Canton Township teenager’s star ascending quickly in Nashville

People
Ed Wright
August 7, 2022
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8 minute read

Grace (Rembinski) West is pictured with ultra-successful Nashville singer/songwriter Bryan White.

Plymouth High School grad turning heads with singing, songwriting

Nashville, Tennessee, is known throughout the music industry as “The 10-year town”, a reference to the time it usually takes aspiring musicians to make their mark in the city.

Armed with a tireless work ethic and a level of singing and songwriting talent few teenaged Midwesterners possess, Grace (Rembinski) West, a 2021 Plymouth High School graduate, is determined to cut as many years off that timetable as humanly possible.

Writing and singing songs for almost as long as she could walk, West signed a contract with Nashville’s Mucho Love Music months before her high school graduation. On July 6, 2021, the then-17-year-old moved to the Music City with her parents, Daryl and Jill Rembinski.

During a rare break in her dream-chasing schedule, West chatted via phone with Social House News Editor-In-Chief Ed Wright about everything from her grinding/glamorous lifestyle to how she chose her stage name.

Once you moved to Nashville, did you jump right into your new career or did you take some time to settle in?

I started working as soon as possible. Within a few days (of the move) I started booking performances on my calendar and before I knew it, it got fuller and fuller. Most days, I’m writing songs in the morning, collaborating with other writers. Once a song is written, I’ll put a work tape down. In the evenings, if I’m not performing, I’ll either go home or stay in the studio and practice the songs I’ll be performing in shows.

Is your new life more glamour or grind?

Right now, I’d say it’s definitely more of a grind, but it’s fun. I’m doing as much as I can every day, all day, to get where I need to be because there’s a lot of hard work required. It’s crazy to call what I’m doing now a job; it’s more like a lifestyle, really.

How did the selection of your stage name – Grace West – come to be?

I’m still Grace Rembinski, but for career purposes I changed my last name because Rembinski is kind of hard to spell and pronunciate (smile). One morning I was sitting around drinking coffee with my agent. The shirt I was wearing had the word ‘midwest’ on it. All of a sudden my agent pointed at my shirt and said, ‘Midwest. Grace West.’ It’s taking some time to get used to, but I like it.

What’s been the highlight of your Nashville journey so far?

There have been a lot of highlights already. I’m part of a community of song writers here, so I’ve made a lot of friends. It’s exciting knowing I’m performing for people who are visiting Nashville on vacation. The other day I was walking down Broadway (one of Nashville’s main streets) and a woman approached me and said, ‘Are you Grace West? I really enjoyed your show the other night!’ That was surreal.

Do you have a favorite song you’ve written? Or do you love them all the same, kind of like the way parents love their children?

I honestly cannot say I love them all the same, but I love them all, just some more than others (she laughs). I’m proud of all of them, so in that way they’re like my children. I have a 10-song demo ready to send out to labels (the week of June 20). I love all of them, obviously, but for different reasons.

Of the successful people you’ve met in Nashville, who is your favorite?

I’ve met a lot of incredibly influential people, but if I had to choose one, I’d definitely say Bryan White. He’s collaborated with a lot of famous country artists, including Shania Twain. That I’ve been able to write and work with him is just amazing because he is such a great talent.

What type of music are you writing and performing? Are you focusing strictly on country music?

I’d call myself a country pop performer, with some rock and roll mixed in. There are so many lanes, so many genres, getting fused into country music now … it’s so diverse. There’s even country hip-hop now and people love it!

What do you miss most about Canton?

The people, my family and friends. It’s not like I’m right down the street any more and I can see them in a minute. I love Nashville, though. It’s my home away from home and my parents are here, which helps immensely.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Nashville is such a beautiful city. I love simply walking outdoors, especially downtown. The scenery is great and there are farmers markets everywhere. I love exploring. I know it probably sounds boring, but I love it.