Gracie

Gracie is a blooming RNB/Soul/Jazz artist who is ready to make her mark in the Toronto music scene. The 24 year old has had dreams of playing music since she was 12 years old. At 14 she began playing piano and guitar and writing her own songs. Her influences have included a drastically wide range of music. It started off with classic rock legends such as Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Pink Floyd and Ozzy Osbourne. In high school she began to sink into the world of hardcore and death metal, listening to bands like Lamb Of God, As I Lay Dying, Nile, Between The Buried And Me, and Animals As Leaders.

The technicality of the music is what drew her to it at first, but then the aggression of the music helped the young artist release tense emotions. The first song she learned on guitar was Dee by Randy Rhoads. After realizing that playing metal wasn’t sticking, Gracie started to gravitate to other genres of music such as Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz and RnB. During high school her best friend Gabriel Bitti and his father Roberto Bitti helped broaden Gracie’s musical influences. They introduced her to music all throughout high school with jazz fusion bands such as Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report to classics like Sting and The Police and Peter Gabriel. Gracie’s high school music teacher Mr. Harken also introduced her to jazz guitarists such as Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheney, Joe Pass and more.

Around this time, Amy Winehouse’s album Back To Black was making waves in Canada and Gracie stumbled upon a music video on Much music for You Know Im No Good. She was very intrigued by Amy. Jazz was beginning to enthuse the young artist, so she then chose to go to York University majoring in Jazz Vocals completing 2 full years of credits before dropping out to pursue performing full time. It was during this time that Gracie discovered her love for jazz singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone as well as Motown singers such as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers and Marvin Gaye.

She also loves instrumental music with legends such as Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Art Blakely and legendary horn players such as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. During her days at York, Gracie connected well with her former vocal teacher Sacha Williamson. It was Sacha who introduced Gracie to more influences such as D’Angelo and Georgia Anne Muldrow. These Soul RnB artists helped Gracie also discover other Jazz artists such as Robert Glasper, Keyon Harrold and Tribe Called Quest. After dropping out of University, Gracie became more confused about what she would do. She also loved electronic artists like James Blake, Lone, and Com Truise along with rap artists such as Biggie Smalls and Tyler, the Creator.

It was because she liked so many different avenues of music that she no longer knew where she would fit in. She taught vocals, guitar and beginner piano at a private school in Oakville called Rock This Way. She settled with teaching as a career and worked at several coffee shops as well. After two years Gracie became bored and wanted more so she went to Port Credit to sing at a bar called Shore Grill And Grotto for a Monday night jam hosted by Tom Barlow, Tom Lewis, Chris McNiel, and John Bride. She loved the experience and wanted more.

For the past three years Gracie has been performing, writing, jamming, and meeting new people all through the friendship with Barlow. Gracie connected with piano player Tyler Yarema who has contributed to many introductions throughout the city as well as many more influences such as Shirley Horn and Sly and The Family Stone. As of March 1st 2018 Gracie has been also taking up producing her own music. Within just two days Gracie has written and produced her own track called More To Life. She has also been rehearsing with a band that she recently put together with some of her favourite players in Toronto.

Gracie is now a full time musician planning to introduce herself to the big city of Toronto. You won’t wanna miss what this artist has to offer next!