Following the release of his debut EP 'Discover Now', we caught up with singer-songwriter Juan El Grande to find out what influences his eclectic sound.
1. Slade - Cum On Feel The Noize
It is very difficult to put me in one box when it comes to music. I like different styles of music, but it is clear that Rock and Hard Rock attract my attention the most.
The group I grew up with and am a huge fan of is SLADE. It is a group that alternates different styles of music and never bores. Even after all these years I still love their songs.
If I have to choose a song, the first thing that comes to mind is Cum on feel the noise. It was in the early 70s when I attended a Slade concert at Vorst National in Brussels. During this song Noddy Holder sang "girls grab the boys" and suddenly 2 girls grabbed my arm and we started dancing spontaneously. I was very shy but I will never forget this moment.
2. Chickenfoot - HighwayStar
Deep Purple is another constant in my life. The magic that emanates from their music is overwhelming. They are all musically trained musicians and you can tell by the quality of their songs. Although I respect every member of the group very much, the figure of Ritchie Blackmore stands out for me. This virtuoso knows his instrument inside out and can play the notes blindly.
There are too many songs to choose from but at the moment I choose Highway Star. A song that was also covered by Chickenfoot. Because this song is also performed wonderfully, I give you this version to listen to.
3. Uriah Heep - A year or a day
A completely different style of music but for me a group that I also really appreciated in my youth is Uriah Heep. They had a very special approach in the construction of their songs and that makes that their songs still stuck in my mind. Easy Livin', Lady in Black and Wonderworld to name a few. However, I choose a song from their album Return to fantasy with the title A year or a day
4. U2 - In God's Country
U2 is a group you can't ignore. Personally I think their period of The Joshua Tree is the best. Songs like I still haven't found, with or without you and Where the streets have no name are unforgettable hits. In this album I choose the song In god's country.
5. The Rolling Stones - Angry
The Rolling Stones should not be missing from my list. It is a group that has existed for so many years with an almost unchanged line-up. It is not given to every group.
Here too it is difficult to make a choice between the countless numbers. OK, admittedly, there have been lesser periods for me, such as when they released the album The Bigger Bang. I thought and still think that for me it is not a top album. But what a surprise when the new album Hackney Diamonds was recently released. I enjoy every number on this album, but my greatest preference here is the song Angry
A list of 5 songs is far too short to describe my influences but it does give a hint. Other groups and influences can be found in Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Peter Frampton, Rainbow, Jetro Tull, Sade and many others. I hope you can enjoy this short list of 5 songs and that it puts you in the right mood to go through life with a smile.
Keep on rocking in a free world !
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