Interview: Josephine Grace
UK based Pop/Worship singer-songwriter Josephine Grace just released her compelling debut Christian single, 'Higher Than The Heavens'. Louder Than The Music caught up with this newcomer to find out how she started making music, her plans to release more songs, and what influences her style.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
Sure. I'm Josephine Grace and I live in Liverpool in the UK with my husband and our two kids, we're involved in a local church and I'm a singing teacher! I begged my parents for a violin when I was 6 and grew up learning instruments from there really. I loved singing as well and got into songwriting when I was 14 and have just kept going with it.
Tell us about your new single 'Higher Than The Heavens' and what the inspiration behind it was?
So 'Higher Than The Heavens' is the first full-out worship song I've ever released so it marks the start of a whole new chapter in my music. It was inspired by Psalm 108 especially verses 4 and 5 where it says "For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." (NIV). I was chasing after sturdy truths to hold onto through what has been a crazy old time in the world (globally and personally) this past two years. A little reminder of God's love and faithfulness in the middle of it all.
Do you have any plans to release more music in the near future?
Yes I definitely have plans to do that! I wrote a bunch of songs that I picked this one from and I know which I have in mind to release next, after Higher Than The Heavens. It's a fun one, mixing a little pop and gospel together. And the wider plan is to get an EP of these songs out!
What message would you like people to take from your music?
Hopefully a sense of tapping beneath the surface and being real and finding hope and feeding faith along the way.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
Right now, I'd describe my style as a contemporary mix of worship and pop. Some of my main influences currently are Kari Jobe, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells and Sigrid. And most recently of all, TAYA - loving her first solo single!
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
Well, thinking of some of the all time best... I wouldn't say no to Stevie Wonder! Or Darlene Zschech! Obviously very different songwriters and styles, but I think both have a whole lot of wisdom to glean from. I love hearing a strong theme or truth come through in a song that resonates with authenticity in how the singer delivers it - I can think of a ton of songs from both of these artists where they add that extra dimension to their songwriting like this.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
I define success in my life, including as a music artist, as chasing down God's heart and being faithful with whatever is in my hand and heart to do. Part of that for now is to join a whole heap of other faithful people, in music and beyond, in bringing something hopeful into a world that is full of a lot of chaos and needs some love and certainty.
What is your favourite album of all time?
That is a hard choice... Mary Mary's debut album 'Thankful' got me through some tough times back in the day and taught me how to riff and praise my way through them!
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
Easy. Elevation Worship - 'See A Victory'!
What does the next year hold for you?
I wish I knew! What I'm working towards this next year is releasing an EP and getting out and singing these songs and meeting people and doing some good with it all. Exactly what form that will all take, we'll have to wait and see.
