Coming out as non-binary, gay, transgender or any gender is never easy, but for Utah’s Addison Grace, the music industry was ready (mostly) to embrace him.
The 20-year-old singer, songwriter, and social media star has fast made a name for themselves as a singular new artist, showcasing their one-of-a-kind perspective through mesmerising bedroom pop and a bold, funny, utterly idiosyncratic online persona.
Last month, the Salt Lake City artist released his debut EP ‘Immaturing’, the five-track EP is a project that sincerely documents his challenging experiences growing up. Making personal music for a universal audience, these intimate songs somehow manage to speak what the listener feels but cannot quite put into words.
“I’m happy with how well it’s been received by people,” states Grace as he smiles about its success. “I think I was very nervous about it because I didn’t know how people would react to the more produced, more pop songs that I ended up putting on the EP.
“But I think the story behind it and the meaning of the songs was really well received and made me feel like I did the right thing, and I made the right thing, I guess. Because I feel like it did well, and everyone was like ‘we get what you’re saying’ and that just made me happy.”
Grace has worked tirelessly in recent months and being a lyrics person, he is focused on making sure listeners pick up on that. Music has been part of Addison Grace’s life for a long time.
Featured images by Courteny Kiara
The EP starts with fan-favourite ‘I Wanna Be A Boy’ which was the catalyst for Addison to discover their pronouns – he/they – and come home to themselves in a way that provided freedom, comfort and genuine love. As he sings ‘I guess I wanna be a boy,’ the realization that they are a boy overcomes his heart and powerfully makes the heartfelt message impossible to ignore.
This is followed by I Don’t Wanna Fall In Love’ which challenges the societal idea that one needs love to find happiness, that perhaps one might be better off prioritizing self-love, and finding joy within one’s self instead of searching for it in others.
‘Makes Me Sick’ describes the fervent desire to protect a good relationship, and the fear one might screw it up. Grace delicately sings over soft guitar plucks, ‘I’ll try to ruin this / like my life depends / If I’m being honest / I’m lovesick and I don’t want this to end’.
The EP is rounded off by latest single ‘Getting Used To,’ holding the signature essence of Addison Grace’s journal entry-like confessional songwriting and delicate vocals, reaching profound emotional depths. The track chronicles Grace as they are face-to-face with the realization that they are getting older.
From musical theatre and church choir days to performing at local coffee shops and starting a social media presence on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. The self-proclaimed talkative musician was later picked up by music management agency Alternate Side in 2020 which helped release his debut single ‘Sugar Rush’.
It all began after purchasing a hoodie of English artist Cavetown as Grace explains: “It kind of started with the local coffee shops and posting online. I never really had any music person reach out to me. I think the funniest part was…”
To read the interview in full, click here to read it inside abridged. magazine issue 4!
