Conversations with Grayson Ratliff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grayson Ratliff.

Hi Grayson, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In high school, I had a super rough time with being bullied which led to ditching school which then lead to me forming a substance addiction. I was in a super bad place for a long time. I had a lot of turmoil built up inside me and for the life of me couldn’t figure out how to let it out.

This went on for about 3 years until I picked up a guitar. I instantly felt connected on a deeper level than just me picking up a piece of wood. I started expressing myself by writing acoustic guitar songs. No words just guitar. It changed my whole life. I got sober, I moved schools, and I got my life together. I began to play guitar every day and couldn’t get enough of it.

I realized I wanted to be a professional musician in 2020 and started to pursue music. I never started singing until 2022 and that’s where it all fell into place. I’ve been singing for about a year and a half and it’s only made my love for music that much greater.

It’s broken down walls in my mind and heart that I didn’t even realize I still had up. Music has honestly saved my life and I’m playing shows every weekend now and don’t have any plans on stopping.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing about chasing a dream this big has been smooth.

The ups and downs with streams, recording my music and not liking how it sounds, playing shows that go wrong, having a creative block that shuts down my writing for weeks, and ticket sales being low for shows. All of this happens every day. But in my mind if I keep at it theirs no way that I will fail.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My 9-5 job right now is working as a manager at a music store. I tell everyone that I’m a musician but the music store is where most of my income comes from.

But what I love to do is handy work! I love construction, landscape, and running heavy equipment! I was born in the mountains so I’m a country boy at heart. I’m still most proud of what I’ve accomplished with my music, especially this past year!

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being able to sit with myself and turn my struggles into something so much more. My songs have a lot to do with mental health and my goal is to make others feel less alone with their struggles.

People have come up to me and told me it’s working because it worked for them and that makes me extremely happy.

My family and my love Leilani Jayde also make my life a shining light and bring me huge amounts of happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://graysonratliffmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/grayson_ratliff?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grayson.ratliff.5?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@graysonratliff_

Image Credits
Alexander Stiff