at launch, then weekly, presumably leading right up to May 4th (because Star Wars loves a May 4 finale). I’ll definitely be discussing it once it’s out, because you know this nerd can’t resist. Willa: And speaking of May – we have what might be the big event for Star Wars on the horizon: The Mandalorian & Grogu movie is slated to hit theaters in May 2026 (specifically May 22, 2026, if the schedule holds). This is huge because it will be the first Star Wars theatrical film since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. It’s been a minute! And it’s bringing our beloved Din Djarin (Mando) and little Grogu to the big screen for a presumably epic adventure. This movie is essentially the culmination of the Mando-verse storyline that Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau have been weaving through The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, etc. I literally got chills when I saw the teaser – hearing that Ludwig Göransson Mando theme booming in a theater is going to be something else. Plot details are under wraps, but one can guess it might involve Mandalore’s future and the Imperial remnants…maybe even Thrawn if the Ahsoka series leads into it. It’s all connected, Marvel-style, but in Star Wars. One fun note: they’re actually calling it “The Mandalorian and Grogu” officially, which is cute because our little green friend gets title billing. Honestly, who can resist Grogu on a giant screen? Prepare for the entire audience to go “awww” in unison at least 5 times. I know I will. Also, from a business perspective, Star Wars returning to theaters is a big deal. Lucasfilm took a break to recalibrate after the sequel trilogy, and now with this film and others in the pipeline, it feels like a new era is dawning. Willa: Now that leads perfectly into a bit of industry news: Dave Filoni’s role at Lucasfilm. If you’re not familiar, Dave Filoni is basically the heir to the Star Wars creative throne in a lot of ways. He got his start working closely with George Lucas on The Clone Wars and has since been the mastermind behind Rebels, The Mandalorian (with Favreau), Ahsoka, etc. Well, it was recently announced that Filoni has been promoted to President & Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm– meaning he’s overseeing the creative direction of Star Wars going forward. Meanwhile, long-time exec Lynwen Brennan is taking on the business operations as co-president. Essentially, Kathleen Kennedy (who’s been the head of Lucasfilm for a decade) is stepping back from daily Star Wars stuff (she’ll focus on other films) and Filoni is now the creative captain of the ship. This is huge for Star Wars fans, many of whom have been clamoring for Filoni to have more control. Filoni is often compared to a Kevin Feige (Marvel) type, but I think an even better analogy is James Gunn at DC. You know how DC Studios brought on James Gunn to be co-CEO and basically chart the creative course for their new DC universe? Filoni’s move is similar: he’s the creative head honcho, mapping out the interconnected storytelling across series and films. They even explicitly said think of it like Gunn and Safran at DC – Filoni handles creative, Brennan handles the day-to-day logistics. As a fan, I’m optimistic. Filoni has a deep love and understanding of Star Wars lore (the man wears a cowboy hat and speaks in Star Wars proverbs, I swear). With him steering the ship, I expect a cohesive vision where movies and Disney+ shows complement each other, characters cross over naturally, and the essence of Star Wars – that heart and mythos – stays intact. Some might worry because Filoni also loves deep-cut references and cameos (if you watched Ahsoka, you know he’s pulling from animated series a lot), but I think it’s exciting. He’s like the kid who studied the Star Wars textbook front to back and now gets to write the next chapters. And hey, even if you’re not a hardcore fan, this likely means a steadier output of quality content, which is great for casual viewers too. So, congrats Mr. Filoni, our new Chief Creative Jedi. May the Force be with you – and with us, in this new era of Star Wars storytelling! Willa: On the Marvel side of that comparison, just to tie the bow: James Gunn, as mentioned, has his plan for DC rolling out soon too (the new Superman, etc.). It’s fascinating to watch both big franchises reposition with creative leads who are also fans themselves (Gunn and Filoni). It’s like the geeks have truly inherited the earth, and I am here for it. Okay, that’s enough pop culture nerding for now. We covered sports, Marvel, Star Wars – all my favorite food groups. Let’s bring it back down to earth for a moment and talk about some local life & weather, because man, do we have weather to talk about… and maybe a sprinkle of politics, but I promise it’ll be light. [Transition – sound of wind howling or a radio weather jingle] Local Life & Weather Talk. Willa: So, Philadelphia fam (and anyone who enjoys hearing about Philly), how about that snow we got?! This past weekend was intense. Philly was basically a winter wonderland – or maybe a winter wilderness is more accurate. We got walloped by the biggest snowfall we’ve seen in a decade. No joke – the official measurement at the airport was 9.1 inches of snow from Sunday’s storm. The city hasn’t seen that much snow in one go since like 2016. It started out all pretty and postcard-esque on Sunday morning, but by afternoon it turned into sleet and freezing rain, and things got messy real fast. Slush everywhere, heavy wet snow on the trees – my poor car was entombed in an ice-snow hybrid that took me an hour to shovel out. (Good workout though, silver lining!) A lot of folks got the day off on Monday because the School District actually closed schools – throwback to real snow days, not just virtual learning days, hallelujah. SEPTA had some serious transportation delays and even suspended some services during the peak of the storm. I was keeping tabs on SEPTA alerts and it was like “Bus Route X: suspended, Rail Line Y: significant delays” down the list. The city basically hit the pause button Sunday afternoon. Which was fine – I hope most of y’all stayed home, made some hot cocoa, and watched the Eagles highlights or something. Mayor Cherelle Parker (shoutout to our new mayor) was urging everyone to stay off the roads anyway while 600+ plows and salt trucks did their thing. Willa: Now, the snow itself would’ve been okay, but the kicker is the cold that followed. We went from winter wonderland to Arctic Tundra in a hurry. All week it’s been sub-freezing temperatures in Philly – I’m talking daily highs in the mid to upper 20s°F (-2 to -3°C) and lows in the single digits. The forecast even said one night could drop to around 2°F (that’s about -17°C for our metric friends). I mean, that is painfully cold. The kind where you step outside and immediately question all your life choices that led you to live in a place where the air hurts your face. We’ve had persistent wind chills around 0°F or below at night. So if you’re local, you know what I’m talking about – it’s brutal out there. If you’re not local and you’re somewhere warm, please send us some virtual sunshine. 🌞 Philly could use it! I will say, the snow on the ground with clear sunny skies afterward has made for some beautiful visuals – bright white snow reflecting the sun, blue skies, the skyline looking crisp. That part I don’t mind. It’s the frozen fingertips and the fact that my dog gives me the “you expect me to walk in this?!” look every morning that I mind. Willa: This frigid weather actually reminded me of a famous quote by Prince (yes, the Purple One). You might have heard it: Prince once told Oprah, referring to living in Minneapolis, “It’s so cold, it keeps the bad people out.”. Haha! I love that. Basically implying that only the hearty (and presumably good-hearted) can tolerate living in such cold, so it filters out the riffraff. Now, Minneapolis cold is next-level (they regularly hit -20°F, no thank you), but Philly’s getting a small taste of that philosophy this week. I joked with a friend, “Maybe all this cold is just filtering out the cranky people.” Then my friend was like, “But Willa, you’re the one getting cranky about the cold.” Touché. Perhaps I am the riff-raff Prince warned us about! But seriously, I do find that cold weather brings out a certain camaraderie among those of us out braving it. I was walking down Market Street all bundled up, and some random guy gives me a nod like, “Yep, we out here surviving.” Shared struggle, you know? Willa: In any case, if you’re in this region (or anywhere that’s freezing right now), make sure you bundle up, limit your time outside, and check on any vulnerable neighbors or friends – especially the elderly or those without good heating. When it’s this cold, it’s more than just discomfort; it can be dangerous. I also want to shout out the outreach programs for unhoused folks in the city – I know many shelters opened up additional beds and warming centers during the storm. If you have any extra coats or blankets, consider donating them. Little things can literally save lives when the temperature plummets. (Okay, PSA mode off.) Willa: Now, shifting gears slightly – I mentioned a bit of light political commentary, emphasis on light. Cold weather makes me think of that Prince quote, which in turn got me thinking: wouldn’t it be nice if the cold could keep out not just “bad people” in the crime sense, but also, say, “bad leaders” in the political sense? Like, can we get a cold front to flush out the narcissists in government? (Where’s that weather pattern when you need it!) This is just me musing humorously – please don’t send any political flame wars to my DMs – but sometimes I look at certain folks in power, especially those ego-driven, truth-bending types (you can probably think of a few names, from the national stage or even local), and I think, man, if only a chill wind could blow them away. We’ve seen our share of… let’s say colorful personalities in leadership positions. And whether it’s here or elsewhere, a common trait of the worst of them is this outsized narcissism – it’s always about them, not the people they serve. That kind of leader will try to fool you, divide you, gaslight you – in short, they bring a lot of heat in a bad way. So wouldn’t it be poetic justice if Mother Nature just iced them out? Obviously, real life doesn’t work like that, but a podcaster can daydream. My genuine advice in this cold, in all senses, is: keep your eyes open for people who seek power for the wrong reasons. Whether in politics, at your job, even in friend groups – watch out for those narcissistic energies. Don’t let them fool you (hey, ties back to our theme nicely!). And don’t let them pit good people against each other. Sometimes a little cold honesty and a united front from regular folks can keep the bad actors at bay. Okay, that’s the extent of my political philosophy hour – see, I kept it light-ish and metaphorical. Prince would approve, I hope. Willa: Alright, that’s what’s happening in Philly: snow, cold, and a dash of keeping-it-real talk. Up next, I want to quickly mention a mini segment – just a brief one – about a promo video I released. Then we’ll head into our cozy Outro. Almost there, folks – hang tight like that ice on my window (which isn’t melting till next week, apparently). Let’s go to the next bit. [Transition – brief music cue, maybe a snippet of the song “Another Lover” fading in then out] Mini Segment: “Another Lover” Promo Video Willa: So this is a short but sweet segment – think of it as a little bonus cookie at the end of the batch. I want to give a shoutout to the promo video we recently dropped for the song “Another Lover” (which is actually titled “Another Lover To Give”) off If I Was Your Producer – Volume 7. If you follow me on Instagram or YouTube, you might have seen it already. If not, no worries – I just want to share what it is and why I’m excited about it. Willa: Basically, I put together a quick promo video for “Another Lover” as a way to showcase the track with some visuals. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do more of – pairing visuals with the music to give it an extra dimension. Now, I am by no means a professional video editor or filmmaker (my budget is like $0 and a cup of coffee, haha), but with some creativity and handy apps, you can do a lot these days. The promo is a roughly 30-second clip, perfect for social media. It features some stylized visuals: a mix of performance footage and abstract graphics that match the vibe of the song. I went for a kind of dreamy, neon-lit aesthetic – lots of purples and blues (on brand for Warm Cookies, naturally) – and intercut some slow-motion clips of a couple dancing with quick shots of me in the studio nodding to the beat. We added in the song’s hook text on screen in a cool animated font – because lyric videos are all the rage, right? It’s not a full music video per se, more like a teaser/trailer for the song. But honestly, I’m really pleased with how it turned out. For something I cobbled together using my iPhone, some stock footage, and a dash of CapCut editing magic, it looks pretty slick. It captures the sultry, groovy vibe of “Another Lover” in visual form, which is exactly what I was aiming for. Willa: Let me tell you, seeing even a mini-visual representation of your song is such a rewarding feeling. “Another Lover To Give” is a track I love – it’s got this smooth R&B groove with a modern twist, and lyrically it’s about wanting to give love fully and freely. In the promo video, I think we conveyed that mood – there’s a warmth and a romantic feel to the imagery (without being too on-the-nose). I even managed to sneak in a shot of a warm cookie on a turntable… just kidding! (Or am I? You’ll have to watch to find out.) But seriously, the feedback has been great – a lot of you left comments with heart-eye emojis and saying the visuals fit the song perfectly. That makes me so happy, because it means we hit the mark. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can find the “Another Lover” promo on my Instagram Reels and on TikTok (yes, I dusted off the TikTok for this). I might put a slightly longer version on YouTube Shorts as well. It’s a quick watch – just enough to get the song stuck in your head. In fact, a few people told me they went and streamed the full song after seeing the promo, which is exactly the point of doing these. Marketing brain activated! And also it’s just fun to create in a different medium. Willa: Doing that promo has me thinking ahead – I’d love to do little promos or visualizers for each track, if time permits. We actually have a concept for another Volume 7 song that I won’t spoil, but let’s just say it involves some retro arcade visuals for a track that has an old-school hip-hop vibe. I won’t promise a release date on that, but it’s on my wish list. For now, though, check out the “Another Lover” clip and let me know what you think. It was a nice change of pace to use the visual side of my brain. And major props to independent artists out there who do everything – music, videos, graphics, the whole shebang. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also empowering to bring your vision to life fully. Willa: Alright, mini segment over! I just wanted to shine a little spotlight on that promo because, darn it, I was proud of it and this is my podcast so I get to do that! 😁 Thanks for indulging me. Now, let’s wrap this baby up with our Outro, complete with some positive affirmations and final thoughts. You know the drill – it’s where I send you off feeling good. Here we go. [Transition – gentle outro music begins, something soothing and positive] Outro Segment Willa: You’ve made it to the Outro – give yourself a round of applause, because Episode Six Seven “Don’t Let Them Fool You” has been a full ride! This is the part of the show where I wind things down, wrap up the themes, and hopefully leave you with a smile and a bit of inspiration (and maybe a craving for cookies). Willa: First off, I want to thank you sincerely for hanging out with me today. We covered a lot of ground: from my music catalog plans to debunking get-rich-quick schemes, from personal creative struggles to WNBA games, Marvel and Star Wars geek-outs, local snowstorms, and even a Prince quote. Talk about range! But that’s how we do on Why Make Music… – because making music isn’t just about the tunes, it’s about life, culture, the whole human experience. I hope you enjoyed the journey and maybe learned a nugget or two, or at least felt understood and entertained. Willa: Let’s circle back to the title one more time: “Don’t Let Them Fool You.” If there’s a through-line to everything we chatted about today, it’s probably this: trust your instincts, do the work, and be cautious of the mirages out there – whether it’s internet hustlers promising easy money, or external pressures telling you what success should look like, or even your own doubts trying to trick you out of finishing what you started. Keep it real with yourself and with others. Remember why you’re on your creative journey – likely for the love and passion, something genuine – and hold onto that when the noise tries to fool you. This podcast itself is proof of a philosophy: I’m not here to go viral or chase overnight success. I’m here to build something meaningful over the long haul – a body of work, a community of like-minded souls, a legacy that I can be proud of. And I invite you to approach whatever you do in that same spirit. We’re baking legacy, not just cookies 😉. Willa: Also, I gotta say it: Don’t let them (whoever “they” are in your life – could be haters, could be societal expectations) fool you into thinking you’re not good enough or that you need to be something you’re not. We all have our own path. If you’re making music, make your music. If you’re living your life, live it on your terms. That’s the vibe we keep around here – independent and proud. I hope you feel that positivity and empowerment through the airwaves, because I’m sending it to you right now. You got this, and I got your back. Willa: Now, in classic Why Make Music… fashion, I can’t end Episode 067 without a little humor. So, I have a joke (especially for the millennials out there who might appreciate this one). Ahem: This is Episode six… wait for it … seven! (If you know, you know. And if you don’t know, go watch that Friends episode where Monica emphatically yells “Seven!” on repeat – trust me, it’s worth it). Consider that my millennial fan service for the day. 😜 Episode six…seven! I’m cracking myself up here, hopefully one of you out there got a chuckle too. Willa: As we close out, I want to leave you with my signature wrap-up and some good vibes. Remember that Why Make Music… is more than a podcast – it’s a mindset. We’re not doing this for quick clout; we’re doing it for the love, the craft, the legacy. Whether you’re a musician, an artist of any kind, or just someone trying to make it through and leave a positive mark, I see you and I salute you. Keep going. Keep creating. Keep sharing your warmth with the world. As I like to say, keep it warm like cookies – meaning keep it authentic, comforting, and true to your heart. Warm cookies make people happy, and so does warm, genuine art. That’s what we’re about here. Willa: Thank you again for listening to Episode sixty seven– it truly means a lot to me. If you enjoyed the show, please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review or comment on whatever platform you’re on. I love hearing your feedback and knowing what resonated with you. And don’t be shy – reach out on social media and say hi, tell me your thoughts, suggest topics for future episodes, or just drop a cookie emoji. I’m here for it. Willa: Alright, I’m gonna sign off now. Same time next week for Episode Sixty Eight (already excited for that one!). Until then, stay safe, stay creative, and don’t let the winter – or the BS – grind you down. Keep chasing those dreams one step at a time. And most importantly, Why make music…? Because the world needs what only you can create. Willa: Peace, love, and warm cookies. Episode SIX SEVEN (HA! HA! HA! too funny) is a wrap! Thank you all – catch you on the next one. Be well and be warm. Peace and Be Wild…🎙️✨ [Outro music fades out gently…] Willa (faintly, as if off-mic): Six… seven… (Hehe, I had to!) [End of Episode