Features : Overcomer sweetens music industry with ‘Southern Charm’ – a vibe for everybody

MYRTLE BEACH, NC – At a music genre crossroads, Zay Grastley has merged Country, Southern Rock, Rap and Pop … he says it feels like home.

Though he hops from coast to coast “like a gypsy,” Zay is a country boy at heart and can’t deny the well-versed music language that’s shaped his style into what it is today … And sometimes, that looks like dropping rap lyrics on a farm – as seen in his “Southern Charm” music video that’s crested 59K views in three months on YouTube.

“I hope everybody picks up on it,” Zay said. “A lot of people have said ‘it’s the one you didn’t expect.’ And it’s true. It’s really surprised me how much people like it ... I’ve had people message me, sayin’ ‘you look fun!’ It’s all about Southern Charm.”

Listeners from all walks of life can enjoy Zay’s vibe, which makes perfect sense because it was a wide range of music lovers who influenced his life growing up. His roots are from a single-parent home, faced with numerous obstacles including a stutter. He spent most of his time with family members – especially his grandfather, who inspired Zay to overcome his stutter with music.

“Every single person had a different genre I was listening to and I found something I liked in every one,” Zay said. “It all soaked in. I would get Meat Loaf and Ozzy Osbourne from one relative, then I’d go home to Mom and I’d get Motown Blues and Deep South Liquor House Music. My grandfather liked 60’s Do-Wop bands – so music was based on whoever I was around. I never tried rap until later in life because of my stutter. I didn’t like my voice. I would get picked on for it, but I realized once I started to sing, I wouldn’t stutter. My grandfather said, ‘If you sing to them, you’ll make them shut up. Sing it!’”

Zay was about 12 years old when he started to show his talent in singing and songwriting, but it didn’t truly re-emerge until later in life when Zay was serving a prison sentence. At the time, it was mostly in Rap style, and he performed for crowds of inmates.

“I didn’t even realize, but every time I sang, more people would come out to listen,” Zay said. “We would set up for a show just to see people’s reaction … Crazy thing is, going to prison isn’t something I glorify but I got out for a purpose. I was in for a 20-year sentence and served 12 years and 10 months of it. I wasn’t supposed to get out until 2024 but I was out in 2017 because they looked at my case again. I just broke down. I was crying. Nobody was expecting me to get out.”

Today Zay’s heart is full gratitude and a renowned sense of determination as he keeps making strides in the music industry. After a live performance in Atlanta, a fan approached Zay to connect him to another artist with a similar sound – C’ing Jerome. It didn’t take much to get the two artists together. Zay opened for his show in Nashville recently and they’re collaborating on a new song. “Bird on the Barn” will be released later this summer.

“It’s a good friendship,” Zay said. “I finally feel like I’m doing [my music career] right. I’m taking precautions, doing the steps, making sure to do the research. I feel like my grandfather is up there smiling really big, telling me ‘I told you that you could do it.’”

Zay’s music is a victory song, but also a beacon of hope to others who have experienced similar struggles. He doesn’t like anybody teased for any kind of speech impediment, where they come from or job they do. (He’s spent a lot of time taking care of horses.) But mostly, he wants his listeners to engage in what he finds in music and art.

“I would tell anybody it doesn’t have to be music – it’s whatever brings them peace,” Zay said. “It might be something soothing like taking a deep breath. Just go to peaceful place. For me, music was the only way I could be comfortable in life. I told my mom, ‘One day I’m gonna make you all proud. I have no doubt I can do it.”

Be watching for several new music videos and releases from this artist this year. Make sure to stay connected to Zay Grastley on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

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