Nature has always been spiritually grounding for singer-songwriter and guitarist Griff Peters. A few years ago, when the San Diego, California-based roots rock artist was mired in a heart-wrenching personal struggle, he went out to the beach and sat down on a rock formation. There, Griff asked himself this question: if he was told he had a year to live, what would he do?
The answer was simple—make his solo debut, Canyons and Waves (Impropriety Records), a deep and sincere body of work crafted by a skilled and experienced artist with a worthy message of hope within darkness. That very rock formation graces the cover of the album, and from that fateful day on, Griff’s life has been powerfully transformed. Griff says “This is the long-awaited showing-up for my own life as an artist. The music paints a picture of an inner-knowing and the rekindling of hope when we feel lost”
Griff’s signature musical voice is best described as “artistic roots-rock,” an amalgamation of rural Americana, blues, folk, elements of avant-garde, prog, and album-side rock. Besides being a sage and sensitive songwriter, and soulful vocalist, Griff is a subtly virtuosic guitarist and a tone poet. He can coax a bevy of soundscapes with just his hands, from dirty Delta-blues, to stinging and firey rock, to pastoral folk, to sensual and lyrical slide playing, to sweet country filigree, and beyond.
Who as a sideman guitarist has performed, recorded and toured internationally with artists such as John Mayer, Billie Myers, Bryan Beller (Joe Satriani, The Aristocrats, Dethklok), Nina Storey, and the Mike Keneally Band (Frank Zappa, Andy Partridge, Steve Vai). Griff is the founder of Hilltop Frog Recording Studios, and the indie label Impropriety Records.
Born into a musical family in Southern California, Griff started playing piano when he was very young. He quickly infuriated his piano teacher by neglecting beginner’s classical studies in favor of learning intricate ragtime and boogie-woogie songs by ear.
After discovering his grandfather’s old electric guitar at age 14, Griff discovered his passion and innate abilities to play Chicago electric blues and more modern blues rock. By his senior year in high school, he was sneaking out early to study music at the local college. Soon, Griff was a teen professional musician with a full schedule. He attended college classes in the morning; gave guitar lessons in the evening; and gigged in smoky bars late at night.
Fast-forward to today – after collaborating, touring and recording with countless bands and artists – Griff currently enjoys being with family, being outdoors, and creating his own original works of music and nature art and sharing these creations with the world as an independent artist.
