Grace Cummings
Grace Cummings | |
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.jpg) Grace Cummings in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2019–present |
| Labels | |
Grace Cummings is an Australian singer-songwriter and stage actor from Melbourne. She has released three studio albums: Refuge Cove (2019), Storm Queen (2022), and Ramona (2024). She is known for her unique singing voice, which has been described as "commanding and magnetic",[1] powerful,[2] and as having a "devastating force".[3] Cummings' musical influences include Irish folk music,[4] Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, and Lucinda Williams.
Career
[edit]Music Career
[edit]Cummings began as a drummer, later becoming a self-taught guitar player.[5] She was signed by Melbourne record label Flightless after founder Eric Moore attended one of her live shows.[6] Flightless released her debut album, Refuge Cove, in 2019.[7] The nine-track album blended acoustic folk and blues and featured Cummings playing acoustic guitar.[8] It was launched at the Tote Hotel[9] and toured, with Cummings supporting international artists including Weyes Blood, Evan Dando, and J Mascis.[10] Cummings received a Music Victoria Awards nomination for Best Breakthrough Act in 2020.[11]
In 2021, Cummings signed a worldwide deal with ATO Records.[12] Her sophomore album, Storm Queen, was released in 2022. It was written and recorded during the COVID pandemic, and Cummings has stated this influenced the album's simplicity.[13][10] It was self-produced and featured more instrumentation than her previous record,[14] including accompaniment by the tambourine and fiddle.[15] The lyrics explored themes such as destruction in the natural world and if there is a higher power.[16]
Cummings released her third album, Ramona, in 2024. She worked with producer Jonathon Wilson and recorded the album in Wilson's Topanga Canyon studio[17] In interviews, Cummings has stated she reached out to Wilson after hearing his work with Angel Olsen.[18] The album is named after a character in Bob Dylan's song "For Ramona," and Cummings has described the work as "dramatic".[18] Ramona features strings, horns, and piano.[19] Harpist Mary Lattimore and multi-instrumentalist Drew Erikson contributed to the record.[20]
Acting Career
[edit]Cummings attended drama school and has performed in Australian theatre.[6] In 2018, she appeared in a production of Prehistoric at the Meat Market in North Melbourne.[21] The play centered on the Australian punk scene, and Cummings played live music as part of the show.[22] She starred as Charlotte in a Melbourne Theatre Company production of Berlin in 2021.[23] The role was as a German woman, and Cummings was the co-lead.[24]
Discography
[edit]| Title | Album Details |
|---|---|
| Refuge Cove |
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| Storm Queen | |
| Ramona |
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References
[edit]- ^ Currin, Grayson Haver. "Grace Cummings: Ramona". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Buckley, Nick (2021-10-31). "'We're back': Play On Victoria at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Buckley, Nick (2024-04-07). "Critic's pick: Grace Cummings, the singer with one of Australia's most powerful voices". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "How Grace Cummings Became Ramona". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Luke (2023-02-15). "An Interview with Grace Cummings". CultureMad. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b Cummings·Features·, Bill (2022-02-08). "IN CONVERSATION: Grace Cummings - God Is In The TV". Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b "Grace Cummings - Refuge Cove | Flightless Records". flightlessrecords.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Grace Cummings - Refuge Cove (Flightless Records)". Third Stone Press - Publishers | The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop Second Edition. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Vince Jones, Grace Cummings and Leah Senior". ABC listen. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b Cahill, Mikey (2022-01-17). "Grace Cummings: "Performing is one aspect of a very, very strange and ugly tapestry"". NME. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Past Winners & Nominees – Music Victoria Awards". Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (2021-02-03). "Grace Cummings signs with U.S. indie label ATO Records". The Music Network. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ "New Artist of the Week: Grace Cummings | Holler". holler.country. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Madden, Emma. "Grace Cummings: Storm Queen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Finlayson, Ray (2022-01-17). "Album Review: Grace Cummings – Storm Queen". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Woods, Cat (2022-01-19). "Grace Cummings – 'Storm Queen' review: show-stopping vocals and poetic songs". NME. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Grace Cummings". ATO RECORDS. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b WIllems, Jasper (2024-04-25). "Lady Of The Canyon – Q&A with Grace Cummings: "It's best to just arrive the way that you are"". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Grow, Kory (2024-05-28). "What's Keeping Grace Cummings Alive This Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Song You Need to Know: Grace Cummings, 'A Precious Thing'". Rolling Stone Australia. 2024-04-08. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Reid, Robert (2018-07-26). "When punk meant the world". witnessperformance.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Prehistoric". PBS FM. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Review, Arts (2021-05-03). "On the Couch with Grace Cummings". Australian Arts Review. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Grace Cummings Q&A". www.mtc.com.au. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Storm Queen, by Grace Cummings". Grace Cummings. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Records, A. T. O., Grace Cummings - Storm Queen. ATO Records., retrieved 2024-07-13
- ^ "Ramona, by Grace Cummings". Grace Cummings. Retrieved 2024-07-13.