Pursuing the Muse
Claim This Podcastby Tom Compton
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Podcast Overview
<p>A podcast about songwriting and the paths musicians take to get songs created.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/23/2024
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Recent Episodes
May 29, 2026
Nathan Evans Fox
<p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>----------------------------------------</p><p>https://www.nathanevansfox.com/</p><p>https://instagram.com/nathan.evans.fox</p><p>https://www.tiktok.com/@nathan.evans.fox</p><p>https://nathanevansfox.substack.com/</p><p>----------------------------------------</p><p>00:00 – Intro and Theme</p><p>02:02 – Welcome: Nathan Evans Fox on the "exhaustion of dadhood"</p><p>02:44 – Introducing the new album, Heirloom</p><p>03:24 – The risk and vulnerability of autobiographical songwriting</p><p>04:11 – Vocal dynamics and the raw emotion of "I Know The End"</p><p>04:58 – The central theme: Becoming a father while losing a father</p><p>05:06 – Exploring personal, political, and systemic inheritances</p><p>06:00 – Making the album a literal heirloom through a structural "loop"</p><p>09:01 – The "nine-month panic attack" of bringing a child into the world</p><p>10:02 – Perspectival shifts from abstract "what ifs" to concrete history</p><p>10:59 – Biblical Jubilee and the hope for social liberation</p><p>13:05 – The Banjo: A tool for losing religion and marking cultural location</p><p>15:03 – Avoiding nostalgia and "stomp and holler hell"</p><p>16:18 – Inventive textures: Bowing, muting, and synth-style banjo</p><p>17:19 – The "cursed" noise solo on the track "Race Car"</p><p>18:21 – Banjo virtuosity vs. the "pocket and vibe" of songwriting</p><p>19:45 – The "Chris Knight" edge of the song "Meanness"</p><p>20:20 – Pushing creative boundaries and avoiding the "worship music" sound</p><p>22:12 – Collaborating with producer Zachary Hamilton</p><p>23:46 – A look at the contemporary Kentucky country scene</p><p>24:43 – Sequencing the record: A-sides, B-sides, and viral transitions</p><p>26:43 – "Thinking About Quitting": A scary cry for help</p><p>28:54 – "Sevendust": Insecticide as a metaphor for poisonous love</p><p>33:48 – Reimagining the nuclear family as a rehearsal space for solidarity</p><p>35:10 – The professional empath: Lessons from hospital chaplaincy</p><p>37:05 – When empathy isn't enough: The need for systemic solidarity</p><p>38:43 – Music as medicine and the "blue-collar" understanding of songs</p><p>40:24 – Metabolizing pain into agency and change</p><p>41:46 – Planting seeds and being "good compost" for the future</p><p>42:51 – Nurturing real hope vs. "the cheap shit"</p><p>44:52 – Upcoming tour dates and record release shows</p><p>45:47 – The "used car salesman" reality of the 2026 music industry</p><p>48:43 – Rewilding Country Music: Killing the monocrop of mainstream values</p><p>50:45 – Radicalizing the merch table with Zines and Okra seeds</p><p>55:47 – Musical influences: The AI-proof genius of Roger Miller</p><p>57:05 – Autobiographical boundaries and the influence of David Bazan</p><p>59:19 – The heartbreak of Wasted Love and the "composting" of a career</p><p>01:05:21 – Closing thoughts on authenticity and "no cosplay" country</p><p>01:07:04 – Outro and Contact Information</p>
May 22, 2026
The Band of Heathens
<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>----------------------------------------</p><p>https://bandofheathens.com/</p><p>https://www.facebook.com/thebandofheathens</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/bandofheathens</p><p>https://www.patreon.com/bandofheathens</p><p>----------------------------------------</p><p>00:00 - Theme and Intro</p><p>02:14 - Welcoming Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist</p><p>02:50 - Celebrating 20 Years: From the Momo’s Residency to Country Sides</p><p>04:22 - Improving the Craft: Dedication to Songwriting in Middle Age</p><p>05:27 - The "Problem Solving" Nature of the Songwriting Puzzle</p><p>07:02 - Waiting for Inspiration vs. The Discipline of Showing Up</p><p>09:15 - Keeping the Creative "Antenna" Up</p><p>11:44 - Inviting Inspiration: How Literature, Film, and Other Art Fuel Ideas</p><p>13:24 - Patterns of Creation: Starting with Titles, Guitar Hooks, or Stream of Consciousness</p><p>15:20 - Remote Collaboration and Trusting Each Other's Instincts</p><p>17:45 - Early Roots: The Original Lineup and the "Side Project" at Momo’s</p><p>19:51 - The Liberation of Shared Frontman Duties</p><p>21:45 - Common Aesthetics as the Key to Band Longevity</p><p>22:47 - The Legend of Colin Brooks: From Rocker to Fly Fishing Guide</p><p>24:47 - Full Circle Moments: Reconnecting on Stage with Old Friends</p><p>26:24 - The Good Time Supper Club: Building a Digital "Second Family"</p><p>27:41 - The Dartmouth Connection: Gordy and Trevor’s Past as College Football Players</p><p>28:51 - From the Gridiron to the Stage: Translating Linebacker Tenacity to Music</p><p>31:10 - Bull Riding Trivia: The Biblical and Texas Imagery of "Eight More Seconds"</p><p>32:33 - The Finishing School: Running a Private Creative Clubhouse in Austin</p><p>33:41 - BOH Records: The Business of Staying Independent</p><p>35:50 - Why They Turned Down Major Label Deals and Kept Their Rights</p><p>37:39 - "Hurricane": The Accidental Journey of a Platinum Monster</p><p>38:37 - Reinterpreting Levon Helm: Dark Themes and Gulf Coast Imagery</p><p>40:55 - The "Slow Burn": How "Hurricane" Went Viral Without Industry Muscle</p><p>42:27 - Hayes & The Heathens: Collaborating for the Pure Fun of It</p><p>47:22 - Learning Lyric Obsession and Word-Level Detail from Hayes Carll</p><p>51:25 - Simple Things: Capturing the Hard-Won Optimism of the Post-Pandemic Spirit</p><p>53:11 - "Sprints" and "Pods": The Strange Logistics of Recording During Lockdown</p><p>56:01 - The Narrative Arc of Country Sides: Mirroring the Band's 20-Year Journey</p><p>59:34 - Connecting with the Band: Patreon, Good Time Supper Club, and Social Media</p><p>01:00:58 - Outro & Closing Remarks</p><p><br></p>
April 17, 2026
Warner Hodges
<p>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!</p><p>---------------------------------------------</p><p>https://warnerehodges.com/</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/warnerhodges/</p><p>https://www.facebook.com/warnerhodges</p><p><br></p><p>Get the new album Absolutely here:</p><p>https://warnerehodges.com/store</p><p>---------------------------------------------</p><p>• 00:00:00 - Introduction and song clips</p><p>• 00:02:02 - Tom Compton welcomes Warner Hodges to Pursuing the Muse</p><p>• 00:02:28 - Transitioning from Sideman to Lead Frontman</p><p>• 00:04:51 - "I Hope You Die Out There": Perspectives on Road Life</p><p>• 00:05:41 - Early Musical Roots: Playing Drums in the Family Country Band</p><p>• 00:08:55 - From Drums to Guitar: The Impact of Seeing AC/DC</p><p>• 00:10:56 - Rehearsals vs. Pedals: Hard Truths from Dan Baird</p><p>• 00:13:31 - The Attitude of Punk and the Impact of the Sex Pistols</p><p>• 00:14:47 - Meeting Jason Ringenberg and Forming the Scorchers</p><p>• 00:17:36 - Defining "Cowpunk" and "Volume-Based Americana"</p><p>• 00:18:54 - Touring the Southeast with the Ramones and R.E.M.</p><p>• 00:22:38 - Sobriety and Reclaiming the Gift of Music</p><p>• 00:27:50 - The Evolution of Guitar Style and Nashville Chops</p><p>• 00:32:14 - The Physics and History of the 360-Degree Guitar Flip</p><p>• 00:35:13 - Connecting with the Georgia Satellites</p><p>• 00:37:25 - Joining Homemade Sin and Performing Satellites Classics</p><p>• 00:40:50 - "A Rock Band Inside a Jazz Head": Improvised Setlists</p><p>• 00:43:31 - Producing "Rollercoaster" and Trusting Joe Blanton’s Ear</p><p>• 00:45:29 - Collaborative Songwriting Dynamics</p><p>• 00:50:41 - The "Absolutely" Album and the Supersuckers Connection</p><p>• 00:53:27 - The Bluefields and Jimmy Page Aspirations</p><p>• 00:56:13 - Outro and Closing Remark</p>
41 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Pursuing the Muse?
<p>A podcast about songwriting and the paths musicians take to get songs created.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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