The Mass Media’s very own Mickey West and Jessica Gorrell were able to chat with Andy Grammer before his performance at this year’s spring concert. Although it was brief, Grammer was able to give plenty of insight into his writing process and much more.
Q: As far as influences go, where (or who) do you get the inspiration to write your music from?
A: I’ve always loved the great songwriters. Billy Joel—the people that write something that tells a story. Like country music, [it] tells a story, but I’m not really country. I like to look at people who are still able to [tell a story] without slowing it all the way down. So those I really like… And then you just try to find things about life that are, that make us all feel a part of the scene.
Q: As far as song writing goes, recently there’s been an epidemic, if you will, of songs that promote this culture of going out and partying and drinking and using drugs. In songs like “Honey, I’m Good,” you break away from that mold and you talk a lot about fidelity and knowing your limits, in a sense. Why break from the mold when it’s clearly a popular topic within pop culture?
A: I don’t think that it was a purposeful move to be like, “I’m gonna go against this thing!” I think that everybody just tells their own truth. They asked Seinfeld, “Why don’t you do dirty jokes” and he said, “Because they don’t work for me.” Like if I say “fuck” [with the audience I have] it just doesn’t work. So it’s much less proselytizing and trying to force change on anybody and more just anybody that tells their honest truth. That’s when it gets interesting. 
Q: And as far as music sharing, we live in an age where music piracy is big. What’s your opinion on that?
A: Something has to be done so that great songwriters get paid. If you can have these smash hits and these streaming services and then you don’t get paid, well that’s just bad for any business. Then, the brightest and smartest people do it once or twice and don’t feel anything, don’t get paid anything, well then… they go somewhere else. So it’s just bad for music if the people that are really crushing and creating worldwide hits can’t—the writers especially—can’t get paid.
Q: Though it’s been heard that you make the most money from concerts, not just music sales.
A: Oh, me? Yeah, totally. I write, I go out, and I tour and everything, but I’m a writer as well. And for me, you don’t have… Like if you just had the artists writing all their own stuff, which does happen, a lot of times you get into grooves and these writers are amazing and they help you figure it out… If you can create something together, but the writers themselves are the ones getting screwed, and that’s really bad for the industry if the writing isn’t being valued at what it’s worth.
Q: Now, as a fan, as opposed to being the writer/musician, what do you like to listen to most? What’s your favorite thing to listen to?
A: I love Coldplay. No favorite song or anything, I just love all of it. There’s also this girl called Emily King who’s incredible. And new coming artists, there’s this guy named Louis Del Mar. They’re all great.

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Pop star Andy Grammar headlined the UMass Boston spring concert in the Clark Athletic Center gymnasium on May 5.