Review: Gracie Laboy Releases New Cover Single “Just Friends”

Jazz music thrived in an era filled with ragtime blues. Hotel bars and side streets would draw in crowds just to hear the soulful tunes of these dedicated band members and bring joy to their listeners during the great depression. Gracie Laboy brings out the old soul within herself as she releases her cover of the popular jazz standard “Just Friends,” a dedication to her late grandparents who cherished the genre throughout their lives.

As her debut EP, Valencia, was about love, “Just Friends,” covers the more somber emotions of heartbreak. Gracie’s vocals shine in this element as it is just as passionate as the lyrics and melody. The brassy instruments mix with piano keys to create chill ambiance as she sings the lyrics about separation and moving on. Arranged by Ali McLeod and Benjamin Burrell, two of Gracie’s classmates from Berklee College of Music’s Valencia, Spain, the group worked together to construct a sound that would compliment Gracie’s powerful vocals.

Gracie Laboy is a Latina Pop and R&B singer-songwriter located in Los Angeles, CA. Gracie holds two bachelor’s degrees from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Music from Berklee College of Music, Valencia Campus. A powerhouse and versatile vocalist, she is equally at home performing operatic, choral, and musical theatre, as she is with soul, R&B, rock, folk, and pop. Her classical technique and honest lyrics in pop and soul influenced-music bring rich tones and breathtaking emotion to her impressive vocals.

Gracie began pursuing music from a young age by singing in choirs and musicals, studying classical and musical theatre, and performing in venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, the Vatican, and St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice.

For more information about Gracie Laboy visit: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook