Alexandra Grace
Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2021
Music
Press
"There’s an earthy, rootedness to this song that makes it feel like something that would make Emmylou Harris smile. The beautiful connection between what feels like an Americana/country tradition with vintage folk sentimentality really works well on this track. The articulate vocal style seems like a voice I’ve been hearing my whole life. I wish I could put my finger on exactly who Grace reminds me of, but at this point I’m just so happy to be charmed by this new discovery. It’s a careful and harmonious composition, begging the attention of fans of the Joni Mitchell era of classic folk music." - Ear to the Ground Music
Alexandra Grace gives fans a seasoned pop sound with her latest single release, “Creature of Habit”. This single explores feelings of self-betrayal, heartbreak, and insanity with a bit of a melancholy sound of regret. I’m loving Alexandra’s solid songwriting, musicality and soulful voice. She self-accompanies her music on guitar and piano to give audiences a captivating live experience when performing.
When she can, Alexandra plays shows around Boston and the North Shore area. And she is currently in the studio recording her first EP after graduating from Berklee College of Music. I am so excited to check out the fantastic songs on her final released EP. Alexandra is a multi-talented, rising artist that should absolutely be on everyone’s watch list. - Lhyme
When Alexandra Grace received a phone call from New York, she thought about taking it.
“I thought ‘This is definitely a spam call, but I am just going to answer it just in case,” the 23-year old Gloucester resident said.
Thank goodness she did.
On the other line was a representative from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest notifying Grace that she had just won its Song of the Week award for her song "Medicine."
“I was literally in so much shock my mouth dropped open and I’m still on the moon with excitement,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Grace had entered the competition on a whim late one night, “not expecting anything,” she said.
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is a nationally-known competition created by Yoko Ono Lennon in 1997 to give songwriters an opportunity to express themselves, gain recognition and get their music heard.
The competition awards over $300,000 in cash awards and prizes in 12 categories. The Executive Committee of Judges includes icons such as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The Lone Bellow, Sean Paul, George Clinton and Prince Royce.
These professionals and others, who can be found on the contest’s webpage, have exceeded Grace's expectations in affirming her talent and providing her the resources to grow.
In addition to joining the organization on its Instagram livestream this Friday for an interview, Grace received new music gear including a Casio keyboard, Audio-Technica headphones, and useful cables. She also received a membership to Sonicbids, which connects bands, music promoters and major brands through an online platform.
But that is not all.
Grace is now in the running for the contest’s Song of the Year award that will be announced later this year.
Origins of an award-winning song
Grace wrote the award-winning "Medicine" during what she said was an extremely difficult time, personally and globally.
Early in 2020, Grace became very sick with what she now thinks was COVID-19 and ended up going to Urgent Care.
"It was pretty intense," she recounted.
During her ailment, Grace lost her voice.
"Not being able to sing for a month as a singer is really difficult," she said.
As she began to heal, Grace used her own experience of having to take medicine and rest to write a song of how love is like medicine to a soul.
"It is probably one of the most positive songs that I wrote," she said. "For me, it invokes this acknowledgement that we did this together. It was a scary year as a musician."
Navigating a paused industry
On top of being sick for a stretch of time, Grace said the past year has been difficult for musicians everywhere due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the world shut down, Grace had just graduated from the Berklee College of Music's songwriting program and was in the middle of recording her EP record.
"Then the studios closed and everything stopped so I had to take everything and record at home and buy my own gear," she said. "I had to learn everything on my own."
As she navigated entering an industry shuttered by pandemic, Grace found help along the way from other musicians, mixing and mastering recordings with Mike Dwyer and Grammy Award-winner Paula Cole, a Rockport native.
"They were phenomenal," Grace said.
Now, with COVID-specific regulations lifting, Grace is ecstatic to see the world of music opening back up.
For this teacher at the Marblehead School of Music, that means recording a new song, "Dragon," and performing live on Cape Ann and over the bridge.
"If you look around, all of the musicians are posting about their gigs and it makes me so happy," Grace said. "We are on the other end of it."
"They kept hope and that means a lot and they are doing their best to get back out there and make art again for people," she added.
Listen to "Medicine" on Spotify here: https://spoti.fi/3z2Ow4m - Gloucester Daily Times
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Described by most as a singer-songwriter with an old soul, Alexandra Grace lays her thought-provoking lyrics atop a bed of folk-influenced music, creating eclectic and unique songs.
Alexandra began performing at a very young age. She first fell in love with jazz while studying tap dancing at the age of 6. She discovered the genres of indie pop and folk in high school and soon after she began writing her own songs. Some of her influences include Hozier, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Bon Iver.
On the stage is where Alexandra comes alive. As a solo artist, she self-accompanies on piano and guitar, performing around the New England area. She is also ½ of acoustic duo “Alexandra and Josh”. With the duo, she co-wrote the full-length album “The Colour Lilac”, and has performed over 150 gigs across New England. She lets her inner jazz cat out through singing with the 20-piece Compaq Big Band, sharing the stage with seasoned jazz musicians of the Greater Boston area. Her music has been featured on radio stations across the East Coast, including Boston's 92.5 The River, and she has appeared on television several times, including on The Discovery Channel and with Gloucester's 1623 Studios.
Alexandra graduated from Berklee College of Music in May 2020 with a B.M. in Songwriting and a minor in Psychology. Currently, she is focusing on performing, writing, and recording. She also teaches private lessons in voice, songwriting, and piano.
Alexandra released her debut EP ' Solstice' on May 14, 2021. So far, her songs have landed on some very well known playlists and she's been awarded "Song of The Week" from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, for her song 'Medicine'.
Band Members
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