Grace Kay Wants You To Be “Open” (27 July 2022)
Grace Kay
Grace Kay releases her new single “Open,” available July 27th on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve Records.
Los Angeles-based songstress Grace Kay shares her larger-than-life jewel “Open,” set for digital release on July 27th through Trailing Twelve Records. On the heels of landing a major television placement in A Million Little Things with her song “Here,” Kay’s “Open” is an electrifying pop anthem with a message of encouragement and expanding one’s horizons.
In keeping with Grace Kay’s previous singles, “Open” was inspired by a close female friend and the power of women. Kay’s songwriting on “Open” is visual and poetic, offering inspirational metaphors “Take a look at the girl in the mirror / See the glow of the rose reappear and guide you / inside you” and intriguing wordplay “Going breakneck and leaving town / Got your chin up honey / In love with the breakdowns.” Kay shares the inspiration for “Open” below.
I started writing this song to encourage a close friend of mine to be more open to life experiences like travel, trying new careers, and just giving herself a chance… at life! The beautiful thing about this song is before I even finished writing it, she accomplished what I’d hoped for her and more. She had already been accepted into graduate school to study a whole new craft, she took up ice skating, and just transformed before my eyes into the amazing badass woman I already knew she was; but, I could tell she now believed she was THAT woman too.
From sessions that spawned during Twitch live streams, Kay worked with her creative partner, LA-based producer, Jynjo aka Austin Foley, to create the soundscape of “Open.”
We finished the first draft in April of 2021. My producer, Austin Foley, would live stream making beats on twitch I’d be writing vocal patches and sending them to him midstream, and that’s actually how the first baby idea of this song hatched.
From the nostalgic dream-pop of “Here” to the soulfully minimal “play,” Foley has worked in lock-step with Kay to create a signature sound across her releases. On “Open” we immediately hear other-worldly pads atop a syncopated percussion. Kay shares how those early production choices moments came to be.
I wanted the song to feel as open and free as it could as well, so the song begins with this beautiful pad constructed from my vocals, consisting of open 4ths and 5ths. Austin created them from my vocal stems!
After fleshing out the bulk of the production, Foley and Kay recruited Tre Ulseth to add finishing touches of guitar throughout - most notably during the climactic final swells of the song.
I almost lost faith in this song at a certain point. I couldn’t get the structure of the end right, and now it’s one of my favorite endings I’ve ever created because it is FULL and LUSH and makes me want to spread my arms and give the sun a giant hug. Tre Ulseth ended up stepping in to add that epic guitar solo you’ll hear at the end and they were an integral part of completing this song.
“Open” is out July 27th, 2022 on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve.
Performed by Grace Kay
Guitars by Tre Ulseth
Written by Grace Korkunis & Austin Foley
Produced, Mixed, & Mastered by Austin Foley
Press Contact: info@trailingtwelve.com
TTRS-059
© & ℗ 2022 Trailing Twelve Records. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Copying, Reproduction, Hiring, Lending, Public Performance, And Broadcasting Strictly Prohibited.
GRACE KAY - Open
TTRS-059
Release Date 27 July 2022
Length: 3:09
BIO
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Grace Kay spent her teenage years attending an all-girls high school where she was imbued with a keen desire to empower other women. Bringing that passion into her music, Kay’s songwriting tends to center around the women in her life and the influences they’ve had on her.
After graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in acting, Kay went on to star in various short films and mini-series, which, she explains, taught her the importance of story in songwriting.
Grace Kay’s sound consists of refined and punchy synth-pop production, syncopated rhythms, and lush vocal textures that will please fans of MUNA, The Japanese House, Imogen Heap, and Caroline Polachek.
Kay’s recent singles have received widespread fan support, garnering press coverage from Atwood Magazine and Alfitude, official playlist features on Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds: Pop, and a major sync placement on ABC’s A Million Little Things.
PRESS QUOTES
“Kay is already well on her way to conquering the electropop world with the upbeat syncopation of her previous singles “play” and “fool” (plus one hell of a slowed and contemplative take on ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”). With “Here,” she trades the playful tones and club-ready production for hazy, nostalgic soundscapes reminiscent of M83 at their deepest rearview-gazing.” - Anthony Kozlowski, Atwood Magazine
“Every element has a purpose. The song features minimalistic melodies, sublime vocals, and a memorable chorus. Captivating from the first second.” , “Grace continues to deliver good music. Go Off deserves 5 stars. Iconic piece of work.” - Lefuturewave
“If you know me then you know I love records influenced by the 80s. “Here” by Grace Kay is no exception. I love the production, the guitars, the synths, the melodies, the beautiful topic behind this song and Grace’s dreamy vocals. “Here” is brilliant and it is one of my favorite songs released this Fall.” - thread. Magazine