I speak with singer-songwriter and mixed media artist Andrew Combs on the eve of his first solo gallery show (at Julia Martin Gallery in Nashville) about what it means to him in the context of a career spent largely in song and on stage. From touring with Kacey Musgraves to performing a set on perhaps the greatest taste-making venue ever — Tiny Desk on NPR — Andrew’s decision to step back from the heavy touring that marked his twenties may at first seem surprising. But as we talk, I began to understand this thoughtful creator is — like many us — merely finding a way to make art in the context of his broader life: as a young father, as a person more comfortable in the privacy of a studio than under bright lights, and finally as one who, in a basic sense, is guided by a innate curiosity for expression and meaning, wherever that takes him. We discuss a few of his recent works and we play two of his original songs together, live in studio.

Andrew's Solo Show “Fail Better” opens Saturday May 4 with a reception and live music (Andrew and friends) at the Julia Martin Gallery 444 Humphreys St Nashville TN. The show runs through May 25, 2024.

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