Each time I’m in a music rut, my answer has all the time been to look to the Brit Awards—the British model of the Grammys, however inexplicably cooler, given the inherent edge that comes with merely being born on the opposite aspect of the pond. Specifically, the Brits’ rising star award has change into the crystal ball that marks the musicians we’ll be listening to for years to return. Little recognized artists like Adele, Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J, and Sam Smith all received the award after they have been first beginning out. And now Griff, the 20-year-old from a tiny London suburb, joins their rank.
Celebs like Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner have brazenly shared their love for Griff’s debut EP, One Foot in Entrance of the Different, that includes seven tight emotional tracks set to upbeat pop beats worthy of enjoying on repeat. Born to a Jamaican father and a Chinese language mom, Griff is a completely self-taught musician. “I feel it was a really Asian mentality from my mother, the place it was like, ‘You go to highschool to be tutorial and get good grades. You don’t go to highschool to be artistic,’” she says over Zoom, taking a break from recording in a London studio. “I by no means formally studied music in any respect.” As an alternative, Griff, who was born Sarah Griffiths, spent her free time getting her musical sea legs on her personal. “We had musical devices at residence, so after I wasn’t in class, I might sing and write on a regular basis.”
The significance of teachers was definitely instilled in Griff, who saved document execs on their toes for a full yr, selecting to complete her research fairly than signal a shiny document deal—one thing practically remarkable in right this moment’s world of TikTok insta-fame. Get to know the artist who sews her personal garments, discovered to tightrope on the fly, loves a winged eyeliner, and most significantly, was properly definitely worth the wait.
Glamour: What was your course of wish to land your document cope with Warner Information?
Griff: I used to be in class, finding out economics, geography, and textiles, and I began to jot down music in my spare time. After a full day of college, I might journey to London to satisfy random producers and anybody that might need to work with me for a writing session. I used to be doing that hustle for a yr or so, and as quickly as I began working with different producers, my music began to get round a bit. My supervisor says there was sooner or later the place his telephone was blowing up as a result of my music “Paradise” was throughout SoundCloud. That day, that music went round to all the labels and publishers, and I used to be like, “I don’t know what’s happening.” I didn’t know what a publishing or document deal was on the time, however Warner was a type of labels that have been actually, actually enthusiastic about my music. However I held out for ages as a result of I had one yr of college left. Warner referred to as my supervisor day by day for a yr and was like, “Is she prepared but? We’re nonetheless right here.” I ended up signing throughout the center of my exams and took the yr to complete my A-levels and get good grades. I launched “Mirror Speak,” my first single, two weeks after my final examination.
That’s fairly the commencement current! How did you rejoice?
I really type of didn’t. It was very low-key. I didn't like speaking about my music in class, so I used to be making an attempt to maintain it very undercover. I don’t know if it’s simply the pessimist in me, however I feel I knew that simply since you signal a deal, it doesn’t imply something. The work begins at that time.
How would you describe your musical sound?
I’m at a really early stage in my profession, so I feel I’m nonetheless discovering my musical sound. However I’d say it’s pop. For thus lengthy I used to be afraid of the phrase pop, as a result of it feels prefer it’s change into a little bit of a grimy phrase, however I feel I have to personal it. My music is uplifting, emotional, sincere, lyrical pop.
Who’re the musicians that encourage you?
Rising up, my dad made positive we listened to a whole lot of Black, R&B, and soul music. It was a whole lot of Stevie Marvel, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, and Invoice Withers. Then I found Taylor Swift. I’m a giant Taylor stan. She was large for me, particularly her album Fearless. I bear in mind listening to it as an eight-year-old, and it was mind-blowing. I additionally love Banks and Lorde.
What was your concept of what it meant to be a profitable musician if you have been youthful?
Earlier than I began making music, I assumed every little thing would come in a single day and I’d simply have a whole lot of thousands and thousands of streams and be touring the world. And now I feel I’ve realized that songwriting is what I like finest; the eye that comes with it’s really not what I naturally lean in direction of.
What’s it now?
The flexibility to jot down actually unimaginable timeless songs that may exist past my lifetime.
Who’s the musician you’ve all the time needed to satisfy, and what would you say?
Max Martin, and I’d simply go as much as him and ask, “How?” I simply don’t perceive the way it’s attainable for somebody to churn out hit after hit after hit.
Whenever you’re not making music, what’s your concept of an ideal day?
I’d sleep actually late, after which actually, I’ve discovered that I similar to being alone. I low-key like my very own firm. I really like a day on my own happening walks, studying, after which perhaps going to the pub with my mates within the night. That’s a super day for me.
You studied textiles and make your personal clothes. How lengthy have you ever been doing that?
For years now. I discovered to stitch after I was in class. I used to be 16, and I took it for my A-levels. They taught me the fundamentals of stitching, and I simply liked it. And in terms of picture shoots and performances, it provides a pleasant contact. These days pop music can really feel shiny and artificial, and it seems like folks recognize when there’s a private contact to what I do. I made my Brits gown, which was enjoyable, as properly.
Is there a musician that you just’ve met that made you essentially the most starstruck?
It’s going to should be Taylor. We met on the Brits and frolicked in her dressing room after the night time ended. I’d wish to suppose I didn’t freak out an excessive amount of, however my head wasn’t within the dialog. I used to be simply nodding and turning my head. I used to be like, “That is Taylor’s face in entrance of me, shifting and chatting.” It was fairly surreal.
What’s the greatest distinction between Sarah Griffiths and Griff?
I’d say that every little thing I’m as Griff is only a bit extra elevated. I get to have extra enjoyable, experiment, and push boundaries a bit extra artistically. There are issues that you just’d by no means say, however you possibly can write them in a music, so I write and say them as Griff. Or there are garments that I’d by no means put on—like going to the grocery store in an enormous gown—however as Griff, it feels acceptable to do this.
Talking of clothes, what’s been your favourite costume to put on to this point?
I wore a younger designer named Susan Fang to the Brits for my red-carpet look. It had this large headpiece made with these clear marble issues. It was so impractical, however fairly ethereal and dramatic. I fairly loved sporting that.
You play loads with clothes, however what about make-up?
I all the time do a winged eyeliner. I exploit Burberry or Glossier, however I care much less concerning the product so long as it’s the usual black.
What do you propose to spend your first massive paycheck on?
I’m fairly frugal. I discover it onerous to spend cash. I can’t think about spending 1000’s on a bag or something. I nonetheless reside at residence with my mother and father, so proper now I’m serious about saving up for a home.
What’s your favourite snack to have readily available whereas recording?
I’ve a candy tooth. I really like pastries, like almond croissants. And it’s essentially the most British factor I’m ever going to say, however you do want tea and biscuits. Simply to maintain the gas operating!
The quilt artwork to your EP, One Foot in Entrance of the Different, includes a {photograph} of you on a tightrope. Simply…how?
Yeah…I type of simply discovered methods to tightrope whereas we have been taking pictures the art work. Once I listened to all the songs, there was this sense of a journey and restoration. There are just a few references to bouncing again from heartbreak, which may really feel like relearning methods to stroll, or strolling on a tightrope. Within the music “Remembering My Desires,” there’s a lyric that claims, “You threw me again with steadiness,” and there’s one other music referred to as “One Foot in Entrance of the Different.” It felt just like the tightrope picture was screaming out at me. Once I acquired to the picture shoot, I assumed I’d maintain onto one thing and we’d Photoshop it out, however they have been like, “No, you simply go up there and do it.”
They introduced in a person from Cirque du Soleil who tightropes for a residing to assist. The rope was solely about two meters off the bottom, and there have been crash mats beneath. I’d get on and fall proper down. However I feel the fantastic thing about it was that we didn’t know what the shot would seem like. And if we ended up with a shot of me falling, I assumed that was equally as cool. However I managed to determine it out. I feel there’s one thing good about doing actual issues in picture shoots. You seize an actual emotion that you just couldn’t get in any other case.
Have you ever been on one since?
No, I haven’t. I would like to drag it out, however I don’t know if I can do it once more. It’s so onerous!
Because you’re Zooming from a recording studio, I’ve to ask, what’s subsequent for you?
Choosing out reside live performance dates! We will likely be touring within the U.Okay. and Europe, however I’m eager to return to the U.S., and we’re engaged on getting the visa logistics labored out. And I’m anticipated to jot down an album, which is type of daunting and scary, so I’ll have to determine how to do this.
Caitlin Brody is the leisure director at Condé Nast.
