Griff (singer)

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Griff
Born
Sarah Faith Griffiths

(2001-01-21) 21 January 2001 (age 20)
Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2019–present
AwardsBrit Award for Rising Star (2021)
Musical career
GenresPop
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
LabelsWarner

Sarah Faith Griffiths (born 21 January 2001), known professionally as Griff, is an English singer and songwriter. In 2019, she released her debut single, "Mirror Talk", through Warner Records. This was followed by her debut extended play of the same name, later that year. Griff was named the Rising Star at the 2021 Brit Awards, becoming one of the youngest winners in the category at 20. Later that year, she released her debut mixtape, One Foot in Front of the Other.

Early life and education[]

Griff was born on 21 January 2001 as Sarah Faith Griffiths,[1] and was raised in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.[2] She was born to a Jamaican father and a Chinese mother, as well as having Jamaican grandparents who were part of the "Windrush generation". Griff has stated that she feels "more in touch" with her Chinese ancestry, since her mother is a first generation migrant who migrated to England during the Vietnam War.[2] Griff's parents foster children as well.[3]

Griff stated that her earliest memory of loving music was being gifted an iPod Shuffle with the Taylor Swift album Fearless (2008) downloaded to it,[4] when she was around the age of eight.[5] She then taught herself to record and produce music on her brother's laptop, and used tutorials on YouTube to inform her on techniques.[2] While attending school, Griff kept her musical life private, due to not knowing if her musical career would be successful, stating: "no one likes that person at school who talks about how they want to sing".[2] After finishing her A Levels, she told teachers that she was taking a gap year, rather than informing them on her music ventures.[2] On using the stage name Griff, she stated: "Sarah Griffiths isn't that glamorous, I sound like I have a mortgage and 4 kids, it's very corporate".[5]

Career[]

On 4 July 2019, it was announced that Griff had been signed to Warner Records.[6] On the same day, she released her debut single "Mirror Talk", accompanied by a music video. Annie Mac featured the song on BBC Radio 1 under the New Name playlist.[7] She stated that the writing process for the song took an hour.[2] Griff described the release as a career highlight, since it was released immediately after she had finished her A Level exams.[4] Billboard described the song as an "electrifying debut", and praised her "powerful voice and vulnerable lyrics".[6] The next month, Griff released her follow-up single, "Didn't Break It Enough",[8] accompanied by a music video in which the clothing worn was made by Griff herself.[9][10] She released the single "Paradise" in October 2019,[11] which was followed by the release of her debut extended play, The Mirror Talk, on 15 November 2019.[12] In December 2019, Griff released a cover of the Bangles' 1989 song "Eternal Flame".[13]

On 7 February 2020, Griff released the single "Good Stuff". Despite people thinking the song is about a romantic breakup, she clarified that the subject of the song is about missing children that her family fostered, since they felt like siblings.[14] In March 2020, a song titled "I Love You's", that Griff co-wrote, was released by American singer Hailee Steinfeld.[15] This was followed by "Forgive Myself", a song released by Griff on 29 May 2020,[16] described by NME as an "anthem".[17] In July 2020, Griff was nominated by The Ivors Academy for an Ivor Novello Rising Star Award,[18] and later that month, she released the song "Say It Again".[19] In October 2020, she was part of two collaborative songs; "1,000,000 X Better" with English band Honne,[20] and "Inside Out", a song with German DJ Zedd.[21][22] In January 2021, she released "Black Hole", which NME described as a "dark pop anthem".[23] On 19 March 2021, Griff won the Brit Award for Rising Star and performed "Black Hole" at the 2021 ceremony.[24] Later that day, she announced details of her debut mixtape, One Foot in Front of the Other, which was released on 18 June 2021.[25] Two months later, Griff followed up the mixtape with single "One Night".[26] In October 2021, she is set to embark on a tour across the United Kingdom and Ireland in support of her mixtape.[27]

Discography[]

Mixtapes[]

Title Details Peak
chart
positions
UK
[1] 		IRE
[28]
One Foot in Front of the Other 4 85
[29]

Extended plays[]

Title Details
The Mirror Talk
  • Released: 15 November 2019
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: Digital download

Singles[]

Title Year Peak
chart
positions 		Certifications Album
UK
[1] 		BEL
(FL)
Tip
[30] 		IRE
[28]
"Mirror Talk" 2019 — — — The Mirror Talk
"Didn't Break It Enough" — — —
"Paradise" — — —
"Eternal Flame" — — — Non-album singles
"Good Stuff" 2020 — — —
"Forgive Myself" — — —
"Say It Again" — — —
"1,000,000 X Better"
(with Honne) 		— — —
"Inside Out"
(with Zedd) 		— — —
"Love Is a Compass"
(Disney supporting Make-A-Wish) 		42 9 —
"Black Hole" 2021 18 28 28
[31] 		One Foot in Front of the Other
"One Foot in Front of the Other" — — —
"Shade of Yellow" — — —
"One Night" 91 — — TBA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos[]

Title Year Director(s)
"Mirror Talk" 2019 Sylvie Weber
"Didn't Break It Enough" Rory DCS
"Paradise" Unknown
"Good Stuff" 2020 Imogen Snell and Riccardo Castaneo
"Forgive Myself"
"Love is a Compass" Maria Goulamhoussen
"Say It Again" Stephen Isaac-Wilson
"Black Hole" 2021 Joe Shaw and Eseosa Ohen (SOB)
"One Foot In Front Of The Other" 2021 Stephen Isaac-Wilson

Songwriting credits[]

Title Artist Year Album Notes
"I Love You's" Hailee Steinfeld 2020 Half Written Story Co-writer

Accolades[]

Organisation Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
BBC 2021 Sound of 2021 Herself Fifth [33]
Brit Awards 2021 Rising Star Herself Won [34][24]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Griff | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "griff is the uk teen talking you out of negative body image with her pop music". i-D. 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Premiere: Multi-Disciplined Soul Singer Griff Copes With Separation By Remembering The "Good Stuff"". Complex. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "get to know: griff". 29 August 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Notion 86: Griff". Notion. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Griff Signs to Warner Records, Makes Electrifying Debut With 'Mirror Talk': Exclusive". Billboard. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Griff Releases Debut Track And Video MIRROR TALK". BroadwayWorld.com. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  8. ^ "GRIFF REVEALS NEW TRACK "DIDN'T BREAK IT ENOUGH"". Elicit Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Griff Continues Her Precocious Rise With 'Didn't Break It Enough'". Clash. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Griff faces down the frustratingly illogical lows of post-breakup funk on "Didn't Break It Enough"". The Line of Best Fit. 2 September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Rising Star Griff Has Just Released A New Single That'll Take You To 'Paradise'". Cool Accidents. 25 October 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  12. ^ "U.K.'s Brightest New Pop Star, GRIFF Releases 'The Mirror Talk' EP". Rain. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  13. ^ "GRIFF RELEASES NEW HOLIDAY TRACK "ETERNAL FLAME"". Elicit Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Griff Is a Star in the Making". Ones to Watch. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Hailee Steinfeld Shines In Brand New Song "I Love You's"". TellyMix. 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  16. ^ "UK Pop Artist Griff Drops Tender Empowerment Anthem "Forgive Myself"". The Music Mermaid. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Griff: British pop phenomenon taking control of their destiny". NME. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Ivor Novello nominee Griff further proves her pop prodigy calibre with "Say It Again"". The Line of Best Fit. 6 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Griff launches video for new single, 'Say It Again'". WithGuitars. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  20. ^ "GRIFF Releases Stellar New Single 1,000,000 X Better With HONNE". Melodic. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Listen to a Preview of Zedd's Upcoming Single "Inside Out" With Blossoming UK Pop Singer Griff". EDM.com. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Zedd Recruits Griff For Fresh New Single 'Inside Out'". Cultr. 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Griff shares new dark pop anthem 'Black Hole'". NME. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Brit Awards 2021: Pop singer Griff wins Rising Star prize". BBC News. 19 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Griff details new mixtape One Foot In Front Of The Other after winning BRITs Rising Star award 2021". The Line of Best Fit. 19 March 2021.
  26. ^ Richards, Will (26 August 2021). "Griff returns with euphoric new single 'One Night'". NME. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  27. ^ Stickler, Jon (19 March 2021). "Griff Wins Brits Rising Star Award, Announces Mixtape 'One Foot In Front Of The Other' And UK Tour". Stereoboard. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b "Discography Griff". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  29. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Discografie Griff". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 18 June 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  32. ^ "British single certifications – Black Hole – Griff". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  33. ^ Youngs, Ian (6 January 2021). "Rapper Pa Salieu wins BBC Sound of 2021: 'I am the voice of the voiceless'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  34. ^ Savage, Mark (11 March 2021). "Brit Awards: Griff, Pa Salieu and Rina Sawayama nominated for rising star prize". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
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