Gracen Wynn Overcomes Sadness on “Life Worth Breathing”: Hear the Song This Week

When Gracen Wynn fell in love with songwriting, she fell hard. The 24-year-old always had an affinity for music, but it was not until taking classes at the University of North Texas that she decided to try drafting her own songs. Two years later, she has become a staple of the music scene in North Texas, recently opening Louder Than Stigma Fest and playing at the State Fair of Texas last week.

On Oct. 23, Wynn will take the stage at Opening Bell Coffee to debut her new single “Life Worth Breathing” before it hits streaming services on Oct. 24. She will be accompanied by guitarist Los Vibras for a performance Wynn says will stand apart from her previous work.

“This is going to be a show in a style that I’ve never done before,” she explains. “There’s going to be loop pedals. There’s going to be some really cool elements that [Los Vibras is] bringing to the table and playing unreleased music and new covers.”

Wynn says when she walks into the studio these days, she wants to push herself. She draws inspiration from artists like Ellie Goulding and Gracie Abrams, blending her influences and using them to create something unique to her. She works with producer Cameron Hayes, whom she credits for stepping out of his comfort zone and taking a chance on her after seeing her play her first full-band show at the now-defunct Andy’s Bar in Denton.

The work Hayes and Wynn have done together is best summarized by Wynn’s description of her Oct. 14 set at the State Fair: an upbeat set filled with gut-wrenching songs. That is a difficult combination to pull off, but Wynn has all but mastered it.

“I’m in a phase of exploring more of my sound,” she says. “Being more experimental and still keeping the ‘singer/songwriter’ vibe in my songs, but sonically having them be more upbeat and atmospheric.”

“Life Worth Breathing” is the latest result of Wynn’s growth and experimentation, a calming, contemplative work that soothes as it stirs listeners’ spirits. The lyrics, she says, came quickly, inspired by personal struggles. Wynn has never had an official diagnosis of depression, but describes periods when she has struggled to find the motivation to even get out of bed. This song was an attempt to flesh out those feelings and confront them head-on.

“Getting over-dramatic, thinking things I shouldn’t have / Wear the same clothes for three days, and say it’s not getting bad,” she sings, the music carried by raw acoustics and rooted in her vocals, something Wynn says was important to her conception of the track. The song builds to a climactic declaration that “Life is worth breathing and you are worth living” and plays to Wynn’s strengths as a writer and a performer: relatable, clear and sonically pure.

“We initially tracked the guitars and vocals, and then whenever we were listening through it, we wanted it to kind of have a slow build in a way that follows the lyrics in,” says Wynn. “Because the lyrics, in the heart of them, it’s all for a sense of hope…that is obviously individual, but even as a collective. Just knowing that you’re not alone and that you’re not the only person experiencing this.”

That sense of communal care and wellbeing is at the core of Wynn’s musical philosophy. It goes beyond her songwriting to her stagework; she loves being part of a group and sharing in the experience of performing alongside others, elevating and inspiring one another creatively. These opportunities, whether she is working with a full band or in a trio, are another way she sees herself evolving as an artist, staying true to her roots as a singer/songwriter but expanding her capabilities.

“Life Worth Breathing” and the Opening Bell premiere show are but another step in Wynn’s ongoing journey. While she has continued to build her reputation in this area, she is excited for the future and identifying opportunities to take her work to new audiences, either headlining or opening for musicians she admires.

“In the last few years, I’ve broken out of that negative mindset of not having the motivation to do anything with [music],” she says. “I’m writing songs and working with producers and meeting so many incredible musicians that I just want to keep learning and growing in my craft, because this is ultimately what I want to do with my life.”

Gracen Wynn will perform on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Opening Bell Coffee, 1409 Botham Jean Blvd. Tickets are on sale starting at $10 on openingbellcoffee.com.