Eric Grant Band's Return To Nashville

GILFORD, NH. - In part two of Cider's three-part series covering the continuing adventures of the Eric Grant Band, I had the opportunity to chat with Eric upon his bands' return to Gilford, New Hampshire, after a recent whirlwind week in Nashville. However, with the band recently returning to Nashville (April 30 - May 3) for three more days of recording, consider this installment 'part 2.5" of the band's continuing odyssey.

As you might imagine, after having just lived out the dream of not only filming an episode of TLC Network's "On The Fly," but also embracing the opportunity to record with one of the hottest production companies in the country in New Voice Entertainment, Eric and the band have been floating on air for the last month. I caught up with one busy Eric Grant just three days before the band's trip back to Nashville.

"We are returning to Nashville on April 30th to begin our final tracks and mix/mastering sessions," Eric Grant said in an exclusive, Cider Magazine interview. "Monday will be a full day in the studio, adding remaining backing vocal tracks and finishing up keyboards as well. Once that is done, I'll be spending Tuesday with Billy Decker on mixing all the tracks."

In case you were wondering, Billy Decker is a graduate of Full Sail Recording Academy and the University of Nebraska, and is one of Nashville's most in-demand recording and mixing engineers. His extensive resume includes working with Trace Adkins, Leann Rimes, John Michael, Montgomery, Billy Dean, Rodney Atkins, Sherrie Austin, Shelly Fairchild, Davie Lee Murphy, Steve Holy and Amy Dalley among many others.

"The completed mixes will then be sent to Georgetown Mastering - which is simply amazing studio - to be polished and printed! Then if all goes as planned, we will be outta there on Thursday just in time for our weekend shows."

So, how has this whole experience positively effected the band... has it opened new doors?

"Since we left Nashville we've been able to now connect with people in the industry that are acquaintances and friends of New Voice, which is very big deal for us. Especially being all the way up here in New England… it's a blessing for sure," Grant said. "The reality is now that you've spent time with professionals, people I think, are more interested in taking you seriously because we have taken our game right to the top.

"Having that referral so to speak, or being able to share with someone in the biz that you just recorded with the New Voice guys, is truly a door-opener. And truth of the matter is that the product we are about to get is gonna be superior to any. It will hopefully be a 'no excuse's CD! (laughing)"

However, there is still plenty of work to be done upon the band's return, in order to have the CD ready for a June 29 release. "There is so much to do," Grant concluded. "From photo-shoots, artwork, liner notes and legal information, to press, radio, social networking and a new song list, there's a ton of things on the band's 'to do' list." There will also be new merchandising, a web site makeover and new lights and audio equipment for the live show.

"We are very excited to get this all put together," Grant concluded. "And it has been officially announced that two other friends from New Hampshire - who are also Nashville recording artists - will be joining us for the CD release in Jimmy Lehoux of Ruby Records and Skyler, a Berkley graduate who has already recorded multiple CDs and toured up and down the East coast.

Watch for part three of our exclusive, Eric Grant Band article series in the June issue of Cider Magazine. We sure are looking forward to hearing the fruits of their labors!