From Garbage Truck to Grand Ole Opry; Riley Downing's Landfill Poetry
Missouri-raised troubadour Riley Downing stopped by the Real Country Podcast at his album release party at Skinny Dennis in Nashville to talk to me about one of the most unique origin stories in Americana music.
Before joining the Deslondes and landing on John Prine's legendary Oh Boy Records, Riley was riding a trash truck in Holt, Missouri, and writing songs the whole time.
In this episode, I sit down with Riley to dig into his sophomore solo album Landfill Poetry, a raw, stripped-down collection of autobiographical songs written from memories of growing up in small-town Missouri. We talk about the line that started it all ("This business stinks, but it's picking up"), the guitar strap he found in a guitar case in someone's trash, and why the golden armadillo tarot card might just be his new good luck charm.
Riley also opens up about:
- Trading a trash truck driving contract for a band in New Orleans and never looking back
- How New Orleans shaped his sound and musical taste
- Balancing solo life with his work in the Deslondes
- The deeply personal song he wrote for his grandparents in their own home
- His upcoming Grand Ole Opry debut and what it means to him
- Why he packed up and moved to New York City and what he thinks about it now
Plus the quick hits: purple Skittles, Gorditos, the worst thing he ever found on the job (we spared you), and the one line he'd use to get you off your phone and onto his record.
Landfill Poetry is out now on Oh Boy Records.
Riley Downing, Landfill Poetry, Americana music, Oh Boy Records, Grand Ole Opry, the Deslondes, Real Country Podcast, singer songwriter, folk country, indie country, John Prine, New Orleans music, Missouri music, Skinny Dennis Nashville
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