Pursuing the Muse

Pursuing the Muse is back. This episode, we're featuring jazz guitar virtuoso Tim Fitzgerald. Tim and Tom go way back, so Tom can vouch for the fact that Tim's journey is incredible. He transitioned from studying physics to music mastery, learning the rules and how to break them from Barry Harris and Rodney Jones. Tim's now a scholar of Wes Montgomery and has released the acclaimed &#3...

In this episode we're fortunate to have Nashville musician Mike Delevante join us. His new album, September Days, is in contention for record of the year. It boasts a timeless quality with jangly 12 string electric guitars and it offers a deeply personal feel. Notably, this marks Mike's first album of entirely self-written songs. It's a significant solo debut after years of making musi...

In this episode, host Tom Compton talks with Eric Ambel, who truly embodies the word versatile in his work as a musician, producer, and even venue owner at one point. Eric says his many musical roles enhance each other. With a career spanning decades, Eric Ambel was a founding member of iconic bands like Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Del Lords and the Yayhoos. 25 years ago, Eric co-founded Co...

Pursuing the Muse is back for season 3! In this episode, host Tom Compton sits down with singer-songwriter Jon Muq, whose debut album, Flying Away, was widely acclaimed. On Jon's journey from Uganda to Texas, Jon learned to craft vital, joyful songs that are very much needed in our world today. The discussion explores his new single "Hear My Voice" and the creation of his album, produc...

Announcement that Pursuing the Muse returns for season 3 starting on June 17th

Nancy Abrams joins Pursuing the Muse this week to discuss the original music that she releases on her Substack, the Philosophical Cabaret. After a career in philosophy, law and as an author, she is devoting time to sharing her music in a cabaret format, to provoke and to invite discussion. Nancy shares great insights from her breadth of experience, on how she writes and the importance of music its...

Scott Low comes on the podcast this week and talks about his take on songwriting. Scott, a true scholar of music, takes a deep dive on not just how he has evolved with various genres of music over the decades, but he also goes into how popular music has evolved over the last century. He is an avid fisherman and also has insights how songwriting and fishing have many similarities. He talks about ho...

Mike Felten joins Pursuing the Muse to talk about his long career playing the Chicago music scene, playing his original brand of rock and roll with a folk and blues twist. He talks about starting out writing songs in his bedroom and growing from there. All while owning and operating multiple locations of Record Emporium in Chicago and Michigan. Learn more about Mike at his official website... http...

Alice Peacock joins the show this week to talk about her career as a singer songwriter, how her creative process works and gives an update on what's coming down the pike. Alice has a joyous enthusiasm that is contagious. She has an amazing talent for writing songs that are smart, catchy and authentically vulnerable. Learn more about Alice at... https://www.alicepeacock.com/ https://www.instagr...

Joel Corelitz joins the show this week. Joel is a composer and sound designer who has worked in the video game industry for over a decade. He has composed for major franchises like Halo and Mortal Kombat, in addition to voluminous indie game projects. Out of college Joel worked on commercials, as well as, installations for live events alongside prestigious firms such as Leviathan. Joel also works...

Jon Nolan, one of the co-frontmen of Say Zuzu, is here to kick off season two of Pursuing the Muse. Jon saw Say Zuzu rise on the 90's alt rock/country scene. In 2003 the band broke up and went their separate ways. Jon put out a few records as a solo artist. In 2019 New West Records approached the band about getting back together. And they did to great results with one of the best albums os 202...

We've made it to the end of season one of Pursuing the Muse. I invited Terry Anderson back on to help wrap things up. The timing was great because Terry has a new record out now, Got to Be Strong! It's so good! Get it at the Bandcamp link below. This season has been a treat for me with all the insights I've gained from some of the best songwriters out there today. And I encourage you,...

Nick Dittmeier joins the show to talk about his most recent records, how he got started writing songs, and what lies ahead without a 5 year plan. 6 months at best. Check out Nick at: https://nickdittmeier.com/ https://nickdittmeier.bandcamp.com/merch

Nathan Graham joins me on this episode of Pursuing the Muse. We talk about his fantastic new album "Saint of Second Chances". We delve into the story arc the record has. We discuss Nathan's range of influences including being influenced by movies. Nathan also reveals just how many voice memos he has on his phone. Check out Nathan here: https://www.nathangrahammusic.com/ https://nathang...

Terry Anderson is this week's guest on Pursuing the Muse. Terry talks about how he got started from thwacking a belt on Muleskinner Blues as a boy to having top 40 hits that bring in royalty checks to this day. We talk about how his weird instrument tunings inspire songs, as well as how thinks about music 23 hours a day. The only thing Terry doesn't share is the name of the only box wine o...

Steve Dawson is on this episode of "Pursuing the Muse". Steve talks about his career, his start writing songs, his experience teaching songwriting at the Old Town School of Folk Music, the songwriting book he co-authored "Take It to the Bridge", and he steps through one of the songs off his most recent album, "At the Bottom of a Canyon In the Branches of a Tree". Steve has...

Jon Danforth is here for episode 2 of Pursuing the Muse. We talk about Jon's songwriting process, how he came to love country music, the impact music has on culture, the wacky direction AI is going in music, and a whole slew of other stuff. Check out Jon's music at: https://jondanforth.com https://jondanforth.bandcamp.com/ Social media: @jonmdanforth Pursuing the Muse theme song by Joel Co...

Welcome to season one of Pursuing the Muse a podcast about songwriting. I'll be talking to musicians about what they do and how they do it with the craft of making songs. Today, from just outside the Mississippi delta, I'm happy to bring you an interview with Andrew Bryant. He is a founding member of the Water Liars, as well as, an accomplished solo artist. His latest offering, "Prodig...

Season One introduction episode for Pursuing the Muse