Rebecca Evans
Staff Writer
SELBYVILLE — With an upcoming tour and new album, multi-platinum selling artist Andy Grammer does not have a moment to spare.
Beginning at the end of August, Grammer is embarking on his 2016 U.S Tour with fellow headliner Gavin DeGraw. While travelling across the country, stopping to perform at over 40 cities nationwide, Grammer will use his down time (and his own private tour bus) to craft his third studio album, a follow-up to 2014’s “Magazines or Novels.” Grammer’s third album is set to release in 2016 and will feature his new single, “Fresh Eyes.”
On Sept. 3, Grammer and DeGraw will be making a stop at the Freeman Stage in Selbyville, Delaware as part of their tour. To purchase tickets, click over to www.freemanstage.org.
Grammer spoke to The Dispatch about his work-in-progress, writing chart toppers, and touring.
Q. Since you’re going to be on tour starting Aug. 28, what is one of your favorite parts of touring?
A. As you get older, it’s rare that you get to have big sleepovers with all of your friends. For a 32-year-old man to have a sleepover for three months with some of his best friends is a little bit rare. So that’s one thing that’s really fun. Number two is just it’s the only way you get to meet and have these incredible shows every night with these awesome fans. And you know, travelling does get a little bit hard, but it’s so worth it when you show up and there are screaming people who are singing every word. It’s a dream.
Q. Touring is a difficult job and you’re in the middle of writing your third album right now.
A. Yeah, I know. I’m actually bringing an extra tour bus to write. I’ll be writing the album there. We’re bringing an extra tour bus. It’s the first time I’ve ever done that, but the second tour bus is going to be for me writing. I’ve got my whole studio set up on the bus. We’re flying out a couple of my favorite writers to come with me. So yeah, we’re going to try to do a little bit of double duty on this one.
Q. When you’re at The Freeman Stage you’ll be playing with Gavin DeGraw. Have you ever played with him before?
A. Yeah, I love Gavin DeGraw. We actually toured before. I opened for him and Colbie Caillat one time. He’s one of my good friends. Actually, a lot of my old band members are in his band now. It’s a pretty family vibe which I’m really excited about. I love him. He’s one of the people when I’m on tour with [them], I watch the show at night because his voice is insane.
Q. Between the two of you, why do you think you mesh so well? Is it your music style? Is it your personalities?
A. Yeah, I think that we’re … in a similar lane musically, but it’s not the same. I feel like both of our fans feel like they’re going to get a lot out of an Andy Grammer/Gavin DeGraw show.
Q. I read an interview a couple years ago when you were writing an album. You said that you were intentionally trying to write hits. Now that you’re obviously a well-established musician, is that process any different for you now, especially now that you have your own tour bus that you’re bringing with you?
A. You know, it’s funny, the thing is you are trying to write a hit, always, but there isn’t really a way to know how to do that. I think you just have to write truth. Write your truth and then hope it’s a hit. Because I think if you’re trying to write a hit and hope it’s truth, then you get a lot of crappy songs. But if you do it the other way around and write it down, then hopefully you’ll have something that connects with an audience. Then, the ears feel like they’ve been taken care of and you’re not pulling one over on anybody. The worst thing for me is to have a song that’s super catchy but doesn’t make you feel anything. So, when you’re trying to write a hit, you get into dangerous territory when that happens.
Q. So, speaking of hits, recently you released a new single, ‘Fresh Eyes.’ What was your inspiration behind writing that song? What did you want to make people feel?
A. For anyone who’s been in a relationship for a long time, you still have those moments where you’re with the person that you love, and they surprise you in some way, whether it’s they put on a dress and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, you look incredible. You threw me off my game right now. You look amazing,’ or some stupid joke that they tell you, and it catches you off guard, and you find yourself. I know it sounds a little bit cheesy but I think you fall in love over and over again and I think that’s kind of the vibe of ‘Fresh Eyes.’
Q. Since you’re writing your third album currently, do have any ideas for the album title? Have you decided on anything yet?
A. No, not yet. I like to write a ton and pick the best one. I’ve written I think about 50 songs so far. So I don’t want to give it an album title yet, because I think there’s still quite a bit more to write. And then I’ll choose the best songs off the album and the album title will come from that.
Q. Since this is going to be your third studio album, how do you feel that this third album will be different from your first album or your second album? How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist?
A. Well the first album … you’re really getting down and dirty in writing- song writing. You’re trying to find yourself. Second album: you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to be different but still be the same which is excruciating. The second album is the worst; everybody talks about that. Now that’s behind me. The third album is like, ‘Man, I’m having so much fun writing this one.’ I hope that I’m better as a songwriter; it feels that way with the songs that I’m writing. I feel like in the third album, I’m doing less chasing. … I feel like throughout this process, there’s been less of that than before. I had a really good time with it.
Q. So, would you say that there’s more or less pressure with the third album to either top what you’ve done or show people that you’ve changed or stayed the same?
A. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I feel significantly less pressure than the second album. If you’re second album is a success, then there’s this feeling that, ‘Okay this guy is going to be around for a while.’ With the third album, I’d say there’s a little bit less pressure. I mean, oh there’s pressure, right? You got to do well every time. Personally, when I’m writing, I don’t feel as much pressure…
Q. Last summer, your triple-platinum single ‘Honey, I’m Good’ was voted [as polled by Entertainment Weekly] 2015’s Song of the Summer. Do you have any similar hopes for ‘Good to be Alive’ or ‘Fresh Eyes’? Any sort of hope they’ll get recognized?
A: All that you can do is… write stuff that makes you feel. You hope that when you put it out it makes people feel. From there, you kind of send it out into the world and let it do its thing.
Q. At what point in your career do you feel like you’ve made it?
A: I don’t know if you ever feel that. Like, if someone asked Jerry Seinfeld, ‘What’s your favorite joke?’ and he’s like, ‘That’s like asking, ‘What’s your favorite breath of air?’ As soon as you’re done creating something, you’re right on the chopping block again. You need to be great again. So I don’t think it has anything to do with, ‘I’ve made it.’ It’s like, ‘Oh cool, what’s your next song?’ There’s always a little bit of tension, and that’s okay.”
Q: The Freeman Stage is a small, intimate venue. Do you like playing those sort of intimate venues as opposed to larger types of places? Do you have a preference?”
A. I think it’s cool to mix it up. I think both are cool. I think there’s something really cool about massive crowds and just this feeling when everybody sings together. And then there’s something about being able to get more intimate and make sharper turns with smaller crowds because they can handle it. When you’ve got a huge audience, it’s tough to do small inside jokes. To me, it’s like riding a bike or a semi.