Interview: Roland Grant
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
I wanted to learn guitar at age six upon seeing the image of Elvis on a cassette tape. Were it not for music, I’d be an actor or an F1 racer.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Training and competing in martial arts, which has helped instill discipline, along with reading poetry, which inspires my musical imagination to translate poetic emotional content into sound.
How long has your band been around?
Three years.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
Halifax, Nova Scotia, which makes me an anomaly. In mixing rock guiar with Latin and Flamenco influences, I’m hardly inspired by my East Coast surroundings, as nice as it can be here.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
After years of performing in bands, I decided it was time to fly solo under my own name.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Performing before 6000 cheering audience members at the ScotiaBank Centre in Halifax. The largest audience to date.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Thus far the Halifax ScotiaBank Centre. I aspire to perform at the Crossroads Guitar Festival.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Santana, and if he were alive, Hendrix.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Enjoy the journey when times are good, stay focused when times are tough.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Don’t waste so much as a second. Time is precious.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
One currently in production entitled Tomorrow’s Not Lost, my most deeply personal song yet.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
My original instrumental Nacido del Fuego and my rendition of Hendrix’s Voodoo Child.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
A song can start with a single line or melody or feeling, then the rest comes to life in my head before making the first demo.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Passion, desire, peace.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
Only the occasional respectful, creative disagreement. As a solo artist, I always strongly consider my band’s point of view before making an affirmation.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
Perform, tour, write, release, resonate with hearts and minds; conquer the world.