Andy Grammer talks about finding the “Art of Joy”
Hit-maker heading to Denver this month
Andy Grammer has a knack for writing catchy pop songs, and he’s cranked out hits including the quadruple-platinum “Honey, I’m Good,” platinum singles “Keep Your Head Up,” “Fine by Me,” “Don’t Give Up on Me,” “Fresh Eyes,” “Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah),” and gold single “I Found You.”
His official bio proclaims that the singer-songwriter “continues to engage, energize, and empower audiences with stomping stadium-size pop anthems,” and it’s hard to argue with that characterization when you spend a few hours listening to his music. Seemingly, he generates the kind of tunes that would see him playing larger venues.
Instead, the Art of Joy tour on which Grammer is about to embark will bring him to the smaller Paramount Theatre in Denver on Feb. 22.
So, hey, why aren’t you an even bigger star, Andy Grammer? Why aren’t you more famous?
“Oh my goodness, who the hell knows,” Grammer says with a laugh during a recent telephone interview. “I mean, fame is such a strange beast.
“What’s kind of interesting about being any sort of an artist in 2022,” he continues, “is that if you just triple down on exactly who you are, you can have a niche that’s bigger than it’s ever been. I think we’re in a niche time period, and I love my niche.”
He adds that his focus is the devoted fans who go to his shows, subscribe to his text messages and follow him on social media.
“That’s my squad,” he says, “and I’m just kind of tripling down on that, and then hopefully that will continue to grow.”
Grammer is speaking as he’s driving to his studio in Los Angeles. Although he was born in the L.A. area, he grew up in Chester, N.Y., before moving back to Southern California to pursue his career.
He jokes, “I’m kind of confused about where I’m from, to be honest.”
More seriously, a legitimately confusing time came a few years ago when, at age, 25, his mother died.
“I was confused about how the hell was I going to keep going?” he says. “So I wrote myself a song called ‘Keep Your Head Up.’ ”
Known for his positivity, Grammer saw that song strike a chord with folks.
“When you write songs from pain about still looking for joy in the world,” he says, “that’s a really cool sweet spot I’ve found that my fans really respond to.”
As for his aforementioned niche, Grammer says he’d love to be considered to be a modern version of two of the artists who strongly influenced him: Billy Joel and Paul Simon.
“I love these storytellers that are able to get all the way into your soul in three minutes,” Grammer says. “Lauryn Hill threw me for a loop when I started listening to her. John Mayer. Wordsmiths that then also know how to be catchy — that’s kind of my favorite.
“And then anybody who pulls off happy well. It’s really hard to pull off joyful and uplifting in a way that is still not cheesy.”
Grammer says he possesses a “grounded optimism,” which was put to the test during the early phases of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Absolutely the worst. Brutal. Hated it,” he says with a laugh. “It really took me inward.
“The tour is called ‘The Art of Joy,’ and I did not see myself writing a bunch of songs about self-worth — that’s not where I was expecting this was going to go.”
While the songs that came out of that period stemmed in part from two weeks of writing with friends and frequent collaborators Jon Levine, Nolan Sipe and Bram Inscore, according to his bio, he can also point to the fact he began undergoing therapy.
“(It was) just a lot of invisible, deep, hard work on myself that then comes out on songs like ‘Damn It Feels Good to Be Me’ or ‘Love Myself,’ which we’ll be playing on this tour.”
That brings us to the larger topic of a new album. While his bio states a fifth full-length effort is “forthcoming,” Grammer — who’s dropped a handful of singles in recent months — says he isn’t exactly sure about that.
“I think we’re just going to keep releasing singles,” he says. “That’s all the information I can give. I’m going to drop so many songs (that) it eventually will end up in an album.
“There’s no shortage of songs that I’m really excited to put out.”
For the tour, along with a backing band, Grammer is bringing a horn section along for the ride.
“I’m trying to hit you in the soul — that’s what I’m trying to do. And I work really hard at that, and I’ve
studied it for a long time.”
He’s certainly ready for the therapeutic benefits of playing for an audience on a near-nightly basis.
“This one, more than ever, is so needed for me. I haven’t (toured) in a really long time,” he says. “We’ve done little spot dates, but to go out and sing these little truths … and have the crowds sing them back, my heart has missed it so much.
“The fact that it’s called ‘The Art of Joy’ is right on the money for me at this season of my life. I need to go so badly. I’m so excited to go see everyone.”