I am Skylar Grey, 5-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist - AMA

What are Dr. Dre and Eminem like together when they hang out out and the cameras aren't rolling?

When I'm around them everyone's just focussing on the music...

Did you have gym class with Stan?

FUCK YEAH I DID! Who is this?

Can we expect further collaboration with Kaskade? Your voice really compliments his music style.

maybe at some point... love him.

No question, I just wanted to let you know that when I had first heard you sing I thought you were great. I asked my buddy who was singing and he said you, however I heard Sasha Grey instead. A quick google got me all sorts of confused. Porn AND a great singer?? This chick is great!

Man I'm dumb.

its ok i actually used to edit porn for a job so its not that far off!

EDIT: you wanted more details, so... here you go

Got any date for your upcoming solo release "Reach for the Skylar"?

clever

Did you ever find a doctor?

yes and he was jewish

How did your version of "Love the Way You Lie" end up as a Rihanna/Eminem hit?

Do you like what they've done with your song?

bought me a house... so yeah

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thanks i try

Dear Holly (am I allowed to still call you that?),

I’ve been a fan of yours since when you first appeared as a guest on Fort Minor’s Rising Tied album. My questions will be about the time between Like Blood Like Honey and Don’t Look Down, as I find the story of your breakup with the music industry and your journey back to be incredibly inspiring and touching:

1) When and what led you to finally realize that you needed to break away from the industry and rediscover yourself? Was there a single event in mind that pushed you over the top or was it a gradual accumulation of many different circumstances?

2) Did you really “eat fruit off people’s trees?” (quoted from your interview with Myspace’s OneTwoWatch) If so, any funny stories you’d be willing to share?

3) What was your typical day like during your time off from the music industry? And was music/song-writing still a major part of it?

Thank you for your time, and I really, really look forward to Don’t Look Down. I just hope you won’t make us wait too much longer!

1) i was feeling really unhappy, and my gut was telling me i needed to get away from it all to figure out how to get happy again. after about a year of feeling that way, an opportunity to live in a cabin for basically no rent came up, so i took it. 2) yes, this was pre-cabin. for a few months i lived in oak view, ca in a really shitty house, and i was tooootally broke. didn't even have 50 cents to go to the laundromat so i washed my clothes in a bathtub. 3) i would wake up and enjoy the surrounding nature, make myself some breakfast, maybe drive down the road to this ranch i spent a lot of time on, then work in my studio or write in my journal.

Hey Skylar! What is your favourite colour? Don't tell me it's grey, I'm about to lose my mind.

GREY.

I DONT HAVE A QUESTION BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU BECAUSE "Coming Home" IS ON MY "baby-making" MUSIC PLAYLIST. YOU'VE DONE A LOT FOR ME

you make a lot of babies?

How could you remain serious while doing backup vocals for "I Did It" on Tosh.0?

good question. video response to come! EDIT: here's my response!

If you could steal a smooch from any one in Hollywood, who would it be?

scarlet johansson

I was hoping for Skylar White.

yeah that would've been better.

What was it like working with lupe? And how long does it take for you to make a song?

Lupe is an amazing artist... I didn't actually work with him in person on "words i never said," but after we had that song together I got to spend a little time getting to know him and was very impressed with the person that he is.

Would you rather fight a Dr. Dre sized Eminem or a hundred Eminem sized Dr. Dres?

Had a little fun with this one! Here's my response

If you could write a song for anyone, who would it be?

myself lol

Why did you go from Holly Brook to Skylar Grey?

She explained that "it represents the unknowns in life. People seem to be afraid of the unknowns, but I’m the complete opposite. I dive into the unknown because I feel like that’s where all your possibilities come from."[7] She explained to Beatweek that she chose "grey" with an e rather than an a because "I like to do things the original way" and because "it’s more masculine. I’m not a very feminine person."[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylar_Grey#2010-present:_Name_change.2C_new_direction_and_Don.27t_Look_Down

good job

see bigwax's response!

What were some of the changes you had to make when you transitioned from working with a hip-hop artist like Dre, versus a dance/house artist such as Kaskade?

Oh kaskade actually shows up to the studio on time

How were you discovered? It seems like you came out of nowhere. Thanks for the AMA!

I've been around... just takes time and the right circumstances for the dots to connect. I have to give a lot of credit to Eminem though for recognizing my artistry through working together on "love the way you lie."

Do you like guacamole?

si

What is Mike Shinoda like?

hes cool.

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i guess nothing really surprises me anymore... but you may be surprised to learn that Kaskade, although he's a house music superstar and plays for people who are often drunk and high, he's actually Mormon and doesn't even drink.

What is you're favorite song that you haven't sung or written?

too many... ugh. "I'm only happy when it rains" -Garbage, "Criminal" -Fiona Apple, "Everthing in its right place" -Radiohead, "Stan" -Eminem, the list goes on and on...

What was it like when you found out your husband was cooking meth?

i was really excited to learn we had extra money in the back of the toilet!

I love your version of love the way you lie. Do you ever wish that you had published some of these songs?

um... you can buy it on iTunes

How have Eminem and Dr. Dre supported your career?

mostly by working with me and continuing to do so... also they give me a lot of good feedback and advice.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be?

justin timberlake is on my list... also would have loved to work with beethoven but he probably woulda slammed the piano key cover on my fingers.

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STOKED.

What's your songwriting process, do you start with the vocals or instruments and which instrument's do you use?

Thanks for the AMA, love your work!

I used to write with a piano or a guitar mostly, but lately i've been writing to tracks that i pick from producers. its oddly sometimes more of a challenge to do so because i don't have the freedom to manipulate chord structures and am confined by what is given to me...

At what moment did you realize you wanted to be a songwriter? At what moment did you realize you were actually going to pull it off?

thank you for your questions -- I answered in video

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

thinking

I freaking love C'mon Let Me Ride! Totally was my jam over winter break! Since you're from Wisconsin, do you have a favorite beer brewed here in this wonderful state?

spotted cow!

What do you do in your downtime?

lately? snowboard, drink matcha, think, take road trips, and work on more music!

Are you going to be having any other big names on your new album that you can say at this point?

yes

of the songs you have written or recorded, which one is your favorite and why?

my favorite is constantly changing because every time i write a new song i feel like its my best work... An artist's delusion!

What do you do to get ideas and inspiration for your songs? For example, taking a walk when you get writer's block.

I immerse myself in nature and isolation! Or sometimes a really good movie will do it...

I clicked because I thought it said Sasha Grey.

yeah i don't have a bush... sorry.

What influenced you to start making music?

What is your relationship like with other artists that you worked with?

i started making music at such a young age i honestly just don't know anything else. my mom was very supportive and helpful, as she was a musician herself.

my relationships with other artists i've worked with are for the most part really strong. relationships are so important in this industry, but also i find other artists and writers so inspiring, and easy to relate to and learn from, so i gain a lot personally from these relationships.

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I just think its a bit weird that these days you don't even have to be in the same room with another artist to collaborate with them... love the way you lie was made in oregon, Detroit, new york and Dublin. none of us were int he room together!

Do you have any more goals you want to accomplish?

i want to write a book and a movie and score a film.

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go art department! rad right?!

How must it feel to know that it is YOUR music is making money for other people? I guess it may have helped your career, but does it bother you at all? Been a big fan for awhile now and always wanted to ask this question. Just happened to get on reddit and here you are! You are beautiful btw!

i'm grateful not greedy.

Did you ever come home?

where is home?

Was the video for 'C'mon let me Ride' based on the trailer park in Mazo?

haha loosely based on it, yes. more like a caricature

Do you think that long distance collaborations (working on a song with an artist without ever meeting them in person) have helped or hurt the music industry? One on hand more collaborations can happen if not confined to scheduling and geography, but on the other hand there could be a decreased sense of personality to the art without that personal interaction... I would be curious to hear your thoughts on this.

i think its crucial to allow yourself to embrace the change of the times... i've actually learned to really enjoy being able to work on my own and then email my ideas out. the only way this has been possible though is because i have my own studio and record myself.