Rafe Carlson joined GMN for a song and interview, both below. Rafe is a country singer and songwriter from Duluth, Minnesota whose music journey began on a road trip to Texas. After spending his emergency gas money on a vintage guitar in Austin, he gave his two week notice at work, and started performing around Duluth for tips. As the crowd began to grow at each show, he was contacted by a music producer in Nashville, and flown down to Music City to start recording some songs he’d written.

His ties to Nashville eventually provided him the opportunity to write with world-class songwriters, collaborate with Grammy award winners, and record a full-length album at Sound Stage Studios on Music Row. As he worked to expand his portfolio, he quickly amassed a following back home in Duluth, drawing thousands out to his shows and opening for acts such as Jake Owen and Tyler Rich.

Rafe spent most of 2022 on the road, playing more than 140 shows in over 40 cities and towns thus laying the groundwork for a national following. A busy summer of touring didn’t stop him from also writing, performing, and recording in Nashville for much of the year, as he and his team put the finishing touches on a highly anticipated debut album.  For more information on Rafe’s upcoming tour dates, visit his website here.