Memphis-born artist Alexis Grace first caught national attention on Season 8 of American Idol, where Simon Cowell dubbed her the “dark horse of the competition.” But long before television cameras rolled, she was already a fixture in Memphis music — raised on the soulful legacy of the city and shaped by the sounds of Aretha Franklin, Ann Peebles, and Al Green. The daughter of a Beale Street R&B musician, Alexis grew up singing in church choirs and studied jazz and opera at Memphis’ storied Overton High and the University of Memphis' Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.

Her 2014 debut EP Kiddo earned critical acclaim: “Kiddo is a mini-blast of shiny, confident modern pop… Grace proves to have the vocal power and personality to battle a dense, driving backing track to an effective draw… a record that could easily be in the Top 40 without seeming out of place.”

Her upcoming single, “West Coast” — out June 27th and produced by Memphis staple John Paul Keith — signals a sun-soaked shift. A dreamy, feminine ode to California, the track is lush with shimmering textures and intricate vocal layering that nods to the Beach Boys’ golden-era harmonies. Grace’s signature ability to stack harmonies into cinematic swells is on full display, giving the song a nostalgic yet modern warmth. The one-take music video, also dropping June 27th, brings the story to life in a single, sweeping shot — a love letter to Los Angeles and a new chapter in her evolving sound.