NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Andy Grammer emerged as one of 2011's
musical success stories with his debut gold-selling single “Keep Your Head Up,”
from his self-titled debut album with S-Curve Records.
Known for his pop/rock/soul mix and free-flowing vocal delivery, the acclaimed
singer, songwriter and musician–who began as a street performer in Santa
Monica, CA–is poised to make 2012 another big year.
On tap are his follow-up single “Fine By Me”; his first headlining tour, with
Ryan Starr supporting, launching January 13th in San Diego; and a live EP, Andy
Grammer Live, for release in the first quarter.
“Fine By Me” is already charting at Adult Pop Radio before its official impact
date of January 16. “The song is about having my heart stolen,” says the New
York-raised artist who now lives in Los Angeles, the city where he was born.
“It’s a story about a girl who came into my life and just robbed it right from
under me”.
The song’s video is being shot this week in Los Angeles with director Mark
Staubach, who has worked with Travie McCoy, Lupe Fiasco, and Simple Plan.
Fueling Grammer's success are his live performances, having already toured with
artists including Colbie Caillat, the Plain White Ts and Natasha Bedingfield.
In 2011, Grammer was picked as an artist to watch by Entertainment Weekly,
Billboard and the New York Post.
His debut album features 11 tracks written by Grammer and was produced by S*A*M
& Sluggo (Train, Neon Trees), Matt Wallace (Maroon 5), Barrett Yeretsian
(Christina Perri), and others.
Grammmer debuted at #1 on Billboard’s “Heatseekers” chart, and he was the first
artist in nearly 10 years (Jason Mraz, “The Remedy,” 2003) to break the top 5 at
Adult Pop Radio with “Keep Your Head Up.” The song's video hit #2 on the “VH1
Top 20 Countdown” and won an MTV O Award for Most Innovative Video, topping
entries from Arcade Fire, Robyn and OK Go!
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR ANDY GRAMMER
1. 2011 was a breakthrough year for you and 2012 seems to be launching full
speed ahead. You’re selling out your headlining tour dates months in advance.
Explain your journey so far, from a busker in Santa Monica to gold-selling
status for “Keep Your Head Up” and headline performer?
“I am just too excited for words. You strive and strive to get to a place where
what you have created has momentum. I remember my mother telling me it was like
a snowball; you start small with your little half ice/half snow peanut and begin
rolling it. Gold records and sold-out shows… even just responding to that
question feels like, ‘you talking about me?’ The best part is the opportunities
I get with momentum. That I even get to play a sold-out show where people know
the words, and I'm singing about things I'm connected to is such blessing. It’s
the equivalent of a nine-year-old saying ‘I want to be an astronaut when I grow
up’ and then getting to go to the moon. This year I've been to the moon, and
it’s awesome.
2. What can fans expect from your headlining tour? What changes have you
incorporated since the Natasha Bedingfield show?
“I think for starters it’s a whole different mentality. It’s the difference
between an appetizer and the meal. An opener is like the preview when you sit
down at the movies. This tour is like, ‘and now…for our feature
presentation…’ The lights turn off and everyone is ready. It’s different. I
will play a longer set; I'm also bringing out a keyboard/guitar player with my
band this time and taking more chances musically. On headlining shows I think
people are more willing to go on a musical journey with you. If you play a slow
intense personal song as an opener, it can be a super downer. That same slow
song in a headlining set might be the pinnacle of the show. I'm really ready to
take a stab at that sort of pressure as well as the rewards that come with
it.”
3. “Fine By Me” is the follow-up to your hugely successful gold single “Keep
Your Head Up.” It’s already climbing the radio charts well before the impact
date. Can you talk about what inspired this song?
“’Fine By Me’ is about having my heart stolen. It’s a story about a girl who
came into my life and just robbed it right from under me. In my experience love
is an all-or-nothing emotion. We are all really protective of ourselves because
we know that if we fall in love we'll fall hard. So we kind of dance around the
edges with our tippy toes in the water playing it cool. I went from playing it
SO cool to falling SO hard in about four days. That’s what ‘Fine By Me's’
about.”
4. Various musicians do covers of your music–Hunter Hayes for example. Do you
have a favorite cover to perform?
“When I performed on the street, I really developed a love for playing covers.
Some people are cover snobs and only play original material but I LOVE covers,
especially if you can flip them and make them your own. I love to cover a beat-
boxing version of ‘Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol, ‘Apologize’ by One Republic,
‘Empire State of Mind’ by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Anything to keep people
guessing or bringing something new to the song that wasn't there. Whether that
is taking a piano song and rocking it on the guitar, or taking a rap song and
adding a melody to the words, I like to add something to it.”
5. You recently performed at a Billboard event in NYC and paid tribute to Taylor
Swift with an acoustic version of her hit "Mine" and dedicated "Keep Your Head
Up" to Nicki Minaj and the rest of the honorees. What do you feel artistically
about Swift and Minaj?
“Artistically they are both really on top of their games right now. What really
stands out is that their songs are incredible. Both of them have the ability to
get into the core of the listener and have them relate with their vulnerability
on such a consistent basis–it’s uncanny. It’s like a quarterback winning Super
Bowl after Super Bowl–it’s amazing. I also really admire the relationship they
have with their fans. Having performed with Taylor, I saw how much fans love
what she gives to them, and as I was leaving the Billboard event, there was a
huge group of Nicki fans cheering and screaming when she came out. They scream
because Nicki and Taylor gave them something they can't get anywhere else–a
vital piece of their day. I am in awe of that relationship between fan and
singer–and both of those ladies are masters of that.”
Andy Grammer
Availability: Call for
Availability
http://www.andygrammer.com
Agency
Paradigm Talent & Literary Agency
Agency Relationship: Exclusive
360 Park Avenue South 16th Floor
New York, NY 10010 United States
Phone: 212-897-6400
Fax: 212-764-8941
http://www.paradigmagency.com
Responsible Agent: Jason Kupperman
Direct Phone: 212-897-6400
Fax: 212-764-8941
E-Mail: jkupperman@paradigmagency.com
Publicity
MSO PR / The Mitch Schneider Organization
14724 Ventura Boulevard Suite 500
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 United States
Phone: 818-380-0400
Fax: 818-380-0430
http://www.msopr.com
Responsible Publicist: Todd Brodginski
Direct Phone: 818-380-0400
Fax: 818-380-0430
E-Mail: toddb@msopr.com
Record Label
S-Curve Records
825 8th Avenue 30th Floor
New York, NY 10019 United States
Phone: 212-445-3291
Fax: 212-445-3298
http://www.s-curverecords.com/home
