Why Is There a Baby Laughing in High Hopes
This twelvemonth has been all about spreading positivity for Brendon Urie. Only ane month subsequently releasing the upliftingPray For the Wicked track "Loftier Hopes" in May, the Panic! at the Disco frontman launched Highest Hopes Foundation, a nonprofit organization aiming to support human rights. And now, Urie is taking his philanthropic efforts even farther, teaming up with State Farm for a campaign called Neighborhood of Good.
The programme, initially launched in 2017, is designed to assist people get involved and find volunteer opportunities in their ain communities using the official NeighborhoodofGood.com site. Urie took function himself while on tour this year, stopping past Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago, Indianapolis and his hometown of Las Vegas, eight minutes downwards the street from where he grew up.
But his connection with kids in other cities was simply as deep as it was in Vegas, making him realize how important it is to help kids from all over pursue their passions.
"The kickoff thing I noticed was how willing these kids were to share everything they love," Urie says. "It blew my mind how welcoming they were, how positive these kids were. Beingness able to sit downwards and really talk one-on-one, meet their talents, run across them express mirth, picket them describe better than I can now — and I'm 31. [Laughs.] I think it's just something to be said — this younger generation has more of a need to come outside of themselves, bursting to get out."
Urie saw himself in several of the kids, but particularly ones he worked with in the Boys & Girls Clubs' new Notes For Notes programme, which helps facilitate those with a passion for music like Brendon himself. The singer's experience was captured on camera for a four-episode miniseries, with the offset episode — which was unveiled today (Sept. 18) — previewing his visits in Chicago and Indianapolis, but more prominently focusing on his ain story. The 3-minute clip features Urie'south childhood band teacher and biggest mentor, Richard Matta, likewise as his mom, Nani Urie. "I did cry a couple of times watching it," Brendon admits with a laugh.
Billboard caught up with the Panic! frontman to hear more than about how the Neighborhood of Good program is a culmination of everything he has worked for (and achieved) since dreaming of becoming a performer as a child — only also, how his "High Hopes" bulletin is coming to life.
What collection you lot to want to give back and when did philanthropy become a passion for you?
At a really immature age I had a community bear witness me that that'due south what it's all virtually. I grew up in church building, I grew up in the Mormon organized religion, and although I'k not religious anymore, I still am and then proud to accept that instilled in me at such an early on historic period. My parents, my friends, my church building community all showed me examples that information technology's much easier to be charitable rather than not give whatever of yourself to anyone. I had to kinda get reinvigorated over fourth dimension.
Fans of Panic! at the Disco are and then amazing. They mobilized in a style that I never knew you could at that age. When we first started I was a 17-year-old kid, not really knowing what to practice with myself, but the fans have shown me all new ways of being charitable, being kind, loving, accepting and understanding. That is the greatest thing I've received from them.
Was there anything in detail that kind of sparked your desire to be more serious about giving back?
At that place's a point in our prove where fans hold hearts during one of our songs, that were colors of the pride flag. The first fourth dimension information technology happened was similar 2 and a one-half years ago, and I had no idea it was coming. I was floored. I looked down, I could barely see the side by side chord — I simply started to weep. I was so overwhelmed with love that I had witnessed from a crowd of strangers, people who didn't know each other that all came together behind this ane thought. I idea, "How powerful is that, to mobilize behind such a passionate thought of honey?"
That was actually the showtime time I idea, "I need to practise something more. They just did information technology because they felt the honey — that'south how I experience, how can I showcase that?" Land Farm kind of took my hand and said, "Hey, here'south a couple options."
What was your initial reaction to them approaching you lot about this? I can imagine it was like, "This is it, this is what I've been waiting for" kind of thing.
Absolutely it was. I said, "I want to larn how to give back in a style, I desire to be more of a mentor." That'due south what changed my life, having somebody like a Richard Matta in my life, or my mom to show me music and caring about people and love. I really wanted to just share that with other people. I knew how impactful it can be, and they let me go to a agglomeration of places and simply hang and listen. I had to learn that that was one of the biggest things near existence a mentor, just listening to these kids share their feel.
Were there whatsoever particular interactions that stuck with you?
There was a kid that called himself J-Money and he was funny, man. One really absurd quote he said to me was, I asked him, "What do you similar to rap almost," and he said, "I rap about my future because I already lived through my past," and that's really strong. He's thinking about who he wants to be, and this kid is like nine years former. It'due south absurd to run into it at such a young age. I remember feeling like that, and I didn't know how to put it into words, and this kid simply put information technology beautifully.
Exercise you experience like y'all've passed the torch, in a fashion, with what you've washed with Panic? Especially at present that you're doing what you lot're doing with both your foundation and with Land Farm?
It does experience like I'm passing the torch. I had so many groovy opportunities as a child with Richard Matta showing me what's possible. If you lot're passionate near music, stick to that passion, considering information technology patently makes you happy and that's a blessing. If I tin can relay whatsoever of that to whatsoever of my fans or my friends, then I've done my task.
You've e'er had really positive songs, specially on 'Pray For the Wicked.' Is at that place a specific song or a couple songs in your itemize that is most fitting to the bulletin that you're hoping to send?
The song that I've been pushing for kids to understand where I'thousand coming from with this charity and this opportunity is "High Hopes." That one actually does say like, "Hey, as a kid I thought I would never get in. I only had dreams and fantasies of being a rock star, making cardboard cutting-outs of a guitar, standing in front of my mirror but dreaming of the mean solar day. I'g always working towards it, and always keeping my hopes high. I failed and tried once more, only I felt much more happy one time I achieved information technology — the reward is much greater once y'all challenge yourself thoroughly." At that place'south obstacles and trials, and it'south a beautiful affair to come back to that and say, "Whoa, this is the most rewarded I've ever felt." It's pretty plumbing equipment.
How has information technology felt performing "High Hopes" on tour, knowing the message that you're sending through it?
Actually, the first time we did that song, we were in the U.K., and the song had but come out so nosotros had never practiced it. Nosotros were like, "What's more rock 'n' scroll than playing a song nosotros don't even know?" [Laughs.] We played information technology twice on the drive upwards there and nosotros got on phase, no sound check, and we're like, "Here nosotros go!"
It was magical. Everybody in the crowd was singing — I'm tearing up while I'g talking. Information technology was simply this weird instance where nosotros were all so proud. I call up that translated to the crowd as soon as the first note striking. We were looking at each other on phase, and the smiles from one some other, we were similar, "Whoa dude, we're actually playing this vocal right at present. This is so bizarre, in the best manner." It felt like the biggest song we've ever played up to that point. It was very validating. It was like a moment of clarity, a moment of realization — like, "This is why we were doing this all along."
That's astonishing! And then thinking dorsum to when you were a child dreaming of being on stage, how does where y'all're at now compare to where you lot envisioned yourself and so?
As a kid, I fantasized a lot. I spent a lot of time lonely in my room and I would teach myself instruments and stuff, listening to a record and trying to imagine what the chords were before I could beget a guitar [Laughs]. The manufacture of music and entertainment was all glorified at that age – at 10, 11 years old, it was similar, "Wow, life'southward gonna be so like shooting fish in a barrel." Then as you go older, it'southward more work.
That's where "High Hopes" comes in to play — equally long as y'all keep your hopes high and you keep pushing to get better and better, so the advantage is then much better. I used to keep my expectations very low, that fashion I would never be dissatisfied with the outcome. Now that I'thou pushing myself to do even more than, looking dorsum, I get to romanticize the memory of me as a kid looking frontwards to the future.
Merely I will say now, comparing it to the past, absolutely my reality beats my fantasy. Which is so crazy to say. I'm so happy to be here, considering it'due south another opportunity to share that with somebody else who has a passion — maybe not in music, but in something else. I stuck with [music] because it's my biggest passion. Stick to yours. Practice what makes you happy. It's much easier than yous all call back.
Source: https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/brendon-urie-interview-panic-at-the-disco-high-hopes-state-farm-video-8475775/
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