Graham Sharp Paints a ‘Truer Picture’ On Solo Debut

Graham Sharp, Photo by Sandlin Gaither Music Photography

Graham Sharp, singer/banjoist and founding member of the Steep Canyon Rangers, will make his solo debut with Truer Picture on Yep Roc Records. The album’s initial digital release will be on May 7, with the CD and LP to follow July 9.

Produced and mixed by Sharp and Seth Kauffman, the album was recorded at Kaufman’s Black Mountain, NC studio. As the world entered lockdown in 2020, Sharp drew inspiration from a wellspring of emotions. Tackling feelings of isolation on “Come Visit My Island” to addressing political unrest on “My Neighborhood,” his unique style of songwriting is evident on “North Star” and “Coming Back to Life.” The lush instrumentation on “Deeper Family” and harmony vocals from The War on Drugs’ David Hartley illustrate the sonic differences between Sharp’s solo work and his music with Steep Canyon Rangers.

The video for the first single, “Generation Blues,” is out now. It was directed and edited by his son Wade Sharp.

“When I think of the inheritance I leave to my kids and their generation, I want it to be only the best of what I know; there’s a lot I’d just as soon leave behind,” says Graham Sharp. “The youth have a strong sense of calling out bullshit. This song is about as close to rock ‘n’ roll as I get… hopefully they won’t call me out for that. It’s pretty ironic to have my kids working so closely with me on the video for a song about intergenerational friction.”