From Kentucky, Grayson Jenkins has always had music running through his veins. Jenkins has built a loyal fanbase from his diverse genre of country, bluegrass and rock and roll. Writings songs his senior year at the University of Kentucky lead to playing regular gigs. Jenkin’s released his first album in 2015 and the feeling led him to take the career as a full time artist.
Courtesy of Grayson Jenkins || Photography: Patrick Brumback
Jenkin’s new album is set to release August 27th - out right now is Mockingbird which you can listen to HERE. Grayson’s timeless sound and all too relatable lyrics make him the next big country music artist.
BC: What is your background with music?
GJ: “I started kind of late compared to most. I had a guitar in high school but it wasn’t until I was twenty years old in college that I really started playing and then getting into writing pretty quickly after. I’ve been doing it about ten years now and learning everything on the fly.” Jenkins says, “I feel like trying to keep up with all the people playing in their bedrooms from the time they were five years old. Playing catch up to all those folks musically.”
BC: Has it always been music for you or was there something you were equally or more passionate about?
GJ: “I grew up on a farm - we raised meat goats and quarter horses and chickens - all kinds of stuff. Growing up I was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA, won speaking contests and showed goats all around the country. I was into sports too in high school so I stayed pretty busy but I was always infatuated with music it just never seemed like a realistic thing to be involved in.”
BC: Who were your musical inspirations growing up?
GJ: “I would say early on, radio country was the only thing made available so Tim McGraw, George Strait, Alan Jackson. My dad had some cassettes of folks like Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings. It wasn’t until later that I started discovering people like John Prine, Bruce Springsteen, Sturgell Simpson - some of those that have influenced me more recently.
BC: Your new album, “Turning Tides,” it set to release August 27th, with this album was there a theme or was it different pieces of different stories?
GJ: “It’s different pieces of different stories that kind of came together. I like having a concept or a theme to build around and I kind of found that through the title track. Piecing together the track placement that kind of mirrored or mimics that phase of life I was in when writing it. It starts out with a lot of heartbreak and struggles while I was transitioning into music full time. Kind of going over the hump and gaining what I hope is a little clearer perspective with a little more hopeful optimism as you move throughout the album.”
BC: You let out, “Mockingbird,” which is on the album, what can you tell us about that song?
GJ: “The first track on the album, the most sad song. It was written after a breakup from a long term relationship. I went on a trip in my van camping just to try and clear my head. I went to see Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan up in Milwaukee. I was camping one morning and got woken up by a bird that wouldn’t quit chirping, so I quickly just started writing this song and found a parallel between this bird and her memory - the girl I was trying to get over.”
BC: Did the song come out pretty naturally or was it a process to write?
GJ: “A little bit of a process, so I wrote the first verse and chorus on that trip and then it was a few months later when I was sitting down for a co-write with my bandmate at the time, Ryan Allen. I brought that song up and he helped me write the bridge and the second verse to wrap everything up. It was nice to get his perspective on it too. Everybody’s kind of been in the same boat so it was good to get his thoughts on that.”
BC: With “Mockingbird” is it a sneak peak at what the rest of your album sounds like or is it different musically?
GJ: “I think it’s a good sneak peek, it’s kind of country rock - I wish there was a better term for that because that can mean a hundred different things,” Jenkins explains, “It’s got the mandolin on it which is a traditional bluegrass instrument but then there’s heavy drums and guitars. I think sonically it’s pretty close. The album is kind of on that line between folk and rock - just the way I naturally sing and write is going to always be country but it’s (album) got a lot of folk rock elements to it.”
BC: Do you have a personal favorite from the album?
GJ: “I really like the title track - it’s one I end up listening to the most just for leisure. I like Kennedy road and Picket Fences. Three of my favorites.”
BC: Was there a song on this album that was harder to write than the other songs?
GJ: “Nowhere Nights is the second song on the album and I had that song written for probably two to three years. A month before we went in to the studio I reworked that song. I spent a lot of time crafting the bridge for that reworking the arrangement a little bit. I think that one had the most work time put into it.”
BC: You actually recorded this album in 2019 and held onto throughout the pandemic, why did you want to hold onto it?
GJ: “I think not being able to get out on tour - we had big plans for 2020. Festivals and things that ended up having to get rebooked. I had invested a lot of time and money into this project and I was on the fence at the beginning of the pandemic, ‘do I move forward and put it out?’ I don’t know what’s right or wrong but I’m really happy with how things worked out. I had a little more time to make small tweaks to it and to have it remastered by Pete Lyman who is one of the best in the game. That extra amount of time where I took a break from it and revisited it, I think it it ended up being really helpful for me.”
BC: What do you hope people can take away not only from your music but this album in particular?
GJ: “I think for me, the world is kind of a shitty place sometimes and I like to write about that because it’s therapeutic for me and I hope people find a little bit of hope through the songs. Presenting this negative situation but having that little grain of grit, resilience or hope that gets you through a tough situation.”
BC: If you had a dream headlining festival and you could bring three supporting acts, who would you bring?
GJ: “Oh man! I wanna throw some random ones in there but I think I would go Mike and the Moonpies, I think they’re one of the best country bands going right now. This is gonna be a different one but Lady Gaga - I think she’s an absolute powerhouse, writer, singer, performer. Let’s see,” Jenkins thinks, “I would go with probably Sturgill Simpson, I look up to him so much musically so it would be awesome having him there.”
BC: Who is your dream collaboration?
GJ: “I really love Watchhouse, I really really love their delivery. I have several times day dreamed about having them produce a record for me. I love the mellow vibe and super thoughtful lyrics they put in. I think it would be really awesome to do something with them one day.”
BC: What’s your ultimate dream as an artist?
GJ: “It changes a lot. Somedays I wanna take on the world, I wanna go play at Red Rocks, I wanna go play at the Ryman. Other days I’m really just super content with having a loyal fanbase where I can just go play around the country and have people listen to my songs. I think at the end of the day I would just like to do it for the rest of my life, whatever that means - being pretty fluid in my expectations. There’s a part of me to that is super ambitious and hungry and wants to play the big festivals, the big stages. Just try and take it day by day.”
BC: If you could do three things on your bucket list what would they be?
GJ: “I’d like to go to Rome and tour around Italy. I’m pretty fascinated with Roman culture and history in general. I would like to take even a few months to go to Europe and spend a long time in Italy. They are almost all related to travel. I’d like to go Australia and New Zealand as well. I’m not super crazy, I couldn’t do skydiving or hang gliding, that’s not really in my wheel house. Playing a big arena tour with somebody like Lady Gaga would be cool. A mega arena.”
BC: If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would splurge on?
GJ: “Oo, I always said if I had a ton of money I would buy a home in as many places around that I could afford. Around the country, around the world. Like a beach house, and nothing big just a modest house. A ranch with a little house on it. I think I would go that route.”
BC: Earlier in the interview you said you grew up on the farm and raised meat, would you ever go back to that?
GJ: “Absolutely. I think hopefully sometime in the near future we’ll have some time and funds to put towards a little property. I don’t know if that would be in Kentucky or elsewhere but I grew up on kind of a small farm, like thirty acres. I think if I had fifty acres or less just to raise some food of my own. I have a small garden at my house now but to have a big garden and raise my own animals that’s kind of a dream for me to be a homesteader and then go play music.”
BC: Combining the farm and the music, would you ever want to do a Farm Tour like Luke Bryan does?
GJ: “Oh absolutely! as soon as somebody calls with that offer I’m signing up.”
BC: Lastly, is there anything you want to say to your fans?
GJ: “Always. I’m thankful. I know without the folks listening - I mean that’s how this whole thing started. I was singing cover songs in bars and people just started gravitating towards my music. I’m super thankful and appreciative about anybody that gives a damn about the songs that' I’m writing. Thanks and stay with me, I’m gonna go through some different musical ideas. Some might be good, some might be bad, just stick with me.”