Q+A: Andy Grammer brings his ‘Fresh Eyes’ to The Chelsea tonight
It’s been a fresh fall for singer-songwriter Andy Grammer, who has hit the road with fellow artist Gavin DeGraw and released his new single, “Fresh Eyes,” the first from his upcoming third studio album.
The handsome Grammer, who competed on “Dancing With the Stars” and broke out with his smash hit “Honey, I’m Good,” last year, really enjoys performing.
“It’s just pure joy for an hour and a half. It’s the best part of the day,” Grammer said. “It used to be a lot of pressure to be onstage, but now it’s with my favorite people in the world, and we like the same music.”
Grammer spoke over the phone in early August ahead of his tour stop with DeGraw tonight at The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas:
You launch your 40-plus-city tour with Gavin DeGraw on Aug. 28. What are you most looking forward to in hitting the road?
A lot of things. It’s been a minute since a full-fledged tour. I’m excited about it, with these dates to dialing it all in — I’m really pumped about getting out in front of the fans. It’s been a minute. I love performing — it’s my favorite part.
You performed on NBC’s “Today” one week ago (on Aug. 1). How was that?
The “Today” show was awesome. I performed my new single “Fresh Eyes,” and it felt like coming back out of hibernation. When I’m writing, I get itchy at home digging into my soul to see what comes out.
Do you get nervous before performing?
No … now it’s just pure joy for an hour and a half. It’s the best part of the day. It used to be a lot of pressure to be onstage, but now it’s with my favorite people in the world, and we like the same music.
Is your third studio album, with your new single “Fresh Eyes,” still scheduled to be released this year? If so, what can fans expect?
Probably early next year. There’s more electric guitar on the first single. It came from more bass. There’s more writing to go — we’re about halfway done. There are a lot of stones to be overturned so that we don’t go in the wrong direction.
Where do you find your inspiration in songwriting?
I always try to find things worth saying, things that are supposed to be said instead of being contrived. I do a ton of writing.
“Honey, I’m Good” is one of the catchiest pop tunes in recent years. Did you think it would become a breakout and Top 10 hit for you following “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me”?
You never know. You honestly have no idea, but there is a sense of something exciting happening, that the concept is good and simple. Good and simple is hard to get. The song is super engaging. That’s how I see it. It’s simple, there’s not that much going on, the concept is cool and catchy. It was exciting. You never know, “That’s a hit, that’s a smash.”
How surreal is it that “Honey, I’m Good” has more than 100 million streams on Spotify and 60 million-plus views for the video?
It’s unbelievable, truly amazing. I feel like an astronaut who’s gone to the moon!
Another accolade for “Honey, I’m Good”: Industry movers and shakers told Entertainment Weekly that it was their “Song of Summer 2015.”
Yeah, it’s totally amazing. You couldn’t get away from it. You could be buying a sparkling water at 7-Eleven, and it would be playing.
Are you keeping up with dancing after your stint on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars”?
We have some choreography in the show. “Dancing With the Stars” was fun and it opened me up to dancing. There is no ballroom in the show, but we do move around.
Tell me one thing your fans would be surprised to learn about you.
Hmmm … I’m trying to think. With social media, they know a lot. I love magic. I’m a fan of David Copperfield.
Do you get to Las Vegas often, and what is on your to-do list when you’re not working in Las Vegas?
I 100 percent love magic. I’m in Las Vegas a lot. I love entertaining people, and it’s fascinating getting to watch other people. I’ve seen “O” and Britney Spears. Las Vegas is a special place for an entertainer.
Andy Grammer and Gavin DeGraw headline at The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas tonight.
