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Esperanza Spalding

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Esperanza Spalding Is Making Waves In Her Own Lane

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Meet the Afro-Latina jazz bassist who won Best New Artist at the GRAMMY Awards in 2010, leaving Drake and Justin Bieber in the dust
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Oct 12, 2018 - 5:23 pm

In 2010, a 26-year-old Esperanza Spalding did the unthinkable: she beat Justin Bieber, who had recently released his breakout single "Baby," and Drake, who was months from releasing "Thank Me Later" and had made waves with "So Far Gone," for Best New Artist at the 53rd GRAMMY Awards. The jazz bassist, vocalist and composer didn't have Bieber's and Drake's hype, but the Recording Academy was right, she was an artist that needed to be recognized.

That doesn't mean Spalding herself wasn't surprised at the win. She recalled the moment to the Recording Academy:

"Everybody in the press room backstage asked me the same question: 'How did it feel to beat Bieber?' And I said, 'I didn't beat him, it doesn't work like that. When this is all over, we're all colleagues. We're doing our things in our respective fields. But I'm the one taking that thing home.' I also said that he has great hair and I have great hair, too. And I still feel the same way."

Years later, Spalding may not still be as talked about as Bieber or Drake, but she has been thriving in her own lane. Since her win, she's been open about the attention it has brought her.   "Once the GRAMMY thing happened, the people in the audience started to change. I might have just been imagining it," she said. "But I think I saw more diversity in the audience, and people who would not have come to a jazz concert, but they heard my name on the GRAMMYs and thought, 'OK, what's this chick about?'"

Spalding has made admirers among pop influencers, collaborating with pop music influencers like GRAMMY nominee Janelle Monae and GRAMMY winner Bruno Mars and the late Prince once said, "I thought I could play bass until I met her."  On her own, she has continued to release music that is truly her own—Spalding's style doesn't stay put. The violinist's music ranges from jazz to Afro-Latino to R&B to African Rhythms. Her light voice stands out on its own too, with its calming, cool effect.

Known in the media as a jazz "phenomenon" or "genius," the Afro-Latina's creativity transcends her music. In 2017, Spalding live-streamed the creation of a 10-track album through a span of 77 hours. She reportedly came up with the idea after feeling pressure from her label to expand her audience, according to Consequence Of Sound. For her up-coming album, 12 Little Spells, Spalding has also taken a creative approach and decided to release one song a day until the release of the album on Oct. 19.

Get to know Spalding with the music below:

"I Know You Know"

"The way you look at me when you think I'm not looking, tells me/Your heart's a sleeping giant worn out by someone you loved before me," begins Spalding in her track off her self-titled album, Esperanza, that Genius notes has been one of her favorites to play live.

"Touch In Mine"

Spalding showcases her impressive vocals seconds into "Touch In Mine" one of the songs on her upcoming album, 12 Little Spells. She released the video on Thursday, Oct. 11 with the follwoin words:

"For increasing the level of tenderness in one’s touch, and perceiving and comprehending communication exchanges between animate or in-animate surfaces and the fingertips. increases the sensitivity to vibrational conversation, neurogamy and empathetic response between two or more individuals touching. aides in becoming aware of the energetic exchanges between the fingertips, fingers and palms when they come in contact with any surface (animate or in-animate). To listen with touch, through surfaces, and decipher the information emitted from them."

"Dorothy Dandridge Eyes"- Janelle Monae feat. Esperanza Spalding

In a collaboration with Spalding, Monae pays tribute to Golden Globe nominated, African-American actress, Dorothy Dandrige in a pop/jazz tune.

"Old & Crazy"- Bruno Mars feat. Esperanza Spalding

In a retro, jazz influenced duo, Spalding and Mars sing about ever-lasting love and ask: " Will you still call me baby when I’m old and crazy?"

Hispanic Heritage Month 2018

Music Festival AUS

Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

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Australia's Pill Testing Debate Heats Up Following Music Festival Deaths

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Authorities have threatened to cancel future music fests in order to decrease accidental on-site deaths, but others say pill testing could do more
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 2, 2019 - 1:19 pm

The conversation over whether pills should be tested at Australian music festivals is intensifying after two recent deaths.

A man died on Dec. 30 of a suspected overdose at the Lost Paradise music festival in New South Wales, and another man died on Jan 1. of a suspected drug overdose after attending the Beyond The Valley festival in Victoria.

Pill testing is one possible solution to the overdose deaths continuing to happen at music festivals in Australia, according to medical experts. But the option has been met with resistance.

Although the Australian Bureau Of Statistics can provide date on the number of people who have died from drug-related cases, the data does not show how many occurred "at large scale public events," according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

In 2016, there were 1,808 drug induced deaths in the country, according to the Australian Bureau Of Statistics. Illicit drugs increased that year, with the death rate from Psychostimulants quadrupling since 1999.

Authorities have threatened to cancel music festival events; the New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would do "everything we can" to shut down the Defqon.1 festival after two people died in Sept.

READ: Music Fans Traveled The World For Live Events In 2018

But some say shutting down festivals is not a realistic way of keeping people from taking illicit drugs and welcome pill testing as a way to decrease deaths.

In the past, Berejikian has had a zero tolerance stance on pill testing, stating: "Anyone who advocates pill testing is giving the green light to drugs. That is absolutely unacceptable."

But as other leaders in parts of Australia rule out pill testing at music festivals, following the recent deaths, the Premier is warming to the idea.

"If there was a way in which we could ensure that lives were saved through pill testing, we would consider it—but there is no evidence provided to the government on that," Berejiklian said, according to the Guardian.

READ: Hearing Clinics Help Make Summer Festivals Rock

The country held its first pill test trial at the Groovin the Moo festival in Canberra in April. Participants were able to provide a small sample of their pill(s) or powder to volunteers, who then analyzed the m in a mobile laboratory.

Former Australian Federal Police commissioner has said that the governments have to consider all available evidence to save people's lives, including pill testing.

"Pill testing is not a silver bullet, but it's a proven and positive way to help prevent this kind of tragedy, has majority support from Australians and must be at least trialed on a pilot basis —if it doesn't work, then stop it," Palmer told the Australian.

After the death of the man in New South Wales, Brisbane Water Police district commander Acting Superintendent Rod Peet said, "the best safety message is don't take drugs."

ABC Triple J conducted a survey of 11,000 young people that showed 55% have brought drugs to a festival and 83% would use pill testing, if available.

2019 Music Festival Preview: Noise Pop, Ultra & More

GRAMMYs

Jimi Hendrix

Photo: Ed Caraeff/Getty Images

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New Bill Seeks To Name Post Office In Washington State After Jimi Hendrix

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The bill is supported unanimously and proposes the post office on the street Hendrix grew up on be renamed in his honor
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 27, 2018 - 5:38 pm

Legendary GRAMMY-nominated guitarist Jimi Hendrix's legacy lives on long after he's gone. Now, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) has introduced a bill that would bring his rock and roll spirit to a post office in his hometown of Renton, Wash.

If the bill passes, the post office located at 4301 Northeast 4th Street would be renamed to "James Marshall 'Jimi' Hendrix Post Office Building. Smith introduced Bill H.R.6628 in July, which has gained the support of all eight Washington representatives in Congress and has since moved on from its initial review by the House Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, according to Consequence Of Sound. The street, as the music site notes, is the one Hendrix grew up on. It is also close to the cemetery where he is buried.

"The Puget Sound region is home to a museum that showcases Hendrix's life and work, a park dedicated to his memory, and several memorials visited by thousands every year, " Smith said. "This designation will further honor this iconic artist and his Seattle roots."

READ: Jimi Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland' Turns 50

The iconic guitarist's legacy lives on outside of Seattle too. In 2015, his 1966 Fender Stratocaster was one of the instruments featured in the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Lives' Rare Guitar Exhibit. Hendrix's iconic interpretation of "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the 1969 Woodstock Festival earned him a GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance. 

Picture This: Brooklyn Will Have A Street Named For Notorious B.I.G.

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Giving Tuesday: The GRAMMY Museum Needs Your Help Supporting Music Education

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The GRAMMY Museum provides K-12 students the opportunity to dive deep into music with its programs and camp. This Giving Tuesday, the Museum is asking for your help to continue bringing these resources to them
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 27, 2018 - 5:00 am

The GRAMMY Museum is home to one-of-a-kind music exhibitions and experiences that bring its visitors closer to the artists and music they love. On Giving Tuesday the museum is asking for your help to support the music education programs they provide, in order to continue bringing music access to students in and out of the classroom.

Throughout the year, the museum seeks to give underprivileged communities access to music education and prepare K-12 educators with resources to show the power of bringing music to the classroom. Over the next 24 hours, the GRAMMY Museum has set out to raise $50,000 to continue providing students with tools and resources they need to explore music education.

Past programs include a workshop on the how music has been a catalyst for change throughout wars, including the Civil War and World Wars I and II, as well as lyric writing workshops. The museum also offers tours for local schools and organizes a camp for young aspiring musicians in high school. These student-centered programs help support the museum's mission of using "music as a gateway to learning; inspiring and cultivating creativity, critical thinking and self-expression."

Teachers and parents have seen students positively engage with the programs. Larchmont Charter School teacher Dave DuMonde shared how excited his students were after their visit to the museum.

"They were fully inspired—a new passion has been sparked in our music program," DuMonde said. "I received a resounding response from parents saying how cool and unique of a trip it was. Thank you, thank you for accommodating our group of 5th and 6th graders!"

"As I looked around during the performance, the children were all engaged and paid close attention to the action on the stage," said one teacher who would like to remain anonymous. "In this day and age of budget cutbacks in the Arts Programs in our school systems, programs such as this are MUCH NEEDED."

According to the museum, a donation of $500  provides a whole class of students bus transportation for a visit to the museum in downtown Los Angeles. A visit to the museum deeply shaped Janet L. Jackson's daughter's musical aspirations.

"My daughter left the GRAMMY Museum after her first visit and declared she wanted to be a rock guitarist," Jackson said. "That year she got a guitar for Christmas and has been taking lessons ever since."

The GRAMMY Museum also puts on a GRAMMY Camp in which high school students learn more about careers in the music industry, including songwriting, audio engineering, music journalism, instrumental performance and more.

"Attending camp really pushed me to work harder and study more about production. I've just finished producing a five track EP, and I'm now learning about licensing, distribution, and advertising. I don't think any of this would have happened if I hadn't been given this opportunity and attended GRAMMY Camp," GRAMMY Camp alum Markus said.

For more information on how you can support the music education the GRAMMY Museum brings to students visit the GRAMMY Museum's donation page.

GRAMMY Camp—Weekend Brings Music Career Training To Pittsburgh

GRAMMYs

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Recording Academy Moves To A Community-Driven Membership Model

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Two key elements have been added to the new member submission model in an ongoing effort to build a more representative and relevant membership body
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 19, 2018 - 1:41 pm

In order to continue building a diverse and more representative membership group, the Recording Academy has announced it will implement a new community-driven and peer-reviewed membership model that will shift it into an annual cycle and add two new elements.

The membership's key elements will now include industry recommendations and peer review. Beyond the Recording Academy's basic requirements, new membership submissions must include two professional recommendations to be considered. In addition, a Peer Review Panel of music creators will gather every spring to assess new member submissions with diversity in mind, craft and genre in mind.

"The GRAMMY Awards are already renowned for being a peer-awarded honor, and our new membership model further reinforces that peer-driven commitment to excellence," said Laura Segura Mueller, Vice President of Membership & Industry Relations in a statement.

"Membership is the lifeblood of the Recording Academy and a privilege we strive to uphold. Our new membership model puts the power in the hands of the music community and is designed to build an active, representative membership base that reflects our broader culture. By changing the process to Recording Academy membership, we remain committed to setting a positive example for the music industry as a whole."

These changes are a part of a continuing effort from the Recording Academy to make its membership more inclusive. The shift to an annual membership review cycle is in hopes of looking at both existing members and prospective submissions and, "Be thoughtful about how each individual new member decision stands to shape the collective body."

In October, the Recording Academy announced that it would be inviting 900 music creators to join it as voting members.

The official statement from the Recording Academy can be found here.

Recording Academy Announces 61st GRAMMY Awards Update