Pentatonix singer Mitch Grassi is celebrated for his ethereal tenor voice, whistle tones and genre-defying style.
His act redefined modern a cappella with its intricate harmonies and viral YouTube performances.
Now Grassi is exploring new ground with Messer, a new project for which he learned to be bolder in his creative choices.
Mitch Grassi performed his debut show as Messer two years ago at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles.
“Just because you’re afraid to take a leap creatively or sonically doesn’t mean that it’s the wrong thing to do,” Grassi said. “Don’t just say no. Give things a chance, because you really don’t know where an idea will lead you.”
Grassi will perform songs from his new album “Cuts” on Friday, July 18, at the Lodge Room. It’s a gear shift from his time with Pentatonix and Superfruit.
Grassi’s set list is performing songs from his new album, with other selections from his discography as a solo artist to showcase his creative. This includes the single he released on June 20, titled “Not Yet” — Grassi’s favorite song from “Cuts.” The song was written by Grassi, and he partnered with Nightfeelings to produce it.
“I knew that it would be my favorite song, right when I wrote it,” he said.
“Break Open” is the fifth track in Grassi’s new album, and will be featured in the show as well. He describes the song as “liberating, powerful and emotional, with a really unique format.”
“I’m really excited for people to hear it, and I can’t wait to see what they think about it,” Grassi said.
The other titles in the “Cuts” album are “Human,” “Railway Car,” “When I’m Awake,” “Light On” and “Clean (for W)” — all of which will be featured in the Lodge Room performance.
For Grassi, his music as Messer reflects his taste in music: ’90s and early 2000s trip hop, breakbeat, drum and bass. Grassi said that working on music on his own has given him the creative freedom to explore his interests in new sounds and genres.
“(Demonstrating) versatility, to me, shows a true, powerful artist,” Grassi said. “I think what makes a really exciting pop artist is when they delve into different genres and sonic worlds.”
Grassi released his debut EP “Roses” in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection features the songs “Angels Pray,” “Machine,” “Boy in the Pictures,” “Gasoline Tears” and the dark wave-inspired “Roses.” The lockdown, he said, gave him the chance explore his artistic identity.
From Pentatonix’s win on “The Sing-Off” in 2011 to his live performance at the Lodge Room, Grassi has been an acclaimed musician for 14 years. He has won three Grammy awards: in 2015, 2016 and 2017 for Pentatonix’s Daft Punk medley, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy arrangement and collaboration with Dolly Parton on “Jolene,” respectively. Grassi has five nominations.
He said he’s striving to push himself as an artist and seeing where the solo project will take him.
“I’m really looking forward to pushing myself vocally as well, and seeing what weird sounds I can make and how I can be vocally,” Grassi said. “I can take my vocals to the next level and do things, vocally, that nobody has heard from me previously in Superfruit and Pentatonix.”
Grassi said he feels blessed to have fans who have supported him in his various musical projects, which is an honor.
“I want to say a big thank you to them,” he said. “It really means so much to me that they would even care to listen to what I have to say or the music that I create.”
Messer
WHERE: Lodge Room, 104 N. Avenue 56, Los Angeles
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 16
COST: $32.50
INFO: lodgeroomhlp.com