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GRAMMYs On The Road With Robert Randolph And Michael Franti

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Backstage with Robert Randolph and Michael Franti at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am
GRAMMY.com

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival, held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-nominated pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph and eclectic artist Michael Franti.

Randolph discussed songwriting, performing live, creative influences, and his most recent release, Robert Randolph & The Family Band Live, among other topics.

"All music influences me," said Randolph. "I listen to everything. … I've been getting a lot of licks from Frank Sinatra these days."

Combining elements of soul and funk, Randolph's unique guitar style is an anomaly for an instrument associated with country music. His band Robert Randolph & The Family Band released a live album, Live At The Wetlands, in 2002 and followed with their studio debut, Unclassified, in 2003, which garnered a nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album. Randolph's work has been lauded by fellow guitarists such as Eric Clapton, who was a special guest on their third album, Colorblind, in 2006. We Walk This Road was released in 2010 featuring 17 tracks, all of which feature a "message of hope and ability to uplift," according to Randolph. Released in 2011, Robert Randolph & The Family Band Live is their first live collection since 2002. Randolph is currently on tour throughout the United States with select dates scheduled through August.

Franti discussed performing live, music education and memorable moments in his career, among others.

"I have moments all the time when I play," said Franti. "[Seeing] someone in the crowd that you really touched [is] why I've always done music, [because] I've had records that moved me when I was at my lowest of lows."

Raised in Oakland, Calif., Franti got his musical start as a member of several hip-hop collectives, including the Beatnigs, Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy and Spearhead, the latter with whom he recorded the 1995 album Home, which featured songs exploring social issues such as homelessness and AIDS. Continuing in a socially conscious direction, in 1997 Franti released Chocolate Supa Highway, which explored themes of kidnapping and police brutality, followed by 2001's Stay Human, which expressed Franti's advocacy of love and believe in freedom through individuality. Franti's debut solo album, Songs From The Front Porch, was released in 2003. He reconvened with Spearhead for 2006's Yell Fire! In 2008 Franti released All Rebel Rockers, which peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200. Franti's most recent release, 2010's The Sound Of Sunshine, climbed to No. 17 on the Billboard 200, his highest-charting album to date.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival. 

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GRAMMYs On The Road With Childish Gambino And Valerie June

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Backstage with Childish Gambino and Valerie June at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am
GRAMMY.com

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival, held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including rapper/actor Childish Gambino and folk singer/songwriter Valerie June.

Childish Gambino discussed music education, creative differences between music and TV and his major label debut, Camp, among other topics.

"It was kind of a concept album that I made for teenagers," said Childish Gambino regarding Camp. "I don't feel like there's a lot of music made for teenagers. … I made it for [the] 13-year-old me."

Childish Gambino is the musical project of comedy actor Donald Glover. It began as a solution to Glover's search for someone to rhyme over beats he was creating in his spare time. In 2008 Glover released his first album as Childish Gambino, Sick Boi, and followed with 2009's Pointdexter. In 2010 he released two mixtapes, I Am Just A Rapper and I Am Just A Rapper 2. Another full-length album, Culdesac, was released in 2010.

Childish Gambino subsequently landed a record deal with Glassnote Records and in 2011 released his major label debut, Camp, which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200. Aside from music, Glover performs with his sketch comedy group, Derrick Comedy, and appears on the TV comedy series "Community."

June discussed the differences between the business and artistic side of the music industry, social media and working with the Black Keys, among other topics.

"Little things would come to me that I wanted to tell the world, the whole world," said June. "I think that's what's so good about Facebook. So many good things that happen in the world, you can just get on your microphone and put it out there."

Combining elements of folk, soul, blues, and traditional Appalachian elements, Memphis-based singer/songwriter June began performing professionally at age 19 as part of the husband-and-wife duo Bella Sun. As a solo artist, she drew local attention performing at folk festivals and workshops, and released two albums, 2006's The Way Of The Weeping Willow and 2008's Mountain Of Rose Quartz. For her forthcoming album, June collaborated with GRAMMY winners Booker T. Jones and the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. The latter co-produced and co-wrote several songs and plays on the album.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival. 

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GRAMMYs On The Road With Evanescence And Kenny Wayne Shepherd

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Backstage with Evanescence and Kenny Wayne Shepherd at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am
GRAMMY.com

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival, held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-winning rock band Evanescence and GRAMMY-nominated blues/rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee discussed the creative versus the corporate side of the music business, social media and winning a Best New Artist GRAMMY.

"It was kind of surreal," Lee said regarding winning two GRAMMY Awards with Evanescence in 2003. "Our first album had just come out that year and it was kind of just like a whirlwind, but a huge honor. … I'm very proud of my GRAMMYs."

Formed in Little Rock, Ark., Evanescence emerged as one of the most popular post-alternative bands of the '00s on the strength of their major label debut, 2003's Fallen. The album cracked the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Bring Me To Life." Fallen garnered the group their first two GRAMMY wins for Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance for "Bring Me To Life," and also earned an Album Of The Year nomination. After several shifts in the band's lineup, The Open Door followed in 2006, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earning a GRAMMY nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance for "Sweet Sacrifice." The band's most recent release, 2011's Evanescence, climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, Evanescence's third consecutive album to crack the Top 5.

Shepherd discussed his musical journey, being nominated for a GRAMMY and his most recent release, 2011's How I Go.

"When I signed my first record deal at 16 … I had no idea what to expect," said Shepherd. "Just the fact that people were showing up to see me play was good enough for me. … It was just about getting to play music. The fact that I've been doing this now [for] over 20 years and still have a career that's thriving [is] a real testament to our fans and the kind of music that I do."

Born in Shreveport, La., Shepherd began playing guitar at age 7. At 13 he was invited to perform onstage with New Orleans bluesman Brian Lee. Shepherd subsequently formed his own band and performed at local clubs at conventions. At 16 he earned a record deal with Giant Records and released his debut album, 1995's Ledbetter Heights, which topped Billboard's Blues Albums chart. Shepherd released Trouble Is… with the Kenny Wayne Shepherd band in 1997; it also peaked at No. 1 on the Blues Albums chart and earned Shepherd his first GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the title track. Shepherd has continued to top the Blues Albums chart with albums including Live On (1999), 10 Days Out (Blues From The Backroads) (2007), Live! In Chicago (2010), and How I Go (2011). Shepherd's most recent GRAMMY nomination came in 2010 for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Live! In Chicago.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival. 

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GRAMMYs On The Road With The Civil Wars And Yo Gotti

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Backstage with the Civil Wars and Yo Gotti at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am
GRAMMY.com

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival,  held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-winning indie folk duo the Civil Wars and rapper Yo Gotti.

The Civil Wars' John Paul White and Joy Williams discussed winning a GRAMMY, current projects and advice for aspiring artists, among other topics.

"Once the 'solo project' debuts, we'll end up going into the studio as soon as we can," said Williams, referring to her forthcoming newborn child as her "solo project." "We [haven't] set a deadline for when we want new music to come out, we just want to make sure we get songs that we love and then make decisions from there."

The Civil Wars were formed in 2008 after Alabama native White and California native Williams met at a songwriting workshop in Nashville. They played their first live performance as a duo at the French Quarter Cafe in Nashville, and their second at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, Ga., subsequently releasing a digital album, 2009's Live At Eddie's Attic. In February 2011 the Civil Wars released their debut album Barton Hollow, which garnered the duo their first two GRAMMY Awards for Best Folk Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the title track at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in February. The Civil Wars are currently on tour throughout the United States, Europe and the UK with select dates scheduled through January 2013.

Yo Gotti discussed musical influences and his current projects, among other topics.

"To me it's a pretty even balance," said Yo Gotti regarding the business and creative sides of the music industry. "You just keep one from the other."

Born Mario Mims in Memphis, Yo Gotti draws on influences such as of Dr. Dre, Master P, N.W.A., and the late Tupac Shakur, among others. In 2000 Yo Gotti released his first album, From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game, followed by 2001's Self-Explanatory, 2002's Block Burnin', Vol. 1, and 2003's Life, the latter of which featured Yo Gotti collaborating with GRAMMY winner Lil Jon on "Dirty South Soldiers." Back 2 Da Basics was released in 2006 and peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. Several mixtapes followed and in 2012 Yo Gotti released his major label debut, Live From The Kitchen, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival. 

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GRAMMYs On The Road With Bush's Gavin Rossdale And Alvin Youngblood Hart

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Backstage with Gavin Rossdale and Alvin Youngblood Hart at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am
GRAMMY.com

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival, held May 4–6 as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-nominated Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and GRAMMY-nominated blues singer/songwriter Alvin Youngblood Hart.

Rossdale discussed recent changes in the music industry, musical inspirations, songwriting, and recording Bush's most recent release, 2011's The Sea Of Memories.

"Going into a studio every day to work is what really does it for me," said Rossdale. "Putting yourself in a chair to do something is sometimes the hardest part about [songwriting]."

Formed in 1992 by Rossdale and guitarist/violinist Nigel Pulsford, Bush was one of the first post-Nirvana British bands to garner a successful following in the United States. Their debut album, 1994's Sixteen Stone, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Top 40 hits "Comedown" and "Glycerine" as well as "Machinehead" — the latter climbing to No. 43 in May 1996 after appearing on the soundtrack to the film Fear. For 1996's Razorblade Suitcase, the band recruited producer Steve Albini (PJ Harvey, Nirvana, Pixies) and the album shot to the top of the Billboard 200, with "Greedy Fly" and "Swallowed" cracking the Top 10 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart; the latter also garnered the band their first GRAMMY nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. Two studio albums followed, The Science Of Things (1999) and Golden State (2001), but the band officially disbanded in 2002. Rossdale reemerged in 2005 with his new project, Institute, and three years later released his debut solo album, Wanderlust, which peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard 200. Bush reunited in September 2010 with a new lineup featuring Corey Britz (bass), Chris Traynor (guitar) and original drummer Robin Goodridge. In September 2011 Bush released The Sea Of Memories, which peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200.

Hart discussed the differences between the business and creative sides of the music industry, music education and artists he'd like to perform with, among other topics.

"The hardware influences me creatively," said Hart. "Just getting my hands on the instruments … I never would have guessed when I was 14 [or] 15 years old that I was going to get so deep into the inner workings of the instruments."

Hailing from Oakland, Calif., Hart's passion for acoustic blues was first sparked while visiting his musician grandparents in northern Mississippi. Hart began playing guitar in his early teens, inspired by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, the Rolling Stones, and Jimmy Reed, among others. While stationed in Natchez, Miss., after joining the U.S. Coast Guard in 1986, Hart began playing at local bars. His first career break came in 1995 when he opened for Taj Mahal at a jazz club in Oakland. In 1996 Hart released his debut album, Big Mama's Door, followed by 1998's Territory, the latter of which peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Blues Albums chart. Start With The Soul was released in 2000, followed by 2002's Down In The Alley. The latter album garnered Hart his first GRAMMY nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album. Hart's most recent album, Motivational Speaker, was released in 2005.

Come back to GRAMMY.com tomorrow for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At The Beale Street Music Festival.