Macy Gray Took Center Stage at The Dinah

Known for her unmistakable rasp, unshakable grasp on soul, and funky spirit, Macy Gray rapidly rose to fame after debuting her 1999 studio album How Life Is, which has gone triple-platinum. Selling more than 25 million albums globally and collaborating with everyone from Ariana Grande to Galactic, Gray has become a 21st century icon whose voice has consistently resounded throughout pop culture.

Gray took some time to chat with OFM about her upcoming set, why she thinks The Dinah is a success, and her admiration for the LGBTQ community. 

How excited wew you to be a headliner this year at the Dinah?
It’s really cool! I think this is my third time performing at the Dinah, so I am very flattered. I know this is an event that is important to a lot of people for a lot of reasons, so I am flattered and honored to be invited to be a part of that. It is always a good time.

The Dinah is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. What did it mean to you to perform at an event like this?
I think it’s amazing. Number one, anything that lasts 30 years, it must be really good. It must be a good thing, and like I said, the Dinah is very precious to some people. So, to be invited to be a part of that is a big deal for me, as well as any other artist. It’s legendary.

Do you consider yourself a festivalgoer?
No, I would be the last person at a festival because of porta potties (laughs). I go because I perform at them, but then I get the backstage pass, so we have bathrooms back there. I could never stand in line behind 200 people to use these bathrooms. There’s just no way. 

Why do you think the Dinah has been such a success all these years?
I think it celebrates being unique and being brave about who you are, being yourself, and being honest about who you are. That is difficult for a lot of people, especially with social media because you are so available for criticism. It used to be like, “If someone didn’t like you, you may never hear about it.” Now, people can go on your page and say all kinds of crazy stuff. So, to put yourself out there, I think that is the epitome of courage. 

This festival celebrates that more than anything, especially for a woman. We get socialized to conform and hide so many things. The first thing little girls are being told is “close your legs.” Just from the get-go, we are taught to keep things to ourselves and be a certain way. We always get told, “You want to marry a rich man.” We get all these rules from the jumpstart, so to be able to burst through all that, be yourself, and be a woman, I think that is beyond amazing. 

You stated in the past that you have always felt a connection with the LGBTQ community. Can you talk more about that?
I have a great admiration for the LGBTQ community because I really respect being honest about who you are. I know there is so much hate towards that, and I personally never understood why anybody cares who you are having sex with or who you choose to hang out with, but it’s a big deal in this country. It’s a big deal in the world. 

If you are born Black, that’s that. You don’t get to hide that. That’s it. If you are gay, you have the option of keeping that to yourself. You have the option of living a completely heterosexual lifestyle and no one ever knowing. So, to be honest about it, I think that is a big deal. 

Would you say your LGBTQ fans have empowered you in ways?
Absolutely. As far I know, I have a healthy amount of fans in the LGBTQ community. When my career first started, I did a song called “Sexual Revolution.” It did OK here, but in Europe and the U.K., they went bananas, and that kind of kicked it off for me overseas. I think that kind of spilled over into the U.S., but as far as I know, that is how it started. I am very much in awe of the LGBTQ community. That is definitely goals. 

“I personally never understood why anybody cares who you are having sex with.”

Your music has inspired millions of people. What advice can you offer to those who are following in your footsteps and hope to make it big?
What I’ve learned is that it really just comes down to being good at what you do. Like anything else, I think it is important to master your craft, and once you do that, a lot of things fall into place. It’s cool to be sexy and have 50 million followers, but the ones who stick around and still buy your records 20 years later, it’s because they know what they are doing. 

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects you would like to mention or plug?
I want everyone to go to YouTube. I did a video starring Frankie Grande, and it’s incredible. It’s an epic video. It’s one of the best videos you are going to see, but it’s not getting the attention that it deserves. So, I would love for everyone to check the video out on YouTube. It’s called ‘Undone,’ Macy Gray and The California Jet Club, starring Frankie Grande. 

Connect with Gray by following her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

*Header image by Giuliano Bakor