Musically, Cole isn’t looking for fame and notoriety with “The Mean Season” and the other songs he is about to drop. He cares more about using his songs as a vehicle to help launch others like J-Buck to stardom and give them a fair shot to get on that road. “Songwriting is just something I do,” he says, “and I’m driven by something inside me to express the stories and emotions that are inside me Since I’ve been sober, I am committed to using my abilities to serve and help others, and I think that’s something we should all aspire to. I still don’t read music and don’t consider myself an accomplished musician by any means. I’m still open to learning.

“Charlie Calello gave me some great advice recently,” Cole adds “He said, ‘When you’re writing a song keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. The wrong focus can get you off the path you want to be on. You need to be open to all ideas that flow. But if it’s not meeting the three basic principles of songwriting – rhythm, melody and emotional content – it won’t work. The reason I believe people believe my songs when they hear them is because I lay everything bare and am as honest with myself as possible.”