UMG Nashville and Timbaland’s Mosley Music have launched their previously announced partnership with the signing of Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Colt Graves.

Graves, the grandson of Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Josh Graves, will release a new single, “Burning House," on 10/18.

The gritty, genre-jumping Graves did plenty of grassroots work on his own before aligning with Timbaland Management, where he’s handled by Gary Marella. His PorchFest performance of “Dirt on Me” surpassed 200K streams on Spotify and earned a plaque from Amazon Music for hitting #2 on the country new release chart." His song Lonesome Roads” passed 100K streams on Spotify as well.

UMGN Chair/CEO, Cindy Mabe said, “Colt is a gifted storyteller who mixes the backdrop and musical influences of his Owensboro, Kentucky lifestyle with a gritty fusion of country, hip-hop, rock and folk. He’s really a special artist.”

Added Graves, “It’s been a hell of a journey to get to this point and I’m so grateful to Timbaland, my team and the UMG Nashville team for believing in me and being part of this journey."

Smiling politely rather than getting their freak on are (l-r, front) Mabe, Timbaland, Graves and UMGN’s Charlene Bryant, and (l-r, back) Marella, UMGN’s Lori Christian, Bluestone Publishing’s Eric Spence and UMGN’s Rob Femia and Chelsea Blythe.