Rising Music Star Buford Pope On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry
An Interview With Guernslye Honoré
Learn to listen to your heart. If that doesn’t work, tune into your gut. And if that approach fails as well, then consider heeding both.
As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Buford Pope.
Buford Pope, (a.k.a. Mikael Liljeborg) was born in 1971 on Gotland, a Swedish limestone island in the Baltic Sea. With a small population and isolated from mainland of Sweden, the world of music soon became an inspiring and mind-opening resort for him. As for many musicians and artists before him, discovering Bob Dylan was a milestone. “I was 15 years old and was totally blown away by his attitude, he sang like no one else I’ve heard before”
Through Mr Zimmerman he soon learned to love the songs of other related storytellers — like Neil Young, Tom Petty, Jackson Brown, Robert Johnson and Bruce Springsteen — but he was still unaware what all these experiences would mean to him one day. Buford Pope is truly an exceptional talent in his field of music. Listening to his music is the best proof any listener can get.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up with the cultural concept ”The law of jante” that originates from Scandinavia. It describes a set of societal norms and attitudes that discourage individualism and self promotion. ” You’re not to think you’re anything special ” But thanks to my lovely and supporting parents I found a way to handle it.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
As a child, I held onto every word of advice from the grown-ups around me, believing in their wisdom and guidance. Yet, as I grew older, I discovered the bittersweet truth that those well-intentioned words often fell short in the face of reality! That’s how my mind and songs came alive!
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
In 2015, my family and I spent our Christmas holiday in Florida. Towards the end of our vacation, I fell seriously ill and ended up being hospitalized for ten days. Coincidentally, I was on the brink of completing my 7th album. Interestingly, one of the songs I had written perfectly encapsulated my experience during the hospital stay. This track is titled “Infirmary” and can be found on my album “Blue Eyed Boy.”
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
In addition to being a singer-songwriter and artist, I’ve been involved in the used car industry since completing school. This profession stands in stark contrast to being an artist, as I find it much simpler to sell tangible items than to promote my own identity. I’ve never excelled at self-promotion, consistently struggling with low confidence. At times, I’ve been an easy target for the music business, craving attention and validation from others. I am still in the process of learning and growing.
Transitioning from precise sales appointments, serious discussions, and signed documents to encountering sleepy bartenders and delayed sound recordists was quite an adjustment. I had mistakenly believed they were all part of the same field.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
During my early teens, I was introduced to the songs of Bob Dylan, which served as a mind-opening experience for me. Listening to his music was how I learned to write my own songs. I don’t believe I would have ventured into music composition without the inspiration he provided. But, it did take some time — I was thirty years old when I finally picked up the guitar and began composing my own music.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Einstein once said that repeating the same mistakes over and over again and expecting different results is a form of folly. Well, I seem to be caught in that cycle.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
In my latest release, I managed my own production. The ability to record songs without needing appointments or assistance from others was both empowering and overwhelming. At this moment, I find myself in a state of confusion about my direction. I have a multitude of songs that I want to record, yet I’m uncertain about where to begin due to the vast array of possibilities.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Our culture will die without diversity.
Without diversity, my life would resemble living in a regime, and that’s one of my greatest fears.
While it’s easier than ever to discover new creators, uncovering the true gems still requires digging deeper.
Freedom of speech and choice allow us to express ourselves even when it conflicts with someone else’s self-imposed rules.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
I can’t provide a definitive answer to that. Often, we possess more knowledge than we realize. My most significant mistakes often felt misguided right before I committed them. I’m still in the process of learning to trust my instincts.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Learn to listen to your heart. If that doesn’t work, tune into your gut. And if that approach fails as well, then consider heeding both.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
There are numerous religions in this world, and that’s perfectly acceptable. However, imagine if we could all embrace a single, unified religion based on love.
It might sound whimsical, but personally, I’m not concerned about that.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
I’m certain that meeting one of my musical heroes would be incredible. However, I’d be more interested in meeting someone I can’t understand, such as a dictator or a leader who places themselves above all humanity without regard for the human condition.
How can our readers follow you online?
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Right back at ya!
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
