We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cedar Compher a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cedar, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I am happy to announce that I have my first EP coming out later this year! This project is special to me because it represents the completion of a longstanding dream to build out a van with a built-in recording studio, then travel the country while writing and recording an album. With the exception of the drums, I wrote and played every part on the EP, as well as produced and mixed, so it’s very much a showcase of the breadth of what I can do with music. I would describe the four songs as tightly crafted ~3 minute alt/pop/folk/rock songs centering around themes of loneliness, healing, sex, and spirituality, and I like to think there is a fresh and exploratory feel to the work that was inspired by my travels around the country during the pandemic.

Cedar, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Music runs deep in my bones; as a kid I often went to sleep to the sound of my dad playing classical guitar, or my parents practicing traditional folk tunes for the gigs that supported our family. I remember first dabbling on the piano at age 9- I had been taught both the left and right-hand parts to “Heart and Soul” and would play it with my sister or a friend. One day I decided to try and play both parts by myself, going through the process of training my hands to work together for the first time, and pretty soon I was playing the whole song which was a thrill and a huge confidence boost. I’ve approached each skill (Lead Guitar, Bass, Piano, Banjo, Mandolin, Voice, Songwriting, Producing) the same way- learning some basic techniques from friends or family, then exploring at my own pace. This has helped me to maintain a feeling of joy and excitement in my creative journey, and I like to think that feeling comes through in the music I create.

While my main focus is currently on songwriting, I always keep my eyes open for opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects, and I am available for hire as a session musician or touring performer on any of the instruments listed above.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I only make music that I enjoy listening to- so I’ll do it for myself no matter what- but there is something very gratifying about creating something that I like and having others feel the same way about it; it’s a special type of connection which I would like to experience more of in my life, and that is why I’m braving the insecurities and fears that come up and putting my stuff out there.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Like most people, I was taught over and over, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, to create a mental image called “myself” that was analogous to the mental image I had of others. But through a rather painful process that might be called a spiritual awakening, this self-image briefly disappeared (which was then very peaceful), proving that it must be an unnecessary fabrication and in fact was more of a complex “guess” about the mental image that others had of me. And this guess about others’ image of me was very affected by any perceived judgement from them, which in turn created a lot of fear around sharing things that were central to it’s makeup (like my musical ability). Those “selfing” gears are still turning to some degree, but this awakening created the necessary space for me to depersonalize my gifts and start sharing them without the same level of fear over others’ judgement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cedarcompher.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedarcompher/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarcomphermusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cedarcompher5006/featured

Image Credits

Rich at Radical Snaps