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James Bay

James Bay

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
Exclusive: James Bay On 'Electric Light' & More exclusive-james-bay-tina-turner-electric-light-playing-soccer

Exclusive: James Bay On Tina Turner, 'Electric Light' & Playing Soccer

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The GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter describes the inspirational shift he made from his debut album to his stunning sophomore effort and reveals what he does for fun
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 4, 2018 - 1:53 pm

British singer/songwriter James Bay is, among other things, a well-versed music aficionado. From his folk-friendly debut Chaos And The Calm to his electrified pop-tinged new album, Electric Light, simply listen through his first two albums to experience the range of great music he draws inspiration from for songs. In both cases, what makes Bay stand out isn't the influences he draws upon, but rather the way he brings them to life in his music.

We tracked down Bay backstage at Lollapalooza to ask him about his newly released cover of Tina Turner's "The Best," the new slew of influences who informed the sound of his sophomore album, the story behind "Pink Lemonade," and more.

James Bay Backstage At Lollapalooza 2018

You just dropped your version of Tina Turner's "The Best" earlier this week. How did you pick that song to cover?

It was two things, really. Most importantly it's a song I've always loved. And unashamedly, it didn't have to fit any criteria other than, "do I love it?" And it felt unexpected. I think that it's fun to catch people off guard like that. I like lots and lots of different music, and I love to talk about the wide variety of music I like. But… you catch them off guard with something like that, and everybody kind of goes, "Hey, that's exciting, we didn't expect it."

https://twitter.com/JamesBayMusic/status/1024652064704671744

GRAMMYs

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Sure, you definitely have musical range, and I think your new album demonstrates that. In the three years since Chaos And The Calm, how did you choose the direction you took for Electric Light, musically?

Well, one of the first things, and the kind of the main reasons, is that for all of the music that inspired Chaos And The Calm, and that was a long list of [Bruce] Springsteen, Ryan Adams, Adele, Carole King, it's a list of lots of different artists. I tried not to lean on those [influences] for the second record, because I had so many [more], there's so much more music that I love and that I listen to and inspires me. Prince's music, Michael Jackson's music, David Bowie, and then more recently Frank Ocean, and Lorde, and the list goes on and on.

I was listening to that music in the gap between touring Chaos And The Calm and making the new record, and it inspired me more. I love it, as much as I love a lot of other music, and it inspired me enough to respond to make a record, and I guess that's how Electric Light sounds the way it does.

"Pink Lemonade" hit a lot of people's ears as a fresh sound from you. Can you talk a little bit about writing that song and how it came together?

That's one of those songs, if you break down the chords… if you play those chords on a piano, at a slightly slower pace, they exist under a pretty kind of jazzy kind of light. Sometimes when you thrash those chords out on a guitar, it's this kind of nuanced sort of alternative rock sound. But the song started out almost as a ballad. It was John Green who I made this record with, an old friend and a fantastic musician, writer, producer. He was on the piano, I was on a drum kit, playing like a half time feel, and we loved it. And we were getting the melodies together like that, and then we just wanted something that had more and more and more urgency, so I just started to thrash it out on a- I have this amazing old 1960 Gibson Les Paul special, we had a little Fender Champion. The combo was great. And it sounded like a lot of different things, and it sounded fresh at the same time. And the song was born.

Nice. Lastly, what are some hobbies you have outside of music?

Football, soccer. I am a big fan! I'll translate that one there, yeah [laughs]. I love playing. It really removes me from all of what work is. I like to draw. I've always drawn. I like to hang out with people and chat… I like to sit and talk with old friends for long periods of time, and just kind of be a human and live.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

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BONES

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
Exclusive: BONES On "Creature" & More exclusive-bones-creature-music-platform-empowerment

Exclusive: BONES On "Creature" & Music As A Platform For Empowerment

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British rock duo talks about their music and their message backstage at Lollapalooza
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 5, 2018 - 6:17 pm

The abrasive beauty of BONES' sound and look comes through in everything the British rock duo produce. Case at point: their latest single and video for "Creature" shows off their ability to cut razor-sharp and tie it all together with a killer hook. Now that they've relocated to the U.S. and are about to go on tour opening for the likes of Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, The Cult, and Palaye Royale, the future is bright for BONES.

British Band BONES Talks "Creature" & More

Backstage at Lollapalooza, we talked to Rosie Bones and Carmen Vandenberg of BONES to talk about "Creature," how they use music as a platform for empowerment and their edgy sound.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Lizzo

Lizzo

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
Exclusive: Lizzo On Lolla, New Music & More exclusive-lizzo-lollapalooza-new-music-rupauls-drag-race

Exclusive: Lizzo On Lollapalooza, New Music & RuPaul's 'Drag Race'

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We caught up with Lizzo backstage at Lollapalooza to get the latest on her music and career
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 5, 2018 - 1:38 pm

You'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger personality than Lizzo. The hip-hop queen exudes confidence, humor and attitude. Her last album, Coconut Oil, established her as one of today's strongest voices for individuality and self-love, and she gained even more exposure as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. But Lizzo is just getting started.

Lizzo On Lolla, New Music & 'Drag Race'

Right before she rocked the stage at Lollapalooza, Lizzo stopped by to talk about her upcoming set, the new music she's working on, and how Drag Race changed her career.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

GRAMMYs

morgxn

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
Exclusive: morgxn On "Carry The Weight" & More exclusive-morgxn-carry-weight-his-mantra-vital-and-home

Exclusive: morgxn On "Carry The Weight," His Mantra For 'Vital' And "Home"

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In an inspired and thoughtful moment, the singer/songwriter opens up about his latest album and breaks down two of its most impactful songs
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 4, 2018 - 7:07 pm

"In order to have something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done."

So goes the mantra morgxn took on during the making of his latest album, Vital. As the piano chords and melodies started falling into place on songs like "Carry The Weight" and "Home," so did the transformational album that contains them. As he travels across the country sharing the very personal material from the new album, one conversation with the singer/songwriter and you can plainly see he means every word.

morgxn On 'Vital' & His Journey "Home"

We spent some quality time with morgxn backstage at Lollapalooza with morgxn to delve into the process of making the album and focus on two of its standout songs.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Greta Van Fleet

Greta Van Fleet

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
Exclusive: Greta Van Fleet At Lollapalooza exclusive-greta-van-fleet-lollapalooza-when-curtain-falls-touring

Exclusive: Greta Van Fleet On Lollapalooza, "When The Curtain Falls" & Touring

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Jake and Sam Kiszka talk about the iconic music festival, their latest single and life on the road backstage at Lollapalooza
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 4, 2018 - 11:03 am

Rock and roll is alive and well—just ask Greta Van Fleet (or any of their many, many fans). With a pair of scorching EPs fanning the fire burning toward their highly anticipated debut album, the full-throttle rock band from Michigan have made everyone's list lately of artists to keep a close eye on in 2018 lately.

Greta Van Fleet Talk "When The Curtain Falls" & Mo

Brothers Jake and Sam Kiszka cruised by our tent backstage at Lollapalooza to describe the feeling of playing the iconic Chicago music fest, tell the story of how their latest single "When The Curtain Falls" came to be and what life is like on the road when you're one of the hottest bands around.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.