Welcome to the Season 3 premiere of The Citrus Podcast Show! Hosted by Ky Richy, we’re back to bring you your fresh squeeze of music, art, and culture. This season, we’ve leveled up the sound and moved to our new studio in Sacramento, and as always, we’re closing out every episode with an exclusive live session on our soundstage.

Episode Highlights:

To kick off the new season, we sit down with the incredibly talented Oakland-based lyricist, J.Lately (@J.Lately). Fresh off his tour runs with Wax, J.Lately dives into the creative process behind their collaboration "Extra Time" and the importance of finding a "natural fit" when touring.

We explore J.Lately’s unique roots in Sebastopol, CA, and how being a biracial artist (Korean and White) helped him find his own musical identity outside of established scenes. J.Lately also gets real about the "basement studio grind," balancing his career with being a father to a newborn, and using music as a therapeutic tool to navigate mental health and personal growth.

Following our conversation, don't miss J.Lately's powerful live performance of his song "Time".

Timestamps:

00:00:20 - Welcome to Season 3!

00:01:00 - Guest Introduction: J.Lately

00:01:55 - Touring with Wax & Reworking "Extra Time"

00:04:20 - Growing up in Sebastopol: Nature & Small Town Roots

00:05:30 - Finding a Musical Identity Without a Local Scene

00:06:20 - The Art of Co-Production (Bands at 8 Years Old!)

00:07:15 - Chemistry with Producers Space Cadet & West Coast Trey

00:08:15 - Fatherhood & The Basement Studio Grind

00:11:00 - Music as Therapy: Dealing with Darkness & Growth

00:11:45 - New Album 'Good Morning Hello' & The Singles Rollout

00:13:05 - Track Highlights: "Going Up" & "Vacation Mode" (feat. Through The Roots)

00:14:40 - Working with Legends: The Grouch & Living Legends Influence

00:16:40 - Touring with Locksmith & The Art of Complimenting Styles

00:18:21 - Stage Presence & Adrenaline: The One Time I Enjoy Attention

00:20:45 - Exploring Identity: Biracial Heritage & Korean Roots

00:24:50 - Tour Food Chronicles: Solo City Exploring & Local Bites

00:28:40 - The Story Behind "Time": Reassuring Yourself

00:30:15 - Dad Life: Elmo vs. Smooth Operator

00:32:15 - Advice for Artists: Being the Best Version of You

00:33:35 - Live Performance: J.Lately - "Time"

Connect & Support:

Did you enjoy this season premiere? Let us know your favorite part in the comments below!

👍 Like this video if you enjoyed the conversation or the live performance!

🔔 Subscribe to The Citrus Podcast Show for more exclusive interviews and live music sessions!

Today's Sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by BERO. Non-alcoholic beer for a balanced lifestyle. Check them out at berobrewing.com and tell them Citrus Podcast sent you!

Follow the Journey:

Citrus Podcast: @CitrusPodcast

Ky Richy (Host): @KyRichy

J.Lately (Guest): @J.Lately

Dustin Welk (Boards/Sound): @dustin_woelk

Recorded at Atrium Creative Spaces: @AtriumCreativeSpaces

CITRUS Podcast S2 EP20: BLVSH talks new music & Performs 'Next 2 Me' LIVE!

Episode Highlights

For the grand finale of Season 2, executive producer Chris Hamel steps in as guest host for a conversation with Sacramento-based pop singer BLVSH. 🎵 He shares his unique and hilarious origin story, explaining how getting grounded at age seven led him to secretly write poetry and music instead of punishment sentences, culminating in his first-ever song: a diss track about his mom called "Psychopath".

BLVSH discusses his move from the Portland, Oregon area to Sacramento for a job with Dutch Bros. Coffee and how he's navigated the new music scene. He dives into his wide range of musical influences, from "dad rock" bands like Nirvana and Weezer to modern indie artists like Omar Apollo, Dominic Fike, and Steve Lacy. He also explains the deeper metaphor behind his name—the blend of uplifting, happy-sounding music with deep, introspective lyrics—and why he stylizes it with a "V".

Finally, BLVSH looks to the future, sharing his goals of performing at major festivals like Coachella and releasing a new project later this year. After the interview, he takes the stage for an incredible live performance of his song, "Next 2 Me".

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor

This episode is proudly sponsored by Bero. Bero is a premium non-alcoholic beverage for those who want to live a more balanced lifestyle without compromising the taste and enjoyment of a beer. Check them out at BeroBrewing.com to order, and be sure to tell them the Citrus Podcast sent you!

Timestamps:

00:02:05 Intro / Season 2 Finale with Guest Host Chris Hamel

00:02:24 Why BLVSH Moved from Portland to Sacramento

00:03:50 The Unique Origin Story: Getting Grounded & Writing a Diss Track

00:05:36 Musical Influences: From Nirvana to Aminé

00:07:50 The Songwriting Process: Melody Before Lyrics

00:09:18 Finding His Singing Voice After Starting as a Rapper

00:12:04 The Importance of Having a Solid Team

00:14:18 The Meaning Behind the Name "BLVSH"

00:15:24 Future Goals: Coachella & Working with Pharrell

00:19:55 Upcoming Music & New Singles

00:22:13 Live Performance: "Next 2 Me"

Follow the Journey:

Citrus Podcast: @CitrusPodcast

Chris Hamel (Guest Host): @chrisbyname

BLVSH (Guest): @whoisblvsh

Ky Richy (Host): @KyRichy

Dustin Woelk (Audio): @Dustin_Woelk

#BLVSH #CitrusPodcast #Next2Me #SacramentoMusic #PopMusic #LivePerformance #MusicInterview #Songwriting #ArtistInterview #IndiePop #SeasonFinale

Sacramento's own J Kent—an R&B singer, songwriter, and artist development coach—joins Ky Richy on the podcast for a powerful and deeply personal conversation. J Kent shares his musical journey, from being a freestyling rap battler in middle school to performing at the Golden One Center and making the difficult decision to launch his solo career. He discusses the viral success of his records, including his first solo hit "Woosah" and the 32-million-view TikTok sensation "No Way" with Leshon.

The conversation takes an intimate turn as J Kent opens up about his trials and tribulations, using his platform to promote mental health awareness. He bravely shares his story of navigating immense grief after losing his mother to a 15-year cancer battle and his younger brother to suicide within the same year. He explains how music has become his therapy and a way to heal, leading to his upcoming "Behind a Smile" mental health campaign.

J Kent also gives an exclusive look into his new "Woosah" campaign, which combines the release of his new single on August 29th with a charity effort to raise funds for a rare spinal disease. After the interview, J Kent delivers a memorable live performance of his hit record, "Woosah."

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor

This episode is proudly sponsored by BERO. BERO is a premium non-alcoholic beverage for those who want to live a more balanced lifestyle without compromising the taste and enjoyment of a beer. For those who are sober, it's the go-to drink in social settings. Check them out at www.berobrewing.com and follow them @berobrewing

Timestamps:

00:02:25 Meeting Leshon on the Basketball Court

00:05:13 J Kent's Musical Beginnings & Early Influences

00:08:03 Performing at the Golden One Center & Deciding to Go Solo

00:12:16 The 32 Million-View Viral Hit "No Way"

00:14:52 Performing at Concerts in the Park: A Full Circle Moment

00:18:18 A Candid Discussion on Mental Health, Grief, and Sobriety

00:18:47 Losing His Mother and Brother

00:25:55 Using Music as Therapy and the "Behind a Smile" Campaign

00:31:30 The "Woosah" Single & Charity Campaign

00:37:32 Advice for Aspiring Artists

00:38:46 Live Performance: "Woosah"

Connect & Support:

Did you enjoy this episode? Let us know your favorite part in the comments below!

👍 Like this video if you enjoyed the conversation or the live performance!

🔔 Subscribe to The Citrus Podcast Show for more exclusive interviews and live music sessions!

🔗 Watch more episodes from Season 2: https://www.youtube.com/@citruspodcast/podcasts

🎧 Listen to the audio version on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Follow the Journey:

Citrus Podcast: @CitrusPodcast

Ky Richy (Host): @KyRichy

J Kent (Guest): @jkentofficial

Dustin Woelk (Audio): @Dustin_Woelk

#JKent #CitrusPodcast #Woosah #SacramentoMusic #MentalHealthAwareness #RnB #LivePerformance #Grief #ArtistInterview #MusicPodcast #BERO #BeroBrewing