Grian Alexander Chatten (; born 19 July 1995) is an Irish musician, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of music that emerged in late 1977 in the wake of punk rock. Post-punk musicians departed from punk's fundamental elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a broader, more experiment ...

band Fontaines D.C.

Early life

Grian Chatten was born in Barrow-in-Furness, England on 19 July 1995 to an English mother and Irish father. The family moved to Ireland when Chatten was a month old and lived a "nomadic lifestyle" before settling in Skerries, County Dublin when he was twelve years old. Chatten moved to The Liberties in Dublin and attended The British and Irish Modern Music Institute, where he met guitarists Conor Curley and Carlos O'Connell, bass player Conor Deegan, and drummer Tom Coll. Along with a passion for music, the group held a shared interest in poetry, and published three pamphlets together. After graduating, they formed the band Fontaines D.C. in 2017.

Career

In 2019, Fontaines D.C. released their debut album ''

Dogrel ''Dogrel'' is the debut studio album by Dublin post-punk band Fontaines D.C. It was released through Partisan Records on 12 April 2019 on cassette, CD, digital download, and vinyl formats. The album was nominated for Album of The Year at th ...

'' on Partisan Records. The album received widespread critical acclaim, catapulting the band to an international audience. Chatten drew comparisons with post-punk frontmen

Ian Curtis Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 – 18 May 1980) was an English singer, songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer, lyricist and occasional guitarist of the band Joy Division, with whom he released the albums ''Unknown Pleasures'' (197 ...

and

Mark E. Smith Mark Edward Smith (5 March 1957 – 24 January 2018) was an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead vocalist, lyricist and only constant member of the post-punk group the Fall. Smith formed the band after attending the June 1976 Sex Pistol ...

for both his intensity and lyrics. The band quickly followed up with 2020's ''

A Hero's Death ''A Hero's Death'' is the second studio album by Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. The album was released on 31 July 2020 through Partisan Records, less than 18 months after the release of their debut album '' Dogrel''. The album received cri ...

'', another hit with the critics and Chatten's "poetry suffused lyrics" again receiving plaudits. A third album in four years, '' Skinty Fia'' was the band's first to not receive a

Mercury Prize The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize, is an annual Music award, music prize awarded for the best album released by a musical act from the Music of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom or Music of Ireland, Ireland. It was cre ...

nomination, though it again was well received by critics. Chatten launched his solo career with the release of his single "The Score" on 25 April 2023. On 4 May 2023, he released his second single "Fairlies". On 30 June 2023, Chatten released his solo album ''

Chaos for the Fly ''Chaos for the Fly'' is the debut studio album by Irish musician Grian Chatten, best known as the frontman for the post-punk band Fontaines D.C. The album was recorded in two weeks with said band's regular producer Dan Carey and features orch ...

'' on Partisan Records. ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...

'' called it "a curveball worth catching" and gave it four stars out of five. ''The Standard'' declared it "short but sweet, bleak but beautiful" and awarded it four stars. Chatten again received praise for both his vocals and lyrics on Fontaines D.C.'s fourth studio album, '' Romance''.

The Line of Best Fit ''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music. It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...

stated: "Chatten's voice finds new facets. Falling throughout to dramatic whispered hushes, breathy flourishes, hip-hop flows, and confident highs – the rigorous touring life is paying dividends to his abilities."

Personal life

Chatten currently resides in

Kentish Town Kentish Town is an area of northwest London, England, in the London Borough of Camden, immediately north of Camden Town, close to Hampstead Heath. Kentish Town likely derives its name from Ken-ditch or Caen-ditch, meaning the "bed of a waterw ...

, London with his fiancée, to whom he became engaged in 2019. His uncle is former England footballer, Gary Stevens. Chatten experienced frequent

panic attack Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and Comfort, discomfort that may include palpitations, otherwise defined as a Tachycardia, rapid, Arrhythmia, irregular Heart rate, heartbeat, Hyperhidrosis, sweating, chest pain or discomfort, s ...

s prior to being diagnosed with

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple con ...

and beginning medication for it.

Discography

Fontaines D.C.

* ''

'' (2019) * ''

'' (2020) * '' Skinty Fia'' (2022) * '' Romance'' (2024)

Solo

Albums

Singles

Other appearances

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatten, Grian 1995 births 21st-century Irish male singers Irish musicians with disabilities Irish rock singers Living people Musicians from County Dublin People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Post-punk musicians Singers with disabilities