Grace Kay
If you know me then you know I love records influenced by the 80s. “Here” by Grace Kay is no exception. I love the production, the guitars, the synths, the melodies, the beautiful topic behind this song and Grace’s dreamy vocals. “Here” is brilliant and it is one of my favorite songs released this Fall.
Thank you so much Grace for this conversation and congrats on this new incredible record.
“Here” is out now !!
Photo credit: NYIKO
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hi, I’m Grace :) I was born and raised in LA; I went to an all-girls high school so the women in my life are so important to me. I feel very passionately about fostering and developing young women in the arts. I also studied acting in college, so I personally think music is nothing without story. I’m so grateful for my background because every project I work on has layers to peel back for the audience and a strong sense of purpose.
"Here" is your new single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
This song is about my best friend. We’ve been through tough times together and apart, and somehow we always end up… here. Together. No matter how much time has passed or how big a curveball is thrown, our bond is unshakeable. The song is an homage to this friendship. May it never end!
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? When did you start working on it?
I actually thought this song was a lost cause for a long time because I couldn’t land on a structure that I liked. I was really committed initially to it having no bridge, and I didn’t originally envision it as a single. Then in May of 2021, I was invited to a Clubhouse workshop show and I ended up writing a quick bridge 30 minutes before the show. It ended up to be a major hit and when I played the full song for my producer, Austin Foley, he said we had to put out this song and it had to have this big beautiful outro. We finished the production on it not far afterwards. We spent most of our time after that nitpicking the vocals because we microtuned this song! We had to play around with formant shifting to get them to sound as natural as possible after the verispeed, which was a totally fun new adventure.
What did you feel when writing this song?
I just felt the simple warmth of friendship. The warmth we feel when we know that no matter how much time has passed, you will be safe with this person. It’s the same warmth and security as the love from a trusted family member.
What made you want to release "Here" as a single?
I didn’t initially think this would be a single because I thought the production was going to be more bare-bones. But after hearing the beautiful bridge and outro as a finished product (and crying a few times with my producer, Austin Foley) we decided it absolutely had to be a single. This song will be a part of a concept album about women in my life and how they have shaped me. So this is one of probably 9 songs. Austin has claimed that it is his favorite of any song off the project, so of course we had to share it as a single before the project came out!
What can you tell us about the artwork?
I wanted to evoke the feeling of taking a break on a long road trip. This to me, is how catching up with dear friends feels. It’s a breath of fresh air, it’s time where we are allowed to pause, to breathe deep, to smile genuinely. While writing the song, I kept remembering a road trip that I took with this friend to Zion, so I wanted to capture the desert-like foliage in the art as well.
What do you want people to feel when listening to this song?
I want them to feel safe, loved, and grateful. Everyone has someone in their life that can provide this kind of joy. Maybe after listening, you’ll want to pick up the phone and call your old friend, or call your mom.
What message do you want to deliver to anyone who's been struggling with panic attacks?
The biggest thing I want to communicate is that you are not alone and you are still capable of anything you want to do. It can feel both terrifying and demoralizing, especially if it’s a new occurrence for you. But, a lot of my healing (and I continue to heal) has been de-stigmatizing that panic attacks make me less capable or less accomplished. It’s no use getting frustrated with yourself. After all, anxiety is your body’s way of trying to protect you. Thank yourself for how much you care about your well-being. You’ll get through this and your body will eventually understand that you are safe. <3
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
I honestly think the best and the worst part may be the same thing: sharing music! It’s the most rewarding thing to be able to hear that the song affects someone positively, but the anxiety around sharing something so vulnerable is equally as scary as it is rewarding. So it is truly high risk, high reward.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I do wish that the music industry would start to value full projects again. We live in a time where it is so important to be releasing singles to gain an audience and traction, and that bums me out. I had a call with an A&R a few months back that criticized me for even thinking about making an album at all. They told me I wouldn’t succeed if that was my end goal. Clearly I disagree and didn’t work with them, but it was still shocking to get off that call after they’d reached out and wanted to work with me. As an artist it sometimes feels as though I’m just a tool, or a piece of machinery in a larger cog. I don’t like that. Music is art, it’s expression, and I think, even as a listener, the most powerful way to experience musicians is to listen through their lens.
How's it like to be a woman in the music industry?
It’s definitely tough! I personally struggle with my relationship with my body, now that it’s been put on display online so much. I love that visual art and fashion have become more intertwined with how music is shared and presented, but it’s a lot of pressure. At the same time, it’s empowering when you feel yourself succeeding in something that you love. I have historically been my biggest doubter, so feeling like I can be an example to other women who want to make music brings me major fulfillment.
What does songwriting make you feel?
It makes me feel something different every time I sit down. Sometimes I am completely fueled by what I am writing about, sometimes I am riddled with frustration that my ideas aren’t translating to my fingers, sometimes I think what I write is genius. Either way, it just feels like working out at this point - it’s not always going to be perfect. It’s exercising a muscle that I am continually strengthening.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
My dad once brought me to a Taco Bell and asked me “Why are you here?” (he wasn’t talking about the Taco Bell, we were just there for the tacos) He was talking about getting clear on why I am doing what I am doing; “what was my purpose”. That’s a big question, but I do think everyone has a spark, something that makes them happy and motivated. If you find your spark it will help guide you in nearly every decision you make. Even if it takes a while, it’s a question worth continually asking yourself.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
I think a big one for me has been that change will always happen and it will almost always benefit you in some way down the line even if it sucks in the moment. Change is our opportunity to self-reflect and take action to grow.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I think if many people would stop placing blame solely on outside sources, and started to take some responsibility for their own actions, it would remove so much unnecessary conflict. This is something I work on with myself all the time.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
I want the world to know that our friends and loved ones are everything! Don’t take these relationships for granted because they will be necessary support at some point in your lifetime.
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