Music
Exclusive Interview – Justin S. Grant
The artist behind several hit tracks, such as “Don’t Go!” and “@addicted 2 Mi Phone,” Justin S. Grant has a new hit single titled “Fuego N’ Ice.” The single has garnered much-deserved acclaim and was also released with a compelling music video.
We caught the rare opportunity to chat with the talented artist about his past projects and upcoming hits.
You have recently dropped the track “Fuego N’ Ice.” Can you tell us the inspiration behind it?
Yes! I was inspired to pen a fun fusion song for the dance floor! I hope people will enjoy dancing to the beats, especially as the world opens up again this sweltering summer. With the endless lockdowns n’ painful losses, haven’t we all felt like a tiger in a tiny cage for far too long now? I’m praying we can let loose again soon, and that this jam is part of the party!
The inspo for this song is the Ying/Yang nature within a dynamic woman; not meaning good or bad here, but rather she’s sometimes hot, sometimes cold – all natural, normal, necessary. Also, I’ve lived in So. California my entire life, where our culture is permeated with many influences, including Spanish-Mexican-Latin spices, which were blended into this dance tune.
What is your constant drive to create these tracks?
Well, we would have to ask God about that one! But I can say that life, breath, and inspiration all intertwine to drive the artist to create. An Invisible Hand has impelled me for decades, as a hobbyist, to pursue singing, writing, and music production. Now that I’m older I’m wising up to how brief all of our lives are, as I’ve been experiencing an increased urgency to create and to share in the mainstream world.
Can you drop a few names that have inspired you to become the artist you are today?
Starting with some Americana classics, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and Guns N’ Roses have streamed into my little ears more than any! So certainly, these are great heroes to me, even if what I create sounds radically different. Marley’s music always draws the Spirit, nobody else sings like Axl, and many think Dylan released the first rap music video back in the 1960’s – amazing all!
More recent influences include OneRepublic, Maroon 5, and Post Malone. I love the fusional nature of great modern music and consider myself a genre-less artist.
Has your taste in music and production has shifted in the past few years? Why?
It’s always evolving, of course, and I love using the latest tech to produce musical freshness, but I don’t really chase fads. I think if the art is great, and the marketing too (!), then the people will come. I mean, if Shakespeare were alive today, hordes of us would be all into watching his incredible plays! And the runaway success of the musical Hamilton is contemporary proof of this theory. Well-rounded success is not about fads, it’s about manifesting greatness in any form. I keep my ears open to the best of old and new, while striving to produce timeless sounds.
Should we expect any upcoming releases from you soon?
Yes, always working on a new song and envisioning another music video. My next single is a date night song titled Naked Night. Short n’ sweet n’ sexy. I think people will be touched by it when in the mood for a romantic ballad.
We know that you are also an author, can you tell us a bit about your latest book?
I recently released Spirituality for Busy People, which shines mental light upon how our daily busyness can be effectively fused with our eternal livingness, to the benefit of individuals, groups to which we belong, and even to Planetary Life as a whole. As always, times today are hard, and I believe that when busy people are overlighted by spiritual purpose, they naturally manifest the heroism needed to uplift our imperiled world.
I’ve also recorded some spiritual-but-not-necessarily-religious music to accompany the book. Easy to sing-along, call-and-response affirmations, in plain English. Finally, I’m hard at work transforming the book into an online course, to bring the teachings to life in an entirely new way. Anyone interested can learn more on my website: www.JustinSGrant.com
What drove you to become an author and a musician?
Once again, I would have to vaguely answer “because God”. According to my soul colors and spiritual rays, singing and writing have been in my veins for lifetimes, but why this is so, began eons ago, and so I don’t fully know. We do generally know that what we are good at and what we love to do, are really two sides of the same coin. But the original impulse for this will always be ancient and unknown.
When you are not producing hits or writing, what do you do with your time?
What do you mean? All I do is work! ha ha ha! laughing but crying… Well actually I do believe in a balanced life even though I mentioned I’m now feeling more creative urgency than ever before. So I exercise and meditate every day, read tons and watch all sorts of documentaries, and also watch tv and movies, naturally, naturally. Sometimes dramas, but usually comedy is my fav. And of course, I listen to a lot of music, really a lot!
Please follow along on my socials and website for my latest-and-hopefully-greatests! Thanks for reading people!
Artist Spotlight
Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band hit the open road with soulful americana in latest release “The Heartland”
Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band’s latest release, “The Heartland,” is a moving look at the heartland. It’s the title track from their second album, which fans have been waiting for. “The Heartland” is a moving tribute to breaking free from the boredom of everyday life and finding inspiration, creativity, and redemption on the open road. It is based on strong Americana rock. “The Heartland,” led by Paul Hodes, a former New Hampshire Congressman and guitar virtuoso, feels real. Hodes’ guitar playing gives the song both power and grace, which fits with the story’s themes of freedom and adventure.
The Blue Buddha Band’s ensemble makes the single sound like a movie. Bassist Jon Gabay lays down a steady, soulful foundation, and Dean Rubine’s keyboards add layers of warmth and texture. Ed Raczka, one of the best drummers in New England, adds percussion that is both dynamic and detailed, giving the track a pulse that is both lively and urgent.
The guest vocals of Peggo Horstmann Hodes and Ariana Hodes add to the song by harmonizing with Paul’s lead, making it feel both small and big at the same time. Their voices fit right into the story, making the listener feel like they’re on the journey, watching the discoveries unfold.
“The Heartland” is an invitation to leave, think, and fully experience the limitless possibilities of the open road. Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band have made a single that will stay with you long after the last chord. It’s for people who love stories in music, Americana elements, and real musicianship.
Connect with Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band on Spotify || Facebook || Youtube || Soundcloud
Artist Spotlight
Salem Roberts unveils a ten-year love letter that finally finds its voice on latest release “I Think of You”
Salem Roberts has created a piece that is both real and very moving. “I Think of You (Official Video)” is a musical memoir that traces a relationship over time and reveals the subtle beauty of choosing love again and again. Roberts’ latest track, “I Think of You (Official Video),” is great at being patient and subtle.
Written over ten years, each lyric captures important and unimportant moments, from the simplicity of a new romance to the challenges that make commitment hard, like illness, money problems, and the boring routine that can make love hard. But the song doesn’t overdo it; its truth comes from its moderation. There are no big announcements, instead, commitment grows stronger over time.
The story and the melody of the song both make it interesting, each verse and note was carefully chosen, as if they had grown along with the life they describe. Roberts talks about the passage of time, the cycles of shared life, and the beauty of choosing a partner over and over again, even when love is hard. The official video for the song adds to this closeness by showing images that show the warmth, patience, and honesty that are part of the music.
“I Think of You” is a meditation on how love never changes. For ten years, Salem Roberts has been working on a piece that is timeless because it is so carefully real. This single invites people who want to think deeply about love and listen to music that changes with them to feel love in its purest, most patient form.
Connect with Salem Roberts on Spotify || Instagram || Youtube || Facebook
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