Terisa Griffin Finds Love “When You’re Around Me”: The Story Behind Her Soulful New Track

The acclaimed vocalist shares the personal inspiration, pandemic reflections, and musical process that shaped her latest single, plus a look at her upcoming tour plans.

By Smooth Jazz NOLA Staff | Published April 8, 2025

Acclaimed vocalist Terisa Griffin recently gave Smooth Jazz NOLA an intimate look into the creation of her latest track, a song steeped in personal reflection and the unique emotional landscape of the pandemic era. The song’s journey, from a simple hook to a fully realized R&B statement, reveals both Griffin’s creative process and the deep personal connections that fuel her music.

The Spark: A Hook Born in Lockdown

Interestingly, the heart of the song came first. “Well, I wrote the backgrounds before anything else,” Griffin shares. The defining hook, “I Fall In Love When You’re Around Me,” was conceived during the COVID lockdown. “I recorded all the backgrounds. Then, I went back and wrote the verses. The hook really inspired the entire song.”

A simple, yet profound, real-life moment cemented the song’s core sentiment. “It just so happened to be, my husband walked down the hall and touched me, in a certain way, during that time when I wrote the lyrics, ‘I Fall In Love When You’re Around Me’,” she recalls.

Deeper Meanings: Love and Loneliness

The track is undeniably rooted in personal experience, magnified by the anxieties of the pandemic. “Definitely,” Griffin confirms. “Loneliness during COVID was scary. And the thought that you might lose something so precious, if you really had it, is even more terrifying.”

This period fostered a deeper appreciation for her relationship. “You know, and just the reality that I’m sitting here in a house with somebody who really does love me. You know, and wants the best for me,” she reflects. It circles back to the song’s central theme, born from genuine emotion: “Because nobody’s perfect, you know. I definitely fall in love whenever he’s around me.”

Crafting the Sound: Collaboration and Live Soul

Bringing the music to life was a collaborative effort with Mike Logan, Sr. Griffin originated the melody, establishing the song’s melodic foundation. “Melodically, when you create something, you do… when I sent it over, the melody was there,” she explains.

After Mike Logan Sr. worked his magic on the track, Griffin felt it needed an essential final touch – the energy of live musicians. “I went back and recorded live musicians on it. Because there’s nothing like a live bass or live drums to me,” she emphasizes. For Griffin, this layering is crucial for authentic R&B. “To stack on top, to give it what it really needs… I think that makes it thicker and more fuller and more realistic for a person who is singing, you know, true R&B. So that’s how the music was created.”

What’s Next: Hitting the Road

With the new music resonating, Terisa Griffin is now focused on bringing it directly to her audience. “Right now, Terisa is working on organizing a tour,” she reveals. As an independent artist, this means handling the logistics herself.

“I’ve got to select the cities, which hopefully will be ten cities. And I will spread them out through now and really October, November at the latest,” she outlines. Financial realities mean the tour will likely be spaced out rather than back-to-back. “Really, I want to wrap up by September, you know, because I want to get out of the holiday traffic.”

The process involves careful planning: choosing cities, budgeting for musicians and back-line equipment, securing radio support to drive ticket sales, and strategically grouping shows. “Getting people to come to the concert and getting the radio stations behind me so people will buy the tickets. Then being able to go to the next city, so I’ll probably do three cities at a time.”

Keep an ear out for Terisa Griffin’s soulful new track and stay tuned for upcoming tour dates as she prepares to share her music live.