Q: Hi! I love the emotion in your vocals in “Crash”, and the way your music tells a story, even with just the instrumental. Can you walk through your writing process a bit?
GRIPPA: When I worked with my producer and co-writer YX, we started out with him playing piano ideas over different backing track. We started that way because I wanted to find the coolest sounds that I could. Once we found a combination of sounds we liked, we started coming up with phrases back and forth until we settled on what we wanted to talk about. Once we did that, the songs came pretty quickly after that.
Q: Was there real-life events that inspired “Crash”?
GRIPPA: I was in a relationship, and we had some falling out moments that really hurt me. But what CRASH is about is that you can be in a tough relationship with the “right” person for you. A good relationship is not supposed to be easy all the time.
Q: I’m always curious about an artist’s musical journey. Do you remember at what age you first fell in love with music and decided to pursue it?
GRIPPA: I was probably 3 years old when I began just singing songs that I liked to listen to or that my parents played in the car. I always knew that I wanted to be an artist, even before I knew what an artist was.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice about the music industry that you’ve received thus far?
GRIPPA: It’s also the advice that I would give to anyone who’s interested in being an artist: “Hard work and talent is great but will only get you so far. If you want to be in the music business, treat it like a business and meet as many people as you can because that’s what will make a difference in your career. A lot of people work hard, and have a lot of talent and should be famous but aren’t. I think the more people you know the better chance you have of being successful in this business.
Q: Coming off the last question, what advice do you have for other up-and-coming artists?
GRIPPA: First, create as much material. That’s what you can use to bring attention to yourself and open doors for your career.
Q: Being only seventeen, you already have such a distinct sound. Can you walk me through your creative process for making music?
GRIPPA: I have an inspiration from other music and other artists and that’s what helps me find the idea in my head. Then I put my own spin on it until I come up with something I love.
Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take three albums with you, which would they be?
GRIPPA: If I could only stream 3 albums they would be: 1) LADY GAGA – THE FAME MONSTER 2) ARIANNA GRANDE – SWEETNER 3) DOJA CAT – HOT PINK
Q: It was a pleasure speaking with you! What can those reading expect next? Any projects or shows in the works?
GRIPPA: There’s a bunch of new songs in the works and you guys should expect them to be completely different! I’m also working on my first LIVE SHOW and hope to release a new single called “LUST FOR LIFE” from my upcoming album in the next few months. There are a lot of exciting developments coming up so please visit www.grippa.com for all of the updates and follow me on Spotify, YouTube and Instagram and say hi!
Interviewed by Melissa Cusano
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