REDLANDS >> City native Sami Grisafe has released her new single, “Brand New Fairy Tale,” a tune that celebrates marriage equality.
The single, part of her third album expected to be released later this year, recently debuted along with its music video on AfterEllen.com.
Grisafe, 30, who is open about her homosexuality, said the new track was inspired by the worldwide marriage equality movement and was released around the time the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.
“The song itself, ‘Brand New Fairy Tale,’ is the overall heart-shaped message of the whole album and that is: If you don’t see your dreams in the world, write it,” she said.
Grisafe, born and raised in Redlands, discovered her love for music at a young age, thanks to her parents, she said.
While attending Redlands High School, Grisafe balanced music and sports. She played quarterback for the Terriers during her freshman and sophomore year and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame last year. She graduated from RHS in 2003 and went to play football professionally as a quarterback for the Chicago Force.
Grisafe told the Facts last year playing for the Terriers was a childhood goal of hers.
“I watched them play games when I was 10. I remember dreaming of playing Terrier football,” she said.
Balancing sports, music and her education may have been stressful, but Grisafe said it all worked out in the end.
Truly I had an understanding of coaches and teachers that worked with me on my schedule, she said. “I had to be really honest with them because if I had to play a gig on the same night as a playoff game, I had to let them know. It was stressful but worth it,” she said.
While music was always part of Grisafe’s upbringing, it wasn’t until she reached her 20s that she “found her own voice,” she said.
Her first two albums were collaborations with successful artists, she said. Her next record will be her first solo attempt and will also feature collaborations with some of her favorite musicians in the Chicago area, the place she calls home along with Los Angeles.
“Brand New Fairy Tale” features the vocal talents of Grisafe and friend Eric Himan.
The music video for the single is on YouTube and features animated visuals by Ink Factory. It was produced by Vicious Muse and Glam Tie Media.
“The collaboration (for the video) couldn’t have been better. They really did good work with our raw footage and told the story well with what we gave them,” she said.
The single and its B-side are available for download on iTunes.
To learn more about Grisafe, visit her website at samigrisafe.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/SamiGrisafe.
