Singer-songwriter and Oklahoma City native Graham Colton released his latest record, Pacific Coast Eyes Vol. 2, this past October. This new volume of Pacific Coast Eyes includes three new tracks, "Hold Onto My Heart," "My Resignation," and "Wide Open Inside," as well as alternate versions of three previously released tracks.
In support of his latest album, Colton partnered up with CNGnow as a way to advocate for the use of compressed natural gas versus diesel fuel. In addition to driving a CNG-fueled vehicle throughout the tour, the singer-songwriter has been documenting his experience on CNGnow.com.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Colton, who shared with me his decision to embark on a green tour, what keeps him motivated while writing new material, and the benefits of being an independent artist.
What was the inspiration behind doing this green “Go Natural” tour?
Well, I think it started with just the ever-changing landscape of not only the music business, but the touring business, which is how I made my living and connected with my fans for the last almost-eight years now. It’s really hard to not only tour the country by myself, let alone with a band: to pack everyone in the van, trailer, bus, train, plane, whatever you want to call it.
It really started with me trying to investigate ways that I can not only tour the country, but [do so] cost-effectively. And once I started researching, I started thinking about the environmental aspect, and I came across the CNGnow.com website and what natural gas can do for not only our environment and our alliance with foreign oil, and, really, my pocketbook. It’s been kind of a perfect marriage of the two things.
I would assume with any tour that challenges arise; have there been any specific challenges with doing a green tour?
Yeah, absolutely. I think the people at CNGnow.com have been really cool about this just being something to get the word out, because just like all alternative energy, the infrastructure’s not there, yet; it’s not where we need it to be. I’m trying my best to document even the tough part of trying to find a natural gas station in different parts of the country. Sometimes, it’s a real challenge.
The cool thing is, to be honest with you, with this process it was never my intention or their intention to make it be some huge, massive, publicized thing. It’s been an organic, viral process. I’ll pull into a station, and the station pump will not be working or it needs maintenance. Those are some of the things that I think will change in the coming years if people want this clear energy and advocate it.
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