R&B-Soul Artist Grace Sorensen On Her Passion & Career in Music, Dream Collaborations & Who Inspires Her Most

April 24, 2023

Grace, a 19-year-old R&B/neo-soul artist first took the stage as a dancer before grade school.

Over years of training pre-professionally in various commercial dance styles, it became clear that her true love and purpose were in music.

Seeking connections to the music industry, she began by visiting CSP Music Group in Atlanta, Georgia, where she tracked her first single, “Tell Me” which was later released.

Refocusing on her hometown of Austin, TX, she became a committed recording artist at Orb Recording Studios. She released her next two singles “Velvet Noise” and “Soul or System.” Her most fruitful single to date, “Attraction,” was her debut music video shot by Daniel Castillo and premiered on YouTube.

She has now dropped her debut EP titled “What I Never Told You” on all platforms, and has shared a second music video by Daniel Castillo for the closing track, “PRETTY BOY”.

What I Never Told You EP Tracklist

1. CAPTIVE
2. YOU DON’T LIKE ME WHEN YOU’RE
3. THIS ISN’T LOVE
4. BLISSFUL THINKING
5. PRETTY BOY

She also began working in the studio with Blk Odyssy and other musicians sprinkling in backup vocals and features.

Grace infuses her sound with unique yet familiar flavors of soul/R&B and is working on her second EP all while still pursuing professional dance and collaboration.

Through her discography and artistic presence, she hopes to be a voice for the Outcasts.

Sorensen has opened for Diana Ross at a special benefit concert at the Circuit of the Americas—the 77-year-old Motown legend and former member of the Supremes is just one of two U.S. shows last year.

Being able to hear (Ross) in person is already such a privilege, and playing on the same stage as a global icon is such as great honor,” Sorensen said. “A little over a year ago I played my first gig in a coffee shop and I thank God for paving the path to this stage.

She’s proud of having been able to pursue a career in the arts despite coming from a city where that wasn’t seen as a realistic option.

Follow along Grace Sorensen’s journey thus far as we talk more with her about her music career, dream collaborations, and everything in between.

Has music always been your career plan? And what was the defining moment you realized you wanted to do music?

Not really, but yes. I grew up dancing pre-professionally my whole life and during those years, I was dancing in a studio she (my mother) owns. She has been running her business for about 25 years now… She’s one of those tough moms that didn’t want me to switch up, she wanted to teach me commitment, hard work, all those things. Which paid off, but, it did hold me back from exploring what I really wanted to do.

I knew that I was very musically inclined. I grew up playing piano, I was in a middle school band, and I knew that music was always the thing; I couldn’t go a day without listening to music. I was sitting around for hours on Spotify rearranging my playlist and finding new music. When I got to high school, I started to realize that dance is what I want to make a career out of, because in dancing, the goal is to make you look cohesive for big shows.

You want to look as cohesive as possible. I think that is amazing, I still dance and work at that but I wanted to be an individual and do whatever I wanted and music was the peak. That was the source of my love for dance. Without music, I wouldn’t have liked to dance as much.

What are some of your favorite artist collaborations?

I have a list on my phone — off the top of my head I would love to work with Ari Lennox. I think she’s so dope. I think her writing is so amazing. She’s so charismatic. I would love to work with Brent Faiyaz, I think he’s so unapologetically moody. I love it…

James Blake — I would love to produce work with him on a production level. Leon Thomas — he’s an incredible producer as well.

I love J Cole, I love Kendrick (Lamar); I would love to do some vocals on a Kendrick song. There is so many more: Summer Walker… Miguel. Just all my heroes, you know.

Name a few artists you would love to do a song with and why.

Well, I would say, Michael Jackson, rest in peace but, I also would say Aaliyah, rest in peace.

I mean any of them really, maybe Mary J. Blige or Lauryn Hill would be amazing to talk to; I feel like their mindset on careers is very unique. I know Lauryn Hill has a lot of opinions on fam and the industry, but I would love to see what her point of view is. I want to see what motivates them, what they feel in the studio, and what are the reasons why they can’t stop pursuing this career. What makes it their thing? I would love to sit down and just pick their brains.

Current artist I would want to talk to: James Blake about his process, because his brain is crazy, and Miguel too since he produces all of his own music. Just a lot of producers, I would love to talk to them because I feel that is the root of music. I feel if you’re producing music, your own music, then you’re just anointed; you have something in you that’s undeniably a gift.

The Fox Magazine is all about inspiration, what/who inspires you the most?

My parents first because they’re both entrepreneurs and went against what’s typically accepted in society. Starting your own business is kind of risky, especially a dance studio for my mom. It’s another one of those things where people say you should probably try to get something more stable. Her parents were immigrants and they were trying to have their kids live out the American dream of doing a 9 to 5 as a lawyer or doctor, but my mom ended up doing what she loved which paid off. Definitely inspired me to explore what is that I feel my purpose is.

What motto, quote, or words to live do you use to stay motivated when you aren’t feeling inspired?

My dad has a lot of motivational quotes that are not PG, but, he’s him. One of the things that he always told me is to look at whatever everyone else is doing and do something different. That has always kind of instilled in me: to not force myself to fit in if I don’t want to. So, if it means I’m going to be alone, that’s my decision, and stand proud of it.

If you know what you want to do and who you want to be, just go for it and the rest of the things will fall into place.

Also, my name is Grace, my mom use to read this book called ‘Amazing Grace’ — one of the biggest points in the book is that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Those are such simple quotes, but there’s a reason they’re so popular. It’s because if you really do believe it and allow that to serve you, it can take you very far. So those little things are always in my mind.

Studying the greats and not the trends, not going with what’s poppin’ right now, and looking back historically on what has worked. You know there’s always truth and tradition. Just sticking with it.