Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty Graham.
Hi Ty, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a 36 year old singer songwriter born and raised in Tyler, Texas( an hour east of Dallas in a somewhat smaller town. At the age of 6, my mother came into my room and asked (more or les told me) if I wanted to take piano lessons. I was taught classical piano and was involved in several piano recitals/competitions until the age of thirteen. One day while in the car with my dad, he played me Stevie Ray Vaughan’s cassette album “The Sky Is Crying” and from then on I HAD to be a guitar player. I immediately immersed myself in everything that was blues guitar with influences like Jimi Hendrix, Lightning Hopkins, BB King, Buddy Guy, and all the greats. Soon after getting a good handle on the guitar I began writing songs or at least attempting to find a way to put my feelings onto paper. My biggest influence other than Stevie would have to be John Mayer who is ultimately what led to developing my style of writing with guitar.
After graduating high school, In 2008 applied/auditioned for Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and was accepted. I met so many great people at Berklee including Nashville’s own Troy Cartwright( Ten Year Town podcast who is also from Texas and lived in the dorm next door). After 2 semesters i realized I really needed to be out in the real world working on my craft instead of a classroom. I moved to Austin, Texas for 2 years to be close to home and figure out my next move while working on songwriting. In early 2011 I was contacted by a woman who used to be in publishing here in Nashville and was invited to spend a week here taking meetings with other publishers and co-writes with other writers which I had only done once before. After returning home from my week in Nashville, my mind was made up that I would become a permanent resident.
I was very fortunate to have gotten the attention and friendship of two very accomplished writers by the name of Kyle Jacobs( hit writer for Tim McGraw, Lee Brice, Garth Brooks, ect. and late husband of Kellie Pickler) and Joe Leathers( Tim Mcgraw, Lee Brice, Trace Adkins, ect.) who took me under their wings and mentored me. so immediately I was writing with well established writers like them as well as Ruston Kelly, Frank Rogers, Billy Montana, and many others. I got my first two cuts for Dylan Scott( I Lost You) in 2016 and Granger Smith( Raise Up Your Glass) in 2017 without having a publishing deal. Soon after I met and became dear friends with country artist Chris Young which was the start of a lifelong friendship that would later turn into my first publishing deal.
At the time I was doing anything and everything to make a living including driving for uber while I wasn’t writing songs. in 2023 After having talked about it for a year or so, Chris called me one day after I had just dropped a passenger off to say he was offering me my first publishing deal and to stop driving for good! finally years and years of hard work and being told no by everyone in town had finally paid off.
Fast forward to today, I have 3 cuts on Chris’s new album “I Didn’t Come Here To Leave,” which are “Tin Roof (wich was on hold for Keith Urban), “Brake Lights” and a song/duet coming out called “One Of Us” with artist Shaylen from Big Machine Records. It has been a long and hard road to get here and i could not be happier. I owe my parents and their large diverse record collection for all the influences that have made their way into my writing style and sound. I am also working on my own artist project co-producing with Chris. I currently have a song on spotify ( “By Now”) and hope to be putting out more music soon.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely was extremely hard and disheartening at times being told no twice by every publisher in town after countless brief afternoon meetings.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m known, at least I think, for my unique approach to melodies, lyrics, and composition. I’ve found a way to weave such broad and diverse musical influences into country and other genres is how I set myself apart, fresh takes on common subject that make the listener think without making it too cerebral is definitely one of my strongsuits
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
incrementally for sure, John Mayer taught classes for a week when I was at Berklee and said it best. Alway have humble perspectice on what “making it” really is, little goals that you accomplish that add up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.spotify.com/track/2eqHXg6CAaQ2mCHTCTwJ73?si=869e16ffdc4b4567
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ty_graham3?igsh=bWFiemx4ZnFpd3li&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VjOW3BYqvI&list=RD7VjOW3BYqvI&start_radio=1
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3GSrYdOHXE&list=RDX3GSrYdOHXE&start_radio=1
