GREYE- Indie/Rock/Pop/Americana/Outlaw County
Interview conducted on May 10, 2020
by Dan Locke
Introducing GREYE – the Progressively Independent band from Daytona Beach, Florida. Breaking all of the so-called industry rules of musical “conformity” and cookie cutter cloning;” GREYE combines the best musical energy and style available anywhere today. Hannah Summer and GREYE deliver song after powerful song; single handedly blazing a trail into the future of music.
Band Members
Hannah Summer, Jett Wolfe, Joshua Reid, Ray Grimard, Ken-e Williams
Dan Locke: What is your upbringing?
Hannah Summer: Growing up in a tourist town (Daytona Beach, FL), I have been around the entertainment industry in many different forms since I was very young. Not only is Daytona known as the birthplace of Nascar and as a major hub for annual Bike Week events, the high school that I and several other members of Greye attended is also the alma mater of Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line. My upbringing was quite normal but always included some element of performance, and I think that drove me to want to continue the trend into adulthood.
How did you discover music?
I first discovered music on my father’s lap when I was just big enough to crawl onto his little electric piano while he was tapping away. From there, I was forced to listen to hours upon hours of the great “Elvis the Pelvis” Presley courtesy of my mother. Then, in my early teens, I developed a mild obsession with musical theater and finally acquired what some would call decently rounded taste when I was introduced to progressive rock, my greatest musical influence, in my late teens/early twenties.
How the band did get its name?
Greye was named after the first song we ever wrote. It seemed like the only thing that would fit. Our music is so diverse, we needed something that encapsulated our different playing styles, influences, and our writing.
What band were in before Greye?
And how did they discover you? I suppose if you consider the church choir of my old school a band, then that’s the only other musical group I’ve ever been part of. Greye didn’t really discover me, either – we more so discovered each other thanks to me being placed (accidentally) in a guitar class my sophomore year of high school, where I met our guitar player, Jett Wolfe, who knew Joshua Reid, our bass player, who happened to know Ray Grimard, our Drummer. After seeing us play in a battle of the bands as a trio (myself, Jett, and Joshua), Ray invited us to his studio space and so we could try playing with a drummer. From there, we brought on our keyboard player, Ken-e Williams, and the rest is history!
You joined the band on Dec. 31, 2012.
What was the first like with the band? I’m not sure where this date has come from, as I’ve been part of the band since its infancy in early 2012. From the first time we played together though, we knew we had something that was too special to let go.
Are you still playing guitar?
Thankfully, no. My rhythm guitar playing was mediocre at best and was a convenient excuse for me to never fully work on my skills as a frontman. At first, it was absolutely daunting to step out from behind the guitar, but it really forced me out of my comfort zone, and I wouldn’t be half the performer I am now if we hadn’t made that choice.
“Under the Weather” was a turning point for the band. You started to get radio airplay. What was different from that CD then your previous work of music?
When we were writing Under the Weather, we really focused on making it palatable for a wider audience. Greye’s first four records were quite self-serving in the sense that pleasing the masses wasn’t really at the forefront of the writing process. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing though. It gave us a lot of practice writing together, and it helped us figure out what direction was the most practical for us musically. Now that we have a streamlined writing process and clear creative direction, it’s much easier to focus on making music that a wide array of people can enjoy.
I love you take on Yes’s “Roundabout”. Did you ever have the chance to see Yes live with the original members?
Our drummer, Ray is the only one of us who’s had the pleasure of seeing the original Yes lineup several times. I’ve only ever seen different iterations of the band, from the 2018 lineup to ARW. Nothing will ever compare to seeing Yes at the height of their fame, but at least we have things like YESSONGS that can give us a glimpse into what it might have been like.
What is your favorite track on the album?
On the new record, my favorite track is “Lucky” so far. It’s a very powerful, driving song that I think is relatable but not cliché. Sometimes it’s hard to pin down Greye’s style in just one song, and I think “Lucky” is a great representation of our whole sound.
How was it to make the World Indie Music Chart Top 100?
The fact that we’ve hit #1 with Lucky on the World Indie Music Charts is humbling, to say the least. Enormous thanks to everyone who’s listened to the song and made it possible, we hope you enjoyed it and will continue to stick around and see what Greye has coming for you next!
Tell me about “Lucky”? And the idea of the video?
“Lucky” is an anthem for anyone who has ever had a dream that seemed too impossible to believe in – that one dream that you’ll do anything to achieve. People are quick to say, “Gosh, you’re so lucky to do what you do,” when all they can see is the end and not the journey, so “Lucky” is a song to remind you that all your hard work does not go unnoticed. The music video was shot by the incredibly masterful Brett Bortle of Weekend Warrior Productions, and we essentially gave him free rein to do whatever he liked as far as the concept went. It needed to be something gritty and dark, but not too distracting from the message/performance of the song, and I think Brett absolutely nailed it.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Streaming has its advantages and disadvantages. Of course, I love the convenience of having every song I could ever want to listen to readily available in the palm of my hand. It’s not very practical to purchase CD’s or LP’s anymore when you can access everything instantly with your smartphone. However, the shift toward streaming being the primary way that people listen to music means that no one really buys music anymore. They’re paying to support the streaming service, not paying to support the artist directly, which is why I think it’s so important to attend concerts and go see local musicians whenever possible to keep feeding the industry directly at the source.
Digital vs. vinyl?
There’s no arguing this one – digital sounds better. However, much like many of my contemporaries and countless others before us, I do believe there’s a little bit of magic in the poly-lined sleeve of a traditional vinyl LP. I really enjoy the experience of putting on a record and not being able to skip around on it with ease. It forces you to just sit down and listen to a whole body of work, something which is unfortunately rare in the digital age.
How was the North Eastern Tour of 2018?
Our 2018 Northeastern Tour was fantastic! Some of our favorite shows we’ve ever played happened on that tour. The audiences were lively and welcoming and being able to travel with your favorite people is something I wouldn’t trade for the world.
How do you stay healthy on tour?
Staying healthy when you’re crammed with four other people into a 45-foot metal tube (our tour bus) is difficult as everyone’s germs tend to circulate quite quickly. To help combat sickness, we all stock up on Vitamin-C tablets, which we take ritually at the start of every day.
You played for a Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees game in Fort Myers FL. What was that like?
It’s always a treat when we get to play for the Red Sox down in Fort Myers. The people are real music lovers and they’re always so receptive to our original songs as well as our covers. They have a really nice stage that’s open-air and with our P.A. system, we’re able to make sure the sound quality is top-notch. It’s definitely one of our favorite venues to play.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
I just had the pleasure of seeing Phil Collins play live in Duluth, Georgia a few months ago, and I’ve had his solo essentials album on repeat around the house ever since. The song I keep coming back to over and over again is “Another Day in Paradise.” I’ve always loved it, and from a production and musical standpoint, it’s a masterpiece – one that seems to only get more poignant and prophetic as time goes on.
How was Bike Week 2020?
Bike week 2020 was odd. COVID-19 loomed over everything, and I think we were all a little on edge waiting to see what would happen. We were fortunate to play every show we had booked that week, and hopefully, the music helped take everyone’s mind off the virus, at least for a little while.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I sincerely hope that after all the madness this virus has caused, people will come away with a new appreciation for live music – perhaps one that doesn’t include being on your phone for an entire concert, one where everyone knows how to be in the moment and enjoy the show before it ends.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
During quarantine, we’ve taken full advantage of all the extra time and have nearly finished writing for our sixth record, and we’ve also put on a few live shows via Facebook Live to keep in touch with our audience even though we can’t be directly in front of them.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I have been doing a good amount of reading, and I’ve taught myself how to knit! Unfortunately, I can only knit scarves at the moment, and since we live in a state where it’s at least 90 degrees for most of the year, I will be shipping those scarves off to my relatives in colder states.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. And you are doing a few shows per week. How is that going?
So far people seem to be enjoying our live streams! It certainly feels good to be able to perform in some capacity, even if it is just to a camera. It lets us keep practicing our live show and more importantly, keeps us in touch with our fans, and we’re so thankful to be able to play for them.
What does a successful show on Facebook Live?
A successful show on Facebook Live is one where the sound and video quality is top-notch, and where everyone enjoys watching!
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Long term, no. We’ve seen a lot of bands asking for donations on their live streams and while I can understand doing that short-term, it’s much more lucrative to play live shows at venues where you’re being paid a set amount than it is to fund your operation solely on donations.
First, it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally, Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until the fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
No, I think that things will be opening up much sooner than that. With federal and local governments already taking steps to reopen businesses, I think (and sincerely hope) things will return to a certain level of normal, one which will hopefully allow for things like concerts to resume, far sooner than fall of 2021.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
This may be an unpopular opinion, so forgive me for that, but I think the instant accessibility of music has largely ruined the intended experience. Historically, the reason people went to concerts, cinemas, and other live shows was to be sat down in a dark room with a group of strangers and be entertained without distraction. It was a total escape in a very once-upon-a-time fashion. While live-streaming from a remote location may be the only option we have right now given the circumstances, I don’t think it should ever replace actually going to live shows, and even though current technology wouldn’t support it, I also don’t think that holographic in-home concerts should be an option either. The very idea of it cheapens an experience that is already having a hard enough time remaining sacred in the modern age. Leave concerts where they belong – at actual venues.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
It’s hard to say exactly where we’d like to be in five years, but we definitely know that we don’t want to be where we are now. We hope to tour with other bands and continue releasing music and keep growing out of our little beach town and into the rest of the world.
Anything you would like to say in closing:
Thank you so much for taking the time and interest in Greye. We hope you like what you see and that you’ll keep your eye on us in the future. We can’t wait to get back up on stage again, and until then, keep watching for more live streams and new music releases!
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