 Courtesy of the Artist
Co-founder and current president of the Denton Songwriters Guild, Matt Grigsby's goal is to write songs as intricate and introspective as his songwriting heroes Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, all while singing his songs as honestly and soulfully as his vocal heroes, Ray Charles and Otis Redding. Quickly becoming one of the rising artists in the DFW scene, Grigsby released a new album, Worthy of Love, on October 5th. Here, he answers his Essential 8 and talks songwriting, his dream venue, the artist he'd love to collaborate with, and more!
Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you? Not really, honestly, no one particular person. I've never taken lessons. I started playing guitar in college and learned by copying whatever my friends were playing and then started frequenting open mics when I got to Denton. I think just being in a town with a vibrant music scene helped me gain my chops. I'm continually surrounded by high caliber musicians. I get humbled regularly. I've always sang but if I had to pick a vocal mentor it would be my high school choir director Rex McCullough. Not only was he supportive of a young, shy, angst-filled Matt, but he was the first person to teach me how to push down my falsetto and continually widen my range on my own. I still use ideas he put in my head. As for songwriting, Townes Van Zandt would definitely be my biggest influence. I didn't even really listen to folk or country before him, at least not in earnest. He was honest, poetic, clever, and just cool as hell. His music really set me on the path to learning finger style guitar too, him and John Prine. I think “Pancho and Lefty” was the first Townes song I learned, I still cover it, but I've been a part of several tribute shows in his honor over the years. He's a god here in North Texas. What’s the story behind your album’s title? Well, in the song “Inspiring Love” the narrator asks “Am I unworthy of your inspiring love?”, so I kind of pulled the title from that. I wanted a positive, uplifting title for what I hope is an uplifting album, despite all the depressing songs. And it's easy for someone to feel as if they're not worthy of love. And not just in romance. It's hard to get up everyday, go to a job you hate just to still be broke at the end of the day and not question your worthiness. Or you start drinking and waking up with a new hangover everyday, cursing yourself for having spent money you don't really have because you don't feel worthy of love. It's a vicious cycle but I think it's something most people can identify with. We all need to be reminded we're worthy of love sometimes. When/where do you do your best writing? Lately I do my best writing at home in my pajamas, sitting in my bedroom sipping a cup of hot tea, generally late at night. I've developed a method that works for me. I'll open up a blank document on my laptop and keep a spiral handy too. I'll just free write whatever comes to me on paper, doesn't need to rhyme or anything. And then edit down and type out the final version. I'll pick up the guitar each time I finish a stanza and stumble through it, just to make sure it fits the meter. When I'm in the right frame of mind I'll bang out a song in less than 10 minutes that way. Some come easier than others. But I've written songs in all kinds of ways. Many of my songs I wrote just walking around town singing to myself. Most are written in a single sitting these days but a couple of older songs on the album took me months. 
Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
I guess a combination although many of my songs are written from personal experience. In fact, all of my earlier songs are, it was the only way I knew how to write. But these days I'm involved with a group called the Denton Songwriters Guild. We have a songwriting challenge prompt each month so that keeps me writing. And the themes can be pretty random. We've written about everything from our grandfather's car to personal hygiene to pirate songs. So writing about random themes to a deadline has forced me to learn to just make stuff up. Or rely on other people's experiences. But even in those situations it's hard not to include something of you own experience and still write an honest song. A well written song shows vulnerabilities. What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? Don't take anything personally. You're not gonna get a response to every email you send. You'll more than likely end up playing to a few empty rooms, maybe dozens. You'll likely end up playing a poorly booked gig where you play for an audience that's just not into your style of music. And that drunk guy heckling you to play Luke Bryan covers? Yeah, he's not going away. You can never make everyone happy. I like to say, to make it in the music business your skin needs to be even thicker than your liver. Music is a life time pursuit. Never stop getting better and don't let anyone's opinions get in your way. What’s your dream venue and why? Well, it's a bit cliché, but, Carnegie Hall. It's been around a long time and has sort of been reserved for the “master class”. I'm sure there are bigger venues but having a small listening crowd is always better than having a huge crowd that's more interested in drunken shenanigans than the music. So if I was asked to play there just based off my songwriting skills that would be a dream come true. Runner up dream venue would be the Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville. I don't really know that much about it, could be terrible for all I know, but I have a CD of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Steve Earle swapping songs there. I'm a big fan of all those guys so to play on a stage I know they all graced at the same time would make me a happy man. Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative? Man, that's a tough question. Certainly it can be negative if used irresponsibly but, that being said, I much prefer to play after a couple drinks to loosen me up. And certainly the venue owners like it. If you're loose and having a good time, the crowd will be loose and have a good time too, and they'll likely buy a couple drinks to help them get there. It's a double edged sword. Alcohol is not good for your vocal chords, or your body in general. But then again our inhibitions get in the way of performing our best and alcohol helps remove those inhibitions. I try to have the two drinks and quit, at least until I'm done performing. But for those who choose not to drink at gigs, I completely understand, and I may jump on that wagon someday. But in the meantime I need a little liquid courage to help me be a social butterfly. Who would you love to collaborate with? Probably someone like Todd Snider. He's among my favorite living songwriters and I think we could come up with some pretty interesting stuff. Not that he needs my help. And I mean only from a songwriting standpoint. I don't think we would make a great album together, but if there was someone who I got to just sit down and work on songs with he's the guy. He manages to be both tragic and hilarious and I think that's an amazing skill to have. Plus we're both hippies who like to get a little political from time to time. I already like to pretend we're good friends even though I've never met him or even been to any of his shows. But don't tell him that, it may creep him out. For more information Website Purchase
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