Broadcast Retirement Network’s Jeffrey Snyder discusses the musical and financial journey of singer and songwriter Pentley Holmes.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
Hello everyone, I’m Jeff Snyder. I’ve devoted over two decades of my life helping Americans across this country save and plan for their financial future. I’m starting out on a journey to educate Americans and help get people in this country saving.
Join me as we go on The Roads to Retirement. What’s more American than listening to live music in a small town coffee shop? So when I heard singer-songwriter Petley Holm performing at Scout’s Coffee Bar in Highbridge, New Jersey, I jumped at the chance to meet up with him.
And I brought my guitar in the off chance he might ask me to join him for a song. I think you kind of know where this is headed. Welcome everybody.
We’re here at Scout’s Coffee Bar and Mercantile here in Highbridge, New Jersey, sitting down with singer-songwriter, musician, and just overall good person, Hentley Holmes. Hentley, thanks for joining us on the show today.
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
Thanks for having me.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
I want to start with your motivation. What got you? When did you know you wanted to be a singer-songwriter and musician?
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
I think it started out as like just joking around, you know, everybody wants to play guitar and it just kind of grew into a passion, you know. I saw people performing out in my scene and I just always felt like I could do it. I’ve always loved music and it’s something that’s just always been inside me.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
And up until recently, you had other jobs, support your transition into music. What was that like? Kind of managing multiple jobs?
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
I don’t know. I’ve always been a hard worker and I feel like working in like the service industry, warehouse industry, is like more motivating because I would always see like, especially in the service industry, there’s lots of creatives around me, waiters and waitresses, they’re all aspiring to be people. It’s just what you got to do to put food on the table, you know, pay the bills.
What motivated you to become a musician? Who were your influences? I think a lot of my influences came from my parents because like growing up, you automatically listen to what they’re listening to.
There’s like lots of boys to men growing up and I think that’s where I pulled my vocal abilities from. But musically, there was some Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. Being home alone after school, I would watch MTV and see like Hootie and the Blowfish.
I used to listen to a lot of Hootie, Matchbox 20 and stuff like that.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
What’s the process to write? I know we were talking and you used to do a lot of journaling, but what’s that process like to create music?
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
It’s like you have something on your mind and you’re trying to really figure out the right way to say it so that you’ll understand exactly what I’m saying, how I feel when I’m saying it. So it’s a really, it’s an intense process and I like to take it slow. So it’ll usually come like I’ll have like a guitar riff or something that I’ve been playing for a while and just writing every day.
It’s like sometimes I write the same thing day after day and it’ll be like, okay, so maybe I could put this into a song and like I feel like writing it down first as like internal entry makes it more easy on me to make you able to relate to it if that makes sense.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
You know, this show is about retirement and you started your own business and with that comes managing a budget to travel all around the country. There’s gasoline, all these things you need to think about. What was that process like?
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
Well, the process is like you mentioned gasoline. I’m always thinking about gasoline. Being that I drive, it’s just like I’m constantly aware of the gas prices.
So it’s like when I start my trip out, I do have a budget. So I do a general trip to see like where my longest trip is going and then I add up all the miles and distances in between. So I have a general idea of how much I’ll be spending on gas and I balance that with what I’m making and what it’s going to cost to eat every day and lodging.
Lots of times I wait till the last minute to get a hotel because I look on lines, forums and things like that to see if there’s people. And people are just so generous that like, you know, they’ll offer you the couch for the night and it’s just like I’m getting better at it. I’m not good at the planning and budgeting, but I’m working on it.
It’s a process. It’s like anything you just learn and grow and keep doing it.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
You’re a young man, but thinking about age 65, age 70, can you think about saving for retirement and putting money away?
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
Definitely. Like I’m thinking about like, I’m not always thinking about it now as much as I should be, but this is a time that I should really start, even if it’s just a little bit like putting aside something in an interest bearing account. So I have, it’s just so I have something rolling, you know, to build.
And it’s, I don’t know, because maybe something will happen where I lose my voice and I won’t be able to sustain this kind of living for a long time.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
And you just got to be prepared. I hope that I am more productive than I am today at my age. You know, I think as a musician, I mean, I know that musicians that I follow, I love the Grateful Dead.
We were talking about that off camera. Those guys are still playing in their 70s. I think if you have the passion to play, you can continue doing it.
And if you have the passion for anything, you continue to find a way to do it. And maybe, you know, you’re not lifting heavy amplifiers or heavy guitars or whatever. Maybe you find another way to contribute or you’re writing music or you’re doing something else.
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
You want to be able to enjoy your older age. That’s what I think. Like you mentioned the Grateful Dead.
It’s like, yeah, those guys are older, but they’re still like, they’re still living so hard. Phil Lesh is still up there playing bass and like, you know, it’s just, I think it’s amazing. You know, he doesn’t feel old, you know, he’s just going for it.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
What do you find so wonderful about performing for other people?
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
The most awesome thing is just connecting with people. It’s like a song that I wrote in my bedroom about a personal experience. I get to play out here and people are like, yo, I love that song that you just played.
And I was like, really touched me. And I really think it’s really cool that how people can take a song that you’ve written and they can like, you know, they can develop their own story and interpretation of that. When that happens, it’s just like, that’s what it’s about.
That’s why I do it. And that’s why sometimes I can take a gig for like no money and still get the most enriching experience out of it.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
Look, I’m a big fan, but I have a huge request. Do you think maybe if I could play with you for one song?
Pentley Holmes, Singer & Songwriter
I’d love it, man. I’d love to. I’d love to jam.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Network
I just want to thank Nicole and Adam, who are the owners of Scouts and a really wonderful venue, great location. And they were really allowed us to come in and record here. So thank you to them.
Pentley is undoubtedly gifted and Nicole and Adam have created a second home that is helping them to save for their family’s future. When pursuing a career in the arts, it’s important that Pentley invests in himself. After all, he is his business and he is his most important investment.
Well, Pentley’s knocking and I’m sure doors will open with his level of talent. Mama, take these guns off of me. I won’t shoot them anymore.
It’s getting dark, too dark to see. And I feel like knocking on heaven’s door. Yeah, yeah.
All right, one more time. As Americans, we put so much of our energy into our families, friends and pursuing our passions, often living for the moment to the detriment of our futures. What’s clear to me is that we’re all on our own path, but it’s so important to balance today with being mindful about tomorrow.
I hope you enjoy these conversations. I’m Jeff Snyder and I look forward to meeting you on the roads to retirement.