'People are starving for something real': Five Times August on why he signed with anti-woke music label Baste Records

On Monday, singer/songwriter Brad Skistimas, better known as Five Times August, joined fellow artist Chris Wallin for an interview with BlazeTV's Chad Prather. The trio discussed a variety of topics related to the current music scene, including the importance of independent, anti-woke labels, such as Baste Records, where Wallin serves as artists and repertoire director

During the interview, Skistimas explained why he had decided to sign with Baste Records, slamming major labels for stifling talent and pointing out that these days, "people are starving for something real."

"You know I've been an independent artist since I started Five Times August in 2001," Skistimas said. "I always stayed on the outskirts of the mainstream music market."

He explained that after meeting with representatives from Baste Records in Austin, Texas, it became clear that they were the antithesis of all the major labels, something he found quite appealing.

"If I'm going to work with a label, I would love to work with the 'anti-label label'," Skistimas stated.

"We're at a pivotal moment in the culture war where it's time to start making moves, and that's what these guys are doing," Skistimas continued. "So we're gonna put out a song in a few months from now and see how it goes."

The song is in the works, and is set to feature former Offspring drummer Pete Parada.

Skistimas pushed back against the narrative that the only way to make it in music was to sign with a major label, pointing out that these days, singers can produce a hit song from anywhere, even their bedrooms.

"People are starving for something real," he said, referencing his latest batch of songs that dealt with prominent cultural and political issues. "It was just the most real, honest, raw thing I could give people, because I felt that's been missing."

Skistimas' sentiments were shared by Wallin, who said major labels were acting like a "wall" between artists and their audiences.

"You're not gonna be able to get something by them that is real, that is for people like your audience, that actually wanna hear things that they believe in."