Ron Pope's 'Figure It Out' Premieres on Baeble + EP Out 1/26
By: Caryn Robbins Jan. 12, 2018
Nashville-based independent artist Ron Pope's "Figure It Out" off his forthcoming EP Worktapes premieres on Baeble. Link HERE and share HERE. The EP is scheduled for release January 26 on his own Brooklyn Basement Records and the second leg of his U.S. tour, a Midwest and West Coast run, begins February 7.
Baeble describes, "The new track channels a lot of different elements, but most especially a certain Springsteen-of-old vibe that eschews glitz and showmanship for egalitarian accessibility and uncomplicated, yet solid musicianship. It's a track that speaks to an experience we can all relate to..."
Pope points to his modest beginnings as the inspiration for the single, '"Figure It Out" is a snapshot of my life in the first few years after I left school. I was working bulls jobs; when I hear these tunes they remind me of the time I spent as a security guard making like six bucks an hour. I'd light out of there when my shift was done and drink until my money ran out wherever the beers were cheap and cold. All my friends at that point were little Lost Boys and Tinkerbells, trying to figure out how to survive in the mean old world. It was scary at times, not knowing if you would make rent or have money for a sandwich, but we were usually happy and mostly we felt free. Sometimes I wish I could to back there; it certainly was simpler. Like the prophet Dylan said, "When you ain't got nothin' you got nothin' to lose."'
Worktapes follows Pope's seventh studio album, Work, released to critical praise in August 2017. Billboard notes, "Pope actually has more of a background as a rocker, a Bruce Springsteen devotee who played in the band the District before going solo in 2007...the decidedly uptempo Work is intended to send that message to the world." No Depression lauds Work, "Ron Pope's music is honest, it comes from the heart, and defies any glib categorization."
The forthcoming EP was produced by Ron Pope and Ted Young (percussion with the Rolling Stones and Sonic Youth) and recorded at Welcome to 1979 Studio in Nashville and Plum Creek Sound in Austin. Pope collaborated with a host of musicians on the album including Mike Riddleberger (Bleachers, The Defibrillators) on drums, Andrew Pertes (Demi Lovato, Big Data) on electric bass, Kai Welch (Kacey Musgraves, Sarah Jarosz) on organ, piano and accordion, Alan Markley (Maggie Rogers) on piano, Alex Foote (LPX, Greg Holden) on guitar, Jeff Malinowski (Wheeler Walker Jr., Frances Cone) on guitar, vocals, harmonica, Amal Bouhabib (New Ponies) on vocals, Courtney Trice on vocals, Charles Ray on trumpet, Nathan McLeod on tenor and baritone saxophone, Alex Brumel (Nikki Lane) on guitar, tenor saxophone, vocals, dobro, Jay Collins (the Allman Brother, Levon Helm) on tenor saxophone, Vanessa McGowan (Brandy Clark) on upright bass, Ted Young (the Rolling Stones, Sonic Youth) on percussion and Paul Hammer (Savoir Adore) on guitar and vocals.
To date, he has surpassed 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify, sold out shows in more than 20 countries, sold over two million digital tracks, had over 250 million streams on Spotify, 630 million plays on Pandora and 150 million views on YouTube. Pope's music has been featured on NBC's "The Voice," CW's "Vampire Diaries," "90210," and multiple seasons of FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance," which sent two of his albums into the top 100 on iTunes simultaneously. Pope also guest starred as himself in season three of the show "Nashville." When Ron is not touring or releasing his own music, he is writing and producing for other artists signed to his Brooklyn Basement Records label.
RON POPE LIVE
February 7 /// Saint Louis, MO /// Delmar Hall
February 8 /// Lawrence, KS /// Granada Theatre
February 9 /// Englewood, CO /// Gothic Theatre
February 10 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// The Complex
February 12 /// Missoula, MT /// Top Hat Lounge
February 14 /// Vancouver, BC /// The Rickshaw Theatre
February 15 /// Seattle, WA /// The Showbox
February 16 /// Portland, OR /// Wonder Ballroom
February 17 /// San Francisco, CA /// The Fillmore
February 18 /// Sacramento, CA /// Ace of Spades
February 22 /// Los Angeles, CA /// The Fonda
February 23 /// San Diego, CA /// House of Blues
February 24 /// Phoenix, AZ /// The Van Buren
February 25 /// Tucson, AZ /// The Rialto Theatre
February 27 /// Albuquerque, NM /// The El Ray Theater
March 1 /// Austin, TX /// The Parish
March 2 /// Houston, TX /// White Oak Music Hall
March 3 /// Dallas, TX /// The Granada Theater
March 4 /// Memphis, TN /// 1884 Lounge
February 8 /// Lawrence, KS /// Granada Theatre
February 9 /// Englewood, CO /// Gothic Theatre
February 10 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// The Complex
February 12 /// Missoula, MT /// Top Hat Lounge
February 14 /// Vancouver, BC /// The Rickshaw Theatre
February 15 /// Seattle, WA /// The Showbox
February 16 /// Portland, OR /// Wonder Ballroom
February 17 /// San Francisco, CA /// The Fillmore
February 18 /// Sacramento, CA /// Ace of Spades
February 22 /// Los Angeles, CA /// The Fonda
February 23 /// San Diego, CA /// House of Blues
February 24 /// Phoenix, AZ /// The Van Buren
February 25 /// Tucson, AZ /// The Rialto Theatre
February 27 /// Albuquerque, NM /// The El Ray Theater
March 1 /// Austin, TX /// The Parish
March 2 /// Houston, TX /// White Oak Music Hall
March 3 /// Dallas, TX /// The Granada Theater
March 4 /// Memphis, TN /// 1884 Lounge
Photo Credit: Nicole Mago
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