Unsigned518 - Episode 234 - Aidan Faiella

[00:00:01] Speaker A: He was born on a Saturday in [00:00:03] Speaker B: 73 he loves punk rock music fighting [00:00:06] Speaker A: the 13 jabbing the dazzle Jazz rock Now on the beat guitar with a short wind radio bat his motherfucking. [00:00:16] Speaker B: Andy Scrolling. [00:00:19] Speaker A: Look at motherfucker. [00:00:20] Speaker B: Cuz here he comes Andy Scrolling wearing his orange hat welcome to you unsung signed 518. I'm here with Aiden Faela. Did I pronounce that right? [00:00:33] Speaker A: Faila. [00:00:33] Speaker B: Yeah, close enough, close enough. I remember when we first met, you had to tell me your last name like 30 fucking times. Because I was like, wait, what is it again? How do you spell it? What is it? What is it? But anyway, we are gonna just again, just start talking. We both have. Have coffees. We just went down to kickstart. We are going to talk about music or pictures or your process or literally something kind of anything. We've already been talking a little bit, but we met at the Annie in the Water show. [00:01:05] Speaker A: Yes. [00:01:06] Speaker B: At Empire Live. And like the big room at Empire Live, they had their. Their show there and you were covering it and I was covering it for Metroland. And that's how we met. So I guess a natural way to start would be kind of, how did you become Annie's official photographer or videographer, you know, media guy. [00:01:29] Speaker A: We're settling on a. On a for the title because it has just evolved into something kind of wonderful. You know, it's a very long story short. You know, I think that my whole, like, oh, God, my voice is cracking. [00:01:42] Speaker B: My whole little Peter Brady action. [00:01:44] Speaker A: Well, you know, it's because, like, I. You try to think about what you're going to say before you say it. Do you. I don't know. I don't know filter there. But, you know, everything that I do, I feel like in my life has just been a very. Can you hear the dog's toy? [00:01:59] Speaker B: Yeah, Probably Calvin sitting right next to him. [00:02:02] Speaker A: I love this BFFs now. And he's like, don't touch my fox. Okay. Sorry, bud. Anyways, everything in my life just feels so connected. So one of my primary clients is Frog Alley Brewing in Schenectady. And the girls that run Frog Alley, their mother owns a yoga studio. And the yoga studio is one of my clients. So every September they have a retreat. So September 2025, their retreat, they had an astrologer there. And they told me about this and I was like, okay, like, cool, whatever. [00:02:35] Speaker B: Was it a musical astrologer? [00:02:36] Speaker A: It was a musical astrologer. It was Michael Lashome, who's the guitarist and one of the singers in Annie [00:02:44] Speaker B: in the Water and practically my neighbor. [00:02:46] Speaker A: Practically your neighbor. He lives right down the road about [00:02:48] Speaker B: a mile and a half from here. [00:02:49] Speaker A: Also connected by Kickstart. So see where I'm going with this? Everything is connected. [00:02:53] Speaker B: And when I met Michael for the very first time, I was walking on the tow path in downtown Schuylerville with my wife and Calvin, and we bumped into. Hi, bud. And we bumped into Michael on the trail, and we knew, you know, we knew each other visually, and that's how we met. And then literally, I was like, dude, you should come do the podcast. And he was like, what are you doing today? Nothing. Let's go record a podcast. [00:03:18] Speaker A: Love that. [00:03:19] Speaker B: That's how we met. [00:03:19] Speaker A: Love that, dude. So, you know, they were like, all right, this astrologer's coming. And I was at a point in my life where, you know, I was really grasping at any straws to understand what was going on in my personal life. Right. A lot of interesting transitions were happening at the time. So I was like, all right, maybe I'll get my stars, read, whatever, Go into this room. And it's me and Michael just sitting there. And I just felt like he has this presence that just makes you feel so at ease. He's a very calm, kind soul. [00:03:49] Speaker B: You feel like you've known him, like. And it's again when the very first time we met, we were talking like old friends that hadn't seen each other in a while. [00:03:58] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:03:58] Speaker B: And, like, my wife was like, oh. Like, how long have you known him? And I was like, I've never met that dude. And she was like, are you serious? [00:04:05] Speaker A: Yeah. He's just got this. He just makes you feel at ease. And, you know, I've never really. It's not that I don't believe in horoscopes and astrology. It's just like, I've never. I always was like, oh, if I sign up for something, they're going to look into me. I never met this guy. He knew nothing about me. He didn't even know I was going to be their capture retreat, so read my cards out. And I was like, dude, you're great. Like, let's connect and make something. And he's like, oh, you know, I'm in this band. Whatever, whatever. And I had heard of Annie in the Water by the Hurricane Helene event that was in Lake George. It was like a fundraiser for Hurricane Helene, like, the year before or whatever. Maybe it was a couple months before. So I kind of knew of who Annie in the Water was. And I Was like, sure. He's like, my band's playing at Lark hall next month. Let's come out and take some stuff. Okay. Okay, Cool. Went out to the show fall of 2025 and took some content. Really met all the guys. It was cool. Cool. And then didn't hear from him for four months. And it was like, not a bad thing. It was just like, okay. This was a passing, fleeting thing. We talked on Instagram a little bit. I have a little docuseries project called the People Project, which I should interview you for one of these days. [00:05:15] Speaker B: Sure. [00:05:16] Speaker A: When we aren't crazy busy with other. But. So I was trying to get Michael on that never really lined up. And again, I was going through another transition in my life in winter of 2026. And he calls me up one day and he's like, hey. I'm like, hey, what are you doing next week? And I'm like, I don't really know. Nothing. And he's like, come to Maine with us. And I'm like, what? So the band had a leg of their spring tour and we went up to Maine and New Hampshire and just did like three, three shows. Sat in a van with these guys for hours on end. And I think we just realized that the way that we storytell through our craft was really aligned. My whole thing is being authentic, the most authentic version of yourself. Like, I wanna capture you as you are. Not overproduced. Not all this stuff, just this cinematic view from where I'm sitting of who you are. Because I just feel like I've always looked at things from a little bit of a different angle, you know, my whole life. And we'll get into that. But to finish the Annie in the Water story. Went on tour with them and then now I'm kind of like their creative director and we're just doing all of this stuff now. I'm doing some admin stuff because my life experience before I did this full time was HR and operations. I was. I was an HR director for seven years, which is kind of crazy, but, you know, so I kind of. I'm just jack of all trades in it with them now. And, you know, we've been. We started the fall tour and we're going to be playing a couple of shows in the Northeast over the next couple of months. And it's just beautiful. And now I can't imagine my life without any of those guys. [00:06:48] Speaker B: And then that morphed. Did that kind of more into the kickstart thing. Right. [00:06:53] Speaker A: So the world is just so crazy [00:06:56] Speaker B: connected and that's how we connected, reconnected again. Because you were like, yeah, I'm going up to this town called Schuylerville, the dad Kickstart. And I'm like, oh, you mean the place that's two miles from my house? [00:07:07] Speaker A: For real? So Kickstart happened because my friend Adriana, who's a bartender at Frog Alley, she used to go to Kickstart all the time. And I kept hearing about it, kept seeing it on social media. I'm like, this place is cool as hell. I need to take the drive. Went up for my birthday last year. And then, you know, kept popping in. Jamie and I were loosely connected. I wanted to work with them. And then Michael really helped connect us. Cause he was like, dude, work with Aiden. So in June, Jamie and I started getting closer and working together, and we just really meshed our styles. And now I'm apparently working with Kickstarter [00:07:40] Speaker B: and they're on the, like, precipice of going fucking huge. Because, you know, the location that they're at now on Ferry street is, you know, for. I mean, it's fucking. It's small. You know what I mean? I mean, no two ways about. It's a small little place. And in like a week, right. October 4th or something, they were talking [00:08:00] Speaker A: about, well, I mean, we're aiming for October 3rd to open. And Jamie and all the guys that are working in the construction are such hustlers. Like, I admire their vision and tenacity. It's gonna be a monumental place for this area. And I'm not just saying that. Cause they're my client. Like, it's beautiful in there. In every cor. Is perfectly curated because Jamie actually gives a crap. [00:08:21] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:08:21] Speaker A: And it's. And. And you know, his business partner Ray, like, all the guys that work there, like, everybody cares so deeply about the experience people have in their coffee shop from literally roasting the hand, roasting the beans. [00:08:32] Speaker B: Well, that was the thing, like. Cause I got the tour of the new location and I mean, he literally. And when I saw it, you know, was two weeks ago. Like, it's not. Not an empty room, but, you know, it's a construction site or whatever. But, like, as you're going around, like, you could see that, like, J literally had what was gonna be there in his eyesight, you know, because you'd be like, oh, then this is gonna be the booth here. Then we're gonna put this over here. Over here. It looks so good. [00:08:59] Speaker A: You know, we've been taking content in the new space for a couple months now. Like, there's things that aren't released yet that you're gonna look at this and be like, holy crap, that's what it looked like before it was painted. Like, you know, we were capturing the whole thing. And. And also, I will say it's beautiful that I get to do that with so many businesses, because I've worked with a couple businesses that are starting a new location or, like, opening and stuff like that. So seeing something from, like, the precipice of an idea to what it becomes is just the most beautiful part about what I get to do. [00:09:23] Speaker B: And you get to be a part of the story, and I get to [00:09:25] Speaker A: be a part of the story, which, like, I never really put myself in that position until I started doing this, like, full time, getting to know these people, because I always tell everybody, you know, I'm not in this to make a million dollars. I want to pay my mortgage and feed my dog. And those are. That's true, you know, and I want to be affordable and approachable. And just, like, I think that with my work, I give 110% of myself to my people. And it's like, you're not hiring a marketing professional. You're not hiring a photographer, a manager, or any of this stuff. You're, like, gaining a teammate. And that's just, like, the beautiful part about the relationships that I've built, because, like, I do consider Jamie one of the people in my close circle. Right. You know, like, we talk about things that aren't Kickstart all the time. And, you know, I remember going back to Kickstart and seeing the vision sitting on a bag of coffee beans or like, this random backseat that he had from his Jeep in the. In the basement. There's no furniture down there, and we're just sitting on his couch, and he's showing me the computer, and he's like, what do you think about this table? He's like, how wide do you think this is? Like, getting to, like, put together someone's passion and work with them from the ground up is the most beautiful part about my job that I think that, like, so many. And, like, listen, I'll be very real with you. I admire people's work. This industry is very dog eat dog. I never viewed it like that. [00:10:49] Speaker B: No, no, no. [00:10:50] Speaker A: I think that, like, it's beautiful that, you know, if I'm working, you know, I'm Frog Alley Brewing, for example. I am their house marketing person. I do their photo video. I'm at a concert. I see someone else come up next to me, like, there's so many amazing people in the industry, like Claude Sawyer. Like, he does a lot of the. The photos and stuff down in that area. You know, I'm welcoming their talent and I'm welcoming their creative. Like, there's no competition for me. [00:11:12] Speaker B: I've always said there's room for everybody. [00:11:14] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:11:15] Speaker B: It's not a competition. And the more. The more art there is, the more creatives there are, the better a scene is going to be. And that's why I think the scene really fucking works, is because everybody works well together. [00:11:30] Speaker A: And more even, like, a little deeper than that, if I may. Like, the more beautiful the world is because, like, we live in such a dystopian society. Like, you know, like, when I did HR and operations, I worked in a movement politics organization that was, like, trying to, like, help people. And, like, that kind of burnt me out. And I was like, no, I need to do what I love full time. That propelled me into this, but it's like, there's no competition. It's just so beautiful seeing, like, you know, all of these places and people live their dreams. I think that's, like. It sounds corny, but, like, that's what wakes me up every day, you know? [00:12:05] Speaker B: So, I mean, it reminds me, like, you know, we were talking earlier, like, when we were down at the cafe, like, about how you love to create. And I'm like, the same way. Like, I've always felt like I just need to create something, you know, create art, rather. And, like, it just reminds me of that band Descendants have a line that has always stuck with me, and it's. I just gotta create. It doesn't matter how I do it. [00:12:28] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:29] Speaker B: And like, that's like, I know you feel it. And, like, I feel that too sometimes where I'm like, I don't care if it's putting a fucking puzzle together. You know what I mean? Like, sometimes I just need to get that out of my system. [00:12:41] Speaker A: I have a very hard time putting the camera down. And, you know, I put that little camera I wanted to show you because I brought it in. I bought that camera because I wanted something small that I can carry with me in, like, the grocery store, because I'll, like, walk down an aisle and I'll be like, wow, this is a really beautiful framed box of beats. I don't know, like, you know what I mean? I just want to take a picture of it. And, like, you know, I listen to the songs, like, you look at my Spotify, and a lot of it is Annie in the Water, mostly because Like, I listen to their music a lot because I try to get ideas, like, for posts and stuff like that. And, like, I just. Ever since I can remember listening to music, I could close my eyes and just see a music video. And, like, my brain works like that. I don't know if I necessarily believe in it, but I think I have synesthesia. You know what I mean? Like, I actually listen to music, and I, like, see colors, which also. I'm ironically colorblind, which is very ironic for my profession. I can't see reds and greens. Well, that's a long story that we won't necessarily get into. But basically, the cones in my eyes were damaged. When I went to a Habitat for Humanity trip to Harlan County, Kentucky, in 2011, I got this, like, we had to bathe in a lake. It was very interesting. [00:13:47] Speaker B: Yeah, it sounds like a fucking HBO documentary. I have stories, but, like, 2011, Harlem [00:13:54] Speaker A: County, I came home and I got. I had Iritis, which actually damages the cones in your eyes. I swear. Like, sunglasses. I was Ray Charles for, like, a month and a half. Inside, outside, I could. The light hurt my eyes. And ever since then, I haven't been able to see. Right. [00:14:09] Speaker B: So that's fucked up. [00:14:11] Speaker A: Yeah, man. It's interesting. You know, I think that, like, the way that I approach my art and, you know, we were talking a little bit about this is, like, I'm not [00:14:18] Speaker B: professionally trained, which surprised the shit out of me because, like, when we. You know, when we were talking, because I'm making music videos now for local bands, and, you know, obviously, I'm guerrilla. I was like, oh, I'm guerrilla style. Like, I'm completely untrained. I'm, like, kind of fucking learning this as I go. And you're like, I taught myself. I was like, what? Like, I honestly thought that you were like, yeah, I have a degree from whatever. [00:14:41] Speaker A: You know, I actually never went to college. I mean, I went to college for, like, a semester, and then, like, met this girl on Tumblr and moved to Massachusetts. But that's a whole different podcast. Like, you know, it's. Yeah, I think I've always just loved it. I would steal my mom's digital camera off her china cabinet and just take a walk. [00:15:01] Speaker B: I'm older. I was. I would do VHS, you know, because this is back in, like, the mid-80s when I was a teenager. I had that. We had this huge fucking camcorder with VHS tape, and I would try to make edits with vhs. And it was. It was tough, you know, but so [00:15:19] Speaker A: I. Yeah, so I would do that, and I would take pictures of my friends. And, like, I just, you know, I was friends with a lot of people, and I had such an interesting experience when I was in high school. I was a drama kid. I was, you know, you know, theater, band, chorus. But I also played every sport under the sun. So I would just had so many different friends from different walks of life. And I would go to shows. Like, I had friends that were in screamo bands. Like, I had friends in all bands, like pop punk. Like, we would just go to shows, and I just met so many people. I started working at Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut. It's a very. I don't know if you ever heard of Toad's Place. [00:15:49] Speaker B: I haven't. [00:15:49] Speaker A: It's like a. [00:15:50] Speaker B: The only thing I know about New Haven is Sally's Pizza. [00:15:53] Speaker A: Oh, God. You're a Sally's fan. Pepe's is the way to go. [00:15:56] Speaker B: See, I've never been. I've never been to either that. I have a buddy who lives here, but he's from New Haven originally, and when he goes home, he always gets Sally's Pizza and brings it back. [00:16:08] Speaker A: It's very good pizza. [00:16:09] Speaker B: It's very good pizza. [00:16:10] Speaker A: But I did, like, teching, so, like, I would do, like, stagehanding at the venue, and I did a couple shows and, like, learned how to do that. And then, I don't know, one day I just picked up a camera and was like, I want to do this. And I started taking pictures of my friends. I started out in, like, weddings and, like, all the random stuff people kind of started out in. I worked for a magazine for a little bit. I did New York Fashion Week. And then I was like, you know what? I think I want to. The Pandemic morphed me into business. Businesses mostly, because everything shut down. I wasn't getting gigs. I was working full time, doing this on the side. And then I realized that I knew a lot of people that own businesses. So I started this docu series called the Pandemic Project. And I interviewed people from all walks of life. Tattoo artists, nurses, gym owners, like, bakery owners, like, all this stuff. And just, like, was trying to get content going for them and talking to them, where they were coming from and how the Pandemic was treating them. And I met a lot of people because I'm not from this area. I'm from Connecticut. You know, I moved here about almost 10 years ago, and. Which is also crazy to say, which we talked about time and how that happens, but so Then I. Yeah, I don't know. It just kind of morphed into working with businesses. And now, like, businesses are about 85% of my clients. You know, some documentary work on the side of the music stuff. But I just love telling the story, and I think that, like, places are much more than meets the eye, and [00:17:41] Speaker B: that's really neat and, you know, capturing, like, places through the, like. One thing that's always confused me about a camera, and I want to know how you approach it now that I know that you didn't have, like, formal training is, like, when you're trying to learn. Like, even just looking down at the camera here and seeing, you know, all the. All the different settings on it. Like, how do you approach that technical side to make it art? You know what I mean? Cause technical and art are usually fairly different. Cause one is, like, you have to do it exactly this way, and one is, you do it whichever way you want. [00:18:17] Speaker A: I think that there's a lot of things. It's hard to answer this question because I consider myself a lot of a guerrilla shooter, too, because I don't really follow the standard that everybody says if you're gonna shoot, you have to use a gimbal, make it nice and smooth. But I want people to feel in the. So I shoot handheld, like, 90% of the time. And, you know, I look down and I'm like, okay, I know that, like, the graphs and the zebras and all this, like, technical language. It's like, it has to be here because you don't want it, like, blown out. You want the exposure, right? And, like, when I shoot video, I shoot on a cinema camera, which has 8,000 more dials than that one. But it's like, I just kind of learned by doing, like, I just did it. I don't know. Like, it's so hard because answering this question, because it's like, okay, I know, like, the technical range. Things should be in exposure rate, stuff like that. And then I was just like, well, full send. Let's try this. And now, you know, I create my own LUTs. So LUTs, lookup table. It's how you edit video. And I create my own presets, my own luts for, like, different environments, which helps me, like, dole out my work pretty quick, because I have a really quick turnaround. Like, it's. And I don't know. I just. I've made my own language, I guess. [00:19:29] Speaker B: And I mean, I. I guess I understand that, but the. The cinematic camera, because I was telling you again, like, where I'm making videos with my. My creative partner, Lonnie. And, like, he handles the. The camera, and it's a cinematic camera. And the reason he. I've literally only picked up the camera fucking once, and it was to be like, wow, this looks cool and expensive. Here you go. You know, but, like, seeing what he goes through with, like, the settings of, like, the exposure and this and that, it just, to me, being, like, I guess, ignorant to what it takes, it feels like it would stifle that creativity. But I'm someone that gets very frustrated with technical shit that I don't understand. [00:20:12] Speaker A: Yeah, I get it. I think that as long as you have some of the foundational things down. For example, my lenses, I use ND filters, which are basically sunglasses for the lens. So if it's sunny outside, it's not gonna blow out your background. A lot of the corrections can come in post. I think as long as your aud is good and you're not blowing out your picture. I don't know. So many people get stuck in the weeds, truthfully. So many people get very, like, frustrated and hung up on. Like, it needs to be perfectly exposed, it needs to be perfectly this, it needs to be perfectly that. And I kind of, like, obviously agree, and it comes very natural to me now. So it's very hard to explain or teach how I necessarily do it. But, like, I think what's just always been beautiful for me is like, focusing on the story, focusing on the person, [00:20:56] Speaker B: because it almost feels like perfection is. [00:21:01] Speaker A: Perfection is the killer of creativity. [00:21:03] Speaker B: Yeah. Like, it's stifling creativity because it's one thing that you're going for, and that's not what fucking art is. You know what I mean? That's what a copier is. [00:21:11] Speaker A: Yeah. And in my. You know, when I say that I make my own presets, my own luts, my own way I edit. It's like all of my clients basically have their own style. So, like Frog Alley, for example. Right. We talk about what the brand looks like. When I started working with them, it's a little bit moodier. You know, they have that industrial feel. [00:21:28] Speaker B: It looks very cinematic. It looks like cinematic. [00:21:31] Speaker A: Yeah, it looks very cinematic. Whereas, you know, frame rate even looks very smooth movement. Thank you. Thank you. I mean, and then you have somewhere, like, kickstart that those guys want you to feel like you're exactly in there. So it's like a little bit jerkier, like, you know, camera motion, like, and it just works for their brand. So it's like, I don't even do the same thing for every client. And it's kind of like, crazy. I kind of keep a catalog in my brain of like, okay, I'm shooting here today. This is how it's gonna be. I'm shooting there today. This is how it's gonna be. This is what they want it to look like. And it's also, like, shoulder to shoulder with people, like, hey, this is my edit. What do think of this? And, like, people that don't have the language for, like, what they like, for example, if you're editing something this way and they're like, I don't know what it's called, but I want it to look like this. We work together, like. And I think that's also the killer of creativity, is people thinking that their way is the only way you can do it. And that's not how I am as a human, you know? [00:22:23] Speaker B: Yeah, me either. Because that's how you learn. That's how you learn, like, almost everything. I mean, literally everything that anybody has ever learned, they learn from somebody else. I mean, unless it's, like, via experience. But I mean, you know, you learn from other people and you create your own way, but that doesn't mean it's the only way. Especially with art. There's no fucking right way. [00:22:44] Speaker A: No way. And I'll jump in the crowds like, you know, with Annie, or, like, even a show at Frog. Like, last week they had the Warped Tour bandit Frog. And it was like a. Just a band that played all, like, covered. It was very good. Everybody gets into it. There was like, a mosh pit. I'm in the mosh pit with, like, a 10 millimeter lens, just, like, getting the action, like, jerking around. And, like, if I want to always. My goal is to create something that makes someone feel something. Whether it's a wedding. I just shot my cousin's wedding on Sunday. Whether it's like, crying, seeing someone that you grew up with, like, walk down the aisle with their partner, or, you know, reliving the moments of, like, this awesome concert that they went to. Like, it's just always trying to make someone feel something, but I don't even have to. And, like, this is not. I'm not a conceited person. I'm very humble. But, like, it's like, that's the most rewarding thing for me. It's because I'm not even trying. And that's why I feel like I'm successful, is because I genuinely just care. [00:23:40] Speaker B: Right? [00:23:40] Speaker A: And so many people do this for, like, what I'm learning as I Get older is so many people are in this industry to, like, make money or they're like, oh, I can upcharge, or all this stuff. And it's like, again, if I could pay my mortgage and feed my dog, I want to make someone feel something. And that's what wakes me up every day. [00:23:57] Speaker B: Yeah. And I mean, that's why I do this. [00:24:00] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:24:00] Speaker B: You know, like, I'm. This is, you know, episode 300 something. [00:24:04] Speaker A: Wow. [00:24:05] Speaker B: 300 and I don't know, I can't remember, like, but total episodes that I've done. Numbered episodes. It's only 220something. [00:24:12] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:24:12] Speaker B: I've got, you know, the weekend spotlight or special episodes. I think I'm 328episodes. And I get paid fucking zero to do this. And, like, the reason I do it. And, like, sometimes people don't believe me. I do it for the bands. Like, if I. If my, like, tenacity and outwardness can help your band or your musician or, you know, then that's why I do it. Like, I want to just help people. I get to. [00:24:42] Speaker A: And it's a beautiful way to be creative because, like, you know, you have the industry background of, like, talking to people. [00:24:48] Speaker B: I've always. I mean, I've been in radio. You know, my first radio job was 1993. [00:24:54] Speaker A: That was the year after I was born. [00:24:56] Speaker B: Fantastic. Go yourself. But, yeah, that was like my first radio job. And, like, I've always just wanted my own radio show that didn't have to stick to any FCC rules. Like, if I wanted to say, I can just say it. [00:25:12] Speaker A: Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, exactly. [00:25:15] Speaker B: So, like, that's why I'm doing this, because I have a radio station in my house, essentially, if I really look at it. Yeah. [00:25:21] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, you saw the Dazzle Dan Dazzle Den, man. I. I listen, I look at you differently now, but it's. [00:25:28] Speaker B: But yeah. So I. Nothing makes me happier than talking to people, what we're doing right now. [00:25:33] Speaker A: And I think that, like, that's the exact same sentiment and feeling that, like, I'm saying that I do that. It's why I do it. Right. It's cause you just want to connect with people. And like, at the end of the day, you know, we were talking earlier about how, like, time is flying. Time flies. Like, life flies. Like, you know, it felt like yesterday I was sitting again to bring back from the story earlier in the basement of the new kickstart. Like, oh, my God, is this gonna be able to open in a couple weeks? And now they're opening. And it's like time is just what is it? And I think that that's why it's important to center the stories and the amazing things that people are doing, whether it's telling their story on a podcast or telling their story through visuals, everything is so instant gratification these days. And I think that people really struggle to tell their story. And it's really interesting because, like, even look at Annie. Like, these guys have been around 20 years. Like, Michael and Brad have been around 20 years. [00:26:30] Speaker B: I remember, I remember them as an acoustic duo in Saratoga, you know, and [00:26:35] Speaker A: they're just like, ridiculously talented. And, you know, they make me feel very special all the time. But, like, I truly think that this is the missing piece. Is now, like, telling their story in a consistent visual way that gets their name out there. Because, like, not even being conceited, this band is definitely gonna make like some Billboard list in the next five years. [00:26:59] Speaker B: Oh, sure. [00:26:59] Speaker A: Like, their new stuff is incredible. [00:27:01] Speaker B: The. I mean, even. What is it right here, right now? Here right now or here right now? Yeah. Intro to that song. [00:27:08] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:27:09] Speaker B: Like, that's a national hit. [00:27:10] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:27:11] Speaker B: Like, why isn't that a national hit? Like, even just the. That intro to those keys. [00:27:16] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Matt Richards on the case. [00:27:19] Speaker B: So good. [00:27:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:27:20] Speaker B: So tight. And it morphs into such a great structured song. Like, that should be in the fucking top 100 Billboard hits right now. [00:27:30] Speaker A: It's really interesting. It's interesting because, you know, the way that the music industry is, it's like so saturated, right? And I think they're doing the right things. I think that, like, we're just getting into more places and bigger rooms and different festivals. We were just in Colorado for a three show stint, which was wonderful. It was so cool. Calvin says it's great. [00:27:52] Speaker B: Calvin just for some reason poked up when you said Colorado, Calvin, you want [00:27:57] Speaker A: to go to Colorado? [00:27:57] Speaker B: He's like, yeah, maybe. [00:28:02] Speaker A: But like, yeah, it was crazy to see, like, the national fan base that these guys have. So I think it's just putting it out there. We're doing a couple music videos. I think that'll really hit. We've gotten truthfully. And this is the interesting thing is being on the marketing end of things. It's like seeing the analytics for all of the businesses that I work with, the impressions. Like, I always tell people likes don't matter. Like, you know, you get a hundred likes on something, but people are just [00:28:27] Speaker B: scrolling through it, right? [00:28:28] Speaker A: Like, I like things all the time that I don't. [00:28:31] Speaker B: I like things just to like help the person I put. You know what I mean? [00:28:36] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:36] Speaker B: Like, there's a lot of times when I'm like, oh, that, you know, like that I like that person. I'm gonna like that. [00:28:40] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:41] Speaker B: And I don't even really notice what the content is. [00:28:43] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think like, you know, it's the impressions, like when you look into it a little bit more because I do the SEO marketing, I do that type of stuff. [00:28:50] Speaker B: Again, how long they're looking at it, are they engaging? [00:28:53] Speaker A: Ye. [00:28:54] Speaker B: Which is crazy. [00:28:55] Speaker A: Dude. [00:28:56] Speaker B: I see. I, I did that, I did. My previous job was social media manager. So like I, It's a lot. I'm. Yeah, it's a lot. And I was trained like in like the SEO and then this and that. And now that's why I don't like for myself. I'm like, I don't even care. [00:29:13] Speaker A: Well, I, I am bad at posting on my own pages. That's because I, I manage so many. [00:29:17] Speaker B: I'm getting, I'm getting worse and yeah, and it's, I'm liking it more. I'm like, now I'll just do a, you know, because. But again, I, if it wasn't for the guests that I have on my podcast, I wouldn't post at all. I get that like I'm posting to be like, hey, go listen to what this interesting person is talking. [00:29:35] Speaker A: And I mean 90% of my work is word of mouth. But so like I'll post on my stories because all my clients post my content. But I like, I need to start getting better. But that's, you know, beside the fact what I was saying, I think because now I forgot was, yeah, all kind of self taught and like, kind of. You know, I do a lot of research. I kind of nerd out. Like my days off, I'm like watching videos on how to be better, reading things, doing courses for certifications. And I've been doing this now, the business marketing side of it for like five years. You know, like I learned what works and what doesn't work. And I try to help people like understand the analytics and understand what they're doing. And you know, it's actually, you know, for frog, for example, like we see people come in the doors like all the time and we're like, hey, how'd you hear about us? Like, hey, it's a great. Thanks for coming in. And they're like, oh yeah, we saw this video. And I'm like, that's cool. Like that means that what we're doing, that's real life. [00:30:28] Speaker B: Because like, in the end, what matters like for a business is butts and seats. And you know what I mean? Like, you can have social media and people can like it and you can have something go fucking viral. But if they're not coming to your restaurant or to your bar or to your brewery or to your show, then it doesn't fucking matter. [00:30:47] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, yeah. And it's like, it's so beautiful because I work with people that I gel with. I believe in like, I wanna work with someone and I believe in what you do and grateful that all my clients fall into that category and all of them really just wanna make a difference in their area. And I work with, like, I think I mentioned it earlier, like restaurants, yoga studios, bars, bands. Like, I'm all over the spectrum and everybody was. Is like either a family owned thing that wants to make it work or has like such a passion for their craft. And that fuels me to be excited about it, you know, so it's wonderful. But yeah, I think that the most important thing is like, people just don't stop creating and you don't need a, you don't need a me. I mean, listen, I'm grateful for everybody that chooses to work with me. Like, that will never, you know, not entertain a conversation. It's just like, I think I just wish more people would get out there and create and see the beauty in, in doing it. I don't care. You know, my mom posts cell phone pictures of ladybugs she sees on plants and she's like, it's not a, it's not a your caliber photo. I was like, stop that. It's beautiful. And you stop to see the beauty in it. And that's amazing. [00:32:02] Speaker B: The experience is what makes it cool. The picture is just kind of like your own reminder that. Yeah, beauty fucking every, like fucking everywhere. [00:32:10] Speaker A: Everywhere. And everybody has, everybody has a story. And that sounds so cliche and so overcooked, but like, it's over real, man. [00:32:18] Speaker B: Yeah, cliches didn't come out of, you know, cliches are cliches because they're overused because they're fucking true. [00:32:24] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, it's, it's, it's a beautiful thing. And like I, you know, if anybody that's listening to this checks out my stuff, I hope that you check out the businesses that I work with and go to an Annie show. You know, we're playing Albany in November. I think it's November 14th for Lark Hall. Come check us out. Like it, you know, whether you like keys or, you know, the lyrics or whatever. Like, you know, if you drink beer, go to Frog Alley. You know, like, if you like Italian food, there's a million places like Johnny's in Schenectady. Like, and I'm not trying to plug places. I'm just being genuine. Like, there are so many incredible places outside of our front door in the Capital Region that I just truthfully, like, hope people open their horizons. [00:33:06] Speaker B: And it's also. It's wild that it's one of the only areas that I can think of where there's three, at least three, like, separate, distinct cities that all feel like one. [00:33:18] Speaker A: What do you think? [00:33:18] Speaker B: You know what I mean? Schenectady, Albany, Saratoga. [00:33:22] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:33:22] Speaker B: You know, like, those three separate areas that are, like, three distinct, far away from it. But, like, they. You know, if there's a show in Schenectady, I wouldn't. I'm not gonna think twice about driving there or a show in Albany or something. You know what I mean? It's. Yeah, they're separate, but they're so fucking close that there might as well just be then. That's why Capital Region is such a better. [00:33:42] Speaker A: Yeah. Rather than better way to put it. [00:33:45] Speaker B: Everything's close. [00:33:45] Speaker A: I've worked across the country, man. I've done stuff for people in California and, you know, Arizona, New York City, Florida. Like, there's nowhere like the Capital Region. And I think that, like, people, I'm one of them, take it for granted when you live here. And, you know, Schenectady has always gotten a bad rap, I guess. I don't know. I live in Rotterdam, so I. But it's like, I'm even making this coming up, man. [00:34:11] Speaker B: Schenectady's great. I just did an event at Proctors, and walking downtown, I was like, man, like this. It's, you know, it's a great, like, clean city. It's nice. [00:34:21] Speaker A: It's very diverse, too. And I think that, you know, talking to, like, the people that run Frog, it's like, you know, they used to do a brewery program with suny. Like, they used to, like, you know, do the brewing program. And, like, people would brew their beer and stuff like that, and they would teach the kids how to brew. And it's like, you know, you have the college right there, so you have people that are learning how to be whatever in their careers, and then they walk downtown and get a beer, get a martini or whatever. That's how it should be. And I think that, like, what is it, six years post pandemic, our world is trying that's crazy to say. [00:34:57] Speaker B: That is crazy to say. [00:34:58] Speaker A: Our world is kind of starting to open up and really embrace a new normal. But, like, that is weird to say. But, like, the new normal, I think, is just, like, trying new things. [00:35:12] Speaker B: I think we're trying to find our vibrance again. You know what I mean? [00:35:18] Speaker A: Yeah. I think that, like, there's. I don't know, man. I just like all the conversations that I have with these business owners and these. And, like, what they're trying to do, it's. It's beautiful because I think the vibrant. Vibrant is a good way to put it because they're just trying to add some sparkle in their corner of the world, and that's like the most beautiful. I can't ask for anything else. You know what I mean? I fill my days with people that just want to do good in their industry, and that. That makes me feel like a whole human. [00:35:45] Speaker B: Yeah, I love that. All right, well, I think we're gonna. Gonna kind of wrap it up. But before we go, just where can. Can people find you? [00:35:54] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. So my name is Aiden Faella. You could find me on Instagram at Fayella Studios. F A I E L L A Studios. You know, I need to keep up my website better, but Instagram's probably the best way. So if anybody's listening and they want to create, create something beautiful, like, please reach out, like. Or if you just want to talk. I don't know. I'm a yapper, clearly. [00:36:16] Speaker B: Okay. All right, cool. Yeah, you got it. All right, so he is Aiden Fayella. [00:36:22] Speaker A: That was a good catch. [00:36:24] Speaker B: I just dropped my zoom, but he [00:36:26] Speaker A: caught it with his foot, which is really tough. [00:36:28] Speaker B: I'm amazing and I'm. This is unsigned 518. I'll see you on the road. [00:36:34] Speaker A: Peace out. [00:36:35] Speaker B: Unsigned 518 is produced and hosted by me, Andy Scullin, who has episodes are available every week wherever you stream podcasts. If you'd like to help support the show, please like and subscribe wherever you are listening. Or you could buy me a [email protected] unsigned 518 if you would like to advertise on the show, send me an [email protected] and to be a guest on the show, reach out to me through Instagram at unsigned518. Take care of one another and I'll see you next week.