Calvero Speaks

This is the first of a monthly series I'm planning! This is all about my song Tell Me I'm Pretty. If you would like to watch/hear the full 40 minute episode, join my Patreon community! Full episode includes: the backstory of thousands of incels calling me ugly on tiktok, causing me to write the song. negative canthal tilt EXPLAINED! how the song was written and produced isolated "choi...

Today I'm talking about how to process receiving criticism or negative attention for your music or art, whether this has happened to you or you're afraid of experiencing it. Talking about how to take it in stride while also being kind and real with yourself. The difference between constructive criticism and straight up trolling, and why you shouldn't take the trolling too seriously! I...

Listen to/watch the rest of this premium episode as a video podcast by subscribing at https://www.patreon.com/calverosings On today's episode of the podcast, I'm talking about how my flop cycle has been broken w/ the release of my latest song! Some motivational words about how Flopping isn't Forever, but also getting real about how bittersweet it can feel if you're being driven by...

Join me on Patreon for a patron-exclusive monthly video episode of this podcast, plus new music, early release/exclusive videos, and more! https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Watch as a video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw I recently made my return to the stage for the first time in five years. I practiced a lot for it! Folks, it did not go well. Had some issues...

Listen to/watch the rest of this premium episode as a video podcast by subscribing at patreon.com/calverosings ! Talkin' about a lot of things today! Anxieties leading up to my first performance in five years and how that led to a breakthrough, my plans for future live shows, where my head’s at promoting the new album, trying to separate my ego from results, how I’m staying positive and excite...

Join me on Patreon for a patron-exclusive monthly video episode of this podcast, plus new music, early release/exclusive videos, and more! https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Watch as a video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw Your eyes are not deceiving you….we are BACK with a new episode of Calvero Speaks! On today’s episode I’m talking about how my perspective ha...

Today's episode is all about mental health! For anyone who is struggling, or maybe doesn't know what's wrong, I hope this helps. I'm breaking down what my mental health issues looked like, why I avoided getting help for so long, what the process was like to start going to therapy, and how it ultimately changed my life for the better! Being an artist and trying to build a career in...

We are BACK, baby! The plan is to turn this into a bi-weekly thing. In today's episode we're talking about how fear-based compulsion can hold you back, releasing/putting things out when it feels like no one’s watching, dealing with industry rejection and accepting a more independent path, learning how to define success for yourself outside of the industry, and many more things! Join me on...

Today we're going back to the first half of 2017, where my OCD, depression & anxiety was starting to manifest in strange ways. A testament to what our brains can convince ourselves of when our mental health is not under control. Talking about finding hope when things feeling hopeless, a reminder that your worst moments aren't permanent, finding growth through "failure," the source of our fear as a...

In today's episode, we're continuing the narrative, talking a lot about compulsions. The compulsion to put too much value in numbers & social media results when it comes to finding value in your art. The compulsion to feel like you have to listen to everything or know everything or consume the perfect art in order to be a good artist yourself. Exploring the question...do you need to know a lot...

Today we're continuing the narrative that we left off on "Leaving Chicago, pt. 2." Talking about healing, struggling with self acceptance, slowly getting back on my house, crossing over and beginning the process of learning how to record & produce on my own, making more songs in pursuit of the Calvero Sound how my first co-writes with Terror Jr on Atlantic Records came to be... plus, doing thi...

Today we’re talking about RIDING THE WAVE. Dealing with slumps/downturns and learning to keep where you’re at in perspective. The importance of focusing on your own process rather than number-centric goals. Musical obsessions & the lyricism of Tom Waits. Creating a physical space & world building for your creative work. The importance of cultivating and slow cooking. Taking incremental ste...

Today we’re talking about accepting your own path, the choices that you’ve made yourself, while also accepting the life unlived…the paths you didn’t take, the choices you didn’t make. We’re also talking about dealing with negativity, especially when other people seem to echo your own self destructive inner monologue. Getting through depressive episodes. Finishing things and letting them go. And mo...

In today's episode, I am finally getting back to the narrative of the pod and breaking down the mental & physical health issues I was struggling with that led me to leaving Chicago. This one may be a difficult listen but I decided to be as open as possible to show what can happen when you continue leaving mental health issues unaddressed...when you keep prioritize your work and your career as...

Hey hey, back at it! Today, among other things, we're talking about the discomfort that comes from asking for things, finding confidence in your path, finding value & self worth beyond clout & numbers, getting over depressive episodes, navigating the ups & downs of a creative career, the dangers of focusing too much on numbers & metrics .... as artists & creatives, we get a lot...

Alright, we're back!! Forgive the clickbaity title. Today we're talking about abandoning the concept of "following your dreams," something that's often tied to a capitalist fever dream of anxiously chasing the next level of success. This is all about accepting yourself, accepting your path, being present as an artist and as a person in the now, enjoying the process and thriving right now, instead...

In today's episode, among other rambles, we're talkin' about my journey into mixing my own music, accepting your own workflow without getting bogged down, the balance of creative and manual work that goes into making a piece of art, getting outside your comfort zone without SPIRALING, Tik Tok, why we can get so dependent on media, dealing with trolls, the art of letting go and much more! Join me o...

In today's episode, I begin telling the story of when I had to leave Chicago, starting with when I got publicly shamed on stage by a semi-famous comedian for singing an admittedly sub-par version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart." This two parter is hopefully a cautionary tale about what can happen when serious mental health issues are left ignored and unaddressed. Also talking about the dark side o...

Today's episode is about making my song When I Was Ur Love....also, among other things: why I think Nothing Compares 2 U is the greatest pop song of all time, how to be a better artist by listening for the details, why The Beatles' production was so revolutionary, the pressure of constantly using social media to cultivate our "personal brands", and most importantly remembering my friends Max Peren...

Today's episode is all about the songwriting & production behind Vanishing Streets! Plus general thoughts/rambles about songwriting, production and recording, finding your voice, and finding creative epiphanies through collaboration.  Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for the Calvero Newsletter: http://eep...

In The Muppet Movie, Kermit the Frog is on a quest to make it in show business...driven by the simple dream to make millions of people happy. Today I'm looking deeper into the questions: why do we make things? Why do we put things out into the world, and why can it be so hard to let things go? Looking into the tension between a drive to create a legacy, to make a mark, and the pure joy and happine...

Today (among other things) we’re talkin’ about self acceptance & defining success for yourself on your own terms, why we overextend ourselves, American Idol and our country’s narrative of winners & losers, aging in music, a documentary about the guy who wrote Boondock Saints and debunking the myth of “overnight success".... Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting...

Finishing off the Calvero Origins series! Among other things: finding your voice by eating shit publicly and often, giving yourself space to evolve and move from the dreams you had for yourself as a kid, springsteen, meat loaf, freddie mercury, letting go of a musical hero (Mark Kozelek) and exploring misogyny in music, writing VANISHING STREETS! Support me on patreon & get exclusive content a...

Taking a pause from the Calvero Origins series to talk about what to do, and how to move forward, when you feel like you've been left behind. At many times in my life, I've bought into the idea that there is an expiration for when you're able to "prove yourself" in your career (in my case music) and making your best work as an artist.  But, having an expiration date implies that you only get...

Continuing the Calvero Origins series, we backtrack a few years before the previous episode. I was taking a break from nonstop touring and was beginning to make some serious changes as a person. I was also starting to explore what else I could be in the music world outside of a "dude in a band." This is the story of how I went down the road of learning the crafts of studio work and being a co-writ...