How a bored kid from Martinsville, VA became the soul-pop artist behind DANCE BREAK.
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Originally hailing from the rolling hills of Martinsville, VA, which reached a population of just over 13,000 in the 2020 census, LA-based artist greek is the stage name for 25-year-old Michael Davie, who seamlessly blends his classic soul and R&B influences with crisp modern pop production to create a danceable modern classic. For an artist who has put out three albums in four years, an EP is uncharted territory, which makes DANCE BREAK feel all the more perfect as a small body of work. In the digital age, when it feels like everyone is sharing every piece of their life on social media, it can be very poignant not to give it all away. An EP is the perfect preview of what an artist is capable of and the sonic direction they’re headed. At the end of his North America leg of the greek! Live tour, we sat down with him over Zoom for a conversation about life on the road, musical inspiration, sports, and his journey from Virginia to Los Angeles. We talked about how the boredom of small-town life can become fertile ground for creativity, the story behind the custom suit featured in the “HOLD ME” music video, and the surreal experience of receiving a shoutout from legendary music icon Elton John. Here is a sneak peek of the interview below:
Flo: To start, I just wanted to say congrats on the new EP! I wanted to know what this project represents for you creatively, and if you approached the writing and production differently than you have in the past.
greek: It started off with me not approaching it very differently. I’ve primarily tried to drop bigger bodies of work, like an album or a mixtape, and this was a bit of a fun challenge for me, I would say. I say “fun” [I guess] kind of intentionally, because it was a lot of fun making these songs and making an EP rather than a full-length project this year. I’ve spent a lot of time on the road, and it was kind of a curve for me to get off the road at times and work on some of these songs that I had stockpiled for the last year and really give them direction. It was a nice, lovely challenge.
Flo: [I’m curious] how your influences have evolved—were there any artists, producers, or records that inspired you to go in a different direction while making this EP?
greek: Y’know, I’m a bit of an old head when it comes to the music that I intake—at least over the last year or two. I’d say for this project I was listening to a lot of the Doobie Brothers. I’m a big fan of the Brothers Johnson and really any Quincy Jones production. The song “I’ll Be Good To You” by The Brothers Johnson was a song that I’ve been trying to make a riff like for the last two years, and I’ve never once accomplished it. Something about the guitar in that song mixed with the drum groove is just so perfect and locked in, and I’m just a big fan. I’m a big Stevie Wonder fan. This is probably not showing in the music right now, but I’m a big Glen Campbell fan—he’s been big on my rotation over the last two years. I’d say the biggest song that made me inspired was “I’ll Be Good To You.” I think “Do I Do” by Stevie Wonder was a big one for me—I love that song so much. Those are my two best reference points. I’ve been listening to a lot of music, though.
Flo: From my perspective, it looks like you’ve been on the up&up&up! What’s it been like working with more established producers and getting your Elton John shoutout? Has that changed your confidence in the way you think about your career? Or does it feel like more validation for what you’re already doing?
greek: The biggest thing for me about the Elton John thing, obviously it was so cool, and just the concept of someone like that even acknowledging who I am and my music is a bit life-changing, but it was my parents’ reaction that really sent me over the top, because for them, ESPECIALLY Elton John, who is such a huge figure in music, and for me as well, I adore Elton John’s music. But for them, I think it really sent a bit of validation that I really appreciate for my music and the trajectory of it. So it was something that really opened my eyes to what people that I really care about in my life are starting to think of where my music is going. It’s quite important to me, especially my family and my close friends. It was big in a different way than I guess expected. Whenever my friends’ parents will talk to me about it and mention that, I’m like, “Oh, yeah! I guess…” We’re in this digital age now, and he has the radio show and stuff, and I’ve seen it, but I know to my friends’ parents or whatever, it’s like, “Elton John acknowledged your song? Oh my gosh!” That’s pretty cool to me! For it to be Elton, it’s such a dream. He’s such a wonderful artist and figure in pop culture, and it was an honor when that happened.
Flo: He’s an icon, for sure!
greek: He’s an icon! He truly is!