A Chat with Halfway To Hollywood (13.10.20)
After a short hiatus, Canadian pop trio Halfway To Hollywood is back with their upbeat, optimistic and energetic tunes. Having performed with Marianas Trench and Hedley, as well as completing eight national tours, the group is quite popular with a very loyal fanbase. We had a chance to speak with frontman Grant Walker about their single ‘Once In A Lifetime’, scary movies and discovering new music.
OSR: How did Halfway To Hollywood form?
Walker: Brenden and I started writing songs together when we were at school. We met Roman at a show when he was playing for another local band in Vancouver.
OSR: What is the backstory to ‘Once In A Lifetime’?
Walker: We wanted to write a song with inspirational lyrics and a big pop sound. I was obsessed with space exploration and the Apollo programme as a kid, so the space theme came naturally.
OSR: Does the track have any significant meaning for any of you?
Walker: For me, it’s all about the connections we’ve made with our fans over the years and the special moments we shared together.
OSR: Why did you decide to create a lyric video?
Walker: Our live show has always been a core part of who we are as a band. We wanted to make sure our fans can sing along when we finally get back to playing shows.
OSR: Did you face any challenges when it came to recording the song and video?
Walker: We worked with a couple of really great producers (Danny Craig and Jeff Dawson) on this song so the recording process was a breeze. It can sometimes be a challenge to bring your best to the studio after working all day at a day job, but Danny and Jeff made it easy.
OSR: Can we expect any original music videos for future music, even if it is a homemade one?
Walker: It’s hard to make any concrete plans these days, but we’ll do our best!
OSR: What has been your most exciting experience as a band?
Walker: I think we would each have a different answer. For me, it was the early tours when we got to visit different Canadian cities for the first time and meet the fans we’d been talking to online. It was also a lot of fun playing with bigger bands like Magic! later on.
OSR: What advice do you have for upcoming musicians?
Walker: Work hard on your music but make sure you prioritise the relationships in your life too. I haven’t always done this and it’s something I regret.
OSR: What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
Walker: I don’t have a good answer for this one. I’m a huge chicken when it comes to scary movies so I do everything I can to avoid them.
OSR: What is your favourite live gig to date and why?
Walker: Opening for Matt Webb (Marianas Trench) at the Rio Theatre was definitely a highlight. We had a great turnout and it was a lot of fun to play at such a historic Vancouver landmark.
OSR: What do you believe is the best way to discover music?
Walker: I love hearing a great single on a playlist or on the radio and then checking out the album it’s from. The best songs aren’t always singles and putting together a solid album of songs that flow together well is a dying art.
Thanks to Grant Walker for speaking with us! You can find out more about Halfway To Hollywood on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
