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!
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https://henryconlonmusic.com/
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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
