“Dive bar soul” originator Phillip-Michael Scales hops in the car to talk about returning home to Chicago after living and writing in Nashville.

Scales breaks down the honest self-reckoning behind his song “It’s Me,” navigating the songwriting machinery of Music City, and taking creative control by producing his own work. The conversation dives into:

• Defining artistic impact on your own baseline rather than industry metrics
• Taking advice from his uncle B.B. King about meeting every room where it is
• Connecting with fans, memorable road stories, and returning to roots for winter Midwest shows
• Writing and self-producing his upcoming record

Car Con Carne is presented by Exploding House Printing, Hermosa’s local go-to for quality screen printing, embroidery, and merchandise. Jonathan brings decades of expertise to deliver top-tier boutique print quality at affordable rates for bands, brands, and small businesses. Visit explodinghouseprinting.com or follow on Instagram at @explodinghouseprinting.