An interview with Aiden Grimshaw at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen

In trendy Hoxton, inside the back of the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, Aiden Grimshaw casually took the stage to fill with his stunning tracks from his forthcoming album.

Aiden has certainly come a long way from his X-Factor days, for the past two years he has been working on his new album of original tracks to distinguish himself a true talented solo artist. His passion for his music shines through his performance, producing a memorising effect during the momentous belting out moments of his tracks.

His first single from the album Is This love has a solid drum and bass vibe which breaks down into soft vocals building up into powerful and raw lyrics about a lost love. The vocal range of Aiden is impressive, and makes for an engrossing listen when he bursts into his falsetto peaks. He ends his short set with Curtain Call, which moves from the angst of his earlier songs into a more bouncy heart-warming song, featuring soulful female backing vocals in the chorus, which add an extra lift of emotions. Definitely a song to watch out for come its release.

Aiden Grimshaw has left his roots from X-factor to become a definable credible artist who has written a relatable album of love and loss. 

The Upcoming was lucky enough to catch up with Aiden after his concert.

It’s been two years since The X-Factor. How does it feel to be back doing music?

It’s weird, but it’s not like I’ve just been away sat on my sofa watching Bear Grylls! I’ve been doing [music] the whole time, but now I’ve got to a point where I’m happy and proud to get up on a stage and shout it at people! It feels good, man! Especially after a gig like tonight.

So what have you been doing in the build-up to this point?

Well, we went into the studio almost straight after X-Factor, made some really shit tracks (laughs) but from that you learn what you want to avoid and what my strong points are, and go from there. Though a lot of the time, I was sat in my pants smoking cigarettes and watching TV!

Do you have any regrets from doing The X-Factor?

I have no regrets about doing it: I loved it. I mean, I used to work for Pizza Hut, and I went in for the competition but I was a little bit sceptical! For me it was an amazing experience, and I would have probably been fired from there eventually! I always used to turn up late, my apron was always filthy! (laughs)

So definitely a music career over Pizza Hut career?

It is, man!

Your new single Is This Love, can you tell us a little bit about the meaning behind this song?

It’s at the beginning of the album, and it began the writing process with Jared who produced the whole album. I got really pissed one night, and really mad about my life situation, and when I got home I wrote the song. I actually took a picture of myself that night pretending to hold flare because of the idea of needing a bit of help (Aiden shows the picture to me on his phone), and you can see in the video a guy holding one. So that’s where Is This Love came from.

The video for the single has some angry vibes with a lot of angst, is this from your direction? Obviously you got your flare in the video!

We met up with the directors and got to know them a little bit; and then we did some mad Piers-Morgan-in-depth interview with them and told them all about where the song came from. They understood it completely, it’s more like a recollection, and it’s really honest.

Your new album coming out is called Misty Eye. What can we expect from it?

Well, I’m dead happy with it! It’s taken two years and one of the main things I wanted from it was to take it back and play it to my friends, and not catch them a moment wincing! They all really like it, even! My dad is here tonight to watch the concert, he likes it too! So yeah, I’m really happy with it. It’s very varied and a definite journey that is relatable to what most lads or girls go through when they are in a break-up. 

When does the album release?

It’s out on the 20^th of August!

What’s the next single you will be releasing?

The next single is Curtain Call!  I imagine it as the man on his knees in the rain at the end of Love Actually. We found a woman to sample the backing vocals for the chorus, she smashed it! It’s a big track.

So you’ve been doing gigs around the UK recently, is this something you love to do?

Yeah, I think the reason it all started was because I was in Grease at school in year six! Didn’t get to be Danny as I was a bit too fat! (Laughs) I just loved that, so performances are a big bit for me. I’ve only done five so far and by the time I do my tour at the end of the year, we’ll smash it.

You’ve built up a dedicated fan base over the years, can you tell us what they are called?

The Grimlings! (Laughs)

How does it make you feel that you have so many fans?

It’s amazing! I came ninth, so any kind of support I ever get is humbling. It got a bit weird when 18 months after the show, people were asking “Is he doing anything?” and I would be tweeting everyday “In the studio!!” (Laughs). I could tell you some of their names, there are three of them here tonight!

If you were trapped in a room with one person for a week, who would it be and why?

Urm, I’m not that fussy! (Laughs) Denzel Washington maybe! He is so cool! The only person who can stop an unstoppable train!

What’s your best chat-up line in a club?

I don’t really have one! Hm, “You’re so hot, you make the devil sweat!” 

What can we expect to see more from you in the next few months?

I take every day as it comes, my manager usually tells me the day before, so it’s all fresh and exciting! I’m just enjoying everything. We are just finding out feet, building up to the tour and hopefully put on an awesome show!

Simon Franklin
Photos: Connie Taylor

For further information and future gigs visit Aiden Grimshaw’s official Facebook page here.

Watch the video for Is This Love here: