Hey Redditors, I'm Skylar Grey -- I'm a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has written songs for Eminem, Rihanna, Dr. Dre, Diddy, Dirty Money, Cee Lo Green, T.I., Lupe Fiasco, Kaskade and many more. I'm currently working on my debut full-length solo album, Don’t Look Down which is set to release this Summer. You can check out the first single off the album, "C'mon Let Me Ride" featuring Eminem. I'm looking forward to answering your questions starting around 10:30am ET! Also, I plan on answering some of your questions in video, which you can watch by following my wire. Ask me anything!

EDIT: here is proof

EDIT: I'm answering some questions in video which I'll post in the thread and below:

Skylar Grey's Green Popsicle Song Kicks Off Music Career

The Tosh.0 Experience

Skylar Grey on Working in Porn

Dr. Dre is a Teddy Bear

Comments: 1593 • Responses: 47  • Date: 

VAGINA_BLADES472 karma

What are Dr. Dre and Eminem like together when they hang out out and the cameras aren't rolling?

SkylarGreyOfficial473 karma

When I'm around them everyone's just focussing on the music...

ReadyAbout346 karma

Did you have gym class with Stan?

SkylarGreyOfficial448 karma

FUCK YEAH I DID! Who is this?

SirReddit338 karma

Can we expect further collaboration with Kaskade? Your voice really compliments his music style.

SkylarGreyOfficial315 karma

maybe at some point... love him.

Liger_Zero321 karma

No question, I just wanted to let you know that when I had first heard you sing I thought you were great. I asked my buddy who was singing and he said you, however I heard Sasha Grey instead. A quick google got me all sorts of confused. Porn AND a great singer?? This chick is great!

Man I'm dumb.

SkylarGreyOfficial504 karma

its ok i actually used to edit porn for a job so its not that far off!

EDIT: you wanted more details, so... here you go

twiitar313 karma

Got any date for your upcoming solo release "Reach for the Skylar"?

SkylarGreyOfficial345 karma

clever

nickert0n286 karma

Did you ever find a doctor?

SkylarGreyOfficial607 karma

yes and he was jewish

aaronsxl241 karma

How did your version of "Love the Way You Lie" end up as a Rihanna/Eminem hit?

Do you like what they've done with your song?

SkylarGreyOfficial1116 karma

bought me a house... so yeah

Anterior_View223 karma

[deleted]

SkylarGreyOfficial346 karma

thanks i try

peix176 karma

Dear Holly (am I allowed to still call you that?),

I’ve been a fan of yours since when you first appeared as a guest on Fort Minor’s Rising Tied album. My questions will be about the time between Like Blood Like Honey and Don’t Look Down, as I find the story of your breakup with the music industry and your journey back to be incredibly inspiring and touching:

1) When and what led you to finally realize that you needed to break away from the industry and rediscover yourself? Was there a single event in mind that pushed you over the top or was it a gradual accumulation of many different circumstances?

2) Did you really “eat fruit off people’s trees?” (quoted from your interview with Myspace’s OneTwoWatch) If so, any funny stories you’d be willing to share?

3) What was your typical day like during your time off from the music industry? And was music/song-writing still a major part of it?

Thank you for your time, and I really, really look forward to Don’t Look Down. I just hope you won’t make us wait too much longer!

SkylarGreyOfficial204 karma

1) i was feeling really unhappy, and my gut was telling me i needed to get away from it all to figure out how to get happy again. after about a year of feeling that way, an opportunity to live in a cabin for basically no rent came up, so i took it. 2) yes, this was pre-cabin. for a few months i lived in oak view, ca in a really shitty house, and i was tooootally broke. didn't even have 50 cents to go to the laundromat so i washed my clothes in a bathtub. 3) i would wake up and enjoy the surrounding nature, make myself some breakfast, maybe drive down the road to this ranch i spent a lot of time on, then work in my studio or write in my journal.

JimBombBomb155 karma

Hey Skylar! What is your favourite colour? Don't tell me it's grey, I'm about to lose my mind.

SkylarGreyOfficial350 karma

GREY.

jaydickchest147 karma

I DONT HAVE A QUESTION BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU BECAUSE "Coming Home" IS ON MY "baby-making" MUSIC PLAYLIST. YOU'VE DONE A LOT FOR ME

SkylarGreyOfficial288 karma

you make a lot of babies?

crazyjeffy147 karma

How could you remain serious while doing backup vocals for "I Did It" on Tosh.0?

SkylarGreyOfficial188 karma

good question. video response to come! EDIT: here's my response!

offthewagontheboat146 karma

If you could steal a smooch from any one in Hollywood, who would it be?

SkylarGreyOfficial484 karma

scarlet johansson

strongnc21135 karma

I was hoping for Skylar White.

SkylarGreyOfficial198 karma

yeah that would've been better.

mtt2800132 karma

What was it like working with lupe? And how long does it take for you to make a song?

SkylarGreyOfficial196 karma

Lupe is an amazing artist... I didn't actually work with him in person on "words i never said," but after we had that song together I got to spend a little time getting to know him and was very impressed with the person that he is.

Kevince126 karma

Would you rather fight a Dr. Dre sized Eminem or a hundred Eminem sized Dr. Dres?

SkylarGreyOfficial118 karma

Had a little fun with this one! Here's my response

tjh418118 karma

If you could write a song for anyone, who would it be?

SkylarGreyOfficial372 karma

myself lol

nitishh114 karma

Why did you go from Holly Brook to Skylar Grey?

bigwax160 karma

She explained that "it represents the unknowns in life. People seem to be afraid of the unknowns, but I’m the complete opposite. I dive into the unknown because I feel like that’s where all your possibilities come from."[7] She explained to Beatweek that she chose "grey" with an e rather than an a because "I like to do things the original way" and because "it’s more masculine. I’m not a very feminine person."[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylar_Grey#2010-present:_Name_change.2C_new_direction_and_Don.27t_Look_Down

SkylarGreyOfficial303 karma

good job

SkylarGreyOfficial70 karma

see bigwax's response!

myuniver53113 karma

What were some of the changes you had to make when you transitioned from working with a hip-hop artist like Dre, versus a dance/house artist such as Kaskade?

SkylarGreyOfficial463 karma

Oh kaskade actually shows up to the studio on time

clabowman91 karma

How were you discovered? It seems like you came out of nowhere. Thanks for the AMA!

SkylarGreyOfficial211 karma

I've been around... just takes time and the right circumstances for the dots to connect. I have to give a lot of credit to Eminem though for recognizing my artistry through working together on "love the way you lie."

stalkergonepublic82 karma

Do you like guacamole?

SkylarGreyOfficial225 karma

si

Chrusherz80 karma

What is Mike Shinoda like?

SkylarGreyOfficial93 karma

hes cool.

deejay_reich77 karma

[deleted]

SkylarGreyOfficial320 karma

i guess nothing really surprises me anymore... but you may be surprised to learn that Kaskade, although he's a house music superstar and plays for people who are often drunk and high, he's actually Mormon and doesn't even drink.

CANOODLING_SOCIOPATH71 karma

What is you're favorite song that you haven't sung or written?

SkylarGreyOfficial198 karma

too many... ugh. "I'm only happy when it rains" -Garbage, "Criminal" -Fiona Apple, "Everthing in its right place" -Radiohead, "Stan" -Eminem, the list goes on and on...

lifecraze68 karma

What was it like when you found out your husband was cooking meth?

SkylarGreyOfficial193 karma

i was really excited to learn we had extra money in the back of the toilet!

superhero11763 karma

I love your version of love the way you lie. Do you ever wish that you had published some of these songs?

SkylarGreyOfficial220 karma

um... you can buy it on iTunes

WishboneGunther53 karma

How have Eminem and Dr. Dre supported your career?

SkylarGreyOfficial89 karma

mostly by working with me and continuing to do so... also they give me a lot of good feedback and advice.

roycephus52 karma

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be?

SkylarGreyOfficial235 karma

justin timberlake is on my list... also would have loved to work with beethoven but he probably woulda slammed the piano key cover on my fingers.

privatejoker49 karma

[deleted]

SkylarGreyOfficial55 karma

STOKED.

semi_modular_mind45 karma

What's your songwriting process, do you start with the vocals or instruments and which instrument's do you use?

Thanks for the AMA, love your work!

SkylarGreyOfficial76 karma

I used to write with a piano or a guitar mostly, but lately i've been writing to tracks that i pick from producers. its oddly sometimes more of a challenge to do so because i don't have the freedom to manipulate chord structures and am confined by what is given to me...

tjh41837 karma

At what moment did you realize you wanted to be a songwriter? At what moment did you realize you were actually going to pull it off?

SkylarGreyOfficial54 karma

thank you for your questions -- I answered in video

Meth_Damon36 karma

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

SkylarGreyOfficial107 karma

thinking

100percentawesome35 karma

I freaking love C'mon Let Me Ride! Totally was my jam over winter break! Since you're from Wisconsin, do you have a favorite beer brewed here in this wonderful state?

SkylarGreyOfficial90 karma

spotted cow!

KWAwkward28 karma

What do you do in your downtime?

SkylarGreyOfficial73 karma

lately? snowboard, drink matcha, think, take road trips, and work on more music!

d-mmm-b27 karma

Are you going to be having any other big names on your new album that you can say at this point?

SkylarGreyOfficial76 karma

yes

rossway27 karma

of the songs you have written or recorded, which one is your favorite and why?

SkylarGreyOfficial94 karma

my favorite is constantly changing because every time i write a new song i feel like its my best work... An artist's delusion!

FionaT26 karma

What do you do to get ideas and inspiration for your songs? For example, taking a walk when you get writer's block.

SkylarGreyOfficial42 karma

I immerse myself in nature and isolation! Or sometimes a really good movie will do it...

meantofrogs26 karma

I clicked because I thought it said Sasha Grey.

SkylarGreyOfficial140 karma

yeah i don't have a bush... sorry.

Solacee24 karma

What influenced you to start making music?

What is your relationship like with other artists that you worked with?

SkylarGreyOfficial24 karma

i started making music at such a young age i honestly just don't know anything else. my mom was very supportive and helpful, as she was a musician herself.

my relationships with other artists i've worked with are for the most part really strong. relationships are so important in this industry, but also i find other artists and writers so inspiring, and easy to relate to and learn from, so i gain a lot personally from these relationships.

Dirk_Dangle23 karma

[deleted]

SkylarGreyOfficial62 karma

I just think its a bit weird that these days you don't even have to be in the same room with another artist to collaborate with them... love the way you lie was made in oregon, Detroit, new york and Dublin. none of us were int he room together!

TheCoinHandler21 karma

Do you have any more goals you want to accomplish?

SkylarGreyOfficial62 karma

i want to write a book and a movie and score a film.

orgasmm21 karma

[deleted]

SkylarGreyOfficial33 karma

go art department! rad right?!

Logicdropper10 karma

How must it feel to know that it is YOUR music is making money for other people? I guess it may have helped your career, but does it bother you at all? Been a big fan for awhile now and always wanted to ask this question. Just happened to get on reddit and here you are! You are beautiful btw!

SkylarGreyOfficial42 karma

i'm grateful not greedy.

Gobbles157 karma

Did you ever come home?

SkylarGreyOfficial9 karma

where is home?

wesconsindairy5 karma

Was the video for 'C'mon let me Ride' based on the trailer park in Mazo?

SkylarGreyOfficial7 karma

haha loosely based on it, yes. more like a caricature

nebyh5 karma

Do you think that long distance collaborations (working on a song with an artist without ever meeting them in person) have helped or hurt the music industry? One on hand more collaborations can happen if not confined to scheduling and geography, but on the other hand there could be a decreased sense of personality to the art without that personal interaction... I would be curious to hear your thoughts on this.

SkylarGreyOfficial8 karma

i think its crucial to allow yourself to embrace the change of the times... i've actually learned to really enjoy being able to work on my own and then email my ideas out. the only way this has been possible though is because i have my own studio and record myself.