Singled Out: Graham Stone “Tennessee Hills”

Somewhere between a honky tonk romp and a stroll through the Smokies, Graham Stone makes his sonic home. The deep register of his voice rumbles in his chest and explodes alongside the driving force of this new single off his upcoming release…

Who: Graham Stone

From: Virginia

Song: “Tennessee Hills”

Latest Record: Sophomore LP Bad News out on April 12th

What About It: “Tennessee Hills” is a song I wrote while driving into Tennessee from Southwest Virginia. I was on my way to a cabin in the Smokies to meet Aubrey after she had been out of town a few days and it was our first wedding anniversary. To me this song captures all that excitement and the glory of chasing the sun down the highway while still touching on themes like loneliness, longing and a hope for what’s at the end of the road.

Well I’m late to the party because I had never heard of John R. Miller & the Engine Lights before catching them at the Tin Pan in Richmond a few months back with Melissa and Danny from Minks Miracle Medicine but I feel like some of his sound could have been a huge influence on a song like Tennessee Hills. Everything’s Got a Price or Been Here Too Long both have that same kind of driving sound only the math is better. What that dude can do playing guitar and singing by himself is truly beautiful and all the pickers on his records shred.

When we went into the studio to record this tune, all I knew is that I wanted the drums to drive it. I’m lucky to have my brother Jordan playing on this one and he’s an incredible drummer. My hat is also off to our recording engineer Pedro Aida who did a really great job capturing that driving sound we were going for. Ben kept the bass low and steady too which allows the rest of the song to fit really well around the rhythm section I think. My brother Clayton and I trade some lead guitar back and forth and then our buddy Matt Eversole from South Hill Banks laid dobro overtop the whole thing. That was really the icing on the cake for me with this song.