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After the release of his hit single “Keep Your Head Up,” Andy Grammer followed up with a self-titled album that is taking him to the top. Since last June, Grammer’s career has skyrocketed. He is now headlining a 26-stop tour including shows in Denver, Boston, Nashville and The Maintenance Shop on Jan. 31 in Ames, Iowa.

“I love Iowa,” Grammer said. “The people love music, and I am excited to be stopping in Ames.”

Grammer has only recently gained popularity but has been in the music industry for a while.

“I started writing songs when I was in high school, so when I was about 15,” Grammer said. “I have been working hard for about five to six years now.”

The song “Keep Your Head Up” was ranked as high as No. 53 on Billboard Hot 100 and could be heard on nearly any radio station this past summer.

“I wrote it after a long day of playing on the streets with no sales as a way to pick me up,” Grammer said. “I feel like people can really relate to it.”

Grammer said he looks for influences from many other artists when writing his songs.

“I guess I see myself in three different lights: one being acoustic like John Mayer, Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz, another being piano-rock like Coldplay and finally hip-hop like Lupe Fiasco,” he said.

Grammer began performing on the streets in Los Angeles with his acoustic guitar, and now he finds himself in the middle of the music industry. He has toured with the Plain White T’s, Josh Kelley and Natasha Bedingfield, but he is now the headliner of his own tour.

“My favorite part of the tour is at the end of the night when you are playing the last song and hearing the crowd,” Grammer said. “A headlining tour is like throwing a giant birthday party; you invite people and hope they show up. The culture is very fun when you are headlining. We have had six shows, and everyone has been coming with T-shirts and singing along to all the songs, something special is happening.”

Many Drake students are eager to hear him play.

“I would definitely drive to Ames to see him perform,” sophomore Alessa Strelecki said. “He is a new artist but has a great sound.”

Grammer is currently writing a lot of new songs, and after his tour finishes here in the United States, he is headed to France and Australia for more tours. If you are in the mood for a fun and upbeat performance, then head to Ames on Jan. 31 to watch Grammer perform live.

Fast Facts

• Andy Grammer began his career by singing in the streets of Los Angeles.
• He was named one of Billboard’s 2011 Artists to Watch
• Grammer’s dad was a Grammy-nominated children’s performer
• He has toured with the Plain White Ts, Josh Kelley, Natasha Bedingfield and others.