Your Story Starts Here: A Chapter of Certainly So

Every artist has a story… one filled with late-night writing sessions, unexpected detours, and the moments that turned a dream into something real. Your Story Starts Here is a series dedicated to capturing these journeys, exploring the inspirations, challenges, and milestones that shape their paths as artists. In this next series, we’re diving deep into a chapter of their stories. Join us as we sit down with Certainly So to talk about where it all started, their passion for Nashville, and what inspires them to do what they do every day. 🎸 Here’s how their story began…

Your Story Starts Here: A Chapter of Certainly So

The Story of Certainly So

Four men lie on a red pool table surrounded by billiard balls, looking up at the camera. — @certainlyso

Tanner Gray and Colby Wilson have been writing music together for over ten years. Post-high school, Tanner and Colby took different paths. Tanner attended Mississippi State University; Colby stayed in Birmingham. While at MSU, Tanner Met Chase (bass) and Zach (drums). Chase, Zach, and Tanner played in multiple groups during their time in Starkville, MS. Colby was writing music of his own with his group Smoking with the Bandit. After graduating in 2015, Chase made his way to Nashville to begin a career in Marketing. A year later, Tanner and Zach made their post-graduate home in the panhandle of Florida, where they eventually formed ‘The Graytones’.

In the Spring of 2019, Tanner and Colby reunited when Tanner moved back to Birmingham in pursuit of a new job. Zach headed to Music City to catch up with Chase. Tanner and Colby picked up right where they left off in Alabama, and soon felt a new project starting to take form…

After they recorded acoustic demos, they reached out to Chase and Zach. Once they heard the demos, they were all in.

And in September of 2019, ‘Certainly So‘ was formed.

🎙️ We talked with Certainly So about their story, what inspires them, and more. Check out what they said below…

How does your community inspire you?

“We all live in Nashville now, and there’s music everywhere here. It’s a great place to be inspired because of the amount of talented musicians living here.”

Why do you create music in Nashville? (Why here, vs. another city?)

“We all just eventually ended up in Nashville! In the southeast, Nashville is a great hub for musicians.”

A band performs on stage in a dimly lit venue. An audience stands watching, captivated by the live music. Green and blue lights illuminate the scene, creating a vibrant atmosphere. — The Basement East // Photo Credit: Kit Wood

What are your favorite music venues in your city?

“Basement East, Blue Room, Ryman Auditorium, & Ascend Amphitheater.”

What are your favorite record stores in Nashville?

“Grimey’s New & Preloved Music is the best!”

What are your favorite local music festivals?

“Live on the Green, Americana Fest, Tomato Art Fest.”

What influence has your city had on your music?

“Nashville has inherently influenced all of us just by the sheer amount of great records made here for so many years. It’s a great place to be a musician and meet other musicians within the Nashville community.”

This is just a chapter of their story… where does yours begin?

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