Grace Calver releases new single 'Bad Influence' on 16th June 2023

I am a 19 year old singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist from the Suffolk/Essex border and have been recording and releasing my original songs for 18 months and playing my live set for just over 2 years. This has included supporting Alfie Templeman in Cambridge in October 2022 on his UK tour and Toploader/Liberty X at Trinity Park, Ipswich in November 2022. 

I write tongue-in-cheek indie pop songs with a hint of rock. My influences include Baby Queen, Kate Nash, Lilly Allen, Waterparks and Weezer. I hope my lyrics are entertaining, detailing issues with things such as social media, bad flirting and failed relationships. They may even be relatable to some!

Following on from the release of my debut EP in April, I am starting my new era with a bang; ‘Bad Influence’ is an energetic, pop punky, humorous song about my type of guy when dating. Always finding that person in the room with the biggest red flags! In the recording I have used voice samples from my friends Leah, Daisy, Evie and Jess warning me off of this type of boy. This emphasises the lyric “I fall for a guy my friends warned me about”. I have the next 3 singles all primed and ready to go over the rest of the year too! Watch this space! 

I play most of the guitars and the bass on the single, Jake Day performed a brilliant guitar solo for the recording after being briefed that I wanted the biggest showy offy solo to match the vibe of the song. Oscar Liddiard once again did the drums. The track was produced, mixed and mastered by Jake Day at North Acre Studios. The art work was designed by Lee Thomas using a photo from Geoff Lawrence Photography. 

I have been supported by BBC Introducing for all my singles so far, my live performance for them was also included on the national BBC Introducing social media, and I was named as ‘One to Watch in 2023’ by BBC Introducing Suffolk. I have had my songs played across BBC Suffolk, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk and BBC Cambridgeshire as well as Amazing Radio UK and USA with Charlie Ashcroft. 

I am very grateful to have been supported by my local press, the East Anglian Daily Times, who included me on their list of 30 inspiring people under 30 for 2022 and named me as one of their 5 artists to watch in 2023.

I won the Female Solo category at the NMG Awards (New Music Generator) covering Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in 2022 and have just played their stage at Strawberry Fair in Cambridge as reigning champion!!

I have had support slots across East Anglia this year and in 2022, plus London, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire including with Plastic Mermaids, The Oozes, The Meffs, Gemma Rogers, Freya Beer and Thomas Nicholas (from the American Pie movies) on his UK tour. 

I have lots of live appearances coming up this year including performing at First Light Festival Lowestoft (17th June) on the New Dawn stage plus also as a guest on the main stage for Tom McRae’s headline set, Ipswich Music Day (2nd July) on the Grapevine Stage and of course the recently announced support slots for Leah Weller’s UK tour in Brighton and Birmingham in September. I also have my first gig booked in October with my new band which is very exciting and all will be revealed very soon!