Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Pelle.
Hi Grace, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I could remember, my hands were always on my family’s black upright detuned piano. Even when I didn’t know how to play it, I knew one day I would make sounds of my own. Once I figured out what GarageBand was on my mom’s new MacBook in 3rd grade, I started making my own little songs. Little did I know this would lead to my passion for producing. I grew up singing Adele and listening to Coldplay from my dad’s CD player, always scribbling down little ideas on pieces of paper and melodies.
I began teaching myself piano by ear and performing in middle school and high school at local events, even becoming a featured songwriter of the month after my showcase at The Bitter End in New York City. I decided to attend Belmont University after getting into the songwriting program because it is at the center of everything music, and I wanted to attend a university with the best opportunities. I continued to songwriter, collaborate, produce, and release my music throughout college. I also gravitated towards writing and creating indie – pop music, focusing in on themes of the human experience, youth, and mental health.
I formed my band and started playing at many venues around Nashville. I have played 25+ shows around town within the past year or so, and I continue to keep playing and creating art. I have now graduated from Belmont, continuing to write and play locally, hoping to play outside of Nashville and expand my audience in the near future.
Grace Pelle is creating a world of whimsy.
The singer-songwriter and producer has been making music for as long as she can remember — growing up, she didn’t know that songwriting was a job. It was just what she did; it was just how her brain has always worked.
This initial draw to songwriting opened Grace up to production, and after teaching herself Logic, the young artist began the work of honing a sound of her own. In a male-dominated industry, Grace is the whole package and the star of a one-woman show, writing her own music, using her production skills to tweak a track to her personal stylings, and performing and recording with a voice that recalls the intensity of Adele with the modernity of Billie Eilish.
Her raw, authentic messaging feels timely in an era where so many young people are resonating with music from Eilish and contemporaries like Olivia Rodrigo. Grace is the nexus of pop, indie, and rock, draped under a sheen of hopeful vibes.
It’s all about balance with her music: she opens herself up to the creative, ephemeral world of writing before settling into the technical side of producing. She isn’t afraid of touching on heavier, more tender parts of the human experience, but leverages bright aesthetics to create a captivating beacon for listeners.
Ultimately, Grace Pelle is offering a chance for listeners to reconnect with their inner child. With her music, she builds a bridge between a past that may have felt freer, and more innocent, and guides the listener to a future that suddenly seems a little less bleak.
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?
Nope! Going for the singer/songwriter/artist career is not an easy route! A lot of imposter syndrome, doubts, fears and struggles along the way. I love writing, producing, and releasing my music but it is a lot of pressure, and hard to do it all. I have such an amazing band and great people by my side supporting me. Covid was a blessing and a curse. I had all this time to myself to create and hone my crafts, yet it was very lonely and easier to have doubts because I was spending so much time creating by myself. It did make me into the person I am today. I also heavily struggle with depression and anxiety.
I have had panic attacks since age 12 and started writing about these intense “episodes” to cope. I never knew why I would get them, but writing about it helped. Anxiety coexisted with depression, and I later found out that I had an autoimmune disorder that was making me insanely fatigued. Music was my best friend and worst enemy at this time because I couldn’t stay awake for a few hours at a time, but was able to make music about how I was feeling. I have it more under control now, however, some days are worse than others when my health is so overpowering, physically, and I can’t have a rehearsal or produce because my body is in pain.
A lot of rejection as well. I have sent hundreds of emails and a lot of doors closed in my face. I have had a lot of bad management or artist advisor endeavors, who either take all of my money or mold me into something that I am not. At the end of the day, it’s all worth it because if my art can help or impact one person’s life, that is a win for me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a very creative person and extremely driven! I have always worked hard at what I set my mind to and want to keep finding new hobbies, interests, or challenged to overcome. I grew up an athlete, playing soccer, basketball, and long-distance track. I even started rock climbing for a few years for fun. When I moved to Nashville, I found out what spirituality meant for me and started an interest in reading – specifically self-help. I am a huge advocate for training your brain and building mental habits. I am super passionate about mental health, and health in general. Because of my struggle with my autoimmune disorder and depression/anxiety, I would love to be involved with some kind of mental health organization or nonprofit one day.
I feel like what sets me apart from others is that my music talks about the darker sides of the human experience, but usually my songs sound pretty upbeat and happy. I like creating these sonic paradoxes with my music and ear wormy sounds which either mask, highlight or contradict against the meaning of the lyrics. I also am known for being a female producer in a male-driven industry – I would love to be a voice for other women trying to get into production! I have a killer live band in my shows but I also play keys and have my backing tracks playing as well which merges my synth sounds with live sounds.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Family is super important to me. I have a twin brother and two amazing parents.
A pretty cool music related memory would be me singing at a bar in Greenwich village after a wedding when I was 9 years old with a full band, all improve. There over 200+ people in a small little hole in the wall bar and I was singing Adele. It was my first realization that I love performing.
Pricing:
- Vocal Tuning for $150
- Production projects (price to be determined)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gracepelle.com/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracepellee/
- Linkedin: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0sBS1xdoktPWXbo6iNOx8p?si=vv60HUOFR92Ta2NgMhLEVg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqEHLo8lCxwfLM-KelPXVrg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gracepellee
