- Skylar Grey
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Skylar Grey Birth name Holly Brook Hafermann[1] Also known as Holly Brook[2] Born February 23, 1986 Origin Mazomanie, Wisconsin, United States Genres Pop, soul, folk rock, rock, hip hop Occupations Singer, songwriter, record producer Instruments Vocals, piano, guitar Years active 2004–present Labels KIDinaKORNER, Interscope, Machine Shop Website skylargreymusic.com Holly Brook Hafermann (born February 23, 1986), better known by her stage name Skylar Grey, is a Grammy-nominated American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Grey was signed to Machine Shop Recordings under the name Holly Brook. She released her debut album as Holly Brook, Like Blood Like Honey, in 2006. She co-wrote the three versions of "Love the Way You Lie" with Alex da Kid, who signed her to his Wonderland Music label. She was featured as a guest vocalist on Fort Minor's "Where'd You Go" and "Be Somebody", Diddy-Dirty Money's "Coming Home", Dr. Dre's "I Need a Doctor" and Lupe Fiasco's "Words I Never Said".
Contents
Life and career
2001–2010: Early life and career beginnings
Grey performed professionally as a child in a folk duo with her mother called Generations.[3] Together, (with producer/engineer Randy Green) they independently produced three albums, Dream Maker, Lift Me, and Millennial Child/Waiting For You. Grey started her first band at the age of fifteen after 'sneaking' into bars, working with jazz musicians including Jeff Eckles, Tim Whalen and Leo Sidran in Madison, Wisconsin.
In 2003, Brook moved to Los Angeles and recorded a demo, which led to her being signed by Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson to the band's vanity label, Machine Shop Recordings, at age 18 in the fall of 2004. Her voice is featured on the Fort Minor songs "Where'd You Go" and "Be Somebody". Working with producer Jonathan Ingoldsby, Brook released her debut album, Like Blood Like Honey, on June 6, 2006. She landed opening spots for tours with Jamie Cullum, KD Lang, Daniel Powter, Teddy Geiger and Duncan Sheik.
In 2010, Brook lent both her song "It's Raining Again" and her image to a promotional campaign for Ciao Water.[4] Prior to this, she has appeared on albums by other artists, including Brie Larson's Finally Out of P.E., and Fort Minor's The Rising Tied. Brook has toured with as part of Duncan Sheik's band, and appears heavily on his 2009 album Whisper House. At the beginning in 2010 she also performed in the theatrical version of "Whisper House," playing one of the two lead ghost vocalists along with David Poe.[5] Also in 2010, she self-released the seven-song O’Dark:Thirty EP, produced by Duncan Sheik and Jon Ingoldsby.[6] In 2009, Brook appeared as a backing vocalist on Eurovision contestant, Yohanna's debut album, Butterflies and Elvis.
2011–present: Invinsible
Brook later changed her name to Skylar Grey. She explained that “it, (grey), represents the unknowns in life. People seem to be afraid of the unknowns, but I’m the complete opposite. I dive into the unknown because I feel like that’s where all your possibilities come from.”[7] She explained to Beatweek that she chose "grey" with an e rather than an a because “I like to do things the original way" and because "it’s more masculine. I’m not a very feminine person."[8]
She was still living in Oregon and had no recognition as Skylar Grey. Grey went to New York to meet her publisher, Jennifer Blakeman, who played Grey the song "Airplanes" by B.O.B and Hayley Williams which was produced by Alex da Kid. Grey liked what she heard so Blakeman introduced them via e-mail. Alex da Kid sent Grey a few tracks he had been working on and the first song she wrote was "Love The Way You Lie".
Producer Alex da Kid signed her to a production deal on his KIDinaKORNER imprint.[9] She wrote the hook to all three versions of "Love the Way You Lie" by rapper Eminem and Rihanna as well as all of the lyrics and melody to versions II and III of the song. She can be heard performing the demo for all versions of the song. Grey earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year for her writing contributions to "Love the Way You Lie".[10] She also co-wrote Diddy-Dirty Money's "Coming Home",[11] along with "Castle Walls" by T.I. and Christina Aguilera.[12] On March 10, 2011, Diddy-Dirty Money performed the single "Coming Home" with Grey and Dirty Money vocalists, Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper, live on American Idol.[13]
She is also a writer and featured guest on "I Need a Doctor".[14] Grey is also featured on Lupe Fiasco's third studio album Lasers, on the second single, "Words I Never Said" and was also featured in the live performance of the song, with Lupe, on The Colbert Report on May 9, 2011. Grey made her live performance debut under her new alias during the 53rd Grammy Awards, performing "I Need a Doctor" alongside Eminem and Dr. Dre. She is currently working on her solo studio album Invinsible with Alex Da Kid. She has signed to Interscope Records through Da Kid's KIDinaKORNER,[15] and her first promotional buzz single "Dance Without You"[16] was released on June 6, 2011, with the official music video being released on July 5.[17] The first official single "Invisible" was released to radio on June 16. On July 9, 2011, Grey performed live at the World Peace Event in Washington, DC, appearing along with the 14th Dalai Lama.[18][19] On 6 August, she performed at the 20th Lollapalooza festival as both a solo artist and with Eminem during the song "I Need A Doctor". The next day, while passing by the area where YouTube sensation Karmin was recording their cover of "I Need A Doctor," Grey joined the duo for an impromptu performance.[20]
Grey also featured on Kaskade's 2011 album Fire & Ice, writing and singing on two versions of the song "Room For Happiness".
Influences
Grey has listed Marilyn Manson, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Sarah McLachlan and Death Cab for Cutie as her influences.[21]
Discography
Main article: Skylar Grey discography- Like Blood Like Honey (2006)
- Invinsible (2012)
References
- ^ "String of hits gives Da Kid a break", Music Week, July 17, 2010
- ^ "Skylar Grey: Changes to the Holly Brook mailing list: Holly Brook announces new name, "Skylar Grey"". 2011. http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0f640cd85f101be42d000d150&id=de160a30be&e=aa63be3db9. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ Samara Kalk, Rhythm Profile, Wisconsin State Journal, December 27, 2001.
- ^ Ciao Water – Official Website
- ^ McNulty, Charles (2010—01-24). "Theater review: 'Whisper House' at San Diego's Old Globe*". The Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/01/theater-review-whisper-house-at-san-diegos-old-globe.html. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
- ^ HOLLY BROOK – O’Dark Thirty
- ^ Mandi Bierly. "Skylar Grey talks about her name change". EW. p. 4. Archived from the original on Feb 2011. http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/02/. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
- ^ Skylar Grey: the Beatweek interview with the future of pop music via Beatweek Magazine
- ^ Alex Da Kid signs Skylar Grey to Wonderland Entertainment via Billboard
- ^ Eminem, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga Lead Grammy Nominations via Billboard
- ^ Diddy-Dirty Money feat. Skylar Grey – "Coming Home" via Rap-Up
- ^ Alex Da Kid names Skylar Grey as writer for "Castle Walls" by T.I. & Christina Aguilera via Rap-Up
- ^ "Diddy-Dirty Money, Sklyar Grey Bring "Coming Home" to American Idol". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659679/american-idol-diddy-dirty-money.jhtml. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
- ^ Dr. Dre reunites with Eminem via RollingStone
- ^ SKYLAR GREY SIGNS TO INTERSCOPE, SINGLE DUE THIS SPRING
- ^ Skylar Grey releases cover art for debut single "Dance Without You" via Twitter
- ^ YouTube - "Dance Without You" official video.
- ^ Yahoo News - Skylar Grey Performs Live with the Dalai Lama, July 9.
- ^ "Skylar Grey Performs For The Dalai Lama At The U.S. Capitol". B96 Chicago. July 11, 2011. http://b96.radio.com/2011/07/11/skylar-grey-performs-for-the-dalai-lama-at-the-u-s-capitol.
- ^ "Lollapalooza 2011: Skylar Grey Crashes Karmin's Billboard Tent Jam". Skylar Grey Crashes Karmin's Billboard Tent Jam. billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/column/viralvideos/lollapalooza-2011-karmin-skylar-grey-s-impromptu-1005301712.story#/column/viralvideos/lollapalooza-2011-karmin-skylar-grey-s-impromptu-1005301712.story.
- ^ Skylar Grey Was Known As Holly Brook Prior To Meeting Eminem
External links
Studio albums Like Blood Like Honey · InvinsibleEPs Singles "Dance Without You" · "Invisible"Featured singles Related articles Alex da KidCategories:- 1986 births
- American singer-songwriters
- American female singers
- American pop pianists
- American female guitarists
- Living people
- People from Dane County, Wisconsin
- Songwriters from Wisconsin
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