Interview with Scott Coner

Why Music? 

Something happens to erase all sense of difference to me when music walks in. I see music as a multigenerational tool. Your childhood or your memory of it, for an instant, past and future become the same. There is only one time, one life, and we all share from the same. Music is that to me… It is life happening, it is feelings showing themselves, and it is what designs the perfect setting that allows me to draw and dwell from my own emotion and possibly my own opinion. This music is simple, but it is real. When talking about Christ, I attempt to write what I feel without changing the Truth. When writing about life, I just try to find the truth. Augusten Burroughs says, “Don’t underwhelm me. I have seen far more interesting disasters.” Truly, I don’t want to underwhelm, but I do want you to listen. 

 How Do You Write A Song? 

I don’t really have a clue. I sit down sometimes, and the song has pretty much written itself for me. Usually, someone will say something that has a certain rhythm to it. My pastor brings a lot to the table, and my dad is a walking collection of interesting sayings and points of view. Like I said earlier, I write because it satisfies. It helps me to understand my own thought process. It is very satisfying to create a song that is enjoyable to play while envisioning the story that the song presents.

I also enjoy playing music with other musicians that are easy to communicate with. I don’t read music, so it is important for me to have good eye contact. One of the guys that works with me has been a friend since I was a kid. We kind of learned how to play the guitar together. Johnny and I used to tune our guitars over the phone, since neither of us had any idea what we were doing.

I have truly listened to mountains of music. I always have identified well with the southern rock genre such as Skynyrd, Tucker, and Charlie Daniels, with whom I had the chance to record some time back. More recently, I have listened a lot to Chris Knight and Paul Thorne. I still hear John Conlee or Tom T. Hall in the back of my head all the time. To me, it is all about the lyric and a good progression of chords.

When Did You Start Writing? 

I have a sister four years older than me. When she was a teenager, she started singing with different local country bands. My parents were very supportive of her and took her all around to different places to sing. Since I was probably 12 years old, I went with them. For a year or so, she was singing as a regular at The Little Nashville Opry House in Brown County, Indiana. This meant that she would open for the headliners of any given week. Because of that, I was able to see every country performer you can think of including Loretta Lynn, Mel Street, Farron Young, Jerry Reed, Freddy Heart, Mickey Gilley, Earnest Tubb, and many others. These people touched a nerve in me. I had fallen in love with music. Later, as I was growing up, I started listening heavily to everything I could get my hands on. I would go to garage sales with my mom and get old, worn-out 45 records from the 50’s and 60’s. I discovered The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, The Everly Brothers, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons. About that same time period, the radio was playing some great music that I loved. Bill Withers, Johnny Nash, Neil Young, and Paul Simon were getting a lot of airplay. Those songs mattered to me then, and they still do today. These were the early influences that gradually defined who I became as a musician.

Today, I am 44 years old. That is over 16,000 days! I feel young, probably act too young, and have no real interest in getting old any time soon. But music still matters to me. I love to listen to it in my truck, in my house, or in my office. I don’t begin to compare myself to any of those that I just mentioned, but I love to write and play. I have a very personal relationship with God, and I think that He has given me a gift. I don’t know if anyone wants me to share this gift with them, but that is all right. I play because I like it. It satisfies.

What Do You Want To Accomplish?

 There is a clock in my house that keeps me up at night. If I could find the stupid thing I'd turn it off or throw it out in the cornfield. Problem is, it's not you're ordinary type of clock. It just keeps tick, ticking away deep inside my mind. I have to get a few things completed before it strikes midnight. Maybe you have heard the same noise I'm talking about.

My wife Cindy, and my girls Emily Sae and Taylor Lynn are everything to me. Because of their love and support, I have persued the music, the musical dramas, and the book. Because they believe in me, I can believe in myself.

Last spring I wrote a musical drama called "The Broken Seal". This year I have a biography I have written about my friend Gene Odom with accompanying music. We are also working on many other songs that will be coming out very regularly for the rest of this year. I don't have any idea what people are going to think about any of this material. I hope that they find something that they like. Working with Johnny and Steve has been really good for me. They take their own approach to the music and when it is all combined, I just sit back and smile. 

My hope is that you, the reader, have found something here that speaks to you. We here at Reedy's Dream truly appreciate your taking the time to check us out. 

Talk to you soon,

 Scott Coner