At a time where staying connected is more important than ever, House of Solo has launched ‘Party of One’, a series providing intimate insight into how your favourite artists are dealing with isolation and what we can expect from them during lockdown.
For our final Party of One, we’re interviewing Baker Grace, a 19-year-old singer songwriter from New York. Touching on themes such as female empowerment, the danger of judgement and her relationship with her father, this up and coming artist shows a maturity in her songwriting that we could expect from someone twice her age. We caught up with her to see what the vibe in New York is like, her upcoming EP out on August 28th and some of her latest music inspiration.
First of all, how are you doing?
I’m doing well and making the most of the circumstances. There were a lot of different emotions and challenges that came with quarantine but it also made me realize that I have a lot to be grateful for.
What’s the atmosphere like in New York at the moment?
New York is starting to come back to life now. For a while, it was really eerie and quiet, it was so strange to see the streets empty. Now, people are going out to restaurants (socially distanced of course) and walking around the streets more. The subways are still fairly empty and there are still a lot of restrictions, but it is nice to see people out and smiling and having fun again.
What surprised you about lockdown? Either how you felt about it or what you found yourself doing.
I still feel a little shocked by everything that has happened and don’t think I have been able to process it fully. I was surprised, however, at how quickly I adapted to the new circumstances. It was scary and intimidating at first but once I let go of the things I couldn’t control, I started to learn and grow as much as I could from the experience. I think it has forced me to let go of the negativity I don’t need in my life.
Your latest EP ‘Yourz Truly’ is coming out on August 28th. What’s your favourite song on it?
My favorite song is BYFM and it will be released as a single with the EP on August 28. It is an anthem to empower women to feel strong and confident in who they are. It expresses that our worth isn’t determined by superficial things and encourages people to let go of the unrealistic expectations society puts on us. We are all beautiful for so many reasons but it is so easy to forget when the standard of beauty in our world is so unattainable.
You recently released “Up all Night”. What does that track mean to you?
“Up All Night” is a song about increasing acceptance, understanding, and awareness of others. Often, we judge people based on their behavior without considering the reasoning behind it. Everybody has a story and we have to take that into consideration before we jump to conclusions. We miss the opportunity to understand and learn from one another when we make assumptions.
Up All Night’ is about how too often we judge people or a group of people without getting the chance to know them,”
Baker Grace
I loved the videos of you and your dad singing together on your Instagram. Apart from being the inspiration behind your song ‘Pops’, has he been a big supporter and influencer of your music?
My dad was the one who introduced me to music. He is a musician and writer himself and noticed that I shared his passion when I was young. I would sing and dance constantly and loved to listen to his own music alongside that of his favourite bands like Queen, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles. He helped me record my first EP in high school and we still love to write, sing, and perform together. He supports me fully and it gives me the motivation to keep going.
What did you miss most during lockdown?
Of course I missed my friends and connecting with others in person. I also miss performing so much and was sad I had to cancel shows. I am really happy to be getting back in recording sessions again, it really fills my soul up.
How did you find live streaming? How different is the experience to performing live?
It is very different from performing live but I still enjoy it. The energy isn’t as intense but it is nice to connect with people and good practice for me. I want to try to be innovative with my online presence and figure out ways to use technology to create a cool experience for my fans.
You’ve been described, like a lot of other young musicians, as being old beyond your years. How do you reflect on this?
I think being wise comes from curiosity. Learning new things, asking for help, and jumping out of your comfort zone can be scary, but it makes you so much more knowledgeable. I always loved to observe the world around me, ask questions, and learn from others and I think that is what has made me have a better understanding of the world and the people in it.
What music have you been listening to during lockdown?
I have been exploring some new artists such as Lykke Li, Lennon Stella, Rosalia, Sech, and Manuel Turizo as well as listening to some old Kendrick, J.Cole, and Chet Faker.
Now lockdown is coming to an end, how do you reflect on the period?
I think it’s still hard to reflect on because even though lockdown is coming to an end, things are far from being back to normal. I think the most important thing I’ve learned from all of this is that I can’t predict the future. Life is full of surprises and I’m learning to make the most of every moment instead of trying to plan my life out perfectly.
