Laurence Gartel © 2014 The Recording Academy. All rights reserved

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Laurence Gartel Creates The Official 57th GRAMMY Awards Artwork

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Striking art for Music's Biggest Night features a life-sized version of the iconic GRAMMY statuette wrapped in distinctive psychedelic imagery using vinyl, glitter and prismatic materials
GRAMMYs
Dec 19, 2014 - 5:00 am

The Recording Academy has announced the selection of artist Laurence Gartel to create the official artwork for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The striking work features a life-sized version of the iconic GRAMMY statuette wrapped in the distinctive psychedelic imagery of the artist using vinyl, glitter and prismatic materials. The piece will be used to create the official artwork for Music's Biggest Night and will grace the cover of the GRAMMY Awards program book, telecast tickets, poster, and other promotional materials.

"We are thrilled to have Laurence Gartel create our official GRAMMY Awards artwork as he brought a truly visual element to the iconic GRAMMY statuette," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "His work provides a fitting nod to the vibrancy of the artists, musicians, and creative professionals who we’ll honor at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards."

Gartel has been known around the world as a pioneer of digital art. His innovative and colorful imagery has championed many notable advertising campaigns over the past 35 years. He grew up in New York City, where he was greatly influenced by the punk rock scene, working alongside musicians Stiv Bators, Sid Vicious, Wendy O. Williams and the Ramones. His groundbreaking work has been exhibited in the United States at the Museum of Modern Art, Princeton University Art Museum, and Long Beach Museum of Art, as well as internationally in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Gartel has spent the last several years creating art cars and was the feature of the 113th Annual New York International Auto Show with his own Pavilion. View more of Gartel's work at www.gartelart.com.

Gartel joins a growing list of talented artists, including Shepard Fairey, Charles Fazzino, Frank Gehry, Marcus Glenn, Phil Hansen and David LaChapelle, who have all created the annual official GRAMMY artwork.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held Feb. 8, 2015, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). For updates and breaking news, visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. 

Meek Mill

Meek Mill

Photo: Thaddaeus McAdams/WireImage

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Connecticut Declared Tuesday As "Meek Mill Day" For Rapper's Tour Stop

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The state becomes the third government to honor the bestselling rapper with special recognition for his social-justice activism
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Mar 20, 2019 - 4:46 pm

On March 19, right before rapper Meek Mill performed at Hartford's Xfinity Theater, the State of Connecticut presented the social-justice advocate and battle rapper with the key to the state, declaring the day of his Motivation Tour stop there as "Meek Mill Day." The declaration follows just after his hometown Philadelphia declared March 15–17 "Meek Mill Weekend" and reflects growing awareness of the criminal justice reform issues the rapper champions.

TMZ has an exclusive pic of the backstage presentation by state Rep. Brandon McGee and notes Houston was first, declaring Feb. 24 as Meek Mill Day, Connecticut is the first to honor Meek Mill on the state level. The rapper's Motivation Tour is approaching its March 24 final date in Atlanta, but appreciation for his efforts seems bound to continue.

On Jan. 23, Meek Mill and Jay-Z joined with Van Jones and sports team owners to announce their creation of the Reform Alliance at the City University of New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Meek Mill explained that, "The system is basically targeted at people that look like me." His own troubled experience with incarceration and parole gives him first-hand credibility and his activism on behalf of legal fairness is widely admired. The way Jay-Z put it in Januray was, "These things are disproportionate, and the whole world knows it."

The release of Meek Mill's album Championships on Nov. 30 took him to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the second time, on the Dec. 15 chart. His three previous albums landed at the No. 2 or No. 3 slot. To have two city governments and one state government recognize his combination of music, message and activism adds to this exceptional track record and builds anticipation for what's ahead.

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Katy Perry

Katy Perry

Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

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Songs To Wake Up & "Roar" With From Katy Perry, Aretha Franklin And More

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Power up for the day with this energizing playlist, including songs by the Christina Aguilera, Bill Withers, Kanye West, Britney Spears and more
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Mar 20, 2019 - 4:37 pm

On March 20, O magazine published a playlist meant to wake you up and start the day off right. It credits research in psychology for revealing that "songs with a slow build, a positive message, and a strong beat" can confer mood-enhancing benefits. Just for fun, we also took a look at how GRAMMY recognition shines a spotlight on some of these tracks. It's no surprise that the Queen of Soul herself stood out, as Aretha Franklin's "Respect" took two wins at the 10th GRAMMY Awards.

Other GRAMMY winners in the selection include Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" and "Stronger" by Kanye West. With Britney Spears' song "Stronger" making the list as well, from her Oops!...I Did It Again album, a double-shot might give you twice the energy.

At the 45th GRAMMY Awards, Sheryl Crow was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Soak Up The Sun," and Vanessa Carlton drew three nominations for her "A Thousand Miles," including Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Two songs from O's list received nominations at the 56th GRAMMY Awards, Katy Perry's "Roar" and "Brave" by Sara Bareilles. The latter topped the playlist and its curator reassured us that if you give it a morning listen, "You'll believe you can conquer anything."

Beyoncé made the list twice, once for her solo "Run the World (Girls)" and again for Destiny's Child's "Happy Face." Lady Gaga offers "The Cure" and Kirk Franklin's "I Smile" might help you tackle your day smiling, too. Two songs to help you find up when you're down are "No Tears Left to Cry" by Ariana Grande, from her 2018 album Sweetener, and Demi Lovato's "Skyscraper." 

Whether you say "Hello, Good Morning" with P Diddy or have a "Lovely Day" with Bill Withers, prepare to get out of bed with a spring in your step. Spring is almost here. Check out other songs ready to assist at O — from Earth, Wind & Fire, Ice Cube, Lil' Duval, and Bob Marley.

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Bad Bunny

Photo: Gladys Vega/Getty Images

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Bad Bunny: "If I Have The Chance To Say Something, I Will Say It"

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A new profile in GQ highlights the Latin Trap artist's outspoken side
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Mar 20, 2019 - 3:42 pm

Latin trap star Bad Bunny is well into his X100PRE Tour, but a GQ story published Wednesday, March 20 finds him in Puerto Rico immediately prior to bringing his Spanish-language hits across the U.S. 

Throughout the interview, Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, gets into how he hoped his fans would receive the genre eclecticism on his debut album and reminisces about how people saw his bold, eye-catching style when he was coming up.

"When I arrived, at first a lot of people were like, ‘This kid is different,’ ” he tells writer Isabelia Herrera. He also gets deeper into the part of his identity expression that challenges gender norms, including his love of manicures and coin-sized golden hoop earrings. Puerto Rico, where he is from, is not exempt from experiencing machismo culture. It's to the point where he risks making a huge statement, even if he only slightly challenges gender norms.

“There's people that appreciate what I do; there's people that criticize it,” he says. “There's people who say, ‘Thank you for sticking up [for us], thank you for defending [this].’ There's others that say I'm an opportunist,” he says.

RELATED: How Bad Bunny Is Putting Latin Trap On The Map

Beyond identity, Bad Bunny also talks about the responsibility he feels to use his platform to bring awareness to the socio-economic issues happening in Puerto Rico. 

"Three years ago, I was a citizen like anyone else, and I felt the country's problems just like anyone else," he says. “When the gas prices would go up, I'd scream about it like anyone else; when they'd raise the [expressway] tolls, I'd yell, too. I was broke enough that I depended on scholarships to be able to study. I see the problems up close, and they affect me just the same, because these are people I love.”

But he understands his limits. He continues: "If I have the chance to say something, I will say it—but that doesn't obligate me to always say something, or to shed light on every problem, as if I were a lawmaker."

Read the whole profile on GQ.

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Tierra Whack

Tierra Whack

Photo: Randy Holmes/Getty Images

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Red Bull Music Festival NYC: Tierra Whack, FKA Twigs, Rosalía & More To Headline

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Spanish singer Rosalía will kick things off at Webster Hall on April 30 and Philly rapper Tierra Whack will take over the Rainbow Room on May 10, marking their first headlining shows in New York
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 20, 2019 - 12:56 pm

Red Bull Music Festival NYC announced its 2019 lineup today, featuring Spanish flamenco innovator Rosalía, rising Philadelphia rapper Tierra Whack, British experimental R&B artist FKA Twigs and New York R&B singer Teyana Taylor. The fest includes 10 special events across NYC from April 30–May 18.

Latin GRAMMY winner Rosalía kicks things off at the newly remodeled Webster Hall on April 30, for a show she announced yesterday as part of her first-ever North American solo tour. GRAMMY nominee Tierra Whack will also make her New York headline show debut at none other than the legendary Rainbow Room above Rockefeller Plaza on May 10.

Related: Tierra Whack Talks Creative Process, Netflix Recommendations & Checkers’ Fries

FKA Twigs will perform for two nights, May 11–12, at the Park Avenue Armory, her first shows since 2016 and since recovering from a tumor removal surgery last year.

Taylor, along with an all-female production team, will follow with her "House of Petunia" show on May 15 at the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center.

Other events include a free show in the park with experimental Jazz ensemble Onyx Collective and other NYC-based artists on May 3. California social justice-minded rapper JPEGMAFIA will follow with a performance in Brooklyn on May 8.

Philly artist/activist/electro-poet Moor Mother will share her art concert/art installation piece "Red Summer" at BRIC in Brooklyn on May 9.

Avant-garde electro-pop artist Holly Herndon will present her new show "PROTO," blending A.I., music and art, in Brooklyn on May 16.

To close things out on May 18, Ugandan DJ Kampire and fellow Nyege Nyege Tapes labelmates will mark their U.S. debut in Brooklyn.

More details and tickets, which are purchased individually, can be found at the fest's page.

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