Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Hazey Grace
THE RELEASE
Hailing from the heartland of Illinois, Hazey Grace is an emerging artist whose musical prowess knows no bounds. Drawing from a rich tapestry of indie rock and psychedelic influences, Hazey Grace weaves together styles to create a sonic experience that resonates deeply. With a musical journey that began in the depths of a basement studio and evolved into the confines of a bedroom sanctuary, Hazey Grace has truly began to hone their craft with constant improvement. While their music is deeply personal and evocative, it carries the unmistakable spirit of Illinois, infusing their sound with a raw and genuine energy. As Hazey Grace prepares to unveil their upcoming album, their artistry and passion continue to soar, promising a future filled with boundless creativity and musical exploration.
"Daydream" is the debut EP from Hazey Grace, providing an enticing glimpse into the artist's burgeoning musical style. Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Revo-Tone Studios in Woodstock, Illinois, this release showcases Hazey Grace's undeniable talent for crafting heartfelt indie rock compositions. Collaborating with producer Collin Berg, the EP exceeds all expectations, delivering a polished sound that showcases the artist's growth and potential. With influences ranging from Arctic Monkeys to Tame Impala, "Daydream" takes listeners on a sonic journey through love's many facets. From the haunting introspection of "Old Friends" to the yearning vulnerability of "Yellow Dress," Hazey Grace invites you to explore the depths of emotions through their evocative music. "Daydream" serves as a stepping stone, hinting at the promising future and boundless creativity that awaits Hazey Grace's listeners.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
I think I have to go with some of the people that have inspired me the most from what they’ve done in music as either an individual or a group. To only pick four individuals is tough, but some of the people who’ve had a big impact on how I view and hear music are as follows:
Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys, The Last Shadow Puppets) - I thoroughly enjoy his lyriscism and how much of a genuine storyteller he’s been with his music. Arctic Monkeys have always been my favorite band since I was in high school, so I had to go see them for the first time ever at Lollapalooza. This was right after they released one of my favorite albums of all time, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. It was a ridiculously good show that I’ll never forget and because of that one night in Chicago, I’m changed forever. It gave me that final push to become an artist.
Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) - I was a little late to the game when it came to Tame Impala. I’ve always known about it but never really listened until around a year or two ago when a coworker recommended his first two albums, Innerspeaker & Lonerism. Innerspeaker, is overall amazing but Lonerism… There’s some albums that I wish I could hear for first time and Lonerism is one of them. Absolutely blew me away. It really gave me more confidence as a “one-man band” knowing that masterpiece was primarily because of one person.
The Beatles - Yeah I know they’re a group and not one person but I can’t just pick one so we’re rolling with it. I had “discovered” The Beatles at an early age, I think it was my dad’s copy of Revolver that I used to listen to on this portable CD player. I eventually found more CDs of his, but I would take the CDs and download them to my computer and put it on my PSP and I would just listen to them all the time. They were my first favorite artist.
My Dad - My dad’s been a musician loooooong before I was in the picture. I have a photo of him when he was in 20’s playing a show in Brazil, his home country. Growing up, he would always let me play his guitars (even though I was terrible) and would play something on the piano or guitar regularly which would fill the house with music. Whenever we drove somewhere, he’d put on a radio station and we’d just listen to tunes and I have a lot of good memories from that. Without my dad, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Let alone a musician.
Were there any personal experiences or stories that influenced the creation of the EP, and if so, how did they shape the final product?
These songs were mostly written before the thought of making an EP was out there. I think all of them subconsiously have my own personal meaning and experiences behind them but when I was writing them, I was just trying to write something. I had to do some rewrites for some, but they all were pretty much how I envisioned them from the start.
How did you approach the selection and arrangement of the songs on this project to create a cohesive and impactful listening experience for your audience?
I had a lot of song ideas and some of them were fully written, some of them were just ideas. When it came to the prospect of making an EP, I really wanted the best ones to be on there. I chose only four because I thought it’d be short and sweet for the listener especially since I wasn’t ready to make an album quite yet. I figured more electric stuff first and more laid back acoustic at the end, which worked well surprisingly.
How do you see this EP representing your artistic evolution or progression, and what new elements or techniques did you experiment with during its production?
This EP was just me getting my feet on the ground mostly. We experimented more so with recording stuff. We recorded some background vocals hooked up to a fuzz pedal, for example. That was sick.
Can you share any memorable or profound moments from the recording or writing sessions that had a lasting impact on you personally or creatively?
I think just seeing my progress from two years ago compared to now really had a massive impact on me. The first time I listened to the EP as a whole, I teared up a little bit from how proud I was of myself. I have a good foundation to build upon for the next project and I have some ideas that I can’t wait to see how they turn out.
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