Pursuing the Muse

Tom Compton
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast about songwriting and the paths musicians take to get songs created.

  1. Henry Conlon

    1D AGO

    Henry Conlon

    Welcome to Pursuing the Muse; I’m your host, Tom Compton. Today, we’re joined by Henry Conlon, a Nashville-based artist originally from Long Island whose baritone voiced songs are helping him make a name for himself in the music world. Stay tuned as we discuss surviving an ice storm, the whirlwind experience of recording full albums in just two days, and the real-life newspaper obituary that inspired his meticulously crafted song, "Flowers for Josephine".  Don’t go anywhere! ------------------------------------------------------------- https://henryconlonmusic.com/ https://instagram.com/henryconlonmusic https://www.facebook.com/henryconlon/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Pursuing the Muse: Henry Conlon Conversation Summary 00:00 – Intro 02:08 – Tom Compton welcomes Henry Conlon to Pursuing the Muse 02:21 – Surviving the Nashville Ice Storm 03:34 – Growing up on Long Island and the Northeast circuit 04:42 – Early musical beginnings: From piano to summer camp guitar 05:53 – The choice to write originals over covers 07:32 – Guitar style and influences: John Prine, The Replacements, and Bob Dylan 09:01 – Moving to Nashville: From Stella Blues to the Music City "graduating class" 11:15 – The Belmont University songwriting and music business experience 13:24 – Learning the recording process and the Nashville "Singles" culture 16:37 – A prolific 2025: Releasing 25 songs in 18 months 18:22 – Song spotlight: The "lonely poet" world of "Wild Dreams" 21:07 – Experimenting with tempo: Turning slow acoustic pieces into driving rock songs 25:02 – Writing without an instrument: Songcraft via voice memos and morning commutes 26:52 – The story arc of the American Wild record 29:52 – Defining the "American Wild": From the Utah desert to the musical frontier 32:23 – The Muse: Writing for his wife, Emily 34:45 – "Flowers for Josephine": Researching a 70-year Chicago love story 41:21 – Setting parameters vs. finding the "click" in songwriting 45:49 – Collaborating with producer Paul Ebersold 47:54 – Live-tracking methodology: Capturing the "human experience" in the studio 53:41 – Meeting Robert Earl Keen at a Nashville guitar store 56:41 – Life on the road: Opening for a legend across the country 01:00:09 – The Business Side: Wearing the hats of manager, booking agent, and roadie 01:03:48 – Where to find Henry Conlon and digital platforms 01:05:02 – Future goals: The 2026 record and upcoming live projects 01:06:33 – Outro & Closing Remarks

    1h 7m
  2. Jon Danforth

    FEB 13

    Jon Danforth

    Welcome to Pursuing the Muse! Today, we are joined by a very special returning guest, Jon Danforth. An Arkansas native now living in Dallas, Jon is here to discuss his brand new LP, Natural State—a rootsy, nostalgic project six years in the making. Listen in as we discuss the 'bacon and birds' inspiration behind the lead single, how a 'weed bouquet' led to a life-changing confession of love, and the chilling true event that inspired the record's darkest track. And much more! --------------------------------------------- https://jondanforth.com https://jondanforth.bandcamp.com/  https://instagram.com/jonmdanforth https://www.facebook.com/jondanforthmusic/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/5w771fPotpeDtoppQXCIo9?si=V3AwDOVyR06UuMEB4kwgsA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0gS-JGFmiSV07te0wPQKoA --------------------------------------------- • 00:00 – Intro and theme music. • 01:51 – Tom Compton welcomes Jon Danforth back to the show. • 00:02 – Discussion of Danforth’s third LP, Natural State. • 02:50 – The six-year songwriting timeline and studio process. • 04:00 – Exploring themes of nostalgia and calling back seasons of life. • 04:54 – The double meaning behind the title Natural State. • 05:54 – Track breakdown: "Kingfisher" and memories of Pinnacle Mountain. • 07:00 – Recurring themes of slowing down and living in the moment. • 07:54 – "Tall Grass": A slice-of-life song inspired by a Dallas backyard. • 09:42 – "Rest of My Life": A semi-fictionalized story about Jon’s wife. • 11:20 – "Eureka": Finding childlike wonder in Eureka Springs with his daughter. • 14:45 – Incorporating new instruments: Banjo and Fiddle. • 15:33 – The decision to chase a "folky, rootsy" record. • 17:26 – "Hot Springs Blues": Healing waters and breakup songs. • 19:12 – Creating an "old school saloon" vibe with piano and banjo. • 20:07 – The history of the Ohio Club and Hot Springs gangsters. • 20:51 – "Morgan Mountain": Co-writing with his sister, Amy. • 22:38 – The German meaning of "Morgan" and themes of tomorrow. • 23:47 – The challenges and learning curve of collaborative songwriting. • 27:15 – Songwriting vs. Poetry. • 28:17 – Lead Single: "Arkansas Sunrise" and capturing the "personal universal". • 32:15 – The "Bacon and Birds" inspiration. • 33:07 – "Two Rivers Park": A literal description of a "keeper moment". • 34:08 – The story of the "weed bouquet". • 35:44 – "Devil in the Den": A dark turn based on a true event. • 36:45 – Balancing darkness and light in album sequencing. • 38:43 – "The Springs": Spiritual transcendence and baptism imagery. • 41:04 – Connecting physical healing waters to spiritual restoration. • 42:07 – Discussion on the relationship between healing and escapism. • 44:05 – Maintaining simplicity without becoming "corny". • 47:28 – Rejecting the "commodity" of fast music for the "scenic route" of art. • 50:09 – "Hunting" for the next project while releasing the current one. • 52:16 – Natural State as a tribute to place. • 54:06 – Jon Danforth: Unofficial ambassador for Arkansas Tourism. • 57:23 – Memories of Bo’s Barbecue and local legends. • 58:14 – Future plans for regional shows and touring. • 59:11 – Outro: Where to find Jon Danforth and MySpace nostalgia

    1h 1m
  3. Gatorwater

    FEB 6

    Gatorwater

    Welcome back to Pursuing the Muse. Today, we’re joined by Gary Landess, frontman of the Chicago-based dirty blues rock quartet Gatorwater. Known for their slithering slide guitar and a rhythm section that thumps like a creature emerging from the swamp, the band recently released their heavy new album, Hydrophonic. In this episode, Gary reveals how a warped, unplayable guitar accidentally launched his signature slide style, the mystery of the real-life "Illinois Cowboy" and his spurs, and the family racing boat legacy that inspired the track "Ora Hula Ballroom". And much more... ------------------------------------------------------ https://www.instagram.com/gatorwaterband https://www.facebook.com/gatorwaterg/ https://gatorwater.bandcamp.com/ ------------------------------------------------------ • 00:00 - Intro • 02:02 - Welcoming Gary Landess, frontman of Gatorwater. • 02:27 - Hydrophonic release • 02:58 - The "Old New" Album • 04:15 - Shirk Studios: • 05:17 - Potions and Elixirs • 08:03 - Independent Release Strategy • 09:40 - Banking Music • 11:54 - Meet the Band: bassist Donovan Foote, harmonica Peter Beck, and drummer Olivia Beatty. • 13:23 - Collaborative Songwriting • 16:54 - Vocals and "Growls" • 22:36 - AI and the Future • 23:35 - The "Titanic Green" Resonator • 27:39 - Baritone Experimentation • 30:23 - From Drums to Guitar • 34:24 - "Faking It Till You Make It" • 39:25 - Musical Gateways • 42:25 - Defining the Sound • 43:54 - Modern Influence • 47:53 - "Illinois Cowboy" • 50:31 - "Ora Hula Ballroom" • 58:00 - Streaming Realities • 58:40 - Tales from Phyllis’ • 59:40 - Outro & Contact Info

    1 hr
  4. Justin Warfield

    JAN 30

    Justin Warfield

    Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. Today, we are joined by the legendary Justin Warfield. From signing a solo deal at sixteen on Quincy Jones’s label to his global success with She Wants Revenge, Justin has spent thirty years navigating diverse genres.  Stick around as we discuss how Beastie Boys made it safe for him to be a 'total weirdo' in early hip-hop, the 'perfect storm' involving Lady Gaga that gave his hit 'Tear You Apart' a massive second life, and the 'Willy Wonka' factory experience of the 90s London music scene. Justin has a new album out called "Deathrock Devotionals" under the band name Warfield.  ------------------------------------------------ https://www.justinwarfield.com https://instagram.com/justinwarfield https://linktr.ee/justinwarfield https://justinwarfield.bandcamp.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_fKiWxtJFNyf0pXQc1vK_w https://cleopatrarecords.bandcamp.com/album/deathrock-devotionals ------------------------------------------------ • 00:00:00 - Intro • 00:02:44 - Starting at 16 accidental career and mentorship in composition. • 00:03:41 - The Quincy Jones Connection • 00:04:51 - Architect of Trip-Hop? • 00:07:09 - "Nashville Skyline" Meets Hip-Hop • 00:09:04 - Freedom to be a "Weirdo" • 00:10:20 - The "Perfect Storm" of 1988/89 • 00:13:29 - Transition to London • 00:14:18 - Willy Wonka’s Factory • 00:16:19 - Cycle of Mentorship • 00:19:25 - Alternative Evolution • 00:21:18 - "Growing Up in Public" • 00:22:17 - Birth of She Wants Revenge • 00:26:37 - A 20-Year Partnership • 00:27:51 - How Lady Gaga personally championed "Tear You Apart" for American Horror Story. • 00:28:44 - The WARFIELD Project • 00:32:43 - Solo Autonomy: creative freedom of recording alone versus the collaborative • 00:34:59 - "All the Fun" Mission Statement • 00:38:06 - Songwriting Deep Dive: Reworking "If the World Starts Crashing Down Tonight" • 00:41:35 - Trusting First Instincts • 00:44:31 - Collaborative Process: How Thomas Froggatt and Spencer Rollins add "curveballs" • 00:48:15 - Live Interpretation • 00:49:08 - Mixtape Generation • 00:50:25 - Vulnerability in "A Love So Bold" • 00:52:23 - Looking Ahead • 00:54:23 - Outro & Contact: Instagram and Bandsintown

    57 min
  5. Mark Guarino

    12/23/2025

    Mark Guarino

    Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. This go round we have Mark Guarino, a veteran journalist for the Washington Post and ABC News, and author of the award-winning music history book, Country and Midwestern.  We discuss how Chicago’s role in country and folk history is like an independent research lab. While Nashville became the high-profile factory producing the finished "products" for the mass market, Chicago was the experimental space where the formulas were first discovered, tested, and pushed into weird, new directions away from corporate oversight. Mark's extensive stories reveal a rich century of Chicago's music evolution.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://countryandmidwestern.com https://www.instagram.com/markguarino ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- • 00:00:54 – Intro: Tom Compton welcomes Mark Guarino • 00:02:07 – Huskies Pride: Reminiscing about high school days and ill-fated track team experiences. • 00:05:32 – A Decade of Discovery: The ten-year journey of writing Country and Midwestern • 00:07:44 – Human-Centric History: Why focusing on the stories of people is the key • 00:10:01 – The Unique 1990s: the luck of being a journalist in the right place at the right time. • 00:12:12 – An "Injustice" Rectified • 00:13:12 – WLS National Barn Dance • 00:15:33 – "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown • 00:20:05 – Stories of Resistance • 00:22:14 – The Gate of Horn • 00:24:29 – Bob Gibson’s Dark Side • 00:28:06 – Old Town School of Folk Music • 00:32:48 – McCarthyism & The FBI • 00:37:08 – The Prine Connection • 00:38:35 – Bob Dylan Deemed Unworthy. • 00:42:44 – A Living Legacy: the University of Chicago Folk Festival • 00:45:15 – From the Will the Circle Be Unbroken resurgence to the modern popularity of Bluegrass. • 00:47:55 – The Spirit of Collaboration • 00:53:44 – 2025 Favorite Releases • 00:57:17 – Van Morrison’s Deep Cuts • 01:03:05 – Closing superlatives

    1h 6m
  6. Brian Dunne

    12/16/2025

    Brian Dunne

    Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. This week we’re diving into the wonderful new album, Clams Casino, with the artist who created it, Brian Dunne. Brian is a singer-songwriter based in New York. He’s known for combining rock and roll with raw, literate self-examination, and he is also a member of the supergroup Fantastic Cat. Stick around as Brian discusses the core conflict of his working-class characters having to choose whether to "sell out or move out", how he produced the album at home, sometimes keeping the "lower quality audio" from original demos to preserve the song’s soul, and why he believes that professional songwriting discipline is like "going fishing" every day. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.briandunnemusic.net/ http://instagram.com/briandunnemusic http://facebook.com/briandunnemusic/ https://briandunne.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bdunne8/videos ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- • 00:01:56 - Intro: Tom Compton welcomes Brian Dunne and praises Clams Casino • 00:03:10 - The concept of Clams Casino as the aftermath of the previous album • 00:04:10 - The central theme of the record: Examining personal and public issues through the lens of class and working-class roots • 00:06:15 - The two main characters and the core conflict: whether to "sell out or move out". • 00:07:14 - Discussing songs that explore the duality of letting a dream die, contrasting the pain with the "sweet relief of letting something go" • 00:08:17 - Solo performance feedback • 00:10:08 - Fantastic Cat: How the "super group of sorts"came together, and plans • 00:12:39 - Production shift: Adopting a new process for Clams Casino by prioritizing the "pure" intention and "soul" • 00:14:34 - Using "lower quality audio" demo tracks to achieve an authentic balance,. • 00:15:30 - The "ears" and collaborators who helped refine the record, including Ken Yates, Dan Rohan, Ben Tali, and Don D’Lego. • 00:17:12 - Brian Dunne played about 90% of the instruments on the album • 00:18:11 - Using his humble New York home studio • 00:21:10 - The title Clams Casino: It is a bygone red-sauce menu item that symbolizes working-class aspiration, class pride, and shame • 00:25:33 - Vocal style and influences • 00:27:51 - Guitar influences: Mike Campbell and Robbie Robertson PTM logo created by David Lawrence PTM theme song "Iron Rails" by Joel Corelitz

    52 min
  7. Elijah Johnston

    12/09/2025

    Elijah Johnston

    Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. Today we welcome Atlanta musician Elijah Johnston, winner of the 2022 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Award. His new album, Stupid Soul, blends lush Americana, power pop, and 90s alternative sounds, earning praise for its diversity. Elijah's most recent release is the holiday song "The Joy in Everything". Hear Elijah discuss how recording Stupid Soul became "more scrambled than initially planned, why he tackled Bruce Springsteen’s "Valentine's Day" with a "modernized shot in the arm", and why he actively avoids an "arms race of who can out personal each other" in songwriting ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://elijahJohnston.net https://instagram.com/elijahmjohnston https://www.tiktok.com/@elijahmjohnston https://elijahjohnston.bandcamp.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- • 00:01:52 - Intro • 00:02:23 - Discussion of the diverse, hard-to-categorize nature of Stupid Soul. • 00:03:15 - The recording process for Stupid Soul becoming "more scrambled" despite aiming for cohesion. • 00:04:34 - The evolution toward a looser style • 00:05:45 - Catchiness of the song "Ideas" and positive reception • 00:07:57 - Translating the sonically dense album tracks into strong live arrangements • 00:10:02 - Awareness of which songs have the necessary structure to shine in solo acoustic versus full-band settings. • 00:11:00 - Performing the complex vocal arrangements of "Baby Bands" live. • 00:13:29 - Attention to album sequencing • 00:14:41 - The choice of "Leonard" as the album opener • 00:19:35 - Prioritizing universal themes and "ecstatic truth" over transcribing diary entries. • 00:23:48 - Covering Bruce Springsteen's "Valentine's Day" • 00:29:53 - Winning the 2022 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Award. • 00:31:42 - The historical significance of Athens, GA • 00:35:05 - Early musical goals focused on songwriting and melody • 00:39:51 - The spontaneous studio decision that turned an electric guitar song into an acoustic, folky track. • 00:43:40 - Sequencing the album closer, "Football Season," as a simple, climactic loop back to the start • 00:47:22 - Using the horror movie title "I Know What You Did Last Summer" metaphorically to explore the dramatic emotions of young people • 00:52:40 - Songwriting process is generally Melody first, followed by finding words that fit • 00:57:21 - The practice of repurposing strong song sections • 00:58:09 - Recording strategy involves strict budgeting and entering the studio avoiding wasting time. • 01:00:32 - Relying on the Apple Voice Memo app to capture raw ideas • 01:01:49 - The history and camaraderie of the core musical crew. • 01:05:45 - Plans for the next album • 01:07:45 - The goal of making every section of a song the "catchy part" • 01:09:06 - Outro & Upcoming dates, including South by Southwest in Austin

    1h 12m
  8. Gabe Lee

    12/02/2025

    Gabe Lee

    Today on Pursuing the Muse, we are in conversation with Nashville native, Gabe Lee! Gabe is an award-winning songwriter, recently named Saving Country Music’s 2023 Album of the Year winner for Drink The River. Known for crafting songs that blend country, folk, and rock, Lee is celebrated as a versatile performer and profound storyteller. Stay tuned to hear Gabe reveal the working title of his next album. He details the unique experience of recording it in a haunted mansion in West Virginia. And he explains why heartbreak is an incredible motivator for any songwriter. So without further Adie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.gabeleetn.com/ https://www.facebook.com/mistergabelee https://www.instagram.com/mistergabelee https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFZaJ14uIYL-ztx-oM-iSeA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- • 00:02:00 - Intro: Tom Compton welcomes Gabe Lee • 00:03:07 - New Single "Wedding Song" • 00:03:39 - The Intense Record Release Cycle • 00:06:01 - Creative Freedom Between Albums • 00:06:48 - Upcoming Record Tone • 00:07:56 - Independent Production • 00:08:35 - A Grungier Sound • 00:09:26 - Producing Solo • 00:10:37 - Working Title: "Brittle County": seemingly strong things can shatter, and seemingly brittle things can be strong • 00:12:35 - Unique Recording Process: Recording eleven songs in a haunted mansion • 00:13:37 - Chemistry vs. Session Musicians • 00:16:59 - Songwriting Origins: Starting songwriting in high school/middle school, channeling emotions and heartbreak • 00:19:07 - Finding His Voice • 00:21:13 - The Leap to Drink the River • 00:23:45 - The Sonic Thread: voice and the thread of storytelling maintain cohesion • 00:26:29 - Affection for Bluegrass • 00:27:32 - Songs Work in Both Worlds • 00:29:28 - Developing Originality • 00:32:09 - The Influence of John Prine • 00:36:10 - Collaboration with King Margo • 00:39:04 - Economics of Touring • 00:43:58 - Musician Networks • 00:45:02 - The Nashville Proving Ground • 00:50:50 - The Art of Sequencing • 00:52:30 - The Emotional Back Half of Drink the River • 00:54:19 - Drink the River Theme • 00:56:38 - The Empathy of Storytelling • 01:02:37 - The Central Message: The title track, "Drink the River" • 01:04:55 - Opening Up to Co-Writing • 01:07:59 - Brian Elmquist Collaboration • 01:08:57 - Outro & Continued Touring

    1h 10m
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About

A podcast about songwriting and the paths musicians take to get songs created.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Compton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Pursuing the Muse