Artist Interview: Logan Grey
In this interview, Logan Grey, a transgender singer-songwriter whose work blends hip hop, pop punk, and alternative sounds, discusses the deeply personal experiences that fuel his music. From navigating complex family dynamics to coping with CPTSD, Logan shares how vulnerability serves as his greatest strength and how he aims to create a sense of community and healing for his listeners.
Tori: How do you approach the songwriting process to ensure both the emotional depth and the musical structure are equally strong?
Logan: Thank you for this question, my process to ensure the emotional depth comes across is truly having an unfiltered self-reflection perspective and really focusing on the core emotion. It could be anything from reminiscing on sad family memories or that you feel stuck in a toxic relationship and need to walk away. I focus on my true emotions and experiences and then I have a library of guitar melodies and drums that I create during the song-writing process. Sometimes the melodies inspire lyrics or lyrics inspire melodies! Once I have the lyrics close to complete, I start to try the lyrics with music and see what fits or doesn’t.
Tori: Which comes first for you—the lyrics that tell a story, or the melody that sets the mood? Do you ever intentionally switch up that process?
Logan: It is definitely a toss-up and something that I naturally switch up all the time. I am constantly songwriting and drafting lyrics. When I get into the studio, I create a lot of melodies and tracks that may or may not eventually become a song. My melodies will make me feel something, maybe a melancholy vibe or a strong emotional ballad and sometimes I’ll already have lyrics that happen to fit perfectly and it comes together naturally. With “Cinnamon Swirl,” the message of joy and nostalgia came first and I built a melody that could bring it to life.
Tori: If you had to choose one song from your current catalog that you feel best embodies who Logan Grey is as an artist, which would it be and what part of that song holds the most significance for you?
Logan: “The family broke” embodies me as an artist because it deals with strained family relationships and my emotional growth journey. It’s all about grieving what my relationship with my brother could have been if our parents’ divorce hadn’t separated us while letting go of resentment and wishing him well. The music is raw and emotional with a melancholy melody.
Tori: Beyond personal experiences, what non-musical inspirations—such as literature, film, or visual art—have had the biggest influence on your sound and storytelling?
Logan: Personally, I love and appreciate all forms of art, but I can’t think of any art form outside of music that has influenced my sound and storytelling. I really come from hip hop and pop punk music influences and those genres are continually fueling my creativity in music.
Tori: Can you walk us through the moment you knew a new song idea was strong enough to develop into a final piece?
Logan: I struggle with CPTSD which comes through in a lot of my music. I was on a cross-country road trip, totally out of my comfort zone, and pretty much had a mental breakdown and drove home after driving the first 10 hours. I gathered enough strength to get back on the road the next day and was using music to cope and eventually completed the road trip. The song “No comfort” was written and I created the beat during that experience. I knew it was strong enough to develop into a final piece because it was so real and true to that experience. The sound and emotions in that song came together so cohesively and clearly that I knew it had to be part of my debut EP, Grey Matter. It was a single vocal take with no revisions or rewrites.
Tori: Your core mission is to let listeners know they aren't alone. Could you share a specific story behind a song that powerfully illustrates this sense of connection and understanding?
Logan: “Still standing here” illustrates connection and understanding because everyone can relate to making choices and trying to figure life out. The message is that you are resilient and you are still standing despite the times when you lose hope or the trauma you experience. You are not alone if you feel like you haven’t made it through, you can still stand up for yourself and choose yourself even if the world, your family, or friends have made you feel like you don’t belong.
Tori: You commit to authenticity and use your music to show where vulnerability becomes strength. What does the balance look like between sharing deeply personal stories and maintaining necessary privacy?
Logan: I made the choice to be fully open in my music and don’t keep any of my stories or life experiences private. For me this is so important because throughout my life, I’ve emotionally relied on music to heal and feel less alone. There are so many artists who have given me the gift of their authenticity and honesty in their music and I truly believe in using vulnerability as strength in my art.
Tori: As a transgender man and a passionate singer-songwriter, how has your unique life experience and perspective shaped the narratives and themes of love, growth, and resilience in your work?
Logan: My writing comes from experiences in life where I’ve had to rebuild myself. My themes of love, growth, and resilience come from realizing that I can hold pain without letting it harden me. I’ve navigated self-worth and relationships in ways that forced me to understand what it means to show up for myself and rebuild even when I feel broken.
Tori: What has been the most surprising or impactful fan message you've received about how your music has helped them feel less alone?
Logan: I had someone reach out and share that they listened to “Washed my hands” off of my debut EP Grey Matter. They shared that they went through a similar experience with their father and that the song made them cry. They said it inspired them to create their own art. It was such a powerful moment of connection and realizing the impact that being vulnerable and sharing your deepest, darkest moments can benefit others as well as myself.
Tori: You explore themes of growth and resilience. What is one of the biggest challenges you've overcome recently that has directly inspired your songwriting?
Logan: I recently learned that my brother got married and we have had an on-and-off relationship over the last 25 years and it’s been more than 5 years since we’ve really talked. There are a lot of family dynamics that impact why we don’t speak and I found out through an old friend that he had gotten engaged. It directly inspired me to write “The family broke” about how I feel about that relationship and how we can’t regain the time that has passed. It is extremely unfortunate that our parents’ divorce 25 years ago caused such collateral damage between my sibling and I. I am always wishing him well and this song represents the love that persists despite the circumstances and the time and experiences lost.
Tori: When you step onto the stage, what is the most important feeling or connection you hope to establish with the audience during a live performance?
Logan: During a live performance, I want people to genuinely connect with me. I want people to feel like I’m not just a random performer, but we’re a community of people trying to heal and having a therapy session together. I am here to give my heart, emotion, and energy to build long-lasting connections.
Tori: Given your emphasis on connecting with people, how do you utilize social media and online platforms to foster the sense of community your music aims to create?
Logan: I use social media to share my raw, authentic experiences of life, including my day-to-day cooking, dancing, dogs, time with my wife, humor, and behind the scenes of my music-making process. I want to share all sides of my personality and create a space where people can bring their full selves as well.
Tori: Is there a particular musical genre, instrument, or production style you haven't explored yet that you are eager to incorporate into future projects?
Logan: I am shifting from a melodic hip hop and pop sound into an alternative pop punk sound, incorporating acoustic instruments and raw guitar and drums. This has been a great experience for me musically. I recently started learning drums and now play 5 instruments, which has been really exciting as I think about my next projects.
Tori: If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, on a track that embodies your message of resilience, who would it be and why?
Logan: Machine Gun Kelly. I was so inspired by his Hotel Diablo album and felt so much relatability with his upbringing and family dynamics that he shared. I admire the way that he’s shifted into new genres fearlessly. It is all about the art and telling the most authentic, raw stories that he wants to express as an artist. I would love to collaborate with him.
Tori: What is the next major milestone on your horizon—whether it's a new album, a tour, or a specific creative challenge you've set for yourself?
Logan: My next major milestone is a forthcoming EP and live shows in 2026. Creatively, I’m looking to push myself with how I stylize myself and set up for a live show because that will be a new experience for me and I want to create memorable moments for my audience.
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