by Eva Dameron
Daily Lobo
Local artist Michael Graye's music writes itself - fractions of a tune come to his head while he's doing chores around the house, he said.
Then he goes to the piano to work out the music and lyrics.
"That's happened to me so many times that I can't even count it," Graye said. "It's a lot of improvisation. I don't really plan anything out."
At 17, the pianist, singer, songwriter has put together an album with his trio - a bassist and a drummer.
He said his influences include Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and, most recently, Peter Gabriel.
"Tori Amos really helps with the piano part of it," he said. "I take her piano technique and put it into some of my songs. I don't think I would be the player that I am today without her piano."
He said he plays more heavy-handedly than most people. So much, in fact, that he's had to fix his keyboard twice. Nonetheless, he describes his style as laid-back and relaxed.
"Some songs are a little more enthralling," he said, "and can get people drawn in a little bit more as far as being faster-paced and really passionate, but for the most part I see myself as someone that people listen to in order to be relaxed or uplifted."
Graye takes voice training, and with his voice still changing, he has to make an effort to keep hitting high notes.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"I made All-State as a bass and tenor one," he said. "Tenor one is the highest tenor. My choir teacher told me that when your voice is changing, keep the high notes - everything will get the range from the high notes down."
One of the major incentives for making this album was to get money for college by sending them out to compete for scholarships. He will be attending Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts in Orlando, Fla., next fall to study sound production.
"Full Sail is the top place in the industry to go," he said. "They have had more people come out of there and get jobs with Sony, BMG, all these people in the Grammys, than most people combined."
For the CD release party, he asked his bandmates to pick a song they'd like to perform by a favorite artist.
Erin Wilson, the drummer, picked "Martha My Dear" by the Beatles, and Cody Winning, the bassist, picked "Young Pilgrims" by The Shins. There will also be guitar and hand drums on select songs.
