GRAYSCALE | THE HART, UPCOMING TOURS, AND THE EVOLUTION OF THEIR SOUND

It’s impossible to ignore how far Grayscale has come over the years. Watching their growth as a band has been something special, and hearing their sound evolve in real time has made the journey even more exciting. Consisting of Collin Walsh, Dallas Molster, Andrew Kyne, and Nick Veno, Grayscale has carved out a unique space for themselves in the music scene. Their latest album, The Hart, feels like a turning point for the band. The album covers topics such as death, addiction, and helping each other through grief, in a way that is both raw and honest, giving space to both the pain and strength that come with healing.

We had the pleasure of chatting with vocalist Collin Walsh to talk about the creation of The Hart, how their sound has evolved, excitement surrounding their upcoming tours, and of course, the best cheesesteak in Philly. Read the interview below!

“When someone listens to Grayscale for the first time, what sort of feelings do you want your music to create for them?”

CW: Grayscale songs are stories from my life – my intention is to make the most open, real, and vulnerable art that I can, and if a listener resonates with it, whatever it produces, whether its relatability/resonating, or comfort, then that’s what I want for them.

“If someone only had the chance to listen to one Grayscale song, which song would you want them to listen to and why?”

CW: Through The Landslide or Not Afraid to Die. Those two are the most authentic displays of who we are as musicians and who we are as people. As a band we feel like they highlight everything we embody. 

“Your sound has evolved so much since your first few releases. What do you think has contributed to this growth the most, and what have been the biggest changes in your creative process over the years?”

CW: Better songwriting and storytelling. We’ve also learned how to be less dependent on technology in a studio to fix human imperfection, and more dependent on our individual performances (which may integrate natural human imperfection that adds to the art), and the character of our parts musically. It’s purposefully looking at something imperfect and embracing the human touch of it.

“When writing The Hart, how did you decide which tracks made the cut and which didn’t?”

CW: Months, and months, and months of debating amongst each other and working hard with our amazing producers. We recognized a specific sentiment that existed among the songs that we had written, and allowed only the ones that held that sentiment, in the strongest way, to us, to make the final tracklisting.

“You described the process of creating The Hart as “making the most authentic, genuine, and vulnerable art that we could make”. Were there any challenges or emotional breakthroughs that came with that? Would you say that this project felt almost like an emotional weight lifted off your shoulders?”

CW: Definitely. We went through literal blood, sweat, and tears writing this record. I tapped in lyrically to all kinds of emotions and maturations of feelings that I hadn’t yet confronted. It’s a very reflective record that I couldn’t have written lyrically any other time in my life. 

“Having that mindset going into the studio, is there a song that feels especially raw or personal compared to the rest of the album?”

CW: Mum II.

“You’ve got a busy end to the summer as you start your tour with Our Last Night in August! What are you looking forward to the most about this tour?”

CW: Good food and Rock n’ Roll. Definitely a different crowd for Grayscale. Our Last Night is a heavier band compared to artists we’ve toured with. Love breaking a crowd of new people. 

“You’ve also got an exciting UK/EU tour coming up this fall! It’s your first time headlining over there, what does this milestone mean for you guys as a band? Are there any cities you’re especially excited to play?”

CW: It rocks. Honestly, we are excited for every single city. Europe is beautiful and has incredible food. The UK is shitty (like Philly) in the best way.

“Since this UK/EU headliner has been such a long time coming, what kind of experience are you hoping to create for those international fans?”

CW: We’ve wanted to headline the UK/EU for a long time, but COVID fucked that up. We couldn’t be happier to be doing it now – we’ll be playing songs from all our records to make up for lost time. We’re super thankful for the patience of our overseas fans.

“I went to college in Philly, so I have to ask each of you – 1. Favorite cheesesteak spot, and 2. What is your go-to order?”

CW: The other three nerds are too cool to do interviews. For me – John’s Roast Pork’s. Cheesesteak and roast pork sandwich there are god tier. 

Grayscale’s latest album, The Hart, is a true testament to how much they’ve grown as a band, and as people. They keep it real, sharing stories and conveying raw emotions that connect with people on a personal level. With a busy tour ahead and their first UK/EU headline shows, this new era is proving to be quite the exciting one! If this latest record is any indication - the future is looking bright for Grayscale. Be sure to grab a ticket to a Grayscale show near you - and stream The Hart!