Combine the strength of an Oklahoman football champion with the poetic lucidity of a lyricist and you are starting to get a taste of the genetic composition that is Graham Colton. Colton is still searching for a better means to connect with his fans online however his popularity has risen above his expectations across the US. He is among the rare educated sort keeping a nice balance of fan/artist relationship. Colton's ability to create excitement and interest without all the the personal hoopla is built upon his artistic control as a fresh independent artist on the scene spotlighting his music at the forefront of interactivity. Colton takes each and every show as important as his debut. "I have never played a concert where I haven't shaken everybody's hand at the end of a show. It's really important for me to remain in a close direction with people that are into my music because I'm not at a level where my people find out my music is this big massive thing. Even with all the TV placement I've had there still an element that people are finding to get my music before it is shoved down their throats."
Colton describes keeping his music as "organic" attaching his songs to the strongest emotional level for his fans. The core fan group are the people who have become more transit lined. Colton recently played Boston and DC and is always amazed when he is able to recognize his fans on a first name basis. Many of the regular people who do attend his show seem truly devoted, but he remains focused on the devoted group who deeply connect to Colton's music rather then his status. "I think that's critically important with my band mates, my touring partners, my producers, and now with my fans. I feel there is a deeper connection with my core group and I want to really get to know them on the deepest level possible."
Colton is slightly quiet when speaking about his athletic past. Let's face it. Jocks who rock don't do it on stage. Colton, as a talented football player, faced his own personal stigmas that were placed upon him, and yet he found life and motivation not by winning on the field, but by sharing himself off the field, and this idea has certainly come full circle with his past of having that ultimate "Friday Night Light" experience. "My best friend is now a superstar forward for the New England Patriots (Wes Welker). Wes is definitely the home town hero and if I was to write a song about it I think I would title it "In Your Shadow." When he comes back from Boston we get together and do a lot of community service work with the inner city schools and other non-profits and even though we are coming from two different careers we are very deep rooted into our community." We laughed about the comparison of long time friends Tim McGraw and Brett Farve who both have been seen tossing a football around backstage during McGraw's concerts, and how each other were a fan of the other's talent much like Colton and Welker.
Colton's music success stems from the deep roots of being a small town American boy raised in a Rockwell-esque family lifestyle. Songs written to date could have been very cookie cutter, but his balanced exposure to the arts and sports allowed him to play his music outside the line of scrimmage. His memories of his home, his childhood, and his experience cemented firmly to form the foundation that is apparent in his songs. From high school to break ups, these sometimes seemingly difficult moments are the life challenges that inspire Colton to write hit songs. Not every writer comes from hard times and escalated situations of indulgence or dark places. Some writers do have a well balanced background of living in the light and tap into their creative side to express their thoughts through song and Colton is that "boy next door." His music is a throw back to simpler days gone by, and without the seemingly meaningless "emo" clutter that has erased our once free formated airwaves.
"My music has evolved over the 20 EPs I have created and the subject matter has certainly changed, but I am still drawing inspiration from childhood to high school to college, and now from touring to turning twenty-eight. My last album for Universal was spent over eighteen months while living in Los Angeles. I had just come off the road after my first official album release and I was handed over to a new group of people that didn't really know me, my history, or what I was truly about. It was up to me to steer the ship and fortunately I wanted to try some new things as a soloist and to write everything and anything I could think of." Colton would end up writing over one hundred and fifty fully recorded songs. According to Colton, the time consuming process was where his best work surfaced. Colton would gain great insight of himself as a song writer and performer. It was in the comfort of this music induced cocoon where Colton naturally fell into and where he decided to focus all of his attention towards. "A few of those songs have appeared on other music artists' albums. It was very easy to see which songs were not honest to me. On the other hand, It was very easy to see which ones clicked with me in a way they should and "Best Days" was the last commercial song I wrote which I wrote with a friend of mine." As soon as the song was demoed Colton called his manager up and told him he was tapped out from writing anymore music, he was on empty with anymore ideas, and he felt his pen was dry he had scratched all tracks he was challenged to make.
"I am an independent artist again and in becoming one I have been able to revisit many of my songs that were not so honest and didn't make it to the albums. The album I'm working on now was mainly recorded from my bedroom and I'm getting feedback from my family, my friends and my fans about what they like and don't like. These digital EP's have become another way for me to connect to the outside world and to really make my fans a vital living part of my success. It's really helping me to make the new album. It's really exciting and scary to be independent again. Certainly more exciting. I am happiest when I have a nice balance of writing, recording, touring and just living. It's where I am most productive."
Coming from Oklahoma Colton was exposed to more of the Americana lifestyle. Dad (Randy Colton) has been playing in a local cover band called "The Wise Guys" with his fraternity brothers from college since the late 1970's. Graham was never schooled in music theory but he always understood music because his father was always practicing around the house. His earliest memories as a little kid on the living room floor watching his father's band jam for upcoming gigs ignited Colton's interest to perform. "It became my inspiration to play a song with my dad's band and all the band was were a few friends from various walks of life playing music. Even though they were stock brokers and attorneys I viewed them as rock stars." Colton was only in fifth grade when his dad, his dad's friends and Colton drove to Kansas City to see Paul McCartney on tour. "It was pretty awesome to be that young and to have a dad that was cool enough to say that this is the music you should be listening to."
Colton shared with me his view on the excitement of making his new album. It's a process that brings him back to the time when he first came onto the scene and just before he was signed. Zero pressure, working with friends, tour mates, and people who he has known for years. His producer, Tommy Walter (Guitarist - Eels/Abandoned Pool & Producer), and Colton got connected through a few friends and they just started writing songs for the new album. Walter is a diamond in the rough that was born to produce and has once again pulled out the best in another music artist with Colton's latest album. "We share the same vision and I really feel he is one project away from being a huge name producer. He's just one of those people who I can explain an idea of my goal for a song and he flies with it with ease. He is able to draw my talent out in a direction that is really important." Colton and Walter chiseled away day and night from Walter's little back room studio in LA. proving this recording the perfect example of there being no huge studio, no major budget, and no high profile music artists showing up and still producing one top notch album. In Colton's words, "It was "just" Colton and Walter flushing out the songs which has been a great organic process for the two. It's rare these days that an artist doesn't feel the crunch from the labels. There is no ticking clock now and it's that free feeling in which many artists will never experience. Colton has that choice and it is that choice that now leads him to new success and demand for his talents.
"I don't want to make the same record twice. My first record was produced by Brendan O'Brien (Stone Temple Pilots, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Killswitch, etc) which was an amazing experience. I had twelve songs and Brendan was so perfect to work with. I wanted to make a big pop rock album and when I started the frame work with this upcoming album I created much more open space with out the ritziness of the first album or the glossiness of the last album. The songs on this album and thanks to the honesty and guidance from my everyone who helped to create it I know it will be the best yet from my recordings. I'm releasing the digital acoustic EP's in the process of making this new album as a way to let the fans in on the end result. It's my way of asking them to review the premature recordings and asking them for their feedback. It's my way of solidifying my bond with my fans." With those last words from Colton's interview wound down and I was left thinking to myself that he has achieved a level of success built upon his own terms all the while maintaining a strong and everlasting connection to his fans. Colton's career in music isn't short lived by any means or reason. Be on the look out this year because the best is yet to come.
