anti-cookie-cutter Christian Music

11 MP3 Songs in this album (53:29) !
Related styles: ROCK: Modern Rock, SPIRITUAL: Christian Rock



Details:
A songwriter since the age of 10, Grande Baliad (gran-dee ba-lee-ad) writes songs with an eclectic, yet relevant sound and message. It's impossible to pigeonhole Grande's style, which only makes sense since he credits influences that range from pop icon George Michael to progressive rock artists like Dream Theater. And there's no mistaking the early 90âs influences of Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam in his music, but Grande balks at the notion that he's purely a rock/alternative artist. "I love writing music in different genres. I even love taking different genres and cramming them into one song," says Grande, "itâs much more interesting and I think people in general are looking for more flavor, more variety in the music they listen to.â

This philosophy is evident on his third solo release Sound Doctrine which starts off with the Modern Rock anthem âsupercrazyglueâ and closes out with the techno favorite âThe Weekend (remix)â. Both songs remain true to their genre while simultaneously allowing Grande to express his diversity as a fan and performer of music. âFascinatingâ, the ninth track on the disc, starts off with a Jazz Electronica feel, delves into George Michael and Morrissey like vocals and then transports you into the middle of a fiesta in a Mexican village. The following track, âWorthy Aloneâ begins with a Hip-Hop beat and takes you on a journey to Africa, complete with sounds and vocals that might make you feel like youâre watching Disneyâs The Lion King. If youâre a fan of music in general, Sound Doctrine is sure to please. âIf youâre particular to only one type of music, you might not like every song on Sound Doctrine,â Grande suggests, âbut there will be a song or two that you love.â

Grande is a Christian and graduated from William Tyndale College with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Thought (Theology). âTo be honest, I can't stand religion and I don't really like a lot of mainstream Christian music,â Grande says. âItâs just so âcookie-cutterâ and overall bland. I try to write âanti-cookie-cutter musicââ. Grande is emphatic about music and lyrics that are redemptive and based on the Truth. âThe Cross of Jesus is Truth, it is Ultimate Reality,â Grande says, unabashedly embracing his identity as a Christian, âI want the spirit of the Cross of Jesus to be felt in my music â That said, Grandeâs music is sometimes subtle and other times blatant in regards to his faith. Songs like âJesus Youâre Worthyâ and âYouâre My Joyâ are unashamed songs of worship to God, while other songs are much more ambiguous and could easily be mistaken for your basic love song or pop song that youâd hear on the radio or MTV.

Grande continues to grow as a person, both spiritually and musically. âI definitely donât have it all figured out,â Grande says reflectively, âI havenât âarrivedâ or anything. But Sound Doctrine is something Iâm very proud of. Itâs a step forward from Walk With Me (Grandeâs previous release), but the next CD after this one and the songs I write in the future will be another step forward.â