Q&A: Skylar Grey talks about her second studio album and tour
Photo courtesy of Skylar Grey
Grey-test hits · Skylar Grey rose to fame from singing on tracks such as “Coming Home.” After a successful debut album, the singer songwriter is back with her second album, titled Natural Causes.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Skylar Grey is releasing her second studio album Natural Causes on Sept. 23, and begins her national tour next week. Three years after her last album, Grey hopes to deliver a more mature sound in this album. Grey has collaborated with Eminem, X Ambassadors, Big Sean and more, and fans can look forward to hearing more collaborations on her new album.
Daily Trojan: How would you describe your new album and what would you tell your fans to expect?
Skylar Grey: The album is titled Natural Causes. The title is inspired by the natural beauty around me, I live in Park City, Utah. It’s a beautiful place for me to be creative and think. The morbid aspect of the title Natural Causes, to me, represents the darkness of the sound of the album.
DT: What’s the biggest difference between your last album that was released in 2013 and this one?
SG: I definitely think this album is a little bit more mature, a little darker. I put a lot more energy into the songs. I wrote a lot of the songs from the ground up. With the last album, I was given a lot of tracks to write to, and with this album, I was in the room, with the producers, creating the track from scratch. So there’s a lot more heart and soul, I think, in this.
DT: Which track are you most excited for fans to hear?
SG: My favorite track on the album, personally, is “Picture Perfect.” It’s the first time I feel like I’ve accomplished the sound I’ve been striving for for years.
DT: What city are you most looking forward to playing on the tour?
SG: That’s a tough question, because every time I go on tour, a different city is the best on that tour.
DT: What have been some of your favorite cities to play in?
SG: I always love playing in Chicago and Oregon, because I get to see family, I also love playing in New York.
DT: What song is on repeat for you right now?
SG: I don’t really get into new music very often. I get stuck on my favorite records, so the music I’ve been listening to lately is the same as what I’ve been listening to for the past five years. But my favorites are Bon Iver, Kendrick Lamar and Radiohead.
DT: What kind of artist do you hope your fans see you as after this album and this tour?
SG: That’s an interesting question. I guess I just want my fans to realize that you can’t put me in a box. I’m always going to push the boundaries creatively. And I hope that gets them excited for what I’m going to do in the future.
DT: Your collaborations have always been incredibly successful. Who’s one artist that you hope to work with in the future?
SG: My dream collaboration right now is Kendrick Lamar.
DT: What advice would you give many aspiring musicians at USC?
SG: I have so many things I could say. I guess, the biggest thing, is don’t lose yourself in the game. It can be very hard and you can feel a lot of rejection, but don’t let all of that turn you into something you’re not. Stay true to yourself creatively because that is the most interesting artist or songwriter you can be. It’s the authentic, original version of you.