Songwriter’s journey
Ron Pope’s new EP explores ‘space between childhood and adulthood’
Ron Pope’s been on tour before — many times, in fact.
Though he’s a veteran when it comes to being on the road, there are always one question that pops into his mind.
“Do I have enough socks and underwear?” he says. “Then I realize if I do have enough of those, the tour is going to be great. I can handle anything.”
All kidding aside, Pope is looking forward to getting on the road again.
He’s been practicing and putting together a set list. He hits the road in support of his 2017 album, “Work,” as well as the recently released companion EP, “Worktapes.”
The seven-track EP follows Pope’s seventh studio album, “Work.”
“This whole ‘Worktapes’ record is really about that space between childhood and adulthood, when you’re floating in the vast nothingness trying to find something to cling to so you don’t drift off into the abyss,” he says. “Thank God I found people to listen to my music. It keeps me off the streets, which is good for me — and good for the streets.”
Pope and Ted Young produced the EP, which was recorded at Welcome to 1979 Studio in Nashville, Tenn. and Plum Creek Sound in Austin, Texas.
Pope collaborated with many musicians on the EP.
Working on the album was a good experience, because he didn’t have a record label breathing down his neck to release the project.
In fact, Pope and his wife, Blair, run the music label, Brooklyn Basement Records.
“I’ve been writing songs since I was 12 years old,” the 34-year-old musician says. “I write anywhere from 100 to 200 songs per year. Some are written just by me. Others are co-writes. There’s no particular way in my mind that songs come to fruition. They each have a journey, as do I. All I’ve wanted to do is make music, and I’m able to make a living that way.”
With nearly a dozen albums under his belt, Pope has lots of material to pull from for his tours.
He admits there is no perfect way to structure a show.
“I try to mix it all up,” he says. “I’ve been performing the songs for a long time, and I know what works well with other songs. It’s a challenge to create a set that not only do I love, but the audience as well.”