McGill students are no strangers to talented individuals emerging from their ranks. Recently, another hidden gem revealed herself in the form of Polina Grace, a 2016 graduate. Boasting a beautiful voice and a commanding stage presence, she has proven herself to be one of the more impressive up-and-coming artists in Montreal.
Raised in Vancouver, Grace shifted her focus to a full-time music career after finishing her studies at McGill. With breathy vocals and a dark-pop sound, Grace is an independent artist who has self-financed her dreams. Now, she has set her sights on making a name for herself in Montreal’s music scene.
Bringing her closer to her lifelong dream of being a recognized artist, Grace officially released her first five-piece EP Down alongside a music video for the titular single, “Down” on Nov. 1.
“I truly started falling in love with singing and performing when I was in kindergarten,” Grace said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I was always the most enthusiastic in choir, and always eager to take on a solo. My first real performance which I can recall was when I was six years old at my kindergarten graduation.”
From that point on, Grace knew that she wanted to be a singer.
“I sang every chance I could as a kid, on and off the stage,” Grace said. “I always recorded little demos and imitated the biggest, most iconic singers in the privacy of my room in my spare time, which is how I taught myself to sing in the first place. Singing along to Whitney Houston tracks at the age of six may not have sounded very pleasing to others’ ears, but little did everyone know I was on the path to developing a bigger, better voice with each rehearsal. Throughout the years, I remained enchanted by big, soulful voices and it was always my aspiration to become as great as my icons, including Whitney, ABBA, MJ, and Steven Tyler.”
“Down” is the culmination of two years of hard work and dedication. Navigating the modern music industry is no simple task, and just like any up-and-coming artist, Grace has faced her fair share of obstacles.
“You would be surprised how many people approach you with false promises,” Grace told the Tribune. “Young artists need to be careful [of] who they get involved with.”
Despite these struggles, Grace never gave up hope, and now her path seems more clear than ever. Having recently signed a distribution deal with Sony and a number of music videos, new content, and live performances planned for the near future, the stage has been set for Grace to make herself known.
“Honestly, my journey so far has already been incredibly exciting and fruitful. Working with great musicians and producers has been part of the dream come true,” Grace said. “Yet there is still so much I want to do. I want to leave my mark on the music world.”
Polina Grace’s EP Down is available on Spotify, and her music videos, “Down” and “Giving Up,” are on YouTube.
