With Petey’s album, Lean Into Life arriving in September, the artist sat down with Audacy’s Bryce Segall on New Arrivals to share details about what we can expect from the new music arriving in September.
The Chicago native started the Lean Into Life project two years ago, and ever since then he has been working towards releasing the 12 songs on the upcoming project.
Listen to your favorite Alternative music now on Audacy and check out our ALT New Arrivals exclusive station
Alongside creating the album, Petey used TikTok as a tool to help further catapult his career, telling us “that was just born out of the pandemic. We had to figure out how to keep things moving forward.”
Collaborating with his manager, the artist says that uploading to TikTok went so well the first time they just kept uploading content and watched every video blow up.
With over 900k followers on TikTok, Petey draws his inspiration from comedians he loves. “Over the years I’ve sort of…taken inventory of the things that really make me laugh, and much like…the music, sort of try to combine them all into one thing.”
With the success of TikTok, Petey has also caught the attention of other artists, namely Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst. Petey explains, “He DMed me and I was like ‘Woah!’” As a huge fan of the group, remembering his Limp Bizkit CD being one of his first explicit albums, Petey says that Durst reaching out to him was an incredible interaction.
Petey shares details about his songwriting practice explaining that the only way he can write music is to reflect on what is happening in is his own life. “The only songs I’m writing are about myself and feelings that I’m feeling and what’s just sort of going through my head at all times is the only way that I can make something that I feel that’s good.”
The “Lean Into Life” singer shares, I feel a lot of… fulfillment and joy out of things that like aren’t this and aren’t my career, which I think I’m blessed to have that mindset. It’s really important to me.”
He explains that it was difficult to see himself fitting in and making money off of anything other than his art. “It was really hard for me to like get my s**t together and start making money and start supporting myself, I was doing it but it was difficult,” notes Petey.
He continues, “and then all of a sudden I started doing the whole music thing and the TikTok thing and it’s like ‘okay! Yeah, now I’m living.’” Petey shares that he’s made more of a living creating music and content for TikTok than he has doing anything else.
“It’s a lot better than a lot of the jobs that I’ve had, but at the end of the day achieving just like a modest level of success, just enough…to allow me to live a lifestyle that I’m comfortable living, that’s all I want.”
Petey says his “ambitions” lie within being able to still explore the outdoors and get time in nature on the Northern California coast without getting caught up in the business of making music.
Although focused on having a life outside of his music, Petey muses that going on tour will be fine. “I know I have to do it. I’ve got a great team around me, I’m gonna do it. And it’s gonna be fine. And I’m gonna be fine,” explains the artist.
With dates planned for the fall, Petey plans to announce tours dates as early as this July.
Finally, the singer touches on why he chose to cover “In The Garage” by Weezer, sharing, “Blue Album is one of my favorite records of all time, Weezer is one of my favorite bands of all time, it’s one of my favorite songs of all time, I love the concept. I relate to the concept a lot and I just love the song, love the band.
Audacy's New Arrivals with Bryce Segall is your destination for what's next in the Alternative landscape. Pairing new music from the artists who define today's sound against tomorrow's voices, on a given night listeners can expect not only first plays and premieres from future favorites, but also exclusive interviews with the most prestigious of the genre's talents. Early guests include Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Damon Albarn, 100 Gecs, Fleet Foxes, Romy of The xx, James Blake, and more.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram