Q&A's

 

Many people will recognize Gracia from her time spent on season 3 of The Voice, but since her time on the show so much has changed for her. She’s recently released her brand-new single “hey,” and we had the incredible opportunity to catch up with her and talk about her time on The Voice and what she learned from it, shifting styles after the show ended, her new single and the accompanying music video for it, what’s next for her, and so much more!

Music Video for "hey"

www.iamgracia.com

1. Most people will recognize you from when you appeared on season 3 of The Voice. Tell us a little bit about that experience. What was it like to instantly go from small-town USA to singing in front of millions of viewers week in and week out?

It honestly was the most insane thing that's ever happened to me, especially at that age. It's so weird to just go from nobody knowing you to getting thousands of followers in minutes, literally. Especially being from such a small town, when at the time, pursuing music on your own independently was a relatively new thing because Instagram was just then kind of taking off. So, it was really surreal because until that moment it all felt like a dream that was really out of reach due to the limited outlets to kind of get yourself heard back then. It was such an incredible experience though, and I have to say that I definitely owe so much of my career to the show. Not only that, but I met some of the most amazing artists while on the show, and it was just overall an amazing time. It was like a huge family. I remember at the hotel we would all like, go out to the pool and people would have their guitars and we would just sit outside and all sing and jam and hang, or go to the beach together (when they would take us when we had downtime). It's definitely one of my favorite life and career experiences. 

2. What were you able to learn the most from your time spent on The Voice that you still carry with you today?

I learned a lot about myself, honestly. Especially post-being on the show. I learned that success is most definitely not linear, and if you have the opportunity to get 15 minutes of fame, RUN with it. Keep going and do not look back. 

3. You’ve recently released your new single “hey.” Tell us a little bit about the song.

Yes! I'm very excited about it. This release was my first single that I wrote solo, so that was a really cool milestone for me, and to be honest it didn't really start out as what it is now; I changed the concept around. But once I did that, the whole thing kind of came together in less than a day, and I really love where it is now. It's about how my boyfriend and I met, in a nutshell. I kind of was in this phase of like swearing off all guys, never wanting to be in a relationship because I just kept getting my heart broken (which, is a part of life, but I was just over it), and that's kind of where I was at. We ended up getting together and it was definitely not something I expected to happen, but it did, and he's great to me, and yeah. The rest is history! 

4. The song has a music video to accompany it. What was it like to film the video and what are the plans for it? CMT? YouTube only? 

It was really fun and kind of chaotic to film it, we were like, running around crazy the whole time trying to get as much footage as we could but also enjoying it, so it was natural. I really wanted the bulk of the song to be very natural and candid. My boyfriend plays my boyfriend in the video, and I wanted it to be as realistic as possible to our relationship, and it definitely turned out that way which I LOVE! Currently, it's just on YouTube, but I'd love to get it on CMT! 

5. You shot the video in Miami. Why do you feel that was the perfect location to convey the visual you wanted to attach with the song?

So, I wanted to release the song a bit earlier than we ended up being able to, so for the sake of time, I decided we should go to Miami to shoot it because it's got so many bright colors, it's always sunny and warm, and the color scheme really matches me as a person, but also the song being so upbeat and really just a summertime vibe. I felt that it fit the mood of the song the best; just being really carefree and fun. 

6. Since your time on The Voice, you’ve shifted direction with your music. What brought on that change?

Absoluuuuutely. I think I kind of felt almost put in a box after the show, you know? With doing a yodeling song, I kind of was expectd the duration of the show to continue on doing music with a lot of very country elements in it, and at the time that was fine for me; I grew up singing in Opry’s around my hometown and whatnot, so I was familiar with that sort of vibe, and it worked. I think I was so young that I really didn't know what I wanted. It's taken a long time for me to find who I am as an artist, and I think I'm still finding it. But that's the beauty of being an artist, and a lot of the most successful ones HAVE played around with different instrumentation, different genre crossovers, etc. I started to realize though the traditional country vibe just isn't me. Although I did grow up listening to a lot of it, and most definitely appreciate it, I was also always listening to Christina Aguilera, Hillary Duff, Ashlee Simpson, etc., and I've always really loved pop music as well. So, fusing it together just kind of makes the most sense for me. The older I've gotten, as a person, I relate a lot more to more pop-style lyrics that are rooted in feelings, not so much storytelling, and so that's kind of the direction I'm heading these days. 

7. In what ways do you feel that “hey” best shows that change?

Not only is it something that I wrote myself about a real-life experience of mine, but it's also something that I got to sit in the room and have a say in creating musically from nothing but an acoustic worktape I recorded in my living room. Which is pretty cool. I think I'm headed in a sliiightly different direction for future releases, but I wanted something fun, upbeat, very pop-centered, and perfect for summer that also kind of really musically said the feelings I get in this relationship; which are very happy, carefree vibes. 

8. With “hey” out there now, what’s next for Gracia? Is this a stand-alone single, or the start of a bigger project such as an EP or album? 

It definitely is! I've been writing a lot, and my plan is to release another single, and start working on my EP. You might be hearing some sad girl songs from me soon. 

9. You’ve been playing some shows here in our own backyard of Nashville, but you’ve also played back home in the Springfield IL area. What are the major differences between the shows you play in each place? Do you mostly try out newer material in Nashville?

I'm so grateful for the support I get in my home area, but one thing that's different is that Nashville is the place people come with the intention of hearing original songs, and to be attentive to original music, so yes, I definitely am always playing freshly written songs in town, and I love that SO so much. It's always awesome to play to familiar faces at home though and just get to jam out and play fun covers alongside my original stuff and just have a fun time! 

10. What is the best piece of advice that you can offer an aspiring songwriter/artist just trying to break into the music business?

I'd definitely say that it takes time, and it's not something that will happen overnight, but just reach out to people you want to work with that inspire you, and don't be afraid to take risks or get rejected. Most people in Nashville especially are so willing to help, and that's one of the best things about it; is the welcoming community. But EVERY single person in this industry has faced rejection before, and it's just a part of the game. If you allow that to hold you back or set you back, you'll never get anywhere. Also, don't be afraid to be yourself. I hate when people ask me who I sound like or who I'd compare myself to, and I'm like, well I don't know, I don't WANT to compare myself to anyone, I'm Gracia. That's who I sound like. And I think that's also a solid piece of advice; don't try to be someone else. Be you!

Learn more about Gracia by visiting her official website at: www.iamgracia.com

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