Ron Pope is an independent musician who has had no trouble making waves in the music industry and the world. His singles have been downloaded over a million times on iTunes and he has been featured on television shows such as TRL and So You Think You Can Dance. His most recent album Atlanta is a sweeping masterpiece of blues, folk, and even country elements inspired by fellow greats such as Arcade Fire, Dawes, and Bon Iver. Last fall, while in the midst of his latest world tour for Atlanta, Pope took the time to answer some questions about his life and art.
1. What's your favorite color?
I like blue ... green is also nice. 80% of my clothes are black; can black be my favorite color without people thinking I'm depressed?
2. You mention many different places on your new album; Houston, Dallas, Connecticut. The album itself is called Atlanta. Do all these places and others you mention have significance in your life?
Absolutely. I spend so much time traveling; in fact, at the moment, I don't even have a home base. My stuff is in storage! The places I visit in any given week are my home, so when I'm somewhere that feels good to me, it's a real game changer. If a place causes me to have a strong reaction, be it positive or negative, it'll often find it's way into my music.
3. I noticed that Arcade Fire's The Suburbs was one of your favorite albums of the last five years, I can definitely hear some of their influence on the album. Are there any other bands or artists that influenced the production on "Atlanta?"
While I was writing and recording "Atlanta," I was listening to a handful of albums that all sneak in there one way or another. Everything Arcade Fire has done, Dawes' Nothing Is Wrong, Local Natives' Gorilla Manor, Freelance Whales Weathervanes, and both Bon Iver records all come to mind.
4. You have lots of detailed sprawling narratives in your lyrics. Is there a common message or theme you are trying to convey throughout the entire album.
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