A Conversation with Grayson Russell & Zach Gordon

Apr 12

Apr 12 A Conversation with Grayson Russell & Zach Gordon

Before performing in front of the expectant crowd filling the back room of Inman Street Coffee House, our team sat down with “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” actors Grayson Russell, Lee alumni and lead singer of The Breaks, and Zach Gordon to chat about the impact music has made in their lives.

Q: Why did you choose to play at Inman Street Coffee?

Grayson Russell: “If you’re gonna play in Cleveland, you’re gonna play at Inman. Especially if you’re just starting out. Inman’s almost exclusively where we play, so it was like here (Inman) and parties on the Science & Math Complex’s lawn. We’ve played here probably about 10 to 15 times, and Zach played last time.”

Zach Gordon: “I feel super blessed to be in [the crowd’s] presence as well as Grayson’s. He definitely is a legend and elevates those around him. Just so grateful to be here.”

Q: How did your journey with music begin and where does it fit in with your prior experience in acting?

Russell: “Well I think for me is I’ve always done music, and film just happened. I’m not giving one more attention than the other. You want to be taken seriously in both aspects and you can’t do that without acknowledging each project. The film [Diary of a Wimpy Kid] has given me a door to speak and preach, and I don’t mind to wear its coattails out.”

Gordon: “I think I spent so much of my life pretending I wasn’t involved in something where someone would call me ‘the wimpy kid’. As I’ve matured and grown up, I’ve grown to be proud of it. It’s given me opportunities like recording this record with Grayson. I starting singing when I was a little kid. I had friends that would sing and encourage me even though I was shy and intimidated. I think I was 19 or 20 and I realized that now is the time to start doing the things I’ve always wanted to do and not be so afraid. I applied the same thing I did for acting, which was about for two decades now, and I played everywhere. For the next five years, I played and sang everyday.”

Q: How does your faith fit into your music?

Russell: “I grew up singing southern gospel with my parents. Just a year and a half ago, I fell into where the good Lord is pushing me. It’s not necessarily How Great is Our God by any means, but it’s definitely has those undertones. I want to pitch the good Lord in there (singing) underhanded. I love somebody like Walker Hayes right now, he’s really good in the country realm, but then he’ll turn everything on it’s head and talk about how he got saved. I feel like right now that’s the direction I want to make my impact. I love sneaking the good Lord in there when people aren’t expecting it.”

Gordon: “I grew up Jewish ... my grandparents were Holocaust survivors and my roots run really strong in that faith. For the longest time, it felt like it (leading with faith) was always there, but I never knew how to acknowledge it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to acknowledge that I’m so lucky to even be here. It’s clear that its for a reason, and I don’t know what that reason is, all I know is that I’ve started to ‘download things from the universe’ and it’s clear that they’re not even mine, that they’re just given to me.”

Q: Where’s your favorite place to take Zach when he comes to Cleveland?

Russell: “City Cafe.”

Gordon: “City Cafe has the best desserts. Los Angeles is very expensive (compared to prices in Cleveland) ... I get to go to City Cafe way later than anything is open and I can get whatever I want. The cake is like eight bucks but it’ll last me two sittings. I love sugar and I can’t eat that in one sitting. I forget what it’s called ... but it’s like a cheesecake with white chocolate. I try and balance it with a super healthy meal like chicken fajitas. They’re always great with service and are kind to me when I come so, hey, I’ll gladly give them business. We’re for sure hitting up the City Cafe after the concert.”

Russell: “That’s a non-negotiable.”

Zach Gordon’s newest single, ‘Time Bomb’, was released for the singer’s birthday. The Breaks are continuing to work on songs to put out to the public.