JORDAN GRACE TALKS MEMORIES

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

Two years in Nashville. How is Tennessee life treating you?

I love Nashville, I love Tennessee! It has a special place in my heart. I have traveled to many countries and cities and I’ve never found a place quite like it. It’s called “music city” for a reason but more than that it is the people that encourage you and genuinely believe in you. I have a saying here that, “If your friends succeed, then you succeed, because we are all in this together”.

Have you been able to go back home anything this last year?

Unfortunately no, it’s been incredibly hard not being able to go back home especially just recently my grandma passed away and to not say goodbye is something that I have just had to wrestle with. So much has been out of our control and we learn to take it day by day.

The beginning of this year marks a reunion with both Protocol Recordings and Timmo Hendriks. There seemingly are worse ways to start of a new year. What was it like getting together with everyone again?

Timmo and I have somehow created a tradition without us really knowing we were by releasing on the first Friday of the year for 2020 and 2021. So, I guess you can expect the same for 2022! (laughs)

Protocol of course are the Nicky Romero-imprint and Netherlands based record label. How does an Australian-born and Nashville-based artist manage to get himself signed with a label in Amsterdam?

Long story short, in 2019, I had just moved to Nashville and let me just say I had never worked in EDM music ever (laughs). I grew up playing in various rock bands and touring with my dad who is a country singer. So it’s fair to say EDM was very foreign to me. A guy named Huib from Hilversum in Netherlands found me on a songwriting-website and loved my voice and wrote me an email asking me to sing on an EDM song. I thought it was spam! (laughs) He asked me again a month later and eventually I just thought, “What do I have to lose". The song ended being released by Protocol, that was my entrance to the industry and now to think I have publishing deal with BMG Netherlands, work full-time writing for DJ’s, and Huib is one of my best friends and my manager. Amazing what can happen in life when you just take some risks.

Even as a feature-artist you’re often times involved with the songwriting. Is it important for you to always be as involved as you can. Would you ever sing on something you don’t feel close to?

Hmm. Definitely involved. I would say I am more a songwriter than I am a vocalist. I have far more passion and heart for what the song says then just a catchy vocal. So yeah it’s definitely cool to be featured on a track but I think what is more exciting is writing from the heart and relating to people on a real level. So I’m not sure I could just sing “anything” because as an artist people will start to notice your brand, style and mostly what you stand for.

How did you first get into music?

My dad has played country music for over thirty years around Australia and America so the road is what I know, and is where I grew up. I can’t say I was the smartest kid in school, but what I did get from my dad was a cultural education, from a young age I fell in love with people and when you want to connect with a different culture a good place to start is with music. We all understand that heartbeat.

Is he like your biggest inspiration?

My dad definitely. But honestly day to day life is inspiring. One sentence in a conversation could trigger a whole song being written in my head. I think traveling really is the greatest inspiration though. Getting out of our little box and seeing the big world around us. It’s big, it’s beautiful and continually showing us miracles.

Songwriting is such a unique art form in how instantly it connects with whoever is listening. Through melody or words, a great songwriter can capture feelings in ways that makes the listener feel part of the song. You do this so beautifully, your songs always carry that sense of relatability people connect with. Is that something you aim for consciously, or why do you think people relate so strongly?

I think connecting with people is the driving force of everything I do, how powerful is it that a song can make someone who feels incredibly alone, suddenly not so alone anymore? I think the idea is not to get caught up in the pleasing game or to just write and manufacture something just because you think it’s a quick ticket to success. People are the ones that matter and the songs that connect with people will be around, and relevant, far longer than any songs that are just cheap and have no depth.

What are the most personal songs you’ve ever written?

My most personal songs people haven't heard and I will probably never release, as they were just songs written in times of healing for myself, maybe one day they will see the light but for now they are staying close. I still need them (laughs).

Do you have any new songs coming out soon?

Yes! This year is going to be my biggest yet. So many new songs and some with people I’ve only dreamed of working with, so I am beyond excited. I can’t say who I am releasing with just yet but I promise it will be worth the wait!

Are there many dream collaborations out there for you?

Oh yeah, definitely. Martin Garrix, The Chainsmokers, Kygo, David Guetta, Tiesto, just to name a few in the EDM-world, but in other genres I would love to work with John Mayer, Justin Bieber, Mike Posner and with Passenger.

There is no doubt that 2020 was one of the strangest years ever. How have you been doing during everything that’s been going on. Have you had as much energy to put into your creativity when you perhaps not have been able to get out and connect with the world the same way?

It’s interesting, with everything shutting down. This has been my most productive season! I think I’ve written over 300 songs and got to work with so many more people because they are home and available. So yeah you could use this time to chill out and watch Netflix or you could work double time and be twenty steps ahead once the world opens back up.

Protocol Recordings is known for hosting musical events worldwide, but it hasn’t been a great year for festivals. While live music is on pause, it feels like the right time to look back and appreciate moments on stage that already happened, while looking forward to new ones?

I have done many many tours and concerts with country rock and always have loved connecting with people in that way but I have never sung at an EDM festival so I cannot wait to make that dream come true! I am planning to be at ADE festival in Amsterdam this October so maybe there will be some surprise performances.

Any words for the people listening in Sweden?

For anyone who listens to my music or might take a listen after reading this. Thank you! I hope and pray that you might find some encouragement through my thoughts and stories, and just know that you are not alone. These years have been crazy and testing to us all and all I can say is never give up.

Will you visit us once things return to normal?

I would absolutely love to visit one day! Everyone I know who has visited has fallen in love with the people and place so I plan to do the same soon.