Greyson Chance X FAULT Magazine

 

Photographer: Joseph Sinclair

Stylist: Emily Tighe

Grooming: Nicola Harrowell

 

Words: Miles Holder

Nearly a decade has passed since a clip of Greyson Chance broke the internet with his cover of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”. However, musicians can’t rely on the view count of one video alone; it takes a true artist to channel a runaway cover into a music career of their own and thankfully Greyson Chance has done this.

Releasing his first album ‘Hold On ’til the Night’ in 2011 and his sophomore ‘Portraits’ in 2o19, there is something inherently authentic about Greyson’s rise to success. The tracks he released between albums. both officially and through SoundCloud matured alongside him. Dabbling in different genres and themes, while Greyson would reveal parts of his personal life through social media, his music is where you’ll find his heart.

New track ‘Dancing Next To Me’ is one of them. While once a broody, head nodding dance track when slowed down, it becomes a harrowing true tale of unrequited love and rejection Greyson faced. We’re proud to premiere the acoustic below alongside an exclusive photoshoot and interview – Enjoy!

You just released a new acoustic version of ‘Dancing Next To Me’ music video, on a personal level, does this make it a harder song for you to perform?

Greyson Chance: Performing the song on the piano certainly makes me focus in on the lyrics to a heightened degree opposed to the produced version. At its core, Dancing Next To Me is a song about betrayal. It is directly inspired by a night out that I had this past summer back in Oklahoma. The connection that I felt towards this particular boy felt so unique and so special to me, but the next morning he was gone, and that type of action leaves an emotional wound or even a few. When I play the song on the piano, I am forced to relive that lonely next day, but I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing; good art should make you feel something. 

The song is based on true events and it’s a very personal track – do you still feel anxious before releasing tracks that are so honest and personal to you?

Greyson Chance: Honestly not at all. I feel in so many ways that it is my job to be as honest and as personal as I can be within my music, for that’s the type of songwriting that inspires me as a listener. Also, most everyone in my life understands my creative process. They know that I write directly from the events unfolding in front of me, and my closest friends aren’t scared or intimidated by that. My boyfriend might be though, I am figuring that one out. 

 

Do you believe songwriting is a form of therapy? Does writing about your personal experiences help you better process them?

Greyson Chance: Writing is the only way that I know how to heal as an individual. It’s the best way for me to truly vent and relieve myself of the daily tension, stresses, and hardships in life. Music is therefore no longer a choice, it’s just a thing that I do and I will forever do it. 

 

You and your fans have a close-knit bond, what do you think it is about your music that it’s able to talk to such a broad audience of people?

Greyson Chance: Our bond stems from the fact that these fans have been with me now for 10 whole years. They have been supporting me and encouraging me along every step of the way, both good and bad. And for that alone, I am eternally grateful to them. To answer your question directly though, I think it’s the honesty in my songwriting that connects most with the fans. They know that I am not bullshitting them, and they know that I won’t sacrifice my integrity as it relates to my art. When I was younger I was forced to do that, and I simply do not have time to do that now. 

 

What’s been the hardest moment of your musical journey so far?

Greyson Chance: Getting dropped when I was 15 by not only my label, but also by my manager, my agent, my publicist, everyone. That’s a tough pill to swallow for any artist, nevertheless a 15-year-old kid. But I put my head down and I focused and I kept on working. I am happy to be where I am now. 

If you could go back to 2010, just after your Paparazzi video went viral and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Greyson Chance: I would say the same thing that Cyndi Lauper recently told me, “you can’t get struck by lightning unless you stand out in the rain”. I think she took that from a Joan River’s documentary. Regardless, it’s so fucking true. 

When you think about your musical legacy, what’s the way you always want to be remembered as an artist?

Greyson Chance: I want to be remembered as authentic and true to heart. I want my legacy to show that I wore my heart on my sleeve and I did it shamelessly. These 10 years have been such a rollercoaster ride and I am sure that the next 10 years will be the same, that’s any life in the music industry, it’s a chaotic place. At the end of the day, I want people to know that I spoke honestly, I spoke intentionally, and that I tried my hardest for the people who supported me. 

 

What are you most excited for this year?

Greyson Chance: My new album, which I, unfortunately, cannot tell you too much about. 

 

What is your FAULT? 

Greyson Chance: As I am becoming older, I am becoming incredibly jaded. I am working on it, but likely not as hard as I should be.