The Danish singer-songwriter is shifting from making R&B and hip-hop for other artists to releasing his own indie songs that are dreamy and influenced by Tame Impala and Bon Iver. He combines melancholy and positive energy in โWill You Still Be There,โ a new folky alt. pop song about finding your way back to someone you love.
Acoustic guitars, distorted bass, saxophones, flutes, and sampled drums are layered with Grandjeanโs distinctive falsettos, vocoders, and lush reverbs. The melodies are catchy but melancholy, and the sound is warm and soulful.
Grandjean sings every note on his album โLost Mindsโ, in contrast to his previous releases, which featured many guest vocalists. The Danish singer-songwriter layers his distinctive vocals over dusty samples and upbeat beats in a dreamy indie vibe. Along with fellow Danes Andreas Lund (Lukas Graham, Aura), Johannes Wamberg, Mikkel Riber, Thomas Edinger, and Susanne Rum, the album also includes North American musicians and singers Philip Lassiter (Prince, Erykah Badu), Aniya Teno, and Julianna Laine. It was written and produced by Alexander Grandjean.
Forests, mountains, lakes, and beaches can be seen in the scenery. The โWill You Still Be Thereโ music video features mesmerizing stretches of nature that were repeatedly shot from various angles, giving the video a kaleidoscopic fish-eye appearance. Check out the exclusive interview with ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
Iโm from Denmark, and I started playing keyboard in bands in ground school. In my teenage years I was producing beats and tracks for local artists and then started growing my network in the music industry. Now Iโve produced and written songs for other artists for 10 years, and Iโm really excited about having started my own solo project. Feels good to have my own playground! :)
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
Iโd say Iโm 90% self-taught. I studied musicology at the university, and have taken lessons and courses in guitar, piano, singing, mixing and production along the way. But those are just the skills โ creating and writing is the real work and the real challenge as an artist. I love learning, and right now Iโm starting to play more concerts, so Iโm trying to become a better live performer and guitar player.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name โALEXANDER GRANDJEANโ?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
Alexander Grandjean is my birth name, and since the songs are quite personal, I didnโt feel the need to invent a stage name. My teenage influences were soul, hiphop and fusion artists like Sade and Fat Freddyโs Drop, but my parents have been playing folk, country and rock music at home โ Van Morrison, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. In recent years Iโve been very inspired by Josรฉ Gonzรกles, Bon Iver and Amadou & Mariam.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
So, I feel like most of us are so distracted and un-present most of the time โ and way too addicted to screens, information and entertainment. Iโm trying to slow down the speed and create a space where we can be present together. Iโd describe my sound as a dreamy and melancholic roadtrip soundtrack. Itโs warm and organic guitars and horns mixed with dirty drums and distorted bass topped with airy vocals with lush reverbs.

ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
To me, thatโs a constant cycle of learning and mastering. Iโm always attracted to things I canโt do, so my phase of learning is never over. But I always try to learn skills from others without copying their style. I steal like an artist but try to alter the expression so I still contribute to the world with something new. Iโm not here to be a copy of someone else; Iโm here to express human feelings through my art, and for that I need to master the craft while still having my own voice.
6. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
I think artists need to help move culture forward while being the voice of the people. To me, art and culture is extremely important, and I think itโs a problem that many โartistsโ spend all their time making content and following trends instead of using their unique voice. Personally, Iโm trying to use my voice to tell stories, touch souls, and remind people to be present in the world.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
From a creative standpoint Iโm very fulfilled and inspired. Creating music and the universes around it (video, visuals, concepts) is extremely fulfilling in itself, but itโs also a struggle to be an independent artist. Iโve only worked on my solo project for two years, and Iโm happy to already be on the radio and playing concerts, but Iโm looking forward to having a bigger team around me and be able to take my project to the next level.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
Itโs very different โ sometimes lyrics come first, sometimes music. But usually thereโs a calm moment followed by a burst of inspiration. When Iโm in that creative flow, time goes by extremely fast and slow at the same time, and thatโs when Iโm the most productive. I write and produce all my own songs, so itโs easy for me to take a song from the guitar to the studio.
9. What has been the most difficult thing youโve had to endure in your music career so far?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
Iโd probably say the struggle of being an independent artist โ the freedom is extremely rewarding, but itโs also just an uphill battle. You get a hundred โno thanksโ for each โhell yeahโ and thereโs only you to pick yourself up and keep the wheels going. I love the freedom, but itโs definitely also a challenge.
10. On the contrary, what are you proud of in your music career so far?
ALEXANDER GRANDJEAN:
Being a father and having a family while being on my 15th year of being an independent musician, producer, writer, and artist is something Iโm very proud of.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

Photo credits: Rune Svenningsen / Luisa Zanetti