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

Hi Charles, what inspires you?
I am inspired by resilient people in any walk of life. It’s a real life super power. It’s something that I admire and aspire to develop, because life is hard, and there are a lot of things competing for our time, energy, and resources. Multiple friends and mentors over the years have modeled this for me. My guitar instructor in college used to say that the most important part about making a mistake is how we recover. I have not perfected anything by a long stretch, but I am still working at it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been playing guitar, singing, and writing songs for over twenty years now. I am most proud of the next song I write or the next performance, because that means there is still more to say. There is still more work to be done.

I am at a point right now where I have to start over completely from scratch, and that’s scary. Like many creative people, I am wired in a way that can let my emotions get the best of me to the point that I become an obstacle to myself. This is where those personal heroes come back into the story to remind me of the truth and help me re-frame the challenges as an opportunity to rebuild. That’s the story I want to tell through my music and everyday conversations.

I read a book earlier his year called The Dark Side of Skin by Jeferson Tenorio. There is a part where the son in the story is recalling some advice from his father:
“You need to protect the inside, you told me. Preserve the part of you no one can see… because somewhere in your muscles and organs and veins there’s a place all your own, remote and unique. And that’s where your love is. And this love is what keeps us alive.”

The best and worst thing about adversity is that it exposes everything about who we truly are inside — the redeeming traits and the not-so-sexy stuff about us. The most important part is how we respond and how we protect the love the keeps us going.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend is married with a wife and two-year old son now, so it depends. If he came solo, then I would take him to a few local shows at the Troubadour or the Hotel Cafe. We would definitely hit up my favorite taco spot, Tacos Puro Jalisco in Fullerton. That food is next-level, definitely a huge shift from where he lives in the Pacific Northwest.
I would also want to show him around South Pasadena. He’s a big fan of the original Halloween movie. Plus, that area is super cool to walk around.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
You know what’s funny is the first people that come to mind would hate me if I dropped their names. These friends are the type that go above and beyond in secret. They don’t do anything for the recognition or the accolades. That’s one of the many reasons I love them. They keep me grounded when I am caught up in all the metrics and seeking approval or validation through things that don’t ultimately matter. I will dedicate this shoutout to all my lovely introvert heroes. You know who you are. Love y’all.

Website: https://linktr.ee/charlesgracemusic

Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlesgrace.music

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYu5L9P8AgIUV317duKtqdQ

Other: https://charlesgrace.bandcamp.com/album/wanderer-ep

Image Credits
All photos by: John Doukas

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