Israel Nash Gripka was born and raised in the heartland of Missouri. The son of a southern Baptist minister, Israel was introduced to gospel music and later, finding classic albums of his father’s past, he became well versed in rock n’ roll classics such as CCR and The Rolling Stones. While pleasing his mother’s wishes to learn the piano and its accompanying weekly lessons and practice, Israel discovered a classical guitar missing 2 strings and a chord book in the shadows of his parents’ closet. He soon focused on guitar and began writing songs by the time he was 12 years of age. 

 

Beginning with a handful of bands from junior high and high school, Israel soon became a recognizable talent with his songwriting prowess and the commanding presence of his commanding vocal performances. Israel began to shift his artistic direction to the country styled roots of his early days and amalgamated it with vintage rock n’ roll to enter a more Americana style of music, wrought with poetry, sorrow, and storytelling, yet still underpinned by raucous guitars and  booming drums.   

 

Seeking to take his music to new horizons, Israel moved to New York City, finding himself on the ground level facing the endless ladder of the New York music scene. Soon however, he received attention from a number of influential members and was invited into the rather closed circle of New York artists, producers, and engineers. 

 

Israel then met Jimi Zhivago at New York’s famed singer/songwriter venue, The Living Room, and the two embarked on what is now known as Israel’s debut offering, New York Town.

 

The two began to develop a fitting band for the project and in doing so recruited Fiona McBaine (Ollabelle), Rich Hinman (Ben Kweller), and Blake Fleming (The Mars Volta). The space filling vocal quality of Israel, with his poetic yet succinct writing style, and the collection of wonderful collaborating artist helped to make New York Town and true masterpiece in Americana music. The record has received critical acclaim in the Americana platforms and recently charted at #2 on the European charts. The record continues to grow and in doing so, is solidifying Gripka’s position as a songwriter on his way up, an artist whom your eyes and ears should be affixed to.