Logan Halstead - Q&A with Jay
April of 2017. As I was scrolling through Youtube looking for new music, I stumbled upon a video that sent chills down my spine. The artists name was Tyler Childers, and the song was entitled “Nose on the Grindstone”. This was not merely some tune. This was a Hillbilly Shaman dropping a visceral meditation on an Appalachian dilemma. By songs end, I felt the claustrophobia of its narrator. The choice to walk the straight path or to give in to the regions unique temptations and pitfalls. I’d lived it for those 3 minutes and 24 seconds.
Not many songwriters can transport you to a different place, a different time, and a different set of circumstances under which you live. It’s a skill possessed by few, and everyone that strums a guitar for a living spends their life attempting to reach that zenith. And that’s where our guest this week comes in…
Logan Halstead. Remember that name. The West Virginian phenom that came out of nowhere in December of 2020 when RadioWV posted videos of his songs “Dark Black Coal” and “Far From Here”. Both of which are incredible and now have hundreds of thousands of views, but for the purpose of this introduction, I’ll focus on the former. Now, I’m not trying to compare Logan Halstead to Tyler Childers. It wouldn’t be fair to him to do so. What I can say with confidence is that upon hearing “Dark Black Coal” I was struck by the same feelings as I was that night in April of 2017.
Logan has that mystic quality that every songwriter seeks to harness each time they put pen to paper, and he’s just getting started. “Dark Black Coal” is a striking lamentation on growing up in coal country, and he takes you there. When the video started, I was a middle age man in good health, living a semi comfortable existence. By songs end, I was covered in soot, wearing a hardhat and a headlamp with fucked up knees, a gnarly cough, and just enough debt to make me crawl back in the coal mine the next day… There. I think I’ve said enough… Let’s get to know Logan Halstead!
So Logan, tell us about yourself buddy! Where are you from?
Well, I was born in Powell County, KY. I only lived there for about 3 years though. I was actually raised in Boone County, WV. A lot of folks don’t know about Boone County. If you’ve ever seen “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia”, that’s where they are. Haha, Jesco White and shit. That’s where I came up. I’m 17 years old, but I’m turnin’ 18 right around the corner.
Has music always been a part of your life?
Man, I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. It’s really all I’ve ever wanted to do. I started playing drums at maybe 7 or 8 years old. After that I started learning to play the keyboard. Eventually I picked up a guitar maybe 3-4 years ago. So really I’ve only been playing guitar since I was 13-14 years old.
I saw your videos last December on the RadioWV Facebook page, and that’s what put me onto your music initially. How the hell did that session come about?
So that’s a story man! Lets see… I had actually written “Dark Black Coal” a while back. It was one of the first ones I wrote, and honestly I didn’t think much of it. I made a video of me singing it and it was NOT good. While I was staying with my sister in Kentucky, someone from West Virginia saw that video and called me. They said “Man, send me that “Dark Black Coal” song.” Seriously I had forgotten all about that song haha. So I went through all my videos and found that one. After listenin’ to it again I thought to myself, “Damn, that’s not too bad a song!”. So I recorded another video in Kentucky and posted it to my Facebook page. It ended up getting something crazy like 120,000 views or somethin’.
Shit man, I’ve accounted for a few of them views now!
Nice! So yeah after that video kinda blew up on my Facebook, RadioWV hit me up. We met up and I recorded “Dark Black Coal” and “Far From Here” on the same day. It came out real nice and I’m really proud of em’.
So look I’m a huge fan of “Dark Black Coal” in particular. I must admit when I found out you were only 17 years old it surprised me, based on the power of the lyrics to that track. What brought that song out of you? What inspired that one?
Man, I wrote that song just based on my experience growin’ up in these parts. You know what I mean? Growing up here, you really do feel trapped sometimes. You feel like theres no escape. Like you don’t have nothin’ but coal mines and drugs. You have to drive 30 miles if you want to work at a damn Kroger or something like that. There’s nothing here. So the coal mine is all we got. It’s a love/hate relationship with the mines, it really is. That song is really about that experience growing up, that trapped feeling.
Overall, how would you say the reception has been to your music since those videos kind of went viral? I see both of them have over 250,000 views now. What kind of feedback you been getting?
I’ve been so lucky. I really can’t believe it. It’s just blown up ever since that RadioWV session man. I feel like I may need to knock on wood or some shit. I’m scared I’m gonna jinx it haha. Because really I’ve gotten almost zero hate whatsoever. I’ve just been shown so much love by fans, other musicians, everyone. It’s been such a blessing.
Well my friend, there’s nothing to hate on. What you’re making is real and I think folks are picking up on that. The songs you’ve released are relatable to folks twice your age.
I think that’s because I’ve always hung around people that were much older than me and tried to carry myself as an adult. When I was 15 years old I was runnin’ around with folks that were 25-30 years old. A 15 year old kid out partyin’ with these older folks. I experienced a lot of shit man. I’ve seen a lot of shit for someone my age. I’ve done things that I’m not proud of, like all of us have… But it’s made me who I am now. I definitely think that stuff informs my writing.
I saw that you’ve been working with Walter DeBarr recently. He’s a hell of an artist. Has he kind of taken you under his wing a bit and taught you about the business side of all of this? Any other artists reached out to you?
Since the videos dropped I’ve had so many artists show me love. Walter DeBarr has helped me so much. He’s really been there since the beginning of all of this. We actually just split a Blue Lava Audio session together. He’s definitely been looking out for me and helping me navigate this. Everyone has been so supportive. I mean I got to talk to Nicholas Jamerson, and he told me that he was a fan of my music… When I heard that?! I almost fell out of my damn chair haha! I love Cole Chaney, and it might be a surprise, but I have a show with Cole and James Reed here soon. Lance Rogers, Tony Logue, everyone has been so supportive and it’s unbelievable to me.
Man that’s incredible! Got some good folks in your corner!
Oh I’m blessed.
So what’s the future looking like for you man? How much material do you have? Any shows coming up soon?
Yeah man right now I have some songs. I think I have 6-7 songs finished that I think are really good. I’m hopin’ to release one as a single here soon possibly. Then maybe go to work on an album. But I’m not trying to rush anything as far as recording goes. I’m trying to find the right studio and the right people and I’m gonna take my time with it. I do have some live shows coming soon. I know for sure I’ll be playing my first show on February 6 in Georgetown, Kentucky at My Old Kentucky with Cole Chaney and James Reed. I also Have a show on February 20 at the same venue with Dave Shoemaker and I’m really looking forward to both of those!
Well Logan, It sounds like you have a lot of support and a pretty solid plan in place moving forward! Thanks for taking the time to let myself and our readers get to know you a little better and we’ll be looking forward to hearing whatever comes next.
Hell yeah man! Thanks so much for reaching out!
Go catch Logan live on Feb 6 with Cole Chaney and James Reed at My Old Kentucky in Georgetown, KY!
WATCH THE “DARK BLACK COAL” VIDEO HERE
https://fb.watch/3tLEEP5W0Q/
FOLLOW LOGAN:
https://www.instagram.com/loganh_music/
https://twitter.com/LoganHalstead5?s=20
FOLLOW JAY
https://twitter.com/Jaypotta?s=20
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