Scott Ballew on Talking to Mountains & the Sublimity of Sad Songs

by Swanson
photo swiped from leisurerodeo.com

“Scott’s songs are stories that go rolling through your head like little movies. You watch them inside yourself as much as you hear them. And you carry away something of value you didn’t have before. As far as I’m concerned that’s exactly what a good song should do. That and tell the truth. Scott’s songs do all of this.”

— Terry Allen

Scott Ballew on Talking to Mountains & the Sublimity of Sad Songs

Scott Ballew is songwriter from Austin, Texas. He earns his keep as the Head of Films and Commercials at YETI, producing and directing films that inspire a life well-lived. During the pandemic, Scott dusted off his guitar and got to writing songs, polishing them, and then to his own surprise, releasing an album out into the wild. Scott Ballew’s first album is called Talking to Mountains. In our conversation we talk about the genesis of his album, the relationship between sobriety and creativity, the entanglement of humor and sadness, how legendary Texan songwriter Terry Allen helped form Scott’s artistic backbone, the perennial life questions that have been peppering him throughout his entire life and a good deal more. You can listen to Scott Ballew’s album Talking to Mountains on all the streaming services or head over to leisurerodeo.com to get your mitts on a cassette or an LP. And you read that right, that’s leisurerodeo.com.

Read about Scott, the albums that formed him, and see him donning some slick threads on Huckberry. For those on the social media train, follow Scott at @irish_goodbye.

Episode Show Notes

Albums & Music Videos by Scott Ballew

Resources & People Mentioned

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