Q&A: Grady Brings The Feel Good Energy You Need With "The Idea of You'
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE IDEA OF SOMETHING? Of someone? Romanticism isn’t new, the entire ancient ideology behind an icon or an idol is that a person can be perceived as “perfect”, godly even - ”worthy of veneration”. But the sun can only shine for so long, right? The highs can only be so high, and, like Gatsby to the green light: a notion’s a notion. So why does it feel so real? So warm, welcoming, and wonderful? Sometimes our idea of a perfect life, person, place, event, whatever tells us more about who we are than anything else. And sometimes, things are most definitely not as they seem.
In his new, bittersweet single with lovelytheband, “The Idea of You”, producer/songwriter Grady explores the idea of spontaneous love and limerence with a dash of uneasiness in the process. The song, like all great summer hits, sounds sweet and familiar with the use of electric guitars, but only at first before - like a pang - the melody hits on familiar notes of sadness. The lyrics follow suit as Grady’s dynamic storytelling makes way for tales of confusion, woe, and the heartbreak of fate.
Give a read below for more about Grady, the chaotic inspiration for the song (it’s cigs), and some of his exciting upcoming releases.
LUNA: How are you doing these days? Listening to anything good lately?
GRADY: I think the same as everyone else, some days great, some days not as great. I’ve been on a music wave recently so that’s always a great zone to be in. I’ve been really wrapped up in my own music, but I think I speak for everyone when I say I’ve been listening to Olivia Rodrigo.
LUNA: Congrats on the release of “The Idea of You”! The track has a really fun feel good energy to it despite being about a tricky love story. Can you share a little bit more about the making of the track?
GRADY: I actually made the instrumental the night that I met the girl it’s about. We were having a party at my house and I saw her smoking a cigarette with one of my friends so naturally I put my finger in her nose and we sort of just clicked. Somehow we ended up in the studio I had in the garage. So I made up a song about her then months later someone on my team told me I should finish it and boom. Then one night Mitchy was over and I played him some of my new music, and he said he wanted to jump on.
LUNA: What color do you associate “The Idea of You” with?
GRADY: Yellow. Just easy going, neutral, feels good. This song isn’t about getting too deep or finding answers, just about expressing how you feel. It’s also the only color mentioned by name in the song, so the answer can’t not be yellow.
LUNA: Sonically, what are some of your favorite elements in your new music?
GRADY: Been kind of on a more 50s, 60s vibe recently. I’ve been working on projects, with each having their own sonic vibe. But to be honest, anything that feels good. I want to dance right now, and I want to make people dance right now.
LUNA: You had a chance to collaborate with friends lovelytheband for this track, which I’m sure made for a fun experience. What’s your favorite part about collaborating with others?
GRADY: Just what each individual brings to the table creatively. Different perspectives always make for more interesting songs. “The Idea of You” got a whole new flavor added to it when the LTB boys jumped on it. I’m a big energy person, so if we’re making music together, I can make music for hours and hours.
LUNA: Tell us about the upcoming video you did together.
GRADY: Shoutout the Reggies for getting everything together with us. Such a fun video – working with friends is the absolute best. I was crying-laughing about 4 times on set. Sam from LTB is the funniest human on this planet. I also had the privilege of working with my friend Brooke in the video, 1 million thank yous to her for saying yes to that.
LUNA: Your music definitely is reflective of your personal experiences and often touches on some vulnerable topics. When writing, how often are you thinking about the listener, if at all?
GRADY: Not really at all. Writing is very personal to me, and I think the best songs are written from a very personal perspective - that’s what makes them real, which is what makes them relatable, kind of weird how it works that way, right? Everyone is in different situations, but we all have similar feelings.
LUNA: What can you share about upcoming music in comparison with this track?
GRADY: There will be a lot of music coming. I wrote an album worth of new music just this past week. Some of it will be happy, some of it will be sad, some will make you dance, some will make you cry. I’m always cooking up, every day. You'll even hear some of my music that’s not under name! I’ve written/produced some songs with other artists coming soon and a couple that just released including “I won” by Ty Dolla $ign, Jack Harlow, and 24kGoldn and “Blame It On Me” by Bryce Vine.
LUNA: A fun one - if you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what are you picking?
GRADY: Not a movie but Rick and Morty.
LUNA: What’s next for you?
GRADY: I just went to New York and it feels so good to be able to do that, so that’s what’s ‘next’ for me. But the album is coming. Followed by more music soon after. Hitting some tour dates now that we can (in the US). I really need to tour, I get antsy when I’m in one place for too long.
