40 Scene
) Macy Gray released her first album On
How Life Is in 1999. The lead single, I Try, became one of those smash hit records almost everyone on the planet can sing along to. Very few artists have broken through with quite the same level of impact. Undone and The Disco Song are Macy’s latest singles, and they’re as good as anything she recorded in her imperial phase. She’s currently recording with R&B/funk collective, California Jet Club. We caught up with Macy to discuss her new tracks, working with Frankie Grande, travel and more.
“I advertise being yourself, being honest and saying what you feel, no matter what anybody says. And no one embodies that more than the LGBT+ community” What’s the inspiration behind the song Undone? “To me it’s so appropriate for everybody’s life; it’s about stripping it down and taking the time to discover who you are. It’s also about what love can do to you, how it can bring you to nothing and make you do things you never thought you’d do.” The video really brings that to life. It stars Frankie Grande in drag, tearing it up in his inimitable way. You worked with Ariana Grande before, is that how you came to work with Frankie Grande? “No, I was already following him. All through lockdown he was posting videos of him singing in the bathroom. He would always be topless and he’d have on all this makeup. He’d be doing these Broadway songs – things you do when you think you’re alone, but he’d be doing them on social media. I thought this dude is wild. When we got the idea for the video I decided to call him. He’s very expressive, very epic; he’s a fun guy with huge energy. Frankie is really passionate about everything he does so he was perfect for it.” Was it his idea to do it in drag? “No, that was my idea. There’s a quick shot of him with tape over his balls – that was his idea! We wanted to go quite full on with some other stuff but he said ‘no, I don’t want to do that.’ He didn’t know how the LGBTQ+ community would take it.”
SHADES OF GRAY
Alex Klineberg catches up with R&B/soul legend Macy Gray to discuss her new tracks, working with Frankie Grande and her LGBTQ+ fans
Do you feel an affinity with your LGBTQ+ fans? “I think so because through my music I advertise being yourself, being honest and saying what you feel, no matter what anybody says. And no one embodies that more than the LGBTQ+ community. To be honest about something that’s still taboo but to still come out and be who you are. Some people live in countries where it’s still illegal. I think that’s where the connection is.” The Disco Song presents quite a contrast to
