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Grace Cummings

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Grace Cummings
Grace Cummings in 2022
Grace Cummings in 2022
Background information
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
  • keyboards
Years active2019–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

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Music

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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

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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

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List of albums with selected details
Title Album Details
Refuge Cove
  • Released: 1 November 2019
  • Label: Flightless
  • Format: Vinyl[7]
Storm Queen
  • Released: 14 January 2022[25]
  • Label: ATO Records
  • Format: Vinyl, CD, digital download[26]
Ramona
  • Released: 5 April 2024
  • Label: ATO Records
  • Format: Vinyl, CD digital download[27]

Awards and nominations

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Australian Music Prize

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The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $50,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2024 Ramona Australian Music Prize Pending [28]

References

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  1. ^ Currin, Grayson Haver. "Grace Cummings: Ramona". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "How Grace Cummings Became Ramona". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  5. ^ Luke (2023-02-15). "An Interview with Grace Cummings". CultureMad. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  6. ^ a b Cummings·Features·, Bill (2022-02-08). "IN CONVERSATION: Grace Cummings - God Is In The TV". Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  7. ^ a b "Grace Cummings - Refuge Cove | Flightless Records". flightlessrecords.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Vince Jones, Grace Cummings and Leah Senior". ABC listen. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Past Winners & Nominees – Music Victoria Awards". Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  12. ^ Brandle, Lars (2021-02-03). "Grace Cummings signs with U.S. indie label ATO Records". The Music Network. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  13. ^ "New Artist of the Week: Grace Cummings | Holler". holler.country. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  14. ^ Madden, Emma. "Grace Cummings: Storm Queen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  15. ^ Finlayson, Ray (2022-01-17). "Album Review: Grace Cummings – Storm Queen". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  16. ^ Woods, Cat (2022-01-19). "Grace Cummings – 'Storm Queen' review: show-stopping vocals and poetic songs". NME. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  17. ^ "Grace Cummings". ATO RECORDS. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ Grow, Kory (2024-05-28). "What's Keeping Grace Cummings Alive This Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  20. ^ "Song You Need to Know: Grace Cummings, 'A Precious Thing'". Rolling Stone Australia. 2024-04-08. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  21. ^ Reid, Robert (2018-07-26). "When punk meant the world". witnessperformance.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  22. ^ "Prehistoric". PBS FM. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  23. ^ Review, Arts (2021-05-03). "On the Couch with Grace Cummings". Australian Arts Review. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  24. ^ "Grace Cummings Q&A". www.mtc.com.au. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  25. ^ "Storm Queen, by Grace Cummings". Grace Cummings. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  26. ^ Records, A. T. O., Grace Cummings - Storm Queen. ATO Records., retrieved 2024-07-13
  27. ^ "Ramona, by Grace Cummings". Grace Cummings. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  28. ^ "SoundMerch Australian Music Prize Unveils 2024 Shortlist". The Music. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
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