Serendipity often leads you to discover artists like Grace Humphries, a talented 17-year-old from Texas who effortlessly crafts songs that captivate hearts. As you explore her musical journey, you’ll find her passion and dedication inspiring, from humming in her crib to recording at Abbey Road Studios. Grace’s story is about more than just music—it’s about channeling emotion and connecting deeply through storytelling, something you’ll surely appreciate as you get to know her unique voice and spirit.
Challenges and personal growth
For you, understanding Grace’s journey means appreciating the strength she gained through early hardships. Losing her brother Liam to brain cancer at a young age deeply impacted her, but it also fueled her passion for music as a way to express her emotions. You can see how these challenges shaped her into a determined and focused artist who channels both joy and vulnerability into her songwriting and performances.
Recent achievements and performances
Grace’s 2024 has been filled with impressive milestones, exciting any fan of rising artists. You’ll find her talent shining through performances from Abbey Road Studios in England to guest spots on popular US radio shows. Her new single “Good Enough,” produced by Ian Barter, highlights her artistic growth, and her live performances in places like Nashville and Sonoma County show her ability to connect with diverse audiences.
Performances such as her hour-long sets at farmers markets and wineries helped you get a real taste of Grace’s heartfelt storytelling. You’ve likely heard her on stations like WSM 650 Coffee, Country, and Cody or KRCB Sonoma County’s NPR, where she shared not only her music but also her journey with listeners. These experiences give you great insight into how Grace continues to grow and make a genuine connection through her art.
Songwriting inspiration
Even at just 17, Grace Humphries draws on deep personal experiences to fuel her songwriting. Grace channels her emotions into meaningful, beautifully crafted songs, drawing on her early love for music and the heartbreak of losing her brother. When you listen to her music, you connect with the raw joy, fragility, and beauty of life she expresses so honestly. Her dedication to storytelling shines through every lyric, inviting you to feel and reflect alongside her.
Home recording and production
While you might imagine a young artist like Grace constantly needing a professional studio, she actually creates much of her music from her own home setup. With a small recording studio right at home, she captures the melodies and ideas that pop into her head throughout her busy days at school and beyond. This independence lets you see how her creativity flows naturally, anytime inspiration strikes, regardless of where she is.
Another wonderful part of Grace’s process is how her home studio lets you experience her growth as both a songwriter and producer. By experimenting and refining her sound in a comfortable, familiar space, she’s able to take full control of how her music evolves. Her hands-on approach creates a genuine and connected experience in her recordings, as if you’re present in the moment as she brings her songs to life.
Abbey Road recording experience
While most 17-year-olds are still figuring out their paths, you’ll be amazed to know Grace spent a week at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in England in March 2024. Recording at Abbey Road Studios was not just a fulfilling dream, but also an opportunity for Grace to bring her music to life in a space steeped in history. Just a month later, she returned to the UK to collaborate with producer Ian Barter on her single “Good Enough,” showing how seriously she takes her craft and the exciting journey ahead.
Radio promotions and live performances
Recent radio promotions have showcased Grace’s growing presence throughout the South and beyond. Whether she’s a guest on shows like WSM 650 Coffee, Country, and Cody or KRBC 104.9 in Sonoma County, Grace’s voice and stories are reaching new listeners every week. These appearances, combined with live performances at venues like the Hopmonk Tavern, keep her connected directly with fans and communities alike.
Grace clearly appreciates your support during these radio promotions and live shows, as she puts her heart into every note. From Nashville and Knoxville to Atlanta and Northern California, she’s been busy sharing her original music and connecting with audiences. Each performance is not just entertainment but a heartfelt conversation where you can feel the joy and fragility she expresses through her songs.
Artistic goals and vision
Little can compare to the clarity and passion you find in Grace Humphries’ artistic vision. At just 17, she’s already focused on one simple goal: happiness through storytelling and performing. Grace is driven by a desire to write music that truly connects with people, sharing meaningful stories and emotions. You’ll see her dedication in every melody she creates, expressing the beauty and fragility of life with honesty and heart.
Commitment to meaningful storytelling
Goals are more than ambitions for Grace—they’re the foundation of her music. She’s determined to craft songs that resonate deeply with listeners. Grace uses her own experiences, including loss and hope, to create authentic and heartfelt stories, which you can feel in every note.
It’s in Grace’s natural determination and empathy that her talent shines brightest. You’ll find her music not just entertaining but a sincere connection, inviting you into moments of joy, pain, and beauty. Whether performing live or recording, she’s always sharing a piece of her story, hoping to touch your heart and inspire you along the way.
What is the most valuable advice you have received?
Regarding my craft, repetition is the most effective way to make a song memorable. Similarly, most people focus on the melody and/or beat first so it’s important to have secondary hooks in each part of the song that compliments the primary hook. For the mental side of things, it is important to develop a thick skin and remember that you don’t have anything to lose by putting yourself out there. Someone told me once: “There are 8 billion people out there; some of those people will like your music and if you can get one percent of them to like it, that’s 80 million people”.
Who are your top two favorite artists of all time? Why are those artists your favorites?
Fleetwood Mac has one of the most unique sounds I’ve ever heard that has stood the test of time. When listening to them I hear a variety of sounds: country, southern rock, folk and pop. Their songwriting has also always captivated me. My other favorite artist is Adele because of her vocal ability and introspective songs. She has inspired me to challenge myself vocally and write more ballads.
What draws you to your preferred genre?
My preferred genre is country-pop. What I like about country music is the focus on story-telling and the presence of the steel guitar. When I hear the steel or an electric guitar pedal that sounds like a steel, it goes right through me; it’s a very soulful instrument. It is the songs that have strong messages and rich stories that are on my playlists the longest because of their depth. Most times these types of songs fall in the genre of country music or folk.
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it?
I am often inspired either through personal experience, TV/media/books, or other people’s experiences. Writing a song is also different every time. Sometimes I will start it with a poem or lyrics; other times I start with the melody or they both come out at once.
Please share how you manage writer’s block.
When dealing with writer’s block, I write even when I don’t feel like anything good is coming out. Sometimes the idea I thought was horrible turns out being something usable down the road. The times when I feel writers block the most is when I am going through a rough school season. Because I am in high school still, papers, quizzes and tests can really cloud my creativity. It isn’t until school papers die down in the semester or I go on break where I feel like I write my best work.
What would you do if you had to work but didn’t need the money?
I would be a professional book reader/reviewer–which is, in fact, a real job. It worries me that I will never get around to all of the books that I want to read in this life.
What is the funniest thing that happened to you recently?
I am a worship leader at my church and a couple months ago while I was on stage about to take communion, I accidentally took it before the pastor. Because I didn’t have the pastor turned up enough in my in-ears, I mistook the prayer for the que to take communion. Everyone saw.
If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back to the past?
I would go to the future because there is no use in reliving moments you can’t change. You already have the memories of the past so why wouldn’t you want to see the future?
If you could ask your future self-one question, what would it be?
Because my faith is the rock which I base my life upon I would ask myself, “Have you been leaning on God and serving others with all your heart?” When I take away music and my own ambitions, God and people are the only things that matter in life–they are eternal.
What historical figure would you love to see in 21st century life?
I would like to sit down and have a coffee with Joan of Arc. I would like to ask her how God helped her become a leader in a period where women were basically second class citizens. I would ask her how she dealt with the belittlement and the disapproval that she received from some people.
“Wanted You To Know” is a strikingly honest ballad inspired by the complicated emotions that follow heartbreak. The song reflects on how love and resentment often exist side by side when relationships fall apart. Grace was moved to write the song after observing stories of emotional whiplash in modern dating — the kind where someone promises forever, then walks away the next day.
Grace is not only a gifted songwriter but also a multi-instrumentalist. She plays a Gibson J-45 and a Martin GPC-16E, bringing warmth and clarity to her acoustic performances. She also plays piano—a skill she taught herself at just 11 years old, underscoring her natural musical intuition and dedication.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracehumphriesmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceHumphriesMusic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gracehumphriesmusic
