K.Flay, 60th GRAMMY Awards nominee

K.Flay

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K.Flay: How Did She Celebrate Her 2018 GRAMMY Nominations?

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Alt-rock singer/songwriter also reveals how her nominations serve as a validation of her "weird hobby growing into an actual job"
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jan 9, 2018 - 5:09 pm

She made a name for herself as the Suburban Rap Queen on the underground hip-hop scene for more than a decade. She's now turned alt-rock radio on its ears with her major label debut, 2017's Every Where Is Some Where, released on Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds' imprint, Night Street Records. She's a graduate from Stanford (class of 2007), where she double-majored in psychology and sociology. And now she's a first-time GRAMMY nominee.

Meet The Nominees: K.Flay | 60th GRAMMY Awards

Meet K.Flay.

Hailing from Wilmette, Ill., K.Flay — born Kristine Flaherty — parlayed her potent mixture of hip-hop and indie rock to wider exposure via an opening slot on the Imagine Dragons' 2017 tour. While music was relegated to an extracurricular activity while in college, her career has gone next level given her 60th GRAMMY nominations for Best Rock Song for "Blood In The Cut" and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Every Where Is Some Where.

"For me, coming from more of an indie DIY background, it's really cool to get this kind of [recognition]," says K.Flay. "[Afterward], I ate a bunch of McDonald's — we got Egg McMuffins and coffees and stuff."

With self-explanatory lyrics such as "The boy I love's got another girl/He might be f***ing her right now," "Blood In The Cut" — co-written with JT Daly — offers a sentiment that anyone with a heart can relate to. And with its spiraling riffs and close-to-the-bone vocal delivery, it also represents a synopsis of K.Flay's hybrid musical approach.

"The inspiration was a very honest feeling of powerlessness, sadness, loserdom, if that's a word," she told AXS.com.

As a contributing engineer to Every Where Is Some Where, K. Flay is also up for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical with fellow engineers Brent Arrowood, Miles Comaskey, Daly, Tommy English, Adam Hawkins, Chad Howat, Tony Maserati, and Joe LaPorta.

"The engineering was a team effort in the truest sense," K.Flay told AXS.com. "Everyone involved put so much time and love into the project, and I hope it's that attention to detail that helped the record stand out."

K.Flay has a full itinerary on the docket for 2018 with her first headlining tour kicking off in Southern California on Jan. 11. During her headline jaunt, she'll have room to stretch out her set list, which will likely include singles such as "Giver" and "High Enough." 

In the meantime, K.Flay is basking in the light of the validation she has received from her peers. And she's looking forward to her first trip to Music's Biggest Night.

"[I] feel really excited to have seen this thing that started out as a weird hobby grow into my actual job."

Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images

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Avenged Sevenfold's "Craziest Record" Earns GRAMMY Nomination

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Guitarist Synyster Gates on how the band's 'craziest' record of their entire career earned them a GRAMMY nomination
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jan 27, 2018 - 10:15 am

After nearly 20 years, seven albums, numerous awards, painful tragedy, and multiple musical evolutions, the members of Avenged Sevenfold have earned their first GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Song for "The Stage."

Meet The Nominees: Avenged Sevenfold | 60th GRAMMY

Progressive, sprawling and epic, "The Stage" is the opening and title track on A7X's seventh studio album, which saw a surprise release on Oct. 28, 2016, and launched the quintet's sound in a bold new direction.

"This was definitely a really crazy record to write," says guitarist Synyster Gates. "'The Stage' in particular is a super-long, thematic, building, progressive opening track that excites you as an artist and it excites you to introduce it to your fans, but you don't think GRAMMYs or radio."

Gates continues, "The irony of this, our last record, Hail To The King — I wouldn't say we were trying to make a sell-out record, but we were trying to make a super-concise, one vibe a song, because we'd never done that before, and so it's got tons of these three-four-minute bangers that seem maybe a little bit more radio palatable, and nothing for that one. But we write the craziest record of our entire career and that's when we get the GRAMMY nomination."

For The Stage, the band enlisted GRAMMY-nominated producer/engineer Joe Barresi (Melvins, Queens Of The Stone Age, Monster Magnet, Tool) for the first time. True to the LP's title, Barresi pushed the band to get the feel of their exhilarating stage show.

"Joe Barresi brought a lot of new things to the table," lead singer M. Shadows revealed on Full Metal Jackie (as told by Blabbermouth). "And one thing that I had never done was to do full-song vocal takes, where you sing from the very first lyric all the way to the end of the song, and as your voice starts straining, and as it gets a little more tough on the vocals, you get that live feel."

Exploring uncharted territory in the studio can be exhausting and time consuming. But in a world where many successful bands feel pressured to restart the album cycle with regularity, taking the time to craft the new album was a conscious decision.

"We kind of reached this point in life where we don't really want to put out anything just to put something out," Shadows told Rolling Stone. "We really don't want it to be like, 'Two years are up. You've had your break; now do another record and get it out there.' We needed to wait until something really inspired us, and that's why the record took a long time to get done."

Definitely worth the wait, "The Stage" gives Avenged Sevenfold their first crack at a GRAMMY win the 60th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 28. A7X are currently on tour in the U.S., headed for Europe this summer, and they continue to push themselves musically, recently releasing their first acoustic recording, Live At The GRAMMY Museum.

Bobby Osborne portrait

Bobby Osborne

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Bobby Osborne: GRAMMY Nod Just What Doctor Ordered For Bluegrass Original

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Learn how the 86-year-old found out about his GRAMMY nomination and why it was the perfect medicine
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jan 23, 2018 - 4:06 pm

Life is pretty sweet for bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne right about now.

Meet The Nominees: Bobby Osborne | 60th GRAMMYs

In 2017 he celebrated a resurgence of sorts. In June he released his latest solo album, Original. He basked in the golden anniversary of the release of the Osborne Brothers' bluegrass classic "Rocky Top," with his brother and equally statured bluegrass performer, Sonny Osborne. And there was a memorable appearance at the annual Bonnaroo festival.

But the master mandolin player/lead vocalist closed the year in grand style with his seventh GRAMMY nomination — and first solo nod — for Best Bluegrass Album for Original. The news proved to be just what the doctor ordered given what Osborne was facing at the time.

"I was in the hospital when I heard about [my GRAMMY nomination]," said Osborne. "I was having surgery at the time. When you're laying in a hospital bed and you hear something like that, it kind of cheers you up a little bit (laughs)."

Kendrick Lamar To Jay-Z: 60th GRAMMY Nominees By Region

Spanning 10 tracks, Osborne's Original features fiery bluegrass interpretations of tunes such as Elvis Presley's "'Don't Be Cruel," Paint Your Wagon's "They Call The Wind Maria" and the Bee Gees' "I've Gotta Get A Message To You." There's also a new recording of the Osborne Brothers' classic "Pathway Of Teardrops" and a reading of the Mel Tillis gem "Goodbye Wheeling." The all-star guest list of collaborators includes the likes of Vince Gill, Jim Lauderdale and Del McCoury.

"There was nothing I could suggest that he wouldn't consider," producer Alison Brown told NPR regarding the album's eclectic track listing. "And if it wasn't right, he said so. Bobby has always been an innovator and his wide openness to trying anything is still very much a part of his musical spirit and genius."

Osborne has a tie to another fellow 60th nominee, Alison Krauss. He co-wrote the title track for Krauss' Windy City, which spawned two nominations for its songs this year.

While Krauss is looking to add to her career total of 27 GRAMMYs, Osborne is looking to land his first — and continue into 2018 on a high note.

"It's gonna be a great feeling if I do win," says the 86-year-old. "It'd be a first for me. … I just have to take it one step at a time, I suppose."

Jazzmeia Horn portrait

Jazzmeia Horn

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Jazzmeia Horn: Past GRAMMY Choir Member Now A GRAMMY Nominee

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Rising jazz singer reacts to her 60th GRAMMY nomination and IDs which artist she's hoping to bump into on Music's Biggest Night
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jan 18, 2018 - 10:33 am

Jazzmeia Horn is an artist to keep an eye — and ear — on.

Meet The Nominees: Jazzmeia Horn | 60th GRAMMYs

The Texas native has been dubbed a "singer to watch out for" and her GRAMMY-nominated debut album, 2017's A Social Call, was described as striking "a deft balance between mid-century jazz and contemporary neo-soul" by Downbeat Magazine.

Kendrick Lamar To Jay Z: 60th GRAMMY Nominees By Region

Horn's career has been on an impressive upward trajectory since she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2013. Two years later, she captured the top honor at the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, which is widely considered an important boost to aspiring jazz artists. As a result of the Monk award, Horn earned a recording contract with Concord Music Group.

Going back even further, while she was in high school, Horn received a big career bump via her participation as a GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session choir member in 2009. As a member of the choir, Horn performed at various GRAMMY Week events surrounding the 51st GRAMMY Awards, including the MusiCares Person of the Year gala and the GRAMMY Celebration after-party.

Now, nearly a decade later, Horn has added another accolade to her résumé: 60th GRAMMY Awards nominee. Issued by Concord, A Social Call is in the running for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

"I started to scream and dance and I got really excited!" says Horn when she learned of the news. "Somebody came and knocked on the door, because I was in a hotel, and she said, 'Is everything OK? People are reporting there was screaming in the room.'"

Mixing vintage and contemporary jazz sounds, Horn's 10-track debut bobs and weaves gracefully through standards such as "I Remember You", anthems such as "Afro Blue" and even choice R&B sides previously interpreted by the likes of Mary J. Blige and the Stylistics, "I'm Going Down" and "People Make The World Go Round." And of course, Horn's sparkling soprano ties it all together.

Horn's prowess will be on display on GRAMMY Sunday as the 26-year-old is set to perform at the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, which will announce GRAMMY winners in more than 70 categories.

Outside of her performance, Horn has one fellow 60th GRAMMY nominee she is hoping to meet.

"I hope I get to run into some of my [favorite artists at the GRAMMYs], someone like Ledisi."

Anthony Hamilton

Anthony Hamilton

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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Anthony Hamilton Wants To Celebrate His Birthday With A GRAMMY Win

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R&B singer/songwriter on recording his album in Nashville, Tenn., and why this year's GRAMMYs will be extra special for him
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jan 28, 2018 - 11:02 am

The name Anthony Hamilton is likely to sound familiar to many of you, as the singer/songwriter is one of the many giants of the R&B genre.

Meet The Nominees: Anthony Hamilton

The Charlotte, N.C., native broke through with his 2003 GRAMMY-nominated album and the title track, Comin' From Where I'm From, and since then he has been innovating with subsequent GRAMMY-nominated recordings, including "Charlene," "Soul Music" and "Best Of Me." He earned his first career GRAMMY win for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "You've Got The Love I Need" with soul great Al Green at the 51st GRAMMY Awards.

Now Hamilton has earned his 17th career nomination at the 60th GRAMMY Awards for Best Traditional R&B Performance for ""What I'm Feelin'," which comes from his 2016 album of the same name. He created the album entirely in Nashville, Tenn., which he credits as providing a lot of inspiration for the sound of the project.

"I recorded the whole album here at Blackbird Studio and I recorded some of it at House of Blues Studios, so this had a whole different overall approach away from the norm in a city, in a place where music is really real, so I felt that," says Hamilton. "And these great studios that I created in definitely had a lot of influence."

Not new to the GRAMMY arena, this year's GRAMMY Awards will be special for Hamilton, as it falls on his birthday. A GRAMMY win might just add a little extra verve to his special day.

"It's on my birthday, which is the 28th of January," says Hamilton. "I'm looking for the sweetest cake."

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