Grace Askew: vocals, rhythm guitar
GROUDSPEAK band:
Gerald Stephens - organ & rhodes, Logan Hanna - guitar, Andrew Simons - bass, Jesse Williams - drums & percussion
Mojo Possum band:
Keith Cooper (Guitar) Bill Mard (Guitar) Frank Mclallen (Bass, vox) Tim Stanek (Keyboards, vox) Graham Winchester (Drums, vox)
Grace's sophomore release EP, 'Hawthorne' is now available on CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, and Napster!
Influences
Cat Power, Billie Holiday, Nick Drake, Ray LaMontagne, Joni Mitchell, Al Green, Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Ryan Adams, PJ Harvey, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Ann Peebles, Memphis TN
Sounds Like
"A Neo-Soul songstress with her heart tied to her Memphis roots"
The crew for "Wasted Lipstick" EP:
Grace Askew - vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, background vocals Rick Steff - accordian (on "Good As Gold") Dave Smith - Bass Steve Potts - Drums Al Gamble - Hammond Pete Matthews - acoustic guitar, background vocals Steve Selvidge - lead guitar ("Wasted Lipstick" and "Ripen") Van Duren - lead guitar ("In 1,2,3") Charlie Shaw - lead guitar ("Good As Gold") Shawn Eckles - lead guitar ("Swoop Down")
Recorded at: Ardent Studios and Leeway Studios Producer: Pete Matthews Co-Producer: Grace Askew Engineer: Pete Matthews Co-Engineer: Jennifer Lee Assistant: Nick Redmond (Ardent), Nick Fleming (Leeway) Mastered by: Brad Blackwood Album artwork/design: Cody Maple
Grace Askew may be a sixth generation Memphian…but, the soulful roots of her hometown aren’t the only undercurrents running within each song….
With sultry, aching resonance to her crooning and a rustic, guttural songwriting approach, Grace’s unique sound brings a breath of fresh air into the stifled Alt-Country/Soul genre.
Growing up in a family full of artists, designers, and performers, Grace’s intuitive passion for reading and writing was strongly encouraged. However, her interest in music – in combination with writing – would not be enlivened until the age of 13, when Grace began taking guitar lessons and, ultimately, putting words to chords. Seventeen was a huge transition stage for Grace as well. With frequent trips to visit her older sister, who was then living as an actress in New York City, Grace was opened up to a brand new world of culture, style, and, ultimately…music:
**“We were hanging out with one of her friends in his loft in Brooklyn, and one night, after playing a couple of my songs for him, he handed over a CD and said, ‘You’ve GOT to hear her.’ It was Cat Power’s first cover album. And that changed my life.”
Yet another poignant marker of Grace’s musical evolution was when she studied under jazz/bossa nova guitar teacher, John Gloria, throughout high school, and ultimately ended up attending college in New Orleans for music. Thus, jazz came to greatly influence Grace’s sound and would ultimately become the “tipping point” to set her off the beaten path and make her stand out from the countless female folkies. Now, at the age of 22, Grace’s technical jazzy/folk tinged style blends itself seamlessly with the Southern grace of her Memphis roots and the pure lyricism of an old-soul.
She currently holds multiple licensing deals for an up-coming TV Pilot entitled "Tamara & the Scene," and for two up-coming Universal Studios motion pictures.
Her discography now includes both her debut EP, ‘Wasted Lipstick’, and her newly-released sophomore EP, ‘Hawthorne’ (which features Grace with Groundspeak in an all-live, two-day, fourteen-hour session at Ardent Studios with Pete Matthews producing once again). Currently performing in two bands – Groundspeak and Mojo Possum – both in and outside of Memphis, you can always catch Grace performing solo at the Wednesday night “Barstars” at Neil’s on Madison Avenue.
**Quotes taken from a Michael Donahue interview entitled. “Listen UP: Grace Askew”. Commercial Appeal. 2009.
To watch the video footage of Grace's in-studio interview and performance of "Gotta Get Real", also with Michael Donahue,
**CLICK HERE**!!!
To read Grace's EP Release write-up by Mark Jordan
from the Commercial Appeal
**CLICK HERE**!!!
"...I was blown away with her husky voice, stage presence, and nice guitar work. She reminded me of a cross between Cat Power, Joni Mitchell, Jeff Buckley, Neko Case, and a lot of soulful Memphis roots thrown in with a little of her own flair as well."
- Ryan Jones, "My Midtown Memphis"
To read the full review, check out www.mymidtownmemphis.blogspot.com
"...I found her vocals cover a fairly wide dynamic range and in her crooning there is a soul familiar to women from the south, who can strip a tune bare and pour themselves into and straight through it. The songs follow a cycle of love, beginning with spring romance before advancing to further, darker corners...As with each of her songs, the musical feel complements the lyrics, rising dramatically as her voice exhibits an emboldened spirit eventually realized. Being a sucker for albums dealing with the multiplicitous nature of love, I enjoyed this one as an honest portrait of the ups and downs that are inevitable when you open your heart. And though still just 21, Grace Askew uses Wasted Lipstick to announce her musical arrival and will be one to keep a close eye on."
To read the full EP review by John Miller (Archer Records) **CLICK HERE**!!!
Hey How r u doing today?! Hit me up I'm giving away my demo Cd for free!! let me know if you would like a copy. Or if you just want to hit me back and let me know how u r that would be great!!
Hi ! I hope you're having a great day. I Just wanted to let you know how beautiful you truley are! And your smile contains the warmth of the sun never forget that. and if you would like, I can send you my demo CD for free. just hit me back! LOVE, MIKE!!
We have
Fire, Feathers, Garters, and Lace... and Several Women... You'll Want
to embrace. ;) Save the date and Step Right Up! Don't Be Shy, The
Memphis Belles Carnivale has arrived!! We invite you to be Dazzled by
our Burlesque Beauties and Wowed by our Sultry Sideshow - July 18th at
The Hi-Tone!!
TEASER: The Belles have something up their garters!
Yes, your Ep is quite the bees knees. i would've loved to talk to you more about music and everything and what inspires you and all of that but I suppose there's next time.
THANKS FOR COMMING IN,WE ARE PLAYING THE NEW DAISY FOR A RECORD COMPANY SHOW CASE,WE WILL BE HEADLINING, WE GO ON AT 11:00. SO COME OUT BRING YOUR FRIENDS,LETS ROCK THE HOUSE!!!!!!!! THANKS PENGEA
Great Edge Menu including The Avalanche, "World Famous Highly Addictive Double Espresso Milkshake"
Live Original Music Outside (weather and neighbors permitting)
Hard Times Community Sale. It's Free- Bring Stuff to Buy Sell or Trade with folks who bring stuff to Buy, Sell, or Trade. Art, Crafts, Left-Over Garage Sale Goodies, Jewelry, Etc.
SHAWN MORGAN (Winner of Bill Bellamy Who Got Jokes TVONE!, & Baisden After Dark TVONE Coming Soon "Are U Serious?!" on TV ONE!!!
REGGIE REG (Feat. Twice David letterman Show Impressionist week & Winner of Tom Finch's Miller Genuine Draft National Comedy Searc Tour! )
CONFIRMED HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES!!! *WESLEY SNIPES *DWAYNE JOHNSON COCHRAN *DREW SIDORA: *COURTNEY B. VANCE:
CONGRESSMAN: DANNY DAVIS... & more!! ALL VENUES & WORKSHOPS FREE "EXCEPT" THE FILM AWARD GALA THURS. JUNE 18TH! TICKETS: $50 @ DOOR
*DISCOUNT BY RSVP ONLY* $25 ADV $25 SENIORS & STUDENTS $200 10 TICKETS GROUP RATE Email OR Call BRONZEFEST3@YAHOO.COM 773 651-0700
WORKS HOP & GALA PARTICIPATION SPOTS AVAILBLE! ( ACTORS/ ACTRESSES/ POETS / SINGERS/ DANCERS/ VIDEOGRAPHERS/ PRODUCERS/ DIRECTORS/ WRITERS...
ALSO SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
GRACE FILMS & THE PRODUCER THE INDIE HIT FILM *FASSY TAILS: MOVIE ABOUT TEEN PREGNANCY*
@ THE BRONZEVILLE CUTURAL FESTIVAL WILL BE TAKING CONSIDERATIONS FROM SINGERS, MUSICIANS, SET DESIGNERS, MAKE-UP/ HAIR STYLISTS, VIDEOGRAPHERS, CHOEROGRAPHERS, WRITERS, PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS, LIGHTING/SOUND ENGINEERS, & SPONSORS FOR HER UPCOMING LIVE STAGE MUSICAL *A PIECE OF ICE*!!! BRING HEAD SHOTS, PRESS KITS, & RESUME'S
MORE INFO CONTACT: 312 791-1136 GRACEFILMS4@YAHOO.COM
Press play, it's that simple!!! Listen to "Silhouette" and if you like it, grab the code from the tape player here or on my site. Then post this widget on any and every website you can think of. Help me WIN!!! Recently, we just lost my step-mother to cancer at age 59. This song was written by me through the eyes of my father. Thank You for your support. -Jawz Unplugged
Grace Askew!! Im your number one fan foooooorrrrr rreeeaallll!!! Ha ha ha. Must talk soon... I continue to break our pact and... I may have even set it on fire...
Love ya sista! Have fun in the Cali and lets hang when ya get back...
Hey hows it going. Hope is well. I was wondering if you would like to have a free album? You can get it at http://www.megaupload.com/?f=3NNQTYF1 I would love to know what you think
I just noticed that you asked about the Atomic Cowboy. In case no one got back to you about that, it was pretty cool. Small crowd (for some reason they wanted us to play 6pm to 10) but they gave us really good money and the people there were really cool.
