Jude Grant set to release new record

Hailing from Hilo in Hawaii, Jude Grant is an artist who takes his name from a time in his teenage years when adopting a different identity felt like the only way to matter. While those days are behind him, the name has stuck, becoming an enduring emblem of his artistic persona and while Jude primarily writes music for himself, his work has connected with fans around the world.

First making his artistic entrance in 2019, he released his debut single “Take My Man,” followed up by his first album, Protagony, which arrived in 2021. Since then, he’s shared multiple singles and his sophomore album, The Real Thing. Now he’s about to drop his third full-length record titled Jude Grant Would Be Anything For Love, set to be released on Friday the 31st of January.

Currently pursuing studies in linguistics and indigenous language revitalisation at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Jude’s academic interests align with his approach to music. His work explores the interplay between sound and the way we interpret the world around us and this fascination with sonic storytelling has been central to his first two albums, where experimental sound design played a starring role.

With Jude Grant Would Be Anything For Love, he takes a new approach, this time using genre as the focal point of his exploration. With each song on the LP, he jumps into a different style of popular music, covering everything from house and country to rap, alternative rock and EDM, resulting in an astonishingly diverse, kaleidoscopic musical journey. Using this stark sonic variation, he examines the complexities of modern online dating, particularly for queer individuals who often meet romantic prospects in a digital sphere that feels at once liberating and isolating.

The eleven-track album starts off with the dreamy into piece “What Would You Do For Love?” where a radio host introduces the release with a dissection of what people would do for love while airy synth textures drift below his voice. “One Night Only” delivers a grooving dance pop jam full of punchy beats, silky synth pulses and delicate piano flutters as Jude’s smooth vocals glide above.

“No Strings Attached” serves up a hazy country-tinged outing full of elegant guitar touches, bright piano notes and soulful vocals, carried by downtempo drums to craft a mesmeric and truly moving soundscape. “FAGGOD” sees Jude lean into a dark, alternative hip hop vibe with slick rapped flows, dramatic instrumental stabs and intense moodiness throughout.

Songs like “How To Let go” offers an experimental electronic aesthetic brimming with rumbling percussion, intricate synth arrangement and hushed vocal performance, delivering an immersive and enthralling listening experience. “When Least Expected” casts an enchanting sound of delicate key tones and graceful vocals carrying poignant lyrics, crafting an engaging indie pop jam that’s equally memorable and meaningful. Closing the album with “Bender,” Jude presents a cinematic slice of atmospheric pop music, laying down blissful melodic leads wrapped in dazzling orchestral instrumentation to create a stunning finale to his sensational third record.