Junior’s Cave Golden Isles Online Magazine knows great music and The Grand is certainly great music from an amazing band. We are proud to feature this band in our monthly spotlight series. In this special interview with our publication, we speak to The Grand about several matters concerning their music. Here is what developed from our online conversation.

Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you feel you contribute musically to the Indie Music Culture?

The Grand: We try to write the best songs we know how to and we have a strong work ethic as a band to keep pushing ourselves. In terms of contributing to indie music culture, not a lot of people have listened to our stuff yet, but when they do, I hope they feel the same energy that we do when we play the songs.

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have built up over the years about you in the process?

The Grand: The music industry is changing so much every day, so in a way major labels aren't as important as they used to be. There are so many resources on the Internet to help upcoming artists market their work, that often times you can get a lot done yourself. On the flip side, having a whole team of marketing people and staff that come with signing with a label is also really helpful to a career if it's done correctly. We would never sign with a label that wanted to change the way we make music, I think it makes sense to go with someone who wants to develop what you've already got rather than change it.

Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?

The Grand: Simon Cowell, huh. I don't watch American Idol, but of course I know who Simon Cowell is. I think if you have an "it" factor, you don't know what it is. Any artist that's aware of their "it" factor, well, they don't have that it factor then.

Isaac: One of the important elements that will make you stand out from the rest of the musicians/artists in the music industry?

The Grand: Probably our really tight jeans. I'd like to think that if you're a musician at heart you hope that the main thing that makes you stand out are the songs you write and the quality by which you perform them. I know in the music industry there is so much other stuff that goes into standing out (gossip, scandals, outfits etc.) but if you become popular for all that other stuff, it can't be that rewarding in the long run.

Isaac: Do you feel you have given it your best when pursuing your musical dreams so far? Why or why not?

The Grand: We're just starting out so all I can say is that we're always gonna work hard as a band to make the best music we can.

Isaac: Who do you look up to for your own influences and why?

The Grand: As individuals, we listen to so much stuff across the board. Everything from Folk to Hip Hop. That's what makes the collaboration interesting, everyone comes in with their ideas and molded together it becomes our sound.

Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?

The Grand: Yeah, I do. Like I said before, there are so many resources now for independent artists to develop their music and careers. It's proof that people respect Independent music and want to support it.

Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?

The Grand: I think things are changing back a little bit, slowly, to where they were - popular new bands are actually playing real instruments. So much of the climate now is bands that are getting on stage and pushing buttons and performing with intricate backing tracks. Nothing against those bands at all, but if it's at the expense of groups that actually get up there and play music with real instruments than that's really too bad. I think we're slowly moving away from it with new popular bands like Mumford and Sons, The Vaccines, etc. who get up and actually play guitars and drums live.

Isaac: What has been one of your biggest setbacks and how did you overcome it? What lesson did you learn about yourself?

The Grand: What was challenging at the beginning was finding a group of guys to be in a band that had a similar sense of the music they wanted to make and who were also good people to be around. Finding that fit wasn't easy but what we ended up with was so good that it was worth the struggle.