Interviews: Sage Graye

Today, we're thrilled to have the talented musicians from Sage Graye with us. This pop-rock band from the USA has been making waves with their catchy hooks, driving beats, and insightful lyrics. With influences ranging from classic rock to modern pop, Sage Graye has a sound that is both familiar and fresh. We'll be talking to the band about their creative process, and what's in store for their future. Follow the band on their Facebook Page. So without further ado, let's get started!

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Sage Graye was what our lead singer, Devin, called the color of the walls from her childhood bedroom. It seems simple, but no other name seemed to fit the band as well as Sage Graye. Our music stems from the library of Indie influences which tend to take a passive yet curious look at the many questions posed by our modern world. We want our fans to become curious about what more the band name could mean to them! And our lead singer is not named Sage.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Indie Pop Rock suits the lyrics and style of songwriting by our lead singer, Devin. As we’ve grown as a band, our respective styles have influenced this genre in a unique way. We love the freedom of the “indie” genre label because we’re all able to fit our unique styles into one conglomerate sound. ‘Street Lamps’ features traditional indie lyricism and vocal lines but also bluesy guitar leads. The new music we are currently working on has a focus on the driving, metal drum, and bass lines.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Devin (lead singer) and Nicole (rhythm guitar) went to the same high school, yet only until the summer of 2021 were they introduced, a year post-graduation. Patrick (lead guitar) was stolen from a cover band by the bassist of Sage Graye at the beginning of the band while we were looking for a lead guitarist. Devin began working with Caleb (bass) and Milton (drums) at the Mythic Panda Studio in the spring of 2021.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

We love this question! Our lead singer Devin’s favorite band is Ben Folds Five. Our lead/rhythm guitarist Nicole’s favorite artist is John Mayer. Our bassist Caleb’s favorite band is Living Sacrifice. Our drummer, Milton’s favorite band is Tool. Our lead guitarist Patrick’s favorite band is Dire Straits.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

We primarily derive our inspiration from major life experiences, eg. family, parents, relationships, or friendships. But sometimes an ordinary experience in our mundane daily lives can trigger a new idea. At the end of the day, who inspires us varies greatly due to our diverse musical backgrounds. A blues solo might inspire our guitarists, while a driving rhythm section pushes our drummer and bassist to create fresh foundations for our songs. Our lead singer, Devin, has been inspired by her older brother, Alex, her entire life. The EP “Street Lamps” is based on personal experiences and struggles that only Alex can truly relate to. She finds great hope and encouragement from watching him come out on the other side of the same losses with such a level head and his own beautiful family. 

6. Where was your last gig?

That’s a funny memory! Our last gig was actually at a goodbye party for a college friend’s family! We played for an energetic crowd of students in Plano, TX and we had a blast showing these enthusiastic punks our new music. Naturally, we spent a few hours celebrating at a local IHOP with the entire crew!

7. Where would you like to act?

We’d love to play coast to coast! Some spots we’re planning to hit include Red Rocks in Denver, CO, Stubb’s in Austin, TX, and the Ryman Auditorium. Of course, we’d love to hit up Madison Square Garden in the future! Of course, we love our Dallas fanbase and will continue to play for them non-stop! We would love to be able to gig out at venues such as Trees, the Box Garden, and The Bomb Factory. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

As we convened as a band, two names quickly rose to the surface: John Mayer and Chappell Roan. These two musicians have an excellent ability to create music mixed with meaningful lyrics.

9. Whom not?

We wouldn’t mesh well with rap artists! We don’t think the audience would appreciate such a drastic shift.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I think all of us have some sort of stage fright. A way that we’re able to push through these jitters is by checking in with our fellow bandmates throughout the show. Whenever our lead singer, Devin, gets nervous at the top of the shows she takes a second to make eye contact and smile at our rhythm guitarist, Nicole, as a way to keep grounded. We’ve built a lot of trust and love for each other throughout this process and leaning back on that foundation for moral support is a lifesaver in a live environment.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Our top five are by far: Dire Straits, John Mayer, Ben Folds, Tool, and Living Sacrifice. These musicians have influenced our music since day 1 and will continue to inspire our creative projects.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you?

We’re pretty sure this was a bot but we’re just gonna assume he was a raving fan of ours who DM’d us “Dear sir, Would you like to increase your streams and followers by 100% real and organic audience at spotify?” We declined.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love each and every one of our fans. They have been very supportive and we appreciate them coming to see our shows. They are a big motivator for us to continue on our musical journey.

14. What do you think of our site? 

The website "breathingthecore.com" is very well organized and easy to navigate. The art is also quite appealing.

15. Something you'd like to add?

We appreciate the opportunity to do this interview and are excited to share our music!