Greyson Chance Discusses His Debut Album & Label Deal After Breaking Through On Ellen DeGeneres Show
Greyson Chance
While most kids his age are involved in motion gaming, skateboarding, Harry Potter films or science fairs, you’d most likely find 13-year old Greyson Chance busy writing songs, singing and playing the piano in talent contests at his school in Edmond, Oklahoma. So when his father posted a video of him performing Lady Gaga’s hit “Paparazzi” in a talent contest at Cheyenne Middle School on YouTube back in April (2010), Chance had no idea whether his youthful enthusiasm, talent, and dedication to his craft would gain an audience beyond his hometown.
Since that day, Chance’s YouTube performance of “Paparazzi” has been seen by over 32 million viewers! Television star Ellen DeGeneres was so impressed that she invited him to perform the song on her NBC television show two weeks later. When asked whether he thought singing "Paparazzi"would make him an instant celebrity, Greyson exclaimed, “No, I’d never thought it would.” DeGeneres invited him back to perform one of his original songs on her show a week later, and has since signed the prodigy as the first artist to her newly-formed eleveneleven record label.
After appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the teen has been seen at Hollywood premieres, walking the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards, and has performed at We Day in Canada in front of 20,000 fans. In the past five months, Chance has also been nominated for a Teen Choice Award and a People’s Choice Award. Billboard magazine published their list of the Top 20 People Under 21 and Chance was listed at Number 9. With over 300,000 friends on Facebook and his songs gaining popularity online, Chance has achieved the kind of musical success most kids only dream about.
Chance is currently in the studio working on his debut album for eleveneleven which will be distributed by Maverick/Geffen Records. Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair (who has worked with Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls) is producing. Getting accepted into Fair’s masterclass is a giant step forward for any new pop rock artist, so when asked what it’s like working with Fair, Chance said, “It’s breezy. Ron has become such a great friend and such a great mentor. I’m lucky to have him.”
In addition to having Fair oversee his new album, Chance has the good fortune to collaborate with such songwriters and producers as Danielle Brisbois (Natasha Bedenfield’s "Unwritten" and “Pocket ful of Sunshine”), fellow Oklahoman Ryan Tedder ( Beyonce, Hillary Duff, Leona Lewis, Jordin Sparks), Aaron Michael Cox and Da Internz. Never having taken a vocal lesson, Chance’s singing ability is guided by instinct. He has no special technique for memorizing songs that he has not written, and usually lays down a track without having to rehearse it several times. “We just go in and do it,” says Chance.
Greyson Chance & Ellen DeGeneres
He doesn’t perform solo on the album and has a hot band backing him. Greyson premiered the first single from the album, “Waiting Outside The Lines,” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show recently. “The song has been around for a very long time and is really close to my heart,” he told DeGeneres. “Waiting Outside the Lines,” is available on iTunes. The entire album is set for release in early 2011.
A day in the life of Chance includes school with a studio teacher, working in the studio “as late as I can” and then relaxing by “writing more music.” The young wizard with words has been singing since he was three-years-old and playing the piano since he was eight. There is expressive poetry and poignant experiences in his music. His singing is on several levels: formal, conceptual and emotional.
“Stars” (a song about a woman who died of cancer and reunites with her husband in heaven) and “Broken Hearts” will also be included on Chance’s debut album. “Purple Skies,” a song about kids being bullied, is among the original songs written by Chance that reflect his deep introspection about the people, places and events that affect his creative process. “My inspiration comes from things that have happened to me in real life, love, pain… it comes from many different things,” says Chance.
Chance hopes to make singing his life’s career and wants his audiences to be able to “relate to his songs,” “know exactly what he’s going through,” and when they’re feeling their lowest low to “know that it’s going to get better.”
Paula Edelstein is an award-winning music journalist and author. She contributes to All Music.com, Sounds of Timeless Jazz.com, and Suite101.com. She can be reached at paula.edelstein@att.net.
