by Brittney Corridean
Photos by Ethan James
It was all by chance that Griffin House discovered his innate ability to sing when he got a role in a high school play. Growing up as a golf athlete in a small town, it was really life altering for him to realize he wanted to pursue a career in something entirely different. After discovering this hidden talent of his, it wasn’t long before he set out to buy his first guitar and write some songs. Turning down a golf scholarship to pursue a new dream in music, House was taking a chance on himself that changed the whole course of his life.
“I feel lucky that music found me and gave me something else to do. It seems like I got penalized in golf for my emotions, they were a detriment, but in music they seemed to be and asset. I was able to channel them into something positive,” he says.
Moving from a small town in Ohio, House currently resides in Nashville, TN with his wife and two daughters. When asked how he manages his work/life balance he responds,“I just don’t stay gone too long.”
However, he also does enjoy his time on the road and traveling city to city. “I go on the road now for them more than for me. I go to gather some acorns and bring them back for Jane and the girls. If I get enough acorns one day I might just stay at home and play with the squirrels. That being said I still really love playing live and connecting with the audiences and people afterward. I think I would really miss that if I didn’t have the privilege of getting to play as much as I do.”
For the past five or six years now, House has been headlining now but has fond memories of touring with other artists such as The Cranberries, Patti Scialfa and John Mellencamp. Sometimes, when he looks at how he has progressed as an artist, his feelings can be a bit complex going from rediscovering old songs to starting from scratch.
“I’ve always felt very psyched about and proud of my albums upon completion, then some time passes and I want to destroy everything and start again. Then some more time passes and I want to keep some of the songs and destroy others. But I’m willing to dig around in the mud for a long time if I can just get a couple gems.”
House enjoys performing in all different atmospheres and venues- whatever can be a new adventure. This is especially true for when asked about what it was like to release a five song EP, Songs for a Prisoner, recorded live from a prison. “I love going into the jails as long as they let me out afterward,” House jokes. He has never had another experience like it.
“Playing for the guys in jail was different and at first a little awkward, but when they started clapping and hooping and hollering, it was some of the greatest energy I’ve ever felt in a room.”
House’s song, “The Way I was Made”, is currently featured in the ESPN Hall of Fame commercial. If you’re not very familiar with the music and style of Griffin House, he has a folkie-rock type sound with a voice that has a bit of country swoon in it. He will be performing downstairs at World Café Live (with Clarence Bucaro) on Wednesday, April 29th and I strongly suggest you check him out for yourself.
