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Music

Singer works to keep things solid

Gavin DeGraw says he keeps his family and his background in mind when working on songs.

By JONATHAN MILTON
Published August 18, 2005

Alt-rocker Gavin DeGraw's road to stardom is a familiar story. After spending time playing in cover bands and a stint at a prestigious music school, the singer-songwriter was discovered while performing at an open mike event on New York's Upper West Side.

He was signed by record mogul Clive Davis. With his raspy, energetic voice, DeGraw brought life to his lyrics in his 2003 debut album, Chariot. From a tour stop in Auburn, Wash., the 28-year-old Catskill Mountains native talked about performing, his big break and his family.

What do you do to make each night onstage fresh?

I'm just really heavily concerned about making sure that the performance with the music is very solid. You really need to dig in so that it does really kill every night. I'm very much into making sure that it's better than what people expect it to be.

Take me back to that moment in 2003 at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy dinner. Can you describe how you felt on that stage?

It was pretty nerve-racking. There was a lot of pressure, but I try not to allow it to manipulate all of my feelings. I knew that there was a lot of pressure on that one event, but I knew that it wouldn't make or break my career. It's just a party. When it comes right down to it, it's a very important party, but you have to remember that it's just a party.

What about a song impresses you?

The dynamics and song topics that I can relate to. It's got to sound like it has a certain amount of hunger and certain amount of spontaneity so it feels fresh every time you put that song in. Every single time I'm listening to the radio or watching a movie and Sweet Home Alabama comes on, you can't help but go, "Oh my God, I can't believe I still like hearing this.' If anybody else played that song, I couldn't listen to it. But for some reason, they captured it that day. I can't believe how it sucks me in.

What is your muse?

I'm really tight with my family. Most of the things I do, I keep my family in mind. It has been a goal for me to honor them. I keep them in mind a lot when I'm writing. I keep a lot of where I'm from in mind. It's not just one person in particular. It's more like a muse of ethics.

PREVIEW: Gavin DeGraw opens for Avril Lavigne, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Ford Amphitheatre, Interstate 4 at U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $20-$44.50. (813) 740-2446 or (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100.

[Last modified August 17, 2005, 12:53:06]