Pursuing the Muse

Tom Compton

5.0 (3)
Music Interviews
Updated Weekly

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

3d ago

Theo Kandel

Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. Today, we're joined by singer songwriter Theo Kandel to talk about his wonderful new album, A Horse Named Friday. It is the follow up to his debut album Eating, Drinking and Being and Love and I'm happy to say there is no sophomore slump here. Stick around to hear how a stolen bowling ball sparked a ten-minute mockumentary film in addition to a great song. Learn how Sheryl Crow met Paul Simon to inspire his track "The Station,". Also find out why he structured the record to start and end in the exact same musical key. _______________________________________ https://www.theokandel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/theokandel https://theokandel.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3vyFRckdQb9oObCKpYtu2A https://www.facebook.com/theokandelmusic https://www.tiktok.com/@theokandel https://theokandel.myshopify.com/ _______________________________________ • 00:00 - Theme and Intro • 02:19 - Welcome: Tom Compton introduces Theo Kandel to Pursuing the Muse • 02:48 - Production credits on A Horse Named Friday and band lineup • 04:53 - Collaborative arranging and songwriting for "The Station" • 05:48 - Day-of demos vs. Grand Street Recording studio blocks • 06:43 - Growth and grief: The existential impact of losing Oliver Freiberg • 09:14 - "Sadness is a Sine Wave" and the physics of emotional elasticity • 10:13 - The Heraclitean river metaphor of change in "A Horse Named Friday" • 11:00 - Tracklist design, sequencing vibes, and key relationships in G • 12:57 - Sonic arc: Transitioning from pop energy to introspection • 14:21 - John Prine’s influence, universal accessibility, and avoiding pretension • 15:37 - Writing in the conversational second person and self-deprecation • 16:10 - Releasing "For Oliver" as a standalone tribute single • 18:51 - Vanderbilt English degree, T.S. Eliot, and Frank O'Hara's Lunch Poems • 22:30 - The bowling-obsessed real-life origin of "7-10 Split" • 23:24 - Fictionalizing a bowling-alley love triangle with walkdowns • 26:12 - Smashed windows and searching Echo Park dumpsters • 27:39 - PBA Tour bowler Bailey Maverick’s custom balls on tour • 29:06 - Grace Runnels’ screenplay and the 10-minute mockumentary music video • 30:46 - The value of cinematic music videos vs. short-form vertical content • 32:11 - Spinal Tap meets Kingpin comedic overlap in filming • 32:51 - Early songwriting foundations and parents' classic records • 33:36 - Inside Llewyn Davis and the Greenwich Village folk movement • 33:47 - John Fahey, Travis style picking, and DI tape saturation tricks • 36:03 - High school guitar lessons and building muscle memory • 38:06 - James Taylor’s BBC live performance techniques and clean attack • 40:09 - Hollow body guitar sustain vs. clean acoustic ASMR flatness • 41:09 - Learning Colin Hay's "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin" • 42:47 - Delays and logistics of the nine-month single rollout strategy • 45:15 - Tracklist length, budget limitations, and artistic discernment • 48:16 - Strip-down palette cleansers: Somewhere Along the Trail, Vol. 3 • 50:49 - Vinyl design and upcoming physical release schedules • 51:20 - "Very Great Quest Tour" West Coast acoustic lineup • 52:16 - Schubas Tavern, wood acoustics, and Chicago Handshake Malört shots • 53:26 - The career sine wave of LPs and acoustic EPs • 54:05 - Substack newsletter and lyrics deep dives in "The 7-10 Split" • 55:34 - Social media footprint across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube • 55:49 - The bonfire metaphor of TikTok algorithmic careers • 57:52 - Meeting Evan Honer and recording "Flight to JFK" live session • 58:13 - Woodstock songwriting retreats and finding community • 59:15 - Stage acrobatics, backflips, and stage bench press alternatives • 01:00:11 - Outro and closing remarks
Aug 21

Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters

Welcome to Pursuing the Muse; today I’m catching up with Nick Dittmeier of Nick Dittmeier and the Saw Dusters, as well as, talking to bassist Shelley Anderson a bonafide Sawduster herself. Nick is a veteran of the show from season one who is currently on a "relentless" tour supporting his new album, Apparition, which has already taken the band from the Midwest to Europe and back again. Stick around as we discuss the mysterious internet-bot origin of his crazy album art, why Nick decided to "retire" from drinking to become a better band leader, and the his comparisons of European and American audiences. Side note, Nick and the band have never sounded better than they did at Broken Hearts. I have seen this band many times. They are a rock and roll powerhouse that you should not miss when they come to your town. Conversation with Nick will be followed by a chat with Shelley. Stay tuned _____________________________________ https://www.facebook.com/nickdittmeiermusic https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGBfrvKReo4rQW7sI1KGfcQ https://www.instagram.com/nick_dittmeier_music/ https://nickdittmeier.bandcamp.com/merch _____________________________________ 00:00 - Intro: Episode Teaser and Welcome 02:11 - Interview Welcome & Supporting Apparition on the Road 03:20 - American vs. European Audiences & Guitar Attention Spans 04:55 - The Bot-Generated Album Art Mystery 06:55 - The Autobiographical Origins of "Apparition" 07:50 - Sobriety: Being the "Captain of the Ship" 10:20 - The "Moneyball" Mindset & Having a Short Memory 12:50 - Splicing the Opener: "Reckless" and "Revenge" 14:00 - The Complex Amalgamation behind "Black Dad White Mom" 17:15 - Modified Telecaster Tones & Hybrid Picking Style 20:20 - Prolific Songwriting & The Modern Cost of Album Releases 23:10 - Glimmers of Optimism in "Running Away" 24:45 - The Road Ahead & Rebranding Social Media Handles 26:15 - Meet Bassist Shelly Anderson & Switching to Bass 28:00 - Bass Influences: From Kim Deal to PJ Harvey 29:05 - 20 Years of Mastering: From Country Stars to Rock Royalty 30:50 - Joining via Instagram DM & Translating Phone Voice Memos 33:00 - Rhythm Chemistry: Comparing Josh vs. Chase on Drums 34:30 - Power Trio Dynamics: "Two for the Price of One" 35:50 - Outro
Aug 7

Thomas Csorba

Welcome back to Pursuing the Muse. Today, we sit down with Texas singer-songwriter Thomas Csorba. Based in Dallas, Csorba is a modern master of Americana who documents the emotional realities of domestic life and fatherhood on his brand new record, "Tender Country" Stay tuned as we discuss: Why his new album is already in my top four records of the year, his fascinating "Mirror versus Window" theory of artistry, and how getting a day job helped him finally redefine what it means to really hit the big time. ------------------------------------------------ https://www.thomascsorba.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thomascsorbamusic/ https://www.facebook.com/thomascsorbamusic/ https://www.thomascsorba.com/store ------------------------------------------------ 00:00:00 – Intro 00:02:04 – Welcome: Tender Country makes the "Final Four" best records of the year 00:02:57 – Defining Tender Country: Honesty, fatherhood, and pushing against "shock factor" culture 00:05:07 – Artistic Philosophy: Being a "Mirror" versus a "Window" for the listener 00:06:28 – Redefining success and reconciling life on the road with family 00:08:16 – Releasing the Pressure Valve: How getting a day job shifted Csorba's perspective 00:10:30 – Studio Textures: Evoking Stevie Wonder with the Clavinet on "Homemade Margaritas" 00:11:46 – "Bigger Wheels" and capturing the universal truth of watching children grow up 00:12:31 – Turtlebox Records: Partnering with the "Yeti of Speakers" for their debut release 00:15:20 – Songwriting Craft: Instruments, co-writing with Brian Douglas Phillips, and the influence of Emily Dickinson 00:16:35 – "Bigger Than Your Hat": Reworking the "cowboy's blessing" and Harry Nilsson 00:19:13 – Discipline and Accountability: The pros and cons of co-writing 00:20:09 – Willie Nelson lullabies, Texas songwriters, and a deep dive into Tony Rice 00:22:12 – Balancing "Clever" vs. "Authentic": When puns work and when they distract from the heart 00:24:40 – The Editing Process: The "first draft" philosophy and constant tweaking in the studio 00:26:40 – The Life of a Song: Why records are snapshots rather than final versions 00:28:14 – Covering "Little Green Apples": Tradition, shared community, and an "attitude of gratitude" 00:31:09 – THow dying to oneself leads to better art and a better household 00:33:40 – An oil-painting wife, unimpressed kids, and the mundane as sacred 00:35:29 – Family Update: Two boys and a baby girl on the way 00:36:31 – Solo acoustic runs, "lean and mean" touring, and collaborating with David Ramirez 00:38:23 – Thinking in albums, concept records, and new songs 00:41:42 – Outro and Contact Information
Jul 10

Sophie Gault

Welcome back to Pursuing the Muse. Joining us today is Nashville’s Sophie Gault an east coast raised songwriter and guitarist celebrated for her aggressive playing style and a commitment to uncompromising honesty. Stay tuned as we discuss the single comment from her manager that redefined her sound, the eight-hour marathon session that captured lightning in a bottle, and why she considers the act of songwriting a form of magical therapy. ----------------------------------------------------- https://www.sophiegault.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sophie_gault/ https://www.facebook.com/sophiegaultmusic https://www.youtube.com/@sophie-gault ----------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro 01:46 - Tom welcomes Nashville recording artist Sophie Gault to Pursuing the Muse 02:11 - Unhinged as a "Lifeline": How the record helped Tom navigate a blizzard 03:33 - Defining "Unhinged": A comment from her manager at The Underdog leads to a new musical direction 04:42 - Song Inspiration: "Outlaw Cruises," gambling, and the blues influence on the title track 05:44 - The Triple Threat: Balancing the roles of guitarist, singer, and songwriter 06:46 - Early Beginnings: Quitting piano lessons at eight and begging for a guitar at twelve 07:17 - Musical Evolution: From Green Day's power chords to the blues of Bonnie Raitt 08:32 - Capturing Energy: Selecting the right session players to make a song "breathe" 09:41 - Creative Shorthand: Using "Snakes in Space" to communicate musical vibes 12:41 - Independent Struggles: The financial and mental toll of the modern music business 14:57 - Studio Atmosphere: Imagining a late-night bar environment within a sterile studio 16:31 - Lightning in a Bottle: The "Butterfly Effect" of recording live-to-tape sessions 17:10 - Lyrical Themes: Exploring heartbreak, anger, and "parking lot vengeance" 20:19 - "Chestnut Street": A college literature class song finally finds its home 21:11 - The Art of the Cover: Finding the truth inside the songs of Robert Johnson and Buck Owens 25:20 - Touring Realities: Full-band runs, Sirius XM airplay, and the Yorkville Law Office 27:17 - Geographic Influence: The journey from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to the Catskills and Nashville 29:09 - Texas "Holy Land": The appeal of Austin and the influence of Gurf Morlix 33:00 - The "Broken Things" Concept: Nashville band culture and the inspiration of Julie Miller 40:02 - Songwriting as Therapy: Digging deep for brutal honesty and the "magical" transformation of experience 41:51 - "Gems from the Sky": Songs like "Over and Out" that write themselves in fifteen minutes 42:50 - Breaking Stigma: Writing "Christmas in the Psych Ward" and navigating Bipolar Mania 46:39 - "Stowaway": Using cruise ship metaphors to capture unbidden feelings 51:18 - Writing on the Road: Avoiding creative blocks while traveling 52:18 - Road Gratitude: Finding joy in the early morning coffee and the next destination 54:32 - Old Souls and Social Media: Why Sophie identifies as more than a TikToker 55:24 - Outro & Contact Information
May 29

Nathan Evans Fox

Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. Today we’re joined by Nathan Evans Fox, a musician whose brand of country blends Appalachian roots with deep empathy. Stay tuned as we discuss the raw emotion of Nathan becoming a father while losing his own in the same year. We’ll also explore his inventive "rewilding" of the banjo and hear all about his beautiful new album, Heirloom, out now, Pick it up today. ---------------------------------------- https://www.nathanevansfox.com/ https://instagram.com/nathan.evans.fox https://www.tiktok.com/@nathan.evans.fox https://nathanevansfox.substack.com/ ---------------------------------------- 00:00 – Intro and Theme 02:02 – Welcome: Nathan Evans Fox on the "exhaustion of dadhood" 02:44 – Introducing the new album, Heirloom 03:24 – The risk and vulnerability of autobiographical songwriting 04:11 – Vocal dynamics and the raw emotion of "I Know The End" 04:58 – The central theme: Becoming a father while losing a father 05:06 – Exploring personal, political, and systemic inheritances 06:00 – Making the album a literal heirloom through a structural "loop" 09:01 – The "nine-month panic attack" of bringing a child into the world 10:02 – Perspectival shifts from abstract "what ifs" to concrete history 10:59 – Biblical Jubilee and the hope for social liberation 13:05 – The Banjo: A tool for losing religion and marking cultural location 15:03 – Avoiding nostalgia and "stomp and holler hell" 16:18 – Inventive textures: Bowing, muting, and synth-style banjo 17:19 – The "cursed" noise solo on the track "Race Car" 18:21 – Banjo virtuosity vs. the "pocket and vibe" of songwriting 19:45 – The "Chris Knight" edge of the song "Meanness" 20:20 – Pushing creative boundaries and avoiding the "worship music" sound 22:12 – Collaborating with producer Zachary Hamilton 23:46 – A look at the contemporary Kentucky country scene 24:43 – Sequencing the record: A-sides, B-sides, and viral transitions 26:43 – "Thinking About Quitting": A scary cry for help 28:54 – "Sevendust": Insecticide as a metaphor for poisonous love 33:48 – Reimagining the nuclear family as a rehearsal space for solidarity 35:10 – The professional empath: Lessons from hospital chaplaincy 37:05 – When empathy isn't enough: The need for systemic solidarity 38:43 – Music as medicine and the "blue-collar" understanding of songs 40:24 – Metabolizing pain into agency and change 41:46 – Planting seeds and being "good compost" for the future 42:51 – Nurturing real hope vs. "the cheap shit" 44:52 – Upcoming tour dates and record release shows 45:47 – The "used car salesman" reality of the 2026 music industry 48:43 – Rewilding Country Music: Killing the monocrop of mainstream values 50:45 – Radicalizing the merch table with Zines and Okra seeds 55:47 – Musical influences: The AI-proof genius of Roger Miller 57:05 – Autobiographical boundaries and the influence of David Bazan 59:19 – The heartbreak of Wasted Love and the "composting" of a career 01:05:21 – Closing thoughts on authenticity and "no cosplay" country 01:07:04 – Outro and Contact Information
May 22

The Band of Heathens

Welcome again to Pursuing the Muse! Today we are joined by Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, the frontmen and primary songwriters of the Austin-based Band of Heathens, who are celebrating twenty years of making great music. Stick around to hear how their song craft has evolved over the years. Learn how Hurricane grew into a platinum monster. And find out which band member played linebacker in college. ---------------------------------------- https://bandofheathens.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thebandofheathens https://www.instagram.com/bandofheathens https://www.patreon.com/bandofheathens ---------------------------------------- 00:00 - Theme and Intro 02:14 - Welcoming Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist 02:50 - Celebrating 20 Years: From the Momo’s Residency to Country Sides 04:22 - Improving the Craft: Dedication to Songwriting in Middle Age 05:27 - The "Problem Solving" Nature of the Songwriting Puzzle 07:02 - Waiting for Inspiration vs. The Discipline of Showing Up 09:15 - Keeping the Creative "Antenna" Up 11:44 - Inviting Inspiration: How Literature, Film, and Other Art Fuel Ideas 13:24 - Patterns of Creation: Starting with Titles, Guitar Hooks, or Stream of Consciousness 15:20 - Remote Collaboration and Trusting Each Other's Instincts 17:45 - Early Roots: The Original Lineup and the "Side Project" at Momo’s 19:51 - The Liberation of Shared Frontman Duties 21:45 - Common Aesthetics as the Key to Band Longevity 22:47 - The Legend of Colin Brooks: From Rocker to Fly Fishing Guide 24:47 - Full Circle Moments: Reconnecting on Stage with Old Friends 26:24 - The Good Time Supper Club: Building a Digital "Second Family" 27:41 - The Dartmouth Connection: Gordy and Trevor’s Past as College Football Players 28:51 - From the Gridiron to the Stage: Translating Linebacker Tenacity to Music 31:10 - Bull Riding Trivia: The Biblical and Texas Imagery of "Eight More Seconds" 32:33 - The Finishing School: Running a Private Creative Clubhouse in Austin 33:41 - BOH Records: The Business of Staying Independent 35:50 - Why They Turned Down Major Label Deals and Kept Their Rights 37:39 - "Hurricane": The Accidental Journey of a Platinum Monster 38:37 - Reinterpreting Levon Helm: Dark Themes and Gulf Coast Imagery 40:55 - The "Slow Burn": How "Hurricane" Went Viral Without Industry Muscle 42:27 - Hayes & The Heathens: Collaborating for the Pure Fun of It 47:22 - Learning Lyric Obsession and Word-Level Detail from Hayes Carll 51:25 - Simple Things: Capturing the Hard-Won Optimism of the Post-Pandemic Spirit 53:11 - "Sprints" and "Pods": The Strange Logistics of Recording During Lockdown 56:01 - The Narrative Arc of Country Sides: Mirroring the Band's 20-Year Journey 59:34 - Connecting with the Band: Patreon, Good Time Supper Club, and Social Media 01:00:58 - Outro & Closing Remarks
Apr 17

Warner Hodges

Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. Today we feature Warner Hodges, an Americana pioneer who rose from childhood drumming in USO country bands to defining the cowpunk sound with Jason and the Scorchers. He's also played alongside Dan Baird and Homemade Sin, as well as, the Bluefields. Now he's fronting the Warner E Hodges Band and not missing a beat. In this episode, Warner reveals why his wife actually hopes he dies out there on stage. The blunt advice he received from Dan Baird about the need for more guitar pedals, and the accidental and hilarious origin of the title to his new album, Absolutely. Pick that record up today! --------------------------------------------- https://warnerehodges.com/ https://www.instagram.com/warnerhodges/ https://www.facebook.com/warnerhodges Get the new album Absolutely here: https://warnerehodges.com/store --------------------------------------------- • 00:00:00 - Introduction and song clips • 00:02:02 - Tom Compton welcomes Warner Hodges to Pursuing the Muse • 00:02:28 - Transitioning from Sideman to Lead Frontman • 00:04:51 - "I Hope You Die Out There": Perspectives on Road Life • 00:05:41 - Early Musical Roots: Playing Drums in the Family Country Band • 00:08:55 - From Drums to Guitar: The Impact of Seeing AC/DC • 00:10:56 - Rehearsals vs. Pedals: Hard Truths from Dan Baird • 00:13:31 - The Attitude of Punk and the Impact of the Sex Pistols • 00:14:47 - Meeting Jason Ringenberg and Forming the Scorchers • 00:17:36 - Defining "Cowpunk" and "Volume-Based Americana" • 00:18:54 - Touring the Southeast with the Ramones and R.E.M. • 00:22:38 - Sobriety and Reclaiming the Gift of Music • 00:27:50 - The Evolution of Guitar Style and Nashville Chops • 00:32:14 - The Physics and History of the 360-Degree Guitar Flip • 00:35:13 - Connecting with the Georgia Satellites • 00:37:25 - Joining Homemade Sin and Performing Satellites Classics • 00:40:50 - "A Rock Band Inside a Jazz Head": Improvised Setlists • 00:43:31 - Producing "Rollercoaster" and Trusting Joe Blanton’s Ear • 00:45:29 - Collaborative Songwriting Dynamics • 00:50:41 - The "Absolutely" Album and the Supersuckers Connection • 00:53:27 - The Bluefields and Jimmy Page Aspirations • 00:56:13 - Outro and Closing Remark
Apr 3

Pert Near Sandstone

Today's guest is Nate Sipe, a founding member of the legendary Minnesota string band pert near Sandstone, who has been a staple of the Midwestern roots scene for over twenty years. As a multi-instrumentalist and co-curator of the Blue Ox Music Festival, Nate offers a unique look at the pipe dream of a lifelong career in music. In this episode, Nate reveals the origin of the band's name, discusses the urgent role of musicians as ambassadors for a traumatized Minneapolis, and shares how he stumbles into his best melodic hooks by simply noodling on new instruments. And much more. ----------------------------------------------------------- https://linktr.ee/pertnearsandstone ----------------------------------------------------------- • 00:00 - Theme and introduction • 01:59 - Tom welcomes Nate Sipe to Pursuing the Muse • 02:31 - Celebrating "Pert Near" 20 Years as a Band • 04:07 - Song Inspiration: "Pipe Dream" and Touring Realities • 06:14 - The Collaborative Songwriting and Studio Process • 08:28 - The Origin of the "Pert Near Sandstone" Band Name • 11:29 - Nate Sipe’s Journey as a Multi-Instrumentalist • 15:34 - Finding Hooks through "Noodling" and Stumbling • 18:08 - Recording "Shooting Star" with Family Heirlooms • 19:42 - "Grace": Addressing Homelessness and Urban Life • 22:23 - Reflections on the Minneapolis Community and Trauma • 25:24 - Being an "Ambassador" for Minneapolis on the Road • 29:26 - Curation and Origins of the Blue Ox Music Festival • 32:50 - The Growth and Vibe of the Blue Ox Community • 35:55 - Musical Influences: From Grunge to Leo Kottke • 41:32 - Composing for Theater and Film (Ishmael) • 48:17 - Upcoming Tours and the "Road to Blue Ox" • 51:30 - Insights from Hosting the Blue Ox Podcast • 55:08 - Blue Ox 2026 Logistics and Camping • 57:41 - Outro & Final Remarks

Trailer

Season Introduction

Season One introduction episode for Pursuing the Muse

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

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

Creator

Tom Compton
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

47
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© All rights reserved.
Show Website

Pursuing the Muse