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Getting up
to speed with Alana Grace
August 3, 2009
Alana Grace may be known to some as the co-host of Speed TV’s motorcycle show New American Thunder, but music has always come first for her. That’s why she’s spending the summer on the Warped Tour and skipping the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally in August. After an early afternoon performance at the tour’s stop in Columbia, Md., the personable Grace spent the rest of the day giving interviews, then meeting—and recruiting—fans at her merch tent. Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki caught up with Alana to talk about the tour, her musical influences and more.
Live-Metal.net: So how’s it going so far on the Warped Tour?
Alana Grace: It’s actually going really well. It depends on the city, how big the crowds are and stuff. But as a new artist, I think it’s going great. I don’t know. I’ve met my quota of CD sales every day. That’s kind of all I care about. [laughs] I’m getting new fans, which is what it’s about.
Are you getting a good reaction when you play?
Yeah. The first few days, it was kind of like, “Oh god, what have we gotten ourselves into?” But we kind of got it together after that, and it’s been really good ever since
You were just talking about the show on Speed TV and Sturgis. Why did you decide to do this and not that?
We were gonna be off for June and July anyway, so it’s really just August that I’m missing for the show. My main thing is my music. That’s kind of like a side gig where I’m like, “Hey guys, I ride motorcycles.” Whatever. [laughs] It’s like a fun whatever thing. Music has always been my main focus.
How did you get into [music] originally and decide it was something you wanted to do as a career?
Actually, as far back as I can remember I wanted to be a singer. So I don’t really know how I got into it. I did start when I was 8 in musical theater because that’s where I saw most people singing at that age. We didn’t really have, like, Miley Cyrus back then. [laughs] I guess we had someone, I just wasn’t paying attention. But yeah, I did that and then I found out you could take voice lessons. I got into the whole writer-producer thing and that kind of led me on the path that I’m on now. It was kind of a work in progress of me finding my style, but I’ve always known that I wanted to be a singer.
Who were you listening to? Who were your influences?
The main influences have been Alanis Morissette. I don’t know if you her—Laura Nyro—she was out in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. And I love big band things, like Styx and Queen and Boston—people like that. And I love Aerosmith. So kind of all those bands. But then for the writer side, I’ve always been into Neil Young and Joni Mitchell and people like that. I grew up in Nashville, so lyricists and things like that have always been really important. So I listen to writers that have amazing lyrics a lot, just to kind of try to get inspired.
Do you have just the one CD out?
I have two, actually. I just came out with one called With One Word. It was kind of made for Warped Tour. It actually has three of the songs from my last album on it, but the rest are all new for people that are just now coming on to the Alana Grace bandwagon. [laughs]
For someone who hasn’t heard you or seen you play live, how would you describe what you do?
Generally, people say I’m a mix between Evanescence, Alanis Morissette and Tori Amos. I play piano sometimes on stage. I only do it one time in the Warped Tour set. Play piano and I’m a chick singer over heavy rock music, so there you go. [laughs]
What do you do all day here? You play, do a signing, come back here—how do you spend the rest of your time?
I try to hustle it, so I go out to the merch tent and try to get people to listen to the music, especially on days like today where we play kind of early. A lot of people miss the show, so you’ve really gotta get out and have people listen to the music because that’s how people get to know about you. So generally, I’m at the merch tent or in the bus eating. That’s about it. [laughs]
Have you had a chance to check out other bands?
Yeah. Last night—not last night, the night before, we had a day off yesterday—I checked out A Skylit Drive and Big D & The Kids Table. They were awesome. Saosin’s always amazing. I still haven’t seen Alexisonfire. I’ve heard they’re great, but I haven’t seen them. Then, of course, Devil Wears Prada and 3OH!3. Those are always the first bands that you see on the tour and like, “Yes! I’m on Warped Tour!” I’ve actually played at the same time as 3OH!3 like 10 times so far, so I don’t get to catch them as often as I’d like.
After this tour is over, what’s next for you?
I’m playing a couple shows with Heart. I’m opening up for them. It should be really cool. I’m doing a few military shows with Shiny Toy Guns, which will be awesome. And right now, we’re actually trying to decide what we’re doing for the fall. I’m trying to get on another tour. Hopefully I will, but if not, I’ll be going to Japan and letting out my album there. Either way, it’ll be good. [laughs]
Sounds like you’re gonna be keeping busy.
Oh yeah, oh yeah. Between hosting the show and doing music, I’m definitely keeping busy.
Do you have any long-term goals?
I have always wanted to get into acting more than just hosting a TV show. So I would like to do a few movies in my career, but probably not for a while. I’ve gotta get the music rolling first before I look into that stuff.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Just check out my music, alanagrace.com or myspace.com/alanagrace.
©2009 Live-Metal.Net
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