Grace Torna’s Insight into the Music World
By: Sara Collins and Isabella Atchick
Grace Torna is an aspiring music artist from Temple University. If you enjoy discovering new music, read on for information on topics like songwriting, motivation, Philadelphia music venues, singing, piano, family, inspiration, contests, and collaborations.
When did you first begin to take singing/music more seriously? Where did you learn the craft?
I have always had a love for music - I started playing piano when I was five and began taking voice lessons at the age of nine. Music was always an emotional and creative outlet for me - something I would do for fun - and it still is. I think that I really started to take music seriously and considered adopting it professionally in the future once I began taking voice lessons and performing regularly. I began to perform in musicals, sing at churches, events, weddings, and festivals; and participate in choirs. I was reassured by family, friends, teachers, and many strangers that I was destined to pursue a career in music, and so I started chasing new opportunities and branching outside of my comfort zone more often, especially as I made the transition from classical music to more contemporary and original music during my late teenage years.
Who or what motivated you to put yourself out there as an artist?
My parents and my Uncle Michael contributed a lot to building my confidence as an artist. Times of self-doubt and frustration with the craft are inevitable, and I’ve experienced phases of feeling inadequate and experiencing a loss of hope that I’ll make it in music. My parents and my uncle are always there for me through my highs and lows, and have supported me in every way imaginable in helping me achieve my dreams - financially, emotionally, critically, and lovingly. Without them and their encouragement, I’m honestly not sure if I would still be continuing to pursue music. I owe a lot of it to them, and I’m eternally grateful to have them as my support system.
How has the songwriting process been for you? Any tips for others?
For me, I write best when I’m emotionally charged. When I experience something traumatic or an instance of heartbreak is when I find that I write the best lyrics. Writing comes the most naturally for me during those times because it’s a true expression of exactly how I’m feeling in that moment. Usually, when I write during those times, the melody comes to me immediately and intuitively. During the past couple of years, I have been experiencing more with co-writing and planned sessions. My two singles, “Paradise” and “Time Pass”, both stemmed from two separate co-writing sessions. I constantly jot down words or phrases that catch my attention nearly every day. I have pieced together these small lyric tidbits at later dates, usually during writing sessions, to generate concepts for songs. The songwriting process is something that I’m still exploring, and I’m definitely still learning what works for me and what doesn’t.
How have you been recognized so far for your talent? Any features, collaborations, etc., that you have been a part of?
During my senior year of high school, I began collaborating with the Philly-based hip-hop trio ABBATIA (formerly known as Psychodelicate). I co-wrote a song with them called “Evolve Today!” and we performed in various venues in the Philly area, such as the Foundry, Voltage Lounge, The Fire, and the Rusty Nail. I also performed with Philly on Phire, an annual talent show hosted by the South Asian Student Society at Temple. Recently, I recorded a live studio session with Belltower Music, which will soon be aired on Temple TV. I also have other collaborations currently in the works, now that Covid is thankfully cooling down it’s been a lot easier to collaborate.
What message do you want to spread to your listeners and just the world in general through your music?
I hope that my experiences and my voice resonate with people through my music. I’ve had people tell me that my lyrics convey exactly what they’re been through and that I’ve helped them through my message. For me, that’s what it’s all about. It’s daunting to make myself vulnerable by sharing intimate parts of myself through my lyrics, but what gives me the courage to follow through with it is the knowledge that I may be positively reaching someone through the words that I have to say. Music (and art in general) offers an escape from reality for others, and that’s what I aim to provide for them.
Where did the inspiration for your new single “Time Pass” come from?
In January of 2021, one of my best friends was telling me a story about her parents, who were worried about her relationship because they thought that her boyfriend was using her as a “time pass”. I had never heard this expression and I gravitated towards it for some inexplicable reason. I wrote it down in my notes. About a month later, I was in a writing session and was bouncing back some conceptual ideas with my co-writers. One day before the session, I went through a miniature break up with someone I was seeing at the time. I was browsing through my notes app and came across the “time pass” expression - the creative lightbulb in my head went off. I wrote, “Time Pass” less than an hour after that. It was perfect timing (no pun intended!).
And finally, can you give us a sneak peek into what’s coming next? Is Anything new coming soon?
For now, all I can say is: stay tuned for more music dropping before the end of the year!
If you have any interest in hearing what she has in store for the world, pick your favorite streaming service from below:
For more information about Grace Torna, check out her website: (Grace Torna Website). And follow her on instagram: @GraceTornaa!