Artist on The Rise: Scotty Granger

During the inaugural season of Bravo’s reality based competition, Platinum Hit, we were introduced to a group of talented songwriters who shared one common goal to be crowed Season one winner and receive a recording contract with RCA/Jive label and a cash prize of $100,000. Out of the twelve hopefuls, the one that captured our imagination was Scotty Granger the New Orleans native and creative director for Jordan Sparks with the infectious melodies.

Scotty placed third but isn’t letting that slow him down when we caught up with the songwriter he opened up about his experience on the show, dished on who was the toughest judge on the panel and revealed his career aspirations.

When the final three were announced in the second to last episode and singer-songwriter Jes Hudak ran backstage triumphantly jaws dropped, Sonyae Elise (who went on to win the competition) and Scotty were in disbelief. Throughout the entire season run resident bad boy Nick Nittoli, was thought to be the one to beat.  Scotty differed, “I didn’t think Nick was the one to beat. I thought Sonyae was the one to beat ‘cause, I felt that the judges really wanted her to win from day one. I didn’t think Jes shoulda stayed but at the same time I think Jes wrote a better song on the finale episode so in that case she did deserve to stay.” He continued, “Overall, I think Nick is more talented. Whenever I underestimated Jes, she came back with some fire. She’s definitely a fighter, and I love to see that drive in her. So I give it up to Jes.”

As far as third place goes, “I don’t think I deserved third place at all,” he said. “I think Jes got second place because she had showed how much she had grown [as an artist] and they did not expect her to write something like that. I think my song [“Beautiful You”] is way more universal than [Sonyae’s and Jes’]. Like I was telling Sonyae about “My Religion” the theme of loving a man like a religion is so controversial especially as a black artist. I don’t know how well that would translate in the community. It’s kinda blasphemous. It’s universal in the sense that you’d think it but that’s something you’d never ever say out loud,” he explained. “Jes’ “Come Alive” was very top 40 but I felt that my song is more relatable everyone has felt like the underdog like they weren’t beautiful and when you stop caring about what people are saying about you, you realize you’re beautiful and I’ve gotten so many emails and support about that song, from people I wouldn’t have expected. That’s why I think my concept was more universal.”

The judges Kara DioGuardi and Jewel provided the contestants with tough love and weren’t shy about telling them they hated a song or how they could have made them better. Although Kara appeared to be the most feared on the show Scotty reveals the toughest judge was Jewel, “She’s so bitchy; she was pregnant so I give her a pass,” he laughed. “…Jewel was the hardest judge,” he revealed, “The thing about Jewel is that she loved, loved Sonyae and just like she said [Jewel] was a lyric snob…” while Scotty was quickly dubbed the melody guy.

Still he took all of the judges’ advice and implements them to his songwriting till this very day. “[I apply] some of the lyrical stuff they were telling me about.” He now makes sure that, “the concept is sound and fleshed out and all the way thought through.” He explained, “On the TV show I got deemed the melody guy because that’s what comes to me the quickest and I don’t technically think that Sonyae is bad at [creating] melodies and I’m not bad at lyrics it’s just that the amount of time we were given melodies come to me quicker and great lyrics come to her quicker. [Throughout the competition] that was what we were critiqued by the most but in reality we’re both good at both. But I definitely took their advice and am working on [fortifying] my lyrical strength.”

Since the airing of the show Scotty’s life has changed “a good amount,” he said. Revealing, “I got signed with a reputable label,” but was unable to divulge further information until the official announcement is made. “I’m having writing sessions and now I’m really being a songwriter everyday which is cool because this is what I’ve been doing since I moved out to LA to do this. Now I’m in the arena up for the challenge being put to work.”

Personally however, he still struggles with finding acceptance from his family as an openly gay man. “Everybody is a little more accepting of you when you’re on TV,” he said with a chuckle. “But it’s hard for them and I understand.” Citing his religious upbringings for the friction, “It’s not that they don’t accept me it’s just that they have to limit their association because of my association [with men] so they can’t really be around me like they use to or call me on the phone like they use to because now I’m [openly] gay. They accept me to [the extent] of ‘I don’t hate you I hate what you’re doing.’ But that’s life, I’m sure it’ll make for some great songwriting.”

The future includes “a lot of shows in NY, LA and New Orleans, a lot of the places I’m known [in] the album is going to be called ‘The Songwriter’s Right’ it’s a concept album, it’s going to be a play on the TV show ‘Platinum Hit’ and it’s going to showcase my songwriting skills as well as me as an artist.” He continued,  “My family’s probably going to get mad and people will get mad cause I’m gonna really put them in my music. Everything that my heart’s gone through, my whole journey I’m going to put it in my songs.” He promises a diverse collection of tunes, “It won’t just be R&B… as a songwriter our right is that we get to write in all different types of genres. We get to write about things that are real to us so that’s the concept of the album. I’m gonna have rock in there, country and pop as much as I want to.”