Universal Music Group Nashville and Timbaland‘s Mosley Music have signed singer-songwriter Colt Graves as the first signee to the previously-announced partnership. Graves’s first major label debut release under UMGN and Mosley Music, the song “Burning House,” will release Oct. 18.
Kentucky native Graves was influenced by his grandfather, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member Josh Graves. Graves’ own music melds country, folk and influences from pop and hip-hop. Last year, he teamed with Timbaland on the song “Cowboy Capone,” and last year released the song “Dirt on Me,” which rose up the iTunes Country chart.
“Colt Graves is the perfect artist for our first collaboration with Timbaland’s Mosley Music,” UMGN chair and CEO Cindy Mabe said in a statement. “He’s simply electric and speaks from a unique and overlooked musical fusion growing up in the bluegrass heartland and taught by his legendary bluegrass hall of fame grandfather Josh Graves. Colt is a gifted storyteller who mixes the backdrop and musical influences of his Owensboro, Kentucky lifestyle with a gritty fusion of country, hip-hop, rock and folk. His edgy vocals and musical fusion is magnetic and I’m so excited to share his musical vision with the world. He’s really a special artist.”
Timbaland added, “From the moment I heard Colt, I knew he was special. He crosses the boundaries of a specific format of music which I believe is what makes him stand out as an artist.”
“It’s been a hell of a journey to get to this point and I’m so grateful to Timbaland, my team, and the UMG Nashville team for believing in me and being part of this journey. Thank you, Cindy, Chelsea, and team,” Graves said.
UMGN’s artist roster includes Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Mickey Guyton, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and more. The UMGN label group includes imprints Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Records Nashville, MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville, as well as the comedy label Capitol Comedy Nashville, the distribution arm Silver Wings Records and the film/tv production unit Sing Me Back Home Productions.
