INTERVIEW WITH… TIKTOK BEDROOM POP ARTIST ADDISON GRACE
Salt Lake City-based musician Addison Grace found not only a common community through music and their voice on TikTok. Grace impeccably crafts emotionally driven bedroom indie-pop songs that often explore the young queer experience, unrequited love, coming of age, and the uncertainties within it all. Addison’s latest EP, “Things That Are Bad For Me” is out now, along with the music video for “Pretty Girl”. You can read my interview with the artist below. In it, we chat about songwriting, finding inspiration, TikTok, touring, and much more.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hey, Addison! How are you doing, how’s your 2022 been so far?
ADDISON GRACE: It’s been pretty busy! I released my first EP, ”Immaturing”, this year after touring with Cavetown and Tessa Violet. After that, I was traveling during the summer to write and record my second EP, ”Things That Are Bad for Me” that’s coming out November 11th. I also went on my first headline tour which was so exciting!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you talk about your origin story a bit and how that relates to your career as a musician today?
ADDISON GRACE: I was raised by a single mom who would put me and my siblings in any and every sport and/or performing art. It was her way of keeping us busy and letting us find what interested us while she would be working. The only thing that ever stuck for me was singing. Growing up I joined nearly every school and church choir. When I was 13, my brother bought a ukulele while in France. I ended up “stealing” it from him because I had seen recent videos of YouTubers making their own songs on the ukulele. From then on I had started to do the same, making original music with the ukulele, and started my own little online pages too. I think because I had a mom that was so passionate about me finding what I loved is why I am and able to be a singer-songwriter today.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Let’s talk about your new single ‘Pretty Girl’. What was the recording and writing process like? The inspiration for this new single?
ADDISON GRACE: “Pretty Girl” was written in Nashville with one of my favorite co-writers, Charli Adams, who’s also an incredible artist. I told her about my gender transition and how I had dated someone before as a girl. This person, in my mind, was my soulmate. I was frustrated because there was a chance for us to get back together but I had made the self discovery that I’m transgender and I knew they weren’t, and aren’t, attracted to boys. I also told her about how I hated still being loved “as a girl” and seen ”as a girl“ by a lot of people in society and on the internet. I knew I wanted the song to be called “Pretty Girl” but finding the artistic words for those specific feelings had been stumping me. Charli absolutely helped me pull them out and make it into the song it is today. Recording with Andy Seltzer was incredible as well. He absolutely got the sound/production perfect for what I wanted and needed in this song.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Do you have a typical songwriting process or do you just go with the flow and create with inspiration hits?
ADDISON GRACE: Honestly, my songwriting always changes and I’ve never had a specific flow. Usually I just write when I’m feeling an intense emotion. If I end up getting inspiration when I’m somewhere that I can’t write, I just make a note of it for later. Songwriting is genuinely my diary.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What lyric have you written that you feel best represents the world around us right now?
ADDISON GRACE: “Take it off, oxygen, cut your hair, grow it out again. The world will end a couple times.” I think it really represents the stress we all feel with everything going on but it also brings comfort with it. I really love the idea that we can be broken, beaten, and bruised but still find a way back up. Hope and determination are both very powerful.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How do you feel TikTok will play a part in finding artists and new music in the coming years of the music industry?
ADDISON GRACE: I think we’re gonna get a wave of a lot of new indie artists and experimental ones too. I genuinely hope it leads to people being more creative since TikTok can be relatively easy to go “viral” on. I would hope it just allows for more unknown artists to get their stuff out there fast and also allow for a more diverse set of popular musicians.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Who are some of your favorite new or underground music artists on TikTok?
ADDISON GRACE: I recently discovered @cowgirlb3b0p, also known as ash tuesday, who deserves way more recognition! Her voice, melodies, and songwriting are all incredible. Olive Klug, @oliveklug, is also amazing- I really adore their voice and all the little inflections they put on key lyrics/words. Kevin Atwater, @kevinatwatermusic, is another who’s been picking up speed recently who I just love so much.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What three words would you use to define your artistic self?
ADDISON GRACE: Passionate, peculiar, and self-recognizing.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What has been the most rewarding thing about being a songwriter and having a platform?
ADDISON GRACE: Being able to give people the songs that I needed growing up or still need even now. I’m just so grateful I’ve gotten to a point where I can put words to such intimate, specific feelings. I’m glad others relate to it, it makes me feel less alone and also like my experiences weren’t truly isolating. I like to think that I’m who I needed as a kid and I’m glad I can be that person now for both adults and kids.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Since Halloween is coming up, what do you have a favorite Halloween film or score?
ADDISON GRACE: I’ve always been a huge fan of Coraline for some reason! I was lucky that it never scared me as a kid, haha!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: And lastly, what is up next for you Addison Grace?
ADDISON GRACE: I’m going on tour with Ricky Montgomery who’s a good friend of mine! I’m also releasing my second EP on November 11th called “Things That Are Bad for Me” (OUT NOW). Hopefully soon I’ll be making my first album or headlining again!
