I'm Oliver Trivino here on stage at the Troubadour. I'm not performing. I'm here with Grayson Chance who is performing. That's, that's how real this is right now. They're about to do soundcheck. We're, we're right in the mix of it. It's been five years since I've seen you.

Yeah, it's been a long time. I think it's actually five years. I looked at the date. It's pretty much five years to the day.

Yeah. Which is it really?

Yeah, it really is. When I came in and I was playing the piano.

Playing the piano. Yeah. Little Grayson. Not a lot has changed, man.

No, just bigger Grayson still playing the piano.

You're still called Grayson and you're still playing the piano. You're still doing music, which is amazing. amazing. Exciting times. But yeah, you give me a little piano lesson. That's it. It was lovely. What are you going to teach me now?

Well, man, let me think of what I can teach you. I mean, you know, there, it's funny, we're, we're talking. It's like, it's been five years. For me it feels like yesterday. It really doesn't feel like crazy. You know, there's been a lot of there's been a lot of gigs in between and a lot of stuff in between, but I, you know, yeah, I'm still, I'm still playing shows, still writing music.

You've been touring loads. I've been hearing about it. It's right.

Yeah, and, and you know, I took uh, in between when I was like, you know, years ago, man. When I was a kid when I was like 15. That was a joke. Um, I was, I took a bit of time off and, and went to figure out, you know, sort of musical direction where I was going. And this is sort of the reintroduction for me to come back to fans. It's my first show in LA in three years. So, uh, I'm going to be playing out a lot of new music to the folks and uh, saying hello again. The EP somewhere over my head. Yeah. And uh, and the new single hit and run is out February 5th. Yes. Which is exciting. It's so really excited about. Yeah. And uh, everyone's loving Afterlife, which is out now. So.

So the the music's there. Which is great. We're we're excited for it. Yeah. Um, how would you say this record personally is different from your last stuff? I mean, obviously, you've grown.

Yeah. Well, I think anyone, you know, it's funny. I was just actually walking up and uh, you know, I, I saw a fan and she came up and she said, hey, you know, I come from San Diego. And I think, you know, what's funny for me is that I've grown up, but also these kids who have supported me have grown up too. Right, right. So, what's different in the music is that it's just older, you know, I'm, I'm coming from a different perspective. Uh, I'm writing all the music now and uh, and you know, really trying to paint a picture for my fans and try to paint a story. And so I would say, you know, it's uh, it's older. It's 18-year-old Grayson and it's, and it's transparent enough where uh, people can get to know me through the music.

That's how music's great because you're growing and also the music is telling the story at the same time. We are on stage at the Troubadour, which as you were just saying. Elton John had one of his first, your shows or one of his first?

I, I've heard one of his first, yes. One of his first shows on this stage. And I think everyone has played here before. So it is a little crazy to see my name up there.

It is actually. You, you, big letters as well.

Big letters too. Yes.

Big letters, there's no hiding.

Yeah, there's no, there's no hiding.

It's gonna be packed, it's going to be amazing. Um, if you could share this stage tonight with anyone. Dead or alive? Anyone. Not that we can bring back the dead. We can do a lot in Hollywood, but we can't do that. But you can right now. You could share the stage with anyone. Why? I take, you're, you're British, right? Yeah. I thought we could say me. I was going to say, choose bigger than that.

I'd bring, I'd bring back Amy.

Okay. What a great one that would be. I think we need her back. Yeah. You and Amy Winehouse on this stage. That would be a, that would be a show to see.

Also, Nas would be really cool. If we could get Nas, Amy and any.

I love that.

I'd play the keys and let them do the.

I like it. I like that. We could call it Nag.

Yeah, there it is. Nas, Amy, Grayson. Knock.

Perfect. Trademarked, it's done. if only, if only, but that's amazing. Have your inspirations changed along the way? I know I asked you last time, but obviously, as you get older, there's new music coming out. Do you, do you get a lot of inspirations from the current artists?

Yeah, you know what, what I like to do and what I like to tell um, you know, my followers and people who support my music, is I think everyone should get on iTunes on Friday or on Spotify or whatever. And I think they should look through the New Artist page. Um, I'm con, like continuously inspired by new musicians, by musicians that might only have 200 followers on Twitter, like, to me, right now music's in such a great place because because anyone can be going out and putting their product up. So you got to stay aware. Uh, that being said, yeah, I mean, it changes for me a lot. Right now I'm listening to uh, you know, I love like some old like Indie bands like The Maccabees. They're super great. Right, right. Uh, I'd say uh, Senebo C. I don't know if you know her. She has a song called Younger. I'm loving this right now. I'm getting I'm getting sick. This is great. And um, let me think. Okay, let me think of some other people. Um, Youth Lagoon, Youth Lagoon is really cool.

Okay. Okay. I'm going to check those out. So check out those bands. The world of music. I mean it changed when you came out before, but it's just got this the online world, it's just got bigger and bigger and bigger. Even in the last five years. Yeah. Which is amazing for new artists. Any advice that you would give to new artists that are coming up? You've done so much on your app, as well.

Yeah. You know, I would say I'd say just stay true. I hey, hey, new artist. Stay true to your craft and uh, to keep throwing punches. I think it's really important. Not literally. Uh, hey, if you have to. I would say you know, I've been in music now for six years. I was a kid from Oklahoma. I knew nothing more than what my piano sounded like, what my voice sounded like. And sometimes you have to go through a lot of um, tough stuff in this town. But you just stay true to your craft and you I would say just like prolifically try to write as many songs as possible. Keep going. Keep going.

I love that. Um, so your show is coming up. I can we see people eager to get us off the stage. Um, do you have any pre-show rituals that you do? Of course you're nervous and stuff like that.

I do. I do the vocal warm-ups. So you got to do the, you know, lip flapping and all that stuff. Yeah, yeah, there it is. Um, no, not really like too crazy much. I'll mention my mom on FaceTime. She'll definitely be in the FaceTime call beforehand. I love that. I'm a mama's boy. And uh, no, you just got to got to remember that uh, you know, I have an audience, I have people who I'm very thankful that will be here tonight. So I'm gonna put on a good show.

Okay. Give us an exclusive. What what track are you going to open with?

I will open with Bleeding for You, which is a track from my EP somewhere over my head. And uh, I like to think of it as my most, like, I feel like a badass when I play it.

Okay. So, I will go with a bad ass.

Yeah, because again, the little skinny kid from Oklahoma got to.

Nice. You're you're growing very quickly. I'm feeling older. Little Grayson is now big Grayson. From February 5th, Hit and Run. Check out the EP somewhere over my head. Grayson Chance. Thank you, man. Amazing. Let's go to London together.

Let's do it. Let's do it. We're off. Actually, we're going now. Play the show.