Death Of An Optimist is the incredible debut album from grandson. Following grandson’s debut EP trilogy of Modern Tragedy 1, 2, and 3, which turned Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and musician Jordan Edward Benjamin into a vocal spokesperson on some of today’s most pressing political and social issues, Death of an Optimist continues grandson’s dynamic search for meaningful change with some of his most clear-eyed and assertive songwriting yet.

“It is both an origin story and an obituary navigating hope, anxiety and the state of optimism in 2020,” grandson says about the upcoming record.

The first singles from the album, “Riptide” and “Identity”, follow grandson’s a modern tragedy EP trilogy, and mark his first new music since the launch of the XXwhy acoustic campaign. Beginning this past February, grandson has released a series of collaborations, with each performance joined by a XXwhy podcast episode aimed at creating discourse between creatives working in music and activism. The podcast, hosted by grandson and recorded at idobi Radio, features acoustic performances of the collaborative tracks and discussions with the collaborators, activists, and more. Collaborators and guests thus far include K. Flay, Dreamers, Phem, Zero 9:36 and more. Last year grandson founded his XX Resistance Fund to support causes he and the ‘grandkids’ are passionate about.