With GRANDVIEW’s recent single, “Gets Away”, releasing today, Amplify dove in with GRANDVIEW a little more about his creative process, crossing genres in the song writing process and how starting to freestyle and write helped him in many ways.

The latest track, ‘Gets Away’, features artists Rauly and Paul Bills Jr and crosses alt-pop, pop rap and hip hop together to creative a perfect blend. The introduction and the first drum beat that is heard, draws me in straight away. This heightened production sets the tone for the rest of the song, but it still differentiates throughout the track – leaving it engaging. During the introduction, Rauly begins the track with his incredible vocals, that blend seamlessly with that smooth production. The record then transitions perfectly into the verse from GRANDVIEW, which is more freestyle. It is quite a change in tone, but works incredibly, adding so much to the song. His lyricism within his verses and throughout the songs are uniquely special and descriptive, allowing listeners to almost visualise that feeling of being so connected to someone. ‘We sync heartbeats, my pupils dilate’. This lyricism stands out to me again with the hook of the song, where Paul Bills Jr comes in, combining both Grandview and Randy’s style, to create a captivating, vocally talented hook. The lyric from this, “Moon’s will wane and seasons change, Clouds become rain but what remains is our synced souls.” Using nature to compare the changes in one’s life to nature changing, showing it is a natural cycle. However, saying they will remain strong throughout. I also love how the outro remains the same as the intro. In this record, I can definitely hear influences to that of BROCKHAMPTON and Dominic Fike’s style, yet keeps its’ originality and is incredibly fresh. You can check out the Q&A with GRANDVIEW below:

• Start with a little backstory/introduction. Tell the readers a little bit about yourself :

I was born in Queens, NY but ended up moving to Manhattan Beach, California when I was 5 years old. Growing up I was a competitive athlete with no real indication that I would end up pursuing a career in music. Truthfully though, the minute I tried freestyling and writing, I knew that this was going to be my profession. Music saved me from a self destructive path I was heading down at 19, and the therapy it still lends me today has shaped me into the man I am proud to be.

• What made you get into music originally, specifically hip hop?
  • At the age of 19 I witnessed someone I knew pass away tragically at a party I was at, and that experience rocked me emotionally. The trauma I gained from that derailed my freshman year of college where I got heavily addicted to a wide variety of substances. During that dark period however, I started writing songs to help process the rollercoaster of emotions I was dealing with, and ever since then I have not been able to stop creating. Hip Hop is poetry and the art allows someone to directly communicate their feelings to whoever listens, that connection between poet and listener is why I love the genre.

• You have been making released music since 2021, who have been your main musical inspirations in growing up and how has it changed as you have progressed with your style of music?
  • When I first started writing records, I was obsessed with Nas and the allure of Illmatic. However, as time went on, I grew to love Hip Hop beyond just lyrics. Artists such as Kanye, BROCKHAMPTON, Tyler The Creator and Kid Cudi were able to move me emotionally from their production selection and song structure. Overall though, growing up in the 2010’s, Kendrick Lamar, Logic, J Cole and Lupe Fiasco will always be at the top of the list as my favorite artists.

• Your new release, “Gets Away”, comes out July 26th – what was the creative process like for this song?
  • This is the first love song I am releasing as GRANDVIEW and it really is a departure from my traditional sound. I wanted to capture a type of love that is centred around comfort, security and support. Being in a relationship where your partner builds you up and makes you feel like enough is what being alive is all about. I focused on creating a song that hopefully transfers the emotions I spoke about above.
• Are you more of a lyrics or melody person when it comes to your music and the creative process?
  • Traditionally, lyrics have always been the focus of my creative process, however, after diving into BROCKHAMPTONS catalog in 2021 that slowly started to change. In all my songs I really try to bring the listener quality writing, but with sounds and melodies that are both catchy and unique. I am still working on perfecting the marriage of those two.

• With this new track, you have collaborated with Rauly and Paul Bills Jr, which merges a few different genres together, which I personally love and I think all the styles blend beautifully together. How was the collaborative process with these artists and what specific skill or idea did they bring to the project?
  • Shoutout to Paul and Rauly for being both amazing musicians and people. I wrote the hook for Gets Away but my lack of singing ability meant I needed a vocalist. Paul reached out to me for a feature on one of his records so he returned the favor on mine. I’ve known Rauly for a year or two and I asked him to write an intro and he killed it. This song has so much texture and us together I think made something special.

• How did their different perspectives influence the song?
  • Everyone was on board for the type of love I was describing, so overall I think all 3 of us blend our perspectives very well.
    
    
• With this track being more alt-pop, it appeals to a different kind of audience, what message / feeling do you hope newer fans get out of your work?
  • I just hope TEAM GRANDVIEW trusts me and knows that even if the style of song is different, there will always be a quality level they can depend on. I promise to make sure the verses are always sharp and the concepts fresh and unique. To the new fans, I hope they hear this as a breath of fresh air and something new for them to dive into.

• If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be? And if you could open for any artist on tour, who would that be?
  • Collaboration wise it would have to be Kendrick Lamar. I’m looking forward to having my Bitch Dont Kill My Vibe remix moment like he had with Jay Z. For the tour it would have to be Logic. I would love to be close in proximity and learn from him as he has been the biggest role model for me on how to carry myself as a musician. Also, I think the Ratt Pack would be receptive to me and my music. 

• Lastly, what can your listeners look forward to from you for the rest of the year? Any upcoming projects you can hint at? We look forward to seeing your next steps in your career and to see you grow as an artist. Thank you for talking with Amplify today.
  • Thank you for the great questions and giving me an opportunity to share my story! I’m currently working on my second mixtape, Better With Time, and we will be dropping 3 more singles this year. I’m fully focused on pushing myself to make something even better than ‘Time is On Our Side’.

You can listen to GRANDVIEW’s new single and much more below: