Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight of Odesza
Interview

Odesza On Growing As Artists And Reaching "Higher Ground"

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The showstopping electronic duo ready 'A Moment Apart,' and reveal the secrets behind their latest single and how they've grown as artists from album to album
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Sep 6, 2017 - 9:34 am

Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight of the electronic production duo Odesza have been putting out music together since their self-released debut album, Summer's Gone, blew on to the scene in 2012.

Odesza gained early praise for their unshackled beats and cinematic melodies, a style energetic dancers and vibing shoegazers alike could bite into musically, and their SoundCloud plays quickly topped 1 million in the year following their indie LP's first release.

The album quickly grabbed the attention of underground heads and Odesza's live set won over discerning festival attendees eager to hear how the nascent future bass scene would evolve. Summer's Gone struck a nerve as fans of the then-highly striated progressive/big-room and U.S. dubstep (read: bro-step) crowds  began to intermingle and seek out new sounds built more around genre fusion and sonic experimentation, and less around the purity of a single dance music form.

They soon found a home with the venerable U.K. record label Ninja Tune, former launching pad for the careers of Daedelus and Floating Points, and current home to names like Bonobo, Amon Tobin, and Machinedrum. With support from Ninja Tune, Odesza's critically acclaimed 2014 album, In Return, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart and spawned RAC's GRAMMY-nominated remix of "Say My Name," a track from the album.

All during this time, Mills and Knight kept their ears open and scoured sites like SoundCloud to seek out young, on-the-cusp vocalists in order to build collaborative relationships.

"A lot of younger artists are hungrier, and more willing to try new things," Mills explains.

As they began writing their third album, the forthcoming A Moment Apart, Odesza opened up the process even more.

"We really wanted to try new things and collaborate in a new way. It was a lot of actually going into the studio, vibing it out with the song, and trying to find a new route together," says Mills. Knight is quick to echo the sentiment, adding, "It was more collaborative this time, as opposed to In Return, where it felt like there was more space between us and the other artists."

On the subject of trying new things, we posed a hypothetical to the pair: Given their penchant for grand scale production and sweeping cinematic melodies, what type of live show would they dream of putting together if they were given a near-limitless budget?

"So … we're floating above everyone …," Mills begins, "No, actually Kanye kinda already did that (laughs)." More seriously, he explains, "We really love cinematic music, and it would be great to bring a full choir, a full drumline — bigger than we've had before — a string section, a horn section. Everything together would be a pretty epic performance. Hans Zimmer-style."

"I don't know how you'd pull it off though. [It's] hard to mix like 80 artists on a stage," Knight laughs.

The duo also shared the story behind the newest single from A Moment Apart, the nostalgic mid-tempo groover "Higher Ground," which they wrote while on a creative retreat at Lake Chelan, just outside of Seattle, Wash.

"We got this email from a fan, which was Naomi Wild, and she sent this a cappella, like an older demo of the track," Mills reveals. "We were about to leave and go get dinner, but we were so inspired by her vocal that we wrote pretty much the whole song right there. It really felt like it wrote itself, which is a rare moment."

A Moment Apart is due out this week, on Sept. 8, and you can still catch Mills and Knight on their 2017 A Moment Apart Tour, which is currently wrapping up its European dates before heading back stateside with plans to hit all areas of the U.S. and Canada between late October and mid-December.

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Noah Cyrus at the MTV VMA Awards in 2017
Interview

Noah Cyrus Talks Katy Perry Tour, Ben Howard, Working With Dad

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The 17-year old singer proves she’s more than just Miley’s younger sister
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Sep 14, 2017 - 10:13 am

Pop singer/songwriter and actress Noah Cyrus has a lot to be proud of.

In the 10 months since her debut single "Make Me (Cry)," featuring Labrinth, was released, she's garnered more than 123 million Spotify streams, the track has been certified platinum by the RIAA and, in less than a week, the 17-year-old will serve as the opening act on 21 dates of Katy Perry's 2017 Witness Tour.

Cyrus' forthcoming debut album, NC-17, is hotly anticipated, and she's even teased that her father, Billy Ray, a country singer/songwriter best known for his hit "Achy Breaky Heart," is a surprise co-writer on one of the album's tracks.

With her career having kick-started at such a frenetic pace, it's safe to say Cyrus has already encountered and had to overcome some big hurdles in the past year: namely dealing with constant questions about her older, and extremely successful older sister, Miley Cyrus.

"Getting over the questions about Miley, and pushing pride aside," she admits. "Not that I don't want to talk about her, because I love her! But that was kinda the time where I had to accept it, and not let it bother me, because that's what comes with it."

For my part, I kept questions about Miley to a minimum and light-hearted — I wanted to know which number she thought was higher: the number of streams she'd gotten to date on her debut single, or the number of questions interviewers have asked her about Miley.

"(Laughing) I get asked a lot of questions … but not, like, every single day, so it's definitely the streams on 'Make Me (Cry).'"

However, at first, Cyrus felt a sense of nervousness and vulnerability prior to sharing her music with the world for the first time, especially given the fast success of the single. But this also became "the best part."

"I was so nervous, but it was probably the best time I've has so far," says Cyrus. "['Make Me (Cry)'] came out, and I went right on to Jimmy Fallon. And then to 'Ellen,' and then to James Corden, and [the] iHeart Awards. It was all the things I wasn't used to, and those were all in the first couple weeks. That was definitely the best part for me."

What helped prepare Cyrus for sharing her most personal music in a big way was her collaboration with multitalented artist and producer Labrinth, with whom she was able to give her own sound a test run in a place she felt comfortable before heading to these huge, public stages.

"I played him all this music that I was uncomfortable playing [for] people, because I didn't know what they'd think of it," she reveals. "I was only really comfortable with him. He really accepted it, and made me feel so much more confident about it. It was instant when we clicked."

While performing your music live in front of massive TV and live audiences may be nerve-wracking at first, given Cyrus was a competitive equestrian rider when she was younger, the pre-show jim-jams she may have felt before a horse show have prepared her for high-pressure situations.

"Oh my God, nothing compares to the pre-horse show jitters!" she gushes. "It's like going on 'American Idol' or 'The Voice' all the time, because you're just going and getting judged for your entire show. [The judges] are there to tell you, 'You did a bad job (laughing).'"

Luckily, it sounds like Cyrus is well prepared for the next major leg of her career, her upcoming tour dates with Perry, along with other openers Purity Ring and Carly Rae Jepsen. Cyrus will be joining the Witness tour for the North American leg from Sept. 19 through Nov. 1, including cities such as Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York.  

"I'm so excited, I've loved Katy since I was super little," she exclaims. "I've always looked up to her and she's such a sweetheart. I feel like I'm not going on the road with a complete stranger, so I'm not going to be quite so nervous and scared."

Being around celebrities such as Perry is likely second nature to Cyrus, but there is one artist who might stop her in her tracks: Lady Gaga. Cyrus credited her favorite track as the GRAMMY winner's piano ballad "Speechless," calling it "an artist's song."

"It's very true to her, and very honest," she adds. 

She counts Ben Howard as another of her inspirations. In Howard's case, however, Cyrus found herself unable to narrow down a single favorite song, instead picking the entirety of the British crooner's 2014 album, I Forget Where We Were.

While Cyrus admitted that she rarely gets starstruck, she said Howard is most likely the one person who would leave her speechless upon meeting.

"I don't think I would say anything. I think I would just stare and be like, 'Oh my goodness, the words I've been listening to actually come out of your mouth!'" she says. "Or I would just be like, ' I love you so much, thank for starting all of this for me,' because really, I don't know if I ever would have gone into a session if I hadn't fallen in love with music, and I really fell in love with his music first."

Cyrus' NC-17 is slated for release this fall, though no release date is set as of this writing. In the meantime, you can catch her on tour with Perry starting Sept. 19.

Interview: Odesza On Growing As Artists And Reaching "Higher Ground"

Jennifer Lopez circa 2000
Feature

1999: The Year Latin Pop Conquered America

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1999 saw an unprecedented dominance of Latin pop sounds in American music, opening the public's ears to multilingual songwriting
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Oct 6, 2017 - 3:15 pm

The U.S. music scene in 1999 saw an unprecedented surge in the popularity of Latin pop.

Hispanic artists and various elements of Latin sounds dominated the charts to such an extent that by the end of the year even artists with no Latin heritage to speak of were looking to capitalize on the movement by recording Spanish-language versions of their singles in hopes of activating the crossover market.

Sure, there were prior Latin crossover rumblings — remember Dru's Hill's 1998 Latin-inflected Top 3 hit "How Deep Is Your Love" from Rush Hour? But most argue that it all started with Ricky Martin.

Ricky Martin

"It was completely sudden, and it had a lot to do with Ricky. After his performance at the GRAMMYs, everyone was on alert, so to speak, and expecting his new album. The first hit, of course, was "Livin' La Vida Loca" with that sensational video. I think that was the beginning." — Leila Cobo, executive director of Latin content and programming, Billboard

As a young man, Martin came to prominence between the ages of 12 and 17 as a member of the GRAMMY-nominated boy band Menudo. The Puerto Rico native was also a successful actor and solo recording artist before he burst onto the U.S. music scene in 1999. In the '90s, he acted in TV series such as "General Hospital" and "Getting By," telenovelas and stage plays, and he'd released four successful Spanish-language albums.

Martin won his first career GRAMMY — Best Latin Pop Performance for Vuelve — at the 41st GRAMMY Awards in 1999, but it was his show-stopping performance of "La Copa De La Vida" that same year that made it clear something big was on the horizon.

Martin's "Livin La Vida Loca" was released one month after his spectacular GRAMMY performance, and quickly became his first-ever No. 1 charting single, holding the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. 

The singer's self-titled fifth solo album — his English debut — was released two months later, and hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 almost immediately. The most successful album of Martin's career, it has gone on to sell well over 15 million copies worldwide. Needless to say, 1999 was a big year for the Puerto Rican pop star.

Leila Cobo, executive director of Latin content and programming for Billboard, was working as Miami Herald's pop music critic at the time, recalls one event that served as an interesting tell sign.

"I went to cover [the signing] and found a line of hysterical girls at 11 a.m. on a school day that went on for blocks," she says. "I had never seen anything like this, ever."

Writing for Billboard roughly a month after "Livin La Vida Loca" hit store shelves, Michael Paoletta, now executive producer, A&R and music supervision for Comma Music, commented prophetically, "In the weeks since [the GRAMMYs], it seems like every record label exec has been in a heated search for the next Latin hottie."

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez had worked as a successful dancer and actress during the '90s, notably appearing as a Fly Girl on Keenan and Damon Wayans' sketch comedy and variety show "In Living Color." In 1997 Lopez earned a huge breakthrough in the leading role as GRAMMY-winning Tejano singer Selena in the titular biopic about her life and tragic death. The Bronx native's performance in the film was lauded by critics and fans alike, putting her in the entertainment spotlight and at the same time making her ripe to become the breakout female star to help propel the Latin pop movement.

Lopez's debut single, "If You Had My Love," was released in May 1999, just a week before Martin's self-titled album hit the shelves, arriving at the perfect time to sate the appetites of stateside listeners. The single climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the best-selling singles in the U.S. for 1999. Lopez's first studio album, On The 6, released a few weeks later, also skyrocketed, debuting at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and ultimately earning triple-platinum status.

"Waiting For Tonight," the second radio single from On The 6, would go on to be nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards.

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The same month that saw Lopez release On The 6 also saw another well-established Latin pop star blow up in the U.S.

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias had previously won his first GRAMMY for Best Latin Pop Performance for his first self-titled 1995 studio album. The Spanish singer also came from an impressive musical pedigree, being the son of GRAMMY-winning Latin pop crooner Julio Iglesias.

"Bailamos," the junior Iglesias' inaugural English language release, was selected for the 1999 blockbuster action flick Wild Wild West, thanks in part to a request from GRAMMY winner Will Smith. The single would top the Billboard Hot 100 and become an immense success, eventually selling more than 5 million copies worldwide.

Almost certainly the biggest success story of the 1999 Latin pop explosion, however, was to be the eponymous band led by then-52-year-old guitar god Carlos Santana.

Santana

"We connected with hip-hoppers. … We connected with middle white America, we connected with Latin America, Africa, Asia, Australia. It's like the Champs-Elysées in Paris: This CD is connected to all the streets." — Carlos Santana on Supernatural, 1999

When Santana's 17th studio album, Supernatural, was released in 1999, the group had been playing live together for longer than the likes of Martin, Lopez and Iglesias had been alive. The album's lead single, "Smooth," featuring Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas, was an absolute phenomenon that year. It spent an astonishing 12 weeks in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Santana's first chart-topping song.

Supernatural would net Santana a total of eight GRAMMYs at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Rock Album, with "Smooth" taking home Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. Commercially, Supernatural would eventually sell more than 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Due to its equally strong chart performance, "Smooth" would be the final song of the decade to stand atop the Hot 100.

The Latin GRAMMY Awards

Following the incredible explosion of Latin pop music in 1999, the year 2000 heralded the inception of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, hosted by the Latin Recording Academy, which was established in 1997 as a counterpart to the Recording Academy.

Nuyorican Marc Anthony would become the first artist to take home the inaugural Latin GRAMMY for Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "I Need To Know (Dímelo)," from his Top 10 1999 self-titled album.

While some later argued that the 1999 Latin explosion was a brief high-gloss blip on the pop culture radar, its impact cannot be underestimated. The 2000s and beyond have seen a steady stream of Latin artists dent the Billboard charts — including Shakira, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, J Balvin, and Nicky Jam, among others. The past year has seen the continuing dominance of Latin sounds in the modern pop scene, with crossover hits such as Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito" serving as but one example.

And the Latin GRAMMY Awards has emerged as The Biggest Night in Latin Music, honoring top Latin music talent and featuring top-shelf performances that thrill millions worldwide — a testament to the staying power of Latin music.

"To have a song in Spanish, and to be in the top of the Hot 100, that's something that rarely happens," Fonsi told CNN regarding "Despacito." "I'm just very proud that Latin music has grown so much and people are just really connecting to it."

Student plays music with headphones
List

Back To School: Students Reveal End Of Summer Soundtrack

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From Kendrick Lamar and Foo Fighters to COIN, Paramore and Khalid, get a taste of the songs GRAMMY U college students are feeling as they head back to school this fall
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Aug 29, 2017 - 4:56 pm

Almost everyone is stoked when summertime rolls around each year, and that usually goes double for college students.

Exams are finished, papers are written, presentations have been delivered, and all that's in front of you is a few months of rest, relaxation, vacation, and vegetation (of the couch-potato variety). But on the flip side of the season, the feelings we experience as we transition back into fall, and by extension the school year, are generally a bit more complex.

Each student views the coming school year through a different lens, their feelings informed by everything from how they left things with their roommates and teachers the previous year, to what they may have accomplished during the summer months, to their excitement (or sometimes lack thereof) for the future as they start the next phase of their scholastic career.

Music is there for us whenever we try to examine and unpack our most complex feelings. The words and melodies written by our favorite artists have the power to strengthen and embolden us, comfort or console, or just let us know that someone else understands.

We asked a group of our most active GRAMMY U students to bottle their feelings in song as they return to school for the 2017–2018 year. Here are the 19 tracks they picked — take a listen, take a read, and take some time to reflect on where your head is at as the summer draws to a close.

 

"Run," Foo Fighters

This new single from the Foo Fighters has been on my playlists all summer. With lyrics like "In another perfect light/we run," that seem to be reminiscing on better summer days, and lyrics that are more forward looking like "We are the nation's stakes/ if everything's erased/what you gonna do?" the song sounds like a classic Foo Fighters jam, which is always helpful for getting me ready to go to class.  — Christina F., Seattle University, class of 2018

"Get It," Kaleb Mitchell

This song describes my motivation for this year and how I want to excel in everything I do. It gives me motivation that, though one may be looked at as the underdog, it is possible to still come out victorious. — Wande I., University of Texas at Austin, Class of 2018

"Young, Dumb & Broke," Khalid

As a second-year law student, everyone is rushing to plan the next two years of their lives in two weeks instead of realizing that life is not a sprint, it is a marathon. We have the rest of our lives to plan our careers, so there is time to enjoy the journey. — Honor W., Howard University School of Law, class of 2019

"Blood & Tears," Joseph

As I'm heading into my senior year, I've spent time reflecting on my time in college, and I truly feel I have put blood and tears into finishing my degree. However, like this song implies, it wasn't easy, but I'm going to finish strong! — Meredith W., Dallas Baptist University, class of 2018

"DNA.," Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar's "DNA." is a confidence booster, and a bold reminder of how limitless the future is when you tap into what's already inside of you and focus on that end goal. — Brandon T., Full Sail University, class of 2017

"Obsession (25/7)," Vice feat. Jon Bellion & Kylie

Not wasting any time, the beat creates an instant vibe that refuses to let you to sit still. The rhythmic high-pitched sounds throughout this song work as a funky humming bird serenading your ear. And with Jon Bellion's smooth vocals leading the verses, by the chorus you're in it! The crazy pallet of sounds used and strong synths immediately hypnotize your body, leaving you with uncontrollable movement. This hit song just exudes happiness and joy; a great way to start off the school year! — Medhan A., Columbia College Chicago, class of fall 2017

"ABC," Jackson 5

It helps me remember that everything can be as easy as 123, and as simple as do re mi, especially as a music student. — Oliver R., California State University, Northridge, class of 2018

"There For You," Martin Garrix feat. Troye Sivan

The song is bittersweet and has a centralized idea around the trust between one person to another. I see the song as my trust toward my school, and the emotions that come with friends, finals, and new experiences that come with each new year. — Marc G., Seattle University, class of 2019

"Unforgettable," French Montana feat. Swae Lee

Going into my last semester of school, I think of how unforgettable my time at Columbia College has been, and how I've grown to be the person I am today. It also has such a summer vibe, I've been listening to this song every day since it came out. — Nicole H., Columbia College Chicago, class of 2018

"Another Day Of Sun," from La La Land

This song is about chasing your dreams, because there is really no other thing you want to or could possibly do, but also a reminder that "when they let you down" there is a new mercy each morning.  I'm excited to "chase all the lights that shine" this school year, as the new year offers a clean slate to have yet another day of sun. — Kenady S., Dallas Baptist University, class of 2018

"Malibu 1992," COIN

This song encapsulates the reminiscence and longing one can have for something/someone, and it relates to how I feel moving on from this summer and going back to school. I am excited for what is ahead of me, but I know I will be nostalgic for the simplicity and memories of this past summer. — Saloni J., DePaul University, class of 2020

"Hard Times," Paramore

Lyrically, the song perfectly describes the majority of college students' mindset midway through a semester. Ironically, the song's dynamic is very upbeat. I like to think that, despite the hardships that academics may bring, there's an acceptance that academics will be difficult, but we may push through and strive if we choose to. — Maxwell Y., Texas State University, class of 2018

"The Queen," Lady Gaga

This song captures my excitement to take on new challenges and helps me unleash the confidence I need to take on my new classes and upcoming performances/showcases! When I'm feeling stressed out, I'll remember I can be the queen that's inside of me! — Kira M., Los Angeles College of Music, class of 2018

"2U," David Guetta feat. Justin Bieber

Above all, this song is about devotion, and if I have learned anything about college or the music industry, it is that there is truly no limit to what you can achieve if you commit fully in body, mind, passion, and honesty. — Lucky B., Musicians Institute, class of 2018

"Glorious," Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey

After a semester of studying abroad, I cannot wait to get back to school, and back to GRAMMY U! This song captures my excitement about the upcoming school year, and how motivated I'm feeling for another great year.  — Gabrielle R., George Washington University, class of 2018

"Wish (Komm Zu Mir),” Thomas D. feat. Franka Potente

The song is a soundtrack from Run Lola Run, a movie in which the protagonist runs relentlessly to subvert fate. I'm starting my final year in college, and this song helps prepare me for an extremely hectic semester. — Evie W., Agnes Scott College, class of 2018

"Molasses," Hiatus Kaiyote

The song describes a person who doesn't know their future, but they stay fearless regardless. It's something I resonate with at the beginning of a crazy last year. — Bria D., Pepperdine University, class of 2018

"Bellyache," Billie Eilish

My college experience has been rather underwhelming as far as knowledge and growth are concerned … my classes haven't pushed me much, so most of my time is spent teaching myself how to grow as an artist based upon real world experiences. I chose this song because it embodies how psychotic school makes me feel. — Butch "OddKidOut" S., Drexel University, class of 2018

"The Future," San Holo feat. James Vincent McMorrow

We all think wayyy too much about our careers and where we are headed in the future. Stop thinking so much about the future and be present in the now. — Janette B., master's student, University of Miami, class of 2018

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MC Lyte in 2017
News

Smithsonian Plans Definitive Hip-Hop Anthology Box Set

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Learn how you can contribute to the definitive anthology of rap and hip-hop history
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Oct 17, 2017 - 5:15 pm

The Smithsonian National Museum Of African American History & Culture launched a new 30-day Kickstarter campaign around creating a definitive anthology of some or the most socially influential music of the last 40 years.

The Smithsonian Anthology Of Hip-Hop And Rap box set will include a 300-page booklet, complete with extensive liner notes, essays, and photos that "will illustrate different social and political trends within the genre, such as police brutality, feminism, and Afrocentrism." The touchstone of the collection will be a 9-CD set comprised of more than 120 tracks that exemplify the musical progression, sonic experimentation, and lyrical evolution of rap and hip-hop over the past 4 decades.

"[The Anthology] will also serve as an extension of the objects and stories of hip-hop already displayed in the galleries of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, offering perspective on the African American experience and its impact on American culture," according to the Smithsonian's Kickstarter project description.

Curatorial support for the endeavor comes by way of an advisory board comprised of artists — including Chuck D, MC Lyte, Questlove and 9th Wonder — industry veterans, authors, journalists, music critics, and university scholars. In addition, the advisory committee reached out to more than 50 artists, DJs, photographer, filmmakers, and members of the hip-hop community for input on the track list and final package for the anthology.

The Kickstarter campaign will run through Nov. 16. Pending a successful campaign, the Smithsonian Anthology … is expected to release in December 2018.

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