Ron Pope interview with 'A Music Blog, Yea?'

Hello Ron, thanks for chatting with AMBY! What have you been up to lately?

Glad to be chatting with y’all! I was on tour in Europe in June, and we just finished work on my brand new album a few weeks ago. Other than that, I’ve been going to lots of weddings…it seems everyone I know is getting married this year!

How would you describe your sound to those unfamiliar with your music?

I always just tell people to listen and develop their own opinion. Describing music with words is always challenging and not usually all that useful.

You have a great discography! Which three songs are the quintessential Ron Pope?

Thanks a lot. That’s a tough one; I’ve put out so much music and my sound has evolved so much over the years. I’m going to pick three albums rather than three songs. I’d say “Daylight” to show the earlier, rootsier part of my career, “Atlanta” to show where I went from there, and then, my as yet unreleased new album, because that’s where my head’s at right now, which is in a completely different universe than anything people have heard from me to date.

Find the full interview here.

2014 WORLD TOUR

The first part of Ron's 2014 world tour has been announced, starting in Europe!!

The tour will start off in January in Glasgow, with special guests Wakey!Wakey! and Alexz Johnson. The dates and venues for Jan-Feb are listed below. DON'T MISS OUT! Tickets are on sale here.

January 31 2014: Glasgow - Oran Mor
February 1 2014: Belfast - Mandela Hall
February 2 2014: Dublin - Vicar Street
February 4 2014: Manchester - Academy 2
February 5 2014: Sheffield - Plug
February 7 2014: Nottingham - Rescue Rooms
February 8 2014: London - Shepherd’s Bush Empire
February 9 2014: Bristol - The Fleece
February 11 2014: Hamburg - Ubel & Gefahrlich
February 12 2014: Malmo - KB
February 13 2014: Gothenburg - Tradgarn
February 14 2012: Oslo - Parkteatret
February 15 2014: Stockholm - Tyrol
February 17 2014: Berlin - Lido
February 18 2014: Amsterdam - Paradiso
February 19 2014: Cologne - Luxor
February 20 2014: Frankfurt - Batschkapp
February 21 2014: Munich - Strom

New Single - Lick My Wounds

"Lick My Wounds" Art Work

The first single from Ron's new solo album (currently untitled) will be available worldwide on Tuesday 6th August. The song is called "Lick My Wounds" and will be available for pre-sale on Tuesday 23rd July to celebrate Ron's birthday.

Interview From Startrack Crush - France

This is a translated interview from Startrack Crush who were lucky enough to have a backstage interview with Ron before his show in Paris, France. You will find the original interview in French here.
A huge thank you to my friend Lisa for translating!

I saw on Facebook that you arrived yesterday in Paris. Have you had the time to visit the city a little bit?
You know, when you are on tour, there is not really the time to take advantage of the places you are going. When I arrived I took a nap, and then I went to dinner... But I do intend to come and stay here for two months after this tour. I would like to improve my French. I studied it in secondary school but ,unfortunately I do not remember much of it. It's going to be cool because usually, I do not stay anywhere for more than 5 days, and I am going to be able to enjoy my time

It is you who writes the messages in French?
Yes, some from my memory and some with a little help from the French translator . But it took me at least 25 minutes to compose (laughs). In fact, whenever I speak French, an exclamation or a question, it sounds like a question. I hesitate too much (laughs).

I have the impression that people who live in Europe have all been across their country’s border at least once, and have been faced with a language barrier. While in the United States, it is such a big country with a lot of different States within easy reach, so many Americans remain in the country and don't learn any other language than English.

In fact, I asked you that question because you communicate alot with your audience. You answer to posts on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook...
Yes, but sometimes it is a bit difficult because there are some countries who language I don’t speak, for example in Germany, I could not even say a word... so for the messages from there, I ask help from various translators. And I'm also try to translate them with an application on my phone. But this is a new challenge for me to communicate with fans of these countries.

There have been a few European dates last year, but this is my first real tour of the continent.

Between these exchanges with your fans and the way in which you released your discs only in digital, can you be described as artist 2.0 somehow? What will your position be in this new industry?
It is true that often I have no physical copies of the discs. In the end it depends on if I consider it a true album of long duration.
In the 1990s, there was a certain mystique surrounding the artists. They did not reveal too much. They made an album, went on tour, and then disappeared from circulation for two years. Today, has become madness: Rihanna releases a disc every three weeks! All the really famous artists, whether it's Taylor Swift, Beyonce or Lady Gaga; they release an album, followed by a deluxe version with a few more songs and a video, and then the gold version with even more exclusive tracks. And between that, they participate in the soundtrack of a film, are in clips, Twitter, etc... It's really different in the current era of this industry: there is an interaction between artists and their fans that wasn’t there before. I think it's a pretty interesting thing... Some kids are annoyed if one of the guys from One Direction does not respond to their tweet without realising that these people have some ten million people who follow them. But they say that if he is not giving a concert in a stadium, he should answer (laughs). It shows the evolution and psychological intensity that occurs today. When I was a kid, I did not even imagine talking to the artists who I was a fan of.


You also share the occasions of your songs which can be seen on YouTube, etc...
Yes, I find it cool. It's gratifying that people are taking the time to learn your songs. And it is interesting to see how they interpret them. Sometimes you come across really talented people that translate the title.

Your new Atlanta album is quite different from what you have done before. In my opinion, it is more mature. Can you tell us something about the how you put it together?
Thank you. And well, I wanted to do something that I felt was consistent from the beginning to end. To help me, I took a few weeks where I forced myself to write songs all day from Monday to Friday. Over the course of three or four weeks, I had written more than 20 pieces which I then selected to make sets. Same for the production: a bit like a painter, I had to create a colour palette and I then used these colors to build Atlanta.
I think there is more of an element of reggae such as the violin, the lapsteel or banjo, but also other more rocky elements, all playing together to make my sound which is pretty good. It was very exciting to focus my work on a specific period of time. Most of the time I concentrate on things I have been workign on for a long time

The album has quite a "Southern" vibe. Was it a willingness on your part to return to your roots (Editor's Note: he was born in Atlanta, Georgia), because you are a New Yorker artist now?
Hmm... Yes, it's interesting. It's been twelve years since I have lived in New York, but I think that you don't ever really forget where you came from. Many things that you are as an artist, or at least in my case, dates back to my childhood. The music that surrounds you when you're a teenager, etc... I do not know if it was a conscious effort to get back to my roots, but there was definitely a more "Southern" side to my music... It was something I was prepared to experiment with on this album, and I think that's what gives it this more natural side. In the past, I was trying to set it aside.

Finally, what do you expect from this tour and the European public? 
For now, my experience in Europe is limited to shows with my band behind me. There are acoustic concerts, where I'm alone with my guitar.
I find that people here are very respectful, because it's hard to make a room totally silent, and yet it is necessary for this kind of show. I hope that it will last...
 
But did you notice that there were lots of girls tonight? It is their chance to scream out... (laughs)
If it is between the songs, there's no problem. I like that . It's just during the songs that it can be annoying. (laughs)

Review of Ron Pope Live In Manchester

Ron Pope is one of those artists that has crept relatively below the radar of the lighthouse of the British music scene. His influence on the whole has been subtle, but to the fans of his niche singer-songwriter sound, the effect of his intricate poetics and rolling, mellow guitar lines has left a profound imprint.

It was the release of his early album, ‘Daylight’, that made Pope’s name a familiar ring in the ears of Americans and which began to raise a few heads over seas. In particular, the album’s penultimate track, co-written with fellow acoustic aficionado Zach Berkman. Through features on the likes of 90210 and One Tree Hill, ‘A Drop in the Ocean’ with its haunting piano riffs and heartbreakingly honest lyrics, cemented Pope in the consciousness’ of British fans. Admittedly, it was while watching one such show that, Dorito in hand, I paused at the sudden sound of those bittersweet first lines, overshadowing the fictional heartbreak of some fictional life. For me, that was proof of Pope’s most astounding talent as an artist; not his remarkable voice or his competency in stringing words and notes together, but his ability to create something very real that strikes a long resounding chord with his audiences.

Read the full review here

Lyrics Of The Week - One Grain Of Sand

I used to treat you sweetly,
I would pull you to my chest,
As you cried about the ocean,
Slippin’ quickly through your hands.
You were searching for one grain of sand,
Along an endless beach,
As I was building you a castle,
That you just refused to see.

What do I say, what do I do,
To show you all the ways my heart is slowly shattering for you,
What do I say, what do I do…

I don’t wanna hold you if you wanna go,
I’m not gonna make you feel love if you don’t,
I would rather learn what it feels like to burn than feel nothing at all.

You have faded my reality,
Like leaves that turn to dust,
Fell asleep inside a fantasy,
Then woke up feeling lost.
Now I’m terrified and restless,
But I just cannot escape,
I wish you had words to cool this fever,
That is killing me.

What do I say, what do I do,
To show you all the ways my heart is slowly shattering for you,
What do I say, what do I do…

I don’t wanna hold you if you wanna go,
I’m not gonna make you feel love if you don’t,
I would rather learn what it feels like to burn than feel nothing at all.
I don’t wanna hold you if you wanna go,
I’m not gonna make you feel love if you don’t,
I would rather learn what it feels like to burn than feel nothing at all.

Exclusive Interview With Ron Pope

Ron in Manchester (Photo Credit - @Mrs_C_Levine)

Ron Pope Worldwide has been lucky enough to have a little Q&A with Ron about his current tour in Europe. We know he is a very busy man at the moment so we would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to him and his wonderful manager, Blair.

Ron Pope Worldwide: How did you feel about coming back to the UK and Europe to tour?
Ron Pope: It's wonderful to be touring over here. I'm delighted to be playing all of these shows.

Ron Pope Worldwide: When can we expect to see you in the UK/Europe again? (Please don't make us wait too long!)
Ron Pope: We'll see! I'm not even done with this tour yet.

Ron Pope Worldwide: What has been your highlight of visiting the UK this time round?
Ron Pope: Coming out from backstage at that first show in London was really exciting. The crowd was going nuts, and after months of preparation, it was finally happening!

Ron Pope Worldwide: Where has been your favourite European city to visit?
Ron Pope: I've got a soft spot in my heart for Paris, but all of these cities are amazing.

Ron Pope Worldwide: How was your time with Saul Ashby, Gavin James and the guys at To Kill A King?
Ron Pope: Saul and I are old friends, so it was wonderful to get to spend time with him on the tour. It was great to get to meet Gavin and the guys from To Kill A King. They're all great musicians and the crowds really dug them.

Ron Pope Worldwide: What is life on the Tour Bus like? Any stories for us?
Ron Pope: Mostly, a tour bus is like a very small dorm room. It is decidedly not as cool or glamorous as you might imagine. The best part about it is that you don't have to worry about getting anywhere; you fall asleep in your bunk and then wake up in front of a new venue the next day. Nothing crazy happened on the bus; we're pretty well behaved.

Ron Pope Worldwide: What has been your favourite track to play live whist on the European Monster Tour?
Ron Pope: I've really enjoyed playing the song "Monster." That one feels great live.

Ron Pope Worldwide: We know you released your new Monster EP last month, which is wonderful may I add (Brooklyn is our personal favourite). Are you working on any projects at the moment? Or just focusing on touring?
Ron Pope: I've already started writing and recording for the next album. You can expect that in early 2014 unless something gets in the way.

Ron Pope Worldwide: What is the strangest request you've had from a fan? Has anyone asked you anything peculiar? Has anyone given you some kind of strange gift? Asked you to sign anything odd?
Ron Pope: I've been signing a lot of shoes recently. I always wonder why people want me to sign their shoes. I'm like, "Not your ticket? Your shoe? Really?"

Ron Pope Worldwide: What is the hardest part about being on tour? Especially so far away from home.
Ron Pope: Exactly what you'd imagine...being far away from home is the hardest part of touring. We all miss our families out here.

Ron Pope Worldwide: What influences your music? What is your muse?
Ron Pope: Life is my muse. I just try to pay attention as I move along. That's where my inspiration comes from. My songs are about real (or realistic) people doing very normal things.

Ron Pope Worldwide: Have you had any embarrassing moments onstage this tour? If so did you manage to cover them up or end up having to laugh it off? What happened?
Ron Pope: In Zurich, my keyboard was acting funny. I pressed one of the keys and then it just dropped a thumping beat which I couldn't make stop. I ended up shutting off the keyboard. It was pretty hilarious.

Ron Pope Worldwide: In which venue did you have the best turnout? And who was the best audience?
Ron Pope: London had the biggest turnout. So many of the shows have been insane, I couldn't say which audience was the best. I've had a blast at all of the shows.

Once again, thank you to Ron for taking the time out for us. Before he's even left, we already look forward to his return to Europe again. (Though he didn't say when he'll come back he assured us at the Manchester show that he would return.)

To buy tickets to his remaining shows in Europe visit Ron's website and don't forget to sign up to his mailing list while you're there.