Michigan singer John Grant is set to release new album three years after previous LP
The openly gay singer is planning to release his new album this October
By Steve Brown
John Grant is back with his fourth solo album ‘Love is Magic’.
The Michigan-born singer/songwriter is set to release his upcoming album this October, three years after the release of his last solo LP, via Bella Union.
Produced by Grant (together with Ben Edwards (Benge) and Paul Alexander), and engineered by Benge at his Cornish studio, ‘Love Is Magic’, “is closer still to how I’ve always wanted my records to sound, but I didn’t know how to go about it,” the gay singer says.
“Each record I make is more of an amalgamation of who I am. The more I do this, the more I trust myself, and the closer I get to making what I imagine in my head.”
Already mentioned above, he also called on bassist Alexander of Texas maestros Midlake, renewing a working relationship that began on his 2010 debut album ‘Queen Of Denmark’.
“Paul trained in music theory at UNT in Denton, Texas with an emphasis in Jazz and I knew he would come up with beautiful harmonies, so I unleashed him on the backing vocals,” Grant enthuses.
“He comes up with interesting angles rather than the obvious and also plays some of the best bass lines I’ve ever heard.”
Besides the quest for sound, “the lyrics, of course, continue to be very important to me,” says Grant.
“They’re just snapshots of everyday life where myriad moods and every sort of horrible and hilarious occurrence one can imagine mix with the pedestrian resulting in the absurdity and beauty of life.”
Fans can stream the lyric video of the first single ‘Love is Magic’ below:
Grant recently announced news of an extensive run of European tour dates for the rest of the year, including the below UK live performances:
Thursday 16th August – Birmingham – Symphony Hall
Saturday 18th August – Brecon Beacons – Green Man Festival
Sunday 19th August – Bangor – Open House Festival
Monday 20th August – Edinburgh – Edinburgh International Festival
Monday 29th October – Brighton – Dome
Tuesday 30th October – London – O2 Academy Brixton
Wednesday 31st October – Bath – The Forum
Friday 2nd November – Sheffield – Octagon
Saturday 3rd November – Manchester – Albert Hall **(SOLD–OUT!)**