(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Welcome to Peach Jam, studios in Midtown Atlanta, featuring songs and stories from a sampling of the truly diverse and incredibly talented musicians who call the Peach State home.

(funky music) On this episode, we'll meet the in-demand rock and roll organist, who happens to live in Columbus, Georgia.

(upbeat funky music) ♪ It's gotta be all right ♪ ethereal Celtic electro pop from Smyrna.

Irish Celtic music with pop and blues and jazz and rock.

- [Announcer] And we'll talk to an artist whose mom plays in the band.

around, a hundred percent.

up, soulful R&B hip hop with Atlanta's Rex Evans.

(slow music) ♪ Late night again ♪ ♪ Yeah, you know how that is ♪ ♪ Yeah, you know how it gets ♪ ♪ And you know where I been ♪ ♪ You know why I left ♪ ♪ And you know where I went ♪ ♪ You know who I came back to ♪ ♪ Ran it up and came back home ♪ ♪ Know why I came back through, yeah ♪ ♪ Know I came back in town for ya ♪ again double round for ya ♪ ♪ Shoot it up ♪ ♪ What's love got to do with it ♪ ♪ Nah, what's it got to do with love ♪ ♪ You ain't gotta tell the truth with me ♪ ♪ Just make sure that it's ♪ ever have a problem, holla ♪ in a grabba, I was ♪ go get the dollars ♪ talk to me proper ♪ then you came back lit ♪ to come back rich ♪ Okay, I'm Rex Evans.

south of Atlanta.

I make like a soulful R&B, soulful hip hop music, you know?

- I actually, I don't know.

R&B, soulful hip hop, what is that in your brain?

know, the classic, you know, that we kinda stick to.

of synths and stuff like that.

But with me, I have like a soulful voice and I have a soulful message.

music, I like to blend the two.

So hip hop, R&B, and a little bit of soul.

you know what I'm saying, that gets you going.

you gone make time for it ♪ you go and grind for it ♪ that's what got you here ♪ then it's a fine for it ♪ ♪ Know you say you tired of ♪ ♪ Being tied up ♪ just like Lauren taught us ♪ ♪ Don't make it harder ♪ ♪ You know love ain't even easy ♪ you are you tryna leave me ♪ ♪ I might go but I can't leave you alone ♪ you the reason I'm gone ♪ won't leave me alone ♪ the key when I'm gone ♪ ♪ Late night again ♪ ♪ Yeah, you know how that is ♪ ♪ Yeah, you know how it gets ♪ ♪ And you know where I been ♪ ♪ And you know why I left ♪ ♪ Do you know where I went ♪ ♪ You know who I came back to ♪ ♪ Ran it up and came back home ♪ ♪ Know why I came back through, yeah ♪ ♪ Know I came back in town for ya ♪ again double round for ya ♪ ♪ Shoot it up ♪ ♪ Shoot it up ♪ ♪ Double round for you ♪ ♪ Shoot it up ♪ been a part of my life.

bassist, writer, vocalist Atlanta groups, musicians, part of in Atlanta growing up.

- So, yeah, you mentioned your mom.

I mean, she was, she sang backup for TLC recordings and Monica and all kinds of stuff.

Plus doing her own music.

She was here with you today playing bass.

- [Rex] Yeah.

with your mom right there?

know what I'm saying?

So it's like anytime you're in a stressful you call for your mama you know what I'm saying?

You call your mama up, talk to ma.

She'll usually calm you down.

And just being able to turn around and see her right there playing, know what I'm saying?

It just kind of mellows you out.

So it's actually like a soothing feeling.

It really is.

around, a hundred percent.

- And she's literally backing you up.

- As you're doing it.

- Yeah.

gotta be very comforting see your mom smile at you while you're performing.

- Yes.

it's not so comforting, man.

She's really kind of drilling it in types of performances.

She's been a part of everything.

to be, how she wants it to be.

little bit the opposite.

stage, she's definitely.

- When you were a kid, coming to your house and hanging around?

with TLC and OutKast?

- Yeah, I mean, I've met basically everybody she's worked with.

about being babysat Beyonce and Destiny's Child 'cause she was doing some work for them.

And like going to the studio, running around with like Dallas Austin, running around with all these people what I'm a part of.

Just there trying to find some candy or like, can we go get some McDonald's?

You know what I'm saying?

♪ Yo ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ Yo ♪ ♪ Ain't settling down, I'm up activated ♪ even need a map to make it ♪ always be my mama's baby ♪ took whatever karma gave ♪ ♪ Whether it's good or bad ♪ ♪ Whether it's up or down ♪ ♪ Whether it's thick or thin ♪ ♪ Whether it's sun or shine ♪ ♪ Whether it's bus or Benz ♪ ♪ I'll be here standing on mine ♪ ♪ Been here from start to fin ♪ ♪ Imma rep this for life ♪ ♪ Ever since the jump to end ♪ ♪ I'm out here doubling up ♪ ♪ If I lose go double or nothing ♪ ♪ Stack it together extendos ♪ ♪ Like when was doubling dutches ♪ ♪ Extend this to my last bro ♪ ♪ Then I might go run it in crutches ♪ ♪ Can't quit, won't stop ♪ that had me disgusted ♪ yourself into something reflect and look at what's left, give your all to something.

talented, not naturally talented, yourself into something.

Like it teaches you a lot about yourself.

And music has done that for me.

A hundred percent.

- I think that's beautiful.

- Oh yeah.

Yeah, that's really nice.

give some credit to Beyonce - [Rex] Yeah, man, of course.

- Maybe she taught you these lessons.

at the Beyonce concert just the other day too, you know.

It really charged me up.

- Did you hold a sign that says, "Hey, you babysat me when I was a kid"?

- No, I was too far away.

She wouldn't have saw that sign, okay?

Look, that's how it would've been.

like to like flex who you are and who you're related to, babysitter at one time, up the phone and like- - Psh.

I think that lady is so far out.

calls get through, okay?

is in Jupiter right now, okay?

have to call her, her assistant, and her assistant assistant.

And then she gonna be like, "Who?

"When?"

it on your business card.

- A little fun fact.

- Yeah.

hundred percent, Beyonce.

If you see this, Beyonce, call us.

You know what I'm saying?

Long lost friends.

♪ Some more ♪ ♪ And how you feeling?

♪ ♪ I'm great, of course ♪ ♪ Had a steak on the side ♪ ♪ Baby, it wasn't even the main course ♪ ♪ I just keep on moving forward ♪ ♪ I let God open doors ♪ ♪ I ain't tripping ♪ ankles like Rick Owens ♪ ♪ I've been trying to keep the peace ♪ ♪ Yeah, you know me, I keep it coy ♪ ♪ I been trying to keep my feet ♪ ♪ And keep the pace and keep it going ♪ ♪ I've been trying to keep my head ♪ keep what's important ♪ take it but they can't ♪ ♪ I thank them, I thank the Lord Jesus ♪ ♪ Long as my heart beating of that ♪ up and like a comeback ♪ ♪ I ain't stop to win the score you ♪ ♪ Yo ♪ ♪ Hey, stop and win the score ♪ ♪ Even up it, gone be running ♪ ♪ Tell my son that we ain't ♪ ♪ Yo, hey ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ Okay, okay, okay ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ (slow music) music minister from Columbus live on British television.

it's Tom Jones," you know?

truly unique one-man band from Smyrna, IVEEN.

(slow music) - [Peter] GPB News has a daily podcast in our in-depth reporting that you won't hear anywhere else.

the Georgia Today podcast.

way to get the best of GPB's extensive coverage of the topics from across the state that matter to you device every weekday afternoon.

Subscribe at gpb.org/podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

(ethereal vocalizing) ♪ Orion ♪ ♪ Orion ♪ (vocalizing continues) (gentle music) (vocalizing and music continues) (vocalizing and music continues) (soft music) I'm from Smyrna, Georgia, and I play ethereal Celtic folk pop.

music that you would expect to come out of Smyrna, Georgia.

- Yeah.

- Like there's the Braves Stadium and the Jonquil City.

- Yep.

- And then Celtic folk pop.

- [IVEEN] Yep.

- How does that happen?

- Honestly, I don't really know.

How does anything happen?

But it's probably 'cause I grew up music and Celtic music 'cause my dad's Irish.

So he taught me Irish music as a kid.

And we had an Irish family band starting when I was nine years old.

dad put a band together and we toured all around the Southeast at all the Georgia Celtic festivals Southeast doing Irish music and traditional Irish music.

put Irish Celtic music with pop and blues and jazz and rock.

♪ Let the waves take over ♪ ♪ It's out of my hands ♪ ♪ Let the waves take over ♪ ♪ And put us on the path of Orion ♪ ♪ I don't know where we're gonna go ♪ ♪ If we're gonna find our way ♪ us on the path of Orion ♪ ♪ Oh, it's out of my hands ♪ ♪ It's out of my hands ♪ ♪ Oh, it's out of my hands ♪ ♪ Let the waves take over ♪ ♪ It's out of my hands ♪ ♪ Let the waves take over ♪ ♪ And put us on the path of Orion ♪ ♪ I don't know where we're gonna go ♪ ♪ If we're gonna find our way ♪ us on the path of Orion ♪ what is the equipment, song, like how it works.

I don't know what you're doing.

- Sure.

a HeadRush Looperboard.

records everything as you go.

about this specific pedal is everything is preset.

before I start playing.

You can probably hear the click track.

(ethereal vocalizing) ♪ Orion ♪ (ethereal vocalizing) ♪ Orion ♪ So if you can hear that, it stopped on its own and then it just keeps going and going.

And that'll keep going instruments and stuff.

So I can add some drums real quick.

(ethereal vocalizing) (melodic drumming) (soft music) (soft music continues) ♪ Hey, I wish I were a sailor ♪ ♪ So I could sail across the sea ♪ ♪ In the ocean I would find you ♪ ♪ When the sky is black ♪ sun's never coming back ♪ ♪ Oh, wish upon an hourglass ♪ make, like you mentioned, it's not a shtick for you.

are and your raising.

- Yes.

- And then it was, it's been, become a part of your recent marriage.

- Yeah, yeah.

Actually I was just telling you, we just got married in Ireland, and it was really special Irish family in a few years because, you know, COVID restrictions, not being able to travel there, for sad things like funerals.

And we couldn't travel there because of sad things like funerals.

it took us a few years to decide where we were gonna get married.

we go do it in Ireland "now that the restrictions are off?

"We haven't seen family in a while.

"And I'd love for my husband to meet "my Irish side of the family," 'cause he hadn't met a lot of them.

and Irish music and culture has always been a part of my life.

So being able to get married there and have our reception with Irish dancers really special for everybody.

♪ I'm always smiling ♪ ♪ But I'm not smiling ♪ ♪ I'm showing my teeth ♪ ♪ The true design, the lion ♪ ♪ You gotta save me ♪ ♪ Don't really think here ♪ ♪ Just gotta lay me ♪ ♪ It's never easy ♪ ♪ When it's what I need ♪ ♪ The truth is like a lion ♪ ♪ You gotta set it free ♪ ♪ The truth is like a lion ♪ ♪ You gotta set it free ♪ ♪ The truth is like a lion, honey ♪ ♪ You gotta set it free ♪ (soulful music) ♪ You gotta set it free ♪ rock and roll organist lives in Columbus, Georgia, and his name is Lloyd Buchanan.

(upbeat funky music) ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Here we go ♪ ♪ I got a feeling ♪ ♪ Everything's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ I got a feeling ♪ ♪ Everything's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Whoa, I got a feeling ♪ ♪ Everything's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ It's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Be all right ♪ ♪ It's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Gonna be all right, yeah ♪ ♪ Ha, right here ♪ ♪ Tell ya, I got a feeling that ♪ ♪ Everything's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Whoa, I've got a feeling ♪ Well, my name is Lloyd Buchanan.

in Columbus, Georgia, and I play gospel as well as soul music.

beginning when you started, young little Lloyd in church at four years old singing in the pulpit.

Is, am I correct?

- You are correct.

I started singing very young.

My mother was an amazing singer.

of singing with my mother.

I used to sing the song called, I Got Jesus on My Mind," the words, you know, so it's "When you thee me coming," it was all crazy.

extends back to childhood.

church and where was it?

God in Manchester, Georgia.

- That's not a big town.

wasn't a big church either.

- It's small.

♪ Gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Hey, I got a feeling ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Gotta be all right ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I know it, I know it's gonna be ♪ gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Jump to four ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, it's gonna be ♪ ♪ Gonna be ♪ ♪ It's gonna be ♪ ♪ Gotta be, yeah ♪ (soulful scatting) ♪ Yeah, gotta be ♪ ♪ Yeah, I got a feeling, yeah ♪ ♪ I said I got it right there ♪ ♪ Gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ It's gotta, gotta be all right ♪ ♪ Let me get four one more time, y'all ♪ ♪ Let's sing the whole thing once more ♪ (soulful scatting) (upbeat funky music) ♪ Yeah ♪ - So you were in London on the BBC playing with a living legend, Tom Jones.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

like, how does that happen?

record with Brittany Howard.

- Okay.

for Brittany Howard.

artist for the night.

He's gonna help Jools host the night.

Tom Jones walks over to me and said, "You have that sound."

okay, thank you so much."

Jools Holland comes over and says, "Hey, Tom would love for you "to do the song with us called Happening Every Day.'"

I said, "Okay, cool."

kind of that walking baseline "and churchy organ."

I'm like, "Cool, cool."

We did that song.

we also want you to do," and it just went from there.

So just being in his presence the music with Brittany I'm going like, "Oh my gosh, "it's Tom Jones," you know?

(slow music) (soft vocalizing) ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Saw a picture of you today ♪ ♪ Seems like you were having fun ♪ ♪ Saw a picture of you today ♪ ♪ You were dancing in the sun ♪ ♪ Saw a picture of you today ♪ ♪ You were hanging with your friends ♪ ♪ Saw a picture of you today ♪ ♪ With a childish face and radiant grin ♪ didn't go our way ♪ back home and play at church.

- Yeah, yeah.

And most Sundays you'll find me at Revelation Missionary Baptist.

That's where, you know, every Sunday, back there on Sundays with my church family there.

(upbeat music) ♪ And I, yeah ♪ ♪ Gabriel, blow ♪ ♪ Gabriel, blow your horn ♪ ♪ Gabriel, blow your horn ♪ ♪ Gabriel, blow your horn ♪ ♪ Call the Lord ♪ ♪ Call the Lord ♪ ♪ Call the Lord ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ (soulful scatting) ♪ ♪ Let's go right now ♪ ♪ Right now ♪ ♪ Right now ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ church song to play?

- Ooh.

I think "My Tribute" by Andrae Crouch.

of my favorite songs to play with my mother.

And she would sing it amazingly.

And so somehow playing that song always connect me back with her.

'Cause she's passed, she passed in 2003. remind me of that time accompanist, you know?

- I don't think I know that one.

How's it go?

♪ How can I say thanks ♪ ♪ For the things You've done for me ♪ ♪ Things so undeserved ♪ ♪ Yet You came to prove Your love to me ♪ ♪ The voices of a million angels ♪ ♪ Cannot express my gratitude ♪ ♪ All that I am ♪ ♪ All that I hope to be ♪ ♪ I owe it all to Thee ♪ ♪ To God be the glory ♪ ♪ To God be the glory ♪ ♪ To God be the glory ♪ ♪ For the things He has done ♪ (slow music) hear more songs and stories?

Check out our podcast at gpb.org/PeachJam.

♪ Let me hear you say it ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Gabriel, blow your horn ♪ for watching Peach Jam.

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