Biography
The moniker Granian functions for singer/songwriter Garen Gueyikian in precisely the same manner that Alice Cooper once served Vincent Furnier: an identifier that began as a group designation yet later denoted solo work. Prior to the 1975 release Welcome to My Nightmare, Alice Cooper had identified both a band and its frontman; thereafter the name belonged exclusively to the individual artist. Gueyikian followed an identical path, initially leading the ensemble Granian before retaining the name for his third album, Live Sessions, which he cut alone.
Gueyikian’s chosen idiom of alternative pop/rock remains melodic and tuneful while conveying sensitivity and introspection, regardless of whether Granian operates as a full band or a one-man project. His compositions display a reflective quality that has drawn comparisons to Toad the Wet Sprocket, Live, the Rembrandts, and Guster. Although the New Jersey artist’s 1990s and early-2000s recordings never produced multi-platinum sales, they cultivated a modest regional audience concentrated along the East Coast.
Gueyikian assembled Granian’s original configuration in Holmdel, NJ, in 1995 alongside George Schultz on electric bass and background vocals, Chris Nicoletti on acoustic guitar and background vocals, and Anthony “Faz” Fazioli on drums. The unit first recorded under the spelling Grane, yet switched to Granian upon discovering a Pittsburgh band named Grain whose name had already been copyrighted. Personnel shifts began in 1996 when Fazioli departed to enter law enforcement and was succeeded by Tim Shahady, an acquaintance introduced through former Skid Row drummer Charlie Mills. Nicoletti exited in 1998, leaving Granian to continue as a trio featuring Gueyikian on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Schultz on electric bass and background vocals, and Shahady on drums. That lineup persisted until Schultz departed in 2000. Subsequent bassists included Adam Braun and Tony Maceli—the latter of whom later joined Dough and must be distinguished from Philadelphia jazz vibraphonist Tony Miceli—while Graycon Legere assumed the drum chair after Shahady’s departure. Through every alteration the group’s identity stayed anchored in Gueyikian’s alternative pop/rock aesthetic.
Granian issued its debut album, Without Change, in 1996 and followed it with Hang Around in 2000, both featuring the full band. For the third release, Live Sessions, Gueyikian recorded unaccompanied on acoustic guitar in 2002 and issued the project himself in 2003 via SG Records.
Gueyikian’s chosen idiom of alternative pop/rock remains melodic and tuneful while conveying sensitivity and introspection, regardless of whether Granian operates as a full band or a one-man project. His compositions display a reflective quality that has drawn comparisons to Toad the Wet Sprocket, Live, the Rembrandts, and Guster. Although the New Jersey artist’s 1990s and early-2000s recordings never produced multi-platinum sales, they cultivated a modest regional audience concentrated along the East Coast.
Gueyikian assembled Granian’s original configuration in Holmdel, NJ, in 1995 alongside George Schultz on electric bass and background vocals, Chris Nicoletti on acoustic guitar and background vocals, and Anthony “Faz” Fazioli on drums. The unit first recorded under the spelling Grane, yet switched to Granian upon discovering a Pittsburgh band named Grain whose name had already been copyrighted. Personnel shifts began in 1996 when Fazioli departed to enter law enforcement and was succeeded by Tim Shahady, an acquaintance introduced through former Skid Row drummer Charlie Mills. Nicoletti exited in 1998, leaving Granian to continue as a trio featuring Gueyikian on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Schultz on electric bass and background vocals, and Shahady on drums. That lineup persisted until Schultz departed in 2000. Subsequent bassists included Adam Braun and Tony Maceli—the latter of whom later joined Dough and must be distinguished from Philadelphia jazz vibraphonist Tony Miceli—while Graycon Legere assumed the drum chair after Shahady’s departure. Through every alteration the group’s identity stayed anchored in Gueyikian’s alternative pop/rock aesthetic.
Granian issued its debut album, Without Change, in 1996 and followed it with Hang Around in 2000, both featuring the full band. For the third release, Live Sessions, Gueyikian recorded unaccompanied on acoustic guitar in 2002 and issued the project himself in 2003 via SG Records.
Albums
Live
