Grace Theisen is a 25 year-old Nashville-based independent artist and the co-founder of the anti-trafficking nonprofit, Songs Against Slavery. Originally from southwest Michigan, Grace’s love for music started in her childhood living room, harmonizing to folk songs with her family. “Music speaks to the soul in such a unique and powerful way, something words alone can never achieve. Since I was little, music has brought me to life in a way nothing else ever could.” As her love for musical composition evolved throughout her college career, she realized singing and songwriting were having a far greater impact on her life than she anticipated. “I strive to create art that brings a sense of purpose, light, and hope into the world. The more I face my own brokenness, disappointment and pain, the more determined I am to use my music as a platform to share a message that simply and honestly says, “You are not alone." Inspired by a variety of artists like Patty Griffin, The Civil Wars, Sylvan Esso and Mumford and Sons; Grace’s sound is lyrically soothing, melodically infectious, and sonically vivid with a blend of cinematic textures and organic foundations. The themes of pain, loss, and hope can be both felt and heard between the lines of Grace’s second musical statement, “Simple + True”. These are themes that Grace understands on a personal level, both from her nonprofit work and from her own life. Battling chronic, debilitating back pain for the last five years, she has used lyric and melody to process the pain and explore both suffering and courage. “Through this art, I find there’s a sense of unity and equality that is created. It boils things down to the personal connection of human experience, where we are unified by our similarities and can celebrate our differences.” Grace’s nonprofit, Songs Against Slavery (SAS), fights sex trafficking in the United States by raising money and awareness through benefit concerts and musician partnerships. Since 2014, SAS has produced over 28 benefit concerts in eight states and raised over $200,000 to aid in the fight against sex trafficking. Grace currently operates as the Director of Artist Relations for SAS in Nashville and remains passionate about having SAS be an intimate part of her musical platform.