Check Out Grace Dierking’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Dierking.

Grace, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Music has always been a part of my life. As a kid, I started doing plays with my best friend at our hometown’s college, and we ended up taking guitar lessons together. That naturally turned into me learning piano, bass, and drums—but it wasn’t until we started a band that I realized how much I loved singing. We even wrote our first song together called “Life Sucks, But It’s Gonna Get Better,” which is honestly so funny coming from a couple of 10-year-olds.

I also grew up surrounded by incredible singers at my church, and I looked up to them so much. I’ll never forget when the music director, Jacob, pulled me over to the piano when I was about 15 and told me to start singing with him—that moment really stayed with me. It’s special now to be singing in that same space.

I think I realized music was more than just a hobby when it became something I couldn’t stop thinking about. Going through a lot of heartbreak—not just in relationships, but within family, friendships, and life in general—really shaped me as a songwriter. It gave me a deeper sense of gratitude for those experiences and showed me how powerful music can be as an outlet. My music is very raw, vulnerable, and honest, and I think that’s why people connect to it.

There have definitely been moments of doubt, especially being in a big city like LA. When I went to college, I actually started as a music major but switched to esthetics because I wasn’t sure if music was realistic for me. But I realized I couldn’t live without it. I finished my esthetics program (I’m not a quitter!!) and then went back to school for music. I ended up graduating with a degree in both science and music, which really reflects the balance in my life today.

I still work in esthetics, but music is my main path. I focused on jazz in college, and now my sound has evolved into a mix of indie folk and soul. In 2023, I started a band called Rhythm N Bloom, (it started as a surprise gift for my mom’s birthday- a 10 person band consisting of my talented friends) and now we perform as a pop and rock cover band. Then in August 2025, I began performing my original music, which was a huge turning point for me. Seeing the audience show up, feel emotional, and genuinely connect to my songs made me realize that this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing.

Right now, I’m recording and working toward creating music that feels authentic to me. I’m taking my time with it because I don’t want to rush the process—I want it to be something real. I feel like I’m becoming an artist who leads with emotion rather than trying to fit into what I think will do well. I don’t necessarily want people to feel one specific thing when they hear my music—I just want them to feel, period.

What makes my journey different is that I feel like I’ve lived many lives and held many versions of myself. I carry a lot of emotional depth, while still being sensitive and grounded. I also embrace the fact that I have other passions—like health, wellness, and aesthetics—that shape who I am as an artist. I think people sometimes assume this path came easily, but it’s taken a lot of faith, risk, and persistence to get to where I am today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s what’s shaped me the most as both a person and an artist.

There have been a lot of moments of doubt, especially living in a city like LA where there’s constant comparison and pressure. I’ve questioned whether this path was realistic for me, which is actually why I stepped away from music for a period of time and pursued esthetics instead. I think I needed that experience to realize how much music truly meant to me, because I eventually found my way back to it with even more clarity.

On a personal level, going through heartbreak and different life challenges—within relationships, friendships, and family—has been really difficult at times. But those experiences are also what deepened my songwriting. They forced me to be honest with myself and gave me something real to express.

There have also been moments where the people around me didn’t fully understand my music or the direction I was going in, and that could be discouraging at times. But I think those experiences pushed me to trust myself more and stand behind what I create, even when it’s vulnerable or not easily understood.

Another challenge has been learning to trust my own voice and not create from a place of trying to fit into what I think will succeed. That’s an ongoing process, especially as an independent artist, but it’s something I’ve grown a lot in.

That being said, I’m really grateful because I have such a strong support system. The people around me truly believe in me, and I’ve felt that more and more as I’ve started sharing my music. Because of that, the road has definitely started to feel smoother—it reminds me that I’m not doing this alone.

It’s taken a lot to get here, but I think that’s why it means so much—and why I’m finally starting to feel steady in it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a singer-songwriter, and my work is really centered around emotion and storytelling. My sound lives somewhere between indie folk and soul, with a jazz influence that comes from my background in school. Writing is where everything starts for me—I’m drawn to lyrics that feel conversational and honest, like you’re hearing someone’s real thoughts out loud.

I perform both as a solo artist and with my band, Rhythm N Bloom, which brings out a completely different side of me—more playful and high-energy. But no matter the setting, everything I do is rooted in feeling.

I think what people connect with most is the vulnerability in my music. I don’t really hold back—I’d rather say something real than something polished.

What I’m most proud of is seeing how people respond to my original music live. There’s something really special about watching someone hear a song and feel understood by it, or better yet, something they have not been able to express, but can now see how their thoughts and feelings are put into words.

I think what sets me apart is that I’m not trying to fit into anything. I just follow what feels true, and I let that shape the sound.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is living a life that actually feels good, especially through connection — with myself ‘body AND soul’ and with the people around me.

I really value my relationships, my routines, and the way I move through my everyday life. Things like wellness, self-care, and being intentional with my time help me stay grounded and present. I’ve realized that when I feel good in my day-to-day life, everything else flows from that.

I also care a lot about growth and self-awareness. I think I’ve experienced enough to know that life isn’t always easy, but I value learning from it and becoming more in tune with myself over time instead of avoiding it.

At the end of the day, it’s about being real—showing up honestly, staying connected, and building a life that feels aligned and meaningful to me. I care about how my life feels than how it looks… but I do love when it all comes together 😉

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgraceleone/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@grace_leone
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/grace_leone
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@grace_leone

Image Credits
Michael Angeleo, Alessandra Lopez