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Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

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SXSW: Keith Urban's Kinetic Keynote keith-urban-talks-graffiti-u-julia-michaels-musicares-sxsw-2018

Keith Urban Talks 'Graffiti U,' Julia Michaels & MusiCares | SXSW 2018

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From his musical upbringing to his new album and sobriety, the GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter went deep during his keynote discussion at SXSW
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Mar 16, 2018 - 5:06 pm

As if SXSW 2018 doesn't have enough cool stuff going on — the panels, the bands, the networking, the parties, the culture of Austin, Texas — one of this year's keynote speaker sweetened the deal just a little bit more.

GRAMMY winner Keith Urban took the stage in conversation with GRAMMY Museum Executive Director and "Required Listening" podcast host Scott Goldman on March 16. The duo covered a wide range of topics, including the singer/songwriter's early music memories, how Ricky Skaggs influenced his career, the art of collaboration, memorable career advice, and why he's a huge fan of MusiCares and Post Malone.

The New Zealand native was quick to credit his drummer father for turning him onto his love of country. As a 5-year-old, Urban had the chance to see the legendary Johnny Cash in concert, which captured the young artist's imagination.

"What I remember from that concert is just how loud the crowd was," Urban recalled. "I remember just the roar of everybody when this guy walked out on the stage and it's never left me, and the power of when he played guitar and sang was an extraordinary thing."

By age 6, Urban was taking guitar lessons and learning from the country records spinning in his parents' house as well as the local bands in his area. When he discovered the "chicken pickin'" style of guitar players such as Skaggs, the deal was sealed.

Urban also discussed how his unique musicality stems from his affinity for collaborations. Not only has he recorded with other country artists but he's also worked across many genres, including artists as diverse as the Rolling Stones, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and many more.

Indeed, his upcoming studio album, Graffiti U, will feature a collaboration with "Issues" singer/songwriter Julia Michaels, as well as borrowing a sample from country great Merle Haggard on another track.

Julia Michaels Deconstructs "Issues," Writing Songs | "Required Listening" Podcast

For his part, Urban feels collaborations keep his music fresh while also playing to his appreciation for all music genres and their creators, whether they are an EDM electronic-only musician or the classic instrumentalist.

"I'm a big believer that it's all still musicianship," said Urban. "If you're doing it on your MacBook Pro or you don't play an instrument … they still have to compose these things like a painter putting paint together in a such a way that it creates a compelling image. That's as valid to me as a guy sitting there playing guitar."

Urban further solidified his stance when asked by an audience member about his current favorite contemporary artist outside of country music.

"Post Malone because he's got his own thing, it's insane," Urban answered. "I don't even know what it is. I don't think he knows what it is, which is beautiful. It's just an incredible fusion of things — singer/songwriter, hip-hop, R&B, soul. It's just all out there and I love it."

His penchant for fusing genres and forging his own path as a singer/songwriter, while it looks effortless now, wasn't always an asset to Urban. He recalled his early days playing shows around Nashville, Tenn., when a record label employee followed his band religiously, yet there was no indication the label wanted to sign him. When the guitarist finally asked why, the employee had some sage words of wisdom for the emerging artist.

"You're just really unique and it'll be your biggest curse until it becomes greatest blessing,'" Urban recounted. "And as cheesy as that might sound … what I took from that was stay the course and it's just going to take time."

With Goldman guiding the conversation, Urban went deeper on more personal topics, including his path to sobriety.

"It's such a personal thing, sobriety, for each person," Urban said about his journey. "I wished I gotten sober many, many years before I did but it is what it is. I'm glad that I finally got here almost 12 years later. I think for me it's made it possible to do the things I do."

Urban revealed that the Recording Academy-affiliated charity MusiCares was a driving force behind him getting help in the 1990s. The organization's MAP Fund helped pay for his first rehabilitation treatment, which is part of the reason he has lent his support to not only MusiCares but other charitable causes throughout his career.

To conclude the panel, audience members expressed their appreciation for Urban's music, including fans from as far away as Canada, Brazil and France. For Urban, who will play a special showcase at SXSW at Stubb's BBQ on March 16, it's clear that his reach will continue to make waves in the music industry for years to come.

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Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

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Keith Urban To Jade Bird: 7 Of The Best Things We Saw At SXSW

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From Keith Urban and T.I.'s standout sets to Rubén Blades' documentary and much more, check out some of this year's top festival moments in Austin, Texas
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Mar 19, 2018 - 1:26 pm

At SXSW 2018 in Austin, Texas, we took you on a tour of the most happening parts of the city, brought you to the doorstep of some of the hottest new acts we saw during the festival, and went inside some of the conference's best panels, including the explosion of K-pop and what happens to reality TV singing competition stars once their time in the spotlight is up.

Austin's South Congress Boasts Vintage Charm

Even with all this, there's still so much more to see and do at SXSW, so we wanted to bring you a few other highlights from  the festival. Here are seven things that jumped out at SXSW this year.

1. Keith Urban Live At Stubb's BBQ

It was announced just days before the festival that Keith Urban would bring his out-of-the-box brand of country to SXSW festival attendees at a special showcase at Stubb's BBQ on March 16 following his keynote. Man, did Urban deliver during his couldn't-miss set. He played to a packed house at Stubb's outdoor amphitheater, covering many of his hits such as "You Look Good In My Shirt" and "The Fighter" and even premiering some new music from his upcoming album, Graffiti U. At one point, Urban climbed on a balcony in the crowd and gifted a lucky audience member with the guitar off his back.

2. Rubén Blades Gets Candid

He may be a nine-time GRAMMY winner, but Rubén Blades has been historically pretty quiet about his personal life. It seems now he's pulling back the veil with a new documentary, Rubén Blades Is Not My Name, that focuses on the salsa legend's life. The film had multiple screenings during SXSW where the Panama native was on hand to speak with audience members. In addition, during a conversation moderated by NPR journalist Felix Contreras, we learned even more unexpected facts about Blades. Case in point? Blades has earned two law degrees.

3. T.I. Headlines Stubb's BBQ

Shortly after a screening of the first two episodes of "Rapture," the latest Netflix series chronicling the life story of groundbreaking hip-hop artists, T.I. headed over to Stubb's for a headlining set. The crowd to get in the venue wrapped around the sidewalk as T.I. pumped out some next level swagger. Rappers Dave East, Rapsody, Wifisfuneral, and Just Blaze joined the set and the evening filled the block with amazing beats and rhymes.

4. Women In Music

We've already covered a lot of the ways SXSW celebrated women this year, but it bears repeating. Not only did the women-centric panels bring attention to issues often unique to women in the industry, but the music lineup was awash in female artists, whether it was Rapsody's blistering set at The Belmont,  the Mrs' philanthropic act of "kindness," Pussy Riot's high-octane punk protest music, the quieter sounds of Lucy Rose, or country-rock singer/songwriter Jade Bird.

5. Discovering New Acts

SXSW has a reputation for bringing emerging artists to center stage, and many of the people we talked to during the festival came away with a host of new music they are totally digging right now. There were so many great new acts, we can't possibly cover them all. But if you need a short list of places to start, check out Americana singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus, electro-pop producer/rapper Demo Taped, rockers Vista Kicks, and Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Andrea Cruz, and these seven other artists on our list.

6. Celebrating The Live Music Capital

Austin's Deep Cultural History On Rainey Street

Austin is dubbed the live music capital for a reason, making it the perfect city to host SXSW each year. With 6th Street, Rainey Street and South Congress serving as the epicenter of all the action, each venue offers its own vibe. There's The Sidewinder, the famed Paramount Theatre, The Belmont, which hosted SXSW's Korea spotlight, and so many more. A stroll down the streets yielded the sounds of rap, country, rock, pop, and more emanating from the buildings, while street musicians, such as a sax player or a drummer, brought the sound of Austin to life.

7. A Focus On Music Creator's Rights

#musicmodernizationact #sxsw2018

A post shared by Dina LaPolt (@dinalapolt) on Mar 16, 2018 at 8:11pm PDT

This year's SXSW programming included not one, but several panels that focused on rights for music creators. Of note, Music Modernization Act: Changing the Licensing Landscape discussed the historic agreement in the music industry for the passage of the MMA, which would bring much needed change to how music creators get paid. In addition, the panel Paid in Full: Fixing Music Rights for Artists featured a similar discussion, providing an overview for attendees on upcoming solutions to making sure songwriters and artists get paid fairly for their work.

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Keith Urban, K-Pop, Women In Music: Go Behind The Scenes At SXSW 2018

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Check out our daily SXSW Recording Academy updates from on the ground in Austin, Texas
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Mar 19, 2018 - 4:38 pm

Monday, March 19

  • What's SXSW all about for the artists who perform at the festival? We're glad you asked because that's exactly the question we posed to 11 artists at this year's festival. From Dorothy to Brandy Clark and Grupo Fantasma, find out what they had to say.
     
  • Post-SXSW syndrome getting you down? From Keith Urban and T.I.'s standout sets to Rubén Blades' documentary and much more, we've rounded up seven of the festival's top moments.

Sunday, March 18

  • "I do it so women can know anything a man can do, we can do just as well, if not 10 times better," said GRAMMY-nominated rapper Rapsody during SXSW. From standout showcases to thought-provoking panels, and spanning artists from Rapsody to Pussy Riot, we rounded up five ways how the Austin, Texas, festival put women in music front and center.
     
  • There was a ton of amazing music filling Austin this weekend at SXSW. From innovative electronic pop sounds to soulful blues and one-of-a-kind voices, we rouned up 7 on-the-rise artists we heard at SXSW who you should keep on your radar. 
     
  • When you need a little vintage charm, take a stroll through Austin, Texas' South Congress neighborhood, "old downtown." Nestled just south of Lady Bird Lake, the area boasts boutiques, eateries, galleries, and music venues that will take you back in time. We captured South Congress in action during SXSW 2018, giving you just a taste of the best Austin has to offer.

    Austin's South Congress Boasts Vintage Charm

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Saturday, March 17

  • It's "a lot different" according to some natives. Get a taste of what makes Rainey Street a consistent top attraction in Austin, Texas, not only at SXSW but year-round.

    Austin's Deep Cultural History On Rainey Street

  • There was a fresh breeze of kindness at SXSW this year, and four-piece female band the Mrs was a big reason why. We had a front-row seat for the group's Kindnesspalooza Music Fest and learned how drummer Andra Liemandt and her bandmates are all about playing music, being kind and giving back to the world.
     
  • Millions of viewers tune into singing competition shows such as "The Voice, "America's Got Talent" and "American Idol." But what is life really like after the cameras turn off and the show moves on to the next season, especially if a contestant doesn't win? We got a little insight thanks to the panel Now What? Life After Reality TV Singing Shows, featuring former singing compeition contestants Blake Lewis, Cas Haley and Nakia. 

    About to kick off our What Now? SXSW Panel. #lifeaftertv #sxsw #sxsw2018

    A post shared by BLAKE LEWIS (@blakelewis) on Mar 17, 2018 at 11:33am PDT

Friday, March 16

  • Talk about an amazing conversation! Go inside Keith Urban's SXSW keynote discussion during which the GRAMMY winner touched upon his musical upbringing, sobriety to his new album, Graffiti U.

    .@KeithUrban speaking at #SXSW 2018 today! pic.twitter.com/dKb99pI5bZ

    — SXSW (@sxsw) March 16, 2018

     

  • At SXSW 2018, 6th Street once again shines as the "classic" epicenter of the city's incomparable live music offerings, coming alive with street performances, makeshift stages, packed venues, bustling bars, and music of all genres. Get a closer look at what makes 6th Street a destination for musicians and music fans alike.

Austin's 6th Street Comes Alive At SXSW

Thursday, March 15

  • What could be better than great music, food, drinks, and the chance to mingle with creatives from across the music industry on a warm night under the Texas stars? For hundreds of Recording Academy Texas Chapter members and their guests, the annual Texas Chapter Block Party presented just this opportunity. Take a lookg inside the event for yourself and find out what attendees had to say about the networking, SXSW, and the night's live music courtesy of R&B singer Mélat, country singer/songwriter Brandy Clark and Latin funk collective Grupo Fantasma.

    Inside The 2018 Texas Chapter Block Party At SXSW

  • If you've been hesitant to get onboard the K-pop revolution express, now is the time to commit. The latest proof was offered in the form of SXSW 2018's panel How K-Pop Grew Beyond Niche, which illuminated why K-pop is such a revolutionary modern genre, with help from a very special guest: BM from K-pop group Kard. Go inside the panel with our exclusive coverage. 
     
  • Neil Young and Daryl Hannah premiered their new experimental western film called Paradox before a packed house at Austin's Paramount Theatre during SXSW. "We made this in the spirit of lighthearted fun," Hannah announced before the screening, "So we hope you can relax your brains." Open up your mind and check out the full story.
     
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Mélat

Mélat

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SXSW 2018: Brandy Clark, Mélat, Grupo Fantasma Rock Texas Chapter Block Party

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From amazing networking opportunities to a taste of all the great music Texas has to offer, take a peek inside the annual Recording Academy bash
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Mar 16, 2018 - 7:14 pm

What could be better than great music, food, drinks, and the chance to mingle with creatives from across the music industry on a warm night under the Texas stars? For hundreds of Recording Academy members and their guests, the annual Block Party presented just this opportunity.

Inside The 2018 Texas Chapter Block Party At SXSW

Held at the Four Seasons in downtown Austin, Texas, on March 15, the Recording Academy Texas Chapter Block Party proves year-after-year to be one of the hottest parties during SXSW, and this year it didn't disappoint. The party provided a chance for people in the industry from across the country to come together and get to know each other a little better over drinks, food and live music.

"I come to the Block Party every year, this is my third year," said singer/songwriter Vincent Powell. "I come here because I can network with some really talented people that are part of the music business."

"This is my first time here at the Block Party. … The highlight was the connections that I got while I was here," added Amanda Sapp, publicist and KPFT-FM radio station personality. "It's an amazing experience. I got a chance to meet a lot of great people in the industry. I got a chance to meet governors, attorneys. I got a chance to meet a lot of different people who are making major moves in the industry, so it was a great experience for me."

One of the most magical parts about the evening's networking opportunities for attendees was that making new connections often felt a lot like meeting old friends.

"The highlight for me at the Block Party was the networking and the friendship that I've made over this timeframe," said Love Life In Music blogger Veronica Robertson. "[What] I loved the most about is just how personable everyone was to connect with each other. … I loved every moment of it."

For Recording Academy Texas Chapter President David Messier, this is exactly the vibe he hopes the event captures each year.

"This is always a signature event," said Messier. "Outside of GRAMMY Week, this is the other time that members of the Recording Academy from all over the country can come together and hang out."

And while they were hanging out rubbing elbows with peers across all facets of the industry, like any Recording Academy event, live music was still a central element, which is especially apropos in the heart of Austin, a city that boasts the origins of everything from psychedelic rock to outlaw country.

"Being here in Austin, live music is always that beat and that vibe that always brings anyone and everyone together, " said Robertson. "They really encompassed all of that tonight."

Up-and-coming R&B singer/songwriter Mélat was the first performer of the evening, delivering a soulful set that captured the Austin native's ability to blend genres into a unique alternative R&B sound.

For music executive Christopher Williams, who attended his second Block Party this year, Mélat was the standout moment of the evening for him.

"I think one of my favorite acts was actually the opening act … Mélat," he said. "It was soulful, R&B-ish, kind of international sound. She did awesome."

Of course, being in the heart of country music, what would the evening have been without a little country flare? Enter GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Brandy Clark who kicked her set off by rousing the crowd,  taking them on a tour though a wide range of what country's all about, from the heel-clicking romps to the breakup songs.

"Brandy [Clark], the country artist, was amazing," said Curtis Rogers, a transportation consultant. "All the artists were amazing, but she really just killed it. The first song out the gate, everyone was moving and dancing and it was just kind of fun. … We're here for the music industry, we're here for the songwriters, we're here for the technicians, everyone, and she really brought it together and said, 'This is what we're here for.'"

To close out the evening, the nine-piece Latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma brought down the house with horn-filled grooves and killer beats that had the whole crowd moving until final call.

"The highlight for tonight was [Grupo] Fantasma," said Powell. "When they started playing, I started [dancing]. I think I actually lost a couple pounds when they were playing. It was so energetic."

For those familiar with Austin and SXSW in particular, there couldn't be a better setting for meeting fellow music professionals while taking in the sounds of a diverse group of artists.

"Austin is special because it has deep roots in music and it has deep roots in music because it has a multitude of people who live here who care about local music and local musicians," said Messier. "SXSW is so special to Austin because another 300,000 from the industry come here to congregate and meet one another and hear new music and experience new things. And they come here because it's Austin."

The annual Block Party is the perfect way to celebrate not only Austin, but the rich musical culture of the entire Texas region.

"Texas Chapter is a region," said Messier. "We have a multitude of genres and a diversity of music that we showed you here tonight on stage. We saw young urban music, we saw country music, we saw Latin music. What's better than this?"

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Keith Urban, Julia Michaels Rock "Coming Home" watch-keith-urbans-coming-home-video-julia-michaels

Watch Keith Urban's "Coming Home" Video With Julia Michaels

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The GRAMMY winner's brand-new video precedes his world tour in support of his latest hit album, 'Graffiti U'
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Jun 1, 2018 - 5:46 pm

On a recent episode of the GRAMMY Museum's "Required Listening" podcast, Keith Urban revealed the inspiration behind "Coming Home," the first track on his new album, 2018's Graffiti U. Now, the GRAMMY winner has released a brand-new video for his upbeat collaboration with Julia Michaels.

"The first song on this album is called 'Coming Home' and I actually used a Merle Haggard sample to spark the song," Urban told "Required Listening" host Scott Goldman. "I didn't have any idea what the song would be about but when I started hearing this rolling guitar intro of 'Mamma Tried,' it immediately made me think of growing up in Australia."

https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1000041009944891393

Go inside Keith's studio and see how his current single #ComingHome was written and recorded! 🎶 pic.twitter.com/2Y5cp3gIsv

— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) May 25, 2018

As described by Rolling Stone, the video displays an American surrealist landscape where Urban, trapped in the city, travels through his mind to the musical escape of hearing and seeing "Coming Home" at a club where he both sits and performs the pump song with Michaels. The surrealism allows Midwestern pastures to mentally connect with the small club venue where his latest hit is itself the answer to urban alienation. It all makes for a great escape in its country-loving self, both as a song and in its refreshing mindscape of a music video.

Urban's Graffiti U, his 10th studio album, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The GRAMMY winner will kick off a world tour in support of the LP on June 15 in St. Louis.

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