Skylar Grey

Date: 2026-05-22 | Duration: 1h 59m

Category: Arts & Entertainment, Nature & Outdoors

Episode Overview

Joe Rogan opens the conversation with Skylar Grey by revealing his wife's specific request for Grey's song "Coming Home" to be played at her funeral, setting an immediately intimate and reflective tone. This leads into a discussion on the power of human connection in music, particularly as they contrast it with the emergence of AI-generated music. While acknowledging AI's ability to create "cool" sounds, both agree that the true therapeutic and emotional resonance in art stems from human spirit and experience, highlighting the value of authentic, imperfect creation over AI's precise but soulless output. The conversation then transitions to Skylar Grey’s early life and unconventional path in music, beginning with her performing with her mother at age six in small-town Wisconsin. She recounts her intense drive and decision to go solo at 12, eventually dropping out of high school at 16 after an algebra teacher dismissively told her "music isn't a career." This pivotal moment fueled her ambition, leading to a period of struggle in Los Angeles, including a two-week stint editing hardcore adult films, which she humorously describes as giving her the "Tetris effect" with disturbing hallucinations. Her breakthrough came while living in an isolated Oregon cabin, where she channeled her experiences into co-writing the hit song "Love the Way You Lie" for Eminem, a moment that catapulted her from obscurity to global recognition and marked a profound shift in her career and personal life.

About Skylar Grey

Skylar Grey is a singer-songwriter and music producer who rose to prominence after co-writing and performing on Eminem's hit "Love the Way You Lie." Beginning her music career at age six performing with her mother in Wisconsin, she pursued her passion intensely, dropping out of high school at 16 to pursue music full-time despite discouragement from others. Known for creating emotionally resonant songs that showcase authentic human experience, she has become recognized for songs like "Coming Home" and emphasizes the irreplaceable emotional power of human-created music in an era of AI-generated content.

Key Moments

0:00:27 – Skylar Grey's emotional impact and "Coming Home"
0:01:30 – The role of Artificial Intelligence in modern music
0:06:43 – Skylar's early musical talent and family background
0:09:00 – Going solo at 12 and buying a grand piano
0:11:32 – Dropping out of high school due to a teacher's dismissal of music
0:15:20 – Critique of the conventional education system and teacher pay
0:16:42 – Discussion on ADHD as a creative "superpower"
0:21:05 – Skylar's challenging move to Los Angeles at 17
0:24:16 – Detroit's economic decline and global wealth disparity
0:36:27 – Livestock protection and encounters with coyotes in Napa
0:40:48 – Biodynamic farming and wine production in Napa Valley
0:51:00 – Unexpected job editing adult content
0:55:15 – Retreating to an isolated cabin in Oregon for songwriting
01:52:13 – Skylar Grey's struggle with perfectionism in music
01:52:35 – Impact of early number-one hit on creative pressure
01:52:51 – Desire to have more fun and less seriousness in her career
01:53:11 – Turning 40 and gaining a new life perspective
01:53:37 – The beauty of aging and giving less importance to trivial things
01:54:37 – Skylar Grey introduces her new album "Wasted Potential"
01:54:51 – Album's theme: small-town Wisconsin upbringing and sexuality
01:55:32 – Album as a way to process turning 40 and childhood memories
01:56:12 – Skylar Grey reflects on her perceived "wasted potential"
01:56:32 – Regret over not putting enough effort into early music career
01:57:19 – Comparing Millennials' work ethic to Gen Z's work-life balance
01:57:56 – Feeling like a failure at 40 due to unachieved goals
01:58:12 – Joe suggests self-criticism is inherent to creative ambition
01:58:35 – Balancing self-criticism with enjoying the creative process
01:58:52 – Importance of having fun over leaving a legacy
01:59:08 – Joe praises Skylar Grey's music and performance with Eminem
1:05:07 – Intense mountain lion attacks on Skylar's sheep in Napa
1:18:04 – Axis deer hunting in Hawaii and its unique challenges
1:28:43 – The unexpected and rapid success of "Love the Way You Lie"
1:30:11 – Dealing with imposter syndrome and creative pressure post-hit
1:39:04 – Exploring the concept of the creative muse and daily practice
1:47:32 – The therapeutic and grounding effects of nature and wilderness
1:50:19 – Skylar's new goal to release an album every year

Transcript Excerpt

[00:00:01] Joe Rogan podcast, check it out. The Joe Rogan Experience. Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day. Great to see you. What's happening? You know, putting out an album. This is the power of music. I told my wife that you were coming on, and she said, I don't want to get a mom. [00:00:27] She said, if I die on my funeral, I want her song, I'm coming home. Really? Yeah, and I was like, ooh. I was like, that's a heavy thought. And then I listened to it in the gym. I was like, God, damn. I listened to the version where you were on the piano. It was like a solo concert. [00:00:47] And I was like, God, that's such a, it's such a great song, but it's such a crazy thought. Yeah. That someone would want. Wow. A very specific song. Man. Heavy way to start the podcast. [00:01:30] Yeah. It sounds cool. That's what AI does. There's cool songs that come from AI. but there's always going to be, and I completely agree with you, there's always going to be a thing. We know a person wrote it, that they sat down and they wrote it, and there's this connection with their spirit and their creativity that comes out. [00:01:54] And that's what people love about music, other than stuff that sound. I like AI music because it sounds cool, but I know what it is. I know it's just a robot. I mean, I think it's, you know, sometimes it's good for certain things, but the type of music that I make personally, it's like very therapeutic for me to write. I always am writing from like a true emotion. Yeah. Marshall's giving you true emotion right now. It all has its place, though. [00:03:09] Do you remember like, you know what that stuff is, Jamie, right? It's like a tube you put in your mouth or something? Yeah, so it's like a straw and like the microphone picks up the sound. So the sound would go through the tube into your mouth and then the microphone picks that up and you're using your mouth. Because I remember people are hating that. Like way back in the day, people were ha...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2504?

Skylar Grey was the guest on JRE #2504. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2504?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2504 with Skylar Grey, topics include Skylar Grey's emotional impact and "Coming Home", The role of Artificial Intelligence in modern music, Skylar's early musical talent and family background, and Going solo at 12 and buying a grand piano.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #2504?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #2504 with Skylar Grey is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.