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GRAMMYs

Judah & The Lion

Photo by Daniel Mendoza / The Recording Academy

News
Judah & The Lion On Choosing Hope judah-lion-choosing-hope-tough-times-just-talk-about-it-and-youll-feel-less-alone

Judah & The Lion On Choosing Hope In Tough Times: "Just Talk About It, And You'll Feel Less Alone"

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"Choosing hope and choosing a way forward is something that we all have the power to do," the Nashville trio told the Recording Academy at Lollapalooza 2019
Rachel Brodsky
GRAMMYs
Aug 7, 2019 - 11:23 am

Nashville trio Judah & The Lion, a.k.a. singer/guitarist Judah Akers, singer/mandolinist Brian Macdonald and banjoist/singer Nate Zuercher, recently released a powerful third LP called Pep Talks.

Dealing with tough themes like death and divorce, Pep Talks covers some deeply difficult subjects, but it is also the band's way of connecting with audiences, who might be going through their own hard times.

Judah & The Lion On Spreading Hope Through Music

"It's really wild what people are going through in life. People struggle, whether or not they admit it," lead singer Judah Akers tells the Recording Academy at Lollapalooza 2019. "People are going through stuff. And I think that music is such a beautiful way for us to express that. What we like to share is, 'You're not alone in this.'" 

Akers went on, describing the way fans approach him to tell him how the band's music has helped them get through some difficult times: 

"We had somebody the other day who came up to us and say, 'Your song really helped me out. I was wanting to commit suicide, and I listened to it, and I didn't want to anymore.' And I'm like, 'Oh no, dude, it's OK that you're having those thoughts, but go and talk to someone. Express the way that you feel. Somebody that you trust. If you can go to counseling, talk to a friend, talk to a sibling, someone that you love and trust.'

"Nine times out of 10, or 10 times out of 10, in my experience, that person is going to meet you with so much empathy and solidarity. And then you can just talk about it, and you feel less alone in the world. That's what we're trying to do as humans, is figure this sh*t out. Nobody's got it all together. Nobody's perfect. We're just going for it. Choosing hope and choosing a way foward is something that we all have the power to do."

Check out Judah & The Lion's interview in full above. 

Take A Look Back At Lollapalooza 2019, With Alesso, Loud Luxury, SHAED And More | On The Road

J.I.D at Lolla 2019

J.I.D at Lolla 2019

Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic/Getty Images

News
J.I.D On Lolla Debut, J. Cole & Dreamville jid-talks-lollapalooza-debut-working-j-cole-dreamville-new-music-more

J.I.D Talks Lollapalooza Debut, Working With J. Cole & Dreamville, New Music & More

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"I've been doing a lot of shows this year, but this has been one of the best festivals," the Atlanta rapper told the Recording Academy while On The Road at Lollapalooza 2019
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 7, 2019 - 5:09 pm

Rising hip-hop artist J.I.D, part of J. Cole's Dreamville Records powerhouse squad, has been on fire lately. Late last year, just in time for his Halloween birthday, the Atlanta rapper released his sophomore album, DiCaprio 2, which is filled with big collabs and even bigger energy throughout its 14 tracks.

Just minutes after making his Lollapalooza debut, he explained the mood behind the album, saying: "I wanted it to be a festival-like project… So I made these songs specifically for energy, for working out, for cardio."

J.I.D On Lolla Debut, J. Cole & Dreamville

He also talked about loving the crowd at his epic Lolla show, as well as working with his Dreamville labelmates and Cole on their recent masterpiece album, Revenge Of The Dreamers III. The Atlanta native also discussed the rich music scene in his hometown, his biggest influences and his eclectic list of dream collaborators—Beyoncé, James Blake and Little Dragon all make the list.

Finally, he teased some new music, telling the Recording Academy, "The first one was the introduction to me, second one was all about performances, energy and all that stuff. The next one, you guys will see." Check out J.I.D's interview in full above.



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Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza lolla Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza (that was a someone in the crowds hat) Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza Lollapalooza lollapalooza

A post shared by J.I.D (@jidsv) on Aug 7, 2019 at 11:40am PDT

Looping Guru FKJ Talks Improvising "Tadow" With Masego & Being "A Melting Pot"

Alesso at Lolla 2019

Alesso at Lolla 2019

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
Alesso On Lolla, "Sad Song" & Returning To Roots alesso-lolla-2019-progresso-volume-1-making-new-hardcore-dance-music

Alesso On Lolla 2019, 'PROGRESSO VOLUME 1' & Making New "Hardcore Dance Music"

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"For [the PROGRESSO VOL. 1] EP it felt great, kind of going back to my roots. I'm going to put out another one this year," the GRAMMY-nominated DJ/producer told us
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 4, 2019 - 11:24 am

Swedish DJ/producer Alesso has been turning up clubs around the world for the better half of the last decade. The GRAMMY nominee has released an extensive amount of big dance tracks and worked with a diverse group of big-name collaborators, all the way back to his 2012 breakout single, "Calling (Losing My Mind)" with Swedish House Mafia's Sebastian Ingrosso and OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder.

Between Las Vegas residencies and headline sets at festivals across the globe, Alesso doesn't get to slow down too often. We sat down with him a few days after his headline set at Tomorrowland in Belgium and just a few hours before his set at Lollapalooza 2019. In addition to telling us about his experience at both fests, he also talked about his latest music—including "Sad Song"—and the banger-filled PROGRESSO VOL. 1 mixtape.

Alesso On Lolla, "Sad Song" & Returning To Roots

You're about to headline here tonight. How are you feeling?

I feel pretty good. A little bit jetlagged, but I think I played the stage at the exact same set time four years ago, three or four years ago, and I love it so I'm looking forward to it.

I'm sure the crowd's going to be packed. What's your biggest hope for all the people at your set tonight?

I just hope that everything works in the production. We added a lot of production to it that cost a fortune, so it better be working. That's what I'm hoping, and obviously that people enjoy the show.

Do you get to enjoy Chicago or Lollapalooza at all while you're here?

Not really. I mean for the time I'm playing, that's pretty much what I get to see because then the festival is done. Today I had meetings and other stuff to do, but one day, hopefully. I mean, I would have stayed but I have other shows tomorrow and Sunday.



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BEST CROWD OF 2019

A post shared by Alesso (@alesso) on Aug 2, 2019 at 8:33pm PDT

Making the most of the set then.

Exactly. I'll be like, "Can we stop? I want to go to this other stage."

Speaking of big shows, you recently played Tomorrowland, which looked pretty epic. What did the energy in that crowd feel like for you?

It changes a little bit every year. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's even more great and sometimes it's all right, but this year it was really good. I think it just kind of depends on what set time you have and how the weather is, and obviously what kind of music I play, of course. But I felt this year was one of the best ones.

That's awesome. One of the recent songs you put out was actually a remix of "Sad Song" that you did with TINI. What was it like working together and what was your creative vision going into that song?

I wrote that song like a year ago, with some really great songwriters in L.A. It's a [type of] song that I've never put out before. I've never put out that kind of style and just wanted to experiment with it. I think she had a great voice. She barely speaks English and she nailed it. And in order for me to play it on my shows, it needs to be more of an amped version so I remixed it myself, and I love that version, to play it out, especially. I'm going to play it tonight. Even if you don't know the song, I think you'll still appreciate the remix because it has so much energy and pretty cool melodies.

You remixed it so you can play it at your shows.

I mean I try to make originals original, and then if they need to be adapted to my shows I'll change that. Because before it used to be, you're trying to do both, both have a song the way it is, and it works on your shows. Or I mean, sometimes the song needs to be the way that it is and not trying to push it into another direction.

And one of your other recent projects, the PROGRESSO VOL. 1 EP, is super progressive house. It feels like some of the stuff you're probably bumping at your shows.

Definitely.

Was that project sort of, "These are like the dancefloor bangers I want to play at my shows"?

Yeah, exactly. I hadn't put out anything that sounded like what I've been known for in a while, and we live in this time where we think hits is everything that matters, especially for musicians. But now I feel, especially in dance music, what we need to do is go back and make club bangers and festival songs, because it needs it. That's why, honestly, I have way more effect in making those songs—I mean, I shouldn't say that because it's different with every song. For that EP it felt great, kind of going back to my roots. I'm going to put out another one this year. A lot of new music is on its way that's hardcore dance music.

Listening to it, it feels like this is where you started. Not going backwards though, just kind of like to the root of it.

Yeah. Thank you. It does so much for my live shows. It's like those are the ones that really take off when I play them.

Chicago DJ Whethan Talks New Music, Working With Longtime Faves Strfkr & More

Shaq at Lolla 2019

Shaq/DJ Diesel at Lolla 2019

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

News
Shaq/DJ Diesel On Lolla Debut & DJing Since '88 shaquille-oneil-aka-dj-diesel-lollapalooza-debut-loving-bass-music-djing-88

Shaquille O'Neil, A.K.A. DJ Diesel, On Lollapalooza Debut, Loving Bass Music & DJing Since '88

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"I like bass music. I'm seven foot, 350, I consider myself hard, when I played on the basketball court I was hard. I like the hard drops," the NBA Hall Of Famer told us before his lit Lolla set
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 7, 2019 - 12:56 pm

NBA Hall Of Famer Shaquille O'Neil may be best known for his awe-inspiring moves on the basketball court, but now he's perfecting the art of making crowds go crazy from behind the DJ booth as DJ Diesel. With his Summer League 2019 tour, Shaq has brought his favorite bass drops to clubs and festivals around the world, most recently at Lollapalooza 2019.

The Recording Academy caught up with him before he got the kids dancing at his packed—and apparently very lit—Sunday DJ set. We discussed his musical evolution, love of bass music, how he crafts his sets on the fly, scratching his father's Commodores record after getting his first turntables in the '80s and more.

Shaq AKA DJ Diesel On Lolla Debut & DJing Since 88

"I was taught a long time ago that when you find something difficult, break it down to where it becomes easy. For an artist, being a DJ, it's hard work. Everything has to be done right, so I always break it down. The only common factor that I'm familiar with is large crowds. So, then I say to myself, 'What did I do to make the large crowds go crazy in L.A.?' You make a great play," Shaq said.

He continued, emphasizing that he's not a celebrity DJ, as he's been doing it since before he was famous. At the end of the day, he just loves making people jump and have fun.

"I've been doing this since 1988, so a lot of people, especially on social media, they think I'm doing it for the fad. One, I'm not getting paid anything. I enjoy watching people jump up and down. I take pride in looking at people and saying, 'Okay. You paid money to watch me perform? I'm going to give you your money's worth.' So, it's about the sport. I could have chosen any style music, I like bass music. I'm seven foot, 350, I consider myself hard, when I played on the basketball court I was hard. I like the hard drops."



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JUMP @lollapalooza JUMP

A post shared by DR. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq) on Aug 4, 2019 at 5:21pm PDT

CRAY Talks Singing Live For The First Time At Lollapalooza & Touring Japan With Skrillex

HONNE at Lolla 2019

HONNE at Lolla 2019

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
HONNE On Lolla, 'Love Me / Love Me Not' & New LP honne-love-me-love-me-not-lollapalooza-return-drinking-tea-tour-new-music

HONNE On 'Love Me / Love Me Not,' Lollapalooza Return, Drinking Tea On Tour & New Music

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"I just like [to perform] any song where loads of people sing along, basically. It's one of the best feelings in the world for us," James Hatcher, one half of the British duo electro-soul duo, told us
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 6, 2019 - 5:59 pm

British electro-soul duo HONNE, consisting of James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck, put their musical vibes front and center in 2014, making waves with their debut single, "Warm on a Cold Night." The smooth, longing-for-love song would serve as the title track of their debut album, released the following year.

In August 2018, they followed up with their sophomore album, Love Me / Love Me Not, on which, as the name hints, the first songs are themed around falling in love and second half highlight romantic challenges (alternate half-moon symbols next to the tracks names denote this, too). Even with the duality, the album is a rather sunny, upbeat sounding one. As Hatcher describes it, "in terms of production, we wanted it to be a bit more open, daytime and upbeat, whereas the first album was very nocturnal and chilled out."

HONNE On 'Love Me / Love Me Not,' Tea & Next LP

We sat down with the pair shortly before they returned to the Lollapalooza stage—they also performed in 2017—to chat about the album, new music on the way, how they stay at home on the road—English breakfast tea is must—and more.

So, you guys are going to take the stage here at Lolla later today. How are you feeling about it?

James Clutterbuck: Feeling very great about it. It's been two years since we've played, so we're back fairly soon I would say. And yeah, can't wait. The crowd last time were brill, and I'm sure they'll be brilliant once again.



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3 performances in 1 dayThank you Chicago. Thank you @lollapalooza AND congrats once again to Noah and Teddi who got engaged at our after show the night before

A post shared by HONNE (@hellohonne) on Aug 3, 2019 at 5:13pm PDT

Do you have any pre-stage rituals before a show, or do you just kind of go up there?

Andrew Hatcher: I think at a festival, it's so tight, the turnaround, there's not much time for any rituals really.

Clutterbuck: No, not really.

Hatcher: Just checking we can hear ourselves and getting ready. Pacing around a bit. Maybe have a gin and tonic. And feel a little bit panicked. [laughs]

Clutterbuck: We've started doing press-ups, so maybe we'll include that in our ritual. Trying to get biceps [both laugh] for the first time ever.

Hatcher: Which apparently doesn't do much for his press-ups, but yeah.

You put out a new album, Love Me / Love Me Not, late last year, right?

Clutterbuck: Yeah, yeah.

Do you want to talk a little bit about the style and sounds on it?

Hatcher: In terms of production, we wanted it to be a bit more open, daytime, and upbeat, whereas the first album was very nocturnal and chilled out, so, that's kind of the difference between the two sound-wise as well.

And so, obviously, this Lolla performance versus two years ago, you have new music to play, and you've been touring lately. What's been your favorite new song to play this go around?

Hatcher: I think, maybe, "Day 1." I just like any song where loads of people sing along, basically. It's one of the best feelings in the world for us. "Location Unknown" as well, that's pretty great.

Clutterbuck: Yeah, and "Me & You."

Hatcher: "Me & You."

Clutterbuck: Yeah, it's nice to play the new ones.

Hatcher: We're playing all of them.

here ya go :) pic.twitter.com/i2XhApA1an

— selina (@_selinawang) August 4, 2019

As you mentioned, you're touring a lot and one of you is getting married later this year. Is there anything you do while on tour to stay grounded when you're away from home and flying all over?

Clutterbuck: Well, constantly talking to people back home. So yeah, just kind of trying to, where we can, experience home life wherever possible. But what else? 

Hatcher: I think we've been really careful with who we tour with in terms of our team, so it kind of feels like we've got our own little family everywhere we go. And we wake up, and go and get breakfast together, and hang out all the time basically. And it's nice to keep that, have companionship, rather than just having colleagues, if you know what I mean, have actual friends with us.

Clutterbuck: And lots of tea. Yeah, English breakfast tea.

Hatcher: Yeah. It's ridiculous. Just scrambling around, looking for teabags everywhere we go.

Do you feel like there is, on this album, or maybe in your music in general, part of it that brings you back home? And what influence from England do you feel like is most apparent in your music?

Clutterbuck: Well, "Location Unknown" is basically about being away on tour, and dealing with missing someone back at home. So every time we play that, I kind of...

Hatcher: Think about home?

Clutterbuck: Yeah, think about home. But in terms of just English traits, the whole music has got this kind of quirky feel to it, which maybe reflects a bit on our sort of stupid personalities. 

Hatcher: Yeah. Cheeky little English boys.

What kind of music did you guys grow up listening to? What's at the base of your musical influences?

Hatcher: Loads of '90s stuff. Yes. I mean, just everything. Like Destiny's Child. All that kind of stuff just seeps into you during that age. But for me, Michael Jackson was a massive influence. First gig ever went to, think I was like 10, saw him at Wembley Stadium, which is a big... I don't know if... Do you guys know that place?

Yes!

Hatcher: It's that that famous?

Yeah!

Hatcher: Oh, great! Yeah, so that was nuts. And Quincy Jones' production on all that stuff is amazing. It's kind of similar for you on that-

Clutterbuck: Yeah, similar for me. My sister used to work in a record shop, so I would go in there, and she would blast out hip hop when I was a young teenager. So, she'd be listening to J Dilla and the Beastie Boys, and all sorts of different types of people. I'd just basically listen to whatever she would listen at the time.

Hatcher: And your dad's a rocker, isn't he?

Clutterbuck: My dad's a bit of a rocker.

Hatcher: Yeah, I can remember him upstairs with... Well, his dad has like guitar amps and guitars, and he used to just go up and sing and play guitar, didn't he?

Clutterbuck:  Yeah, he did. He still does. Bless him!

And then, what was the starting point for each of you thinking about making music professionally and seeing it in that lens?

Hatcher: We both set out with the intention of doing that. I mean, even from... This sounds ridiculous, but when I was 12, within a week of starting to learn guitar, I was like, "This is it. This is what I want to do now." And I carried on trying hard at school still, but I'd go home every day and play guitar, and, on weekends sometimes, I'd play guitar for like six hours or something. It was a bit of a joke.

Clutterbuck:  How are your friends from your childhood?

Hatcher: I didn't have any. E, A, D, G, B, and E. That's a really sh*t guitar joke. I think even at that point, I wanted to do it. And then I met Andy when we studied music at university. We just had to slog on for a few more years and hone our craft a bit.

Clutterbuck: I think we first realized, when we first started HONNE, and we'd written "Warm on a Cold Night" and a couple of other tunes, we were like, "Okay."

Hatcher: We were on to something.

Clutterbuck: Like, "I feel like this could be something that people like and grab on to." And we've got lucky, I guess.

You mentioned the first album, it's more of that darker, nighttime feel and this one was more daytime, a little sunnier. What about the next project? Do you already have a vision or plan to go to the studio after touring?

Clutterbuck: Yeah, we're kind of working on it as we go. Every gap between gigs and touring, we're back in the studio. And we're hashing it out as we go along. And, at the moment, it's a bit of a mixture between the second album and the first album. So, it's kind of these two different types of vibes.

Hatcher: We'll see.

Clutterbuck: We will see. We just need to figure it out for ourselves, but we're getting there. And it feels like it's coming along nicely.

SHAED Talk Lolla 2019, Touring The World & The Meaning Of "Trampoline"

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