Pop-punk/alt artist, songwriter & vocalist Cowboy Mugshot (AKA Cory Clark) is a hidden gem in the Nashville music scene. This past October, he released his debut, full-length concept album, i was missing you— A vulnerable 10-track project that documents his lived experiences since moving from Florida to Nashville.
Recently, I spoke with Cory about his growth as an artist since he began his solo career, his new album and more.
Kyla Pearson: You’ve been a solo artist for a little over two years now. How would you say you’ve grown as an artist, songwriter and vocalist since you began this new chapter in your music career?
Cowboy Mugshot: As far as the business side, I’ve grown intellectually, understand where to go for things and who to talk to in order to get things done. The industry is full of gatekeepers who don’t want to help anyone on the up unless there’s something in it for them, which is understandable, but my team and I have done the lords work to fill our own Rolodex!
As far as music goes, I’m such a different singer! It’s night and day compared to when I first started. I had zero singing background and now feel very confident with my abilities.
My songwriting has also matured because I stopped chasing what I felt people wanted and just started making art that I cared about. That may sound simple. Still, Nashville will try to change people sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, as far as the writing side of things goes. Practice makes perfect, right?
Kyla Pearson: This October, you released your debut album, i was missing you. Consisting of 10-tracks, the project explores multiple vulnerable themes such as the loss of friendship, mental health, love and breakups– all of which stem from your experiences since relocating from Florida to Nashville. Why did you feel it as important to share this chapter of your life via your music? Is it challenging to be that open/vulnerable on such a personal level with your music?
Cowboy Mugshot: I’m not going to lie, making this was a horrendous experience for me mentally. I went through two bad breakups in the making of this. A little backstory on the album is that the female voice that appears throughout is the girl that most of the album was about. After finishing the album, my team reached out to clear it with her. Many paragraphs and harshly worded rants later, we didn’t get it approved at all, resulting in us having to take her voice out and re-record her parts. For the longest time, I couldn’t listen to these songs without it being painful for me. But what is art without struggle and pain?
Kyla Pearson: The album is structured with the intent to be listened to from start to finish in one sitting, in chronological order. This is something that isn’t done as often as it once was, but ties into the narrative that the album is a “Documentary of your life”. How would you say this impacts the listener’s experience (or enhances it)?
Cowboy Mugshot: I intentionally made this album all flow because like you said, it’s rare to do, especially for an artist my size. Everyone was pushing me to only do singles and I personally feel that it’s difficult to establish your sound/have a congruent collective of songs in your bag by only doing singles. With that being said, I had a ton of demos that all were a single brain thought. 20 plus songs that all were about the same thing, and I couldn’t break the family up. So I just called my producer and he agreed on the idea of putting out an album. I wanted the listeners to get lost momentarily in a space that I created. I want them to feel what I was feeling, and I think a lot of people share what I went through.
Kyla Pearson: On a related note, can you tell us a bit more about the production/recording of the album, as well as the songwriting process behind the tracks? What made you select this specific set of songs to share your story?
Cowboy Mugshot: Some of these songs on the album date back to my first songs I ever wrote (Blood On My Nikes). I never really plan on what I’m going to write prior to writing. It just happens and I later analyze them to figure out what I’m talking about. I let my internal voice speak freely through whatever production ideas I have. With that being said, I still don’t own a laptop, so I make all my songs on my phone in GarageBand then take them to my producer Ben Zelico. He’s a wizard and is the only person on this planet that fully understands my direction.
Kyla Pearson: Moving cross-country to pursue your dreams is something many emerging artists or budding professionals can relate to. Having done so yourself, what is one piece of advice you’d give to someone who is planning to do so/just moved to a new city?
Cowboy Mugshot: I always tell people who ask me this, “You can’t be a pro surfer in Texas”. What I mean by that is, move to where you best feel your business can grow. If you’re not willing to do that, then you have to analyze what you’re doing. For me, it’s music or death, so I’m willing to go anywhere and do anything to make this happen. When you do move, go out every day and meet people. Market yourself on a friend/personal level with people, and the right doors will open. Stay focused on yourself and don’t find envy in other’s accomplishments. You’ll have your moment and when you do, be ready to fully take advantage of it.
Kyla Pearson: Making music that lasts versus for virality on social media is a buzzpoint in the music industry right now. With this body of work, you went for longevity/to put out music that genuinely represents you as an artist. What do you hope this album says about you, and fans take away from it for years to come?
Cowboy Mugshot: At the end of the day, I wanted to make a body of work that will be here when I’m long gone. Artists have kind of turned into a circus of desperate acts of selling out to get people to look at them as opposed to drawing a meaningful fanbase through the art. That’s why I put so much time and thought into the intention of the music and album as a whole. This album is fully me and I’m beyond proud myself and the result.
Kyla Pearson: There is a billboard in Times Square, NYC promoting the album, which you flew out to see for yourself. How surreal was that experience for you? What has this accomplishment meant for you, as an independent artist?
Cowboy Mugshot: 5 years ago, I was in Times Square as a tourist looking at all the faces and companies in lights wondering what that would be like. Seeing my music that I made being showcased there was unbelievable. It’s something I never thought could be possible for me. It didn’t feel real, and I didn’t believe it so naturally I had to see it for myself!
Kyla Pearson: Lastly, do you have any upcoming shows where fans can hear you play the tracks off the i was missing you album live?
Cowboy Mugshot: Early next year, I will be doing my first headline show. For now, I’m capping the year off in the studio. I’m going back to LA to record an EP. My brain never shuts off and I constantly need to put my thoughts to music notation to feel sane. The grind never stops.
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Clark, Cory. Interview. Conducted by Kyla Pearson, Oct 26 2023.
Clark, Cory. DILL Photos. “Featured: Official cover art for Cowboy Mugshot’s debut album, i was missing you. Credit: DILL Photos & Cory Clark.” Graphic courtesy of Cory Clark. Accessed Nov 29 2023.
DILL Photos. “Featured: Pop-punk/alt artist, Cowboy Mugshot (AKA Cory Clark)”. Photo courtesy of Cory Clark. Accessed Nov 29 2023.
