What It Really Means to Find Joy in Simplicity

Grayson Converse, The Spooky Mansion Frontman Talks About His New Album, Love, and the Art of Staying Positive.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Life has a way of steering us in new directions, and for Grayson Converse of Spooky Mansion, that shift is reflected in the band’s latest album, What About You?. Spooky Mansion, an indie rock band based out of Los Angeles, has carved out a unique niche with their energetic live performances and eclectic sound, blending Americana, early '70s rock & roll, and a healthy dose of groove. The band—composed of Converse, Rob Mills, Marty Reising, and Braden Lyle—has gained a loyal following for their ability to mix nostalgia with modern vibes, creating music that’s both fun and deeply heartfelt.

With this new album, Converse and his bandmates have tapped into a more laid-back, love-centered vibe that mirrors the simplicity and peace of country living. I recently caught up with Converse to talk about the inspirations behind the album, the dynamic within the band, and how his life experiences—from performing with legends like Natalia LaFourcade and Café Tacuba to juggling music with his day job as a contractor—continue to shape his sound. His take on creating music that focuses on joy rather than struggle offers a fresh perspective on what it means to make art in today’s world.

Pilar Alvarado: The new album, What About You?, has a very pastoral and love-led theme. Can you share more about what inspired this shift towards a simpler, country-focused sound?

Grayson Converse: I love jazz music—the crazy rhythms, involved arrangements, and advanced harmony. I spent many years writing songs that were hard to play, hard to sing, and even harder to listen to. The joke is not lost on me that my musical journey has led me all the way back to the beginning with simple songs that are easy to play, easy to sing, and hopefully easy to listen to. That damn jazz corrupted me with all its devil's grass!

PA: You mentioned that the album reflects your experience of falling in love and starting a life in the country. How did this personal journey influence the songwriting and overall feel of the record?

GC: I've got less to prove, less to worry about, and less to be afraid of. I spend my days remodeling houses, building fences, and chatting with clients about whether they’d prefer granite or quartz for their countertop. I'm not worried about being famous, trying to meet the right people at a show, or hoping that my song is smart enough to garner the right kind of praise. Life is simple and enjoyable, and I think my music has naturally moved in that direction.

PA: “Saturdays” seems to be a celebration of simple, shared moments. How do you think this song captures the essence of your relationship and the way you view your life now?

GC: I think I was just stuck in the city grind for so long in San Francisco and LA that it really came as a surprise to me how simple and comfortable life could be. My wife is a beautiful, supportive, and fun lady. We have a fun life together and Saturdays is about that. From simply BBQing and gardening in the afternoon to riding motorcycles through the jungles of Southeast Asia, life is fun, simple, and full of love and peace.

PA: The album features influences from Americana and early ‘70s rock & roll. How did you approach blending these styles with your own unique sound?

GC: As I let myself embrace my simpler musical influences, it sort of blended into this sound. I used to be concerned that I wasn't a good enough singer and songwriter, so I wrote more complex musical parts and arrangements. These days, I feel a lot more free to just write a simple song that makes sense. I still can’t help myself from adding a little bit of grease and groove—that’s just fun stuff.

PA: In the track “What About You?”, you reference personal experiences and conversations. How did you decide which personal moments to include in your songwriting, and how do you balance personal reflection with broader appeal?

GC: A lot of my lyric writing starts with stream of consciousness—phrases and words that sound good and fit certain rhythms. At some point, I start refining it down to make sense. I think this song just sort of naturally turned into these stories. They were on my mind and rich with meaning to me, so they found their place in the song.

PA: Your music often emphasizes upbeat and positive vibes. What’s your perspective on creating “happy sounds,” and how do you ensure that this sense of joy is consistently present in your work?

GC: It might have started from our live shows. After years of playing together, we got into a groove on stage that felt good—smiling, dancing, and jamming. Certain songs fit into that feeling better, and I figured out I liked those vibes, so I decided to write more songs like that. Maybe it’s selfish, and it’s just me trying to find more excuses to smile and dance.

PA: You’ve mentioned that you’d like to give listeners an “upbeat, high-energy if not raucous experience” and that it’s “OK to have a nice day.” In a world where success is often tied to overcoming significant struggles, how do you maintain and promote this positive outlook in your music? How does this perspective shape your approach to both songwriting and your public persona?

GC: In the social media-driven world we live in, content needs to relate to a narrative, and an easy narrative is hardship and sadness. It's made for some great art, but it also makes for repetitive, boring, and self-indulgent music. I don't think about my hardships much, so they don’t do much for my narrative or my art. Plus, if everyone is going right, you might as well go left! So I’ll keep repping the happy, joyful rock over here.

PA: In the music industry, what is a norm or routine that you intentionally break away from? Can you describe a moment when you felt it was crucial to forge your own path to avoid being boxed in by others' expectations? How did these choices shape your career and your approach to making music?

GC: I don't use social media much, and my poor manager is always reminding me I need to post things, say things, and communicate with my audience. Sorry, Kelli, I keep forgetting! I think the things you lose from not focusing on social media are worth the freedom you get from not engaging with that machine. It's not really brave or innovative; it’s just me doing what I want and not engaging with things I don't want to.

PA: Spooky Mansion is known for its energetic live performances and improvisation. How does the dynamic within the band influence your approach to recording and composing new material?

GC: The band is made up of three of my best friends. They’re all very good musicians, creative, and smart. We understand each other very well, both personally and musically. We might go weeks without talking and months without playing, but when we get back together, it’s as magical as ever. I write the fun melodies and sounds that come to me, and they help bring them to life on stage.

PA: Balancing personal life with a music career can be challenging. How do you and your bandmates maintain this balance and keep your personal lives fulfilling while staying focused on your music?

GC: That is maybe the most challenging part. I love my personal life. I work as a general contractor and find myself with very little free time. But I love it like I love music, so it’s hard to focus on just one. Inertia kicks in, and whatever I’ve been doing, I keep doing. If I’m writing songs and recording tunes, then I want to keep doing that without interruption. When I’m building decks and remodeling kitchens, all I think about is wood and screws! It’s good to go back and forth, though—they seem to go together well.

PA: As a Mexican, I’m particularly curious about how performing with artists like Natalia LaFourcade and Café Tacuba might have influenced your music. How did these experiences shape your sound, and were there any specific lessons or inspirations you drew from these performances?

GC: Natalia is the kewlest! After our second show with her at the Masonic, she asked us, “Do you know a kewl bar you could take us to?” We brought her to Edinburgh Castle, which, if you know, is a very divey, smoky bar in the Tenderloin with a plexiglass smoking room. She came in with her full fabulous Mexican entourage. She was a lovely, down-to-earth person, and that is really inspiring to see. Her manager liked us and booked us for Café Tacuba as well. I asked him if there was anything he could do for us, and he told me, “You gotta do it for yourself, and the only thing to do is to just keep rocking it.” That made it easy because that’s all I really wanted to do anyway.

PA: Can you describe your approach to music production for What About You?? Are there any particular techniques or tools you used that were new or different for this album, and how did they help shape the final sound?

GC: We were really privileged to work with Pete Brownlee at Infinite Spin Studios in LA. We recorded everything analog through a 24-track 2" tape machine into a Neve board. All the basic tracks were recorded with the live band, and we only had so much tape and time, so we had to make each performance count. It really helped us narrow our vision and pursue great performances and classic sounds. Who knows if you can still hear the analog sound once the songs are all squeezed into tiny little Spotify and Apple files, but I think you can at least still feel the vibe.

PA: Looking ahead, do you have any plans to explore new directions or experiment with different sounds in future projects, or are you planning to continue along the path you’ve established with this album?

GC: I've got another record ready to record. It’s always changing in different ways, but it’s not outrageously experimental. I think I’ll eventually have to do my second hip-hop record, but for now, I'm still enjoying getting a plunky piano, a jangly guitar, and a grooving drum set in the same room. And then I can yell and smile and dance.

What About You?, Spooky Mansion’s newest album, will be released on October 31st. It’s an album that feels made for those moments when you’re driving down a winding country road, or spending a cozy fall night by the campfire with friends. With its warm, love-led themes and blend of Americana and ‘70s rock, the album offers a perfect backdrop for life’s simple pleasures. Whether you’re looking for a soundtrack to your autumn adventures or just a new favorite album to enjoy, What About You? is sure to hit the right note.