January 10, 2025 • 14 mins
Curtis Murphy takes center stage on this week's Indie Artist Music Hustle with Blind Intelligence, sharing his inspiring journey from a teenager with a passion for songwriting to a budding country artist rooted in Arkansas's rich musical landscape. At just 16, Curtis began channeling his innate sense of rhythm into creating music, and now he's ready to let the world hear his unique sound. His latest track, "Arkansas Memories," paints a vivid picture of his upbringing, filled with the warmth of family and the outdoorsy charm of hunting and fishing that Arkansas life offers. We explore Curtis's shift from rock to country, a transition that pays homage to his past while paving the way for new artistic expressions.
Staying true to his roots, Curtis opens up about the profound influence Arkansas's culture has had on his music and why he remains loyal to his home state despite the temptations of Nashville's bustling music scene. The episode reveals the deep connections and personal experiences that shape Curtis's artistic identity, from cozy acoustic jam sessions by the fire to the possibility of future recordings with his friend Dalton Kennerly in Nashville. Tune in to uncover the heartfelt tales behind Curtis's music and the undying love for his home that continues to drive his ambitions.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hello everyone, welcome to this week's Indie
Artist Music Hustle with BlindIntelligence.
I'm your host, ms Ronnie, whereI always seek to give you
exquisite cranial repertoire.
This week we have a veryspecial guest from straight out
of Arkansas.
His name is Curtis Murphy Sayhello to everyone.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Hey everyone, how you doing tonight?
My name is Curtis Murphy.
I'm from Jonesboro, Arkansas.
His name is Curtis Murphy.
Say hello to everyone.
Hey everyone, how are you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
tonight.
My name is Curtis Murphy.
I'm from Jonesboro, arkansas.
Well, he has a song out nowthat is called Arkansas Memories
and I reviewed it and I likedit.
So I want him to take over nowto tell everyone a little bit
about yourself.
You can start with yourbackground or however you want
to go okay, um, like I said, I'mfrom, uh, jonesborough,
(00:50):
arkansas.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I've been, uh, pretty much writing songs and music
since, uh, probably I was about16 years old, so it's been about
15, over, you know, over 15years uh.
But here lately it's reallyjust when I've been trying to,
you know, get stuff out therefor everybody in the world, to,
just when I've been trying to,you know, get stuff out there
for everybody in the world tosee is what I'm trying to do now
.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Okay, so what made you want to start in music?
I mean because a lot ofcreators have like different
outlets, so I know you startedwriting when you were 16, but
what made you move into themusic industry?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I mean just music period really, uh, I I've always
, you know, done it.
Uh, I've always had it in myblood, you know.
Uh, apparently I was uh from alittle kid beating on the back
of the car seat.
You know, I always had therhythm and uh, just it just
started coming out and writingand stuff and learning how to
(01:43):
explain myself and expressmyself through writing.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
OK, so tell me about Arkansas Memories.
Tell me what it means to youand why you wrote it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Basically, arkansas Memories is about my childhood,
growing up and all the waythrough my teenage years and
even into adulthood.
You know it's a big thing fromarkansas, the hunting and
fishing, and you know it talksabout my grandpa on the song and
it's just all around goodcountry song from.
You know the state of arkansasokay.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So you know how it is to live in arkansas.
I know how it is to live inarkansas and I have lived other
places and when I have gottenthere I have realized that I
have taken some things forgranted here that other people
don't ever get a chance toexperience.
(02:36):
So what is one experience,especially being an artist?
So what musical experience canyou share with somebody that you
can only experience in Arkansas?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Well, well, I started .
You just have an old acousticeverybody hanging out as friends
, you know, just jamming out andsitting around the fire.
You know, whatever you're doing, fishing it's a.
It's really just a familyexperience.
And you know, friends, it's ait's it's something personal
okay.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
So that leads me to another question.
It's kind of business.
Right before I get there, I'mgonna ask you this how many
projects have you completed as aprofessional artist?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
uh, actually, uh, this country project is brand
new.
This is starting off the ground.
I have a rock background, I hadmy own band and my guitar
player, david Anderson from theband, actually is my guitar
player now for my solo stuff,including myself.
So I mean, I've had a fewdifferent projects in the past,
(03:45):
but mostly rockish style music.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So they were released also.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Okay, so tell me this With being from Arkansas,
having a rock background andbeing so close to Nashville,
what has kept you in Arkansas?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Honestly, uh, you know it's all my family and
roots are here.
It's just.
I mean, I know Nashville is abig opportunity, um, who knows?
But this project it mightventure out.
Actually, uh, my buddy, daltonKennerly, he uh he's done some
recording up there, um, and hasmentioned it to me, so that
might actually be a possibilityin the future.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So tell me as a solo artist, because it's different
being with a band.
As a solo artist, what fears doyou have that you didn't know
that you had because you had thesecurity of a band?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I mean really it's kind of the same sense in the
songwriting.
I mean it always started kindof the same.
Like I said, my guitar player,david Anderson, is still with me
today.
So a lot of stuff right now wedo, we write together.
So in the aspect of writing andstuff it's still the same.
I'm not told it by myself,because I brought him along with
me on this one.
So I mean I guess it's kind ofthe same, since it's in that
(05:10):
same sense.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
OK, so tell me what do you think is more important
for artists that has decided togo from a hobby to professional?
Do you think it is moreimportant to have a finished
quality product or to learn thefoundations of the business
first?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I mean it.
I guess it depends what you'regoing for.
If you're just trying to getyour name out and get started uh
, you know the single releasethen kind of learn as you go,
kind of thing would work, youknow.
But I mean, it's always good toknow what you're getting into
and do your research also.
Me personally, I kind of did itat the same time, you know
research and trying to get stuffout there at the same time,
just because I'm trying to getsome traction right now okay, so
(05:56):
now I'm moving to this otherquestions question.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
When you were saying that you would hang out with
your friends and perform andform and all of that, I asked
several artists this questionand I'm going to ask you so do
you feel that, since you havebecame an artist, that your
actual friends have increased ordecreased, and do you think
(06:23):
that you get more support fromfriends or from strangers who
are actually organic fans?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
that's a really good question actually.
Uh, the friends is uh the samefriends I've had the whole time
that supported me from all theprojects I've done, so they're
still there.
That actually has grown, youknow, through the years.
And, uh, with this new projectand the new song, mostly right
now, the friends and the familyand all my surrounding people
are what's pushing it andbacking it and sharing it.
(06:52):
Uh, if it weren't for them, Ihonestly could say it probably
wouldn't even be near where it'sat.
And it's just been out for aweek.
Oh, look at, yeah, the videohas been out for a week.
The single actually releases onall major streaming platforms
on March 18th.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Okay, so tell me, since you are a writer I ask
writers this.
I get different answers fromeverybody.
Tell me, what is your processwriting a song.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's always been the same no matter what style I'm
writing, I'll sit down, I'llplay with my acoustic, get a
good little riff going, or Imight just be like, hey, these
lyrics might sound good withthis, and it's pretty much trial
and error.
If I get into a verse and don'tlike it, I'll just scrap it, or
if I get to a point where Idon't feel nothing else coming
motivationally, I'll stopworking on it entirely, maybe
(07:48):
come back the next day, or youknow, that might be an ideal
that never goes anywhere, or Icould be trying to write
something totally different thanthat ideal or work in the next
track.
It's pretty much just the sameprocess as me and an acoustic
setting down the basics.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Okay, so is your process the same for writing for
yourself as you write for otherpeople?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Actually well, with the band stuff.
In the past it has been thatthey would send stuff back and
forth online too, off theDropbox.
We have wrote a few songs likethat, but, like I said, mostly
with this country project it'sjust, you know, writing with the
old acoustic and sharing ourdeals.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Okay, I'm going to ask another question and I'm not
going to say specific names,but I give you clues because I
don't want to be shadow bannedwould be shadow band.
So on the platform where peoplepost a lot of videos, do you
(08:56):
think that it is almost set upwhere you have to pay for
promotion to even get seen, ordo you think that social media
still has this foundation andorganic growth?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I mean it's if you got a good fan base already and
they can't support you for alittle while.
But really to get it out there,you got to promote, you got to
get promotions, you got it, yougot to do the groundwork or
you're not going to get anywhere.
Uh, I mean, it's the problemseverybody face.
I'm facing it now, just tryingto get it out there and push it,
but that's actually somethingI'm learning myself right now.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Okay, so, as an artist, and just to say,
somebody want to do the samething as you and sometimes I
have seen that, um, if you'redoing the same thing that
somebody else is doing,sometimes people don't want to
help you alone, even if theyknow you so do?
(10:00):
what type of information orstruggles or hurdles that you
have had that you know anotherartist have had and you know
they need the help but theydon't ask you for it as an
artist.
How will you get thatinformation to the artist
(10:21):
because you're genuinely,genuinely trying to help?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I mean, I would just tell them, you know, to keep
grinding at it.
Like you know, try everything,Don't never stop.
Keep at it, it will happen.
You just got to believe in itand you got to push it and just
you know, follow your heart androck what you feel.
Then people will relate to that.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Okay, so how has your journey been with trying to get
radio play?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
It's actually it's getting there.
Like I said, this project isfairly new.
I'm still on that level myselfwith the song.
I actually have submitted it toa few different stations.
So I'm really just waiting tohear back right now.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
OK, tell me about that.
I mean about, because you saidthat you submit different things
.
How do you feel about notgetting an answer?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
I mean it is what it is.
So you know, just keep trying.
That's where it goes back tonever give up.
If I would have gave up Iwouldn't have gotten this far.
You know you learn over theyears and try on there.
You know what works and whatdon't.
I mean, don't get discouragedabout you know what ain't
happening.
Just keep trying to makesomething positive come out of
that outcome.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Okay.
Well, how do you feel aboutsocial media?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
It's a great tool.
I mean it really is.
I mean right, you know, today,as an artist, it's almost you
got to have it, you know.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Okay, so what advice?
Because I had another artist, Ithink he was.
He decided that he wanted to bean engineer for all of his life
and he started and his musicout and he said social media is
not for him.
So if you were his manager,what would you say to him?
(12:27):
Because you just told me thatit was important, what would you
say to him?
That social media that isactually needed, what it is?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
well, all you got to do is just walk around and look
at how many people are staringat their phones, and that will
actually show them what it'sdone for yourself and you know
if it's doing good for you, thenmaybe that will convince them
to try it out for themselves.
But you're right, once you'rein your ways, it's hard to
change somebody.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Okay, well, I want you to give everybody on social
media the name of your projectIf a new album is coming out,
anything that you got coming up.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
You can find me on YouTube at Kurt Murphy.
You can just look up the songArkansas Memories.
You can go and follow myFacebook page under Kurt Murphy.
The single will be released onMarch 18th.
We're excited about that.
We're working on some moretracks right now A brand new one
hopefully about to come outsoon.
(13:33):
Hopefully get an album pushedout pretty soon also.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Well, you can find all major platforms coming out
on March 18th.
You can reach us throughFacebook, our podcasting
platform, that's 5, pandora, ourbusiness, those things, and we
will see you again next week.
Thank you for coming.
Thank you, alright Bye, alrightbye.
Hello everyone, welcome to this week's Indie
Artist Music Hustle with BlindIntelligence.
I'm your host, ms Ronnie, whereI always seek to give you
exquisite cranial repertoire.
This week we have a veryspecial guest from straight out
of Arkansas.
His name is Curtis Murphy Sayhello to everyone.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Hey everyone, how you doing tonight?
My name is Curtis Murphy.
I'm from Jonesboro, Arkansas.
His name is Curtis Murphy.
Say hello to everyone.
Hey everyone, how are you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
tonight.
My name is Curtis Murphy.
I'm from Jonesboro, arkansas.
Well, he has a song out nowthat is called Arkansas Memories
and I reviewed it and I likedit.
So I want him to take over nowto tell everyone a little bit
about yourself.
You can start with yourbackground or however you want
to go okay, um, like I said, I'mfrom, uh, jonesborough,
(00:50):
arkansas.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I've been, uh, pretty much writing songs and music
since, uh, probably I was about16 years old, so it's been about
15, over, you know, over 15years uh.
But here lately it's reallyjust when I've been trying to,
you know, get stuff out therefor everybody in the world, to,
just when I've been trying to,you know, get stuff out there
for everybody in the world tosee is what I'm trying to do now
.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Okay, so what made you want to start in music?
I mean because a lot ofcreators have like different
outlets, so I know you startedwriting when you were 16, but
what made you move into themusic industry?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I mean just music period really, uh, I I've always
, you know, done it.
Uh, I've always had it in myblood, you know.
Uh, apparently I was uh from alittle kid beating on the back
of the car seat.
You know, I always had therhythm and uh, just it just
started coming out and writingand stuff and learning how to
(01:43):
explain myself and expressmyself through writing.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
OK, so tell me about Arkansas Memories.
Tell me what it means to youand why you wrote it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Basically, arkansas Memories is about my childhood,
growing up and all the waythrough my teenage years and
even into adulthood.
You know it's a big thing fromarkansas, the hunting and
fishing, and you know it talksabout my grandpa on the song and
it's just all around goodcountry song from.
You know the state of arkansasokay.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So you know how it is to live in arkansas.
I know how it is to live inarkansas and I have lived other
places and when I have gottenthere I have realized that I
have taken some things forgranted here that other people
don't ever get a chance toexperience.
(02:36):
So what is one experience,especially being an artist?
So what musical experience canyou share with somebody that you
can only experience in Arkansas?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Well, well, I started .
You just have an old acousticeverybody hanging out as friends
, you know, just jamming out andsitting around the fire.
You know, whatever you're doing, fishing it's a.
It's really just a familyexperience.
And you know, friends, it's ait's it's something personal
okay.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
So that leads me to another question.
It's kind of business.
Right before I get there, I'mgonna ask you this how many
projects have you completed as aprofessional artist?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
uh, actually, uh, this country project is brand
new.
This is starting off the ground.
I have a rock background, I hadmy own band and my guitar
player, david Anderson from theband, actually is my guitar
player now for my solo stuff,including myself.
So I mean, I've had a fewdifferent projects in the past,
(03:45):
but mostly rockish style music.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So they were released also.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Okay, so tell me this With being from Arkansas,
having a rock background andbeing so close to Nashville,
what has kept you in Arkansas?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Honestly, uh, you know it's all my family and
roots are here.
It's just.
I mean, I know Nashville is abig opportunity, um, who knows?
But this project it mightventure out.
Actually, uh, my buddy, daltonKennerly, he uh he's done some
recording up there, um, and hasmentioned it to me, so that
might actually be a possibilityin the future.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So tell me as a solo artist, because it's different
being with a band.
As a solo artist, what fears doyou have that you didn't know
that you had because you had thesecurity of a band?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I mean really it's kind of the same sense in the
songwriting.
I mean it always started kindof the same.
Like I said, my guitar player,david Anderson, is still with me
today.
So a lot of stuff right now wedo, we write together.
So in the aspect of writing andstuff it's still the same.
I'm not told it by myself,because I brought him along with
me on this one.
So I mean I guess it's kind ofthe same, since it's in that
(05:10):
same sense.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
OK, so tell me what do you think is more important
for artists that has decided togo from a hobby to professional?
Do you think it is moreimportant to have a finished
quality product or to learn thefoundations of the business
first?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I mean it.
I guess it depends what you'regoing for.
If you're just trying to getyour name out and get started uh
, you know the single releasethen kind of learn as you go,
kind of thing would work, youknow.
But I mean, it's always good toknow what you're getting into
and do your research also.
Me personally, I kind of did itat the same time, you know
research and trying to get stuffout there at the same time,
just because I'm trying to getsome traction right now okay, so
(05:56):
now I'm moving to this otherquestions question.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
When you were saying that you would hang out with
your friends and perform andform and all of that, I asked
several artists this questionand I'm going to ask you so do
you feel that, since you havebecame an artist, that your
actual friends have increased ordecreased, and do you think
(06:23):
that you get more support fromfriends or from strangers who
are actually organic fans?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
that's a really good question actually.
Uh, the friends is uh the samefriends I've had the whole time
that supported me from all theprojects I've done, so they're
still there.
That actually has grown, youknow, through the years.
And, uh, with this new projectand the new song, mostly right
now, the friends and the familyand all my surrounding people
are what's pushing it andbacking it and sharing it.
(06:52):
Uh, if it weren't for them, Ihonestly could say it probably
wouldn't even be near where it'sat.
And it's just been out for aweek.
Oh, look at, yeah, the videohas been out for a week.
The single actually releases onall major streaming platforms
on March 18th.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Okay, so tell me, since you are a writer I ask
writers this.
I get different answers fromeverybody.
Tell me, what is your processwriting a song.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's always been the same no matter what style I'm
writing, I'll sit down, I'llplay with my acoustic, get a
good little riff going, or Imight just be like, hey, these
lyrics might sound good withthis, and it's pretty much trial
and error.
If I get into a verse and don'tlike it, I'll just scrap it, or
if I get to a point where Idon't feel nothing else coming
motivationally, I'll stopworking on it entirely, maybe
(07:48):
come back the next day, or youknow, that might be an ideal
that never goes anywhere, or Icould be trying to write
something totally different thanthat ideal or work in the next
track.
It's pretty much just the sameprocess as me and an acoustic
setting down the basics.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Okay, so is your process the same for writing for
yourself as you write for otherpeople?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Actually well, with the band stuff.
In the past it has been thatthey would send stuff back and
forth online too, off theDropbox.
We have wrote a few songs likethat, but, like I said, mostly
with this country project it'sjust, you know, writing with the
old acoustic and sharing ourdeals.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Okay, I'm going to ask another question and I'm not
going to say specific names,but I give you clues because I
don't want to be shadow bannedwould be shadow band.
So on the platform where peoplepost a lot of videos, do you
(08:56):
think that it is almost set upwhere you have to pay for
promotion to even get seen, ordo you think that social media
still has this foundation andorganic growth?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I mean it's if you got a good fan base already and
they can't support you for alittle while.
But really to get it out there,you got to promote, you got to
get promotions, you got it, yougot to do the groundwork or
you're not going to get anywhere.
Uh, I mean, it's the problemseverybody face.
I'm facing it now, just tryingto get it out there and push it,
but that's actually somethingI'm learning myself right now.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Okay, so, as an artist, and just to say,
somebody want to do the samething as you and sometimes I
have seen that, um, if you'redoing the same thing that
somebody else is doing,sometimes people don't want to
help you alone, even if theyknow you so do?
(10:00):
what type of information orstruggles or hurdles that you
have had that you know anotherartist have had and you know
they need the help but theydon't ask you for it as an
artist.
How will you get thatinformation to the artist
(10:21):
because you're genuinely,genuinely trying to help?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I mean, I would just tell them, you know, to keep
grinding at it.
Like you know, try everything,Don't never stop.
Keep at it, it will happen.
You just got to believe in itand you got to push it and just
you know, follow your heart androck what you feel.
Then people will relate to that.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Okay, so how has your journey been with trying to get
radio play?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
It's actually it's getting there.
Like I said, this project isfairly new.
I'm still on that level myselfwith the song.
I actually have submitted it toa few different stations.
So I'm really just waiting tohear back right now.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
OK, tell me about that.
I mean about, because you saidthat you submit different things
.
How do you feel about notgetting an answer?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
I mean it is what it is.
So you know, just keep trying.
That's where it goes back tonever give up.
If I would have gave up Iwouldn't have gotten this far.
You know you learn over theyears and try on there.
You know what works and whatdon't.
I mean, don't get discouragedabout you know what ain't
happening.
Just keep trying to makesomething positive come out of
that outcome.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Okay.
Well, how do you feel aboutsocial media?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
It's a great tool.
I mean it really is.
I mean right, you know, today,as an artist, it's almost you
got to have it, you know.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Okay, so what advice?
Because I had another artist, Ithink he was.
He decided that he wanted to bean engineer for all of his life
and he started and his musicout and he said social media is
not for him.
So if you were his manager,what would you say to him?
(12:27):
Because you just told me thatit was important, what would you
say to him?
That social media that isactually needed, what it is?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
well, all you got to do is just walk around and look
at how many people are staringat their phones, and that will
actually show them what it'sdone for yourself and you know
if it's doing good for you, thenmaybe that will convince them
to try it out for themselves.
But you're right, once you'rein your ways, it's hard to
change somebody.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Okay, well, I want you to give everybody on social
media the name of your projectIf a new album is coming out,
anything that you got coming up.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
You can find me on YouTube at Kurt Murphy.
You can just look up the songArkansas Memories.
You can go and follow myFacebook page under Kurt Murphy.
The single will be released onMarch 18th.
We're excited about that.
We're working on some moretracks right now A brand new one
hopefully about to come outsoon.
(13:33):
Hopefully get an album pushedout pretty soon also.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Well, you can find all major platforms coming out
on March 18th.
You can reach us throughFacebook, our podcasting
platform, that's 5, pandora, ourbusiness, those things, and we
will see you again next week.
Thank you for coming.
Thank you, alright Bye, alrightbye.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!