Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Withers

Hi Cole, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

Cole Withers is a singer/songwriter from Idyllwild, CA in the mountains a mile high above Southern California. Born and raised in New York City, Cole migrated to Los Angeles where he worked as a screenwriter for Universal Studios and Warner Brothers among other studios. In 2015, he sang karaoke for the first time in his life and blew the crowd away, which included a producer in the music industry who asked him to come to his studio and sing a few songs. A few weeks later, he did and he was hooked. While the band the producer was assembling fell apart, Cole’s commitment to writing songs was born and he went to work in his kitchen in Los Angeles on the songs that would become his first record “The Last Bookstore.” He moved to Idyllwild to recover from the toxic cloud of Hollywood and started playing gigs throughout Southern California, building his craft. Gradually, he assembled the musicians and recorded “The Last Bookstore.” His debut caught the attention of a label in Europe and the release of his debut record garnered attention worldwide. “Wash Away” “As It Is” and “Rescue Me” all found radio airplay.

“The Last Bookstore is a fantastic album in the best tradition of American Rock. Cole’s voice echoes like Bob Seger’s and his lyrics hit hard like Bob Dylan’s.” Eduardo Cabrerra Ruta 66.

“Life, the human condition and the potential for transformation inspire his music. Songs like “Wash Away” and “Rescue Me” bear out a life lived in transformation, the revolution of the soul, heartfelt and hungry.” Idyllwild Life Magazine

“Listen to Cole Withers. He’s a real wonder. 10 songs that sound like musical obsession. I don’t know if your head will be prepared for the nostalgic poet, Pop-Rock-Folk American. With a voice that catches you very personally. His first album will go straight to be among the most heard. Don’t miss it.” Simon, Simon, Simon, Madrid Spain.

His follow up release “Fall In Love Tonight” was #1 on Indie charts in the UK and the United States for over six months.

“This Girl” features Marty Rifkin on lap steel who plays with Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.
“Sometimes” a piano ballad was a departure for Cole and was subsequently submitted for Grammy consideration and continues to garner airplay.

His latest offerings “Chosen Bury You” and “Blue At Birth” have garnered international acclaim and are the first tracks to be released from his sophomore effort “Blue At Birth.” The full EP will be released in early 2025.

“Chosen Bury You” is the second song Cole has written that has been submitted for Grammy consideration.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

In the United States, our minds are shaped to believe that we can achieve anything we dream for ourselves… but, the truth is we need to show up every day and put in the sweat equity and even then, dreams rarely come true. Dreams, as they are marketed to us, are merely fantasies. Reality is something else. It’s never a smooth road when we decide to take the road less traveled. But as Robert Frost said, “That has made all the difference.” Living a life as a creative is like playing Pin The Tail On The Donkey. There’s a lot of wandering blindfolded interspersed with moments of awe and wonder.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am a singer/songwriter who came late to the game. I’ve spent most of my life writing, but it was only after being told I had a great voice by a music producer that I began taking songwriting seriously. But as I started writing songs, I imagined I’d have to start playing them in front of people. I started with my son, performing these songs for him in our kitchen in LA. He must’ve heard them a thousand times before I played my first show in front of an audience at The Mint in Los Angeles. I had two things going for me, a great voice and great songs. The audience didn’t throw bottles, so I booked more shows, wrote more songs, figured out how to earn money, play better and play with others. If something sets me apart, I’ve been told I’m very determined when I get an idea in my head. Determination makes a difference.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?

Remember this. People always think of themselves first. Don’t take rejection personally. Embrace rejection. Embrace failures. Learn, deepen the experience, expand your heart. Become the gift your Creator intended you to be. You are here for a reason. You are worthy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://colewithers.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecolewithers
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecolewithers

Image Credits

Ken Pivak