Greg Rider wonders if the love of his life is just One Town Away in his new single — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
“This song was actually written in two days,” recalls the Canadian country-pop artist recalls, who penned the jangly number during a songwriting session with collaborator Rich Cloke. “I didn’t plan it at all. I was a bit stuck. I had songs that I couldn’t release yet, so William Gaboury — producer and owner of Father & Son Records — suggested I write something new and come visit him in Montreal that same weekend to record everything. It all happened so fast … Within four or five days, everything about One Town Away was done!”
This song’s creation may have been quick, but the concept had been percolating in Rider’s mind for years — albeit subconsciously. “This is the first song inspired by my roots,” says the singer-songwriter, who grew up in Waterdown, a suburban-meets-country town about an hour east of Toronto. “I was always running away from my hometown, and running towards new opportunities. Those county lines could never keep me for long.”
That’s for sure. With music influenced by the likes of Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, and Tim McGraw, Rider first set his sights on starting his musical journey in Montreal, busking on busy streetcorners and playing the city’s vibrant bar scene. From there, he took flight to the Cayman Islands, dividing his time between bartending, songwriting and playing open mics under the sun and stars. His islander life wouldn’t last long; he was soon convinced to try his hand in Nashville, where he earned the opportunity to play on Grand Ole Opry radio station WSM and at some of Broadway’s top venues. Now he’s back where it all started, setting up shop in Waterdown after a recent cross-Canada tour playing at over 75 schools to more than 30,000 high schoolers, sharing his music with a message of hope and resiliency.
“After years of traveling, I’d been thinking more and more about the day when I’d finally settle down. Crazy, eh? But I always think about when and where I’ll meet my ‘person.’ I thought I would have found her by now, but I guess it’s not the right time. But can you imagine if I’ve travelled all around the world and she ends up being one town away? That’s what the song is all about.”
Hear One Town Away above, check out more of Greg Rider’s music below, and keep up with him via his website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
