Lemont Native Steve Grand Talks YouTube Fame, Future Plans

July has been a whirlwind month for Lemont native Steve Grand, whose life changed overnight when his first music video—a gay-themed loved song—went viral on YouTube.

On July 2, Grand, an aspiring songwriter, released the video for "All-American Boy," a country-rock ballad about unrequited love. The video has attracted more than 1.5 million views and thousands of fans on Facebook and Twitter. 

Grand also attracted the attention of media outlets across the country, including Good Morning America, the Associated Press, Windy City Live and several radio stations.

Grand, who graduated from Lemont High School in 2008, discovered he was gay in eighth grade. Although "All-American Boy" is based on his own experience falling for a straight friend during summer camp, Grand said the story is one that transcends sexual orientation.

"The song is not about being gay," Grand said. "I've been able to relate to straight people my whole life and the way they experience love. I hope people are smart enough to realize that everyone has an 'All-American Boy,' whether they're gay, straight, or a man or woman."

Patch recently caught up with Grand to discuss his overnight success and what the future holds for his music.

PATCH: Your song, "All-American Boy," has been the talk of the Internet the past few weeks. What has this experience been like?

GRAND: I'm so impressed with the response it's gotten. It's brought on a lot of pressure and stress in some ways, because I always want to produce my best work and tell stories from my heart. But more than anything, I'm extremely grateful. The song has reached a lot of people, and I think it's had a deep impact.

PATCH: In your interview with Good Morning America, you got very emotional talking about the song and the experiences you had growing up as a gay teenager. What makes this experience so emotional for you?

GRAND: I think it was just the whirlwind of everything, but the song is also really personal. This was like taking a chunk of my soul and passing it over to the Internet, which is one of the cruelest things in the world. It's full of merciless people who can really tear you apart. It's scary.

PATCH: What has been your favorite moment or experience during all of this?

GRAND: I did an interview with a Canadian radio station, 92.5 KISS FM. The interview was with their morning hosts, Roz and Mocha. It was right after my Good Morning America interview, which was really overwhelming and emotional, and it was just a ton of fun. (Roz and Mocha) were so cool and funny. They were all screaming the words to my song, which was really cool because they're really big names over there. It's like if Ryan Seacrest were to sing the lyrics to one of my songs here. It was a really cool moment to hear that. The whole experience just made me feel lighter. I tend to get caught up in the anxiety and pressure of getting all this attention, but that interview made me relax and have fun.

PATCH: When did you write "All-American Boy"?

GRAND: I wrote it last year at a bonfire party. My friends and I were sitting around, jamming at the piano. That's where it all began.

PATCH: You mentioned that you've been writing songs for several years. Why did you choose to release "All-American Boy" first?

GRAND: I think it's just shaped so much of who I am. Not being able to be with the person you love is a big part of songwriting. I've personally written so many songs about that. 

PATCH: You maxed out your credit card to make the video. Why make such a risky move?

GRAND: I sort of became obsessive about getting the video done. I wanted to release it by July, so I only had a month. I was a mad man. It was the only thing I cared about and the only thing I could think about. Telling that story was the only thing in the world I wanted to do.

PATCH: What was it like growing up in a small, close-knit community like Lemont, particularly as a gay teenager?

GRAND: It definitely wasn't something that was talked about or acknowledged. It was difficult for my parents at the time. I was in therapy for five years, but by the end of it I realized that I wasn't going to change. In a lot of ways having an experience was really good because I had someone to talk to and I learned a lot about myself.

PATCH: You've said in other interviewed that you consider yourself a songwriter, more so than a singer. What do you ultimately want to do—write, sing, produce?

GRAND: I want to do it all. I've primarily been a songwriter. I got into it to express the way I feel and create that emotional resonance. My voice has been something I've had to work on. I'm not the best singer. But I have a message and something I want to say, so I consider myself an artist.

PATCH: Do you have plans to start performing outside of Lemont and Chicago?

GRAND: Once I have enough music to tour, I think I'll definitely hit the road. I'm so thrilled and grateful for the response so far, I feel like I have a duty to give people that honestly and authenticity and to go out and see them so they can experience my music live. They deserve that.