Ever since Grace Carter dropped her latest single Why Her Not Me, our ears have been pricked. The track has absolutely exploded, amassing streams into the millions and propelling the artist on a headline tour throughout the UK and Europe.
Amongst all that madness, she remains as socially conscious and endearingly well spoken as you would imagine. To find out a little more about this star in the making, we sat down with Grace for a chat.
Like many artists, Grace Carter sees music as therapy, something as essential to life as breathing. Perhaps it’s why her songs are so awe-inspiring.
HAPPY: Hey Grace, how’s it going? What are you up to at the moment?
GRACE: I’m on my first headline tour around the UK and Europe at the moment! It’s been crazy.
HAPPY: It’s been a couple of weeks since Why Her Not Me came out… how are you feeling about the initial reception?
GRACE: The reaction to the song has been amazing, it’s been a very surreal few weeks. I wrote it a few years ago and have been waiting to release it ever since and right now feels like the right time!
HAPPY: You tackle some pretty personal themes in the song, does that kind of songwriting ever get difficult for you?
GRACE: Not really because it’s what I’ve always done. I started songwriting as a tool to release a lot of anger and hurt I carried through my childhood, writing was my way of talking about things I struggled to say out loud so it’s all I’ve ever known. I wrote this song about my father picking another life over me because that was my experience. As a kid I always wanted to hear someone singing my story so it only felt right to talk about the background when I released the song.
HAPPY: Do you get any form of catharsis from writing and performing your material?
GRACE: Yes for sure. Writing songs for me is a form of therapy and I guess because everything is super honest it does take me back when I’m on stage or in the studio, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Me being honest in my music has helped other people be honest in their lives and overcome things so it’s super rewarding.
HAPPY: If there’s one message you’d like this new track to send to your audience, what would it be?
GRACE: It’s not your fault.
HAPPY: You wrote a lot of these songs when you were quite young, right? Is it strange at all for you revisiting these tracks?
GRACE: Yes a lot of the songs were written between 17-20 but I don’t find it strange at all really. I’m just happy I’m able to share my music with people, I describe my songs as letters I never sent and now feels like the right time to share them.
HAPPY: Are there any particular artists that have influenced you?
GRACE: Growing up I loved listening to artists like Adele and Alicia Keys and sonically I loved a lot of Kanye so I definitely think they’ve had some influence on my music for sure. For me it’s just super important that any song I write works on one instrument. Thats how you know something’s good.
HAPPY: What’s next for Grace Carter? Any other exciting plans in the works?
GRACE: Lots of new music. I’ve been on tour for a while now but I’ve got the end of the year in the studio which I’m very excited about. Hopefully more touring, This year has been amazing so I cant wait for what’s to come next year.
Why Her Not Me is out now.
