ANNABELLE GRACE
Melbourne artist Annabelle Grace is not your typical singer-songwriter. While balancing a demanding law and criminology degree, she has quietly been developing a sophisticated, genre-blending sound born from classic rock history and a sudden, passionate addiction to the recording studio. Having finally overcome her own self-doubt, Annabelle Grace is emerging as an artist dedicated to exploring the atmospheric and cinematic potential of the songs she writes alone at her piano.
Annabelle Grace's connection to music began as a powerful bond with her parents. She fondly recalls sitting with them, absorbing the sounds of Norah Jones, Neil Young, and U2, noting that music was always "kind of the language we connected through." This musical immersion was intensified by a nightly ritual of watching music videos with her Dad, who was "always introducing me to something new."
The pivotal moment in her journey came when she received an iPod nano filled with her father’s eclectic CD collection. She spent hours shuffling from obscure '80s synth-pop straight into Ben Folds, Oasis, The Band, and classic folk-rock like Neil Young. This "wild mix," initially only listened to out of necessity, profoundly "shaped the way I listen to and think about music." The final spark was lit on a road trip around age 10 when she and her Dad listened to a huge box set of every single Beatles CD. Consumed by the way the band constantly evolved, she realised: "I wanted to make music myself, create something tangible like that."
The journey from fan to artist was delayed by self-doubt. For a long time, Annabelle Grace "didn’t think my voice sounded 'pop enough'" and was her own "harshest critic." She even pulled away from working with her producer, Ohad Rein, the year before.
Then, in March this year, something decisively "shifted." She reached out to Ohad again and started recording a song she had just written in her bedroom. This initial process felt like a "special, secret little world I was building," and she initially kept it private. Making that song was a transformative experience, allowing her to bring all her favourite influences into one place and experiment. This single moment "honestly got me addicted to being in the studio," seeing how a simple song she writes alone can grow into something textured, cinematic, and alive that you can actually share with people.
Annabelle Grace’s influences are the blueprint for her sound. The Beatles showed her how songs can constantly evolve. Neil Young inspired her honesty and storytelling, while ELO taught her the power of lush arrangements and orchestration. She loved how Radiohead and Oasis could take emotion and make it "both raw and anthemic," and U2 reminded her of the power of atmosphere and scale. Crucially, Amy Winehouse gave her the confidence to trust her own unique vocal tone, inspiring her with her powerful phrasing and the way she made every word feel "lived-in." She also notes that the first physical CD she ever owned was Adele’s debut, an artist she listened to "religiously."
Lately, life has been "a bit full-on," with the pressures of her third year of university studies in law and criminology culminating in looming exams. Music has become her "perfect escape," allowing her to "step away from all the textbooks and work, sit at my piano or guitar, and let loose." She admits that this creative time is what keeps her motivated to get her university work done.
Evolution and The Creative Process
The evolution of her sound is currently in a vibrant phase of experimentation. Her first single, Porcelain Face, successfully captured all her early influences. Her second single, Throne, follows a similar emotional path but leans more into indie-pop, showcasing a newfound confidence in the studio. Her third track, Fingers Crossed, is a "witty, summery indie pop update." Her hope is that over time, she can combine all these elements into one cohesive sound that is truly her own, as she is just playing with moods, textures, and styles.
Her creative process is a mix, but it usually starts with a "turn of phrase or a line"—sometimes even a cool term like ‘Porcelain Face’—that captures a memory or mood. From this core idea, she builds the song, using the guitar or piano. Being in the studio is a huge advantage, as "new ideas pop up left, right, and centre," pushing the song in directions she wouldn’t have expected at home.
Annabelle Grace is still awaiting her official debut performance (her performance of Can't Help Falling in Love on the ukulele in front of the whole school at age 13 was "cute," she notes, but "wasn’t great"). Her aspirations, however, are massive. Her dream collaborator is Paul McCartney, whose "honesty, musicianship, and ability to effortlessly form incredible ideas" she finds inspiring, referencing his casual riffing into "Get Back" in the documentary. She also dreams of having a "cuppa with him."
Her dream opener is Olivia Dean, whose new album she "absolutely adores," and she also dreams of playing a set at Glastonbury. When navigating the industry, she lives by the advice that "Any form of creation is better than none at all," and encourages other artists to focus on the music and art that shapes them. While she admits social media is a "good tactic" for promotion, she finds it a "catch 22" that forces artists into the content game, laughing at the thought of "telling Bob Dylan he's got to film and post three TikTok's a day."
If she could change one thing, she would love for there to be "more accessible pathways for new artists" to have their music heard and be creatively nurtured, ultimately ensuring more voices can reach the listeners they deserve.
What’s Next?
Annabelle Grace is building significant momentum toward the end of the year. Her second single, 'Throne', is coming out on October 13, and her third single, 'Fingers Crossed', drops on December 10. She is currently collecting lyrics and inspiration to shape what might become her EP next year, calling it a "big goal." Her final message to her growing audience is a humble yet sincere one: "I’m not sure if anyone would call themselves a fan just yet, but I want to say a huge thank you to anyone listening and giving my music a chance. It truly means the world to me, and I love being able to share my songs with you."
Photography credit - Michelle killburn
