Interview: Grace Mitchell
02.27.15
A powerful voice with impressive vocal control and only at the age of 18. We can expect big things from this native Portland artists, Grace Mitchell, as she embarks on her second tour of her career. Having opened previously for 2016 Grammy winning artists, The Weekend, at the Apple Music Festival in London. After her first night on tour with St. Lucia we had the privilege of talking with Grace Mitchell.
Seattle Music News: I was listening to some of your music and it’s got like influences from Portland and LA. Did you feel you were inspired by both of those places when you were writing or was one more influence on you than the other?
Grace Mitchell: Yeah, I was definitely inspired by my surroundings and observations and relationships and stuff. I think the environment of LA was probably more inspiring for me than being in Portland because I felt really isolated there but being in LA I’ve just been surrounded by a lot of creative, like-minded people. It felt really healthy and progressive.
SMN: Awesome. I usually prefer not labeling an artist’s genre of music when I meet them. I like to see how the artist would describe it. How would you describe your music and the lyrics you write.
GM: I’d say it kind of transcends different genres. I don’t really have like a specific genre that I tie it to. I think it’s open to interpretation and whatever people kind of experience while listening. That’s totally relative. On my Twitter my handle I just saw it’s a genre-bender.
SMN: Cool. Being only 18, you must have been involved with the music industry when you were a lot younger, were you a part of any music programs at school? Does that have any impacts on where you’re at today in your career and how you write?
GM: No. I just kind of sort of … Performing when I was really young and writing music happened even earlier and I’ve just been trying to hone the skill and develop the craft ever since.
SMN: That’s cool. You’re kind of self-taught a little bit and just kind of picked up an instrument and started playing?
GM: Songwriting-wise, yes. I took guitar lessons and piano lessons. I was never really committed to practicing guitar but now that I feel like it’s a necessary tool I’ve started to get back into it which is … It feels good.
SMN: Yeah. Let’s talk about the show that’s coming up. What city are you in right now? Tour just starting?
GM: I don’t know where I am currently as we speak. I’m literally in a van. We just played Minneapolis last night. I flew in a couple of days ago and now I’m going to … Driving to Missouri and play Kansas City.
SMN: Nice. What are you looking forward to the most on this tour with St. Lucia?
GM: Just kind of connecting with St. Lucia and just connecting with the band. It’s good to have that kind of familial experience with going on tour. Everyone’s just kind of in it together. Everyone’s a musician so we all think about the same stuff and I just like connecting with other musicians. It’s my favorite part.
SMN: Yeah.
GM: Having breakfast together. Having dinner together. All that.
SMN: That’s cool. It kind of becomes like a whole community together on tour.
GM: Exactly.
SMN: Cool. Is this your first tour or have you done tours in the past?
GM: I’ve done one other tour before.
SMN: Nice. Was there something that you did on the last tour that you kind of learned with it being your first tour and now this tour you’re trying to do it differently?
GM: Not really. I mean, last night was my first show of this second tour so I haven’t really like thought about that but it essentially, this far, feels pretty much the same. I feel like until you start moving up in credibility and more on like fancy things it doesn’t change a lot.
SMN: Each night when you perform, which song do you look forward to the most on the setlist?
GM: I think NoLo now because more people have heard of it. They’ve been playing it on the radio a lot. When I look out in the audience a lot of times people will be singing the words and that’s pretty exciting.Otherwise, I really like to sing Mania and Raceday.
SMN: Nice. It sounds like you’re getting a good reaction from the crowd on that NoLo song. That’s cool.
GM: Yeah.
SMN: Before the show, I was wondering are there pre-rituals that you do to kind of get into the zone and get ready for the show each night?
GM: Yeah, I do. I pray a little bit. Non-denominational praying. I kind of like tell myself mantras in my head and try to psych myself up and I do a little jumping jacks to get my heart rate up and that’s it. Drink a lot of water.
SMN: Great. Well, I don’t want to keep you too long. I’ve got one more question for you that we like to ask all the artists that we interview. If you were stranded on a desert island and could take one book with you, one movie, and one album what would it be?
GM: Oh. I’d probably take Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos. Movie-wise I would maybe take … I don’t know. Django by Quentin Tarantino.
SMN: Oh, yeah.
GM: Book, I’d probably take Just Kids by Patti Smith.
SMN: Oh, nice. I haven’t heard of that one. Cool. Well, thank you so much for taking the time out and answering a few questions. Hope you have a great tour.
GM: Thank you.
