It is easy to draw comparisons between critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Greyson Chance and the likes of James Bay or Sam Smith, yet he is singular in his musical journey. His career has spanned over a decade with tens of millions of streams, views, and lives touched. From a viral video crooning Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at school in Oklahoma when he was only 12 years old, to a subsequent whirlwind of international tours and recognition, Greyson has since found his own voice amidst the buzz. Now all grown up, the singer/songwriter/pianist infuses his prose with the sort of rich narrative and metaphor you might expect from an old, dog-eared novel, yet amplified with an instinctual predisposition towards empathy.
Chance is back with his third LP Palladium, an homage to all of the life he has lived in three acts: growth, pride, and realization. With candid and poetic lyricism, inherent musicality, and poignantly soulful vocals, the album carries listeners through a kaleidoscope of sonics and stories. There is a little something for every indie fan, from soothing ballads (“Palladium”) to more electronic-influenced tracks (“Homerun Hitter”). Having always prided himself on his storytelling, Chance bears all of his vulnerabilities on Palladium, perhaps for the first time in his career, speaking the truth in his words as a tool for self-discovery. The LP was recorded and written in a Nashville studio with multi-platinum producer and songwriter Jason Reeves [Colbie Caillat, Kelly Clarkson].
“I found purpose musically,” Chance reflects.“Life will kick you in the ass no matter what happens. It feels timid at points, but there are big confident moments. At the end, the hero falls down a few pegs. I’ve been writing my own songs since I was a kid, and that’s the story behind it.”
“My Dying Spirit,” is a stunning ode to the all-too familiar feeling of hopelessness, and the pleading that comes when one searches for a savior from the “limit.” Chance’s swooping harmonies and soulful belt give the song breadth, balanced perfectly with a luminous piano-driven melody and nearly anthemic choruses that beg for the listener to sing along. “I’m barely even standing now / But goddamn I need another round / I can hear my name out in the crowd,” he laments.
The accompanying music video provides an equally beautiful visual. Speaking on his artistic vision for the video, Chance shares, “I wanted to play a character that was distressed and messy, for that’s how I was when I wrote the song. I remember being in LA last December, more homesick than I could even comprehend, lying on my kitchen floor just feeling depleted. That’s when I realized that I don’t always have to feel and be okay, that my imperfect spirit is what makes every part of me unique… It’s what makes me an artist.”
The album is available on all platforms, having hit 3.3M streams in just the first six days of release. It has received praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, Elle, and Billboard. The Palladium Tour begins tomorrow, October 5th, in Philadelphia and runs throughout North America through December. Find dates here.
