Start Listening To: Gracie Gray
Bedroom rock that makes you want to venture out of the house into the unknown, holding your own hand.
Pondering on ever-present changes and fading relationships, LA-based musician Gracie Gray gave life to ‘Anna’, a second studio album. The record is a marble statue-like homage, made in the middle of a storm. It gives us some kind of stability while everything else is always moving around, especially over the last two pandemic years. Though self-defined us bedroom rock, Gracie's music isn’t as black and white and resounds in grey-grungy areas, fizzled down by beautifully sombre vocals.
Now, after you’ve become good friends with ‘Anna’, it’s great to meet Gracie Grey too.
Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
My name is Gracie, I’m from Los Angeles, and I make music that sounds like bedroom indie rock stuff. That will probably change over time, but right now it’s confined to what I can do by myself in my room.
How are you feeling about the release of your upcoming album Anna?
I’m really excited for my friends to hear the whole thing. I care what they think and I’m proud of it. Also, cool that it will be free to the rest of the world and I really hope it reaches new ears.
What are some themes behind your new album?
Hard to pick a theme but the one I kind of nailed down is about holding onto love for yourself throughout all of life’s changes and fading relationships, making sure you remain consistent and steady for yourself throughout all of that. Still feel like I’m in the middle of it and these songs are close to me right now, just stuff I wanted to say and needed to hear.
How does Los Angeles influence you as an artist?
It always pushes me to work harder. I feel like when I leave town I take a break and feel relieved. Then, when I come home and I see the mountains and the lights I just get a sense of chaotic energy. It's a good thing for the most part.
Can you tell us more about how you produce your music?
I usually start with an idea in my mind that I know I can't replicate, and I come up with something totally different that I end up loving. Also, I try to keep as much of the original demo in the final recording as I can get away with. Sometimes it sounds too much like a demo, but it just has the feeling I needed to capture. I don't know why but I can't capture the feeling of the song if I'm trying to be "right" or "play better," because then I'm thinking about someone else. So the demo usually is most of the final.
Do you have any gigs planned for 2022?
Working on rescheduling my album release show, we had to postpone because of Covid issues. Other shows coming up are TBA. I'd love to play as much as possible this year!
Can you tell us something interesting about yourself that doesn’t have anything to do with music?
I’m pretty good with horses. I’ve never owned one or had that kind of money for lessons, but I have volunteered at different equine therapy programs since I was 8. My childhood best friend got me into it and I stuck to it for about 15 years, teaching riding lessons towards the end and doing basic ground training on different rescues. I’ll probably end up on a ranch trailer at the end of my life.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?
Probably Pink Moon by Nick Drake. One of the most haunting and comforting albums for the morning.
What do you hate right now?
So many things honestly! Regarding the pandemic, it just messes me up to see vulnerable people being dismissed, like it doesn’t matter if they die or get sick. Even just the language of how people weigh the losses— they were older, they had pre existing conditions, whatever. I think it’s wrong to lower someone’s value based on that, but that’s how people talk about it. Someone recently told me "that's just the way of the world," but I don't think I need to be okay with it because of that.
What do you love right now?
I really love my dog Maxcy. I got her a year ago, and she is the most hilarious, weird dog I've ever met. I made her an Instagram @bad_max_lol . It's pretty great.
What comes next in the Gracie Gray story?
A lot of shows hopefully! I would love to play this new album live. My fingers are crossed that touring can return in a safe way this Spring. Hard to tell from here, but if not, I will definitely be demoing a lot of songs while we wait for that to happen.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
I have no clue haha. I think I'm just glad they read all of this and I hope they're doing okay!
