Exclusive Interview with Spencer Graham

Spencer is a 24 year old from a small town called Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Playing guitar and singing since he was 8, music has been his pride and joy. Spencer moved from his small town to Charleston and continued to chase his dream and love of music. His first single, “Some Songs” captured what his young life is like away from home and expresses how moving music is. “Small Town Crowds” was a theme song for his hometown and the nights he spent with his friends. Very influenced by country artists that he grew up on, Spencer Graham is a mix of the old and the new country music styles. More to come as he develops and grows as an artist. Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?

Spencer Graham: One of the most defining moments for me when I first started playing guitar and singing was actually in my living room with my mom. I remember playing Autumn Leaves, by Ed Sheeran for her one night. It was the first time I ever sang in front of her, and I remember she cried. Seeing how much it moved her emotionally inspired me. I wanted to move people with music and pull on emotions that sometimes are hard to express.

2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?

Spencer Graham: I don’t have any singers in my family really at all. My oldest brother was the one who taught me how to play guitar, but outside of that it was just a personal journey. I don’t even remember why I started singing and when I started, I was BAD. I didn’t grow up in the church singing, or in choir growing up. I did later in life work with vocal coaches and people who had a great impact on my musical journey, but there really was no formal training early on.

3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life, and how did they inspire your sound? Also, what’s the story behind choosing the name ‘Spencer Graham’?

Spencer Graham: Ed Sheeran is in a lot of ways the reason why I fell in love with music. I remember listening to him and the emotion he captured in his songs, and it almost became therapeutic. I wanted to do what he did, and capture feelings the way he could. Years later when I found Zach Bryan I really felt the same way. He for sure changed the way I wrote songs, and how I shaped my lyrics.

4. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?

Spencer Graham: I think that when people write from experiences, their music is very personal. Some of the songs I have written were about real-life events going on in my life at the time and although they can be relatable for some, no one has experienced my life. I wrote a song that is on my upcoming album, “Reasons to Smile” for my late mother who I lost to colon cancer. I am not the only person to have lost their mother, but I think the way I expressed myself is unique to me and I think that is what sets myself apart. I hope that my sound is genuine. I hope that those who listen to my music can appreciate the honesty and openness.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as COUNTRY?

Spencer Graham: It’s funny to think about my journey into country music. I grew up never listening to country at all. I was brought up on everything but country, with my mom’s favorite band being Metallica. It wasn’t until I was about 16 and heard Florida Georgia Line that I got into country music. I started playing more country on my guitar and playing for my friends at camp parties, which led to me finally understanding the appeal. Country music was all about storytelling and capturing moments in life. This led me to start telling my own stories and writing songs about things that I missed, or things I was going through in life. I really feel as if I studied all the music I was listening to and took something from everything I heard. It was always about the authentic message and the feelings behind every word.

6. Music often transcends entertainment. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

Spencer Graham: I really try to approach my music from a very neutral position. I don’t think that it is my job to try to convince people or educate people, but to just share my story and hope that others can connect. I lean into my faith in some of my work because it is a huge part of who I am, but everything else I try to stay out of. I think music should be for everyone, and I never want to tailor to a specific group. I understand that some people make music about the challenges they face in life, or express frustration in certain areas of culture. That is great if that is what they feel, it just has never been what my music is about.

7. Do you feel the rewards of your musical career match the energy and passion you invest in it, or are there different kinds of fulfillment you’re still seeking?

Spencer Graham: Absolutely. The most rewarding thing for me personally is anytime I can make someone smile, make someone feel as though they aren’t alone in something they went through, or bring a group of people together over music. What I want more than anything out of music is to connect with others. I remember playing a song for a friend that was about losing a loved one, and it really touched them. Knowing that I have a chance to give someone comfort or help someone with grief is more than enough for me. I have never chased approval or anything like that. I just want to bring people any amount of joy.

8. Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first spark of an idea to the finished track, what’s the most essential part of your process, and how do collaboration or external influences shape your work?

Spencer Graham: My process is always very unpredictable and often inconsistent to be honest. I have songs that took me years to write. I sit down and have an idea but can never really nail it down right away. I’ll sit down and write a verse, then maybe not touch it again for months. Other time, I will get an idea and sit down with it and have a complete song in an hour. I feel as though when I am inspired by life, and a specific event the songs come out very easy. I try to write in that way so that it is more organic and truer to how I am feeling. Worth the Wait was like this. I had been going through a lot and struggling in a long-distance relationship and wrote that song in one session. I take these songs to my friend and producer Adam Bell, and that is where the magic happens. He takes ideas, rough outlines of a song, and turns them into what people hear. He is incredible at understand my vision and capturing what I want to express with music.

9. What’s been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?

Spencer Graham: Losing my mom was the hardest thing I have ever been through without a doubt. I think that when you go through something like that at a young age, you have so many emotions you don’t know what to do with. The world keeps spinning but you never really are the same. You learn to live with it, but you never forget it. This has given me motivation, not only to be a better person, but to keep pushing towards my goals. My mom was my biggest fan, and I want to do everything I can to continue to make her proud. I have been blessed with so much support and love from friends, family, and my community, and I will never take that for granted.

10. On the flip side, what moment or achievement in your career so far has made you feel the proudest, and why? And let’s talk about your latest release and future plans.

Spencer Graham: My first gig was without a doubt one of my proudest moments. I come from a very small town called Clearfield, in central Pennsylvania. The first real gig I had was in Charleston, South Carolina, and to even be given that opportunity was something I could have never dreamed of. The truth is that first gig wasn’t great and looking back I had no idea what I was doing. The important thing was that I did it. I became obsessed with playing and seeing how far I could take this thing. The support I had from people around me was incredible and I never wanted to let that go to waste. My newest single Worth the Wait is a track from my album Reasons to Smile which releases on May 11^th 2025. I dedicated it to my late mother and truly think it has some of my best work on it. I am continuing to gig wherever I can, constantly trying to expand. I have plans to write more music and work with Adam Bell over the summer on the next record. I take things day by day and just value the beauty of being able to pursue my dream. I appreciate your time and the opportunity to tell my story a little. I hope that anyone reading this takes the time to listen to a song of mine, and even more importantly it moves you in any capacity and brings some level of joy to you. God bless!