The Grayces On the Local

by Dave Sharp on Aug 28^th, 2011

 

When I made it out to the single house in South Nashville where Gaelen Mitchell, Iz Stone and Patrick Ward (collectively, the Grayces) take residence (endearingly known as Chez Grayce), I was immediately greeted by Computer.

Computer is a plump yellow pup with a stoned-like even temperament, who is the official mascot of the band.  “He brings us the mojo,” Gaelen said.

Inside the house was crafted interview staging, complete with the way-over-sized cell phone and cardboard car from their Now Records video shoot (check it below) and clandestine movie reel rolling inversely on a white sheet to serve as the backdrop.

That’s when it became clear: there’s nothing the Gracyes do that doesn’t have an implicit Grayces touch.  They’re inherently creative and make the mundane insane.  This was going to be a great interview from the get-go.

It’s that ever-present creativity matched with their thoughtful and philosophical approach that make them truly unique in a vast Nashville music-scape.

For instance, they have crafted mission statements – or philosophies – for each of their projects (The Grayces and Broke Rock Records).

Here’s how they describe the Grayces:
Music is all about the moment, with the intensity of in your face honesty.

And here’s how they define Broke Rock Records:
Mixing the old with the new. Learning from the past and open for interjections of the future. We stand in awareness of the present, as time moves forward and backwards all around us.

Note this, as you’ll be referring back to them in the interview.

But, then again, maybe it’s not all as crafted as it seems; maybe it’s all about bringing out the complexities of a single moment.  That’s what Iz would have you believe. “Honesty it isn’t always about thinking everything through until you get it perfect.  So, some of the songs are just complete, abrupt, right-when-they-happen and that’s being honest to a song,” she said.

In their interview with Sinizine.net, The Grayces discuss their partnership with Now Records, approach to songwriting, the varying influences within the band as well as some Nashville-specific ideas.

They recently finished a multi-state tour and are working on a new LP due out in the fall on Broke Rock Records.

The Interview

The Grayces On the Local from Sinizine.net on Vimeo.

Hear the influence of the Grayces: