A QUICK CHAT WITH GRACE SANDERS
Grace Sanders turned heads with her first release in two years with her track 'Green' back in August. Today she's dropped a new blood-bubbling, electro-pop track, 'NO FAIR' that edges away from her previous sound. We had a chat with her to find out more.
Your new single 'NO FAIR' is a much darker number to previous releases Grace, can you tell us more about the inspiration and meaning behind the track?
Oh man, it was written about a super dark time in my last relationship so of course, sonically it reflects that time. Something really hurtful had transpired between my partner and I, and we had gotten to that place of hitting each other with the low blows you can only deliver to someone you really love and know on a deeply intimate level. I hold the perspective that love and hate aren't opposites on the emotional spectrum, I actually think they sit side by side- because it is so easy to hate someone for the very reason that they mean so much to you, they hold a certain power over your wellbeing.
It's quite different from your previous releases, what has lead to this change in sound/ style, and is this something we should expect to hear more of?
As soon as Ezekiel heard the song, and we discussed the circumstances around its genesis it was very clear how this needed to sound to convey that heaviness of those feelings. We were both listening to a lot of Nao, H.E.R, Summer Walker, Ariana and Billie Eilish while making this track- we wanted to channel those influences and put it all down on the table. We don't restrict ourselves to trying to replicate a certain sound, rather we want each record to tell its own unique story in the most effective way. While NO FAIR probably gives more of a hint of some of the music to come.. I like keeping our listeners on their toes and we aren't pinning ourselves down to any sound in particular.
Have there been any key artists that you've been loving that have influenced this change?
Well I listed some above- but DAMN there have been some amazing records over the last couple of years we have had the pleasure of ear-slamming on the daily! To name a few more- we are both huge Frank Ocean and Tyler The Creator fans, love Blood Orange, Kelsey Lu, TKAY Maidza, Solange, Angel Olson, Caroline Polachek, Travis Scott, Grimes, Arca- there's more than a few for you haha. We just ride with anyone who is doing their own thing and not asking anyone's permission to be creative.
You have your single launch coming on November 21 at The Bird in Perth. Do you have any pre-gig rituals or warm-ups? And is there any special you have planned for the show?
Well obviously to do a REALLY good show you have to sacrifice someone's firstborn child at the foot of a 40 ft owl, Bohemian Grove style you know. But seeing as that can be kind of hard to coordinate usually I make sure to do a good workout, hit up the sauna/steam room and really stretch out and get connected in my body. After that, it's all about the pre-show pump up jams! We like to decorate the stage- so we will try and make it look beautiful but surely can't give too much away.
When you aren't writing or performing music, what can you be found getting up to?
If I had a perfect day off to go fully into the Grace Sanders zone... I would be found hitting the gym/sauna, going for obscenely long walks listening to music and podcasts, hanging at the beach, playing pool at pot black and then probably reading for a couple of hours before hitting the Z's. I invest in a lot of hobbies, too many- I don't have time to do them all but I love hanging out by myself because this is when I write the best music- need plenty of time to contemplate life and it's many peculiarities.
As the year is coming to an end, what are some of your plans to kick off 2021?
And what a strange year it has been- can't say I'm going to miss 2020 but certainly have learned and grown a lot this year... lots and lots of change. We will start the year with releasing the debut EP, GUMS, and then loads of music videos and content to follow. I really can't wait, this project has been mine and Ezekiel's baby and I just can't wait to make more music and release more. It's really exciting.
