Grace Spencer Opens Up About Singing with Her Family, Her Solo Music and More

By Timothy Yap Oct 05, 2020 12:48 AM EDT

Singer and songwriter Grace Spencer has dropped a radio version of her single "Confidence." Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Grace has been singing and playing piano since she was 3.

Music was a big part of her life growing up. Her father, Jim Spencer, a long time songwriter and producer, has had a key influence on her decision to write and record. When Grace was 7 he took her to many of the recording sessions for one of his albums, which sparked a deeper interest in music. And when she was 15 she began writing music and decided she wanted to record.

Her first release was an EP in 2015, followed by a full-length album at the end of 2016 titled, Where I Belong. She then continued to write and pursue her solo music, as well as tour with and play in her family's band, Spencer Family Music, and perform some of her songs in their concerts.

In 2018 she released a single each quarter, 4 songs total. Grace feels like that experience was a pivotal point in her career. It allowed her to hone in on the style of music that fits her voice and writing best, and grow in her knowledge of how to release songs in the ever-changing music industry. A few of the singles also received radio play on stations around the US, and Strength and Here With Us were added to Spotify's New Music Friday Christian playlist which has over 100,000 followers.

Q: Grace, thanks for doing this interview with us. Let's start with yourself: you came from a family that is very musical, tell us about your upbringing and how you came to know Jesus.

A: Thank you so much for having me! I was so blessed to grow up in a Christian family, in the midwest, with a father who has been writing and recording since he was 18. He began teaching me piano when I was 3, and I developed a love for singing at a young age. It wasn't until around age 15, though, that I began to start thinking seriously about creating music for a living.

Growing up in a Christian family, I heard the gospel many times at a very young age. At the age of 7 I felt like I had come to a place of believing in Jesus and was baptized. However, when I was 9 I began to see that I hadn't really understood the gospel and hadn't truly believed in Jesus as my Savior. So I began studying God's Word and digging deeper into what it mean't to truly believe, and when I was 12 I believed in Jesus and was baptized again. I am so incredibly thankful that the Lord has saved me!

Q: Besides your family, who are some of the artists that have influenced you and your music?

A: There are lots of artists that I like listening to, and I feel that I've been influenced by different artists in many different ways. As a CCM artist, I really enjoy listening to other artists in the contemporary Christian genre. One of my vocal and writing influences early on was Dara Maclean and more recently I have been influenced alot by JJ Heller...the styles of music that we create are very different, but I have definitely been impacted by her work.

Q: I believe you started singing with your family, tell us more about Spencer Family Music.

A: My family has enjoyed making music together for many years, and I have been so blessed to be a part of our family band for the past 5 years or so. The band is comprised of my parents, my 12 siblings, and myself. In 2015 we began living on the road full time, in a tour bus, doing concerts all across the USA. It was such an amazing experience, and we were blessed to get to meet so many wonderful people and see so many beautiful parts of the country. After two and a half years of living on the road full-time we moved back into a house, but still to this day continue to make music together as a band.

Q: Then you decided to release your own solo records. How and when did that happen?

A: I began writing songs in my mid-teens, and started to pursue the idea of recording and releasing music for a living. In 2015, as a senior in high school, I got to release my first EP. That was around the time my family began doing concerts full-time, and they have always let me play a little set of my solo music in the middle of our family band concerts. Since the release of the EP I have been blessed to get to release 2 full length records and multiple singles.

Q: How is your music different/the same as Spencer Family Music?

A: Our family band songs have a bit of a folk-feel to them, and our arrangements include guitars, banjo, ukulele, bass, and percussion. Where as my solo music fits more in the CCM category, with a bit of a pop-vibe. Even though there are differences in the styles of my solo music and the family band music, we both strive to write songs that encourage believers and bring glory to God.

Q: You have been releasing quite a few singles lately, tell us about your latest single "Confidence (Radio Version)". What is the song about? How was the song birthed?

A: I wrote this song after a season of coming to the realization that if I try to find confidence in myself, or other people or things, I will ultimately be left disappointed. But when I look to the Lord I can find true and lasting confidence. My hope for "Confidence (Radio Version)" is that it would encourage people to turn to the Lord for the amazing and beautiful confidence that is found in Him, because there is so much freedom found when we do.

Q: Are you currently working on releasing a new album? What can our readers be looking forward to in terms of new music?

A: Right now I am loving getting to release singles, and don't have plans for a new album at the moment. I am really excited to be releasing my first cover song on October 16th, that will be available on all major music platforms, as well as a music video for that release. There will definitely be more singles to follow, and hopefully another album at some point down the road.

Q: How do you wish your music would impact the lives of your listeners?

A: I really enjoy getting to write and release songs that talk about the beauty of the grace and mercy of God, and also the freedom that is found when we trust in Him. My prayer is that my songs will bring hope to those who hear them, and that they would encourage people to trust in the Lord more fully and press on in their walk with Him.