But can he change audience preconceptions of his work?

"I think there's probably always to be a contingency of people who have a hard time seeing me as anything but a porn person," he says. "But it's a unique story that sets me apart from the pack. It certainly affords me opportunities that I might not necessarily have had. I mean, there are a lot of really talented musicians and singers out there that we'll never from."

Indeed, Ford has "no regrets" about his film work. In fact, he thinks it prepared him for the scrutiny that comes with the music business.

"You learn how to let go," says Ford of what he learned in the porn world. "I remember being in my 20s, doing acting workshops… trying to find the perfect [camera] shot and obsessing over it," he says. "But then you get in a situation where you go in, you're shot from all these different angles, completely naked, doing your thing, and you have to let go. You have no control over the images they use or how it's pieced together. I learned very quickly that if they get a good butthole shot, they're going to put it in there whether or not you have a double chin because your legs are behind your ears!"

Besides the life lesson, there were a few other perks to his time in front of the camera: "It was liberating," says Ford. "It's not something I felt defined by, it was an adventure. A lot of people fantasize about it, but I can walk away saying that I had a unique adventure."

And with his new album, that adventure is just getting started.

TRIVIA:

Happy Valentine's Day… cause Colton's single! If you're interested in shooting Cupid's arrow, he tells us his ideal qualities in a guy are: honesty, authenticity, and vulnerability. Swoon!

Hey baby… what's his sign? If you're looking for a love connection with Colton, cross your fingers that you're compatible with a Libra

Ford hasn't totally left his acting days behind. You can currently catch him in the campy gay vampire series "The Lair" on here! network.

"Tug of War" was produced by DJ Quentin Harris, who has also helmed work for Ultra Nate.

Naysayers take note: Ford co-wrote each of the songs on "Tug of War."

Colton Ford on…

… being a DIVO.

"Am I overly demanding, unreasonable and ungrateful? No. If those are qualities that you use to describe a Divo, I would say that's not me. Am I somebody who takes pride in his craft, wants to continue to operate on a level that I'm proud of and feel is quality? Am I demanding of myself and of the people that I work with to make sure that level is reached consistently? Then yeah. You have people who are amazingly gifted who walk around acting like they're entitled because of their gift; that's not an attractive quality. Individuals who are gifted, gracious, grateful and honor their talent… those are people I like to emulate."

… the music business.

"Any artist that hasn't sold a million units, half a million units, or basically brought in a chunk of change for the company is dealing with a credibility issue. You don't have leverage until you have the ability to say ‘You  know what? I just sold you X number of units!'"

 

… the documentary Naked Fame.

"I think Blake [Harper, porn star, Fame costar and former boyfriend] and I were really excited at first. After we got into it we realized that it was a lot more than what we initially thought in terms of the experience. We were managing a 24/7 [web]cam residence, so we were living in this environment where there were cameras everywhere. Then we went to do our thing with the movie, and there were cameras everywhere. It got to the point where we were over it."

 

… the preparation of porn.

"I did everything. Live performing, sex on stage… you realize it's all entertainment. You have to really solicit the performer inside you to create something that's unique, that's not something you run into every day. You're able to tap into this place. I've performed in dinner theatre, in a jazz quartet, at a gas station opening; I've done small venues, I've done big venues, I've done performance with my clothes off. It's liberating! Wherever you put me, I can do my thing."