151. Matt Combs Talks Fiddle and 50 Years of Clown School
Host Andy Sydow interviews fiddle virtuoso Matt Combs about his musical journey, the creative process behind 'Fifty Years of Clown School,' and the universal language of music.
19 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
150. Philip Bowen
Philip Bowen is not just a great musician and songwriter, he's also a skilled business person. With a social media following in the millions and session credits including Noah Kahn, Bowen recently gave up his full time job to support his family with full time music.
From Google Overview:
"Philip Bowen is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from West Virginia whose music is inspired by his Appalachian roots. He plays the fiddle, violin, guitar, keys, and mandolin, and has been playing the fiddle since he was four years old. Bowen's music is known for its uplifting spirit and soul-hugging tunes. He's received praise from Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, and Whiskey Riff, and has been featured on NPR's "Mountain Stage" and Americanafest."
If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow
Guest Links:
https://www.philipbowenmusic.com/
Episode Music:
Original music by Andy Sydow
Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com
5 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
149. Abigayle Oakley
In this episode, singer-songwriter Abigayle Oakley shares her journey through evolving her artist name, navigating the music industry as an independent artist, and balancing content creation with artistry. We discuss the impact of technology like AI, strategies for remote collaboration, and her recent successes, including winning the Kerrville Folk Festival. As of the airing of this episode, Oakley is a contestant in Season 29 of NBC's The Voice. Her blind audition earned an INSTANT three-chair turn, where she made the decision to join team Kelly Clarkson.
Key Topics:
The story behind Abigayle changing her artist name from Kompst to Oakley and the emotional journey involved
Challenges and strategies in re-releasing music with new branding and digital logistics
Insights on co-writing versus solo songwriting, and how collaboration impacts the creative process
The influence of growing up in Vegas and early musical experiences
How her education at Belmont shaped her songwriting and industry
understanding
The significance of music contests like Kerrville Folk Festival and touring opportunities
Balancing social media content creation and audience engagement without burnout
Thoughts on AI's role in music production, copyright concerns, and industry implications
Navigating the music industry’s economic realities and her shift towards prioritizing creative fulfillment
The importance of community, both in festivals and in songwriting circles, for artistic growth
If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow
Guest Links:
https://www.abigayleoakley.com/
Episode Music:
Original music by Andy Sydow
Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com
#music #songwriting #touring #promotion #community #thevoice #abigayleoakley #teamkelly #originalmusic #indieartist #musicbusiness
Inside a recent episode
151. Matt Combs Talks Fiddle and 50 Years of Clown School
Published 1 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I mean, that's pretty cool. And yeah, yeah. You just, you just never. And also with all the legends I got to play with out at the Opry and, and people I got to become friends with. I mean, so it's like, I've been able to play with anybody from like Loretta Lynn to, you know, Casey Musgraves. It's like, it's, It's crazy. It's like I couldn't have dreamt this up. And I want to continue to be in this path of like, I don't know. I don't have a plan because the plan I might have had might be smaller than what could actually happen. So I just want to leave it open to the power of whatever you want to call it and try to stay out of the way. […]
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
