End of an era, start of a new chapter
Sam Gracie, formerly known as Avid Beats
22nd May 2026
3PM BST / 10AM EDT
Can you find me, you, us?
Sam Gracie x Cece Alaniz
Song and Stop-motion Lyric Video.
The beautiful mixed-media artwork (watercolour, Conté crayons and charcoal) by Sam’s mother, Alison Gracie, vibrantly captures the two artists and message of the lyrics - Sam and Cece are shown reaching out to one another, “extending themselves”.
About the Project
Sam Gracie joins with Cece Alaniz for their fifth collaboration, "Can you find me, you, us?”, a hauntingly beautiful indie art pop piece which fuses soulful and ambient guitar and synthesiser melodies with alternative R&B rhythms.
The song, which is paired with a captivating stop motion lyric video, reflects on the relationship between the climate crisis, humanity, division and connection across the Earth. The repeated questioning phrases "can you find me”; “can you find you”; and “can you find us” touch on the fragility of connection, which contributes to the increasing risk to the planet year-by-year. These phrases act as an anchor within the song, and reinforce that listening to and empathising with one another, and understanding difference and diversity are crucial to reducing violence alongside reducing damage to nature and the environment.
This release marks Sam’s transition from his alias “Avid Beats” to “Sam Gracie”, with the new identity reflecting his shift from primarily making instrumentals to full production and singing/songwriting.
This deeply resonant song has a fluid and effortless arrangement which lifts the synergy of Sam’s and Cece's voices. The dynamics between the mellow warmth of Sam’s live electric guitar and the brighter and musical brass synthesisers bring the meaning of the piece home, while the two basslines provide a cohesive and fulfilling richness and the smooth drums keep a consistent pacing. The many layers and meticulous attention to detail in the production, including the subtle personally-made field recordings and analogue tape delays, add to the immersive atmosphere.
The accompanying mixed-media stop motion music video, created by Sam Gracie and Alison Gracie, utilises poetic visual metaphors to evoke the layered meanings of the song, creating an emotional and vivid visual tapestry.
Sam's ten-part diary, recording the making of the animation, offers a fascinating insight into the intricate creative process and elaborates on the project’s carefully thought-through message and symbolism. This series will be released following the stop motion video.
The spontaneity yet insistence of the track is like waves returning, reminding us gently that there is an important issue that won’t go away without listening.
About the Artists
Sam Gracie, formerly known as Avid Beats, is a multi-disciplinary artist and producer from London, UK. He draws inspiration from nature and raw emotions, infusing his work with authenticity and depth. Blending genres and emotions seamlessly, Sam’s music is always fresh and creative. Talking about collaboration in an interview with CanvasRebel, Sam said:
“[The most rewarding part of being a creative is] the way I can connect with so many like minded people, and create something truly unique together. Collaboration is always thrilling and exciting, and it produces some of the most beautiful, unexpected outcomes.”
Cece Alaniz, a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Michigan, USA, makes wonderful songs that touch many hearts from first listen. Speaking movingly on numerous subjects, her voice is the perfect blend of powerful and soothing.
Cece said in an interview with CanvasRebel:
“When it comes to my creative journey, my biggest goal is to have a positive impact on others/give others someone or something to relate to. I want to be so authentic within myself, and my creations, that possibly it helps others to do so too! I want to share my music, my love, and sadness with others, as I know I’ve used music (listened to it) in the past as a way to get through hard times and as a means to relate. I would love to be able to do that for other people: give others something to relate to, or to look forward to, or to make them feel less alone.”
Sam Gracie
Cece Alaniz
March 2026
Stitch Me Up (Remix Version)
Jorge Natalin x Avid Beats
About the Project
Sam Gracie Tillbrook, known professionally as Avid Beats, teams up with Dutch artist Jorge Natalin, the alter ego for Arno Tijnagel, to make a 2026 drum and bass/electronic official remix of Jorge's song “Stitch Me Up". The song, originally in the style of experimental indie-singer/songwriter, was featured on Jorge's 2024 album "Coming Down From Heaven". Jorge created the album about the feeling of being alone and feeling completely misunderstood by the world around him.
Speaking about the collaboration, Jorge said:
“Avid Beats has sensed this emotion profoundly and transformed the song into a positive modern drum 'n' bass tune. I am very thankful for the way the remix turned out."
Avid Beats also is very thankful for the collaboration, and found it an honour to work with Jorge. The original version of "Stitch Me Up" instantly inspired Avid Beats, and from the first listen, he imagined drum and bass rhythms and heavy basslines. He felt particularly drawn to early to mid-2010s drum and bass music as references for the production; for example, the grittier and more underground quality of earlier Chase & Status records.
Talking about the remix, Avid Beats said:
"D&B is one of my favourite genres, so I was very excited when Jorge reached out to me asking if I'd like to reimagine one of his tracks in this genre. Jorge is a highly talented artist, and his profound and striking vocals are full of raw and heartfelt emotion. The track is a captivating blend of fiery and intense yet cathartic and vulnerable. Working with Jorge on this remix has been absolutely thrilling, and I am very proud of our work together.”
Find Out More
Listen to the original song, visit Jorge Natalin's website and read the lyrics on Genius.
January 2026
Colour The Dark Days (Remix)
Avid Beats Featuring Cece Alaniz
Song and Music Video
About the Project
Artists Avid Beats (Sam Gracie Tillbrook) and Cece Alaniz join together for their fourth collaboration - a cinematic art pop, electronica and indie remix of Avid’s 2024 track and music video “Colour The Dark Days”.
This 2026 remix, which is paired with a vivid music video, reimagines the drum and bass production of the original - re-colouring it with an immersive and atmospheric composition - and features Cece’s powerful vocals, arranged to alternate between, and harmonise with, Sam’s original performance, creating an exciting and fresh listening experience.
Sam wrote the lyrics about emerging from a period of depression and anxiety, and regaining confidence, yet not wanting to rush back into things, taking the time to “Colour The Dark Days”.
“Just regain my mountain path, on my journey to heal, time has vanished before me, I’ll leave that chapter a seal…”
For Sam, this song is like putting a seal on this mental health crisis after overcoming it, and spending time reflecting on the past.
“But sometimes (sometimes), I decide to lift it, discover (discover), lift it, discover, colour those dark days in…”
For Cece, this song represents overcoming difficulties in life, healing by using art, music, and nature, amongst other things, in order to create something beautiful from dark experiences.
“Please give me time to bloom, please give me time to bloom…”
Additionally, given the energy of the song - combined with relatable and catchy lyrics - and given how distressing and dark certain things are in the world currently, the song can be seen as a message of hope for the New Year.
For the production of the remix, Sam was inspired by the atmospheric and mesmerising nature of the 2017 track “Whole Again” by the Icelandic music group, Gangly. The original drum and bass production of “Colour The Dark Days” has a theatrical quality to it, and Sam wanted to make this aspect a core theme in the remix. Starting again from scratch and building new music around the vocals, the first element Sam played for the remix was the electric guitar. From there, the composition blossomed around the addition of Cece’s singing.
Two frames from the music video.
The arrangement takes the listener on a journey and represents the story of the lyrics. Possibly the most cathartic part of the song is the transition between Cece and Sam’s echoing of the line “please give me time to bloom” and the reflection of this in the music, when the instrumental lifts and ends in a finale with bright synthesisers.
A fascinating, and unexpected, fact about the percussion in the song is that it is mostly made from field recorded sounds of Sam’s bike. In 2025, he released a sample pack for producers titled “Bike” featuring sounds made from recording his bike and associated tools/items.
The music video, directed by Sam, embodies the story through symbolic actions, objects and visual effects. An impressive aspect of the video is that both artists recorded their clips from across the Atlantic, with Sam based in London, and Cece based in Michigan.
Sam’s clips are all recorded in Whitewebbs Park, a space he is campaigning to protect from development as part of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group. Cece’s are recorded near a lake in Michigan - the choice of nature-based locations reflects the artists’ love of the natural environment.
The key storyline and concept of the music video is the arrangement of flowers, leaves and other flora on “bark boats”. The slow yet continual arrangement of these found elements on the bark represents the healing process, with the arranging starting when Cece sings “I’ll leave that chapter a seal”, and then continuing as the artists sing “colour those dark days in”.
At the end of the video, Cece launches her “bark boat” into the water of the lake, acting as the final overcoming of a dark time. For Sam, the use of stop motion of the arrangement building is like looking back over where he has come from and where he is now.
Bark boat.
The video begins monochromatic, and only transitions to colour when the phrase “colour those dark days in” is sung for the first time. Just before the full video becomes coloured, elements such as Sam and Cece’s flora arrangement and bark boat are highlighted from black and white to colour, preparing for a larger shift.
The Hibiscus flower included at the point of the bridge in the song is the only piece of footage from the original music video included in the remix. The image is striking, provides familiarity to those who knew the first version, and epitomises the hope and transformation that can occur when emerging from dark times.
Altogether, this new take on “Colour The Dark Days” is another powerful reminder to take the time you need on your healing journey.
Two more frames from the music video.