Eyes closed. Brooding hums. Gently warm trills. The music of Greyson Chance is an irresistible fever dream where listeners find themselves taken to another realm – one of late, late nights, bittersweet relationships, and sunshine-tinged summers. The artist is a pop force to be reckoned with. “I knew as a kid I enjoyed singing and that I was good at it, but the idea of being an artist and doing it seriously never crossed my mind,” he says. “That sort of thing didn’t happen to people where I was from; it just seemed unattainable. It’s crazy how your life can change in the blink of an eye,” he modestly reflects. Not quite at Nirvana levels of adolescent fame yet, he’s well on the way. One thing the American singer has in common with artists of his wave is a deeply personal approach to his practice. With the likes of deep-rooted lyrics, sang through soft vocals, the singer explores the soul-filled realism of music on a growing crescendo. Space-chilled sunshine vocals, honeycombed lyricism and topped by falsetto trills, Chance’s feelgood factor is off the charts on his new track, “Honeysuckle.” If you haven’t bumped on it, now’s your chance to get obsessed. Spilling on the track itself, Greyson states: “I got into the studio that day and thought of the Honeysuckle and how it only grows in the heat. I related to that feeling.” He’s certainly not wrong. Packing rollicking synths and hooky beats, his melodic scope is a testimony to the fact that this is one artist to keep an eye on very closely for the foreseeable future. The track, however, is an enveloping soundscape of echoes, soaring vocals, pretty bombastic layers (bet you’ll grip on that repeat mode before you know it), and “oos,” for want of a better term. It’s delicious and somehow relaxing, despite having a decidedly danceable beat behind it. The young-old music maven, originally rose to prominence with the performance of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi at a talent festival back in 2010, gig which dripped in numbers across YouTube, since he soared onto the international soundscape the solo singer has blossomed into a fully-fledged artist who marries jazzy-pop with dashes of contemporary indie-rock, entrancing fans with a succulent dance-pop groove. The results of his music are both low-key and beautifully “honest,” as he frankly describes. Think fleshly guitar licks, warm jams, and sugar-sweet reverberating bass lines: a drifting, sonic heaven. It’s no surprise then the artist is pegged to be one of 2020’s troubadours whose reflective etiquette has led him all over the world and – from the sounds out it – into something which he felt unforeseen. “When I took a step back from music when I was 18, I went to college to study law. I think I would have made a terrific lawyer. I am a great debater and am perhaps the most stubborn person,” he says, pondering over what the future could have been if he wasn’t plowing seeds in the la-la-land of music. Sometimes life takes the right direction in spite of the rollercoasters (pardon the pun) one might face. “I make music that I would want to listen to, and I try to tell stories from my own perspective, no one else’s,” he ably reflects. Often a track comes along so infectiously you forget the reams of playlists you spend a lifetime curating and devote a whole day clicking repeat-delete. Frequently these artists manage to land one captivating all-prevailing hit when they’re just kids, then disappear into the ether. Oklahoma-born Greyson has proven not to be one of these musicians. In fact, fuelled with chilled beats, bliss-inducing words, and thoughtful lyrics, his recent music is the perfect track to repeat on your morning commute, or on your hot car journey home. The singer grew up in the social media age. He’s extremely acquainted with the way communication can bring him close to his fan base: “For me, [digital] platforms are the mediums that let me communicate directly to my fans, and that’s a special thing that I cherish.” Chance owns the spirit of a young man, but the mentality of an artist whose maturity, drive, and skill has shaped rapidly over time. It’s evident that Greyson isn’t an artist that worries in the process. “I consume music and content that I enjoy and that inspires me. After doing this for 10 years, you start to realize that focusing on others around is a pointless waste of time. You should do what you love and do what makes you happy, that’s all that matters as a creative,” he says. I asked him if he was taken seriously at the preambles of his artistic vocation or whether it was more a discovery process, highlighting the importance of resilience, which he admits to. “I truly did not find my stride until I released Portraits last year. I feel like a real artist now; I am not sure I ever did before then.” Chance then exudes his main music references, winding back to where his inspirations began from – “I was and still am so inspired by Gaga. I think every artist should study her. I also would say Joni Mitchell and the early Arcade Fire albums. That music taught me how to tell a story.” Moreover, in our conversation he also suggests that trusting your instincts and enjoying the world around you, whether you’re a musician or not, is always valuable. Having checked in global stages, The Portraits World Tour was a moment that broadened his mind to the plethora of shows which bolstered his sound. “I’m grateful for every single one,” he firmly acclaims. With music in his blood and lacing melodies that tie in personal lyrics that explore life and its bonds, it’s no wonder this is what Greyson Chance was fated to do.
Now wrapping up his future plans in spite of present times of disruptions, we got the chance to talk with the music artist about catching his groove, diving into biggest pinch-me moments, and why high ambitions can prove to be both a help and a burden to great feats.
What’s up Greyson, many thanks for tuning in with us. Where do you come from originally?
Hey FY! I’m from Oklahoma. I still have a house here and quite love it when I can come back.
Did you always know music was your ultimate go-to outlet of expression?
If I am being honest, not entirely. I knew as a kid that I enjoyed singing and that I was good at it, but the idea of being an artist and doing it seriously never crossed my mind. That sort of thing didn’t happen to people where I was from; it just seemed unattainable. It’s crazy how your life can change in the blink of an eye.
If not music, what else do you think you would have taken on?
When I took a step back from music when I was 18, I went to college to study law. I think I would have made a terrific lawyer. I am a great debater and am perhaps the most stubborn person.
How would you describe your sound?
I get asked this all the time, and truthfully, I don’t know how to answer. I make music that I would want to listen to, and I try to tell stories from my own perspective, no one else’s. The best way I can describe my records is that they are honest.
It seems there’s a surfeit of labels, talents and various shit going on in music right now and over the last few years in particular. How do you cope with the commotion of modern saturation?
I don’t think about what other artists are doing or what the industry is up to. I consume music and content that I enjoy and that inspires me. After doing this for 10 years, you start to realize that focusing on others around is a pointless waste of time. You should do what you love and do what makes you happy, that’s all that matters as a creative.
Who were your biggest inspirations growing up?
I was and still am so inspired by Gaga. I think every artist should study her. I also would say Joni Mitchell and the early Arcade Fire albums. That music taught me how to tell a story.
If you were to duet with a singer/music icon. Spill in the jar…
At the moment, I’d say Seinabo Sey or Sylvan Esso.
Cute. What would be the first place you’d travel to post-COVID?
Any place where they would let me put on a show. I miss performing.
Tapping on your latest track, Honeysuckle: what was the process of creating that song?
I wrote Honeysuckle in May of 2019 in London. It was incredibly cold, and I remember thinking of my parent’s old honeysuckle tree back in Oklahoma as a means to keep me warm and eager for the summer. I had just released an album a few months prior that was entirely about my relationship with my ex, so at the time, I wanted to write music far away from that topic. I got into the studio that day and thought of the Honeysuckle and how it only grows in the heat. I related to that feeling. Scott Verrill (Kwassa) and I wrote the song in less than an hour.
What does this track mean to you?
It’s my love letter to the summer and to the person I become during those months. It’s about recklessness and trusting your instincts and enjoying the world around you.
Are you very into social media or do you only give a few fucks about the ‘gram?
No, I definitely care about social media. I think it’s important to, though, as I don’t let it consume me. For me, there are platforms that let me communicate directly to my fans, and that’s a special thing that I cherish.
Selfie or (proper) picture?
Everyone should have both.
Favorite tour?
The Portraits World Tour last year. All-in-all we did 122 shows around that album, and I am thankful for every single one.
Starting so young, were you taken seriously at first, or was it more of a process of finding your feet as an artist?
I truly did not find my stride until I released Portraits last year. I feel like a real artist now; I am not sure I ever did before then.
What’s the best feedback you’ve ever had on your music?
Cyndi Lauper told me in December that she could tell I was honest by the way I sang. I will never forget that moment.
