Granite City

This week, I'm super excited to introduce you to newcomer Aubrey Bug, who's just released their full-length debut, I Think I Had Something Once.

Now based in Nashville, Aubrey grew up in the old steel mill town of Granite City, Illinois.

And while it wasn't always easy growing up queer and an artistic kid in an industrial town, the loving support of their hardworking parents ingrained in Aubrey the heart, grit, and understanding that if you want something, you'll have to work for it.

So work at it, they did, playing trumpet and marching band, then piano lessons.

She's our guest today on SheRose, and I'm Carmel Holt.

Let's get into the origin story of you, your artistry, and where you grew up.

Granite City, Illinois, a place that I had never heard of before I met you.

Yes, I grew up in Granite City.

And we are back live and coming to the end of Route 66 week on the show, which also means we're coming to the end of Route 66 in Illinois.

Just before the highway crosses the Mississippi River, it passes through the Metro East region in towns like Granite City, East St. Louis and Brooklyn.

And it's this last community, Brooklyn, that is our final subject today.

Brooklyn's history predates Route 66 by about a century.

Brooklyn doesn't really get as much of a piece of that pie.

Can you talk about why is Brooklyn cut out in some ways and what ultimately leads to the city's decline and troubles?

You know, I make the argument in the book, America's First Black Town, that is capitalism and racism, right? Where we get the industries, you think about Granite City.

Granite City is a city that was literally created by industrialists so that they would have... control, right? The national stockyards remains unincorporated because the industrialists who created it, and that's where the packing houses are, didn't want it located in Brooklyn or East St.

...

I grew up in a very blue-collar town, Granite City, Illinois, big steel town.

And so, like, I was around it my whole life, whether it was, like, my, my buddy's parents.

I didn't have any direct family members that worked there, but I, you know, I had family members that worked in engine repair.

I suppose that a number of people would.

I come from a small town in Illinois, Granite City, Illinois, across the Mississippi from St. Louis.

And my journey to the White House, you know, took me from there, that little steel town to the steel gates of the White House.

And I really every day just did never take it for granted.

Again, let me start and stop me if I get too long-winded, because his stories are just mesmerizing, I think.

So Greg grew up in a dying Rust Belt town, Granite City, Illinois.

He should have worked in the factory that his father worked, but the factory moved to Mexico.

And he had no prospects.

On today's episode, I'm talking with singer-songwriter Aubrey Bug, whose music immediately caught my attention because of the way it can completely feel present while also sounding connected to the music from another time.

Aubrey grew up in Granite City, Illinois, just outside St. Louis, studying songwriting at Webster University, played trumpet and jazz ensembles, taught herself guitar, learned production, and eventually made the move to Nashville.

Her new album, I Think I Had Something Once, arrives September 18th and represents another step in that journey.

We talk about how growing up in a small Midwestern town shaped her writing, learning when not to over-sing, the influence of jazz on her phrasing, and what happens when you trust collaborators enough to let them challenge your original vision.

That means the world.

Yeah.

You know, as we're talking about the Midwest, St. Louis, I know you grew up near St. Louis, right? Granite City, Illinois, I think.

Yes.

I, I ferreted out.

Um, uh, Greg comes from a factory town that's completely fallen apart, Granite City, Illinois.

He was destined to work in his father's, in the factory that his father worked in.

Yeah.

One homer, 24 runs batted in for him.

Born in Granite City, Illinois, lives now in St. Louis.

McClain is behind 2-0.

Kurt said an odd statistic for an eighth-place hitter like Daryl Maxville is the fact that he also led the team in drawing bases on balls.

One homer, 24 runs batted in for him.

Born in Granite City, Illinois, lives now in St. Louis.

McClain is behind 2-0.

Kurt said an odd statistic for an eighth-place hitter like Daryl Maxville is the fact that he also led the team in drawing bases on balls.