Singer and songwriter Colt Graves just released his first single, “Lonesome Roads.” The Calhoun native spends his days managing sales at Don Moore and his spare time trying to solidify himself as a staple in the music industry.
Graves fell in love with music as a child, aspiring to follow in his grandfather, Bluegrass Hall of Fame Member Josh Graves’s footsteps. Graves’s father, Josh Jr., was also active on the music scene, playing with Jimmy C. Riley, who famously performed “Harper Valley PTA,” and other instrumental musicians on the folk scene.
“I’m blessed to have been born into a music family,” Graves said. “I quickly learned the ropes of songwriting and performed in various acts over several genres over the past few years. We put a lot of work into this song and music video.”
Graves transitioned into a solo career in 2021 and honed in on a sound that combines the perfect blend of folk and country storytelling, paired with modern pop and hip-hop influences.
Graves drew inspiration for “Lonesome Roads” when he was on a camping trip to Wranglers Campground at Land Between the Lakes. The weather-ladened trip, paired with his bouts against depression, laid the groundwork for a riff and some lyrics.
“It was just cloudy and muddy, and it kind of put a little damper on our trip,” he said. “I pulled my guitar out and started pulling inspiration from my surroundings.”
The riff goes, “Lonesome roads are all I know. There ain’t no sunshine or blue skies around me.”
The song draws parallels from what Graves experienced on that camping trip and a recurring theme in his life: mental health. He co-wrote it with Adam Scott and said there is much more meaning in the lyrics than meets the surface.
A release from Graves’s production team reads, “The dark undertones in the lyrics paired with dramatic instrumentals were heavily inspired by Colt’s struggle with anxiety, and he wanted to use his music as a way to express himself while creating a relatable song that may provide comfort to others who may be in similar situations.”
The new single is available on all platforms; stream the song on Spotify here.
Watch the music video here.
Graves was born in Nashville and raised in middle Tennessee, constantly surrounded by all things music.
“It’s in my blood,” Graves said. “This is what I love to do, and I would love to turn it into a full-time job.”