Matt LeGrand is a rising voice in the world of pop music.

With the release of his single “All Good,” Matt has introduced listeners to his breezy pop sound, with a vibe and lyrics all about self-love and positivity.

Everly Mag talked to Matt LeGrand about inspiration, self-care, love, and positivity – and how it has helped him craft his music career now and going forward.

Everly Mag: How did you first start singing?  What was your first breakthrough in the music industry?

Matt: First of all, thank you so much for having me!  I started singing when I was in high school.  According to my mother, though, I’ve been making weird noises out of my mouth since the second I was born.  Apparently, my teachers in middle school would tell my mother that we would be taking quizzes and I would just start singing to myself.

I really started to take [singing] seriously when the singer from my first band decided to quit.  I was the guitarist, and someone needed to step up to the plate and sing.  I decided that it would be me!

I haven’t really had my major breakthrough yet, which keeps things really exciting!  It can happen at any time.  I have a feeling in my soul that something life-changing is coming soon.

Everly Mag: Tell us about your hit single “All Good.” What do you hope your listeners experience when they hear the song?

Matt: All Good is a song about self-love and self-care.  It’s about stepping away from toxic relationships and realizing that you’ll be alright without them.

I didn’t write the song, but I haven’t connected with a song [as much as] this one.  I feel that the song found its way to me – it came to me at a point in my life where everything it was saying just made sense to me.

I hope this song can bring my listeners some kind of, as I like to call it, energetic peace.  Some self-confidence to just be okay and accepting of who they are.  I hope the song can take [listeners] away from the worries of the day for a bit.  At the end of the day, no matter what – It’s all good!

Everly Mag: You grew up in France.  How does your French heritage impact your day-to-day life and your music?  How does your time living in Chicago impact your music?  Who else inspires your music and sound?

Matt: After being in the U.S. for 17 years now, I’ve become pretty Americanized.  I do catch myself still holding onto some European tendencies though, like, for example, the way I hold my utensils when I’m eating.  Also, when I’m with the French side of my family it definitely impacts my day.  It’s an impact that is familiar and yet a bit distant at the same time because I have been in the [United States] for so long. Though, I would say my heritage comes into play the most in my taste buds! People say that I’m very critical about food.

Chicago has so much great music to be discovered. I feel that it has been underrated over the past decade but that is changing now with acts like Chance The Rapper coming up! The whole city is coming up in a big way right now.  It really is a great time to be here. Chicago has given me great little venues to learn from and experience.  I couldn’t imagine growing up anywhere else.

I love discovering people who inspire me musically and as an individual. For me, that’s guys like Bono, Chris Martin, and Ed Sheeran. It also doesn’t always have to be people. I’m inspired by light. I’m inspired by loving acts. I’m inspired by people who stand up for themselves. I’m inspired by miracles. Seeing and feeling these things restores my faith in humanity.

Everly Mag: Describe your personality in 5 words.

Matt: Positive, enthusiastic, loving, patient, and sometimes hangry! I need my food!

Everly Mag: What do you like to do when you’re not singing?

Matt: I’ll [almost] always be doing something musical.  If it’s not singing, I’ll practice my guitar or work on my piano skills.  I really can’t get enough of what I do!

Don’t get me wrong –  I definitely like my free time as well.  I really like to go rock climbing, practice yoga, take a dance class, and play some futbol! I love doing challenging things with my friends, such as rock climbing.  I’m all about surrounding myself with as many positive vibes as I can.

Everly Mag: What do you look for in a relationship and what does love mean to you?  Do you express those feelings in your music?

Matt: I look for positivity, intelligence, humor, love and maybe a little sass!

Love to me means understanding. Love is eternal and it’s no matter what.  I don’t have to necessarily like a certain person but I do Love them. Love is the only key [and] will turn any tide. When we feel lost, we turn to accepting Love for ourselves and for others. That’s what my song “All Good” is all about! So yes, I definitely do express these feelings!

Everly Mag: What advice do you have for aspiring young singers and musical artists?

Matt: This is always a strange question for me because I feel that I am still an aspiring young artist.  With the small amount of experience I have, these are some rules that I live by: Be patient, hard work pays off, accept the things you cannot change, give others the respect they deserve, stay in the moment – and live in your heart, not your head!

Everly Mag: What’s the most rewarding part of your career?

Matt: Being able to perform in front of people is definitely the best part of all of this! Having the opportunity to be in a moment of connection with other human beings is truly an amazing gift and having music [be] the form of connection is even more special! Having a stage and the freedom to share my story is more than I could ask for.

Everly Mag: What’s the most challenging part?

Matt:  There are lots of challenges. Showbiz is extremely competitive and can be rough. One of my biggest fears is getting swept up in the excitement of it all and losing a part of my identity. I overcome this challenge by knowing what my values and morals are. Being able to say NO to certain things reduces lots of stress.  I just keep doing the things that speak to my soul and make me happy!

Everly Mag: What does it feel like to have fans who listen to your music?

Matt: It definitely feels great to share my creative work with [fans].  Even though I love playing and creating music for myself, it’s not really worth it unless it can be shared. I’m here to share my light and love with people, [and] I’m also here to receive it.  To me, happiness is better when shared.

Everly Mag: Tell us a fact about you that might surprise our readers.

Matt: I can juggle 7 balls!

Everly Mag: What are your plans for 2018?  What are your hopes for the future of your music career?

Matt: This year, [I plan] to keep developing myself personally and as an artist, staying in the moment and taking it one day at a time.  We are planning to release an EP album sometime this year and hopefully tag onto a tour so that I can start seeing my fans!

I hope that I can be part of the music industry for as long as I can.   Even if I weren’t part of the industry, music is in me and I couldn’t get rid of it even if I tried.  Music will always be in my life, no matter what.  In the future, I would love to take it back to my roots and be part of a band again!

You can find Matt LeGrand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

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Feature Image Credit: Matt LeGrand