Kentucky’s Cole Chaney releases new track “Alone?”; heads out on the road this month - Melodic Magazine

By:Sarah Wagner

Date: June 2, 2025

After having released his debut album, Mercy in 2021, Kentucky’s Cole Chaney dropped his first single “Alone?” today. The 25 year old singer-songwriter says of the track: “My mother is an abstract artist and painter. Most of my songs, up until this point, have been literal, in some capacity, and have a nice clean storyline to pair along with. Not this one. “Alone?” is an abstract painting. It is the metaphorical throwing of the paint on the canvas. The song is not about any one, literal thing. It doesn’t preach. It doesn’t claim to know anything. It’s just one big question. One big expression. You may look up into the night sky and ask the question, “Could I be alone?” and the universe echoes back, “Could you?”. It’s an exploration of my conditional uncertainty. I’m still trying to figure out if it was an existential crisis or a psychotic break that I captured in song.

“Could I be alone?” means something entirely different every time it is asked. That meaning is up to the listener to interpret and assign for themselves. I just work here.”

Drawing inspiration from his Eastern Kentucky upbringing, Cole’s music serves as anthems for the working man, resonating with the struggles and triumphs of everyday life in the heartland. With gorgeous melodies and heartfelt lyrics, he is a masterful storyteller, weaving tales of his own experiences and the lives of those around him.

Cole’s music transcends boundaries, captivating audiences across the country with his soulful voice and electrifying stage presence. From touring with acclaimed artists like Zach Bryan, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Flatland Cavalry to gracing iconic venues like The Opry and The Ryman in Nashville, Cole’s star continues to rise.

Pointing to his lifelong admiration for 1990s rock — specifically the prowess of bands like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots— as a vital influence on the sonic landscape of the album, Chaney aimed to find a melodic balance between that raw and real rock sound and the bluegrass and folk music of his native Kentucky.

As of late, Chaney has returned to his hometown of Catlettsburg, Kentucky (population: 1,780). The tiny Appalachian community lies along the shores of the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers, at the crossroads of the borders of West Virginia, Ohio and The Bluegrass State. “I think [Catlettsburg] shows through in everything that I do,” Chaney says. “And if you want to write songs where that stuff is going to come through,then I feel I need to be around my roots.”