Greg Pope has worked as an art director for two publishing houses in Nashville. But, his real love is writing and performing with his three-member band, Edmund's Crown. They have just released a new CD, Regrets of a Company Man. He sat down at his computer for a short interview with me.
Greg, you are an art director by day for a major publisher and a rock legend by night. What is that like? Do your coworkers know about your music career?
We're using terms like "legend" and "career" loosely here, but hey I'm easy. Like anyone who has a great passion outside of work, my life gets pretty crazy. Sometimes I'm not sure I can hold it all together. But actually, playing in a rock band is a great release for all the tension.
Some of the people I work with know our music well and come out to shows and stuff. I used to try to keep those lives very separate, but people sort of started to find out.
Do you consider yourself a designer who rocks or a rocker who designs?
Most definitely the latter.
You have had some television shows pick up some of your songs. That is pretty cool. How did that come about?
It came about through my publisher at the time, who was pitching us to some of the network shows. MTV picked up one of our tunes for a WWF show, then Dawson's Creek used a song on a couple of episodes. A few other TV shows followed. Perhaps they keep all these tunes on the same hard drive? I'm not sure how it all works.
I know you are a family man. How does that fit with the life of rock star?
Rock star? I wouldn't know about that. There was I time when I toured a lot more and that becomes more difficult once you start a family. We don't play near as much as we used to. Sometimes when we have a show, I help put the kids to bed before heading out. Our shows usually start late (10 or 11pm) and I'm very much a night person. But the next morning, even if it's a weekend, is kind of hard. With kids, there is really no 'sleeping in'. Fortunately, there is 'nap time'. So it's a balancing act I guess. Music is certainly my passion, and I'm blessed to have a family that is very supportive of that.
How much of your time is devoted to your music?
Not near as much as I would like. A fraction of my time.
Your latest project, Regrets of a Company Man, is it autobiographical?
Absolutely. But there is sort of a line between autobiography and song writing. The root of the ideas behind the tunes are my life, but in order to make songs interesting and engaging there is a bit of fictionalizing that goes on. Nashville Star is a good example. The basics of that tune, leaving your home town to follow a dream, are autobiographical, but the character in the song is not me at all. The song Company Man is much more about my personal experiences and feelings. So it just depends on the song I guess.
I have really been enjoying the new CD, especially the tracks "Feet on the Ground" and "You're So Ten Years Ago." Any stories behind those two songs?
A friend of mine used to say (in a very rural southern accent), "Greg, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!". In a town like Nashville, there is no shortage of people who are reaching for the stars, and therefore no shortage of people who DON'T have their feet on the ground. You meet a lot of people living in the dream world of "as soon as I have my big hit, or my big record deal, or my (fill in the blank), everything will be perfect...and then, THEN I'll pay my rent and get my phone turned back on". And I've been that person too. Trying to fulfill you dreams while dealing with life's realities is tricky business. So the song is a combination of personal experiences relating to that.
"Ten Years Ago" is honestly how I feel about myself much of the time, but I think the main idea is moving on from the past. Not continually reliving it or forcing others to relive it with you.
Where did the name Edmund's Crown come from?
CS Lewis's Narnia books.
What do you consider your biggest success as a musician? Are you close to buying your own tour bus or Lear jet?
Well, we're just working out the details of the financing--you know the price of jet fuel is through the roof at the moment, and then there's our credit history. The logo on the side of the plane--we can't decide on silver or gold metallic. My biggest success is always when someone identifies with a song I've written. There's nothing sweeter.
You live in Nashville. Isn't that where every wannabe musician heads to make it big?
TOOOOOTALLY. Every cashier, server, bank teller, designer, lawyer, insurance salesman, etc. etc. etc. is "really a recording artist". To tell the truth I never wanted to end up here, but I did...it's a long story.
How were you able to grab a name for yourself in such a crowded market?
Three things: Spandex, hair spray, and pyrotechnics.
Would you ever quit your design gig and focus entirely on your music career?
Yes I would.
Thanks Greg. Can I have your autograph?
Sure.
