IN CONVERSATION WITH GRENTPEREZ
interview by JANA LETONJA
Breakout artist grentperez’s upcoming debut album ‘Backflips in a Restaurant’ is releasing on 28th March and he will be setting off on a world tour, beginning on 21st April. First bursting onto the scene with his gold-certified debut single ‘Cherry Wine’, and fresh off his win as Emerging Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 APRA Awards, he is now gearing up to take the music world by a storm with his debut album, a thrilling evolution of his roots as a bedroom-pop sensation, mixing elements of R&B, indie-folk, pop-punk, symphonic pop, ’70s soft-rock, and so much more.
You’ll soon debut your album ‘Backflips in a Restaurant’. Can you tell us about the meaning behind the title?
From where I started off, an ironic title quickly gained a lot of meaning the more I lived with it. A restaurant you could say is the home of many different flavours, different genres of food, and in that same light, I aimed to showcase a handful of different genres under one record. The whole notion of a backflip in a restaurant in a humorous way conveys the idea of chaos in a calm environment, similarly to what’s always happening in my brain.
This album blends so many genres—R&B, indie-folk, pop-punk, and even ’70s soft rock. How did you land on this unique sound?
Honestly, creation is the byproduct of boredom. I really wanted to use this time to experiment with who or what I am as an artist. Growing up, I soaked up so much different music, from listening to Bread as a child, to Tyler The Creator, to Toro Y Moi, to video game soundtracks, and one song in particular, ‘Pogo by Digitalism’ from ‘Need For Speed: Prostreet’. So, my mind within the past few years has just been wandering through various alleyways of sound. I guess this blend is a direct representation of my mind, navigating my 20s.
How does ‘Backflips in a Restaurant’ reflect your growth as an artist since ‘Cherry Wine’ first put you on the map?
I’d say it’s somewhat of a departure, in the way that a child leaves home for school. Will they come back? Probably, but for now, they’re out exploring the world.
What was the creative process like? Did you approach this album differently from your previous projects?
Definitely. The process for this project was a tad more carefree, putting myself out there, seeing what I can do. While thematically, it remains in the same ‘grenty’ world of love. Sonically, I had a bit of play for sure.
You just won Emerging Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 APRA Awards. Did that recognition change how you approached this album?
I don't personally think so. Maybe subconsciously, but in my brainwaves and things like that, no. But, I am truly honoured to be in this position, and to have received that award.
You’re about to embark on a world tour, with stops at major venues like The Wiltern in LA and Terminal 5 in NY. How are you feeling about performing these new songs live?
Super stoked. I’m currently working with my musical director, Timi, tinkering and figuring out what we can do to spruce up each song’s live version.
What can fans expect from your live show? Any surprises in store?
I think at this moment, we’re sorting out some stage production, some potential special guests, some swag, some fits, some fun.
From posting on YouTube to racking up over 500 million streams, your journey has been incredible. At what point did you realize this was becoming bigger than you ever imagined?
Probably this morning to be honest. I woke up and thought “Oh man, I need to lock in”. But there were a few instances in the past, mainly when interacting with people in my community, as they told me stories of how my music impacted their lives. It occurred to me that people care about me and my music, and I love that, and I love them too.
GQ recently featured you in a ‘Behind the Style’ piece, and you attended Margiela in Milan. How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style, when I’m my most self, would be relaxed. Straight cut pants slightly over the shoe, simple dress shoe type, monk strap, ideally a long sleeve, maybe fleece button up, 100 different glasses, little buttons and details. To put it short, comfortably dressy.
Does fashion influence your music, or vice versa?
Yes, I’d say that it has the power to. How it does so is a bit of a question, but I try to associate the clothes I wear with the music I put out. But who knows, maybe I’ll write a country song and pull up in full fish nets and eyemasks.
With your debut album and world tour, 2024 is shaping up to be a huge year for you. What’s next?
I’m eager. I just want to live life as much as I can. What’s next for me, ideally, more music that comes from the heart. I want to talk about more, I want to express more. It seems I’m just playing the figure it out game, and I think that's beautiful. Oh, and more driving. Hopefully my car will be manual by the end of this year so I can go crazy.
CREDITS:
photography BABAK KHOUSHNOUD
