Ancestral Connection and Energy: Sage discusses his deep spiritual and creative connection to his ancestors, which often manifests in his music. He shares how certain places, particularly in the South, evoke a visceral sense of history and the “blood in the soil” (13:11 – 16:56, 25:24 – 29:07).
Musical Discography and Sobriety: The duo discusses Sage’s evolution as an artist. Sage shares how achieving sobriety provided the clarity necessary to create his most introspective work, describing his albums as personal “diaries” or “journal entries” (33:01 – 34:22). They dive into specific tracks, including his collaborative work with Evidence and the backstory of his song “Deep Blue Water” (44:00 – 52:52).
James Earl Jones and Legacy: Sage reflects on his relationship with his family member, the late James Earl Jones. He discusses Jones’s profound impact on the arts, his dedication to the theater, and the honor of having Jones narrate his recent album, Surrender (1:14:44 – 1:17:39).
Social Commentary: Throughout the interview, the two share reflections on modern culture, including the “football politics” of sports (11:54 – 12:45), the importance of language and communication (55:20 – 56:32), and the realities of safety and awareness while touring (17:29 – 18:37, 40:46 – 41:05).
The Creative Process:
Sage explains his approach to writing, often viewing himself as a “conduit” for his ancestors (26:17 – 28:24). They also touch upon the beauty of songs having “many lives” and how he sometimes revisits older, unreleased tracks with fresh perspective (52:42 – 53:01, 110:02 – 112:58).
Speak On It!