Overview
When it comes to his latest album, In the Shadow of the Mountain, 25-year-old singer-songwriter Cole Chaney is pretty candid and blunt about who he is and what kind of music he wants to make — the result of which, this stunning offering from an artist wise beyond his age. “There’s a yin to every yang, ” Chaney says. “I want nothing more than for people to be creatively fulfilled, and to do what they want. But, for me to preach that? I have to practice it.” That attitude resides at the core of the record, where the trajectory of the songs seemingly — more so purposely — shoot off in the opposite direction of many of his contemporaries in the Americana, country and folk music scenes. In truth? Chaney is summoning his rock roots. “I’m not concerned with being labeled as ‘country’. “There's not a lot of music being released right now that is doing anything for me. I made something that I would want to listen to.” Pointing to his lifelong admiration for 1990s rock — specifically Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots — as a vital influence on the sonic landscape of the album, Chaney aimed to find a melodic balance between that raw and real rock sound and the bluegrass and folk music of his native Kentucky.
“I wanted to make something that sounded like Ralph Stanley went in and got backed up by Soundgarden,” Chaney jokes. “I write what I listen to. And whatever I listen to is going to come out in my music.” In the Shadow of the Mountain was captured by famed producer Duane Lundy at his legendary studio in Lexington, Kentucky. While talking at-length about the possible collaboration, Lundy spoke of his love for Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. “I know plenty of bluegrass guys that could have recorded this for me,” Chaney says. “But, I wanted to take that string band and folk sound and bring it to a rock producer, to bring that big sound out of these acoustic instruments — [Duane] was about to do that.” The album was also co-produced by guitarist Zachary Hamilton, a close friend of Chaney, who is also the brother and bandmate of rising Lexington singer-songwriter Abby Hamilton. “[Zach] has that ability to fill a room with his guitar, his voicings, and all the choices he goes for down the neck of the guitar, ” Chaney says. “When Abby was opening for us, I got to sit there and watch him play every night. I knew when I was going to do another album, he needed to be involved in some capacity.”
Heading into the recording sessions, Chaney brought along his band, which included Ella Webster (fiddle), Kyle Kleinman (mandolin), Joel Murtaugh (upright bass) and James Gooding (drums). Acclaimed Kentucky musician (and former bandmate) Aaron Bibelhauser also makes an appearance.
With this pivot in his tone and intent compared to his 2021 debut album, Mercy, Chaney sees this current path as more in-tune with what he’s not only wanted to do all along, but has slowly shifted towards in recent years amid endless touring and performing. “I was green [while recording Mercy]. I didn’t really know what I was doing,” Chaney admits.
“And, by the grace of so many people around me, we were able to get some really great string band music on [that album].” Since Mercy, Chaney has added a full drum kit to his band and live show, something that was done to enhance his sound and stage presence — this thunderous beat to accompany the sorrowful songs. “If I have drums, then we’re going to do it all the way, ” Chaney says. “And that unlocked some capabilities for me as a writer to pursue a sound that I don’t think I’ve heard yet.”
As of late, Chaney has returned to his hometown of Catlettsburg, Kentucky (population: 1,780). The tiny Appalachian community lies along the shores of the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers, at the crossroads of the borders of West Virginia, Ohio and The Bluegrass State. “I think where I’m from shows through in everything that I do, ” Chaney says. “And if you want to write songs where that is going to come through, then I feel I need to be around my roots.”
For Chaney, even though he’s only in his mid-twenties, his journey has been long and bountiful already. From growing up in rural Appalachia to going to welding school, only to leave it behind and take a leap of faith when an opportunity to pursue music emerged. That life-changing decision led to Chaney hitting the road and finding work at The Burl, a storied Lexington music venue. Chaney has come full circle with The Burl, by selling out the space on multiple occasions to fervent crowds, including the large outdoor stage. With In the Shadow of the Mountain being the latest milestone for Chaney, what remains is this driven musician in search of not only himself and his sound, but also an audience just as hungry — for something new, something different, and yet something so familiar. “In a lot of ways, things have gone extremely far. And yet, so many things have remained the same,” Chaney reflects. “And that’s been the beauty of the journey.”
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