Music Minute - Greylan James and Cole Swindell: Things That I Can't Change

 

Rising artist and ACM Award-winning songwriter Greylan James partners with superstar Cole Swindell for their brand new track “Things That I Can't Change,” out now via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Written by James, Jared Mullins, Rocky Block and Brock Berryhill, the melodic, coming-of-age tune is a strikingly honest look at past mistakes and how the consequences of them can put us on a path to being a better person. Longtime co-writers turned tourmates and friends, the duo first chatted about hopping on a track together during a friendly game of golf a few months ago. After finishing “Things That I Can't Change,” James shared the demo with Swindell and he immediately agreed that this was the song for them to do together. A big advocate for James' artist career in addition to his songwriting, Swindell was the perfect fit for a collaboration.   “I think 'Things That I Can't Change' showcases what country music is all about and what I want my music to be about, telling stories that we have all lived,” expressed James. “This song really makes me think about the things people do and the parts of their life that they aren't insanely proud of. But we can take the lessons learned from those moments to grow from it and also accept that people can change from the other side of it. Sometimes forgiveness is hard, but it's about seeing the best in people and giving them the opportunity to show that they can be better. It's alright to let the things that you can't change, change you.”   “I've been a big Greylan James fan since the first time we wrote together a few years back,” said Swindell. “Not only is he a great songwriter, but his voice and the way he delivers a song is just special. I was honored when he asked me to sing on 'Things That I Can't Change' because it's such a GREAT song and message that I think a lot of folks, like myself, can relate to. I'm excited to see where it takes him and thankful he and his team asked me to be part of it.”   LISTEN: “THINGS THAT I CAN'T CHANGE”   “Things That I Can't Change” serves as James' third standalone track release this year, following previous releases “Who Broke Up With You” and “Man Up.” Both tracks highlight why Country Swag deemed James “one of those incredible artists and songwriters to pay attention to.” Billboard named his first release of the year, “Who Broke Up With You,” to their must-hear country songs of the week list, stating “he sings over a latticework of electric guitars and relentless percussion, proving that he can not only craft hits — he can sing them just fine, too.” “A superstar just beginning to hit his stride” (SiriusXM), James first came onto the artist scene with his debut single “Young Man,” released in September 2023.   As James' artist career continues to grow, the “celebrated songwriter” (Country Now) has well established his place in the writing room. Earlier this year, James earned his first ever ACM Award for Song of the Year, co-writing Jordan Davis' No.1 hit “Next Thing You Know,” which also landed James a 2023 CMA Awards nomination for the same category. Dubbed as “one of country music's best kept secrets” (Holler), James has earned cuts from some of country music's biggest stars including Kenny Chesney, Chris Young, Cole Swindell, Darius Rucker, Chris Janson, Bailey Zimmerman, BRELAND and more.  James has joined country stars Swindell, Old Dominion, Scotty McCreery and more on the road. He will wrap up 2024 with Ashley Cooke on her your place Tour, taking the run into the new year as well. For a full list of tour dates, please visit GreylanJames.com.

ABOUT GREYLAN JAMES: From the moment his Papaw gifted him his first guitar at the age of 5, one of Nashville's most exciting young breakout country stars Greylan James knew he was meant to be a musician. The Knoxville-raised artist-on-the-rise has been manifesting his vision of country music stardom since his earliest days: from those cleats and cowboy hats he wore to school to playing every sort of live show imaginable from tailgates to patios and dive bars to funerals around his hometown. Since moving to Music City eight years ago, Greylan has become a “celebrated songwriter” (Country Now) earning cuts from some of country music's most notable artists including Kenny Chesney, Chris Young, Cole Swindell, Darius Rucker, Chris Janson, Bailey Zimmerman, BRELAND and more. The singer-songwriter recently earned his first No. 1 and ACM Award for Song of the Year, co-writing Jordan Davis' smash hit “Next Thing You Know.” The song also earned Greylan his first CMA Award nomination for Song of the Year. To date, Greylan's songbook has amassed nearly 900M streams. And while Greylan has undoubtedly been incredibly successful penning hits for others in the writer's room, he's ready to strike out on his own. His growing catalog of songs highlight why SiriusXM dubbed him “a superstar just beginning to hit his stride” with his “impeccable songwriting and artistry” and his most recent release “Things That I Can't Change” with superstar Cole Swindell puts the exclamation point on his budding and promising career. After joining Old Dominion and Cole Swindell on the road in 2023, Greylan has supported Scotty McCreery's Cab in a Solo Tour and Adam Doleac's Wrong Side of a Sunrise Tour in 2024 and is currently on Ashley Cooke's your place Tour into the new year. For a full list of tour dates and more, visit GreylanJames.com.    ABOUT COLE SWINDELL: Country music superstar and multi-award winner Cole Swindell released new music from his upcoming fifth studio album for Warner Music Nashville including his current radio single “Forever To Me,” and the digital only releases of “One Day” and “3 Feet Tall,” which Country Now called a “Song of the Year contender” and “one of the most important songs Cole Swindell has ever released.”   Swindell, who Rolling Stone has called “a proven hit-maker,” charted three back-to-back, Platinum-certified, multi-week No. 1 hits off his fourth studio album, Stereotype: “Single Saturday Night,” “Never Say Never” (with Lainey Wilson) and the five-week 3x Platinum chart-topper “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” that garnered three ACM Awards for Single of the Year and Song of the Year (as songwriter and artist), an iHeart Music Award for Country Song of the Year and received a nomination for Musical Event of the Year for “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” with Jo Dee Messina for the 57th CMA Awards. He released a special duet remix of his smash “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” featuring Messina that has produced multiple award nominations and is included on his deluxe album Stereotype Broken, which also includes his 2023 Top 10 single “Drinkaby.”    The Tennessean called Swindell a “hard charging competitor armed with a mastery of the art of the craft, tirelessly looking for ways to improve his work” has solidified himself as a hit songwriter, recording artist and headlining performer over the past eleven years. He has racked up 12 No. 1 singles as an artist – 13 as a songwriter – each of the 12 singles are certified Platinum (including two singles at 3x Platinum and four at 2x Platinum), a Platinum-certified debut album (Cole Swindell), a Platinum-certified sophomore effort (You Should Be Here), a Gold-certified third entry (All Of It), and a Gold-certified fourth album (Stereotype).  His massive, GRAMMY-nominated hit “Break Up In The End” was named the 2019 NSAI Song of the Year. Swindell earned two nominations (Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year) for “Never Say Never” at the 56th CMA Awards. Swindell officially became a headliner on his own in 2018 with his Reason To Drink Tours, and his 2022 Back Down To The Bar Tour. In 2023, he toured with Thomas Rhett on the Home Team Tour and headlined his Twelve Tour in the fall. Swindell just wrapped his 2024 summer Win The Night Tour.