Demi Grace

Demi Grace's New Music Video Highlights One of the First Francophone African Films
In "Why Would You Lie," Nigeria's Demi Grace pays homage to Beninese/Senegalese director Paulin Vieyra.
You probably know Demi Grace from when she became the first person with deadlocks to feature in a major hair care ad.

Well, the Nigerian musician and model—who's previously performed alongside the likes of Beyoncé, Solange, Davido and Tiwa Savage—recently dropped the addictive, reggae-influenced single "Why Would You Lie," which has already racked up over a million plays on Souncloud.

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Demi is now sharing the new visual for that single, in which she highlights the work of Beninese/Senegalese Paulin Vieyra, one of the first African directors to film in Africa. Before then, French colonies legally prohibited Africans from making their own films through the Laval Decree.

The striking new music video for "Why Would You Lie," which we're premiering here today, features scenes from Vieyra's 1954 film, C'etait Il Y A Quatre Ans.


"I want the work of Paulin Vieyra and African pioneers alike to be just as known as Picasso or Beethoven, I want this to motivate African artists, writers and filmmakers," Demi tells OkayAfrica.

She also sent us some illuminating background on Vieyra and his work, "Paulin Vieyra was born to former slaves in Benin and adopted by Senegalese parents. In the colonial era when the 'voiceless' African could only be the object of the pseudo-anthropological gaze of the 'salesmen of Black Africa,' Vieyra was one of the first Africans to film in Africa and made a movie in 1954 titled C'était Il Y A Quatre Ans (trnsl. Four Years Ago). Before this film, the Laval Decree prevented African filmmakers from filming in Africa due to fear of anti-colonial views."


"The set begins in France; A young and handsome black actor is shown having integrated well into his French lifestyle, with his French girlfriend. Secretly, he continues to pine for the luxuriant beauty and wild rhythms of his native Africa. The parallel in the music video is to the concept of living a secret life of enjoying his present while lusting after his past. For more information on the film, here's a wonderful essay written on the film." See psv-films.fr for more.

Watch Demi Grace's music video for "Why Would You Lie" above. - OkayAfrica

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. will have a heart attack. Among women, heart disease is the leading cause of death. Even more startling: two-thirds who succumb will have had no previous symptoms.

That's why it's significant to have days like National Wear Red Day—to spread awareness of heart disease. But one key component often gets left out of the spotlight in the press and on social media: Both the patients and their families need our help.

So we’re honored to support singer Demi Grace and her charity of choice, Harboring Hearts, all month long. The nonprofit's mission centers on easing the financial and emotional burdens placed on individuals, families, or caregivers during this challenging time. “I know how emotionally taxing it is for families to have to stay overnight at the hospital and witness their loved one go through so much pain,” says Grace, whose own mother battled cancer. “The support that Harboring Hearts offers is completely necessary for recipients and their families through recovery.”

HARBORING HEARTS IS…
An organization that aids heart surgery recipients and their families in their time of operation and recovery.

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AIDING BOTH PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES…
Families are often put in the position of caregiver while the patient recovers—taking time off of work without pay, spending nights in the hospital, juggling life and care-giving full time, etc.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION?
I met Michelle [Javian, the co-founder] on a flight from London to NYC. We sat next to each other and somehow started talking about health. She told me about the organization and the patients and families that it supports. It really hit home. My mom battled and won cancer three times and that conversation led to us working together to provide hope to heart patients.

WHY IS THIS CAUSE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU?
I remember my journey with my mom and the support she needed. I picked up my life and moved to Atlanta. Most of the surgeries required overnight stay; her chemo battle was really tough, causing her to even have a seizure during a session. I'm lucky I have two sisters so, among us, we were able to put in the time. I know how emotionally taxing it is for families to have to stay overnight at the hospital and witness their loved one go through so much pain, whether on the road to recovery or not. A meal, some entertainment—that means everything. So I really admire what Harboring Hearts does and knew I wanted to get involved. - Veronica Beard

While aiming to crush in the glass ceiling for people of color and unified women, London-born Nigerian songstress Demi Grace unveils a glistening joint anthem for ladies, love and liberty with “Afraid (For the Girls).”

Postured on a delicately royal throne as the visual spins in and out through several mirrored effects, Grace sings of a world where the game of love is approached with a brave heart. Despite the clash of her flaws with her lovers, Grace prepares to fuel love to overcome their weaknesses and differences.

With inspiration from other R&B starlets like Grace Jones, Rihanna and Janet Jackson, it’s coherent how she has learned to structure her own individualized messages and ideas of conceptual themes into her sound and creative vision. She’s also shared a stage with Beyoncé in 2016 at MTV’s Music Video Awards and bumped musical elbows with names such as Taio Cruz and Akon. By way of enigmatic masked dancers and intimate scenery of Grace sharing affectionate quality time with her lover, the emerging and currently independent songstress effortlessly brings her message for lovers worldwide to life as she intertwines a unique visual perception.

Of the project, which is suffixed by a preview to her upcoming single, “For the Girls,” she shared the intuitive ideas behind this vision.

“It was important for me to put out this record to get people to face their fears in love. More importantly, it was an opportunity for me to display Black love in a beautiful light."

Crashing into the delicacy of “Afraid,” Grace skillfully showcases her choreography talents and her capability to switch up style and sound in a way that’s most pleasing to the ear.

Check out the debut of her “Afraid (For the Girls)” visual below. - BET

London-born Nigerian songstress Demi Grace decided to bottle up the essence of black girl magic, and deliver it to the masses with her infectious new single, “Afraid (For the Girls).” Having long prepared for this moment, Demi Grace appears fully ready to demand her seat at the top artist table. - Rolling Out Magazine

Tell me, How did you get started with music?

I started when I was about hmm, I started writing when I was about 10 or 12 years old. I started writing poetry at first and I would sing in various choirs, mainly church choirs and I would also sing in local talent shows, but I got started at a really really young age. I didn’t start recording and planning to release music til I was about 17 but I started at around 10-12 years old.

I read that you’re also an actress, so do you see yourself in any films?

I definitely see myself taking up acting again, I really want to focus on music at this point in time but if an opportunity does present itself to be in film or to be in a show–like let’s say empire calls me tomorrow and says ‘Oh we have a spot for an artist that is fusing afro beat into their music’ Of course I would take that, but I definitely want to focus on music right now

One of the things that I admire about you is that you’re not afraid to be aggressive in your music. I listened to your song, ‘For the girls’ this morning, and I definitely got that “Don’t mess with me Vibe.” What inspired that song?

Well, I mean, I– I know this is ‘Oh boo-hoo sob story’ but I was bullied a lot as a child so you can often hear that aggression in my music, just trying to be who I wanted to be at the time, when I was younger and you know just being bullied. With that song I just got to a point in the music industry where I just felt like everybody was trying to tell me what I needed to do in order to be successful, but they weren’t even real successful themselves. So it was just kind of like reiterating who I do it for, why i do what I do, and just kind of like–just standing up for myself really.

So you have another song titled “Afraid,” and listening to the song made me feel like I’ll be alright. Is that what you were trying to tell your listeners with that song?

I mean it’s terrifying to leave a comfortable relationship whether it’s healthy or not, and so you know really that’s what I wanted to portray with those lyrics in afraid is that, no matter the outcome I’m not going to be afraid, I’m just going to do it because I know it’s the right thing to do and it’s good for me ultimately.

So are you originally from London? I read that you are.

Yea, I’m from a lot of places. So I was born in London, but I’m Nigerian. I was raised in a traditional nigerian home and moved to California, from California I move to Atlanta and then from Atlanta I am currently based in New York City. So I’ve moved around a lot.

So how do you like New York City? Is it much different from all the other places you’ve been? How did you adjust?

You know what? It was really difficult to adjust to New York city when I realized that I was living here. When it was just my first month here I was like ‘Oh this is so fun! Everybody goes out every night! There is something to do every day of the week! I can take cabs everywhere’ and then I was like oo, I live here, so this is going to wear off very quickly. You can’t take cabs anymore, you know you’ve got to eventually take the train because of the traffic. You know reality set in and obviously homelessness in New York city is a really big deal and that was probably one of the hardest things to deal with. To see people on the street just struggling like that, I really started to understand why they call it the concrete jungle, and so that was when I really had to find my place in New York city and find what works for me and it was no longer a vacation. I like it for my art, I feel like New York city really resonates with me as an artist. As far as my soul goes, I’m still adjusting and I’m still figuring out how I can connect with New York city when it comes to my soul and my spirit.

So you’re a song writer, what is your method of writing? Do you need to watch some TV, have some coffee, chill with some people to get some inspiration? How do you go about writing your songs?

There are several ways for me to go about writing or starting up a song. The most common way I start a song is, I hear the melody in my head. If I’m walking down the street, if I’m on the train or if I’m listening to other music actually I can like listen to six different songs and come up with a melody for a hook of a song that I’m trying to write sometimes by listening to old music or even current music and then from the melody, I just start thinking of concepts, what do I want to say, what am I talking about? Is this a song where I just wanna have fun? Do I feel like being super swaggy? Do I feel like talking about something that’s really near and dear to my heart ? and then I’ll stick to one concept and come up with the hook from that concept because the hook is supposed to drive it all home and that’s when you get the entire story in a few sentences or few words or whatever, and then I’ll do verses last. I guess it’s a bit easier when you constantly hear melodies in your head, like really that’s the hardest part is just trying to find a melody that you know is going to be–like If I think of a melody and I can’t remember it 5 minutes later I scrap it, cause I’m like that’s not going to be a good song if I can’t even remember it myself.

What was it like joining with Beyonce for the MTV VMAs, and how did that feel?

Oh my gosh! Okay so I’m finally starting to feel normal again, but I do have times where I’m just kind of like ‘Yo you were just rehearsing with Beyonce for four days straight and then you went to perform with her at the VMAs’ and it’s so humbling and it’s so surreal still to think about the fact that I did that. I learned so much from her, she’s a very very sweet lady and she really–one of her dancers actually said Beyonce is very generous with her camera time and people really had nothing but great things to say about her and I can clearly see why, I was clearly able to see why when I had that opportunity to work with her on the show so it was just incredible, still surreal, I’m still pinching myself and I just hope that I can carry out what she is trying to do, not only for black women but for black female artists and for crossover artists as well.

That must have been amazing, I can’t even imagine!

Yea, It was really–it was so critical that I was able to see that because, I think as an independent artist, people are not very–and especially with the music industry that’s really over saturated, nobody really shows you what it is like or what it takes to be a Beyonce or to be a Rihanna or to be even a Chris Brown, or to be a Sia, or Pink, or anybody that’s doing extremely well or has done extremely well. We seldom get to see what it takes to actually do that well, and it’s a lot of ground work and to see something like that, it’s not that you cut yourself some slack but you’re not as hard on yourself when something isn’t going your way cause maybe you don’t have that big of a budget you know what I’m saying? To make that kind of effect happen, or maybe that’s not your range or you know you just get to see things–or at least I got to see things that helped me to stop comparing myself and I really hope that I can tell this to as many people that are trying to do anything with their lives and have the struggle of comparing themselves.

I see that you’re the new face of Sephora, Congratulations on that! How did that come about?

So that came about, back in February or early March. My agent sent me out for a Make-up Forever campaign, and the details on the casting was that they’re looking for a dark skin female with beautiful clear skin, full defined–well defined lips, and I saw the casting and I looked at my sister and said ‘Girl, let me go get this casting real quick’ *laughs* I was like ‘Okay, let me go get this’ they clearly should have just put Demi Grace because I was like ugh that’s so perfect for me. I went to the casting, it went really really well and they ended up choosing me to represent the lipstick shades for deeper skin-tones.

Have you always been into makeup?

Yes! And I’ll tell you why. I’ve always been into makeup because there have not been that many quality resources when it comes to makeup for black women and dark skinned women, and I’m talking like really really dark skinned women. S I’ve always been interested in what different shades I can mix and how I can do this there and how to actually do my own highlight and how to match my tone correctly. You know? Do you match the neck? Do you match the insi–Cause you know we have like five different tones in our face alone, so I’ve always been interested in figuring out the science of it and how to really make myself look good without someone jumping to just saying ‘oh well you don’t even need any makeup at all’ yes that can be a compliment but it’s also like ‘well I don’t know what to do with your face and I don’t want to look stupid so I’m just going to tell you, you don’t need any makeup so you look basic’ and I definitely didn’t want to do that so that’s why I’ve always been interested in makeup.

Okay so, recently I’ve noticed that a lot of people of color have started to appreciate their skin more like with hashtags of ‘melanin’ and ‘dark skin is beautiful’. So what I wanted to know is, were you always this radiant, and confident about yourself?

I wasn’t always, I had a lot of work to do, I still have work to do but you know, because of the recent spike in appreciation for dark skin, obviously I really don’t have any issues being a darker skin female. My cousin came to visit me in New York recently and she’s the same skin tone as me, and she was just telling me about–cause you know I grew up in the bay, and she was telling me that it’s still the same way as it was when I left, that she still expects her lighter skin friends to get “got at” when she’s in the bay but when she comes to New York and Atlanta, she’s like ‘they love it! They look at me like I’m a goddess!’ So I guess in some areas it is still a struggle but for me, I think I’ve grown in that area.

What would your advice be to some girls who still haven’t gotten to that point of self-love?

Hmm.. I would say, finding multiple things to appreciate about yourself is probably the best way to build up that confidence. Something I used to do was, let’s say I didn’t like–cause I’m toned, my arms are toned, I have abs.. I don’t really work out like that but when I was younger, I used to get teased for being toned, they would say ‘You look masculine.’ But I started to say to myself, I don’t like how toned my arms are but thank God I have arms and that sounds kind of funny but eventually that turned into real appreciation for how I look and for the body that God gave me. You know what I mean? Just start somewhere, if you liked your eyeshadow that day just say that and just stick to that and eventually that energy will start to grow and resonate from the inside out and it’s really about how you feel on the inside for people to start appreciating you on the outside.

Do you think that your music has changed since you first started?

So, I started out more so on this Lauryn Hill, Musiq Soulchild, just that neo-soul tip really. When I started singing, it was more R&B soul based, and that was fine but I just really wanted to explore, I listened to a lot of different genres so I’ve always had it in my mind that I wanted to explore and really push the limits of my voice and my writing style so that turned into just straight up pop and then pop turned into more so edm like the Calvin Harris, Sia, David Guetta you know that whole vibe and then that turned into fusing it with afro beat, I was dating at the time, that really reintroduced me to how my generation is taking a spin on afro beat and west african music and I fell in love with it and I really wanted to fuse it with edm because I was still in love with edm at the time. And Now it’s kind of taking on–I wouldn’t say it’s taking on a trappy vibe but it’s kind of taking on a umm… I don’t even know how to describe it, I would rather let people describe it for me because I don’t even want to put myself in a box.

Do you have anything that you’re working on for the future?

Yes! I mean I’m always working on music whether it’s just writing for placements or it’s writing for myself, I’m always working on music so you can always expect that from me. Other than that just look out for me, I’ll be in your city, I’ll be performing and I just want everybody who is reading this to just look out for me

Do you have any new music that you want people to listen to?

Check out the singles, check out ‘Afraid’ and check out ‘For the Girls’. I really want to know what you all think because it’s kind of like a modern day spin on the whole Timbaland and Missy Elliott era, and I would love to know what people think about it. - Hip Hop Weekly

It is not every day that an up-and-coming artist becomes the face of a cosmetic product and sings the jingle in a well-known hair product commercial. Demi Grace’s entertainment career is off to a good start with credible accolades behind her name.

Grace’s infectious voice can be heard in the current Dark and Lovely commercials and she is one of the faces of Sephora’s new “Makeup Forever” lipstick line.

“I’m so excited. It is a funny story how I got the job. My agent sent me on an audition, but I did not get it. Later, I got a call back for a voice over audition. I told them I could sing and recorded a track during the audition. They loved it and offered me the job. It was really accidental,” said Grace.

Grace has been singing all her life, but she didn’t start releasing music professionally until 2012.

“I always wanted to be a professional singer. I had a talk with God and asked him what I needed to do to get my start and walk through the right door. I started building my social media following and releasing music independently,” Demi Grace said.

Gone are the days that an artist has to be signed to a major label. The music industry is embracing independent artist like Demi Grace. She contributes her current success to her willingness to interact with fans on social media. The effort has caused fans to become more familiar with her sound which she calls Afro-Dance or Afro-EDM infused with a little bit of Pop.

“My sound is influenced by Hip Hop, Nigerian and Afro beat music, and Reggae,” said Demi Grace. “I am extremely diverse. I tapped into many genres and I am a singer-songwriter.”

Her musical style is also a reflection of her heritage. She is of Nigerian descent,was born in London, raised in California, lived in Atlanta and currently a New Yorker. Her time in New York has influenced her new single “Afraid.”

“I moved to New York and met a guy who was nothing like anyone I met before. The relationship was party-driven, but when we were by ourselves it was hard to get him to open up. It was just a mess, hurtful and I expressed that in the song,” Grace said.

She describes the single as an emotional record that you must be ready for.

“When you go out and hear a song like ‘Afraid’ and listen to the lyrics you have to be ready to feel and emotionally connect,” said Demi Grace.

Demi Grace distinct sound is not the only thing gaining attention, her beauty is as well. Her ebony complexion and tall, slender physique serves as an example to young girls that beauty is diverse and unique.

“I want girls to be okay with what God gave them and work it. I look up to Missy Elliott and Rhianna and how they wear their body makes it (their body) sexy,” said Grace.

The future is bright for Demi Grace. The Sephora campaign she is a part of debuts in August, her upcoming EP is tentatively set for release in September, and she just finished working on a mix with an Atlanta producer which include heavy hitters such as: T-Pain, Trina, Flo Rida and TI.

For those of you in the New York area, check her out at Webster Hall on August 16th. - Kontrol Magazine

WITHOUT THE INTERNET the music industry would possess a far different landscape. Right up until the '90s whether musicians made or not often depended on the say of one record executive. Artists now have the freedom to take to the cyberspace 'airwaves' in record numbers, vying for our attention. The more notoriety they receive online, the more likely they are to make it big. It is becoming an increasingly democratic process.

No incident illustrates this better than when singer Demi Grace appeared on our radar over Twitter. Thousands of miles away in New York, we in the UAE would never have heard her output if it weren't for the social media platform.

Here we talk to Demi about her music, including latest release Poke It Out and life as an artist.

What can you tell us about yourself?

My name is Abidemi Grace. I am a singer, songwriter, dancer and model. I was born in London, England and grew up in California. I also lived in Atlanta briefly and am currently based in New York City with my sisters. I first got into music when I was between 10 and 12 years old. Even though I wasn't recording music at that age, I started writing songs and poetry. I started recording music when I was 17 with a family friend and a few local producers she knew.

How would you describe your sound?

Right now, it is an overtone of electro-pop with afrobeat/dancehall roots. My inspirations include Grace Jones, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix. I do generally pull inspiration from songs that I like and they could be songs from none of the artists I just listed but those are my core group of artists that I really admire. I also pull inspiration from the world around me. I pull inspiration from the hustle of New York City.

What can you tell us about your latest song Poke It Out?

I wanted to write a song that people can listen to without having to think too hard but if they really listened they can hear the message. Poke It Out is for the girl working on or finding her confidence after a failed or multiple failed relationships. It's for the girl who needs to stop looking at what she thinks she lost and look at what's in front of her, waiting for her. People can access my music via my website www.DemiGrace.com.

Is the music industry everything you hoped it would be?

I feel comfortable, I feel like I am free to learn what being myself actually means. The most fun aspect is creating in every sense of the word, not just recording and performing. The least fun aspect is networking or self promotion. I'm a very personal person and I like any person I connect with to be a genuine, fruitful and long lasting relationship.

My tie up with UNK New York came up very spontaneously. I met the CEO at an event in the meatpacking district of NYC and he spotted me out of the group of eight girls I was with. The rest is history. It has helped because I no longer have to wear ten different hats and can focus on my art.

How do you find the industry respects female artists?

I honestly believe that it's not about being a female or a male, rich or poor, fat or skinny. I believe that when you have a unique brand, you will find the most success. When you've figured out exactly who you are, you will reach the height of your career.

What advice do you have for other artists trying to follow in your footsteps?

I would say be yourself. All art eventually finds its own audience.

Have you ever been to the Middle East?

I have not, unfortunately. I have heard great and glamorous things about Dubai; mainly stories from my mother. I would love to visit and would especially love to perform in Dubai.

How would you describe your look?

My style is, as I tell my best friend, half boy-half girl. I like to wear baggy pants sometimes with a more feminine sexy top or vice versa, sometimes I will wear male sized shirts with female sized shorts. I also love colourful print. The more, the merrier.

The only tip I have to looking good is being healthy from the inside out and being confident. Confidence makes anything look good. - Khaleej Times

Demi Grace looking fierce and sexy – definitely a star on the rise

She is the youngest of 3 daughters who grew up in a traditional Nigerian home, Demi Grace has always had a connection with the arts and entertainment and at a very young age, Demi’s sisters, Esther and Deborah, and her cousin Tola, started a TLC inspired music group called the Peace Group. After watching her sisters perform in the Peace Group, her love for music multiplied and music immediately became her passion. Even before Demi Grace discovered her love for music, she was no stranger to the spotlight. She began modelling and acting at the beginning of her college career. She appeared on shows such as VH1’s Beverly Hills Fabulous, WeTV’s LA Hair and TLC’s the Unpoppables and landed a role in the film Black Gold (Niger-Delta). Demi starred in a national commercial alongside Amber Rose for TGI Friday’s, Smirnoff, Master of the Mix, BET Networks and was a lead in top digital record seller Taio Cruz’s music video “Hangover” as well as commercial print for Chevy. Demi has modeled for cosmetic lines such as M.A.C. Cosmetics and Devezin Cosmetics, designers such as NIKA who designed gowns for R&B Singer Mya, Dancing with the Stars, and actress Lisa Raye. Demi has also worked with hairstylists such as Kim Kimble, Elgin Charles and Diane Stevens at Nixon. In 2008, she teamed with Funk/Rock band A Warrior Nation and started doing back up singing for the band. Through her time with the band, she was able to work with Grammy nominated Producer Roger Ryan, Grammy nominated songwriter Chip Days and a few other successful producers. Presently, Demi is pursuing a solo career as a Pop Recording Artist and Entertainer in America. Her debut single “Want You” is presently available on iTunes for download and it has already gained massive airplay in countries like USA, Brazil and Mexico in the first 8 weeks of release.

Listen to her smash hit single “Want You” on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6jo5EJzSj8

You can also Buy the single on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/want-you-single/id572753049

Demi is the Queen of sexy photo-shoots

One of her top priorities is to be a role model in the industry and to be able to encourage a more beautiful world through her story and musical talent. She wants to use her voice to tell stories of passion, overcoming the battle of falling in love with the beautiful skin she is in and her love for the art of music. Demi lives by Peter Drucker’s statement, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” and she is creating hers with every step she takes. Demi’s music video for “Want You” will be released sometime this month. - Zen Magazine Africa

Demi Grace was born in a small hospital in London, England. She is the youngest of three daughters and grew up in a traditional Nigerian home. Demi has always had a connection with the arts and entertainment. At the young age of three, Demi’s sisters, Esther and Deborah, and her cousin Tola, started a TLC inspired music group called the Peace Group. After watching her sisters perform in the Peace Group it birthed in Demi Grace a desire to sing.

After diving into many different entertainment opportunities, Demi decided to pursue a solo career as a Pop Recording Artist and Entertainer. In order to grow her talent, Demi sang back up for a funk/rock band in 2008 named A Warrior Nation, worked with Grammy nominated producer Roger Ryan, Grammy nominated songwriter Chip Days and more. Grace aspires to be a role model in this industry and encourage a more beautiful world with her story and her talent. She wants to use her voice that tells stories of passion, overcoming the battle of falling in love with the beautiful skin she is in and her love for the art of music. Her first single “Want You” gained airplay in Brazil and Mexico in the first 8 weeks of its release. Demi Grace lives by Peter Drucker’s statement, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Demi Grace is no stranger to the camera. She began pursuing modeling and acting at the beginning of her college career. She appeared on shows such as VH1’s Beverly Hills Fabulous, WeTV’s LA Hair and TLC’s the Unpoppables and landed a role in the film Black Gold (Niger-Delta). Demi starred in a national commercial alongside Amber Rose for TGI Friday’s, Smirnoff, Master of the Mix, BET Networks and was a lead in top digital record seller Taio Cruz’s music video “Hangover” as well as commercial print for Chevy. Demi has modeled for cosmetic lines such as M.A.C. Cosmetics and Devezin Cosmetics, designers such as NIKA who designed gowns for R&B Singer Mya, Dancing with the Stars, and actress Lisa Raye. Demi has also worked with hairstylists such as Kim Kimble, Elgin Charles and Diane Stevens at Nixon. - Urban Girl Magazine

From What City:
This is the hardest part of interviews. Honestly, I've lived so many places that I really don't know how to answer that. I can say London, San Jose, Atlanta, the list goes on.

Top 3 Favorite Songs That Are Out Right Now:
Happy by Pharrell, Sweet Nothing by Calvin Harris & Florence Welch, Skelewu by Davido

Top 3 Favorite Movies:
Blue Streak, Mean Girls and pretty much any Disney Movie.

Are You Working On Any Projects?
Yes! I am working on an EP entitled I Am Fearless. Look out for it on iTunes soon.

Tell Us Something About You Most People Don't Know:
I am terrified of throwing up....and other people throwing up.

Who Are Your Musical Influences?
Grace Jones, Will.I.Am., Mariah Carey, and Janet Jackson.

What Genre Of Music Do You Consider Your Work To Be?
Pop. I'm a fusion artist, I like to mix EDM with whatever genre I'm obsessed with at the time.

What Was Your Very First Job?
I was a Hollister model.

How Long Have You Been Singing?
I have been singing since I was 10 years old.

How Did You Get Started?
I started singing by watching my sisters.

Do You Have Any Hidden Talents?
I'm secretly a very talented detective :)

What Are Your Long-Term Career Goals?
My long term goal in terms of my career is to be extremely successful at being me. Of course, I want the Grammys, ASCAP awards, what artist doesn't? But I don't want to be a copy. I don't want to be a polar opposite of someone else, either. I want to make a successful living being the best self I can possibly be and that just so happens to include music: singing, writing, modeling, dancing and acting.

What Is Some Advice You Would Give To Someone Aspiring To Become A Singer?
Find out what makes you "you" and run with it. I tell myself this everyday. - BREAKNRECORDS Music Blog

The ability to be an artist who is set apart from creators takes originality, skill, and dedication in order to build a loyal audience. As for talented model, recording artist, and songwriter, Demi Grace, is the perfect candidate with a hard work ethic and grind that never stops. With London, England as her birthplace, and a traditional Nigerian background, she is the youngest of three daughters and has always had a connection with the arts and entertainment. Those facts alone usually bring a distinctive interest to fans and followers.

Demi first desired to use her voice to sing and tell stories as a child after regularly watching her sisters perform. She is a fusion artist that infuses electronic dance music (EDM) with soul, afrobeat, pop and reggae, which easily inspires just about anyone to get up and groove at that very moment. Many of her produced songs are high energy tunes that you definitely don’t hear everyday.

A passionate desire for the art of music, overcoming the battle of falling in love , and appreciating every opportunity presented, is what motivates Demi to continue working towards making such a positive impact on others. She had an amazingly, progressive start with her first single, “Want You” which gained airplay in Brazil and Mexico in the first 8 weeks of its release.
The camera is one of her best friends and she began pursuing modeling and acting at the beginning of her college career. She also appeared on shows such as VH1’s Beverly Hills Fabulous, WeTV’s LA Hair and TLC’s the Unstoppable’s and landed a role in the film Black Gold (Niger-Delta). Demi has also starred in a national commercial alongside Amber Rose for TGI Friday’s, Smirnoff, and Master of the Mix. She has modeled for cosmetic lines such as M.A.C. Cosmetics, Devezin Cos-metics, Sephora, and Makeup Forever. Demi Grace lives by Peter Drucker’s statement, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” - Traphic Magazine

Ever met a model that claims she can sing? Or how about a singer who is also an actor too? If so, chances are you’ve been to New York City, where everyone has two or more jobs. We’re all actors, models, singers and/or dancers. No, Seriously. We are. The truth is though, most don’t have what it takes to really make it in a business where star-quality, talent and hard work go hand in hand--at not like Nigerian-born, London-raised, and now certified New Yorker (hence, the two or more jobs) model, singer, and songwriter, Demi Grace. Grace didn’t just arrive --as a matter of fact, she is still en route--to the top. But you wouldn't know she wasn't already a top-billing superstar by her hypnotic performance at NYC Taj this past June. She took ownership of the stage, engaging the crowd with the ease and comfort of a pro. Grace flowed seamlessly from a melodic pop song to a Caribbean influenced jam singing “wine yuh waist" with a commanding presence that made you stand at attention. With a 10,000 folks following her on Instagram without a radio hit, Demi is clearly in tune with her followers. And she gained them the old fashioned way-earning them. Her fans know her. They know where she’ll be and they show up to her performances expecting what they know. She delivers. But wait, just you wait...the best is yet to come. - See more at: http://mommynoire.com/159777/style-elite-demi-grace/#sthash.xtwKD5xh.dpuf - Mommy Noire

The current population of electronic dance music is astounding. Although the popular Pop sound has been around for some time now, everyone has recently been jumping to the upbeat, in your face, thumping tracks of the likes of Calvin Harris, David Guetta, RedOne and Avicci. But there are a breed of artists who are fusing their influence of Soul, Hip-Hop, and R&B into EDM to great effect. Music genres are becoming less and less easy to define, but that could be a good thing. Now fans of Pop, Rap, R&B, and even Jazz are being exposed to electronic music through these artists.

Singer/Songwriter Demi Grace is one of those artists. The NYC based artist infuses electronic dance music with Soul, Afrobeat, Pop and Reggae to cater to assorted listeners. Demi is no stranger to the enterainment industry, having started out as an actor and model. She has appeared on shows such as WeTV’s LA Hair and VHI’s Beverley Hill’s Fabulous. She’s also models for Devezin Cosmetics and M.A.C. She has since started to pursue a solo career as a Pop recording artist. Her first single “I Want You” achieved massive success and radio airplay in Brazil and Mexico among other regions, and now she releases her debut EP I Am Fearless.

The EP jumps right into the evolving sound I talk about in the introduction, with its fast and enticing beat. Demi’s voice gives the danceable song a soulful sound. Usually songs like this just make you want to get up and and dance, but there is a message here she wants to portray. It’s refreshing to see she doesn’t just want to make music for people to move to, but also music they can feel. “We Are Not Alone” and “Go! Live It Up” are both examples of the optimistic message she is relaying to listeners on the EP.

“Bad Girl” is more stripped from the energetic tunes on the EP, with Demi putting her own spin on the very popular Wale and Tiara Thomas joint “Bad”. All the girls were singing the song last summer claiming to be bad girls who never made love, when most of you feel the same way Demi sings in her version. What’s to like about the song is its truthful lyrics. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wale’s song, but after it dropped there were a lot of girls fronting. Demi’s “Bad Girl” tells it how it really is. She sings about the insecurities girls feel when dealing with a not so good fella. The guitar in the backdrop cruises throughout the song, it’s the sound of it that pulls you in at first. But Demi’s powerful vocals keep you there.

“Fire It Up” is one of the stronger songs on the EP. It’s one of those songs you can’t help but dance to. You know the energetic, pulsating beat that makes you want to jump. The sound is a bit of everything, it goes from pulsating drums, hypnotic electronic echoes, and a marching bass. I like that the song isn’t exhaustive, as Demi slows it down for her verses. The beauty of the track is the switch from Demi’s pulsing vocals in the chorus to a more commanding croon when she sings the verses. It’s not overwhelming or exhaustive, and the verses give us the chance to listen and enjoy her vocals.

“Watch Me” grabs a more Reggae and Afrobeats sound from the beat to Demi’s voice, and Demi’s versatility is once again display here, with her accent changes not only enhancing but supporting the feel of the track. It’s energetic, and fuses Afrobeats and electronic thuds that make you want to do as she says, as she sings “make you want to whine”.

With as much Soul, R&B and Funk as there are electronic dance influences on this record, Demi Grace’s I Am Fearless EP is a great listen. I’m not a big fan of EDM but Demi’s powerhouse vocals on this EP pushed me closer to liking the sound. What’s not to be lost in the energetic music is the message she wants to give. Her positive vibes are telling us to not be afraid and live our lives to the fullest. But do it with a fist pump. The I Am Fearless EP from Demi Grace is to be released on June 6, 2014. - We Plug GOOD Music

The black female image is in trouble. If you rely solely on media to depict what it means to be a black woman in 2014, it’s highly likely that the takeaway would be overwhelmingly negative.

But things haven’t always been this way. So, the most daunting question is; where did we go wrong?

Music, reality TV and social media have all played an intricate role in portraying the black woman in a negative light. We can’t ignore the lyrics that often degrade black women who are only viewed in terms of being sexual conquests or unworthy of having committed, respectful relationships. Tragically, there are also black female artists who perpetuate the same negativity by debasing themselves and other women through their music.

On any given night, you can find the worst black female stereotypes on reality TV. The top reality TV shows feature black women who argue with one another, physically fight, become intoxicated, are promiscuous, and are proud gold diggers. Black women attach themselves to these degrading roles all for the sake of ratings and money. Unfortunately, black women will continue to portray these images as long as millions indulge in viewing all the drama.

Thankfully, there are alternatives to the madness.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we take a look at black women who have gained and maintained prominence through positive means. These are the women who will fight the negative images of black women in the media. - Rolling Out Magazine

London-based artist Demi Grace offers a new banger called "For The Girls," a banger for her fellow boss chicks. - Singersroom

When Demi Grace attended a recent casting for Pantene, she ended up making hair history. The musician and model, who uses her lyrics and powerhouse vocals to inspire and unify fans, was one of several talents chosen to star in an amazing new video. For their latest campaign, the brand chose to celebrate black models and their diverse ‘dos, depicting a range of styles from curls to ‘fros to sculptural blowouts. And in the process, Demi became the first model to wear locs in a Pantene campaign, a major milestone in the conversation surrounding representation and inclusion in the beauty industry. We caught up with her to find out exactly how the whole experience went down and why it’s such a big deal. Read on for the details behind her hair journey. - Teen Vogue

According to a press release from the company, Pantene’s Gold Series is the brand’s first hair care collection co-created with a team of African American PhD’s, scientists, stylists and dermatologists, specifically designed to deliver Pro-V nutrient blends to provide superior strength and moisture for women with relaxed, natural and transitioning hair.

In conjunction with the line’s release, Pantene also launched the next chapter of its “Strong is Beautiful” story with a powerful All Hair is Beautiful campaign.

The ad, which made its debut during the season premiere of Empire Tuesday night, is the epitome of #BlackGirlMagic. The spot features Pantene Brand Ambassador Jillian Hervey, part of the Lion Babe duo, alongside Black American women of all ages with various representations of hair textures and styles. During the commercial, the women bask in their natural glory while showcasing styles through the artistic creation of Pantene celebrity stylist, Chuck Amos.


Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/style/black-hair-pantene-dreadlocks#ixzz56LfjuUMC
Follow us: @EbonyMag on Twitter | EbonyMag on Facebook - Ebony Magazine

When Demi Grace attended a recent casting for Pantene, she ended up making hair history. The musician and model, who uses her lyrics and powerhouse vocals to inspire and unify fans, was one of several talents chosen to star in an amazing new video. For their latest campaign, the brand chose to celebrate black models and their diverse ‘dos, depicting a range of styles from curls to ‘fros to sculptural blowouts. And in the process, Demi became the first model to wear locs in a Pantene campaign, a major milestone in the conversation surrounding representation and inclusion in the beauty industry. We caught up with her to find out exactly how the whole experience went down and why it’s such a big deal. Read on for the details behind her hair journey. - Teen Vogue