Amanda Grace is a singer-songwriter born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Grace writes, releases and performs acoustic rock, soul, children's music and Christian music.[1][2] Her career originally began with children's music.[3] Grace has released three albums, three singles, and is also a part of a women's contemporary folk band called Wildflower.
Amanda Grace | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | St. Paul, Minnesota, United States |
| Genres | Adult contemporary, soul, acoustic rock, Christian, children's music |
| Years active | 2010–Present |
| Website | musicbyamandagrace |
Background
editAs a child, Grace dreamed of being a singer and received encouragement from her mother. When she was young she would play music with her sister and play music for churches. Her childhood instrument was the piano, on which she wrote many of her first songs.[4] Grace began writing at the age of six.[5]
She graduated from Bemidji High School. In 1998, she moved to Winona to attend the Winona State University.[6] Grace received a degree from Winona State University in communications with a minor in music.[1] It was during college that she learned to play the acoustic guitar[4]
Some of the inspiration for her music comes from the death of her nephew Bryce Breuer and later her sister's husband Tim Breuer.[6]
Career
editA few years after graduation from Winona State University, Grace began to write and play music for children. In 2010 she released her first children's album Trains, Cars & a Trip to Mars under her own label Any Kind of Music. Grace's cover of "You Are My Sunshine", which appears on the album, was featured in Parents magazine in 2010.[1] In August 2012, Grace released an acoustic rock/adult contemporary album called Embrace.[7][8] In 2014, Grace released the Keeping Hearts EP which added six new acoustic rock songs to her collection of released music.[9][10][11]
In 2015 Grace's single "Los Angeles" was in the Top Five of the Upcoming100.com's "Emerging Artists" category.[12] The single which was released in November of that year[13] was also reviewed by NeuFutur Magazine.[14] It was produced by Scotty Lund[15] and featured rapper Trayvon Ellis, professionally known as Prime Blaq.[16][12] The words for the song were written at an LA Airport prior boarding a plane.[17]
Grace does not claim a particular genre of music, although she credits Mariah Carey and The Cranberries as inspirations.[4]
Live performances
editIn the past she has appeared at the Winona's Blooming Grounds Coffee House; club owner Amy Jo Marks commented that Grace's style was like that of Norah Jones.[2] In June 2014 she appeared at Ed's No Name bar in Winona with her group Wildflower. The event tied in with the release of her Keeping Hearts album.[18] In September 2014 she was scheduled to appear at the Mid West Music Festival.[19] In 2015, she appeared on the first day of Wisconsin music and art festival Ashley for the Arts.[20][21] On March 11, 2016, she performed at the Over the Back Fence show held at the St. Mane Theatre in downtown Lanesboro, Minnesota.[22]
Discography
edit| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Los Angeles" | 2015 | No. 2 spot in the "emerging artists" category[14][23] | |
| "Better Life" | 2016 | [24] |
| Title | Release info | Year | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rayne Angel | Any Kind Of Music | 2018 | Album | |
| Trains, Cars & a Trip to Mars | Any Kind Of Music | 2010 | Album | Children's album dedicated to her nephew Bryce Breuer[6] |
| Embrace | Any Kind Of Music | 2012 | Album | |
| Better Life | Any Kind Of Music | 2017 | EP | |
| Keeping Hearts | Any Kind Of Music | 2014 | EP | [9][10][11] |
References
edit- ^ a b c Online PR Media Amanda Grace Releases New Single Better Life
- ^ a b The Winonian March 30, 2016 Blooming Grounds holds performance nights – Lauren Saner Archived March 30, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Southernminn Scene September 12, 2014 Amanda Grace shows off her big heart and big voice on "Keeping Hearts" by Rich Larson
- ^ a b c Lakeland Public Television Common Ground 714 – Young At Art Exhibit and Musician Amanda Grace
- ^ BRASH Magazine Fearless Women in Music: Amanda Grace
- ^ a b c Winona Daily News January 12, 2015 Building Hope through music: Winona musician embraces the journey
- ^ All Music Wilhelmina & Amanda Grace Embrace
- ^ The Independent Music Awards Artist Name: Amanda Grace
- ^ a b Kick Starter Keeping Hearts Project: 6 New Songs By Amanda Grace
- ^ a b Night Sky Entertainment Amanda Grace
- ^ a b MTV Artists Amanda Grace Discography
- ^ a b Post-Bulletin November 25, 2015 Seen & Heard: Help local actress get that chip off her shoulder – Megan Kennedy
- ^ Ucurrentevents.net Amanda Grace's "Los Angeles" Single Release Day with Prime Blaq
- ^ a b NeuFutur Magazine Online December 27, 2015 Amanda Grace – Los Angeles (featuring Prime Blaq) – James McQuiston
- ^ Industry Event Wire (Press Release) Amanda Grace Releases New Single Better Life
- ^ Soundc loud Prime Blaq, Los Angeles, # Amanda Grace
- ^ Upcoming 100 Pop Singer Amanda Grace to Release New Single Titled "Better Life"
- ^ Minnesota Public Radio May 8, 2014 Beyond "kindie": Family favorite Amanda Grace takes a new tack by Paul Schmitt
- ^ The Winona Daily News September 10, 2014 MWMF looks to establish year-round presence, launches fall college concert series, Apply to perform at 2015 Mid West Music Fest
- ^ WKOW Television July 29, 2015 (Updated August 12, 2015) Ashley for the Arts preview – By Bittany Lake Archived April 18, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Winona Post April 27, 2015 Ashley for the Arts makes big changes
- ^ Winona Post March 9, 2016 Article, Amanda Grace from Winona will be March's featured musical guest
- ^ This Is 50 Video Amanda Grace – "Better Life" Archived June 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nightlinx "Better Life" By Amanda Grace *Single Release Day*