When I first heard the pre-release of Graham Jones’ new album The Story’s Still Alive (now available on Spotify), I first was paying attention to the warm style and quality production work.  On my second listen, I paid more closer attention to the content, themes, and lyrics, and was blown away by how these songs carried a spiritual weight to them.  In fact, the album released publicly on 4/3/20, right in the heart of the COVID-19 crisis – which has it’s own challenges from a business perspective. Yet, in some ways it seems like it’s perfect timing for this album, which is brimming with the themes of renewal, restoration, hope, and resurrection.  It was on that second listen that I chose “Resurrection Song” as my favorite track for Easter 2020. We’re excited to talk to Graham and learn more about his music.

UTR:  How are you holding up in these COVID-19 conditions?
Graham: I’m doing alright – thanks for asking! While some of my songwriting friends have suddenly found themselves with ample time to write, this outbreak has coincided with the release of this new album for me and my work for my church has continued, so I’ve stayed fairly busy in the midst of the isolation. Though that comes with its own challenges, I’m thankful for the activity. I’m also thankful to be stuck at home with my wife and our dog, who keep me sane with true friendship and comfort. We’ve had some difficult days, but overall, God has been faithful.
UTR:  Was music an important part of your upbringing?
Graham:  Absolutely. My dad plays several instruments, my mom sings, and I have musically talented people from both sides of my family. Some of my earliest memories are of me laying in bed while my dad made up funny songs to sing and play on the guitar. I was already a big fan of Switchfoot and Chris Rice and Nickel Creek by the time I started learning to play viola in elementary school. In junior high, I had a history teacher who would play guitar during tests and an orchestra director that showed me how to play a little mandolin, and things just took off from there. While I didn’t seriously consider a career in music until the end of high school, music was always present and very dear to me from early on.
UTR:  What is the overall theme of The Story’s Still Alive?
Graham:  The theme of this record truly centers around the story of the title track. I wrote it the afternoon following a conversation I had with a friend who said they were leaving the faith. Doubt had plagued them for so long that I think they just grew tired of fighting it. I remember coming home and sobbing, not only because I cared for this person deeply, but also because I felt like we were kindred spirits, so I was forced to wrestle with my own faith, too. Quite unusual to my normal process, I ended up writing the song “The Story’s Still Alive” in its finished form in about an hour that afternoon as a personal plea and prayer for them. Not long after that, my wife pointed out to me that “The Story’s Still Alive” seemed to capture the real heart behind so many of these songs I’d written over the last few years. It gave them all a sort of focus and purpose, that in the midst of this darkness we see in the world, God is still writing this story of redemption that centers around the True Story: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
UTR:  How do you feel these songs might be providential for these days we are living in?
Graham:  Including the title track, most of the songs on this record were written in response to death, doubt, loneliness, frustration, or some other struggle, and I think this season has forced us all to have to wrestle with these dark things we can’t escape or hide from. In addition, we’ve seen several formerly Christian figures of different kinds go public with their departure from the faith in recent times. So I think whether someone is looking introspectively or at our current cultural climate, we’re all wondering if our faith is going to survive this journey. In more ways than one, we’re like the pilgrim in the Psalms of Ascent on the way to Zion, asking, “Where does my help come from?” And Jesus is shining like a star that pierces through the clouds above the hills; like a fellow pilgrim who stoops down low in the mud of the valley to offer his hand. My hope is that these songs will be a picture of this Jesus, and a reminder of his help.
UTR:  Who or what are your musical and songwriting influences?
Graham:  I mentioned earlier that I grew up loving Jon Foreman and Chris Rice’s music, and in the past few years, I’ve also become especially connected with Andrew Peterson and Josh Garrels. I think my songwriting style has come from years of admiring all of their work and trying to emulate their combination of honest vulnerability, rich poetry, and gospel-centered purpose. Sonically, you may be able to catch several of my other musical influences in this album…some Colony House in “Small Things,” Chris Thile in “Carry Your Heart,” Andrew Osenga’s Painted Desert in “God Loves People Everywhere,” and John Mayer in several guitar parts. I also love orchestral music of all kinds, especially from guys like Mahler, Alexandre Desplat, and Michael Giacchino, so you may catch some influences there, too.
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UTR:  When the world re-opens for business, what are the places you are excited to go, things to do, etc?
Graham: Oh man, that’s a great question! I’m excited to eat at Chuy’s (Mexican restaurant) with friends, spend time with my family in town, and continue playing a board game called Gloomhaven with a buddy of mine. But most of all, I’m looking forward to gathering with my church family at the YMCA where we meet south of town, where we’ll drink the cup and break the bread together, and lift our voices as one in praise to the Giver of Life and the Resurrection.

Graham Jones is a singer-songwriter based in Arlington, TX – and can be found online at grahamjonesmusic.com.