Life & Work with Gracie Moses

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gracie Moses.

Hi Gracie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
This question is super daunting (lol) but honestly such an important one.

It feels broad to talk about my “story” as a whole as if it’s just one because it’s not. My story is made up of many developmental narratives that make me who I am, and those little stories are what brought me to where I am today. So, to answer this question I’ll share a few pivotal and special moments that have solidified my passion for music, and what makes it my vocation.

Music was always the thing I never had questions about, it was always such an inherent part of who I was, especially as a kid. My mom loves telling me this story about me at family summer camp. To give it some context, I was bubbly as hell (still am) and was always very high energy with constantly diverted attention but also always asking questions.

There was a talent show going on at this camp program (big kids only, and I was not a big kid), and I was being my normal self, distracted by everything when I heard this girl singing, and suddenly, I stopped in my tracks. I was completely glued to her, but not in a way where I was obsessed with her, but in a way where I seemed to be thinking to myself “I want to do that.” And that’s exactly what I did.

I think this accurately describes my relationship with music. At that point, I was only about four years old but I had already been taking piano lessons. I started singing in church and started playing piano and singing along, the way I wanted to. I didn’t necessarily always practice what I was “supposed to” but my piano teacher encouraged my creativity even from that age.

I began writing music just a few years later, I can still remember the song I wrote on the piano when I was 8. Around age 11, I started putting words to songs (aka lyrics). This was when I wrote what I consider to be my first real song. It was for my dad, and it was so sappy and weirdly reflective for an 11-year-old but also kind of endearing and cute.

Another story that comes to mind surrounds the first time I was on a big stage, which was at church. Although I was always an eccentric kid, I grew to be a bit shy, but still social. When I was 14, I was invited by a close mentor of mine to lead worship in the youth group. I was hesitant at first, but doing that brought me into a world I didn’t know would be so formative for performing.

I quickly progressed into joining the worship-team band in leading music for the church’s main services on Sunday mornings. This church was a nondenominational megachurch just outside of the Boston area, so although I was singing for church, I was singing in front of around two thousand people every Sunday. I had a complicated relationship with religion, but the music always made sense. Music is always how I’ve felt what I believe to be God. I did this from age 14 up until college.

I started playing shows around Boston simultaneously around age 17 and continued that throughout my time at Berklee College of Music. I did all of this until Covid hit. It was at the end of quarantine in November of 2020 when I decided to move to Nashville, and I up and moved within weeks of making this decision.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If anyone answers this question saying it’s been a smooth road, I don’t trust them, hah. I’m one of many artists who struggles deeply with mental health.

I felt set apart in school and pretty much among every group of kids my age because of my intense anxiety (which felt so obvious to me) and depression and because of my learning differences. I experienced a lot of shame because of this, I still do sometimes. Making music brought me into a world where my mental health wasn’t what set me apart.

I was a writer and performer from a young age, and that reputation always stuck with me. This gave me a whole lot of purpose and perspective, and although my road has not been smooth, and although I still have challenges, I would not change a thing about my path or even my struggles.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Something I’m most proud of is learning music production, and producing for myself and others. It takes a lot to be taken seriously in general in the music industry, especially as a woman producer.

I’m proud of my decision and dedication to learning music production and for actually following through. It’s a daunting process to embark on, but I feel grateful to know what I know and to be practicing it constantly.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think it’s so important to be adaptable, and open to new opportunities and ideas that you might not normally be necessarily drawn to. I want to be better at this because I think it’s imperative to a successful path.

Contact Info:

• Website: graciemoses.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graciemoses/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graciemosesmusic
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/graciemoses

Image Credits
Emily Chavarie and Austin Dellamano