Gracie Moller on her debut EP ‘didn’t peak at 17’
Tāmaki Makaurau-born singer-songwriter Gracie Moller is here with her highly anticipated debut EP, doused with indie pop sensibilities and the perfect splash of melodrama. Recently having opened for English band Only The Poets on the UK/Europe tour earlier this year, you can definitely expect to hear more from this rising star.
Hey Gracie, thanks so much for taking the time to chat to us! First of all, we'd love to know about your musical journey from when you first started singing & making music?
Thanks for having me! I grew up in a very musical family, my dad taught songwriting at a university here in Auckland so I would watch his lectures and write songs with him all the time as a kid. I signed a development deal with an NZ major label when I was 13 and and spent my adolescence writing and recording every day.
That’s incredible! And congrats on your debut EP 'didn't peak at 17' - we have been so excited for this project to come out! How did you land on the name of the EP, and what are the main themes you delve into in this project?
‘didn’t peak at 17’ is the name of a song on the EP - it’s about being glad you weren’t the cool kid when you were that age, because now you’re older and your values have changed. This EP is about letting go of old relationships and entering new ones while trying to shed negative self beliefs that occurred from being hurt in the past.
What were your artistic influences going into this EP?
I really love Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. Lana’s shamelessly detailed and unfiltered songwriting is so intoxicating and I think it’s really influenced me.
'mess for you' is a stunning, anthemic indie-rock tune and one of our favourites! Can you tell us a bit about the concept of this track?
‘mess for you’ is a song about the rocky start of a relationship and expecting it to end up in heartbreak. It’s about finally ending up with someone after lots of tears and hurt, and still feeling equally as obsessed and infatuated with them, even though everything’s ‘good’ now. I used to think of this song as a happy love song but now I think it’s quite a sad song. You shouldn’t feel fluttery and thrown all over the place emotionally by someone even after you finally get together, you should feel calm and like you’re equals. Writing this song as a 19 year old who’d never been in love before, I didn’t know that. I thought that being a ‘mess’ for someone was romantic, or a testament to how special our connection was. I’m definitely the kind of person that tries to prove I’m loveable to people. I feel like I need to constantly earn peoples love, and that’s really dangerous because I’m always striving to be ‘chosen’ by someone and when they do give me little bits of affection it’s incredible and keeps me in it. Not good!!! Now I know I should be with someone who is sure from the start.
And we also have to mention the attitude heavy, ‘Mean Girls’-influenced track "didn't peak at 17" which we also love! What was the inspiration behind this track and the writing/production process?
I wrote ‘didn’t peak at 17’ after watching Mean Girls in lockdown! I was reflecting a lot on my teenage years and I was feeling like I’d really grown up and learnt a lot more about myself and what I want. I wanted to write a song about being glad I went through a regrettable, cringey faze at that age and I wasn’t the ‘cool girl’ because now I have no desire to be liked by the kind of people I was trying to fit in with back then.
What were your main highlights working on this EP?
A highlight for me was working on the production of ‘mess for you’ with Timon Martin in lockdown 2021. I sent him the song and he sent me a plain guitar track to record vocals to. When I got the first version back from him I was so happy. He totally understood my vision and executed it so beautifully. The huge reverby drums were perfectly chaotic and the synths were so cinematic and emotional. I remember being so excited.
Plus you've been spending a lot of time in UK/Europe, opening for English band Only The Poets earlier this year on their tour as well as having your EP release show in Amsterdam! What has been the most memorable moment performing overseas?
Performing in Amsterdam at the Melkweg Max was incredible. The fans were amazing. Every show on that tour was such a surreal moment for me. My first ever show was in Cologne and there were 2000 people there. That was crazy.
So amazing! Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you especially love?
Rita Mae is incredible. I’m so lucky because she’s actually my god sister and we grew up together. One time our family’s were on holiday together when I was 10 and she was 12 and her parents played a recording of one of her songs, I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever. I’d always written songs but after that I started writing every day religiously. Without Rita’s influence I might not be the same writer I am today! My favourite song of hers is ‘Night Drive’, the lyric “your hand on my thigh ain’t innocent, it’s kryptonite for a lonely bitch” is the best thing i’ve ever heard.
Yesss, we’re obsessed with Rita too! And what are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far?
I’ve learnt that TikTok is inevitable and actually so much fun if you get over yourself and start doing it. Post every day, or twice a day. It’s just like brushing your teeth!
Lastly, we end every interview with this question - if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?
Stream Gracie Moller! <3 You won’t regret it.
Thanks so much Gracie! Make sure to keep up with her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify or Apple Music.
