“I hope this little late Christmas gift helps those who aren’t having the best holiday season,” the rising Oklahoma songwriter said
When Wyatt Flores opened for Charles Wesley Godwin at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville earlier this month, he surprised fans by weaving a rendition of the Fray’s 2006 hit “How to Save a Life” into his set list. Shortly after Christmas, the 22-year-old songwriter from Stillwater, Oklahoma, dropped a studio version of the cover. It’s a recording that underscores Flores’ commitment to talking openly about mental health.
“Christmas time isn’t always as shiny and glamorous as it is for others,” he wrote on Instagram. “I hope this little late Christmas gift helps those who aren’t having the best holiday season.” He went on to compare the message he personally takes from “How to Save a Life” with the way fans identify with his own song “Please Don’t Go” — a pleading ballad to someone contemplating suicide. “This song for me is what [‘Please Don’t Go’] is for y’all.”
Produced by Beau Bedford, Flores’ version of “How to Save a Life” follows his EP Life Lessons, released in November. That project opens with his slow-burning diary of the perils of touring, “Orange Bottles,” which Flores played to kick off both nights at the Ryman.
Flores will return to the road next month with an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on Jan. 20, and a string of headlining dates stretching from Florida to Toronto, along with a return to his home state to play Cain’s Ballroom on Feb. 16. Flores, who made a cameo during 49 Winchester’s recent Nashville gig, will also perform at the C2C Festival overseas, with stops including Berlin, London, and Glasgow.