Grandson (musician)

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Grandson
OBC 2019 Night Two Grandson (cropped).jpg
Grandson performing in 2019
Background information
Birth nameJordan Edward Benjamin
Born (1993-10-25) October 25, 1993 (age 28)
New Jersey, U.S.
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2014–present
Labels
Websitegrandsonmusic.com

Jordan Edward Benjamin[1][2] (born October 25, 1993), known professionally as Grandson (stylized as grandson),[3] is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and musician currently signed to Fueled by Ramen. He released his major label debut EP, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, on June 15, 2018, and released the follow-up A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2 on February 22, 2019. The initial EP featured the single "Blood // Water", which appeared on several Billboard charts in the United States and Canada. Benjamin's music focuses on modern-day issues that are less recognized by the media and public. On December 4, 2020, he released his debut studio album, Death of an Optimist.

Early life and education[]

Benjamin was born to a Jewish family[4] in New Jersey, United States, but when he was 3 years old his family moved to Toronto, Ontario, where his maternal relatives lived[5] (he holds dual citizenship of both countries).[6][7] He has two sisters.[8] Benjamin grew up largely in the Eglinton West area of Toronto.[6][7][9] He attended Northern Secondary School in Toronto and, after graduation, enrolled in McGill University in Montreal. There, he studied education with the initial goal of becoming a teacher.[7][10] He also spent a great deal of time DJing and playing shows in Montreal while at McGill.[11] After two years, he transferred to Concordia University, another Montreal institution. He studied communications there briefly before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue a music career.[3][7]

Career[]

Benjamin began releasing music under the pseudonym Grandson, stylized as grandson, in late 2015.[9] In 2016, he released several singles that accrued millions of streams, including "Bills", "Things Change", and "Bury Me Face Down".[6][12] In 2017, he was signed to RCA Records, and continued releasing singles, including "Best Friends" and "Kiss Bang".[3][10] He also performed at North by Northeast that year (among other festivals).[9]

In April 2018, it was announced that grandson had signed to the Fueled By Ramen record label.[13] He had also released two new singles, "Blood // Water" (a song about political corruption that would go on to appear on multiple Billboard charts) and "Thoughts & Prayers", which offered a critique of American gun laws in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.[6][14] He released his first EP on Fueled by Ramen, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, in June 2018.[14][15] That EP also featured the song "6:00" which discussed police brutality.[16] Also in June 2018, grandson was featured on Mike Shinoda's song "Running from My Shadow", taken from his debut album Post Traumatic; the track was released also with an accompanying music video in May 2018.[17]

Throughout 2018, grandson toured with acts like Hobo Johnson, Joywave, Nothing But Thieves,[15][16][18] Smashing Pumpkins,[19] and Young the Giant.[2][20] He also appeared on an episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers in August 2018, performing "Blood // Water".[21]

In February 2019, he released a new single, "Apologize", and announced his second EP, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2, which was released on February 22, 2019.[7][22] In late May, grandson released a cover of Rage Against the Machine's "Maria", a song featured on the 1999 album The Battle of Los Angeles.[23]

In June 2019, he won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize for his song "Blood // Water",[24] while in September 2019 the singer released A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3, the final installment of the Modern Tragedy trilogy EPs;[25] the record features the lead single "Rock Bottom", which peaked at No. 38 on the Canadian Rock Chart.[26]

On September 23, 2020, grandson announced on his Facebook page that his debut full-length album Death of an Optimist would be released on December 4, 2020. Death of an Optimist is grandson's debut album, being his first record to have a heavier tone since the release of the last a modern tragedy EP, a modern tragedy vol. 3. The album gained a lot of publicity and recognition through his social media.

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

List of albums with selected album details and peak chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US Heat.
[27]
Death of an Optimist 7

EPs[]

List of EPs with selected album details and peak chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US Heat.
[27]
A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1
  • Released: June 15, 2018
  • Label: Fueled by Ramen
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
 —
Broken Down Vol. 1
  • Released: August 17, 2018
  • Label: Fueled by Ramen
  • Formats: Digital download
 —
A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2
  • Released: February 22, 2019 (US)
  • Label: Fueled by Ramen
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
 23
No Apologies Live
  • Released: June 11, 2019
  • Label: Fueled by Ramen
  • Formats: Digital download
 —
A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3
  • Released: September 13, 2019
  • Label: Fueled by Ramen
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
 —

Singles[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
AC
[28] 		CAN
Rock
[29] 		US
Alt
[30] 		US
Main
[31] 		US
Rock
[32]
"Bills" 2016 — — — — — Non-album singles
"things change" — — — — —
"Bury Me Face Down" — — — — —
"Kiss Bang" 2017 — — — — —
"Best Friends" — — — — —
"War" — — — — —
"Blood // Water" — 19 20 17 19 A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1
"Overdose" 2018 — — — — —
"Thoughts & Prayers" — — — — — Non-album singles
"Apologize" 2019 — 5 34 20 —[A] A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2
"Maria" — — — — — Rock Sound Presents: Worship And Tributes Vol. 2
"Despicable" — — — — — A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1
"Rock Bottom" — 26 — — — A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3
"Oh No!!!"
(original or with Vic Mensa & Masked Wolf) 		— — —[B] — —[C]
"Happy Pill" (with Moby Rich) — — — — — Non-album singles
"Peaches (Text Voter XX to 40649)" (with K.Flay) 2020 — — — — — Text Voter XX to 40649 Collection
"Whole Lotta (Text Voter XX to 40649)" (with DREAMERS) — — — — —
"How Bout Now (Text Voter XX to 40649)" (with phem) — — — — —
"Again (Text Voter XX to 40649)" (with Zero 9:36) — — — — —
"Identity" — — — — — Death of an Optimist
"Riptide" — — — — —
"Dirty" 50 6 10 — —[D]
"One Step Closer" — — — — — Spotify Singles
"We Did It!!!" — — — — — Death of an Optimist
"Rain"
(with Jessie Reyez) 		2021 — 31 26 — 49 The Suicide Squad (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Drop Dead"
(with Kesha and Travis Barker) 		— — — — — Death of an Optimist (Deluxe)
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CAN
Rock
[29] 		US
Alt
[30] 		US
Rock
[32]
"Running from My Shadow"
(Mike Shinoda featuring grandson) 		2018 — — — Post Traumatic (Deluxe Version)
"All in My Head"
(Whethan featuring grandson) 		2020 — — — Non-album singles
"Heat Seeker"
(DREAMERS featuring grandson) 		— 28 —
"Zen"
(X Ambassadors featuring K.Flay and grandson) 		9 24 —[E]
"Lost Cause"
(KennyHoopla featuring grandson) 		— — —
"Cash Machine (Remix)"
(Oliver Tree featuring Dillon Francis and grandson) 		— — —
"Hold the Line"
(Tom Morello featuring grandson) 		2021 — — — The Atlas Underground Fire
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos[]

Title Year Director(s)
"Bills" 2017 Joe Cappa
"Blood // Water" 2018 Miggy & Morgan
"6:00" Gus Black
"Apologize" 2019 Jordan Wozy & Lucas Taggart
"Stigmata" Rosco Guerrero
"Rock Bottom" Seth Michael Stern
"Oh No!!!" Galileo
"Identity" 2020 Karl Jungquist
"Riptide"
"Dirty"
"Rain (From The Suicide Squad)" 2021 —
"Drop Dead (ft. Kesha and Travis Barker)" Andrew Sandler

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Apologize" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 49 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[36]
  2. ^ "Oh No!!!" did not enter the Alternative Airplay chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Alternative Digital Song Sales chart.[37]
  3. ^ "Oh No!!!" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[38]
  4. ^ "Dirty" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[36]
  5. ^ "Zen" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 43 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[36]

References[]

  1. ^ Molloy, Alexandra (October 15, 2018). "Let's talk about Grandson, and no, I'm not talking about your grandkid". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Kernan, Patrick (October 23, 2018). "Young the Giant, other alt rock acts to play show at Kirby Center in January". The Weekender. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "The musician, the movement: grandson". Lupinore. August 4, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Generation X: Inside grandson's fight for a new alternative". Kerrang!. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Taylor·Interviews·September 13, Jamie; 2018· (September 13, 2018). "Interviews | A Chat With grandson". Concert Addicts. Retrieved July 23, 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b c d Newman, Melinda (April 4, 2018). "Grandson Signs With Fueled By Ramen Following His Powerful Post-Parkland Theme, 'Thoughts & Prayers'". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e Pelletier, Jeff (February 14, 2019). "Grandson turns rage into inclusive blend of rock". The Charlatan. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  8. ^ Holiday, Megan (October 29, 2018). "Grandson Talks Origins + How His Song "Overdose" Helped Solidify What He Does". KROQ. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c Moshenski-Dubov, George (July 13, 2017). "Grandson goes beyond the melody". The Varsity. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Butz-Weidner, Benjamin (March 6, 2017). "Meet Grandson: The McGill Drop-Out Making it in the Music Business, Involved with the Recent Naked Trump Statues". The Bull & Bear. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  11. ^ Eff, Billy (May 18, 2018). "grandson n'a pas besoin de vos prières ou de vos pensées". Vice (in French). Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  12. ^ Twardzik, Tom (January 31, 2018). "New artist GRANDSON is at the front of rock and roll's evolution". Pop Dust. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  13. ^ "Grandson Signs With Fueled By Ramen Following His Powerful Post-Parkland Theme, 'Thoughts & Prayers,'". Billboard.com. April 4, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Darus, Alex (June 4, 2018). "Grandson announces politically charged EP, drops music video for "Blood // Water"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  15. ^ a b White, Logan (June 5, 2018). "grandson announces new EP 'modern tragedy vol.1' and releases new song "Blood // Water"". Substream. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  16. ^ a b Weatherby, Taylor (September 28, 2018). "Grandson Tackles Police Brutality Controversy With Intense '6:00' Video: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  17. ^ Kaufman, Gil (May 25, 2018). "Mike Shinoda Drops Gritty Video for 'Running From My Shadow' Featuring Grandson: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  18. ^ Moshenski-Dubov, George (June 17, 2018). "In conversation with grandson". The Varsity. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  19. ^ Scott, Kate (December 26, 2018). "The Nights We Stole Christmas w/Muse, Smashing Pumpkins, and more!". Substream Magazine. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  20. ^ Kamaraj, Chandana (December 5, 2018). "Young the Giant Hits Home with Audience, Produces More Mature Album". The University Times. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  21. ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 16, 2018). "Grandson Rages Against The Corporate Machine During Intense 'Blood//Water' Performance on 'Late Night': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  22. ^ Taylor, Sam (February 5, 2019). "grandson has announced a new EP, 'a modern tragedy vol. 2'". Upset. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  23. ^ Chad Childers (May 31, 2019). "Grandson Unleashes Cover of Rage Against the Machine's 'Maria'". Loudwire. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  24. ^ "Politically Charged 'Blood // Water' Wins SOCAN Songwriting Prize". FYI Music News, June 24, 2019.
  25. ^ "grandson Has Announced A New EP, a modern tragedy vol. 3". Kerrang!. August 21, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  26. ^ "Grandson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  28. ^ "Grandson – Chart History – Canada Hot AC". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Grandson – Chart History – Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  30. ^ a b "Grandson – Chart History – Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  31. ^ "Grandson – Chart History – Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  32. ^ a b "Grandson – Chart History – Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  33. ^ "Canada". Music Canada. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  34. ^ "Certified Awards Search" (To access, enter the keyword "grandson" and check the 'Exact match' checkbox). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  35. ^ "American certifications – Grandson". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  36. ^ a b c "Grandson – Chart History: Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  37. ^ "Grandson – Chart History: Alternative Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  38. ^ "Grandson – Chart History: Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.

External links[]

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