A Dirty Dozen with HALLIE GRACE – March 2026

Photo credit: Wildlight Photography

According to a recent press release: “Charlotte, NC-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Hallie Grace is set to release her first full-length album, MOTIVATION, on March 20, 2026. Its 11 tracks address the importance of challenging oneself to never give up, even in the face of life’s darkest moments. Armed with a new authenticity, energy, and sound, Grace created the album with several co-writers, and it was produced and mixed by Nathan Pauley and mastered by The Foxboro Mastering. Each song, based on real-life events, represents honest highs and lows in Grace’s life and tells the story of how she kept going no matter what, inspiring and inviting others to do the same.” We get Hallie to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

This is my first full-length album, so there’s a lot to take in for sure! One thing that might take a couple listens to hear is how each track flows into the next, musically and lyrically telling a story. The album gets more vulnerable as it goes on, as though there are cracks in the “motivational armor,” so to speak. The mood by the end of the album is very different from the start, and there’s a gradual transition over the course of the record to get there, so the track order is very intentional.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My mom has always loved music and wanted all her kids to be exposed to a variety from an early age. I’ve loved music as long as I can remember, and I remember being 5 years old, learning “Jingle Bells” by ear on the piano, and deciding I wanted to be a pop star when I grew up. I was fortunate enough to receive music lessons throughout my childhood, to study music education in undergrad, and to earn a master’s degree in vocal performance. The type of music job I was pursuing changed a few times, but I’ve basically been hyper-fixating on music my whole life.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Sara Bareilles, Hayley Williams, and Taylor Swift. From a young age, these three women have majorly guided my musical taste, all for different reasons. Sara was, and is, exactly the kind of performer I wanted to be. Hayley Williams of Paramore is probably my favorite vocalist of all time. And Taylor’s songwriting, even from her debut album, is what first inspired me to write songs.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Amazing question. I think it would be incredible to do a collab with Maggie Rogers. She’s someone I really look up to as a singer, songwriter, and artist. Her music regularly inspires me.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I love to be with my people! Friends, family… whether at home, going out, or traveling, spending quality time with loved ones is something I really cherish.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I typically tell people it’s fairly commercial, piano-driven synth-pop with singer-songwriter lyrics and dynamic vocals. I feel like I get compared to Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan a lot, and it doesn’t make me cringe because they’re legends, but I don’t think it’s very accurate. Both singers have very soft, calm voices. My voice tends to pack a punch.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I don’t have a full-time band yet! I can tell you I’m not the one who cooks in most situations.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I once saw Jax, a musical artist known on TikTok, at the airport in Vegas and was completely starstruck. I was too shy to say hi, and I really regret it. That was back in September 2022.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Am I allowed to say everything? I want to be more interesting than that, but genuinely, I love this career so much. Also, I don’t know if I have a dream job outside of music, but I do love teaching and working with children. I think it would be really cool to be a children’s speech therapist.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

One question I sort of struggle to answer that I get asked a lot is to describe the recording process for the album. To be totally honest, I was going through something heavily traumatic at the time, and while recording this album felt in many ways like a healing experience and a safe haven from all that, a source of pure joy and peace, it’s also very hazy in my memory. I did not feel like myself at all except while I was recording, and then I was sort of tapping into something outside of myself, if that makes sense. So it’s just hard to describe in general. On a lighter note, I’ve always wanted an interviewer to ask me my favorite food so I could talk about my intense love of pasta. Talk about something that brings me joy. I LOVE a good gnocchi bolognese – especially from Nicoletto’s in Nashville. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I often think about if I had decided to just pursue a career as an artist 10 years ago instead of going to college and pursuing a music teaching career for 7 years. It’s not like I ever stopped singing, songwriting, performing, and gaining valuable experience during that time, so I’m not sure if it really counts as a regret. I think it was probably important for me to “take the long way,” so to speak, and to end up where I have. I’m such an “everything happens for a reason” kind of person.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I think I have to say Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves. Easily in my top five albums of all time. Every detail is so beautiful, and every time I listen to it – which is often – I feel like I get something new out of it. There is such a fascinating combination of instruments on each track, and her vocals are just immaculate. This album heavily inspired my first EP that I ever recorded, back in 2021 when I was still getting my master’s degree. I had never written country music before, but I was just so awestruck. Kacey Musgraves is an absolute treasure and someone I would love to meet someday.

HALLIE GRACE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews