A Liverpudlian through and through, Chris Grant has always performed straight from his heart. “Chris’s main preoccupation is writing big songs capturing northern innocence,” Alan McGee once commented. “It’s a soulful escapism that eschews the hard man approach to songwriting. As with the best bands I’ve known, I get excited to hear his new songs and his musical progression. When Chris gets it right, his music transcends the apathy of rock’n’roll over the past ten years.”
01 How did you first get started in music?
Growing up my Dad had two acoustic guitars in our living room, he is a massive Bob Dylan fan. I was switched onto the guitar and great song writing from as far back as I can remember.
02 Who were your major influences and inspirations?
My Dad and my family inspired me and in music, I was influenced by Dylan and Neil Young from an early age.
03 What shapes your song craft and sound?
Honesty from start to end.
04 What types of themes and subjects do you deal with?
I’m writing about all possible emotions a human being can have on my first record. From around the age of 15 to 31. I don’t hold back, there is nothing I won’t sing about. One is about knocking someone clean out, the other is about being heart broken after the death of a loved one. Stuff like that.
05 How has your music evolved since you first began playing?
Very organically, I started acoustic then started a rock band until I found my own sound and went full circle and fused the two. The evolution of it is at a new peak right now as I truly believe I have crafted my own unique way of writing and recording and creating a sound for myself to live inside.
06 What has been your biggest challenge so far? Were you able to overcome this? If so, how?
Just fighting my way through the thousands and thousands of songwriters and bands all across the world on the unsigned scene to get to a point where I am now recognized and respected by high profile music industry people was my biggest challenge. I overcome it with determination and hard work with an element of talent that I seem to have for writing and performing music. There is no secret to it, you just don’t give up. Never aim for anything, just be on a never ending journey and enjoy the ride, if you can enjoy the ride the destination becomes irrelevant. To be honest people found me and my music, not the other way around. You see people all the time in music circles desperate for ‘ things ‘ to happen. They stress about it and try really hard. This put me off at once, I just do what I do. I never try.
07 Do you ever play covers? If you could pick any song, which would you like to cover most and why?
I used to for money, to live and pay bills, it was easier than working on a building site, not anymore. I hate it with a passion, this is my world and my music now, I don’t waste time playing other people’s music.
08 How did you get connected with Alan McGee (ex Creation Records) and with the new record label project 359 Music?
I have known Alan for years, he discovered me online in 2006/7. He is the only person in music or the world for the matter who I thought was worth a nudge, he is my exception, I sent him eight words, I wasn’t polite I was actually quite rude and arrogant, ” sign us now while you have the chance ”. He got back, had every right to say ” fuck off ” but he loved my music and mentored me in private for around 7 years, best advice he gave me was just keep writing these songs, I did. We are good mates, have been since, he started a label and there wasn’t really a discussion he just sort of said one day I’m starting a label, your on it pick ten songs we will put out your music. I picked ten songs from a huge catalogue I have, then you have my first album ” It’s Not About War! ‘. It took me ten minutes to write down on a piece of paper what tracks should be on the album. I wanted to show the world my diverse song writing in one great classic record. I have in my opinion and there is a lot more to come. This album does not begin to scratch the surface of what I can do.
09 Alan has a reputation as someone who makes things happen in a very vital way, did this draw you in to the bigger plan?
When I messaged him in ’06 I knew what he was about from Oasis TV documentaries in the 90’s I always knew in the back of mind, this guy will get me, there are people in music who are cool behind the scenes. I can do anything Noel can do, why is he talking like no one else can touch this Manc. It can be done, that was my angry attitude at 14 years old on the whole thing, I loved Oasis but i knew I could do it, that annoyed me. So I got on with my own journey. Im not a sheep, never have been, Id say I’m more a farmer. I followed for 5 minutes what they did, it was great but i was like, ok, I’m taking on the biggest challenge I can from this moment. Everyone around me set out to get a new pair of trainers in 94, I set out to take on the biggest band in the world and change Mcgee’s mind. I think I wanted that respect i watched him give Noel when I was 14 on TV, it’s sometimes strange to think i got there. I earned that respect, he now mentions me in the same breath as Noel. Thing is, to get here i waved any hero’s off. So it doesn’t mean anything to me, I’m out to be Noel now and go full circle, I hope to inspire 14 year olds, get them angry, I want them to be angry like I was, ” who is this Chris Grant Mcgee’s on about, I’m better than him ”. Bring it on you little shits, I want you to do your own thing, thats the whole point. Take me on. I dare you. I demand you do. Music will get better then. My plan is working so far.
10 Will there be a Tour or live dates to help promote your album and single releases?
Yes, touring December then again in the New Year.
11 What can someone who has never seen you live before expect from your live shows?
Great music.
12 Who would you most like to record with?
No one.
13 What should we be expecting from you in the near future?
More great songs.
14 Can you tell us a half-decent joke please?
Chris Martin.
Web Links:
facebook.com/ChrisGrant
twitter.com/ChrisGrant359
soundcloud.com/359music
359music.co.uk/CHRISGRANT
It’s Not about War! Chris Grant (359 Music, cat #359CD2) – Released 21st October 2013
A new, entirely self-written collection of songs is about to appear on CD, by Liverpudlian Chris Grant. Those of you to whom Death Metal is the last word in sophistication may not be too impressed with this CD, but if you’re missing the romantic side of the early 80’s in these days of anodyne pop, you’ll find a kindred soul somewhere in here.
‘Our Story’ has a lush atmosphere, a beautifully compressed rhythm guitar that, with the pure, clear lead guitar and vocals, create a highly atmospheric piece on the subject of filial togetherness.
‘I Am the One’ articulates a mind awash with feelings of great good fortune as he gets the sought-after girl, starting quietly, with slow, sweet guitars and restrained vocal work that recall Pete Gabriel’s hushed tones.
‘It’s you’ is one of the albums more raw and substantial lyrics; the rasping guitar backing has admirable restraint for a classic romantic argument song.
An uncomfortable, guilty retelling of a date gone wrong, with someone he’d like to know better, ‘Pretty Mean’ has a late 70’s, early 80’s feel, leaning toward The Police’s signature sound, but without their wittering about obscure philosophers.
‘Like a 45’ opens with lush piano and distant horns accompanying a raw falsetto voice, like a peaceful day in the country. It gradually builds up into a crescendo of emotion, ending on a single, poignant piano note.
Coming straight after ‘Like A 45’ is the standout, ‘How Many Times’ with its strong, Jesus and Mary Chain / Echo & The Bunnymen style guitars and drums, a stuttering lead guitar and Grant admonishing himself for weakness in the face of lost love. An absolute standout and bound to last.
‘Maybe Now’ has a John Cale-style piano backing, forbidding strings, with Grant’s straining vocals expressing guilt and longing from what sounds like long experience, even touching on the steps we are prepared to take to blot honest emotions out of our minds.
‘Moonlit Wall’ is back to the subject of regret, some beautiful, delicate guitar work, the layered vocal and guitars contributing much to a track that sounds in danger of being overwhelmed by the mix.
‘Too cool to die’ marks the welcome appearance of the beloved fuzzy guitars, a rare swing to the melody, and some slightly enigmatic lyrics, but the vocal is a little reminiscent of James Blunt for my liking.
‘Baby Pink’s tale of love gone wrong is underpinned by a plaintive acoustic guitar, a hesitant vocal with a quality to it that is close to tears, but Grant’s lyrics are edging toward that Dylan area, notoriously hard to suggest without descending into a pastiche.
Chris Grant’s first collection shows a lot of promise, but on the evidence of these songs, he needs to sort out his love life, sharpish. BUY HERE!
