Monica

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5 Questions With ... Monica

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GRAMMY-winning artist visits The Recording Academy
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

GRAMMY-winning R&B artist Monica recently visited The Recording Academy's headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., for an installment of 5 Questions With … . The singer discussed the importance of music education, mentoring, her favorite GRAMMY moment, social networking, and the importance of being an Academy member.

"I came not expecting to win at all," said Monica of her GRAMMY win in 1998 for "The Boy Is Mine." "I was honored in my heart to be nominated. Winning never crossed my mind. I had never won any award in any form. [I] was just simply surprised, and looking back at the moment, just excited."

5 Questions With... Monica



Monica was born Monica Denise Arnold in Atlanta. As a young girl she performed in local churches and talent show contests, and by the age of 10 she joined the traveling gospel choir Charles Thompson And The Majestics. At age 11 she was discovered by producer Dallas Austin, who offered a record deal with Rowdy Records. In 1995 Monica released her debut album, Miss Thang, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits "Before You Walk Out Of My Life," "Why I Love You So Much" and "Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)." Her sophomore album, The Boy Is Mine, was released in 1998 and yielded two No. 1 hits, "The First Night" and "Angel Of Mine." The album's title track featured a duet with Brandy and earned them each a GRAMMY for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals. Monica received two GRAMMY nominations in 2010, including a nod for Best R&B Album for Still Standing. She is currently working on her latest album, New Life, which is tentatively scheduled for release later this year.

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5 Questions With ... DJ Skee

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Innovative DJ visits Recording Academy headquarters
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

DJ Skee recently visited The Recording Academy's headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., for an installment of 5 Questions With … . During his visit, he discussed the importance of music education, his favorite GRAMMY moment, social networking, the importance of being an Academy member, and creating the live show experience.

"I thought the scene was ready for something new and interactive," said DJ Skee on creating his live show experience, Skeetox. "I always wanted to push the boundaries and do something next-level. [Now] it's kind of like the live, ultimate concert experience."

5 Questions With... DJ Skee

Influenced by such combination DJ/artists as Travis Barker and the late DJ AM, DJ Skee created Skeetox in 2010. Considered to be a sonic and visual extravaganza, Skeetox features DJ Skee on turntables, remixing songs across an array of styles, including hip-hop, pop, electronic, and rock, backed by a six-piece band. Skeetox has been joined by guest artists such as Chamillionaire, Lil Jon, Mike Posner, Snoop Dogg, and Warren G, among others. DJ Skee is a radio DJ on 102.7 KIIS-FM in Los Angeles. He has also produced and remixed tracks for artists ranging from Jay-Z to Quincy Jones, and has collaborated with Akon, Chris Cornell and the Game, among others. In 2007 DJ Skee launched Skee.TV, a production, marketing and content distribution company specializing in creative and high-production music videos and new media marketing. During GRAMMY Week in February, DJ Skee performed at Word Revolution: A Celebration of Hip-Hop, the 13th Annual GRAMMY Foundation Music Preservation Project.

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Josh Baze

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5 Questions With ... Josh Baze

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Brooklyn, N.Y., native rapper lets the beats tell the story
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

Rapper/singer Josh Baze was the recent guest for an installment of The Recording Academy's 5 Questions With … series. Held at The Recording Academy's headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., Baze discussed his favorite GRAMMY moment, music education, utilizing social media, his songwriting process, and working with music video/film director Hype Williams, among other topics.

"Each instrument tells a story," said Baze on his songwriting process. "I take a turning point out of my life and [match] it with the beat and make sure it makes a story that's connected to the people out there, or from my heart to yours. I make sure there's a connection with me and the fans."

5 Questions With... Josh Baze

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Baze, who was inspired by his musician father to start creating music, cites fellow New York natives such as the late Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z as major influences. Baze ventured to Los Angeles to record his debut album #smash, and since then several singles from the album have been released, including "Hollyhood" and "Peroxide." Baze's latest single, "We Made It," will feature an accompanying video directed by GRAMMY-nominated video director Williams, set to debut on Aug. 9. The album is set to be released on Feb. 14, 2012, and will feature collaborations with Deadmau5 and GRAMMY winner Jamie Foxx.

Come back to GRAMMY.com on Aug. 9 to view Baze's exclusive performance at The Academy. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Mindi Abair at the 2011 GRAMMY Block Party

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5 Questions With ... Mindi Abair

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Jazz saxist visits The Recording Academy
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

(A portion of the proceeds from The Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter's GRAMMY Block Party benefitted PATH, a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to ending homelessness for individuals, families and communities.)

Jazz saxophonist and Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter Secretary Mindi Abair was the recent guest for an installment of The Recording Academy's 5 Questions with ... series. Held during the Los Angeles Chapter's GRAMMY Block Party at The Academy's headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., Abair discussed the importance of Recording Academy membership, music education, the emotion behind playing saxophone, and advice for aspiring musicians, among other topics.

"Saxophone is a human voice," said Abair. "It's just amplified through this beautiful piece of metal."

5 Questions With... Mindi Abair

Born into a musical family in St. Petersburg, Fla., Abair started playing piano at age 5 and picked up saxophone and songwriting three years later. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where she earned a degree in woodwind performance and developed skills in styles spanning jazz, rock and R&B. As a session musician she worked with artists including the Backstreet Boys, the Gap Band, Mandy Moore, and John Tesh, among others. Her debut album, 2000's Always And Never The Same, featured nine tracks co-written by Abair and producer/musician Matthew Hager. It Just Happens That Way followed in 2003, peaking at No. 7 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.

Abair released several more albums that cracked the Top 10 on the Jazz Albums chart, including 2004's Come As You Are, 2006's Life Less Ordinary, which spawned the Top 5 Jazz Songs track "True Blue," and 2008's Stars. Abair's most recent release, In Hi-Fi Stereo, was released in 2010 and climbed to No. 6 on the Jazz Albums chart. The album spawned the No. 1 Jazz Songs hit "Be Beautiful." Abair is currently on tour throughout the United States.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow to view performances from Abair's set at the Los Angeles Chapter's GRAMMY Block Party.

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Vanessa Carlton

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5 Questions With ... Vanessa Carlton

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GRAMMY-nominated artist discusses songwriting and her latest project
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
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GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Vanessa Carlton was the recent guest for an installment of The Recording Academy's 5 Questions With … series. Carlton discussed her songwriting process, music education, what it feels like to be nominated for a GRAMMY, and her new album Rabbits On The Run, among other topics.

"Stephen Hawking's A Brief History Of Time was the catalyst for a lot of the ideas that ended up being skeletons for the songs," said Carlton regarding the book's influence on Rabbits On The Run. "It also brought me a peace of mind that allowed me to write more clearly and really push the process forward."

5 Questions With... Vanessa Carlton

Born in the small town of Mitford, Pa., Carlton emerged on the music scene in the early 2000s along with fellow female singer/songwriters Michelle Branch and Nelly Furtado. As a child Carlton took piano lessons from her mother and started collecting a variety of musical influences, including classical composers such as Chopin and Mozart and classic rock artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Neil Young. Following a stint at the School of American Ballet in New York, Carlton attended Columbia University and commenced writing songs, inspired by the likes of Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. Her talents caught the attention of industry executives Ahmet Ertegun, Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair, and soon after Carlton signed with A&M Records. Released in 2002, her debut album, Be Not Nobody, rocketed to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and featured the smash hit "A Thousand Miles." The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Carlton a trio of GRAMMY nominations, including nods for Record and Song Of The Year. In 2004 Carlton released her sophomore effort, Harmonium, and followed with Heroes & Thieves in 2007, both of which cracked the Top 50 on the Billboard 200.

Following a four-year hiatus, Carlton inked a deal with independent label Razor & Tie and commenced recording Rabbits On The Run at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in England. Released in June, Rabbits On The Run features 10 songs, including the single "Carousel," and contributions from producer Steve Osborne, My Morning Jacket drummer Patrick Hallahan and the Upwelling guitarist Ari Ingber.

For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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