The last time we saw burgeoning pop icon Griff in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection was in January of 2022, amidst another wave of COVID and a massive snowstorm. The show was at The Foundry (and technically sold-out) and was actually great, despite the icy circumstances (I actually think we may have gone a little harder than usual because of the circumstances.) I recently got a chance to chat with the 23-year-old English singer/songwriter via Zoom and she definitely remembers the experience, but emphasizes that she’s very much looking forward to a Philadelphia “redo” this coming Monday, September 16th, when she’ll be headlining Theatre of Living Arts.
Griff’s stop at the legendary South Street venue will be the second night of her North American headlining tour, which kicks off tomorrow at the 9:30 Club in DC. The tour follows the July release of Griff’s debut album, vertigo, which was shortly after Taylor Swift invited the English artist to open her June 22nd date at Wembley Stadium. And the day before that show, it was announced that Sabrina Carpenter had nabbed her to open about two weeks of North American dates after Griff’s own headlining jaunt. All of this considered, it seems like a safe bet that this may be the last chance you get to see Griff in a 1,000-capacity room, so I would grab your tickets (below) ASAP. In the meantime, read what Griff had to tell me just before leaving for the States.
Izzy: This summer you released your debut full-length, vertigo, but you’ve actually been releasing the album in parts since last Fall. What have been some personal highlights for you since releasing your latest music? You’ve been super busy and doing some really cool things and you’ve got a lot of really cool things coming up in the very near future.
Griff: God, it’s been such a rollercoaster, I’m trying to think back! I started performing “Vertigo,” the single, on the Coldplay tour and that was really a nerve-racking point because I was really just testing to see if people liked the music, and it felt like people did… Obviously, the highlight was Taylor reposting about “Vertigo.” That was like, “I’m happy now! I can cancel the album campaign, it’s done! I’ve achieved what I need to do!” But what’s been really amazing has been just playing these songs in a room. Because I spent so long on support, doing intimate shows – we did a couple underplay shows and I did my European tour – it was nice to be back in a room with fans and hear these songs in that way, because it’s so fun and so much more satisfying playing to people that you know, that are there, and are complete stans. So, that’s been really cool.
Izzy: Have you noticed patterns amongst your biggest fans?
Griff: I guess this year is the first time I’ve really felt like I’ve met my fans. Because I really started in COVID and then obviously all the support stuff. Honestly, I always come out astounded at how broad the audience is. You’ve got all age groups, all genders, a lot of different ethnicities, so that’s really exciting. In the front rows, you’ve got the girls and the gays [laughs], because the girls and the gays love pop music. And it’s really cool seeing a really big Asian community show up to shows, especially in America.
Izzy: Have you had any favorite fan reactions to your latest music?
Griff: One of my favorite things was when “Astronaut” had barely been out and I was doing my first ever show in Hong Kong – and it’s so hot in Hong Kong at that time – and this guy did the whole show head-to-toe in an astronaut outfit. That was my favorite! The reason I wanted to put this album out in parts was just seeing what people liked the most. I loved seeing people really get excited about the choreography in “Miss Me Too,” I loved seeing people get connected with the lyrics in “Astronaut” and “Anything,” but it feels like there’s so much variety in this album that people connect with different songs… I didn’t really commission everyone to dress up for my gigs [laughs]. People are just walking up with the spirals, spirals everywhere [laughs].
Izzy: On a related note, I know that you like to have your hand in every aspect of your art, from live production, artwork, and styling, in addition to the music itself. So, I’m curious what are some of the things that have been most inspiring you as of recently?
Griff: That’s such a good question! I love that! Okay, so I’ve been designing tour, so I came to a point where I was like, “Do I want a creative director? Ya know what, I’m just gonna try doing it myself.” So, I’ve just been scrolling on Pinterest, looking at loads of lacey fabrics and stuff to drape as backdrops and things. I’ve been really inspired in designing my tour outfits by like crinoline cage petticoats. I feel like it goes without saying that we’ve had the strongest year of pop music, and I feel that when pop music is great, I get inspired. Obviously, Hit Me Hard and Soft was amazing, brat was amazing, Tortured Poets Department was great, Chappell’s amazing, Adrianne Lenker is a folk artist, she’s amazing, someone I really, really love.
Izzy: Even since releasing vertigo, you recently featured on “It Could Have Been Us” by Christopher. How did you connect with him and how was that experience of working with him?
Griff: I was in New York, playing a little show – I can’t remember what venue it was, it was tiny – and he was in town and he came down to say hi, and was like, “I would really, really love you to do something on this song. I’ve got this idea.” And then I think I was in Denmark for tour, and the dates kind of aligned, so I got in the studio, and we just decided to write together. He’s such an amazing energy and such a charismatic person. I think it’s so funny now how different pop careers are happening, like he’s got such a funny career where he’s really, really big in Korea and really, really big in the Nordics. And I think that’s the beautiful thing about collaborations, it means that you can both kind of bring your audiences together.
Izzy: You have an absolute ton of upcoming live dates throughout basically the end of the year, wrapping in December. Are there any shows you’re especially excited to play, or just cities that you’re especially excited to visit or revisit?
Griff: I’m really excited for all of them. I mean, the last time I was actually in Philadelphia was a huge snowstorm…
Izzy: Yeah! I was there and I know the venue – because I know everyone there – was like, “We told her that she didn’t have to play the show, if she didn’t want to,” because it was a mess, but I’m glad that you did!
Griff: [Laughs] I’m excited to come back, because I feel like we need to redo that and get a clean slate [laughs]. That was my first experience with touring, and I posted a video of my tour bus because everything was going wrong, like we had no water, because it was all frozen. So, I feel like I’m always touring America for the first time, really, because that didn’t count [laughs]. So, I’m excited for that and I’m really excited for Terminal 5 and The Wiltern in LA, and I’m really excited for the Sabrina dates as well.
Izzy: Your US headlining tour kicks off later this week at 9:30 Club, which is like the venue I grew up going to when I was in high school, and then you’ll be in Philly next week, and I’ll definitely be there. What can be expected of the live show on this run, in terms of setlist, production, and just the general vibe of the night? It’s definitely in bigger rooms than it was the last time you were here!
Griff: Definitely bigger rooms, which is exciting. Honestly, I just hope the whole concept hits people here. There’ll be elements of production and everything, but I kind of want to build a show that doesn’t rely on a million bells and whistles and loads of things happening. I just want people to come and sing their absolute hearts out! And I think that there are so many songs on this album that haven’t really existed in a live space yet. Also, I can say this on authority now, so many people are like, “You actually have the nicest, most polite fans ever.” So, I do think people can expect a really sweet, kind community at the shows here.
Izzy: Again, you just have a couple of days before the US tour starts, like very few. So, I’m curious, what kind of lastminute stuff are you gonna to be consumed with for the next couple days, before you head over here?
Griff: Oh, God! Tweaking the setlist… I mean, I feel like it’s everything that I feel panicked about [laughs]. Tweaking all the set designs… There’s a lot of the set that I haven’t even seen, I’m gonna see it for the first time in DC, so fingers-crossed that’s all okay. And then the stage outfits. Tomorrow I’ve got a fitting with my stylist, and we’ve been working with these student designers in London to make costume uniforms for the tour. So, there’s a lot to be done!
Izzy: I saw you back at the very beginning of 2022, back when “Black Hole” was your huge hit and I feel like, in a lot of ways, it’s still like your “classic,” which I know you still play basically every night. So, I’m curious how you currently feel about the track, being your breakout song?
Griff: I love that song. I don’t know how other artists feel, but you owe so much to the songs that allowed people to discover you. And, for me, my favorite songs live are just whatever the audience is enjoying. So, I love that song for what it was. And it’s funny because I just never thought it would be the big song that it was. Music always humbles you, because you think you know, and then you don’t know. And people think they know what a hit is, and they don’t. So, I kind of love that song for surprising me in that way.
Izzy: Finally, if this is even something you’ve started thinking about, what are you hoping and planning for 2025? I’m guessing there’s already some stuff in the works, despite the fact that you have a lot left this year, as well.
Griff: I’m excited for festivals to happen in 2025 summer. I’m excited to write again. I haven’t written in a while, just because everything has been so all consuming, and I feel like I’m most myself when I’m writing, so I’m excited for that… And I have no idea what’s gonna happen [laughs].
*Get your tickets here.
