Industry Reviews is excited about today’s featured artist Girl Crush
Check out our interview with GC (below) and her video “Call Me Trouble ft. Lex Lu” (Above)
IR: Let’s get to know a little bit more about you and how you grew up. So where do you consider hometown and what type of kid were you growing up?
GC: I grew up in St. Louis, MO, with three sisters, a hamster, a black Labrador and any other animal I could randomly find near the creek whether it was a frog, a turtle, or fireflies. Our clothes were hand-me-downs from the neighborhood kids so we had to be creative with fashion choices. I was labeled a “nerd” very early on in school and in some ways fit the mold. I was shy and got good grades, but I came alive when I sang. Whether it was the Little Mermaid or Natalie Imbruglia, when I was singing, my shyness melted away. I was invincible.
IR: How old were you when you developed an interest in music?
GC: Since I can remember I loved music. My older sister and I would sneak over to the coolest neighborhood girl’s house and secretly listen to The Spice Girls and Rent. I come from a more religiously conservative household so blasting “Wannabe” was not something that was approved. It was me & my sister’s dirty little secret. At recess, I would change the lyrics to top 40 songs and perform my version on the playground. I had bad hair and a retainer, but performing at school gave me street cred.
IR: What was the first album you ever listened to? Can you remember back that far?
GC: My first album was Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill. It was my older sister’s album and everything my older sister did was cool. I was raised in the church and sang in church choir for my entire upbringing. But when I heard Alanis so raw, uninhibited, and unedited, it was surreal. Alanis was the first female I ever heard say the word “fuck”. It was like walking outside and finding a unicorn. I was like, “is this possible?”
IR: When and how did you begin your journey in the world of music?
GC: As a kid, I either wanted to be a fashion designer, pop star, or astronaut. It wasn’t until the age of 12 until I realized that I had to sing and nothing else would do. I was in NYC with my church choir and it was my first time going to a Broadway play. As I watched the character Eponine pour her heart out on stage in Les Miserables, I promised myself that music would be my life.
IR: What influences shaped your musical style?
GC: I’ve been influenced by powerhouse pop women my whole life. I believe the main divas that have influenced my style are Gwen Stefani, Cyndi Lauper, Cher, Madonna, and Left Eye Lopez from TLC. Love her.
IR: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard it before?
GC: My manager always says I’m a mix between Katy Perry and Ke$ha. I think I’m more like a mix of rainbows & fireworks leaving a path of glitter wherever I go.
IR: Do you write a lot by yourself or do you have a partner or a group of people you work with?
GC: I am a top line artist, which means that I write melody and lyrics. I love working with other artists. For my single “Call Me Trouble,” I collaborated with the fierce femcee Lex Lu. I have another single that will be coming out soon that I co-wrote with teen heartthrob Grant Woell. I have been blessed to work with gifted producers such as Grammy winner Clarence Jey, The Track Martians, Skyler Lexx, and Jeff Seibenick. I never limit myself when it comes to the process of creating. I love building my empire with driven spirits who have music running through their veins.
IR: What is your main goal at this point?
GC: My mission is for my music to be heard worldwide and to go on a Girl Crush World Tour. I want to share my joy with the world. I’ve always considered myself a child of the universe.
IR: Have you learned any lessons so far and if so, what are they?
GC: If you are in this business to be liked, go home. If you are in this business for money, go home. To be an authentic artist, you must be yourself regardless of what others think and be driven by a force more powerful than money. A force so powerful that nothing can stop it.
IR: Are there any artists you wish to work with in the future?
GC: Yes! I would love to work with Bonnie McKee, Gwen Stefani, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX, Jessie J, Pink, & Beyonce. That is just to name a few.
IR: If you could create your dream tour, who would be a part of it?
GC: Myself with Bonnie McKee & Pink. All three of us are so theatrical, it would be such a blast!
IR: Where can we find your music?
GC: My single “Call Me Trouble” is on iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/oseveya
IR: We ask all the artists we interview, what’s the best piece of advice someone’s ever given to you?
GC: In high school a girl was crying because someone told her that she hated her. I was trying to console her and told her that I couldn’t imagine anyone hating her. Another girl stepped in and said, “I could”. I was shocked–it was so insensitive! But then she continued on to say that all of us will be hated at one point or another, and there is nothing you can do to stop that from happening. Someone out there hates Mother Theresa. Someone out there hates Gandhi. The lesson of letting go of the need to be liked is powerful. It’s especially hard for young women to do that, because we’re trained to want to be liked from day one. Someone can hate me and I’m okay with that. This gives me a freedom in my music and in my life that is priceless.
