For us GRiZ fans, this week has been a wild one. From announcing his indefinite break to unveiling his final curated event in Ursa Major, there has been a lot to process.
On Tuesday afternoon, when I opened up Instagram and saw that GRiZ had posted just 6 minutes prior, a hiatus announcement was the last thing I expected. At first, I couldn’t believe what I was reading, and my subconscious immediately began questioning everything. Is this actually real? Is this an overdue April Fools’ joke? I kept waiting for the punch line that never came. It wasn’t until I sifted through his words a second time that reality really hit. Like every other Griz fan, I was swept through a whirlwind of emotions as flashbacks of shows and festivals flooded my mind. As a music journalist, my immediate reaction was to stop what I was doing, open my laptop and draft a news story for The Daily Frequency. I could have banged out a quick article with the headline “GRiZ Announces Indefinite Hiatus” like every other EDM publication, but at the moment, it didn’t feel right. Instead, I decided to just let the news sink in. I threw on a Griz set, talked to some friends, and reminisced.
I started thinking about the first time I saw GRiZ after his last hiatus at Breakaway Nashville in 2018, which for me, started it all. While I always gravitated towards his music, seeing him perform live changed everything, and since then, I’ve seen him perform 14 more times. I started thinking about the evolution of his sound from Mad Liberation to Rainbow Brain and everything in between. I started thinking about all the memories I’ve made solely because of GRiZ and the community he created. From traveling the around the country to making lifelong friends, my time in the EDM scene would not be what it is without GRiZ. He not only inspired me to start The Daily Frequency, but he showed me how powerful music can be. No matter how you’re feeling, what life is throwing at you, catching a GRiZ show, or just simply listening to his music could completely change your vibration and help you remember that everything will be okay. When he said, “One thing ’bout music when it hit you feel no pain,” he really meant that shit.
Of course, I’m sad that this chapter is closing but I’m happy GRiZ is getting the rest and happiness he deserves. He’s been going hard as fuck these past ten years, putting on mind-blowing performances and of course, blessing the world with beautiful music. A true man of the people. I don’t what the scene will look like without GRiZ but I’m so grateful I was able to experience this era in music history.
While I know it’s not the end, I just wanted to say thanks for the memories, GRiZ! Luckily with Bonnaroo and Grizmas in July right around the corner, I’m ready to make a couple more. Enjoy your break, and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for the future! As my homie commented on TikTok, this isn’t a goodbye. It’s a see ya later.
Check out more EDM content HERE!