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 itself as a means of sharing art as a gift to the world.

Learn more about Nancy and follow her Substack at...

https://nancyellenabrams.substack.com/

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 how experience hones the songwriter. As Scott says at one point, "in order to convey feeling to the audience, you have to go through the sh*t"

Scott has a new album out in 2024, "The Appalachian Blues" full of his original blues songs beautifully executed with slide on the resonator. It's raw emotion from the heart.

Enjoy this one and check out Scott at these places...

https://www.instagram.com/scottlowsongs/

https://scottlow.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.tiktok.com/@scottlowsongs

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...

https://mikefelten.com

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.instagram.com/alicepeacockmusic

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 as an adjunct professor at Columbia College teaching courses about composing for video games.

Joel has been a part of every episode of the podcast as he is the composer of the shows theme, a piece called Neon Rails.

Learn more about Joel at...

https://joelcorelitz.com

https://joelcorelitz.bandcamp.com/

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 2023, "No Time To Lose". Jon gives amazing insights to the process of creating songs and I can't think of a better discussion to begin season two.

Check out Jon Nolan at...

https://jonnolan.net/

https://jonnolan.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jonnolannh/

https://jonnolannh.substack.com/

https://www.sayzuzu.com/

https://sayzuzu.bandcamp.com/music

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, the listener, to do your own song creation if you have even the slightest inkling., the tiniest song idea in your head. We are all here to honor the creative impulses inside.

One day maybe I'll be interviewing you on Pursuing the Muse!

Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass Kickin' Team Bandcamp

https://terryandersonandtheolympicasskickinteam.bandcamp.com/

Buy Got To Be Strong!

Thank you to all this season's guests, Andrew Bryant, Jon Danforth, Steve Dawson, Terry Anderson, Nathan Graham and Nick Dittmeier.

The Pursuing the Muse theme song is "Iron Rails" by Joel Corelitz

Thanks, Joel!

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://nathangraham.bandcamp.com/

Pursuing the Muse theme is "Iron Rails" by Joel Corelitz