Acoustic singer/songwriter Connor Hennessy recently chatted with Music Recall Magazine about his influences, start in the music business and the amazing new EP titled “Another Year.“
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MRM: Where are you “calling” from?
Connor: I’m calling from my home just outside of Nashville. I live a bit west of the city, so I get to enjoy the rolling, rural hills of Tennessee as much as I get to enjoy the bustle of downtown.
MRM: How have you been holding up in these crazy times?
Connor: It’s been a struggle to be honest. Ebbing and flowing through it. My EP Another Year was really an outcropping of the challenges of pandemic isolation. With the anxiety and uncertainty hanging over everything I honestly cracked. Writing these songs was a bit of a mending job. And even though it was mostly successful, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t continued to struggle to this day. Getting better at mending though!
MRM: What was the first music you bought with your own money?
Connor: Whatever album “I’m Yours” by Jason Maraz was on. That was one hundred percent the song that taught me how to sing. I was in middle school and I really wanted girls to like me so I put an arduous amount of effort into getting that down because that song was in back then. It was not effective for my girl pursuit but, hey, it actually did help my singing.
MRM: What was your first concert as a spectator?
Connor: I saw John Mayer and Sheryl Crow co-coheadling in Nashville like 15 years ago! It was rad, at this outdoor venue that’s no longer around. Honestly, thinking about it makes me nostalgic. Watching Mayer play is one of the biggest reasons I’m doing this now.
MRM: Who are your influences?
Connor: Well obviously John Mayer. I remember being a little kid on the way to school in Antioch, CA trying to hide the fact that I was singing along to “No Such Thing.” Was too shy to sing in front of anyone – even my parents. Besides him, Dan Fogelberg was an early influence. More recently, Julia Michaels and Ben Rector have had a tremendous impact on my writing.
MRM: How did you start in the music business?
Connor: I sort of flirted with the industry for a while, playing a show now and again, but never really committed to diving in. Then, as everyone is aware, the pandemic put everything on hold. After taking some time to reexamine my place in everything. That’s when I linked up with my friend and producer Tyler Coday and decided to stop putting off following this path.
MRM: What can you tell us about your “Another Year” EP that came out October 8th?
Connor: “Another Year” was written over the course of nine days in the middle of the pandemic lockdown. I was reeling from something of an existential crisis. My mental health was at its lowest. When I sat down to write, I was trying to shape meaning out of the meaninglessness that seemed to permeate every aspect of life at the time. The result is a work that has ups and downs, both thematically and energetically, that leaves you both somber and hopeful.
MRM: Do you have any tours coming up?
Connor: No tours, but always booking more shows around Nashville!
MRM: Thanks for the interview. Anything else you would like to add?
Connor: Thank you for the great questions! I hope everyone who listens is able to get something out of this EP. For creatives especially, I hope my vulnerability in confronting self doubt will remind them that this path isn’t easy and that they’re not alone when pursuing art seems impossible.
For more information, please visit https://connorthennessy.com/home