Julie Grant (the name of both the band and the front person) have had a music career that spans from the ‘80s to the present day – with trials and tribulations, great successes, changing line-ups and more along the way.
Within six-months of forming (the band was actually put together over the course of a weekend), they were performing on the BBC and ITV both regionally and nationally. Receiving national radio-play too, the outfit were picked up by NME and toured nationally. Julie noted: “Everything was going well and then the curse of the musicians struck. Our drummer at the time decided that things were getting a little bit too serious and he began worrying about what was going to happen next”.
The upcoming tour, in what they hoped would make them, was cancelled. Dep drummers were used (one went on to play with The Who) and the band didn’t have a consistent line-up for some time. Julie was then offered a recording contract with Island Records in 1995 but declined as she didn’t want to be a solo artist (they wanted her and not the band). She then moved into TV production and returned to music with the current line-up.
Instead of taking these trials and tribulations to heart, and suffering because of them, optimism has instead shone through.
What strikes me about this North East outfit is the hopefulness they have shown over the years, especially when it comes to new album, ‘Couldn’t Care Less’ – with the notion of, well, getting on with life regardless of what difficulties they have faced as individuals or as a collective (hence the album’s title).
Julie noted: “It’s an album of positivity and about doing what you want to do. Some of the tracks are semi-autobiographic but, really, they’re universal.” She added: “For example, ‘Left on the Shelf’. Some people may think it’s about a relationship but it’s trying to state that if you don’t like something, regardless of what it is, just get out of there.”
Again, keeping with that notion of positivity, Julie added: “I write about situations and challenges that everybody has to face – challenges that can be overcome. I don’t write about love which is why I’m saying something different.”
Some of the struggles they have faced may have stopped many but, with their optimistic attitude, mixed in with their humorous edge, they are here to stay.
Fans of Julie Grant can also expect something a little different when it comes to the album’s overall sound. Julie added: “With the addition of keyboards to the new album tracks, by guest artist Stuart Collingwood, it has made a big difference.”
‘Couldn’t Care Less’ is out now and can be purchased at juliegrant.info.
