Chris Grant is a Liverpool born and bred singer/songwriter.

Chris has been a part of the music scene for many years now and early in his career his won a music award following his completion of a course at the LIPA music college. The presentation took place at the prestigious Philharmonic in Liverpool where he was handed the accolade by ex-Beatle and round legend, Paul McCartney himself!

Although, Creation Boss Alan McGee was a part of the LIPA music college (where talented unemployed musicians audition for a place, paid for under a Government scheme) their paths didn’t actually cross until some years later.

In fact McGee first discovered Chris Grant in around 2007 when he was then fronting a band with his brother Anthony called, The Grants. The Brothers in due course went onto perform at McGee’s Death Disco club night in West London followed by a string of other venues across the UK. They were one of the first bands ever to get themselves huge online streaming numbers despite not having the backing behind them of a major label. So how come Alan McGee didn’t sign the band there and then?! simple really, he didn’t own a label at the time.

The Grants went on to be hailed as the “best unsigned band in the world” by The New York Post and earned critical acclaim across Europe and America. In fact they were huge, so much so, that they were even approached for a management deal by none other than Elton John after they headlined In The City Music Festival in 2008. The brothers turned the offer down, however, deciding at the time that they wished to remain independent .

So what happened next? Well, the brothers disbanded and Alan McGee who owned the 359 Label then went on to sign Chris as a solo artist. It was on this 359 Label that Chris’s album “It’s Not About War” was released. Mcgee still credits this album to be one of the best albums he has ever put out. One of Alan McGee’s favourite tracks on the album is “Like a 45” which tops his Spotify playlist every year for having the most plays by him!

Furthermore, the single “Its You” from the “Its Not About War” album was play-listed on BBC Radio and it received air time from Jools Holland and Trevor Nelson on their respective shows. After such plays on the radio its was not long before Chris Grant came to the attention of music mogul, Seymour Stein of Sire Records. Stein wished to signed Grant to his Sire Label and US Warner after McGee played him the album in his New York Office, Stein said of Chris Grant in 2004

“He is a great artist, performer and most of all a great songwriter …..”

The stars have now aligned for Chris Grant and Alan McGee however, with Chris being the latest signing to McGee’s new Creation23 Label. Chris’s latest offering “Drawing Lines” will be the first release by the artist on the Creation23 Label.

Alan McGee has made no secret of the fact that he is mightily impressed with Chris’s music being quoted as saying :-

“Chris could be one of the few artists in the history of Liverpool… after Echo and The Bunnymen to step out of the shadows of The Beatles.

McGee further goes onto state:-

“……His songwriting is equal to that of the Ocean Rain-era Bunnymen duo who were writing unaffected, orchastrated, dark and romantic songs, they created their own world and in every song from Chris, I hear Grant’s world”.

So if that’s not accreditation enough, why not have a listen to Chris Grant’s latest song “Drawing Lines” for yourself here now and make up your own mind !

link track here

Written by SALLY NEWMAN