In Conversation With: Grace Gillespie
Photo Credit: Poppy Marriott
London based artist Grace Gillespie recently announced her EP ‘Pretending’, which is out in June. We had a chat with her about her new single ‘I’m Your Man’, and about being surround by art as a child.
’I’m Your Man’ is out now, what is the track about?
The track initially emerged as an idea whilst I was trying to find a job in London. I felt pretty helpless and that the skills I had weren’t useful or relevant - so i decided to vent my frustration in a fairly tongue-in-cheek track. The song kind of moves between the two moods that I had about the whole thing. On the one hand I felt pretty demoralised (the verses in case that isn’t obviously) and on the other I just didn’t give a sh*t - it’s not like I wanted some horrible office job anyway and if they didn’t want me, then so be it… And then I remember that no, i desperately do need a job… and we are back into the verse. You get the picture!
More generally its just about rejection in all of its shifty, slippery forms.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories?
The track was recorded in Newcastle at a studio called Blank. The way it usually works is that I record all my demos and sort out the arrangement and instrumentation on my own in London. Then I take them up to Newcastle and we work from the demos to create something that (i hope) keeps the kinda ‘bedroom/lo-fi’ spirit of the track but also gives them a real-world boost. Kind of like they are still secretly un-showered and in their pyjamas… but they’ve chucked on some make-up and are wearing a nice coat and some shiny shoes over the top… and some great perfume. No one would ever know…..
Originally you were part of the live line up for Pixx, which has seen you play alongside the likes of Nilufer Yanya, Sorry, Cosmo Pyke and Trudy and the Romance. How was that experience? What made you decided to release your own solo material?
When I was playing with PIXX I was actually already doing loads of my own stuff. It just came up as a great opportunity to hop on tour for a year and have fun and hear some amazing music! It was a really really good time, I was very lucky to get the chance to be involved with Hannah - she is incredible! We toured with Austra in Europe for 8 weeks and got to see all the sights. I never really want to go anywhere if i can’t have my guitars nearby. So being in a bus with guitars and then playing music every night AND getting too see all these amazing cities whilst not having the pressure of it being my own music - was great!
As a child, you were surrounded by art, can you tell us a bit more about that? Do you think that has helped with your creativity when it comes to songwriting?
I think it helped me to be creative in some ways.. but it wasn’t until I was away from home that the idea of song-writing became a possibility to me. I had never considered it possible - I’m not sure why. In fact it hadn’t even occurred to me. Whilst I was young I made lots of pictures and no songs at all. Now I make songs and don’t have time to make art. Maybe its all the same and it just had to kind of change the medium….?
Originally from Devon, but you now live in London, what are your favorite parts of the city?
I must admit I’m not the biggest fan of London. It terrifies me. Im petrified of the tube and the trains all really stress me out. I try to get involved and get stuck in to the city but I am just not at ease here. My favourite place in London is my flat - and that is genuinely how I feel! I wish I didn’t feel like that, but it is just true. Sorry! Also it has all these magical gardens at the back that have really big trees - kind of like a park. It’s really beautiful and really enclosed and safe and I love it!
Now the single is out, what next? What are your plans for the next few months?
So I have an EP out in June! The next single from it is out pretty soon and then the EP which is very exciting. It has been funded by PRS Foundation who are absolute heroes. The next single is called ‘My Love Surreal’ and I am VERY excited for it to be out. It’s such a summery tune and very synth based which is a nice change from all my guitar stuff. I’m actually way more comfortable with a piano in front of me! Anyway, its a perfect kinda ‘summer in the city’ track. I hope you like it!!!