GRIF delves on his creative tastes, musical influences & new album “Tales from the Edge of the Universe”
Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself.
Hi I’m Grif I’m from Levittown PA, a suburb right outside of philly, the kind of town everyone wants to get away from.
What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
Music was evident since i was little – I was always pretty rhythmic hearing mozart for the first time when I was about four years old was one of those defining moments – I’d go to bed every night listening to classical music for children like a lot of kids do, and it set those pathways in my brain. that laid a foundation where my interest in poetry naturally found a home.
I don’t think I ever realized this was my path – it was a path I was always on, and I realized the other paths weren’t for me. I realized how fundamentally unhappy I was doing anything else. It wasn’t really choosing the path – it was not choosing the other paths. None of them felt like home. But this one I knew. The first song I ever wrote changed my life – my mood, my perspective, hell even my appetite. Suddenly I wanted to live in a different way.
coffee bean and the cafe crew – growing up i was always in different bands. the first band I was 10 or 11, we called ourselves coffee bean and the caffeine crew. The band consisted of me, my brother, sister, and our black cat Owen who had these crazy yellow eyes. I liked to consider myself the lead of the group – my stage name was Vanilla bear. Sebastian my brother was Notorious BLT. To call us a cover band might be giving us too much credit, but we were known to put on a mean performance of Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend.” Our discography was limited to songs we all knew already, anything from the radio or a CD in the old Kia Sedona. I like to consider that my first tour bus.
Tell us about your new music? And what’s the story behind it?
My new album is called Tales from the Edge of the Universe – it’s more hip hop based, a lot of lyrical poetry sewn into beats I created with a little help from my friends.
This Album has been explained as doors to the different dimensions in my mind. but a lot of people don’t know that these songs all have special meanings.
The story behind the album as a whole begins on the first song Marlboro Memories with Tony Hills. I’ve been in a rough spot in my life for awhile now, and music seems to be my only escape from the cruelties the universe presents on a day to day basis, so whenever i get the chance i’m always hitting the studio. One day i showed up to the studio, excited to network, catch up with some of my friends since covid was keeping us apart, possibly record a banger, but the Universe had other plans that day and i knew it as soon as i felt the tension in the room when i walked in. There was a couple new faces among the usual ones i called my friends, so i introduce myself and we all start chatting about life and music and plotting our way to the top. All of the sudden a voice so clear, so deep, and so wise made the whole group fall silent. “You Don’t Love Your Music.” Tony said with a smile on his face. Now we all knew he wasn’t talking to anyone but me, because i was “the new guy” but boy oh boy did it get me infuriated with passion. “How dare he say that about me, my music, my pride and my joy” one thought said. “Well maybe he’s right.” said the next. “No. No way i don’t love my music.” a war raged inside my head, “i’m gonna show him” “He’s never even heard my music” “I know i love my music!!!” “shhhhhh it will all be okay” My head was spinning till i finally blurted out 4 words that would change my life forever. “Thank you. Teach me.”
After that I wrote Marlboro Memories and offered for Tony to hop on. He gladly accepted and hopped on to drop some knowledge and decided to take me under his wing.
Night after night i would go to his house and we would record and work on our messages. Heavenly sentences like “free your mind” and “learn to tap in” were always popping up in our chats thankfully, because I’d be working long and grueling 12 hour shifts managing a shoe store, then stay up till 3 or 4 am working on music. That all slowly started to add up and sent me in spirals of depression and anxiety. But with Tony’s teachings it lead me to make songs like my dad’s favorite “The Ledge” where I pour out my soul and feelings about life, while also spreading my own positivity to lighten up the mood!
“Change is Coming” shortly followed “The Ledge” because I needed a boost and reminder that life couldn’t be that bad. Like i said earlier, i was working a full time job managing a shoe store, and that required 100% of my energy 100% of the time. Mix that with music, school, and trying to balance a relationship, i quickly fell apart. The chorus of the song “They can’t take my life, they can’t take my soul” were actually written during a shift before we opened up because i was terrified that my job was taking up all my time to make my push in music. I NEEDED AN ESCAPE FROM IT ALL!!!
That’s when “Back Down to Earth” came to life. I was lost at the time, knowing that i wanted to do music, but how? I’m not gifted the gift of gab like Tony and other rappers, my voice will never be The Weeknds, these were things my ego was telling me on a daily basis, so what did i decide to do??? With the help of flower and fungus, i did my absolute best to kill off my ego and recorded a song right after! Pure art in my opinion. The lyrics, partially freestlyed, tell tales of me “breaking through the wall” and coming back to “earth” (though i never left it lol) to find my zen the next morning with less anxiety and more passion to get my work done!
BUT I WAS STILL DROWNING AT WORK AND IN LIFE NOT DOING WHAT I LOVED…….
Work sucked, i was too caught up in life to see my relationship walking out the door, and MUSIC WAS STILL THE ONLY THING THAT MADE ME FEEL ALIVE!
One verse lead to another and POOF! “How you say you hate me when you see me on that paperchase” Pandora’s Box was born. A song about freeing your mind, taking off your “soul shackles” Kurt Vonnegut is known for saying “why me, well why anything” and that’s exactly what “Pandora’s Box” is all about. We all have the answers to any of our problems, you just have to look inside to figure out how to solve them.
I was so excited about this song that i had to tell Tony! I knew i had finally done it and made a song that i could be proud of! We got back together and in that moment i knew what my album was missing! MORE KNOWLEDGE FROM MY MASTER HIMSELF. We went through some old verse’s we did and picked the song 1.2.3. and re recorded it to our liking for the album. Tony dropped one of the hottest verses ive ever heard on that song and after he recorded it he walked out and slammed the studio door behind him (heard in song) and with this new inspiration i made the song “She’s in Love with Jim Carrey”
But before i move onto Jim Carrey, i just want to explain that my life was still in shambles. I was getting ready to quit my job, my girlfriend at the time had just ghosted me after a year of being together… not even one response… i was on “The Ledge” again but still had knowledge to share with everyone!
At the beginning of the song you can hear a door opening into a new delicate part of my mind. A raw space where I could go be myself. I needed to free my mind once again, while spreading as much love as possible. In a sense I was hoping it would save my relationship some way, some how, but instead I saved myself! I had so much fun making the song again that I had once again fallen in love with music. Right then and there I decided no more working a 9-5 for someone else and that i would put my full faith into music!
Quitting my job was a nightmare, and the friends i made while working there still won’t talk to me, but i had one final message for all the people who didn’t believe in me and that message was nothing but “Love and Peace” an ironic song that throws shade at people who didn’t believe in me, while telling the world that they can do anything they put there mind to.
Each and every song is full of positive messages and quick witted lines, so definitely have fun when listening and digest each one like your favorite meal!
What makes your music unique? How would you describe it?
This question is super hard to answer, because the answer is very egotistical, but ME!
The high tempo’s and quick spitted flow’s are unique in themselves, but my wittiness and divine messages are what set me apart. Trust me when i say that you can teach anyone to make a club banger… hell even Pete Davidson has a rap song… but does it make it REAL music?!?
For this album, i leaned towards hip hop for sure, but my whole next album at the end of them summer is stocked filled of punk rock, edm, pop, and hip hop……… so be ready 🙂
Who are your biggest musical influences? And any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?
Growing up, I thought my dad was Kid Rock. Forreal. I confronted him about it, and of course he adamantly denied his rock star status, but I refused to believe it. Maybe I got some sort of complex thinking I was the son of a secret rock star, but it paid off. Growing up there were a ton of artists I loved, all across the spectrum. Anything from John Mayer to Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Kanye West, Bob Marley and ACDC, Johnny Cash and Nas, and of course the lyrical angsty rock of bands like Rise Against and Linkin Park. I think that cavalcade of artists is pretty palpable in the music I make today. It’s emotional and introspective and often vulnerable, but there’s a bite and a spark in the bars and the melodies.
Then in my Teenage years is when i discovered artist like J. Cole, Tech N9ne, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Webby, Flatbush Zombie’s and Kid Cudi where my love for performances started. Seeing them on stage jamming out are some of my favorite memories and i couldn’t help but think, why am i not on stage with them.
My dream artist that i’d like to work with that aren’t listed above include: JID, Isaiah Rashad, Smino, Taylor Swift, Willow Smith, Brock Hampton, and Ed Sheeran. Theres’s so many artist i could list, but i’ll stop here.
Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?
My biggest accomplishment was throwing my first showcase!
I had 8 artists perform and we brought in a crowd of 100+ people.
It was so bittersweet seeing the crowd judge each artist, some cheered, a lot booed, one artist even cursed out the crowd for being “rude” so of course being the last artist to perform I was terrified.
I got on stage and my song starts playing and I start rapping, and one by one I started to see people rise from their seats! By the end of the song, everyone was standing and cheering like it was out of a movie! “Talk that sh*t boy” “Yo he’s actually really good” kind words rained in till the end of my 5 songs.
I feel like that moment will live with me forever to be honest.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?
AHHHH this is a funny one because i don’t hahahahhhahaha
Music and Family comes 1st no if and or buts about it. It sounds selfish, but your friend’s won’t ever see your vision, and the one’s that do become family.
I failed at working and making music, but door dash had my back because i can go make money whenever i please!
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Stop the B.S… The songs aren’t going to write themselves. The show won’t come for you unless you’re viral. Find either yourself or a couple really close friends, and pave your way. Never say yes to the first offer, and have a really good lawyer if you decide you want to sign a deal. Other than that, be yourself and don’t change for anyone but yourself.
If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
My message to anyone, fan or not, is to LOVE YOURSELF. Not everyone is born into riches or has the luxury of being a generational talent, but we ALL have the ability to be special in our own ways and it all starts with accepting the cards you were dealt. Kenny Rogers says it best “you have to know when to hold them, know when to fold them” But either way you have to play with what you’re given.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?
Short term i have a solo project coming out at the end of the Summer, filled with heartbreak rock and roll songs, uplifting edm and pop songs, and high energy hip hop all wrapped into one project!
Long Term… a magician never reveals his tricks, but just know, i’m going to change this world!
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