Check Out Grace Serene’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Serene.

Hi Grace, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I was often on the road with my parents, Derek and Heidi Levendusky, who were Christian rock musicians. I learned a ton from them directly and indirectly through watching them maneuver the Christian music world. My family has always pushed me to pursue whatever dream I wanted to chase and I have them to thank for much of my success today. I have been writing songs for as long as I can remember and actually recorded my first project when I was ten years old. I continued, throughout my teenage years, to write and release music, and I’m so thankful for what those experiences taught me.

Particularly, working with Darren Elder at The Halo Studio in Maine – those guys are the real deal and I have so much respect for who they are and what they do. In 2018, I moved from Avon, NY to Rochester, NY, and continued to play local venues and connect with the music scene there. In 2021, I formed the band that I’m still rockin’ with today, Grace Serene and the Super Clean, with Zack Mikida (guitarist with the best mom ever Laura Mikida I love you) and Arjun Baxter (bassist) in Zack’s motorcycle shop when we wrote our first tune together, Slow Down (this would become our first single). The band has since grown from the three core members now, in addition to Zack, Arjun, and myself, we are happily cruising along with Joe Stehle on keys and Brendon Caroselli on drums. And let me tell you, it’s been a pleasure working with these guys – they’re special. The Rochester community is a beautiful one and showed us a lot of love as we played shows throughout western NY – including the Rochester International Jazz Festival (which was a childhood dream) until I made the move to Nashville in the summer of 2021. Now, I work as a songwriter and performing artist based out of East Nashville although, I find my way back to NY for work quite often as the rest of my band still lives up there. I’m currently in the process of recording my first album with Grace Serene and the Super Clean among other projects that I’m very excited to see released this year.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Deciding to leave hesitation behind and pursue a dream is never easy and never promises to be so. I remember the day I decided I wouldn’t continue in college just for the sake of a “backup plan.” I was excited but terrified. There are always two voices at war in your head that say “what if” – “What if it works out?” and “What if it doesn’t?” That battle is exhausting and has resulted in many struggles with anxiety and depression for me. These are monsters I never really faced, either, until my early 20’s. So, recently learning to accept that they are valid struggles, but not surrendering to their will has been quite a journey. Growing up in the church, an element of faith has always been a part of my life. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to how people wear the badge of Christianity. I will admit that there was a time in my life when I really wanted to leave it all behind because of that, but my relationship with God has been constant whether I liked it or not.

It is still something I doubt on a daily basis, but I can also confidently say that despite how I feel, I can always find peace there amidst chaos. All that to say, if I could give anyone a piece of advice when that “What if it doesn’t work out?” voice is winning, it would come in two parts. One: Remember why you are doing what you’re doing. Even on the worst day, is there really anything else you would rather be doing? If so, then maybe it’s time to switch it up and it’s never too late for that. And two: If what you’re pursuing is undeniably what your soul wants, then it’s better to try and fail in pursuit of what you love than to play it safe and live a “comfortable life” always wishing for something more. I think about it like this – When I’m 75 and looking back at my life, I would much rather say, “Thank God I tried.” instead of “What if I had?”

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a songwriter and performer. I love both equally for different reasons. Songwriting is special because there are so many different ways to do it. Whether it’s an acoustic folk/singer-songwriter co-write when your bare your hearts for an hour and then write something passionate and intricate or a session on a producer’s couch writing vibey pop projects for sync, there are so many ways to let the different pockets of madness fly out of your brain and create something beautiful. I personally love writing and arranging funk, RnB, and soul music. That’s definitely the pocket I’m the most comfortable in and proud of.

Arranging vocal harmonies and demoing out my latest Anderson .Paak or Luther Vandross-inspired groove I came up with on the toilet at my coffee shop job is precisely what keeps me going every day. I’m very excited to share the album I’m currently working on with Grace Serene and the Super Clean with the world because there’s a little bit of everything that I love in that project and I’m stoked to have something more to show for the countless hours I spend in a lava lamp lit room putting words and chords together by myself and with the band (they have done incredible work for this album). When it comes to performing, I feel the most myself on stage. I play guitar and piano, but I much prefer to perform without an instrument so I can MOVE. I can sweat through my colorful wardrobe under a spotlight and convince a room of people to be free with me. Live music is magic and has such potential to bring people together like nothing else, and I love being a conduite for such power.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Nashville isn’t really a glamorous city in the way people would expect, in my opinion, but it has true and rich character. I prefer it that way. Having only been here for a year and a half, I can only say so much, BUT it’s been a fantastic experience thus far. I didn’t know what to expect when moving down here from western, NY. I had only spent a day here before making the jump. What I’ve found is a community that welcomed me with open arms. Having moved here for music like many before me, the music industry community is the majority of the Nashville world that I’ve interacted with and it’s so very collaborative and eager for adventure and growth. The artistic community as a whole has inspired me around every corner.

Whether I’m walking through the First Sunday flea market at the shops on Porter in East Nashville, or talking to the person on the barstool next to me about their earring business, there are so many people expressing themselves artistically in a bold, unashamed way that it’s next to impossible to feel uninspired in a place blooming so brightly with creative minds. I have only a few qualms with Nashville and the one that takes the cake is the reckless incompetence of it’s drivers. Has anyone ever heard of using a blinker or waiting your turn at a stop sign? Because it really doesn’t seem like it. My second qualm would be Nashville’s lack of quality pizza and yea yea – “YoU’re frOm NY sO of coUrsE yOu tHiNk thAt…” – I’ve been yelled at plenty of times for this opinion, but if someone has a local suggestion or a secret woodfire oven at their house that can change my mind, please let me know and you’ll win my utmost respect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gracesereneandthesuperclean.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace.serene/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GRACESERENEANDTHESUPERCLEAN/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/serene_super
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6qKHBYjJJuOVpsAbmL24O3 

Image Credits
Bridget Hagen and Aaron Winters