In this interview spotlight, I chat with Clark Ford about his latest project, motivations, challenges and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I am a native Californian who had a long academic career in Iowa (not in music) from which I am retiring this year. My family has always been musical, and I have always been a music lover – mostly classical, jazz, sacred, musical theatre, classic rock, and some country. Favorites? Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Verdi, Puccini, Prokovief, Shostokovich, Bartok; John Williams, Beatles, Neil Young, Dylan, Simon and Garfunkle, Beach Boys Carol King, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Linda Ronstadt, Nora Jones, Eta James, Rosemary Clooney, Loreena McKinnett, Rogers and Hart, Les Miz, Jesus Christ Superstar, Bernstein, Hamilton, Cole Porter, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Frank Sinatra, and more. I started writing songs 9 years ago in a number of styles: pop, country, jazz, blues, sacred and celtic, as well as operetta and musical theater. I wrote music and lyrics for 6 full-length musicals (unproduced except as public staged readings with music) with music in different genres for different characters. “Spiderwebs in my Hair!” came from the first musical that I wrote in 2009. I played saxophone in high school bands, am an intermediate piano player, and sing in community and church choruses.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?

I love music. I am always listening to it when it is on. I want to write music that not only I love, but also captures the heart and soul of others. Writing a classic rock or country piece that will live on for decades is a dream of mine.

How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?

I have released a full album of pop and country songs, and several singles which will be part of a second album

Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?

1) Just getting people to listen to the music and give it a chance is the biggest challenge when you are unknown. After you have good songs it becomes not what you have musically, but who you know, and who knows you. For me, writing in several genres is a curse and a blessing. Perhaps people who like my music in one genre will listen to my other music. Or perhaps my efforts are too diluted!

2) I am not a performer or a traditional “artist.” All of my songs have been professionally arranged and recorded by a studio in Nashville (Underground Treehouse). The songs (music and lyrics) have been written by me, and I have worked closely with the studio to get the sound I want for each song, but I do not have an act to put on stage or even a “personality” for people to connect to in a song. I am simply a songwriter. This is a big challenge…

Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?

All my professionally recorded music (songs written by me, music and lyrics) are available on SoundCloud, Broadjam, SongTradr, ReverbNation, my webpage (www.clarkfordmusic.com), Amazon.com, iTunes, and Spotify.

Anything else before we sign off?

Here is the link to my album of pop and country songs on Spotify.