Meet Rivers Grayson, an Athens State graduate and recent contestant in the 25th season of The Voice, a reality TV series that showcases the talent of undiscovered singers in the U.S. Since his time on The Voice, Grayson has released his first EP titled, Vignettes, and is focused on writing more original music. He shared that Athens State introduced him to the artistry of writing and helped sharpen his craft, which he uses on a daily basis in the music industry.
Grayson graduated from Athens State in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. A highlight of his time on campus was the conversational classroom structure, which allowed him to engage with course material with fellow students and instructors.
He reminisced, “I loved the campus, its smallness, and the tight-knit environment within the English department.”
This environment provided the fertile ground for Grayson to nurture his interest in songwriting and passion for music. Through devoting time and energy to his academic pursuits, Grayson grew his skillset and now sees the correlation between academic writing and songwriting. Drawing inspiration from literary giants like Oscar Wilde and contemporary poets like Leonard Cohen, Grayson crafts music that is both haunting and infused with emotion.
“Writing for school and songwriting are different, but they inform each other,” he explained. “Literature often inspires my songwriting, while songwriting can breathe creativity into academic pursuits.”
Grayson is immersed in his music and resides in Florence, AL. He spends his time working on new material and collaborating with fellow musicians. He is eager to write more, collaborate with different artists, and hopes to travel to share his music with the world. Despite the changes in his life and exposure through The Voice, Grayson remains grounded in his passion for music and songwriting.
“Life has changed in many ways, but I am a pretty down-to-earth person,” he said. “I hope to travel, share my music with new audiences, and continue to evolve as an artist.”
As Rivers Grayson continues his journey as a musician, Athens State will cheer him on. We are proud to have nurtured his creativity and guided him toward the intersection of literature and music.
About the English Department
The English programs at Athens State University are designed to convey to students a broad historical knowledge of English, American, and world literature in translation and provide students with various tools to read critical works of diverse authors, periods, and genres. Students will find that the reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills developed in English degree courses will help them pursue careers in virtually any field. Learn more HERE.