ONTARIO BLUES ROCKERS GLENN MARAIS & THE MOJO TRAIN ARE RED, HOT AND BLUE ON NEW ALBUM
Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train is a blues rock band known for their powerful and dynamic sound that seamlessly blends grace and beauty. Their music takes listeners on a journey through the Mississippi Delta, with stops at Detroit, Motown, and the funky sounds of Philadelphia. With their unique styles deeply rooted in the blues, the band’s original compositions are a testament to their exceptional musical talents. Every performance is a high-energy experience that leaves the audience feeling like they’re at a sold-out stadium show.
“Catch A Ride” is the Mojo Train’s musical mantra – whether on stage or in the studio. Guided by rhythm, the Train brings waves of intensity, taking ourselves and our audience to new limits. “
This record is a testament to our love for music and the joy we have in performing. It is a celebration shared with those who’ve stood by us on this incredible journey”, says DeGrandis.
As of late the band is proud of the waves left in Memphis, where they made the semi-finals in the International Blues Challenge 2024. Their new album Red, Hot & Blue (March 8th, 2024) features 11 original songs highlighting the individual talents of the band and their collective powerful and dynamic sound.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Our band is called Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train.
Myself, Glenn Marais on lead guitar and vocals, Manny DeGrandis on bass and vocals, Jesse Karwat on keyboard and vocals, and Jeff Saulnier on drums and vocals.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
Red, Hot, and Blue is a record born of determination and perseverance, as we started recording before COVID and finished recording in January 2024. The album is a fusion of our favourite styles, driven by blues rock with elements of funk, soul, and pop song sensibility throughout.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
There is nothing typical really, but I would say the overarching commonality is we have an ability to write almost completed songs during soundcheck. The conditions have to be favorable-good sound, time to mess about and then sometimes magic happens. Someone will start a groove, others join in and this inspires a lyric or melody. One song off of the record, Superfunk, evolved intact from that process. There are exceptions where I’ll bring a song inspired by something I’ve read or a conversation and the band refines and structures it during rehearsal and in the studio. I like to co-write with people and the amount of collaborators I work with is growing in that respect. There is a definite growth in the involvement of everyone in the process that has made us stronger as a band and this evolution has really grown with us already working on several new songs for the next record.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
We are looking into live television appearances, videos to support the single releases, and opening spots for larger acts.
Definitely a few music videos, and we have a busy summer festival season coming guy that will be listed on our band website.
We are also looking at gathering videos and demos from the Red Hot and Blue writing sessions and also current songs we are working on and posting that content as well.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
I think our preparation for the IBC this January in Memphis gave us a really strong purpose and allowed us to gather tremendous support from our fans and our community that has catapulted us into this year with incredible energy and resolve. Placing in the Semi-finals was great for our confidence and we can feel that on stage with the feedback from our fans supporting that with many people saying we have never sounded better.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
We are all big fans of the Blackburn Brothers’ new record, Soul Funk N Blues. It’s a killer album and they, like us are a fusion of blues, soul, and funk. It’s a great album and one that I am listening to constantly. They’ve been very supportive of us as well and we look forward to doing a show with them in the future.
Connect with Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train:
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