Ultimately, it is her ability to strike the delicate balance between innovative and accessible that wins over her audiences.
When Grammy-winner Marc Cohn first saw her perform, he called himself, “an instant Gillian Grassie fan,” observing, “it’s rare to hear a young singer with such control and understated soulfulness, and even more rare to hear a harp provide such a deep percussive groove. I was immediately captivated by her sound.” Traveling the world with her harp on her back and her heart on her sleeve, she’s won over critics and audiences in performances ranging from a private gala for HRH Prince Albert of Monaco to an opening slot for punk-rocker Amanda Palmer.
Her modern approach to the harp, expressive vocals, and sophisticated but relatable songwriting have earned her grants from the Thomas J. Watson Foundation and the U.S. State Department, a slew of awards, and the devotion of her fans, who collectively funded Grassie’s sophomore album, The Hinterhaus, with a successful kickstarter campaign that allowed her to partner with producer Todd Sickafoose (Anaïs Mitchell, Ani DiFranco) and an all-star line-up of guest musicians, including Grammy-winner Janis Ian, who also backed the project.
Extensive touring has seen her perform across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. One fan described her as “an awesome combination of Pippi Longstocking, drinking buddy, and the Mata Hari. Trust me, you never saw anything like this.”