MANILA, Philippines – You might have come across Greyson Chance over the radio without realizing it – his single, “Back on the Wall” was released in April and has been playing on the airwaves since.

But to anyone hearing his voice for the first time in years, it may be hard to associate this 6’1 18-year-old to the 12-year-old singing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” in a viral video years ago. Now all grown up, he’s showing the same kind of intense and powerful control over his own voice, only with a smooth, brand new sound. His music has a lot to say. ([WATCH] Rappler Live Jam: Greyson Chance) 

On Saturday, June 25, Greyson stopped by the Rappler headquarters to catch up and perform a few songs live online. He spoke about growing up, his career kicking off at such an early age, and touring – but in and around his interview, Greyson was candid with the crew and his entourage.  

Here are a couple of gems from Greyson’s interview, and some things that went on off-camera. 

On the Filipino fan biting incident 

When Greyson was in Manila in 2011, he tweeted about a fan biting him. During his interview, the singer recalled it as his most memorable moment with a Filipino fan, laughing and saying, “It was fine, it was an accident. At least, I hope so. I hope she enjoyed the way my skin tasted.” 

Greyson covered the Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps” at soundcheck. 

While waiting to go live, Greyson sang a bit of the songs he would sing later on. But he also covered “My Humps,” crooning the usually upbeat hip-hop track  with the accompaniment of his piano. Listen to it in the clip below:  

.@greysonchance is at the @rapplerdotcom office!pic.twitter.com/tzLjxD6r1G

— Vernise L. Tantuco (@verntantuco) June 25, 2016

He also came up with a new song on the spot.  

While waiting, Greyson also joked around with his team and the folks from MCA. His song had everyone smiling. But it was the way he could sing a joke and still make it sound awesome that truly impressed.

Does anyone have any jokes? 

When no one volunteered a joke minutes before the interivew, Greyson came out with one of his own: “Why was the strawberry sad? Because his mom was in a jam.” He rolled with the groans and good-natured laughter afterwards. 

Tea before his set. 

Greyson has posted about tea on social media in the past, and the singer asked for a cup before his acoustic set on Saturday. Any kind would do, he said, and would have gladly held his mug throughout the interview, had he not been offered a chair to place it on.  

On Darren Espanto

Former The Voice Kids Philippines contestant Darren Espanto opened for Greyson for his recent shows in Singapore.  

“It’s interesting for me after growing up in the industry to see someone who’s younger and who’s my age growing up. I don’t know, I kinda wanted to shield him, I was like, ‘Be careful! Don’t let this person come after you or this person!’ But his voice is absolutely incredible,” said Greyson about him. 

He did not love his voice changing at first

All young male singers go through the inevitable voice change in their teens, and for Greyson, the difference is pronounced. On the change, Greyson said that while people told him it would be fine, he can attest that it actually sucks. He took a break for a while after his voice changed to get to get used to it. Now, he says, he knows it like the back of his hand.  

He’s cried while singing “More Than Me”  

Greyson said his favorite line in his Somewhere Over My Head EP was from the song his EP was named after. The line goes, “When I thought you were looking at me, you were looking instead somewhere over my head.” 

When asked how he could possibly keep himself from crying whenever he played “Somewhere Over My Head,” Greyson answered: “I actually probably have, a couple of times before. I see people, probably last night, even [during one of my Manila concerts], I looked out into the audience and there was someone who just looked so wrecked when I was playing that song.” 

He was dropped by his previous label when he was 15, after more than two years of working with them. 

“That was really hard, I was 15 at the time, and during it, I was going home and was going like ‘Oh my God, how am I gonna get through this?'” Greyson recounted. But looking back, sometimes negative things in your life can really turn around and be positive, because during that time, I completely fell in love with music more than I have been before.”

Greyson also gave some insight into navigating the industry despite the ups and downs. “The industry’s tough, but you just have to focus on the music and you just have to focus on the fans and all the other stuff just sort of fades away into the distance. And just keep on riding, keep on rocking.” 

Greyson doesn’t like durian. 

Greyson has been touring Asia and he says the one Asian food he didn’t like during his stay was durian, a fruit he tried during his Malaysia stop. “The one thing I really don’t like, and all the fans that are watching, they know this, is I hate durian.” 

He is super tall now. 

All the artists who play at Rappler’s Live Jams sign a glass wall in our office. At 6’1, Greyson actually asked if he could sign up top. It was fine – he’s probably the only one who can reach that high up anyway.  

Watch his performances here:

Back On The Wall

More Than Me

Greyson released his EP, Somewhere Over My Head, in May,  is currently in Manila to play 3 concerts over June 24 to 26. – Rappler.com