We recently connected with Joey Grace Teresa Suydam and have shared our conversation below.
Hello Joey Grace and Teresa, thanks for joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
JOEY GRACE: Recently I had some live performances I was promoting and preparing for. A couple of different fans I’ve made through social media reached out to me because they wanted to purchase tickets to my shows, even though they wouldn’t be able to attend… because they live in different countries (Netherlands and UK)! They said I could donate their tickets to someone here in the states. These acts of kindness literally made me cry! I mean, these are people who have never even met me, but they believe in what I’m doing so much that they were willing to support with ticket purchases. Any time I’m having a rough day, I think about that and it makes me smile. The kindness and support truly meant a lot to me. Plus, it’s pretty cool to know that people across the pond are following along on my music journey!
TERESA SUYDAM: I want to take this question back to my first singing recital. I sang an art song, and when I went to the hallway to fill up my water bottle, an older woman looked at me for a few seconds and said, “You will go far.” That comment made my self-esteem skyrocket, and since then I’ve kept track of moments like that that will keep me going when I feel discouraged. Music is a marathon, and I truly believe that you find your people that will help and encourage you along the way. Your champions.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
JOEY GRACE: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved being on stage! I’m a live performer and music producer in Los Angeles. During performances I play a laser harp, keytar, synth, and drum pads while using a vocal effects machine to produce on-the-spot harmonies and ethereal loops. From wearing angel wings on stage, to covering Peter Gabriel’s song “Big Time” with a cigar in my mouth, to programming the voice of Siri to narrate my shows, I’ve never been afraid to push boundaries and express myself with music and performance. I really like to take chances and try new things. I’m always 100% true to who I am. If it works, it works. If it flops, then that’s okay too. I don’t have anybody helping me with this stuff, so I just go for it and learn from each experience.
TERESA SUYDAM: I wasn’t someone who started music at a young age, and I think that’s something that had to be normalized. I started out as a singer, and I’ve evolved into a whole small business owner / operator. The cool thing about music is there are so many different avenues to explore. So I’m proud of all the different parts I tried that compounded on one another. I am a singer, artist, producer, and engineer who does all their own marketing and PR. Music is a marathon and a way of life, and my brand is consistent. You’ll definitely always be hearing about me!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
JOEY GRACE: As someone who works with students with special needs, all my life I’ve put the majority of my energy into taking care of others. In 2018 I decided to make some massive changes and finally focus on myself and my music career. I’d been watching YouTube videos created by Claire Wineland. She had cystic fibrosis, and she discussed the concept of death in a new way that I’d never heard before. Claire said, “Death is inevitable. Living a life we can be proud of is something we can control.” I thought about how my grandmother had wanted to be a singer, but had never lived her dream. I didn’t want to live a life of regret. Like Claire, I wanted to live a life I could be proud of! I decided to really truly 110% go for it! I started recording music and creating the Joey Grace studio. Sadly, Claire passed away in September 2018. In October 2018 I officially dedicated my first EP, entitled Beautiful Storm, to Claire. To this day, Claire is my inspiration whenever I work on music and in my daily life.
TERESA SUYDAM: My need for self expression has been my driving factor in my creative journey. I used to be such a people pleaser, and when I realized that music fulfilled me and gave me a voice, I started chasing it. It started as a love for singing Disney songs, that grew into a love for performing in musicals and showcases, that grew into the love of craft and creation. What I find beautiful about music is that it is ever changing, and there are many ways to find your niche in the industry. It’s easy to get swept away in what genre of song you need to make, number of streams, number of followers, and what stages you play; but for me, I find the most joy in creating something with people that are just as passionate as I am, and then sharing it with the world. My hope is that in healing the parts of myself through my music, I can heal other people.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
JOEY GRACE: I think it’s amazing when people make a conscious effort to support independent artists of ALL kinds. Like for example at Christmas time, I try to buy gifts for people from local artisans versus big stores like Target. It feels good to know that I’m helping someone’s small business thrive. As an independent musician, I know how rad it feels when someone pays to download one of my songs, or buys merch on my website joeygrace.com! It’s exciting, and I want to create that joy for others as well!
TERESA SUYDAM: There are so many ways that people can support artists! Most songwriters and creatives need engagement on social media, and that can be given for free. A simple “follow”, “like”, and/or “share” goes a long way. If you know a loved one that does any creative avenue, just know that they are likely doing everything 100% themselves. That’s content creation, editing, photos, videos, branding, etc. Then there’s always monetary support, like for me, that’d be buying my songs or albums, merch, and tickets to my shows. On a deeper level, an appreciation of the arts is a must. Creatives make everything around us and make the world go round. Just think of what you do throughout your day, and you’ll notice you see artwork everywhere, decorations, shows, movies, and you will also hear music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joeygrace.com/ https://teresasuydam.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeygracemusic/ https://www.instagram.com/teresasuydam/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeygracemusic/ https://www.facebook.com/teresasuydam
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoeyGrace/playlists https://www.youtube.com/@teresasuydam
- Other: https://linktr.ee/teresasuydam
Image Credits
JOEY GRACE’S IMAGE CREDITS: Don @marcdphotos TERESA SUYDAM’S IMAGE CREDITS: Michelle Kim with YuJo Photography