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US rockers The Gravel Project premiere new single 'Love The Life'
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Music News are happy to announce the premiere of "Love The Life", the new single from US rockers The Gravel Project! MN recently sat down with the band's frontman, Andrew Gravel, to talk about their influences and plans for the rest of 2025!
Hi Andrew, thank you for taking the time to talk to us!
As the songwriter and lead singer of The Gravel Project, how would you describe the band's signature sound and style?
Thanks for having me today! The Gravel Project is a rock 'n' roll band that blends blues, world music, and jazz with power and soul. We often draw comparisons to iconic 70s psychedelic rock bands like The Allman Brothers and Santana, likely due to our soulful vocals, blues-infused guitar solos, modal melodies, classic Hammond organ sounds, and a fusion of driving drumming and Latin percussion. While my personal influences span from 90s rock to the classics of the 70s, all of us also bring a deep connection to diverse jazz eras, especially the fusion sounds of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Jeff Beck. By pulling from a wide range of musical traditions, we’ve created a sound that’s distinctly our own.
What do you feel is special about The Gravel Project and what do you want people to know about the band?
The Gravel Project has a distinctive sound shaped by a diverse range of musical influences, making it difficult to pin us down to just one genre. We seamlessly blend elements of rock, blues, and jam, resonating with fans of all three. While being hard to categorize might pose a challenge in today’s music scene, it also gives us the freedom to fit in anywhere. Whether we’re rocking a blues festival or sharing the stage with more traditional jam bands, we’re equally at home in either setting.
"Love the Life" is the first single from the upcoming album coming out in June. Why did you choose this track to release first and can you tell us a little about the album?
“Love the Life” was the first song written for this album, and for me it captures the high-energy sound that defines our band. It’s a powerful anthem about feeling distant from someone you love and yearning to bridge that gap because deep down, you know the bond you share is something special. The song celebrates the life two people have built together, reminding them of all the reasons it’s worth fighting for. I take the first verse, Jen (Kearney) takes the second, and together, we bring both sides of the relationship to life - two voices, one shared desire to reconnect.
The upcoming album, “Find What You Need” will be released June 13th. The album is a deeply personal exploration of the complexities of growing, maintaining and putting the work into preserving healthy relationships. The way they shape us, challenge us, and ultimately teach us about ourselves. Every song is woven together with a common thread, capturing the highs and lows through the themes of love, personal growth, trust, remorse, and reconciliation.
This album is also special because we worked with a producer for the first time. Collaborating with Grammy winner John Paterno (Warren Haynes, Bonnie Raitt, Robben Ford) and Greg Ogan was an incredible experience - they challenged us with fresh ideas and innovative recording techniques that pushed our boundaries. Their guidance allowed me to step away from the production role I had always managed on previous albums, enabling me to fully immerse myself in the music, focus on my performance, and capture more spontaneous creativity.
How has The Gravel Project evolved and how is the new album a representative of that?
The Gravel Project has evolved in both sound and lineup. Our previous album, “Many Miles Ahead”, showcased the band as a quartet, with my brother Jordan handling left-hand bass on the organ in place of a dedicated bassist. We also didn’t have a second vocalist, though we brought in a few special guests for backup vocals. With our latest release, “Find What You Need”, we’ve expanded to a six-piece lineup that captures the band’s live energy. The album was recorded live with minimal overdubs - vocals included - preserving that raw, organic feel. “Find What You Need” leans more into blues, funk, and R&B influences, marking a shift from the rock edge of our earlier work. It has the warm, analog vibe of a classic 70s album and a more authentic, live sound.
In terms of songwriting, this new album represents a significant evolution. Each track reflects a transformative 18-month period in my life, a time of personal change that shaped the music. For the first time, we’ve created a cohesive narrative throughout the record. While our past albums addressed a range of themes, including political issues, this one delves deeply into love, growth, trust, remorse, and reconciliation - the complex dynamics of relationships. It’s a deeply personal exploration of where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.
Who are your favorite bands and how have they influenced your music?
This is a tough question to answer concisely, but I’ll give it a shot. I grew up listening to The Beatles constantly, and I’ll always consider them the greatest band of all time for their groundbreaking songwriting, creativity, and unforgettable hooks. Led Zeppelin runs a close second for me; no other rock band has captured such a powerful balance of light and darkness and magic in their music. Jimi Hendrix is my all-time favorite guitarist - not just for the intensity of his playing, but for the revolutionary sounds he pulled out of the guitar.
I’m also a massive Allman Brothers fan. Gregg Allman’s soulful vocals, the band’s emotive songwriting, and the modal jazz-blues influences explored by their guitarists have had a huge impact on me. You might not guess it from listening to The Gravel Project, but I’m also deeply inspired by The Cure and Pearl Jam. The Cure’s ability to weave intricate melodies and create atmospheric soundscapes, paired with Robert Smith’s raw, beautiful angst, continues to move me as a musician. And Pearl Jam was a defining part of my 90s soundtrack. They’re an incredible rock band, and Eddie Vedder will always be one of my musical heroes.
While these bands shaped my approach to songwriting and music as a whole, my guitar style has also been shaped by legends like Jeff Beck, John Scofield, BB King, Derek Trucks, and Jimmy Herring. They’ve all influenced my playing in profound ways.
What else would you like people to know about The Gravel Project?
I’ve been releasing music under the name The Gravel Project since 2012, and over the years, the lineup has evolved with many talented musicians contributing along the way. In the early days, the band was envisioned as a collective - a fluid group of musicians performing my songs, with the lineup changing from night to night. I never wanted it to be solely about me, I always pushed for a true band dynamic, even with the shifting roster. Today, the band is more consistent than ever, and we’re playing at our highest level both in songwriting and musicality.
“Find What You Need” marks The Gravel Project’s fourth studio album, and in many ways, it feels like we’re just getting started. I truly hope this is the album that introduces our music to a wider audience and builds a deeper connection with our fans. We’re here for the long haul. “Dark Side of the Moon” was Pink Floyd’s eighth album, but for many, it was the one that turned them into lifelong fans. We’re hoping “Find What You Need” has a similar impact.
'Love The Life' lyrics
I’ve been hiding behind this smile for days
Instead of saying the words that I wanna say
The truth is I’m scared to death
Resistance made us distant, now you’re so far away
So come closer to me
Come closer to me
I love the life we live together
I love the life we live together
No matter if you think that this is wrong or right, listen to me baby it will be alright
I love the life we live together
I’ve been holding back tears just to deal with the pain
C’mon baby, tell me it’ll be ok
The truth is I’m scared to death
We’re better off together but you’re so far away
So come closer to me
Come closer to me
I love the life we live together
I love the life we live together
No matter if you think that this is wrong or right, listen to me baby it will be alright
I love the life we live together
I never want to let you go
Am I holding onto you, or am I holding onto shadows?
I love the life we live together
I love the life we live together
No matter if you think that this is wrong or right, listen to me baby it will be alright
I love the life we live together
Hi Andrew, thank you for taking the time to talk to us!
As the songwriter and lead singer of The Gravel Project, how would you describe the band's signature sound and style?
Thanks for having me today! The Gravel Project is a rock 'n' roll band that blends blues, world music, and jazz with power and soul. We often draw comparisons to iconic 70s psychedelic rock bands like The Allman Brothers and Santana, likely due to our soulful vocals, blues-infused guitar solos, modal melodies, classic Hammond organ sounds, and a fusion of driving drumming and Latin percussion. While my personal influences span from 90s rock to the classics of the 70s, all of us also bring a deep connection to diverse jazz eras, especially the fusion sounds of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Jeff Beck. By pulling from a wide range of musical traditions, we’ve created a sound that’s distinctly our own.
What do you feel is special about The Gravel Project and what do you want people to know about the band?
The Gravel Project has a distinctive sound shaped by a diverse range of musical influences, making it difficult to pin us down to just one genre. We seamlessly blend elements of rock, blues, and jam, resonating with fans of all three. While being hard to categorize might pose a challenge in today’s music scene, it also gives us the freedom to fit in anywhere. Whether we’re rocking a blues festival or sharing the stage with more traditional jam bands, we’re equally at home in either setting.
"Love the Life" is the first single from the upcoming album coming out in June. Why did you choose this track to release first and can you tell us a little about the album?
“Love the Life” was the first song written for this album, and for me it captures the high-energy sound that defines our band. It’s a powerful anthem about feeling distant from someone you love and yearning to bridge that gap because deep down, you know the bond you share is something special. The song celebrates the life two people have built together, reminding them of all the reasons it’s worth fighting for. I take the first verse, Jen (Kearney) takes the second, and together, we bring both sides of the relationship to life - two voices, one shared desire to reconnect.
The upcoming album, “Find What You Need” will be released June 13th. The album is a deeply personal exploration of the complexities of growing, maintaining and putting the work into preserving healthy relationships. The way they shape us, challenge us, and ultimately teach us about ourselves. Every song is woven together with a common thread, capturing the highs and lows through the themes of love, personal growth, trust, remorse, and reconciliation.
This album is also special because we worked with a producer for the first time. Collaborating with Grammy winner John Paterno (Warren Haynes, Bonnie Raitt, Robben Ford) and Greg Ogan was an incredible experience - they challenged us with fresh ideas and innovative recording techniques that pushed our boundaries. Their guidance allowed me to step away from the production role I had always managed on previous albums, enabling me to fully immerse myself in the music, focus on my performance, and capture more spontaneous creativity.
How has The Gravel Project evolved and how is the new album a representative of that?
The Gravel Project has evolved in both sound and lineup. Our previous album, “Many Miles Ahead”, showcased the band as a quartet, with my brother Jordan handling left-hand bass on the organ in place of a dedicated bassist. We also didn’t have a second vocalist, though we brought in a few special guests for backup vocals. With our latest release, “Find What You Need”, we’ve expanded to a six-piece lineup that captures the band’s live energy. The album was recorded live with minimal overdubs - vocals included - preserving that raw, organic feel. “Find What You Need” leans more into blues, funk, and R&B influences, marking a shift from the rock edge of our earlier work. It has the warm, analog vibe of a classic 70s album and a more authentic, live sound.
In terms of songwriting, this new album represents a significant evolution. Each track reflects a transformative 18-month period in my life, a time of personal change that shaped the music. For the first time, we’ve created a cohesive narrative throughout the record. While our past albums addressed a range of themes, including political issues, this one delves deeply into love, growth, trust, remorse, and reconciliation - the complex dynamics of relationships. It’s a deeply personal exploration of where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.
Who are your favorite bands and how have they influenced your music?
This is a tough question to answer concisely, but I’ll give it a shot. I grew up listening to The Beatles constantly, and I’ll always consider them the greatest band of all time for their groundbreaking songwriting, creativity, and unforgettable hooks. Led Zeppelin runs a close second for me; no other rock band has captured such a powerful balance of light and darkness and magic in their music. Jimi Hendrix is my all-time favorite guitarist - not just for the intensity of his playing, but for the revolutionary sounds he pulled out of the guitar.
I’m also a massive Allman Brothers fan. Gregg Allman’s soulful vocals, the band’s emotive songwriting, and the modal jazz-blues influences explored by their guitarists have had a huge impact on me. You might not guess it from listening to The Gravel Project, but I’m also deeply inspired by The Cure and Pearl Jam. The Cure’s ability to weave intricate melodies and create atmospheric soundscapes, paired with Robert Smith’s raw, beautiful angst, continues to move me as a musician. And Pearl Jam was a defining part of my 90s soundtrack. They’re an incredible rock band, and Eddie Vedder will always be one of my musical heroes.
While these bands shaped my approach to songwriting and music as a whole, my guitar style has also been shaped by legends like Jeff Beck, John Scofield, BB King, Derek Trucks, and Jimmy Herring. They’ve all influenced my playing in profound ways.
What else would you like people to know about The Gravel Project?
I’ve been releasing music under the name The Gravel Project since 2012, and over the years, the lineup has evolved with many talented musicians contributing along the way. In the early days, the band was envisioned as a collective - a fluid group of musicians performing my songs, with the lineup changing from night to night. I never wanted it to be solely about me, I always pushed for a true band dynamic, even with the shifting roster. Today, the band is more consistent than ever, and we’re playing at our highest level both in songwriting and musicality.
“Find What You Need” marks The Gravel Project’s fourth studio album, and in many ways, it feels like we’re just getting started. I truly hope this is the album that introduces our music to a wider audience and builds a deeper connection with our fans. We’re here for the long haul. “Dark Side of the Moon” was Pink Floyd’s eighth album, but for many, it was the one that turned them into lifelong fans. We’re hoping “Find What You Need” has a similar impact.
'Love The Life' lyrics
I’ve been hiding behind this smile for days
Instead of saying the words that I wanna say
The truth is I’m scared to death
Resistance made us distant, now you’re so far away
So come closer to me
Come closer to me
I love the life we live together
I love the life we live together
No matter if you think that this is wrong or right, listen to me baby it will be alright
I love the life we live together
I’ve been holding back tears just to deal with the pain
C’mon baby, tell me it’ll be ok
The truth is I’m scared to death
We’re better off together but you’re so far away
So come closer to me
Come closer to me
I love the life we live together
I love the life we live together
No matter if you think that this is wrong or right, listen to me baby it will be alright
I love the life we live together
I never want to let you go
Am I holding onto you, or am I holding onto shadows?
I love the life we live together
I love the life we live together
No matter if you think that this is wrong or right, listen to me baby it will be alright
I love the life we live together
