Cormac Grant has an obsession with the soul of music. After a “life changing” experience listening to D’angelo’s neo soul classic, Voodoo, Cormac has been on a musical journey to combine his introspective personality with the funky bravado of the Soulquarian movement.

Based on Awabakal land (Newcastle, NSW), Cormac has held a guitar in his hands since first stumbling upon the music of Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and the Beatles as a youngster in school. Growing up in the sleepy town of Grafton on the north coast of New South Wales, Cormac got his feet wet playing with bands in high school before moving to Newcastle to study at the Conservatorium of Music in 2017.

It was here that Cormac’s inner songwriter took hold, finding inspiration in the ups and downs of early adulthood as he made his way in a new town. Armed with only a guitar, journal and voice memo iPhone app, Cormac began documenting the world around him with a wide-eyed approach, honing in on chords, lyrics and melodies to make sense of what was happening around him. 

This period of burgeoning creativity and personal growth has culminated in Cormac’s first release as a solo artist, You Caught Me Smiling. The six track EP blends driving grooves with intimate lyricism to put a spotlight on Cormac’s craftsmanship as a songwriter as well as his ear for infectious grooves. With production that could have come straight from New York City in the late 90’s, You Caught Me Smiling is humble, groove heavy and thought provoking all at once, combining Cormac’s roots with his quest for sincere emotion and feeling.