Meet Mayor Grey | Indie Pop/Rock Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mayor Grey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mayor, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
The first thought that came to mind was performing at this talent show my high school ran. It was my senior year, and I decided to play “Sweet Caroline”. I was nervous until the crowd immediately started singing along. It was that feeling of providing this group of strangers and friends an experience that makes them forget where they are. Being able to entertain and make people dance or smile is an experience I’m always chasing, and that started at that talent show.

My family has always been a big part of it, too. Surrounding me with this culture that embraces music helped me see the natural rhythms of every day life and how fun it can be, so now I spend my time trying to show that to the world as well.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I learned that a lot of art is trusting yourself. There’s a vision in your head on what things should look like, or sound like, that no one else may be able to see, so dial in on that. Along the pathway to where I am now, I took a lot of time (and made a lot of mistakes) before I began trusting myself. This may mean making the decisions that others might not align with immediately. Starting out, I wrote so many songs alone in my bedroom that people will never hear. I always wanted to focus on my message and how I wanted to deliver it. However, it’s important to know that you cannot do it yourself. There are people out there that can add their own flavor to your work and can expand it in ways you never even thought. So that was one of the most important -and exciting- takeaways from this year; it’s that the director isn’t making the movie on his own.

Melodies were always at the forefront of my writing. I loved the complexities of the Beach Boys, or the Beatles, and made sure to study their songs and find out my own way of telling my story with their canvas.

I’d like everyone to know that the world is way more interesting and moldable if you just open your window and listen. Use me as a cool tour guide, letting you in to either your own thoughts, or showing you around this refreshed view of reality. I just want to provide an escape for people while making them think about how they see things. It’s all about connection.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s this wing spot called O’Malley’s in Palmer Lake. I’m a sucker for chicken wings and this place has the best I’ve ever had. I’ve been a loyal customer since high school and I’m not planning on stopping any time soon. I love food, so I try to in in-tune with the choices around me. Another place I love to go is a concert venue. There’s a ton I can bring up that have great atmosphere and vibes; The Black Sheep is a great spot for great music acts, local or national. Another one is Larimer Lounge and Globe Hall. I can’t pick a favorite, but there would definitely be a concert involved. The fact that “people” was brought up in this question, I’d point my finger to Mikey Hardesty and Joel Villanoz. They are both local filmmakers with unmatched passion and enthusiasm for the art, and I just love spending time around them.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One group of people that I will always have respect for are the teachers in my life. This can encompass everyone who has spent their time and effort teaching me something new about the world or music. I’ve always believed that having a mentor or someone more experienced help guide you, either along the way or just at the beginning, is super important for your creative passions. Also knowing that someone believes in you enough to spend their time and efforts on your development adds even more gusto in your endeavors. So shoutout teachers everywhere. Y’all are so valuable to society.

I’m also a nerd in philosophy, meditation, and self-help books too, so I learned that surrounding or angling yourself around the things outside of your passion can actually help fuel your creativity. Books like Atomic Habits, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, and the Tao Te Ching are just a few of the books I’ve read that are still helping me on my journey.

Website: https://www.musicbymayorgrey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbymayorgrey/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@musicbymayorgrey

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@musicbymayorgrey

Image Credits
Jordan Andrews
Mikey Hardesty
Andy Riggs