We recently had the chance to connect with Grace Maher and have shared our conversation below.
Grace, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity. Hands down. I love learning and facts and growing, and self-improvement. But integrity is key for me. I think the energy of something also comes from whether or not it’s based in integrity. And if you don’t have integrity and good energy… I guess that verse, “If I do this that and the other and essentially am the most brilliant mind and understand everything and even do good things…but do not have love, I am nothing” (massively paraphrasing the middle part there), I think that kinda captures the how I feel about integrity. For me, things need to be rooted in integrity and hopefully love is part of that integrity as well.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am originally from Kansas. I am 1 of 10 children. Yes, all same parents. No, no twins. I have 37 nieces and nephews. I moved from near Kansas City to Nashville 10 years ago, August 1st of 2015. I spent 4 1/2 years as a full-time musician and lot of that time singing on Broadway (in Nashville, not NY). I also fronted a band on the Norwegian Encore in the beginning of 2020.
Pandemic really shook things up for me. I have worked a full-time day job for some time now but honestly, it’s given me the freedom to create a lot more. My writing is better than it’s ever been, and I’m releasing more music, still playing shows and rounds and traveling some for shows. And we will see where the music takes me from here.
I am recently engaged to my fiancé, Mark Lonsway, an extremely talented musician, mix engineer, producer, songwriter, artist and background singer. Having a partner in music, in addition to life, has been a really cool plus that I hadn’t anticipated having with my significant other. And I love that we both get to write and release music and collaborate and support each other.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Honestly, I think this question is a little backward for me at this point. I felt I was told who I had to be very early. I kind of grew up in an environment that very clearly mapped out marriage, motherhood, and teaching your children at home. I felt I was to learn how to be a wife, be chosen by someone suitable, and then I would get to start my own life.
It wasn’t till later (and a lot of counseling) that I realized I got to choose who I wanted to be. And I’ve been doing my best to determine who I want to be and grow into that person more and more every day since.
Hi, I’m Grace. I’m a bit weird, really determined, curious, passionate, and excited to keep creating my life and music of course.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Oh there are SO many things younger me needed to hear. But one that stands out to me right now in this conversation is, “Your dreams matter”. I used to daydream about so many things, including singing on a stage. But I had no real intention of ever doing it. Those were daydreams. Life would be getting married and raising a family and caring for them. That was it.
Now, I realize we have passions and dreams and ideas and desires for a REASON. We get to choose what we want to create.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
This one is interesting. I think maybe that there are unlimited timelines or unlimited potential and possibilities available at any time, and we have the ability to shift into other timelines or paths and outcomes with our choices, thoughts, intentions, and energy.
I believe we’re co-creators of our lives. I love the book, “Becoming Supernatural” by Dr. Joe Dispenza. It’s fascinating and the science behind his studies and the studies themselves are remarkable to me. The first chapter is an incredible story and it’s not the only one he shares in the book. I think our thoughts and words really impact things way more than we are typically aware of or often believe.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
Doing meditations for one. haha I mean, seriously, that’s true but also a slow weekend morning with breakfast, coffee, and sitting on the back deck with my fiancé and my dog. Slow vacations by the water. Or even the end of a great show. The beginning I’m excited but it’s that excited nerves energy and by the end, I don’t know, I’ve put it all out there, I’ve connected with my audience, I’ve shared…and I feel so alive and at peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gracemahermusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracemahermusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracemahermusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/gracemahermusic
