Brad Tursi On Turning His Real-Life Love Story Into His Most Personal Album Yet, ‘Colorado’ [Exclusive]

Brad Tursi’s second solo album, Colorado, began with a trip to a cabin in the mountains, a star-filled sky, and the woman who inspired nearly every song on the project. Out now, the 11-track collection traces the journey of falling in love, getting married, and building a life with his wife, Roxy.

The project also offers fans a deeper look into Tursi’s world, building on the vulnerability and self-reflection that was first introduced on his debut solo album, Parallel Love.

Tursi spent nearly two decades helping soundtrack other people’s lives, penning hits as a member of Old Dominion and establishing himself as one of Nashville’s most respected songwriters. But through his solo work, he’s carving out space to tell his own story, resulting in his most personal collection of songs to date.

Colorado was entirely self-produced and largely self-written. The album opens with one of Tursi’s favorite tracks, “Ms. Independent,” a song that began as a lighthearted joke between him and his then-girlfriend. While discussing her fiercely independent nature, he came up with the opening lines, noting how the woman who once preferred to be on her own had become someone who never wanted to spend another night apart. Realizing there was a song hidden in the moment, Tursi turned the idea into the perfect introduction to the album.

“I think I just started singing that first line kidding around. And then I thought to myself, actually, that’s kind of a good idea. So I ended up finishing this song. And again, I feel like just having that first song, it just tells the audience about the woman that I’m in love with,” he shared with Country Now. “Everyone that falls in love and ends up getting married, you have to learn to coexist and you have to give up a little of yourself and also realize that you maybe are dependent on this other person now. So again, just another little snapshot of a moment in the progression from love to marriage.”

When Tursi began thinking about the kind of stories he wanted to tell this time around, it only felt natural to write about the things that inspire him most, which often tends to be his other half.

“There was just so many monumental moments in life following in love and getting married and just a lot of different realizations I had was going through personally that allowed me to take that next step in life. And those moments are pretty poignant. I guess that was at the top of the brain every morning when you pick up the guitar and see if you got anything that day.”

While Roxy had no problem being the muse behind an entire album, Tursi admits her dad may have been the project’s biggest fan. Not only are many of the songs inspired by his daughter, but the album is also named after Colorado, the state he calls home and a place that has become special to Tursi and Roxy throughout their relationship.

“I think she likes it pretty good. Her dad likes it even more…I think he can’t believe that all these songs are about his daughter and then they showcase his hometown too. But she’s been great and she was even in some of those videos with me and she’s got her own career too in publishing, but she’s been a great supporter through the entire thing,” he proudly stated.

Another highlight is his latest single, “Time With You” ft. Lukas Nelson. Warm guitar plucks set the tone for the track as the pair ultimately arrive at the conclusion that nothing is more valuable than spending time with the person you love.

Tursi was impressed with Nelson’s guitar work from the first moment he saw him play at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday party at the Hollywood Bowl. He attended the celebration alongside Old Dominion and was instantly amazed by what he saw on stage, leading him to connect with the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter back in Nashville.

“They just got us together in a co-write and that was the first song we wrote together, just him and I,” he explained. “I think it came out cool. It’s a little kind of a different song. You don’t get a lot of ragtime these days in modern country music.”

At its core, Colorado serves as a musical snapshot of a real-life love story, balancing playful moments with heartfelt reflections as Brad Tursi documents the journey of two lives gradually becoming one.

He expressed his hope that when fans listen to Colorado from top to bottom that the come away feeling like they got to see a different side to him, one that is separated from his work with Old Dominion.

Looking ahead, he hopes to get even more solo music out and is confident there will be another record down the line.

“It’s here to stay,” Tursi said confidently.

“I’m excited for more people to get to know it,” he continued. “I’ve walked very far down this road with Old Dominion and God, I’ve been in bands since I was 15 years old. So to start new again is insane to thing to do, but I’m excited for it.”