'5 Questions With': Grant
“I think ‘Grant’ represents greater maturity and understanding of life’s complexities.”
Breakout indie-dance musician Grant returns with a new emotive single, “Won’t Give Up” via Monstercat. Following his first single of 2021, “Fix It”, with frequent collaborator RUNN, this is the second fully-produced track that the 22-year old sonic genius has released where he graces us with his own vocals - an intentional move toward the next chapter of his artistry, “Won’t Give Up” is equal parts upbeat and set to get you in your feels - with Grant’s lyrical authenticity front and centre.
On the single Grant shares, “‘Won’t Give Up’ really marks a turning point for me as an artist. Never before have I ever felt so in control of the entire musical process. Even though this isn’t the first time I’ve produced and sang on a record, ‘Won’t Give Up’ feels holistic and well-rounded in a way that leaves me feeling really fulfilled.”
Read our ‘5 Questions’ feature with the star below…
Interview by Danielle Temeng
EQ: Hi Grant, welcome to EQUATE. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey within music - was this always going to be your path?
G: Hello! I grew up in San Diego, California, and happened to be neighbors with the now Grammy-nominated mix engineer, Tom Norris. Being so young and watching him make insane music in FL Studio really inspired me to start experimenting with production. This was the perfect time in my life to begin; I wouldn’t feel overly pressured to self-critique or make a career out of it. I also spent many childhood years taking piano lessons, and when I was 16, I signed my first track, “Reach,” with Monstercat under the alias “Grant Bowtie.”
Even when I was in high school and starting to make some money from music, I wasn’t convinced that I should do it for a career. I actually turned away a lot of opportunities that initially came my way because I thought music should remain a fun hobby. It wasn’t until I got accepted into the USC Thornton School of Music that I decided to fully settle on a career in music.
EQ: You’ve had a great trajectory in the industry so far as a producer, and your new single is the first original in which you use your own vocals (which are amazing by the way) - what took you so long to do so, and why now?
G: Thank you so much! This is actually the second song to include my vocals - “Where Will We Go” being the first – but, in my opinion, this is the first fully produced, fully fleshed out track that I’ve released with my own vocals, songwriting, and production.
Honestly, the biggest thing holding me back was just confidence and practice. I started singing in high school choir, but classical singing involves a completely different way of positioning your vowels and vocal parameters. It wasn’t until after I released ‘Where Will We Go’ back in 2019 that more and more people began encouraging me to record my own voice. It’s nearly impossible for me to view my own voice objectively, so it’s also hard to hear myself sing or speak and internally tell myself, “Yes, that sounds acceptable.”
“This was the perfect time in my life to begin; I wouldn’t feel overly pressured to self-critique or make a career out of it.”
- GRANT
EQ: I admire that you include metamorphosis in your artist identity - a few years ago you changed your stage name just to ‘Grant’ to signify growth. What does this next chapter of your artistry signify this time?
G: I’ve been ‘Grant’ for several years now, so its meaning has really changed for me. My old alias, ‘Grant Bowtie,’ symbolized musical experimentation and childlike fun, whereas I think ‘Grant’ represents greater maturity and understanding of life’s complexities. As I’ve worked with many experienced songwriters and further rooted myself in LA, I’ve developed an affinity for bitter truths and melancholic ideas that really come through in my newer music.
EQ: As I mentioned briefly above, your new single which you voiced, as well as produced, “Won’t Give Up” is out soon, congratulations! It’s an indie-dance track that’ll definitely get you in your feels a bit too. What was your creative process like behind this track?
G: I actually co-wrote this track together with my long-time collaborator RUNN. We’ve begun helping each other out with our own projects more and more. Sometimes I’ll produce a song for her, she’ll contribute a vocal for one of mine, and on occasion, we’ll work together on a vocal/song to pitch to someone else. “Won’t Give Up” was written on a zoom call in typical COVID-era fashion. We hoped to write a song that would appeal to everyone, while also conveying some emotional weight and production intricacies.
EQ: What’s next in the journey of Grant, in 2021 and beyond. Are there any EQUATE exclusives you can let us in on?
G: My musical output is so erratic that it’s honestly hard to say. One thing I can definitely promise is that I’ll be singing on a lot more stuff, and I have an insane number of promising demos that lean more Indie-Pop and less EDM. The idea of ever releasing this kind of music really scares the s**t out of me since I’ve never really done it before, but I think it’s what could one day give me the greatest fulfillment!
YouTube/Monstercat Instinct
Stream ‘Won’t Give Up’ HERE
Keep up with Grant on socials
Instagram: @GrantSongs
Facebook: Grant Songs
Twitter: @Grantsongs