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[0:00] Joe Iconis: Hi, I'm Joe Iconis.

[0:02] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: And I'm Jennifer Ashley Tepper. This is ALBUM PODCAST, and this week we're going to be talking about A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into. So if you love Be More Chill or reimagined Joe Iconis songs or renditions by Seth Eliser or many other things, you'll love this episode. This one's for you.

[0:30] Joe Iconis: So A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into is a song from Be More Chill.

[0:34] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: It is?

[0:35] Joe Iconis: Yeah, it is. Shockingly.

[0:37] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: Yeah, I guess it's one of the few songs on the album that's from a musical.

[0:41] Joe Iconis: But I kind of wanted to do a version of it that felt like it could sort of exist on its own. You know, I think that is the thing that all the album songs have in common, even ones that are from larger projects. I wanted them to feel like you could listen to the song and kind of get everything you needed from it.

[1:06] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: Yeah, we talked about this a little on previous episodes, but for people who might just be tuning in or something. When you started planning out the album, you know, you of course wanted to feature a few songs that were from musicals, but in concert form. Do you want to just talk about how you picked a balance of songs that were mostly kind of standalone concert songs while including a few musical theater songs from your shows?

[1:36] Joe Iconis: Yeah, yeah. I mean, I tried, you know, in the initial conception, it was like, I didn't want to do any songs from musicals. And then, you know, Tepper was the person who was like, you have to do some of these songs.

[1:55] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: I did not cue you so I could give myself credit, but thank you.

[2:01] Joe Iconis: But you were right, like you were correct, where it's like so many of these songs live in concert, in my concert life, in a way that does feel like its own thing. You know, they feel like they're their sort of own pieces of work, separate from the shows that they're from. And a lot of times the concert versions of them are just kind of different. You know, it's a different vibe, it's a different orchestration, sometimes a different arrangement. And so in choosing the songs from shows, it was kind of like a, it was a lot about the, a lot about the people who I knew were going to be available to sing them. It was like, okay, if we can get, you know, Nick Blamire to do Social Worker, I want to do Social Worker.

And if we can't get him, then I don't want to do that song. So there was like, you know, that kind of thing. But I really wanted songs that felt like they could sort of live on their own and could feel different from an eventual cast album of the shows that they're from. And so like, there's kind of the most from Black Suits, and then a couple from Bloodsong. And my, you know, my dream is that one day there'll be a proper Black Suits cast album, and that there'll be a proper Bloodsong cast album. And my hope is that the versions of the songs that would be repeats on those, you know, eventual cast albums will sound really different from the versions that are on album. And we tried to make sure that was going to be the case with everything we did.

[3:34] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: Well, the difference between when you and I first started recording podcast episodes and now is, of course, the album has been out for a lot longer. So have you heard from anyone on, you know, social media or otherwise who has discovered the album and they only know Be More Chill? Or do you feel like people are finding the album because they're like, I want a new version of a guy that I'd kind of be into and then like finding their way in that way?

[4:01] Joe Iconis: Um, yeah, I mean, it's been cool. Like, I definitely feel like people are discovering the album from Be More Chill. It kind of feels like, you know, what I'm seeing, and I'm like, I'm such a lurker. You know, I'm a real huge, I'm a real huge searcher of my indirects. Like, I love seeing what people are saying about me. Most of which is not very nice, but it seems like kids, if you're listening, that's not necessarily healthy consult, you know, it's not healthy. Don't do it.

[4:28] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: Yeah, do not search your name on Twitter or Broadway World message boards.

[4:33] Joe Iconis: I wish that I, I would listen to my own advice with that. But it seems like people, the sort of larger, you know, like theater people know what's up, but like the sort of larger, you know, audience, a lot of people are like, Oh, I didn't know he wrote other shows or other things. You know, that kind of feels like people are like, wait, what is this? This is his follow up to Be More Chill, the second thing he's written. And so it's been cool to kind of see people, um, you know, discover it. But what's wild is that the, you know, the album is so huge that it's a lot of people, you know, haven't even like listened to the whole thing. I feel like there are people who are fans of the album who haven't even heard half the songs, you know, because it's so big.

And so then also, because of that, it's not the kind of thing where I feel like everyone is sort of gravitated to one song, it truly does feel like, oh, there's, you know, so many people who are fans of Kevin. And then there's so many people who are fans of Last on Land. And then people are friends of Velociraptor. It's just like each song sort of has its own fan base. And so it's, it's really strange. I've never experienced anything quite like it where it's almost like all of the songs are their own little like mini musicals.

[5:45] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: And people are like, you know, gravitating towards the different, different musicals.

[5:51] Joe Iconis: But I definitely have been feeling like, you know, people have been digging this, this cover of Guy that I kind of be into. And it's, it's worth noting that, so it's Seth Eliser is, is singing it and playing it. And, you know, differences, the difference from the original version. I mean, the most sort of like, obvious, you know, difference is that in the show, it's sung by Christine, who's, who's a gal. And here it's sung by Seth, who's a guy. And, and this version is really something that Seth just came up with. Like, I think he did it at a concert, I think, right?

[6:29] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: Yeah, I was trying to remember this, too. I was gonna ask you when the first time was that Seth kind of created his version with you?

[6:33] Joe Iconis: Yeah, what's so wild is that I don't remember if he did it at a 54 show, or if I just asked him to whip something up for the album.

[6:46] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: And this is what he came up with.

[6:48] Joe Iconis: So for listeners who might not be familiar with Seth Eliser, are very multi talented gentlemen. When he does songs in Joe's concert, sometimes he'll play the drums at the same time. This is not one of those moments. Although it'd be funny if it was. But yeah, I mean, he, he does such an incredible job with it. And I have a memory of seeing it live, we'll have to look up which came first the, you know, live song or the creation for the album.

[7:12] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: Yeah, yeah.

[7:13] Joe Iconis: But his, you know, this, this is one of the rare tracks where I feel like I had nothing to do with it. You know, sure, I wrote the song. Sure. I asked Seth to, you know, make up an arrangement and perform it. But that's, it's all him, like the arrangement is 100% him. And, and I just think it's perfect, you know, and it's like, I wanted it to sound like that. I wanted it to sound like a, like a Jason Mraz song that someone might sing at an open mic or something.

[7:41] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: And I mean, it sounds like it sounds like, you know, if someone, if someone gave that performance at like a random like coffeehouse open mic, it would be like a really stunning moment, like the best open mic of all time, you know, but I, I, I am, I wanted to, you know, in the, in the show, it's like the, I think it's actually a great example of like the difference between like cast album version of a song and, and album version of a song where, you know, they, the song could not sound more different on, you know, with Seth singing on an album than with Stephanie singing it on the Be More Chill cast albums. You know, the orchestration in the show,

[8:22] Joe Iconis: Welcome back to the Album Podcast! Today, we have a very special guest, Seth Eliser, who is going to be talking about one of the songs from my album, "A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into."

[9:22] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: Yes, I’m so excited to have Seth here. He’s not just an incredible performer but also an amazing arranger.

[9:52] Joe Iconis: Absolutely! Seth, can you tell us a little bit about your experience with this song?

[10:22] Seth Eliser: Sure! "A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into" is such a fun song. I love how it captures that feeling of infatuation and the awkwardness that comes with it.

[10:49] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: It really does! And this version is so unique because it stands alone outside of Be More Chill.

[11:14] Seth Eliser: Exactly! I wanted to bring something fresh to it while still honoring the original.

[11:42] Joe Iconis: And you definitely succeeded! The arrangement is fantastic.

[12:10] Seth Eliser: Thank you! I wanted to play with the dynamics and really showcase the lyrics.

[12:35] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: The lyrics are so relatable. It’s like everyone has had that moment of being into someone who’s just a little out of reach.

[13:00] Seth Eliser: Totally! It’s that mix of excitement and nervousness that I think everyone can connect with.

[13:25] Joe Iconis: And you really brought that to life in your performance.

[13:45] Seth Eliser: I appreciate that! I had a lot of fun with it.

[14:10] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: We can’t wait for everyone to hear it!

[14:35] Joe Iconis: So, without further ado, let’s listen to Seth’s rendition of "A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into."

[15:00] ♪ Musical number: "A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into" — performed by Seth Eliser ♪

[15:25] Joe Iconis: That was amazing! Seth, you really brought something special to that song.

[15:50] Seth Eliser: Thank you so much! I’m really proud of how it turned out.

[16:15] Jennifer Ashley Tepper: It’s such a great addition to the album!