Colby Acuff, a 23-year-old nation singer-songwriter who was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, is beginning out 2020 with a bang by releasing his first full album, “Lifetime of a Rolling Stone,” subsequent Wednesday on a number of mainstream platforms.
The College of Idaho graduate, who has been performing frequently since age 16, has exhibits in his faculty city of Moscow and hometown of Coeur d’Alene every month. Together with singing and writing songs, Acuff has performed the piano since age 5 and likewise performs the guitar (his favourite instrument) and drums.
Acuff talked about his new music obtainable on platforms together with iTunes and Spotify (Professional tip: When you go to colbyacuff.com beginning at present, you’ll be able to pre-save his new album on Spotify and Apple Music.); rising up in Idaho; his nation music influences; and extra over a couple of beers on the new Brick West Brewing on West Sprague downtown on Tuesday evening:
Inform me about your new album, “Lifetime of a Rolling Stone.”
I’ve been writing songs since I used to be 16, however I sort of shelved all my music for some time. Then I began performing music once more in my faculty city, Moscow, and linked up with a bass participant. He needed to go on tour, and I stated, “I’ll go on tour provided that we do an album.” That’s when it began.
I had a rebirth in music, so I really wrote “Lifetime of a Rolling Stone” for this album. A number of the songs on this album are from once I was 16 and 17, and a few of them had been written particularly for this album.
How lengthy have you ever been engaged on this album?
We began recording this album in November on the Den Studios in Boise. The producer’s identify is Kyler Daron.
What are the influences of your songs on “Lifetime of a Rolling Stone”?
The rationale I really like this album a lot is due to the title track. The track is about being a musician the place you’re enjoying as background music and for suggestions. As Eric Church stated it finest, these boots have performed “one evening roadhouse stands for suggestions in empty rooms.”
I began that track, and once I received to the second refrain, I spotted that this track just isn’t about me. I used to be writing subconsciously about Hank Williams, one in every of my heroes. It’s about being a musician, and it’s a dedication to him.
The songs on the album are based mostly on experiences in my life. One of many songs is titled “The Moscow Consuming Workforce” about my buddies from faculty. I wrote a track about my girlfriend titled “Sparks Start to Fly.”
You’ve been performing since highschool?
I performed my first gig once I was really 12, however I carried out frequently beginning at 16. At age 12, I used to be the lead singer and drummer in a band. Then I picked up a guitar and carried out my first solo present on the downtown (Fraternal Order of) Eagles in Coeur d’Alene. I nonetheless play there at present.
Who’re your musical influences?
Hank Williams is my favourite songwriter and legend. My modern-day influences are Tyler Childers, Brothers Comatose and Luke Combs. I really like Jason Isbell. Plenty of songwriters. I’ve listened to Bobby Naked since I used to be three years previous in a automotive seat. Plenty of these songwriters have been part of my life for a very long time. And I’m a giant fan of Sturgill Simpson and Eric Church.
What did you consider the Luke Combs live performance on the Spokane Area on Nov. 1?
It was nice. He sounded similar to he does on his albums. He’s in all probability the most effective vocalist in nation music proper now. Folks would kill for that sort of highly effective and raspy voice. He can sing something.
He has 16 songs within the High 25 proper now, and he’s already damaged information by Garth Brooks, George Strait and Johnny Money. He’s superb, he’s a standard man, and folks love him.
A buddy of mine went to see Luke Combs in Boise in 2018, and there have been 30 folks. He received to speak to him one on one. On the enviornment in November, I went with that very same buddy to see Luke Combs, the place he offered out all 18,000 seats. He’s a real success story.
How would you describe your music?
It’s Americana and trustworthy. I’ve been classifying myself as Massive Sky nation with Southern roots, as you’ll see on my Spotify. I write with my feelings on my sleeve, and I hope that my trustworthy music is relatable. It’s my first full album, and all my inspirations have influenced me.
What’s maintaining you busy now moreover the discharge of your new album?
Proper now I’m engaged on a tour. I hope to go on tour in April all through Montana. It’s our first 12 months, and I’m excited to study quite a bit. I’ve lots of good folks on my facet. I’m a fly-fishing information, and I took the Brothers Comatose fly-fishing final summer season. Assembly Brothers Comatose had a huge effect on me.
Together with music, I’m a information for Northwest Outfitters, and I additionally am an actual property agent at Northwest Realty Group.
What has been the most effective a part of rising up in Coeur d’Alene?
It’s a mix of issues. Rising up within the open air is big for me. I’m an enormous outdoorsman. Fly-fishing and duck looking. And I grew up round nice folks. That’s one other factor about Coeur d’Alene that I really like.
What’s the distinction between performing in Coeur d’Alene and Moscow?
The distinction between enjoying in Coeur d’Alene and Moscow is that Coeur d’Alene is de facto enjoyable since you’re enjoying weddings and gala’s. I grew up enjoying in Coeur d’Alene at personal occasions and a pair bars.
In Moscow, you’re enjoying all these espresso and brew homes, and it’s packed to the gills with 100 faculty college students. It’s simply the most effective factor, a rippin’ enjoyable time. Moscow allowed me to play my authentic music and imagine in it.
I really like enjoying in Coeur d’Alene and Moscow for various causes. At one level, I used to be going to hold this up. I didn’t know what I needed to do. In faculty, it was a giant rebirth for me to get my music to different folks and have them react the way in which they’ve.
What’s subsequent for you, Colby?
After a small tour in Montana, we plan to play regionally, after which subsequent fall we’ll do an Idaho tour. After we finish the tour in Boise, we’ll begin engaged on a second album to be launched about the identical time subsequent 12 months.