Grandson (musician)
Jordan Edward Benjamin[1][2] (born October 25, 1993),[3] known professionally as Grandson (stylised as grandson),[4] is an American-Canadian 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, and his second album, I Love You, I'm Trying, was released on May 5, 2023.
grandson | |
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![]() grandson performing in 2018 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Jordan Edward Benjamin |
Born | Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. | October 25, 1993
Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 2014–present |
Labels | |
Website | grandsonmusic |
Early life and education
![](../I/Grandson_-_Rock_am_Ring_2022-3249.jpg.webp)
Benjamin was born 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.[4][7]
Career
Benjamin began releasing music under the pseudonym 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".[4][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. He announced a new album in May 2022.
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
US Heat. [27] | ||
Death of an Optimist |
|
7 |
I Love You, I'm Trying |
|
EPs
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
US Heat. [27] | ||
A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1 |
|
— |
Broken Down Vol. 1 |
|
— |
A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2 |
|
23 |
No Apologies Live |
|
— |
A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3 |
|
— |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN AC [28] |
CAN Rock [29] |
CZ [30] |
LTU [31] |
US Alt [32] |
US Main [33] |
US Rock [34] | |||||
"Bills" | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
"things change" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Bury Me Face Down" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Kiss Bang" | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Best Friends" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"War" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Blood // Water" | — | 19 | — | 93 | 20 | 17 | 19 | A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1 | |||
"Overdose" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Thoughts & Prayers" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |||
"Apologize" | 2019 | — | 5 | — | — | 34 | 20 | —[upper-alpha 1] |
|
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) |
— | — | — | — | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | —[upper-alpha 3] | ||||
"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 | — | —[upper-alpha 4] |
| |||
"One Step Closer" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Spotify Singles | |||
"We Did It!!!" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Death of an Optimist | |||
"Zen" (with X Ambassadors and K.Flay) |
— | 9 | 48 | — | 24 | — | —[upper-alpha 5] | Non-album single | |||
"Rain" (with Jessie Reyez) |
2021 | — | 31 | — | — | 26 | — | 49 | The Suicide Squad (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||
"Drop Dead" (with Kesha and Travis Barker) |
— | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |||
"KULT" (with Steve Aoki feat. Jasiah) |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Eulogy" | 2023 | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | I Love You, I'm Trying | ||
"Drones" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Something To Hide" | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Alt [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 | ||||||||
"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 | ||||||
"Until I Come Home" (Two Feet featuring Grandson) |
— | Non-album singles | |||||||
"GOOD MOOD" (DE'WAYNE featuring Grandson) |
2022 | — | |||||||
"CHOKE" (The Warning featuring Grandson & Zero 9:36) |
— | ||||||||
"—" 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 | |
"Eulogy" | 2023 | Zach Madden |
"Drones" | Zachary Bailey | |
"Half My Heart" |
Notes
- "Apologize" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 49 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[42]
- "Oh No!!!" did not enter the Alternative Airplay chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Alternative Digital Song Sales chart.[43]
- "Oh No!!!" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[44]
- "Dirty" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[42]
- "Zen" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 43 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[42]
- The solo version of "Drop Dead" is included as an album track on Death of an Optimist, while the remix featuring Kesha and Travis Barker isn't.
Tours
Headlining
Supporting
- The Glorious Sons - Young Beauties and Fools Tour (2017)[49]
- Hobo Johnson - 2018 Summer Tour[50]
- Nothing but Thieves - Broken Machine World Tour (2018)[51]
- Imagine Dragons - Mercury World Tour (2022)[47]
- Avril Lavigne - Bite Me Tour (2022)[47]
References
- 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.
- 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.
- "Interview - grandson". Cryptic Rock. December 4, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- "The musician, the movement: grandson". Lupinore. August 4, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Taylor, Jamie (September 13, 2018). "Interviews | A Chat With grandson". Concert Addicts. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- Newman, Melinda (April 4, 2018). "Grandson Signs With Fueled By Ramen Following His Powerful Post-Parkland Theme, 'Thoughts & Prayers'". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Pelletier, Jeff (February 14, 2019). "Grandson turns rage into inclusive blend of rock". The Charlatan. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Holiday, Megan (October 29, 2018). "Grandson Talks Origins + How His Song "Overdose" Helped Solidify What He Does". KROQ. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Moshenski-Dubov, George (July 13, 2017). "Grandson goes beyond the melody". The Varsity. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- 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.
- Eff, Billy (May 18, 2018). "grandson n'a pas besoin de vos prières ou de vos pensées". Vice (in French). Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Twardzik, Tom (January 31, 2018). "New artist GRANDSON is at the front of rock and roll's evolution". Pop Dust. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- "Grandson Signs With Fueled By Ramen Following His Powerful Post-Parkland Theme, 'Thoughts & Prayers,'". Billboard.com. April 4, 2018.
- Darus, Alex (June 4, 2018). "Grandson announces politically charged EP, drops music video for "Blood // Water"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- White, Logan (June 5, 2018). "grandson announces new EP 'modern tragedy vol.1' and releases new song "Blood // Water"". Substream. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Weatherby, Taylor (September 28, 2018). "Grandson Tackles Police Brutality Controversy With Intense '6:00' Video: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Kaufman, Gil (May 25, 2018). "Mike Shinoda Drops Gritty Video for 'Running From My Shadow' Featuring Grandson: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- Moshenski-Dubov, George (June 17, 2018). "In conversation with grandson". The Varsity. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Scott, Kate (December 26, 2018). "The Nights We Stole Christmas w/Muse, Smashing Pumpkins, and more!". Substream Magazine. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
- Kamaraj, Chandana (December 5, 2018). "Young the Giant Hits Home with Audience, Produces More Mature Album". The University Times. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- 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.
- Taylor, Sam (February 5, 2019). "grandson has announced a new EP, 'a modern tragedy vol. 2'". Upset. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Chad Childers (May 31, 2019). "Grandson Unleashes Cover of Rage Against the Machine's 'Maria'". Loudwire. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- "Politically Charged 'Blood // Water' Wins SOCAN Songwriting Prize". FYI Music News, June 24, 2019.
- "grandson Has Announced A New EP, a modern tragedy vol. 3". Kerrang!. August 21, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- "Grandson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- "Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- "Grandson – Chart History – Canada Hot AC". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- "Grandson – Chart History – Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- Peaks in the Czech Republic:
- For "Zen": "CZ - Radio - Top 100 - Zen (with K.Fly & grandson) - X Ambassadors - Universal Music" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
- "2020 47-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100) - Agata" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- "Grandson – Chart History – Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- "Grandson – Chart History – Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- "Grandson – Chart History – Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- "Canada". Music Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- "Portuguese single certifications – Grandson" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- "British certifications – Grandson". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 12, 2023. Type Grandson in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Grandson)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- "Austrian certifications – Grandson" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- "American certifications – Grandson". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- "French certifications – Grandson" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- "Grandson – Chart History: Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- "Grandson – Chart History: Alternative Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- "Grandson – Chart History: Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- "https://twitter.com/LiveNationON/status/1071056738395144192". Twitter. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- "grandson's 'End of the Beginning' Tour Unites Punks and Hip–Hop Fans Alike". www.34st.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- Hartmann, Graham (December 13, 2021). "grandson Announces 2022 Tour + Support Dates for Imagine Dragons + Avril Lavigne". Loudwire. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- Santos, Stacy Simons (March 24, 2023). "grandson Announces New Album 'I Love You, I'm Trying' & Sets Out For North American Tour". CelebrityAccess. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- "We're excited to announce grandson... - The Glorious Sons". Facebook. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- "Hobo Johnson + Grandson". www.houseofblues.comeventdetail. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (May 14, 2018). "Nothing But Thieves Announce Broken Machine World Tour Dates". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2023.