Biology Major Turned Singer/Songwriter, Detroiter Madelyn Grant Releases Her EP “Purpose”

Like so many musicians who were born and raised in Detroit, it was the Motown sound that inspired Madelyn Grant to pursue a career in music. Her father played the music created at Hitsville at home and when Grant went to school, her teacher brought in Motown music for her students to sing. But it wasn’t until she went to college that she began taking music seriously as a career.

“I didn’t start taking music seriously until I was in college and I was a biology major, actually, and I realized that I didn’t want to work in a lab for the rest of my life. I saw the trajectory of me being in this lab, alone, for many, many years to come and that was the experience that completely changed everything for me.” –Madelyn Grant 

“The roots of my music writing came from a very naive place. I didn’t start taking music seriously until I was in college and I was a biology major, actually, and I realized that I didn’t want to work in a lab for the rest of my life. I saw the trajectory of me being in this lab, alone, for many, many years to come and that was the experience that completely changed everything for me,” she says.

A pivotal moment in Grant’s career was when the group ODESZA put a post on Facebook looking for female vocalists. Grant responded, and they enlisted her to write with them. She recorded herself singing the lyrics she wrote and they used what she created to complete their songs, which ended up being heard by millions of people all over the world. She began contacting other DJs and went on to work with FKJ and Emancipator, as well. After that, she decided it was time to write her own music and release it under her own name.

The result is her EP “Purpose,” a collection of songs with undeniable grooves and Grant’s effortless, soulful voice. Her music can be found on iTunes and Bandcamp.

Listen: Madelyn Grant offers insights into the songs on “Purpose.”