Exclusive Interview: Greyson Chance Talks All Things ‘Haymaker,’ and What’s Next!

It’s no secret at this point, we are huge Greysons Chance fans, and have been for years, so this is a pretty huge moment for us! We got to pick Greyson’s brain about his latest releases, and about what’s next, as well as about his relationship with his fans and about displaying vulnerability in his music. We are still processing getting to have this conversation! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Stream ‘Haymaker’ here!

Hi Greyson! Thank so you much for taking the time to talk with us today! To start us off, how would you describe who you are as an artist to someone who is just tuning in for the first time? 

Oh that’s rather hard isn’t it? Ever so often I have to tell my story in full, starting from the YouTube video to where I am now; and the whole thing really does read out like a movie. It’s a bizarre story. But if someone is truly tuning in for the first time, I would say my career started with me singing at the piano. And now 14-years-later, I’m still singing at the piano. 

‘Rearview Mirror’ marked the start of this next musical journey you’re on, what was it about ‘Rearview Mirror’ that made you want it to be the first introduction to this new era? 

There was something very classic about ‘Rearview Mirror’ that made me want to make it the lead. I am always chasing that feeling of nostalgia everyday I go into the studio, to make things that feel bigger than me and to make things that will stand the test of time. From the jump, ‘Rearview Mirror’ felt that way, and I didn’t second-guess it. 

‘Haymaker’ is the track following ‘Rearview Mirror’ and you’ve said the track was born out of a place of conflict within your family, what was it like to be able to work that out through music? Was writing the healing process, or had that already come and writing was the result of the healing?

I’ve gone through a lot in my life, but nothing quite stings like the emotions of family conflict, and for three years, I watched my family crumble before my own eyes. It was awful. Writing was certainly the healing process for me, and it’s been that way since I started writing songs. I told my cowriter Sam Harris the day we wrote ‘Haymaker’ that a thousand pounds were lifted off of my shoulders once those words hit the page. 

You’ve always been very personal with your music, with your songs chaptering parts of your life. Can you pinpoint something that you were hesitant to put to music, but ended up in a song that you released and got to see it resonate with people?

I was very hesitant to release ‘Haymaker,’ because it is my real life. I haven’t really spoken to my brother in a few years, so ‘Haymaker’ is this an encapsulation of everything I would say to him if I had the chance. So for these lyrics to be the first words he hears from me? Yeah, that shit’s raw, it’s ugly, it’s nuanced, but it’s necessary. Good art comes from vulnerability, I’ve always believed that. 

Palladium was the last record, what is something that you learned during that album rollout/creative process that you’ve taken with you into creating the next project?

I learned through Palladium that I am an album artist, and I always will be. I want to world build, I want my music and my visuals to paint a scene for the listener, to bring them to a place that feels disconnected from their own reality. And that doesn’t necessarily mean that the world needs to be complex, it just needs to be purposeful. 

You’ve been in the industry for a long time, and because of that, you’ve had fans that have been around for a decade+ going to shows and supporting the music, what has having the support that’s allowed for breaks (like going to college and stepping away from music) while aways sticking around meant? 

When I tell you I am the luckiest artist, you have no idea. My fans know my life, they know what I’ve been through, they know that I’ve suffered a lot, both mentally and physically since I was kid … they keep me upright. Think of someone you’ve known for 14-years of your life? That’s the type of relationship I have with my fans. I don’t feel a pressure to make music for them, if anything I feel a pressure to be healthy and happy for them, because I know that is what they want for me more than anything. My relationship with them is the coolest thing I get to experience in my life. 

We know that crafting any form of art takes a village and it is often easier to thank the other people involved and harder to pat yourself on the back, but what is something you’ve been really proud of yourself for during the process of crafting ’Rearview Mirror’/’Haymaker?’ 

I am proud of myself for pushing forward and continuing on no matter the adversity I’ve gone through. Music is a cutthroat industry, and it’s full of rejection. But the older I get, the more I realize the power in just surviving, waking up everyday and focusing in on the silver lining. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately, and that feels like a huge accomplishment. 

When you look back at your discography is there a song for you that you have recently felt reconnected to? Maybe a track that you hadn’t revisited in a while and realized it still hits as hard as when you made it? 

Boots, a song I released as a stand alone single around four years ago. “I’ve been western before all of these punks,” hits way hard in 2024. Don’t get me started on these fake cowboys out here right now. 

Once again thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! Before we let you go, what can fans expect as we finish out 2024? What’s on the horizon? 

I’ve been working on this record for the past year and a half, and ‘Rearview Mirror’ and ‘Haymaker’ are just the first two songs; I’m ready to show everyone the full world. So I guess to answer your question … more music, and a lot of shows. That’s what is on my horizon. 

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We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite track out of the two recent tracks Greyson Chance has released? Let us know by commenting down below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!

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