From working on dairy farms to writing ballads, Jeremiah is on a mission to put storytelling at the forefront of country music and content creation.
Jeremiah Craig is a modern-day troubadour with a passion for storytelling through both his music and his love of cowboy boots. Growing up in the rustic landscapes of Western New York, Jeremiah was immersed in the sounds of bluegrass and folk music from an early age. His journey from working on dairy farms and construction sites to becoming a celebrated musician and content creator is nothing short of inspiring. Today, Jeremiah combines his love for traditional ballads with a deep appreciation for well-crafted cowboy boots, sharing his passions with a growing online audience. In this interview, we dive into his unique background, his love for music, and how he turned a simple interest in cowboy boots into a thriving brand.
Can you give our audience a brief introduction to yourself and your background?
I grew up in the country in Groveland, which is in Western New York, south of Rochester. Growing up, I loved bluegrass music, worked on farms, and did landscaping—there were a lot of dairy farms where I grew up. I was on a hoof-trimming crew, where we’d trim the hooves of dairy cows. Later, I took on construction jobs, and eventually, I got into marketing in college. That’s where I discovered songwriting, started playing guitar, and joined a band. From there, it was pretty much history. That’s where everything really began for me—when I joined my first band in college.
Did becoming a musician and content creator happen at the same time for you?
I definitely started with music first, but I think it depends on what you consider “content.” Music is content— and I think it can be anything people use to escape their current situation, to take a break. Music, movies, books—they’re all content, and the internet has made them readily available. So, when people ask what I do, I include music in my job as a content creator. I started playing music when I was 14, beginning with the banjo, and I played and sang a lot before I ever recorded anything on the internet. The internet was still pretty new back then. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized the power of YouTube, and I put up my first video around 2007. I’ve since deleted it, which I wish I hadn’t—just for the history aspect of it.
What is it about ballad-style music that caught your interest enough to incorporate it into your music?
It was something I heard a lot growing up. My father played guitar, so we’d sing old folk songs like “Darlin’ Cory” around the campfire or in the cabin. I also listened to bluegrass, and I loved songs with stories. Folk ballads are different from 80s rock ballads. A folk or bluegrass ballad can be really fast; it’s not dependent on the time signature. What matters is that there’s a story in the song. Songs like “Wreck of the Old ‘97” or “John Henry”—these old songs that told stories were captivating to me. So, when I started writing music, I wanted to write stories, to be part of that tradition of storytelling in folk music. Whether my stuff is listened to or not, it feels like being part of something historic. There are songs collected by the Library of Congress that you can still listen to, even though nobody plays them anymore. It’s just history, and I think it’s cool to be a part of that.
You’ve got a really classic sound to your music, are there any artists that you’ve drawn inspiration from?
Yeah, definitely. Johnny Cash is a big one. My godfather loved Johnny Cash, and we’d always have him playing, whether we were on vacation in the Adirondacks or somewhere else. In addition to him, the Stanley Brothers, a bluegrass duo, Flatt and Scruggs, another bluegrass duo, and of course, Bob Dylan—he really pushed me in my songwriting. Once I heard him, it opened up the possibilities of what songwriting could be for me. I also really like Alison Krauss and the imagination and storytelling of Tom Waits.
You recently released “Home on the Range” with Claudia Hoyser, are you currently working on any new music or have plans to do so in the near future?
That collaboration with Claudia came about through a boot video I did. Since I had her attention, I suggested we collaborate on a song as well. That’s something I want to do more of—collaborate with other musicians on classic traditional folk songs. It’s really fun. I also have about 10 songs that I’ve written, so I’m ready for another album. This one’s more of an adventure music album. For example, I’ve got a new version of the old folk ballad “Buffalo Skinners,” a song about traveling through Montana in the winter called “Montana Moon,” and another one about traveling out west called “Wandering Way Out West.” There are a lot of adventure songs on this album. My last album, Life is for Taking Chances, was mainly about chance-takers and risk-takers, but this next one is more about adventures. I’m looking forward to getting them recorded.
Where did your passion for cowboy boots come into play for your brand?
Growing up in the country, I’d run through sneakers and all sorts of shoes so fast—they couldn’t handle running through the woods and doing the things I did around the property. One day, my brother got a pair of cowboy boots, and I was really interested in them. I think it was either my senior year of high school or the summer before I went to college that I got my first pair. I loved how they were built, and that they could be repaired. They weren’t like sneakers that I’d have to throw out after six months. They’d break in and form to my feet. I just loved how durable they were and that they could be repaired if they got damaged. Eventually, I got more pairs—one with a rubber sole, a fancy black pair—and I started taking my friends to go boot shopping. I fell in love with an exotic pair of caiman belly cowboy boots, and that was the start of my collection.
Later, when I was on tour trying to make a living off my music, I couldn’t make enough money on the road. The old advice to play as much as possible in as many places as possible just didn’t hold true anymore. So, I went back to the drawing board, did some marketing research on my interests, and realized there was a huge demand for content about cowboy boots online, but not many people were making it. I made my first cowboy boot video in April 2018, and it did really well. I kept making cowboy boot videos, including my music at the end of each one, and the rest is history. Now, my channel is about cowboy boots and music, and it’s increased my listenership more than I ever imagined.
When people listen to your music and watch your videos, what do you hope they come away with?
I hope they experience the stories in the songs, and that they imagine what I’m singing about. It’s about escaping, taking a break from whatever they’re doing, and imagining something else. If I can get someone to see what I’m singing about, to feel like they’re watching a movie—that’s my main goal. I want to help them, maybe through a difficult time, or just help them relax or think about something else. The imagery in storytelling is everything when it comes to telling stories.
Do you have any closing thoughts that you’d like our audience to know?
I’m working on a big video project that I’ve never done before—a documentary-style video. This past April, I went to a custom boot-making school in Dillon, Montana, with Schwarz Custom Boots. I spent two weeks there making a pair of boots, learning the process with the two teachers, Dan and Julia. This video is going to be really cool; it’s still in the works. It really changed my perspective on cowboy boots, how they’re made in factories versus how custom bootmakers make them. They’re rooted in cowboy culture and make boots for cowboys. That’s something I’m working on right now, and I’m excited for everyone to see it.
To follow Jeremiah’s journey of ballads and boots, make sure to follow him on your favorite social platform.
Facebook: @JeremiahCraig.Music
Website: JeremiahCraig.com
Instagram: @jeremiahcraigmusic
YouTube: @JeremiahCraig
