John Grant announces new Cate Le Bon-produced album with title-track "Boy From Michigan"

"Boy From Michigan" is Grant's second single of 2021, following January's "The Only Baby", which will also appear on Grant's new album.

Grant says of the new single, which is teamed with a Casey and Ewan-directed video, "I discovered the chord progression in the chorus of "Boy from Michigan" on my OB6 back when I was working on Love is Magic, and while I knew it would eventually become a song, I didn't know what to do with it yet. Sometimes you just know you need to take your time with certain ideas."

He adds, "The song sprang from a moment I experienced when I was about 11 and we were about to move to Colorado from Michigan; my best buddy took me aside and warned me about ‘the world out there’ - so the song is about the transition from childhood to adulthood, the simplicity and innocence of childhood and the oftentimes rude awakening that occurs when one crosses over into adulthood. It's also about romanticising the past, which can be dangerous. I don't believe one can or should live in the past, but if you ignore it, well, you know. I also have to say there are moments when I actually relive the scent of early Spring as the snow is beginning to melt revealing the wet Earth beneath. It's incredible."

Boy From Michigan will follow Grant's 2018 album Love Is Magic, and is produced by longtime friend Cate Le Bon.

He says of working with Cate Le Bon, "Cate and I are both very strong-willed people. Making a record is hard on a good day. The mounting stress of the US election and the pandemic really started to get to us by late July and August last year. It was at times a very stressful process under the circumstances, but one which was also full of many incredible and joyful moments."

Trackllist:

1. Boy From Michigan
2. County Fair
3. The Rusty Bull
4. The Cruise Room
5. Mike And Julie
6. Best In Me
7. Rhetorical Figure
8. Just So You Know
9. Dandy Star
10. Your Portfolio
11. The Only Baby
12. Billy