Music Has Been My Golden Ticket

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

         I’ve been thinking about the journey so far a little bit lately. I sometimes find myself wanting to talk to someone about it, but there really isn’t anyone to talk to. The fact is, I can’t hardly believe what a cool trip it has been so far. I have written and recorded lots of songs, and the songs thankfully, keep coming.  I never dreamed how things would eventually turn out. I had walked away from the business a long time ago in order to raise my daughters, and somehow, the doors in Nashville allowed me back in.

          I would be lying if I told you it has been nothing but newly paved highway since I came back to the music business. There have been more than a few characters that truly needed a physical adjustment in order to overcome their evil ways. But those types of people are in about every circle I guess. They allow us to stay sharp and challenge us to find greener pasture without that type of static in our lives.

          I have stayed true to my own writing style, although I have written with a few other writers in Nashville who have opened my eyes in certain ways. But the truth is, most of my songs come from my own life one way or another. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing, but that is the way it is. I walk around our farm, I drive the old country roads where I live, and I think about my life as I write. Sometimes, those songs come out in a discombobulated fashion that’s for sure. But they are from me, and that’s about the best I can do. 

(Scott Coner's "Nashville Song" offers insights into

the rough and tumble of Nashville's music industry.)

         Sometimes, not often, but sometimes I have wished I had been born different. It truly can be a little bit embarrassing when I admit what I do in music to certain people. I can see in their eyes the amusement as they ask themselves why I would possibly think anyone would want to hear me play or sing. They all respond the same way with a hateful-type smile, and they’ll begin to tell me about some drunken uncle they have that fancied himself a songwriter. I try to be respectful and allow them their little barb. Another fact is, most people from where I’m from don’t even know about my music. I don’t play the bars or clubs around where I live, because those people only want to hear cover songs all night. That would kill me pretty quickly to be honest.

         Those closest in my family, including my wife, daughters, and parents, are very supportive. But once you get out of that tight-knit circle, it may be fifty-fifty if some of my own flesh and blood doesn’t sit around hoping that I fail in one way or another. I think many of those people that I grew up around would be quite a bit happier if I would just shut up and drink the Kool–Aid like they did. Give up on my goals and grab a 12-pack on the way home from work like they do. They will be waiting a long while though, because I won’t quit until I have to be buried on a hill down the road from where I grew up. The fact is simple but missed by most. They only have a limited capacity when it comes to music. You are either a star like Tim McGraw, or you are a complete failure. That’s where they get it all wrong. The journey is part of the joy. The people, the ones who truly care about the songs. What about that part? Does this not matter to anyone but me?

         It is true that I have been blessed beyond my own imagination when it came to working alongside Tanya, or T. Graham, or even Charlie Daniels. But those weren’t the best parts for me. The evenings that I have spent walking the streets of Nashville getting ready for another recording or show have been the best part. Each of those moments had purpose and meaning to me. It is what I do, and there is nothing else. Those times that I spent getting prepared to do a project, or remembering the moment that a song was written, that is what gives me direction. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on earth because of my family, and what few true friends I have, and of course this music. 

Scott Coner performs in Nashville (Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

         I remember everything about the journey. The times I have spent planning the following day with my wife on west end, or the long walks we took just talking with the Nashville skyline in the horizon. You see, music doesn’t just offer me the chance to play music itself. It offers me the freedom to step away from the world I was raised in and visit a different part of me with those that I care the most about. It gives me a break from normalcy. I have always joked with my wife that she validates me with others because of her striking beauty. I swear, I think when people see her with a simpleton, like me, they take a second to listen. They can’t help but be curious as to what she sees in me. What they don’t know about is what she and I have shared, what we have accomplished together. A very necessary truth is I wouldn’t be where I’m at without her. She has believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I just didn’t want to let her down or disappoint her in some way, so I have kept on pushing and going down the road even when there wasn’t a map.

         I love my life these days. Good things are happening for me in Nashville. But, in truth, they have always gone pretty well for me in that town. I have sat across some pretty fine dinner tables with candlelight staring at this woman that I love so much right there in the very heart of Music Row. We have had ice cream at Maggie Moo’s and visited our favorite bookstores. She has captured my music on film. We have taken drives looking at all of the natural beauty that the town has to offer. But mostly, we have had fun. We have made this road trip together, and I’m thankful for that.

         Music and all of her magic has given me something impossible to explain. It has been a true gift that I don’t take lightly. I just wanted those of you who follow my music and all of these other ramblings to know that, when you listen to my songs, I am somewhere smiling deep inside. I’m just thankful all over for the way things have gone. I wouldn’t change anything even if I could.   

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

Come Together... Right Now

By Scott Coner

Country Singer-Songwriter

            I think maybe the Nashville machine is about to change its direction in the same way I believe Washington politics is about to change. I hadn’t ever considered it before, but I have noticed that during the last seven years or so, our country has trended towards a more liberal direction in everything from advertising to music, and from rainbow flags to television. It isn’t my job to say whether or not I think this is a good or bad thing, so know that I am not in any way condoning or condemning anything. I am simply pointing out something I thought seemed kind of obvious.

            Our country seems to operate like a pendulum. It swings back and forth. Sometimes, it goes a little farther to the right than normal. Then, it’s liable to swing to the left even farther as it moderates itself out. I think if you could look at our country like a pie, we would probably be split pretty close down the middle at how we look at things.

            Music, as far as I’m concerned, is like a mirror of society. It moves along with what it perceives to be the approach that society is handling itself. A few years back, the big thing around Nashville was Florida-Georgia Line. Those guys were working with some guy named “Nelly”, and to be honest, I didn’t know who he was and still don’t. But I downloaded the song and thought it was pretty cool. Taylor Swift seemed to turn the town on its ear, and the next thing you know she was on the cover of nearly every magazine you saw. There were and still are a handful of other artists and groups just like these, but they all have one commonality. They are not even close to “traditional” country music. As a matter of fact, I don’t see how you can even compare it in the same vein as country. But once again, I am not saying this is a bad thing at all. I think it is a great thing for music to branch out and allow the tree to develop. After all, rock 'n' roll came from the blues, right? And rap came from people that couldn’t sing….

Scott Coner with Tanya Tucker... "Maybe She Lied"

            I remember being in high school when the whole “Urban Cowboy” thing took over. I used to laugh at all of the ridiculous looking hats and boots the men wore. (They thought they looked so cool, it used to kill me.) As the market saturated itself with this greasy moment in time, low and behold, Ricky Skaggs and Randy Travis showed up to cleanse our souls with honest-to-God country music and bluegrass. Garth Brooks took the nineties by storm and took music to the left again, but there were artists out there like Reba and Alan Jackson on the other end of the line playing tug-of-war with the market.

            Do you remember how radio responded when those girls from Texas called the “Dixie Chicks” slammed George Bush? I believe the pendulum was to the right at the time, and so was their music. In the end, maybe Natalie should have just sung about the wide-open spaces. Oddly enough, as I sit in this Waffle House writing this blog, there are four older gentlemen slamming the current president like it’s their job. Different place and a different time I suppose.

            It is true that as a country we are about to veer way to the right after seven years of liberal agendas. I believe that as we run like rats on a sinking ship towards something less confusing than big government, we will begin to see traditional country music show her pretty face once again. I don’t think most of us want to give up our gun rights. I still think a lot of us want a Christian center. And I know for a fact that we need a little more country and a lot less rap, a lot more wholesomeness and a lot less crap. See there? I just started a country song….

            Before I go, I just wanted you to know that I am not trying to change your way of thinking. I have no agenda to push. This is just what I see from where I stand. I think that we all come together every now and again on certain things that are important, but I also think it is good and healthy for us as a country to bring all of the ideas and put them on the table. I love to read about trends in our culture through the years, and we are trending like a dog with a bad limp right now. I have said it before, so let me say again that country music is like a self-cleaning oven. It gets a little bit grimy, but when you wake up in the morning, it will be clean again. Just like our country. Well, I need to sign off now. I’m gonna go buy a gun and a cowboy hat.  

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

About My New Short Story 'When An Angel Cried'

By Scott Coner

Country Singer-Songwriter & Author

(Scott Coner will release the new short story "When An Angel Cried" at 1 p.m. CST Tuesday, Feb. 2, at www.ScottConer.com. The story is based on his heartfelt song and video about domestic abuse called "When The Angels Cry". In this blog article, he shares how this life-changing project came about. You can watch the video at https://youtu.be/SXUUgLl43TA )

         The characters in my song and short story on domestic abuse have been with me for a long time. Sometimes some of the people in my songs have a way of residing within me without anyone else knowing about them. They flash through my heart and mind without my beckoning them forward. They aren’t always welcome to be honest.

         I didn’t know for sure if I even wanted to record the song "When The Angels Cry", much less write the accompanying short story, "When An Angel Cried". I had carried the song with me for the better part of 20 years before I ever recorded it. It’s a dark theme, and I didn’t want people thinking I considered myself some kind of authority on the matter, because I’m not. Although like most of you, I do have some pretty strong opinions about the subject.

         My wife, Cyndi, has always been pretty descriptive when she tells a story. She doesn’t get in too big of a hurry and pays attention to details. In truth, she can tell me the story line about a movie she saw, and I usually don’t even feel like I need to see it any longer. So, when she told me about her own mother being abused after divorcing her biological father, it was like standing in the kitchen with all of the broken glass.  We hadn’t been married long at all when she brought all of those terrible details to life. I remember it was a weekday probably around 5:30 p.m. She was making dinner while I sat in the living room fiddling around with an Am chord. As I played, I thought about what it must have been like to be in her shoes. It didn’t seem fair to me that her young life had been altered in such a way -- that her loving, Christian home was turned upside down simply because of some terrible decisions by one person. But, it happens in millions of homes around the globe, and I suppose all we can do is try to break free from the chain of events and make a pact with ourselves to never be part of the problem.

         As I began writing the song, I wrote pretty much what Cyndi had told me. But, by the time I got to the bridge, a different character took over the story line. I didn't want my wife to re-live those experiences over and over again. So I decided to give the abused woman in the song more strength and common sense than Cyndi had been forced to witness first hand.   

         Cyndi put the video together herself last year. She told me where to stand, what to do, and where to look. She brought the actors into our home and shot their parts. She had scouted other locations, but it felt odd asking people if we could shoot a spousal abuse video in their home because it “just felt right”.

         By the time Cyndi edited the video, I had written most of the short story in my mind, and all I needed to do was write it down. I wanted to keep the story kind of barren the same way we had approached the recording of the song. Cyndi has ways of “classing” things up when she touches them. I have watched the video several times, and I always seem to see something else that she allowed to stay in a shot that’s significant in some way.

         I’m not in any way qualified to tell any woman what she should do if she finds herself in an abusive situation. But I believe I do have the right to say that everyone matters and no woman deserves to be treated badly. I have told this to my own daughters over and over again. I will never understand why anyone would stay in such a dark situation.

         I guess I just now realized all I can do is write about how I composed the song and wrote the short story. This is just one of those really heavy topics I don’t know how to approach... one of the many things that shouldn’t be in our society.

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

My Journey Into Music... So Far (Part Two)

By Scott Coner

Country Singer-Songwriter

(Following is the second part of a series of blog articles offering my experiences as a singer-songwriter.)

         It is unfortunate that everything has a price tag on it these days. But all of the steps required in music or just about anything else have a cost attached to them. The good news is that you can go at your own pace. This also will allow you time to be certain of every decision and every step you take along the way.

         These days there are several hot spots around the country that are more open and willing to help you during the development of your career. Los Angeles may be one of those areas you want to consider. Out there, you have all types of music genres as well as opportunities to work in soundtracks and commercials. New York has always been another area, as well as Seattle, and of course Nashville. I chose to work in Nashville for several reasons. The obvious reason was it was very close to where I live. The other was its openness and long history in country and Americana music. But, I have also had a real interest in possible opportunities in L.A.

         I always encourage young people to pursue an education with at least a minor in business. One thing is certain and that is you will need to have the capacity to look at things with some understanding from a business standpoint. I also think it is a good idea to seek advice from someone you love and trust, because it is always helpful to have someone else’s perspective.

         Below, I am going to list a few things you might want to consider as you begin. Please remember that I don’t know you or where you live, so certain items or needs and services might cost more or less money. Also, note that this list may not meet your requirements in any way at all and all of this doesn’t need to happen at once. It will probably be part of the your process.

         * A checking account with your music company name: This account is where you should track all expenses from including travel, recording, payments for services, etc., but you might see fit to use your existing account you have had all along.

         * Federal ID number: You need a tax number for tax purposes. All expenses should be kept track of. This is only good practice and it also helps you keep a finger on the pulse at all times of your investments. (But note that you may not need to do this just yet.)

         * Recording: I am not a huge fan of too many “at home” recordings, although there have been some great ones put together in a few basements. Just remember that your songs will be listened to by people who listen to some of the finest music on the planet every day, so you want to present yourself the best way possible. If you plan on going to a studio, you can negotiate a package for a group of songs, or you can record one or two at a time. Often times, you can get your song across nicely with an acoustic arrangement.

         * Web Site: This is important for all kinds of reasons. Be certain you have a design that is easy and practical for others to check out your music, your bio, and your photos and videos, along with any other pertinent information you feel needs to be shared.

         * E-Mail Address: Obviously, you need this. I find myself checking my mail every time I look at a phone.

         * ASCAP, BMI or SESAC: You will want one of these companies to have all of your music registered. There are a few more companies like these you might want to check out. (I am with BMI, and I can’t say they have been much help so far.)

         * Facebook, Sound Cloud, Reverb Nation, etc.: These sites allow access to all types of people all over the world. Pretty amazing when you think about it.

         * Photo Work: You will need lots of photos made. We live in a digital world, so at least you don’t have to buy film. Always seek photos that seem to represent you in some way. Each of us has a certain identity, and that should always be conveyed the best way possible. I’m sure you will have a lot more to work with than

I do that’s for sure.

         * Video Work: I have grown to appreciate videos. If done well, they can give the listener even more to consider from the song.

         * Education: Try to study your field of interest as much as possible. Consider all of the different types of production, the artists and bands. You will find there are some pretty amazing artists out there. I have long considered myself a student of classic rock and classic country. To me, these genres both represent a part of my roots. In a way, I suppose it’s like a guitarist studying the Delta blues to better understand the craft. I find myself reading about all types of music and artists simply because they hold a special interest to me. I don’t even have to enjoy the music that much. I just have an interest in their approach to their craft.

         Anyway, this is a start at least. There is so much I would like to go over with you, but in truth, as you begin each path, you may find that you have different needs and interests. Just remember that in order for you to do this, other things may need to be put on the back burner, but life happens in the midst of it all.  It is impossible to have a specific plan going into this business. Instead, you can only prepare for everything the best you can and try to be open for changes as they arise. I hope this helps you in some small way.

 

         I look at music the same way I look at staying in shape. I can do well in the gym. I like to work out and feel the burn and the sweat. But it is the time away from the gym that offers the real challenge. If I work out hard but eat like a pig, I probably won’t accomplish what I want. It’s the same thing in music. The short time spent in the studio will be wasted unless you truly seek out and study the very best way to reach your goals. Always be aware of your time and money, be kind to people along the way, and listen to what everyone has to say. One day the fog will lift and you will see the road you need to take. That will be a special day for you. I promise that if you give your all, you will never regret the time, money and energy you invest.

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

(Stay tuned for future installments of "My Journey Into Music... So Far".)

The Perfect Song

By Scott Coner

Country Artist (and Proud Father)

            Twenty years ago this weekend, my first daughter was born. I was honestly in shock as all of the evidence of my wife’s very large stomach finally came into fruition. You see, I wasn’t really prepared for much of anything at that particular point in my life. I remember the day we were to bring her home from the hospital. I was supposed to go outside and bring the truck around to the front doors of the hospital and pick up Cynthia and the new human that I didn’t really know very well yet. I remember realizing I didn’t know how to put together a child's car seat and freaking out in front of everybody as I slammed the box on the sidewalk possibly screaming out words that didn’t match my adorable character.

            My fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel for all it was worth as we drove away from the nurses that had been helping Cyndi and me. I looked over to my right every now and again and could barely comprehend that this tiny humanoid was going to be part of my life as long as I lived. We stopped at my mom and dad’s before we went home to show my mom what I had made. We were all kind of spellbound as this tiny, skinny little baby opened her charcoal eyes. I never saw it coming, but everything in me melted like candlewax. This very small version of me and my wife took hold of me at that moment and has never let go. All I can say is that I am so glad she did. She set the stage that would allow me to feel feelings inside myself that I didn’t know existed. The love that I have felt since that day has continued to amaze me. 

 Video: Happy 20th Birthday Emi

            Three years after Emily was born, we found out that we had another little girl on the way. I remember being scared that I wouldn’t have any love left for her because Emily Sae already owned it all. But as I said, because of Emily, my heart had been conditioned to love the next baby every bit as much as the first one.

            I had started writing “The Perfect Song” as I sat on our bed watching Emily lie there as I played guitar. I must have set the song aside for quite a while, but I finished it sitting cross-legged next to my youngest daughter Taylor’s crib. I never planned on doing anything with the song, because it was so specifically about my own daughters. But, Cyndi has been making this “slide-show” for Emily’s birthday this weekend with the song as a backdrop, and I just wanted to share it with you. A lot of things are changing with my music very soon, and I don’t know how much longer I will be free to release little songs like this. The thing is, I know the song isn’t something that will speak to everyone. But it might speak to you in some way. I guess most of us have watched our kids play in the leaves or run across the yard as the sunshine danced across their hair. Those are the moments that God allowed me to have that I’ll always hold in my heart. My daughters have defined the man that I have become. So, as I’m driving to Wilmore, Ky., this weekend to see her on her birthday, I hope you can take a few minutes and allow me to share with you the story about two little girls that have truly blessed me. They are my “Perfect Song”, something far, far better than anything I could ever hope to write. Happy Birthday, Emily Sae Coner. I love you. 

My Journey Into Music… So Far (Part One)

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

(Following is the first of a series of blog articles offering my experiences as a singer-songwriter and performing artist in country, Americana and Southern Rock.)

            The music business isn’t a refined science. There are many ways to get somewhere in this business, and to be honest, they have all eluded me. My approach has been consistency. Simply forging ahead even when there didn’t seem to be any hope has been my policy. It is funny how things begin to take shape if you can remain standing though. You begin to notice that behind each curtain there was a purpose of some type. What may have appeared to be a waste of time and money might have turned out to be a stepping-stone.

            I have spent my private life involved in some type of construction for the most part. I have worked for contractors, but mostly I have run my own show. I found out pretty early that I had a knack for estimating and managing work. I seemed to excel at putting a job together along with a scope and timeline that would not only meet the clients needs and expectations, but it would also make a reasonable profit for everyone involved. The most important part of this type of work though is to have open conversation with a team that communicates well with others, as well as with me. As in most things in this world, it is always important to surround yourself with honest and competent people.

            I have approached the music pretty much the same way I have approached construction. I knew, and I think most of us know, that the whole process starts with a song. Now, I am a singer-songwriter with a specific skill set, so I felt that putting together a great team early on was probably the most important first ingredient. This team needed to work around any of my weaknesses. Then we could analyze and finalize where we needed to go from there. I wanted a group of players, along with an engineer who understood where I was coming from musically. I didn’t want a group of session players showing up for three hours at a studio, knocking out three songs, and calling things done. I began working with an engineer that was from a different musical background than me, but who understood where I wanted to go and how I wanted the songs to sound. For instance, I wanted very big sounding drums, so I would need to record in a room with tall ceilings with an outstanding drummer. (I have always used Kenny Aarnoff as my example as far as a drummer goes.)

            I didn’t want too much of the “sugary” type background singers in my mix, so I do a lot of my own backing vocals and I also work with Marcia Ramirez as often as possible. (In my opinion, she is one of the finest vocalists I have ever known.)  Marcia understands the importance of dialect and the layering of vocals. She is willing to “over-sing” her parts throughout a song, bringing all sorts of ideas I hadn’t taken into consideration for the final mix. We do the same thing with different guitar hooks, textures, pedals, bass lines, and whatever else. Then, we put together a “rough” mix to live with for a few weeks. After listening to the “ruff”, we meet to begin the final mix.

Scott Coner with acclaimed singer Marcia Ramirez (Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

            Early on, I had a friend back in Indiana helping lay some of my songs down using a Pro Tools application. This approach worked, but it also had its limitations simply because it had a tendency to close certain doors for future performance and production ideas. I have also used a BR-1600 to record on, but this was almost as limiting. What I do now is play the song on video using a loop for guitar if I have lead arrangements and send the file to my engineer/producer. I will usually discuss Ideas right there on the video either before or immediately after the song, and then we proceed from there.

            Okay, so that is a simplified version of how I work on my songs. You probably have a better and more advanced approach, but I have to keep things kind of simple. I’m a pretty simple guy. So, let’s assume you already have a large bag of hit songs written and recorded. What would be your next step? Well, to me, the next step was pretty obvious. I needed to launch a social media campaign. I needed to reach out into the world and let people know about what it is that I do, and why and how I do it. I didn’t understand how all of that works, and I still don’t, so I hired a publicist. A publicist is a pretty big part of the puzzle from here on out, so I suggest that you try your best to locate someone that you like and trust. After all, you are about to give that person access to your entire library of music, photos and thoughts.  You might want to look at their current and more recent clients. Check out their “brand”. Did the publicist do a solid job representing that artist or band? Do the colors, the fonts, the press, and photos work well with who and what is being represented? Could you see any type of growth or other transformation? Can you afford this service at this time? Do you have enough material put together that would allow for this to take place now? Or do you need to get back into the trenches and maybe get some video work and photos done, then see where you stand? I think the most important step is to be willing to take your time. Don’t rush things.

            I already had photos and some video work started, so I felt that the time was right for me to get started developing some media attention. I had already written one book and was in the process of completing another. I had 30 or 40 songs in the can, and I had already experienced some success overseas on their charts and had some radio play in the U.S. We got started with some pretty dismal numbers at first, but we worked together and discussed how we planned to attack each quarter of the year, and built up some pretty nice numbers. I found out that I truly enjoyed writing blog articles and Facebook and Twitter entries. I also began to develop a very personal involvement with the folks that were following my music. I could see their families, their likes and dislikes right there on my computer. It began to look like maybe we could get some wind under our wings. We needed to take another step.

            Managers seem to be effective only if you have more than you can find time to manage on your own. Through recent years, I have tried a few, and although they were nice people, I can’t tell you that they got anything of value done. Especially when you consider the cost factor. So, my next step had to be a deliberate one that was willing to take risks and put my cards on the table. I hired a music attorney. This person is knowledgeable in all facets of the industry, and they can be very effective in getting certain doors open when the time is right. An attorney will probably only take you on if he or she like and believes in the music. They need to see you have spent ample time on development of your brand. And finally, they need to feel like they can take the fruits of your labor and develop some type of deal.

            Remember, everything we are going over here has to be in your own time. You may need to take baby steps. You might even need to get a second job in order to save up the money to get this done because it is an expensive start-up. But if it is in your heart, you really don’t have much of a choice. You just have to figure out how to get things done within your own budget and timetable. I have always said there are people that play golf; others are season ticket holders for sports teams; and some drive fancy cars. I am like none of those people. I am a songwriter. These songs are important to me. Sound is important to me. It is where my passion is.

            I am aware that this is an incredibly thin overview of what I have done and how I have done it. But, if it is in your heart, you will find a way. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy the people you meet along the way, and allow yourself to grow from all of the new experiences that the world of music has to offer. I can only tell you from my own experience that it has been a fun and exciting trip so far. In this world, most everyone is a little bit different. They see things more colorfully and challenge me in ways that I had never before considered. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with some pretty amazing and talented people, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am certain your trip will be pretty special in its own way.

            Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

(Stay tuned for part two of "My Journey Into Music... So Far".)

It's All About That Tone

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

When I first began playing guitar, my appreciation for music began changing around the same time. I wasn’t really exposed to FM music until I was around 15 years old, so as I have said countless times, I listened to country music that my parents listened to, and I had an AM radio in my bedroom that played whatever Top 40 pop hits were on the charts.

            It was around this time that I washed the family car and my dad’s work truck on the weekends for extra spending money. One weekend was a little different though. My older sister must have needed her Maverick washed, so I worked on it as well. I remember exactly where it was parked in the backyard as I fiddled around with an 8-track tape called “Toys In the Attic” by a band called Aerosmith. I was scrubbing the tires when “Walk This Way” came on. I had never heard anything like it before. The drums at the front of the song were cool, but when Joe Perry cut loose on the guitar hook, I saw guitar possibilities in high definition.

            These days, most of us have heard that song a million times on the radio. We know about the drugs and drama that followed that band around for several decades. And we know about, at least to some degree, how many outstanding songs they have released. But for me, as far as that band goes, everything comes back to Joe Perry. His guitar work is outstanding, and the “tone” of his guitar is dark and deep.

            There have been several of these bands around that just had a “sound” or a “tone” that is so recognizable that the listener only needs a second to establish just who is on the radio. My mind goes to the bands Boston, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Dire Straits, or Pink Floyd. These bands came to us with strong music, but they had a sound that was theirs and only theirs. 

Scott Coner performs (Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

            In today’s music, I sometimes think this variable may be missing. I don’t think this lack of a trademark sound is missing only in the current rock genre. I believe it is missing in a big way in country music as well. Maybe the business of music has changed in a way that is based on money. There are union players in Nashville that are so good, so amazing, that they could easily play and record up to an album a day every day of the week. This is without a doubt remarkable, and I don’t mean to take anything away from such a talent. It saves time and money to be this precise at anything. But, if this is happening at a large scale around Nashville, don’t you think in the end, most of the music begins to get “sterilized” in some way? Have you not noticed that nearly all of the tones, the vocal mixes, the drums, as well as the guitars, tend to sound alike in certain ways these days?

There is an outstanding documentary on Netflix right now called “The Wrecking Crew”. The show documents the process of an outstanding group of West Coast session players and how they shaped a large portion of 1960s and 1970s pop music. I will freely admit that some of those, if not most of those tracks, were perfect. But I am not sure that this is happening today, and I am also certain that part of the contributing factor is technology itself. Pro-Tools, computers and keyboards can replace pieces and parts on a track that end up sounding cold and slick and maybe a little bit too “un-human”.

            I started thinking about all of this the other day while listening to some older Dwight Yoakam. His sound has always pretty much been his. And yes, I am also aware that his sound was loosely based on Buck Owens. But if you listen to “Long White Cadillac”, you can hear what Dwight was about. He had a sound that was his. His production was outstanding, and that guitar “tone” was alive and well living in the forefront of the songs.

            It has been a natural movement for me to pull away from the type of recording that occurs in some of the studios. I found myself pretty unhappy too many days in a row after working on a song, then losing its heart and soul during the recording process. I am in no way being critical of anything or anyone. It was and is just my approach, and I didn’t want to lose sight of what I was trying to accomplish. To me, it would be like getting your picture taken and somebody making you wear an ugly sweater for the picture even though you didn’t bring it to the photo shoot. It’s not my sweater, and it wasn’t the sound I had in mind. Sometimes it might be best to stand your ground and give BillCosby back his shirt.

            I’m from Indiana, and when I was a teenager, John Mellencamp was a big deal in our neck of the woods. I remember him talking about why certain people found him a little bit hard to deal with, and this very issue was one of the primary problems. He wanted big-sounding drums, so he hired Kenny Aronoff. He had Larry Crane and Mike Wanchic on guitar, and he had a sound that was all his own. I admire that. I think we need more of that attitude. Mr. Mellencamp might have needed to work on his people skills a little, but he brought serious game.

            So, if you’re reading this and you happen to be an artist, I guess I want to challenge you to be who you are. If you wrote the song, don’t allow the song to be lost of its energy. But be careful. Many of the players in Nashville also have the ability to take a mediocre song and make it a hit. It’s a fine line. Personally, I have found a good way to hold on to your ideas is to pre-record the song before you record in a major studio. If you have guitar hooks, background harmonies, beats, or whatever, bring that information to a preliminary meeting. See what your team thinks, listen to their ideas, and allow the music to flow. Remember, it’s your song.       

            Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer. 

It Finally Makes Sense to me Now... I Guess

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

            I think back to the days when I was young. I was from a little small town world. Me, I was your basic t-shirt and flannel kid, but I had big ideas and even bigger plans. I never wanted to be part of the pack. I used to laugh at authority, and I pretty much still do. I have always had it in my genetic make-up to do the exact opposite of what somebody tells me I should be doing, and I have no plans on changing anytime soon. I believe this is the very part of me that has allowed me to have the freedom to make my own choices and go my own way throughout my life. But, there have certainly been mistakes made along the way, and I am prepared to own every one of them... If they were actually mistakes.  

            When I was in my early twenties, I got married for every wrong reason you could imagine to a girl from my town. I found myself moving to Minneapolis the day after I got married and going to an Assembly of God college. I learned a lot. I learned about the Bible of course. I also learned about me. I found that I couldn't live on such a short chain. I found out that I was completely against all of the rules and regulations and that I wasn't going to last very long living like that. Everything pretty much went as you would expect, and as usual it was all my fault. Those five years were good for me in many ways though, and I wouldn't want to trade them. I do wish people I cared about hadn't been hurt, but life has sharp edges I guess. This has always been a problem for me if the truth is to be known. I am given an opportunity to grow and change in some way, but others seem to get hurt around me. I don't know if it's that way for you or not. I hope you have been able to steer your boat a little better than me. 

Scott Coner (Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

            Now, all of those "holy" people from the church, and the school, and everywhere else talked about me like I was some kind of devil. It seems funny and sad to me at the same time looking back now. If you don't fully adhere to the ways that others insist that you live, then you’re going to hell. And they begin the process of telling literally everybody they know what a sorry human being you are and that you are ill equipped to be in their sick little circle. That really doesn't seem too Christian to me, but then again, I have been wrong before I guess. All I know is that I have met some pretty great people through the years, and they didn't spend much time telling others how to live. Instead, they live in a way that sets an example that doesn't hurt others or make them bitter.

            It took a lot of time for that storm to pass for me. I never backed down from all of those people, but it hurt me just the same. As I worked through the emotions, I wrote songs. I wrote about my own faith in God. I wrote about the distance I felt from others. And I wrote about healing. It was during this season that I finally found "me". I found out that I surely wasn't perfect, but I found that if I was willing to allow God to work in my life, then there was a chance for me to do something significant, and hopefully help others in some way.  I wrote a musical called "The Broken Seal" about the crucifixion and ascension of Christ , and many other songs about my own journey back to being a human being. I took my music to Nashville, and here we are today.

            Looking back, I see a path that I was forced to follow. I am certain that you have had your own path just like me. You have felt betrayed. Maybe, like me, you betrayed yourself. But, no matter what journey you have taken, we still find ourselves standing here. It is our day now. It is our time to finally make the right choices and try our best to be who we were meant to be. We are entering a new calendar year. Now, I have never been a big believer in waiting for a new year to begin in order to start something new. But, since we happen to be starting a new one, what do you think about making a few changes in our lives? Me? Well, I've been through the ringer. I'm still standing though, and all of those people far back in my rear view mirror only made me stronger. They gave me a reason to finish what I started, and I promise that I will never stop until I get to where I have planned on going all along. From this point forward, how about enjoying the trip? I'll see you when we both get there, and be careful along the way.  

            Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has recorded with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.