Warwick native and 18-year-old college freshman, Grace Yurchuk, released a single from her dorm room at NYU during the Spring semester. The song, entitled “Need Me,” is available on all major platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora, TikTok, and Tidal. The track has been streamed thousands of times since its debut in April.
While it’s not unusual for a young musician to release a song, this effort was unique. When faced with the grim prospect of social isolation, online classes, and staying healthy, Grace turned to her music as a creative outlet. “Need Me” was a solo effort—written, recorded, mixed, mastered, and released from her dorm room without assistance from other artists or a professional studio.
“Lockdowns and restrictions have certainly been paralyzing for everyone at times,” said Grace. “I couldn’t get together with other students and record like we normally would, but I wanted to tell the story of what we were feeling through song, using the tools I had around me.”
Constraints stemming from the pandemic have been a barrier to collaboration, but these limitations have also inspired creativity and uplifting works of art.
“Grace has a natural sweetness to her voice that is matched by her sunny personality,” said Jody Weatherstone, owner of Soma Voce in Warwick and Grace’s voice teacher throughout high school. “Just listen to this girl sing and you can’t help but feel hopeful!”
Grace will continue to release music throughout the Spring and Summer, using the theory and techniques she’s learning in the Vocal Performance program at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She recently received The Josh Goldfaden Award for writing from NYU College of Arts & Sciences and expects to make the Dean’s List this year.
For more information, visit www.graceyurchuk.com.
Grace Yurchuk
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