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GRAMMY.com To Launch New Digital Performance Series "Global Spin" To Celebrate Global Music

Eme Alfonso performs at the International Jazz Plaza Festival in 2018

Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

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GRAMMY.com To Launch New Digital Performance Series "Global Spin" To Celebrate Global Music

Launching Tuesday, Sept. 28, "Global Spin" will celebrate exciting genres like Afrobeats, K-Pop and Latin music and will include exclusive performances from Eme Alfonso, Candy Bleakz, and many others

GRAMMYs/Sep 28, 2021 - 06:01 am

Last year, the GRAMMY Awards updated the Best World Music Album category to Best Global Music Album to honor artists across the globe. But why stop there?

On Tuesday, Sept. 28, GRAMMY.com will premiere its latest digital series: Global Spin, a performance series spotlighting artists from around the world. Each episode of Global Spin will feature a performance from a notable artist or group and will celebrate both the creators and their home countries.

Airing biweekly on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m ET on the Recording Academy's official YouTube channel, Facebook page, Instagram page, and Twitter profile, Global Spin is the new home for global music on GRAMMY.com, where the celebration of the genre and the international artist community is the focus. With electrifying artists like Cuban singer/songwriter Eme Alfonso and Nigerian rapper Candy Bleakz confirmed for performances, Global Spin will keep fans of the international music community plugged into one of the most exciting lanes in all of music.

"Music is one thing that transcends borders," Alina Vission, a Content Producer at the Recording Academy and the creator and co-producer of Global Spin, tells GRAMMY.com. "We're excited to celebrate the global music community and take our audience on a trip around the world through music."

"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to help showcase global music and to shine a light on all the talented musicians across the world," Hillary Melin, Senior Editor/Producer at the Recording Academy and one of the co-producers of the series, says of Global Spin.

Read: ​​Olamidé On The Ascent Of Afrobeats, Supporting Newer Artists & His Subdued New Album UY Scuti

A platform to support international artists, Global Spin is born out of the exploding global music scene taking the world by storm today. Whether it be Nigeria's dynamic duo of Wizkid and Tems sweeping the world off their feet with their chart-topping track "Essence" or South Korea's BTS serenading their way into the millions of hearts of the BTS ARMY, global music and artists are dominating today's worldwide music industry like never before.

Shawn Thwaites, a Project Manager in the Recording Academy's Awards department and genre manager for Global Music, partly credits the international growth of global music to the new and rising wave of Afrobeats artists. Still, he notes Afrobeats and global music at large are nothing new; pioneers like Fela Kuti and boundary-pushers like Brazil's Djavan laid the foundation for today's scene decades ago. "It's always been here—we're just catching on," Thwaites says of the global music sound.

As Afrobeats and Afropop continue to rise in the global music sphere, Thwaites also points to "the whole continent of Africa" as well as regions like Brazil, Trinidad, Barbados, Latin America, Asia, and beyond as locations with thriving music scenes to watch. "There's so much music all over this world. Global music is truly global," he reflects.

Read: Altin Gün On 'Yol' & The Future Of Global Music: "We Like To Think We Defy Genres As A Band"

With the ongoing evolution and proliferation of music technology and social media, global music continues to reach new audiences across international borders, while the genre's established artists and rising stars are pushing the sound's boundaries to new heights.

"I would love for global music to find a way to connect more with the fans," Dominican singer/songwriter and producer the Change tells GRAMMY.com via email. "Within the next five to 10 years, I would love to see more activities that help us spend time with our fans, because in the end, we owe them everything that is happening to us."

"The growing interest in global music means a lot more people from different walks of life and different parts of the world will now be able to relate to my genre of music: Afrobeats," Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and R&B singer/artist MzVee adds. "I believe music is a global language that transcends all boundaries, and I want to reach fans in every corner of the world, despite the differences in language and genres. My dream is to see global music reach every corner of the world, for global music to break all barriers, to see my music being consumed by everybody, [regardless of] the differences in language, culture [and] religion."

"I'm very happy that [audiences] want to explore and open new doors. I believe that when we learn from other cultures, we grow as human beings," Eme Alfonso tells GRAMMY.com by email. "I would like the people to understand that when they are listening to music from other parts of the world, they are feeling the history, the reality, and the conflicts of a country, because artists reflect their life and problems through art."

But perhaps Haitian DJ/producer Michael Brun said it best: "Global music is the future of music," he bluntly told GRAMMY.com in 2020. "As the world continues to become more interconnected, music culture no longer has borders. The fusion of sounds breeds innovation, and global music artists are at the forefront of that movement."

That innovative movement now has a new home on GRAMMY.com with Global Spin.

Tune in to the sounds of the world with Global Spin every other Tuesday starting Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m ET on the Recording Academy's official YouTube channel, Facebook page, Instagram page, and Twitter profile.

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Global Spin: Japanese Rock Band MAN WITH A MISSION Tear Up The Stage With An Electric Performance Of "Fly Again"
MAN WITH A MISSION

Photo: Michito Goto

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Global Spin: Japanese Rock Band MAN WITH A MISSION Tear Up The Stage With An Electric Performance Of "Fly Again"

The half-man, half-wolf Japanese metal band MAN WITH A MISSION throw down on stage in this live performance of "Fly Again," a track from their 2011 self-titled album.

GRAMMYs/May 30, 2023 - 05:00 pm

Japanese rockers MAN WITH A MISSION don't reveal their aesthetic in dribs and drabs; within mere seconds, you know what they're all about. And that's getting hyped — in the wolfiest of ways.*

Donning their signature canine headgear, the heavy Japanese collective gets throngs of disciples turnt up as they absolutely lay into a rendition of "Fly Again." The feeling is so new/ Believe in what you do," goes one verse. "Don't you ever be afraid in losing/ That's the clue." A wolf's creed indeed!

In this episode of Global Spin, raise a glass to AAPI month with this hair-raising live performance by a group at the vanguard of Japanese heaviness. And if you'd like to join the thrilled masses in this video, MAN WITH A MISSION are in the midst of a North American tour.

Enjoy MAN WITH A MISSION's electrifying performance of "Fly Again" above, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Global Spin.

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Global Spin: Eva B Basks In The Pakistani Sun In This Exclusive Performance Of "Sunrise In Lyari"
Eva B

Photo: Courtesy of No Limit Muzik

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Global Spin: Eva B Basks In The Pakistani Sun In This Exclusive Performance Of "Sunrise In Lyari"

Hijabi rapper Eva B shows love for her hometown of Karachi, Pakistan, with this feel-good — and fittingly sun-soaked — performance of her new song, "Sunrise in Lyari," premiering on Global Spin.

GRAMMYs/May 16, 2023 - 05:00 pm

Budding musician Eva B is proudly touted as the first female rapper in Pakistan. In just a few years, the young artist has worked alongside international star Kaifi Khalil and had her breakthrough single, "Rozi," featured in an episode of Ms. Marvel. But, it wasn't always smooth sailing for the rising star.

Despite finding her passion for music, Eva B's family feared being a musician would taint her image and make it difficult to find a partner in a conservative country. Eventually, her family realized her calling and encouraged her to continue anonymously. Now, she's making an impact as one of the only veiled entertainers in pop culture.

In this episode of Global Spin, Eva B performs "Sunrise in Lyari," an infectious rap track about her roots in Karachi, Pakistan that she wrote exclusively for Global Spin. The Pakistani songstress wears a traditional dress, hijab and mask as she raps from her local streets.

In an interview with The News, Eva B revealed that Eminem inspired her to start rapping. "I was blown away and fascinated by what I had heard. I went on to ask my friends what this music is really about. I never thought that music could be like this," she explained — and the influence is clear from her intense, rapid delivery. 

Press play on the video above to watch Eva B's crisp performance of "Sunrise in Lyari," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Global Spin.

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Global Spin: CHTHONIC Advocates For Change With A Performance Of "Pattonkan" At Megaport Festival
CHTHONIC

Photo: Chunglun Wu

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Global Spin: CHTHONIC Advocates For Change With A Performance Of "Pattonkan" At Megaport Festival

Live from their home country, Taiwanese metal band CHTHONIC deliver an electrifying performance of their "Pattonkan," a song frontman Freddy Lim wrote after an inspiring conversation with the son of a White Terror victim.

GRAMMYs/May 2, 2023 - 05:00 pm

By blending contemporary and traditional instruments, CHTHONIC bridges the two contrasting sides of Taiwan: the historic, mystic homeland of Austronesian peoples, and its bustling, technology-driven modern image. The metal band often uses cultural mythology, folklore and historical events to drive their music — and their latest single, "Pattonkan," is no different.

"Pattonkan" is CHTHONIC's first studio release since their 2018 album, Battlefields of Asura, written in honor of Kao Yi-sheng, an outspoken democracy advocate executed during the White Terror repression. The song title is a reference to Jade Mountain, a sacred area in Taiwan that Kao mentioned in his final letter to his family.

In this episode of Global Spin, CHTHONIC performs "Pattonkan," live from the Megaport Festival in Takao City, Taiwan. The quintet's energetic performance is charged by headbanging, fans jumping along, and confetti fluttering in the air.

Outside of their musical endeavors, CHTHONIC are active educators and human rights activists, with the group's frontman, Freddy Lim, acting as a member of the Legislative Yuan and a founder of the New Power Party. Lim also worked alongside his wife and bandmate, Doris Yeh, to form the Taiwan Rock Alliance, one of the lead organizers of the Formoz and Megaport music festivals in the country.

Press play on the video above to watch CHTHONIC's energetic performance of "Pattonkan," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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Global Spin: RIOPY (Literally) Takes You To Church In This Angelic Performance Of "Drive"
RIOPY

Photo: Pierre-Emmanuel Rastoin

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Global Spin: RIOPY (Literally) Takes You To Church In This Angelic Performance Of "Drive"

French pianist RIOPY delivers an eight-minute, improvisational performance of "Drive" — a track from his 2018 self-titled debut album — in front of a live audience at a church.

GRAMMYs/Apr 18, 2023 - 05:02 pm

RIOPY is living proof that the power of music transcends language. Since his solo debut in 2018, the self-taught French pianist has conveyed powerful feelings of love and sorrow through precisely composed instrumental piano albums.

"Sometimes I can't find the words to express myself, whether that's in French or English," he told Classic FM earlier this year. "But music is the deepest connection to emotions — it's how I'm able to express an emotion that I can't with words." 

In this episode of Global Spin, RIOPY offers a riveting eight-minute performance of "Drive," a track from his self-titled breakthrough album. He performs the song in front of a live audience at a church, adding three extra minutes of improvisation.

On April 14, RIOPY released his fourth studio album, THRIVE. According to a press statement, THRIVE "evokes the inner strength that guides us to fulfill our goals." 

RIOPY will embark on a tour through North America and Europe to celebrate the album, beginning April 26 in Stockholm, Sweden, and concluding December 8 in Saint-grégoire, France.

Press play on the video above to watch RIOPY's awe-inspiring performance of "Drive," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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