Q&A: PawPaw Rod Goes on a Journey of Self-Discovery in New Single, “Shadow”
☆ BY Faith Luevanos☆
COMING OFF OF A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT HEADLINE TOUR, rapper/singer PawPaw Rod is eager and ready to return with a second headline tour in the fall along with a new EP. This time around, he’ll be opening for Still Woozy, as well as headlining his own shows this July to November. The Doobie Mouth Tour and Doobie Mouth introduces a new era for the LA based artist, one that you definitely don’t want to miss.
He perfectly describes his sound and style like a wedding - something old, something new, and something borrowed. His ability to effortlessly blend funk with alt-indie creates a welcoming space for all who listen, acknowledging the generations before him while also paving a new path for the next generations ahead of him.
Luna sat down with PawPaw Rod to discuss his newest single, “Shadow”, which is just a sneak peek of what we can expect from the Doobie Mouth EP, set to release August 9th.
LUNA: In 2021, when your first single “HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS” went viral, were you expecting that reaction? What was that experience like?
PAWPAW ROD: I wasn’t expecting it, I was just ready to have a song out. I would’ve been cool with 500 streams. I was just glad to be back in motion and back releasing things. It just felt like a step in the right direction, so for it to get the love that it did, it kept me in a state of gratitude which I’m still definitely in. I’m blessed to have something that people resonate with like that.
LUNA: Jumping forward in the timeline, your first single in this new era of music, “Shadow”, comes out today! There’s a couple different themes within the new song, but the main one was self-discovery. Can you elaborate on that?
PAWPAW ROD: I never really know what I’m going to talk about before I get into a session. The instrumentation on this one just provoked some questions in myself that I wanted more answers to. I think that’s what I’ve been trying to do in my music - speak to a world and a life that I want for myself that I haven’t experienced yet. The universe aligned in that moment, in that session, for me to just want to talk about my inner child or subconscious. I’m learning more about myself and what I require in life.
LUNA: Your music has that “funkadelic” energy to it that many people find comfort in. Can you share where you pull some of your inspiration from?
PAWPAW ROD: I always tell people that my sound and style is like a wedding. Something old, something new, and something borrowed. That keeps me grounded and reminds me that I have to understand things that came before me. When I think about music, I don’t just think about the present. I might think about my mom, my grandma, or my pawpaw. I might think about the fact that so many people before me dedicated their lives and broke down barriers for me to be able to even make music. All those things are in the recipe, so why wouldn’t it reflect in what I’m doing? I have a line where I say, “it’s like a tradition, doing me is what makes it different”. Even if I’m being inspired by people that came before me, me being authentic to myself will still keep it fresh.
LUNA: You also use your personal style to express yourself, pulling from 60’s, early 70’s fashion trends. Do you feel that that specific style is what best represents you and your music?
PAWPAW ROD: I have a homie who told me this years ago: “What’s dope about you and your music is that you dress how your music sounds.” I never thought about it until he told me that, and honestly my style originally comes from within that concept of the wedding - old, new and borrowed. I was fortunate enough to be able to fit in my pawpaw’s clothes, so I just went through his closet and found dope things that went well with what I had going on. I’m glad he had pieces that last long that could be passed down, so that’s more of a lifestyle thing. I try to buy things that’ll last that I can pass down, and that’s where the tradition aspect comes into play for me. My music definitely inspires the way I dress and vice-versa.
LUNA: With the new single, and your whole discography in general, what message do you hope to convey to your listeners?
PAWPAW ROD: When you come here to listen to my music, it’s a safe space. It’s funny because when people repost my songs, they’re always in different settings. Some people will be on a goddamn boat listening, hanging with their family at a barbecue, even getting married! I want my music to be a soundtrack to life, just forward movement. Even in certain music videos, I felt like I wouldn’t even want to be in them, I just wanted them to represent life and being alive.
LUNA: You recently completed your debut headline tour. What were some of the lessons that you learned from touring?
PAWPAW ROD: There was a specific show I did on my birthday in Chicago at Lincoln Hall. I was really nervous because I grew up as a military brat, so I moved around a lot. Anytime my mom would ask me if I wanted to have people over for my birthday parties, I was really hesitant and never really had them because I didn’t know who would actually show up. I got comfortable just saying that I don’t do birthdays because I’m a chill person. When that show came around on my birthday, I got this weird feeling of anxiety and I didn’t know where it came from. It was 27 degrees that day and I just assumed people wouldn’t show up, but they did! It was packed, people were singing happy birthday to me, and I think that moment let me know that I was worthy and people rocked with me. I learned that if you want to celebrate yourself, do that.
LUNA: That’s great that you were able to rewrite that narrative for yourself. Do you have any funny or important moments from the tour that you’re willing to share?
PAWPAW ROD: (laughs) We were coming back from getting some food in San Francisco and we had the window rolled down. Somebody saw me in the car and they freaked out and were like, “Oh my god, are you PawPaw Rod?”, and they started chasing the car! It was so funny but I was just thinking there was no way that was real and someone told them to do that. Other than that, I think the chemistry with my band was really important to me. I felt like we were in sync in a different way. My manager has been my manager for a while, and just seeing the crowds that came each night, we would just look at each other and be like, “Hell yeah bro, we’re really doing this.” Moments like that were the highlights for sure.
LUNA: You’ve recently announced the Doobie Mouth Tour, which starts this monthl. Some shows you’ll be opening for Still Woozy, and the rest you’ll be headlining. How are you feeling going into it and what can we expect to see?
PAWPAW ROD: I feel super pumped about it. When I look at the flyer and see 30+ dates on there, it feels really cool just to look at. I’ve been sending it to old homies who have been rocking with me since before all of this, when I used to just talk about wanting to make music, and we’re really doing it now. I’m also trying to make sure that I eat good and exercise now to make sure my mental health is in order for nights when I’m playing back to back shows. I’m just trying to make sure that I keep my head on straight and give the tour everything I have. Some of these markets will be my first time hitting them, and I believe in first impressions. I feel like my shows have felt like a family reunion, you may see people you know, you’ll meet a lot of people that you don’t.
LUNA: When you mentioned first impressions, how do you go about that to break that fan to artist barrier?
PAWPAW ROD: Just realizing that it’s an exchange, we both have an obligation to each other. I’m here to provide a vibe, and you guys are here to react to the vibe. Let’s dance, and let’s do this- that’s kind of the tone I try to set. I like moments of silence during shows just to see what happens, when you allow the silence somebody always says something.
LUNA: Any final messages to your fans who will be reading this?
PAWPAW ROD: I appreciate the ears, I appreciate the eyes, I appreciate the word of mouth. You telling folks about it, it means a lot to me. As I like to always say, much love to you and yours.
