Conan Gray's Ethnicity: Singer's Interracial Parents Partly Raised Him in Japan

Social media star and musician Conan Gray's ethnicity has two different racial backgrounds. One of Gray's origins has significantly shaped his life and career.

For many years of vlogging on YouTube, pop sensation Conan Gray has shared a great deal about his family, whose background is as fascinating as his musical career.

Gray has discussed his ethnicity in interviews and the challenges he faced as a mixed-race person. However, he uses his uniqueness as an advantage to showcase his exceptional talents on the international stage.

Conan Gray Has A Mixed Heritage

Gray was born in San Diego, California, on December 5, 1998. His parents have diverse backgrounds, with his mother being of Japanese descent and his father being "mostly Irish." Gray said:

"But the thing is, not a lot of the world can really accept the fact that that's what I am. I'm exactly half-Japanese, half-white."

The young artist was raised "completely Japanese." At age one, his family left San Diego and moved to Hiroshima, Japan, to care for his ailing grandfather.

During their stay in the country, Gray was immersed in Japanese culture, an experience that shaped his early years and continued until he was three and a half. The family eventually returned to the United States.

Gray's father served in the military during his formative years, and because of this, they frequently moved to new locations. His family settled in Texas when he was in sixth grade.

His short stay in Japan significantly impacted Gray's identity, especially as a Japanese person in Texas, where such backgrounds were uncommon. Being among the few Asian students in his middle school made him stand out.

The vlogger recounted that when her mom was pregnant with him, she was diagnosed with early-stage cancer.

Conan Gray Grew Up Under His Japanese Mother's Care

Another part of Gray's life-changing event was his parents's divorce. He recalled that he was watching television with his sister when their mother suddenly whisked them away. That marked their mom and dad's split.

After the divorce, Gray and his sister split their time between their father's house and their mother's small one-bedroom apartment. Despite the challenging circumstances, their mother consistently brought joy into their lives.

She made each day special, even during tough times, with activities like making pancakes, playing games, and embarking on road trips and beach outings. This love and effort provided Gray and his sister a sense of normalcy.

Gray admires his mother not just for creating memorable moments in their lives but also for her incredible resilience. The vlogger recounted that when her mom was pregnant with him, she was diagnosed with early-stage cancer.

Despite doctors suggesting an abortion, thinking that the child inside her belly won't live, his mother chose to carry on with the pregnancy. Miraculously, the cancer disappeared, and Gray was born.

Conan Used Music As An 'Escape' From His Hometown

Amidst the complexities of his own family, Gray found solace in his talents for entertainment and music. In 2013, he created his YouTube channel, focusing on everyday activities at home and school.

However, his breakthrough on the platform came in 2014 when he gained immense popularity by posting videos of himself performing covers, including his ukulele version of Adele's "Make You Feel My Love."

At 21, he joined the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony alongside famous artists like Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber. In 2018, he signed with Republic Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.

Gray has become a sought-after musician alongside talents like Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett. According to Gray, writing music was his "escape" and his way to get out of his town physically and mentally.

Another inspiration in his music was his friends' rants about their own relationships. When they complained to him about their issues, he would compose songs based on those topics and send them the lyrics an hour later.

Despite his pals possibly finding it bothersome, Gray saw it as a source of "good inspiration." This creative process remained meaningful to him, even though he was not in a relationship.

Gray has been candid about his perspectives on love and relationships, as well as his views on sex and gender labels. In a 2022 Seventeen interview, Gray admitted that he was "in love with a lot of people" but questioned whether they loved him back, to which he answered, "No."

He playfully described himself as "massively annoying" and "absolutely insane," making it quite challenging for someone to be in love with him. On Twitter, he mentioned he dislikes labels and is frustrated with those who insist on labeling and categorizing him.

He emphasized that while labels may be useful for some regarding sexuality, gender, and beliefs, he strongly opposes forcing these labels onto others and restricting their individuality. He urged people to stop trying to fit everyone into easily defined boxes and allow them to exist as they are.