Singer/songwriter Brynn Cartelli's relationship with the piano dates back to when she was 5 years old. That's when she started learning to play the instrument, later adding voice lessons and guitar to her toolkit in middle school. 

But everything changed for Cartelli in 2018, when she became the youngest person to win The Voice at just 15 years old. The next year, she went on tour, launching into a superstar music career at a whiplash-inducing rate — and the singer says she craved some familiar comforts and reminders of home as she acclimated to life as a touring pop star. 

In this episode of It Goes to 11, meet Cartelli's trusty Nord Stage 3 keyboard, the instrument that helped her feel at home on her very first tour. "I just had it in the back of the tour bus for a long time, and I was writing songs on it," she recalls. 

"Immediately, it just was a little piece of home for me. I was like, 'This is my old best friend,'" Cartelling continues. "Just because I learned piano when I was 5, so that was my first instrument. When I first got the Nord, I was very excited for the adventures we were gonna have together."

The instrument was a reminder of where she came from. Not only did it take her back to her childhood in small-town Massachusetts, but Cartelli says the instrument makes her feel closer to her family. "My mom's father, who I never met, he played piano, and I feel very spiritually connected to him," she adds. "So I think the piano has always been a really emotional instrument for me."

It's also versatile: When she needed comfort and reminders of home, she was able to write simple, story-heavy songs on her keyboard. Now, as she's feeling more confident and experimental, the Nord is continuing to grow and evolve with her. 

"Now I'm at a point where I have a lot more fun in the studio and I'm able to just be creative," Cartelli explains, "and I think that is reflected with my relationship with the Nord."

Press play on the video above to hear Cartelli's full thoughts on her favorite instrument, and check back to GRAMMY.com every Wednesday for more episodes of It Goes to 11. 

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Neo-soul singer UMI describes herself as a "multi-dimensional artist" whose ideas often come to her in the spur of the moment — and she "needs to get it out immediately."

Thanks to her favorite musical gear, the Apollo Twin X interface, she can bring her ideas to life on the go.

"Instead of going directly into your computer [to record], you can use something like this," UMI explains in this episode of It Goes to 11. "It helps to enhance the sound of what you're recording and makes the recording process easier."

Before she invested in her Apollo interface, she says she used to buy cheap ones for $50 or $100: "I thought I was getting the best experience, but then, I went to a studio. They had one of these. Ever since then, I've been like, 'This is my baby!'"

As a self-proclaimed "studio gear nerd," UMI exclaims that the Apollo Twin X isn't just a fancy part of her collection — it's changed her process altogether. "I don't have to book studio time anymore," she says. "I can do it all in my house!"

Press play on the video above to learn more about UMI's cherished Apollo Twin X interface, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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When a faulty extension box burst PsychoYP's equipment into flames, the Nigerian rapper was forced to repurchase everything from scratch. In doing some extra research on replacement items to prevent the accident from occurring again, he discovered a new favorite: his shiny Aston Spirit condenser microphone.

As PsychoYP recalls in this episode of It Goes to 11, once he purchased the Aston Spirit, "I knew I was about to start making some crazy music. The producer looked at me, and I looked at him and was like, 'I feel like we might be onto something.'"

The rapper says the Aston Spirit captures his voice perfectly, and even opened up a new side of his artistry: "It made me express myself more — open my mind a bit more while creating."

Despite the initial pain of losing his equipment, PsychoYP asserts that the accident resulted in a forever piece. "I feel like I'm going to have a catalog of microphones, but this will always be there," he says. "At least in my top two."

Press play on the video above to learn more about why PsychoYP loves his Aston Spirit condenser microphone, and remember to check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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As a longtime fan of Taylor guitars, it was only a matter of time before South Korean singer J.Fla invested in one of her own. But when she finally purchased it, there was a small bump in the road as she waited for it to join her collection.

"This guitar arrived later than expected," she recounts in the newest episode of It Goes to 11. Feeling "nervous and excited" about the delayed delivery, J.Fla says she was "overjoyed" once it finally landed on her doorstep.

J.Fla now considers the guitar her best friend, "because I spend most of my time using this guitar." She plays it when she produces her music and makes melodies.

Besides the fact that the guitar works perfectly for J.Fla's small hands, the singer also loves its design, color, grip, and sound. "This guitar is the dream guitar I had always wished for," she beams.

Press play on the video above to learn more about J.Fla's bond with her acoustic Taylor guitar, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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Korean artist DPR IAN might have abandoned his drumming days, but that doesn't change the fact that it planted the roots for his artistry — which is why he still names his Ahead 5A drumsticks his favorite piece of musical gear.

"I remember my friend showing me a video on YouTube by Slipknot — Joey Jordison," the singer/songwriter, whose birth name is Christian Yu, recounts in the latest episode of It Goes to 11. "That was the first time I got absolutely shook."

Because of his hours of watching the band's videos, he could quickly recognize the tools they used on stage in any instrument shop. After convincing his mom to buy the same drumsticks as Jordison's, Yu drummed everywhere, including his car dashboard, which still has dents today.

Eventually, it was time to perform on the drums live. Having never been in front of an audience, the nerves were so high that he remembers he "blacked out" on stage as soon as the song started playing. "It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life because I froze."

However, DPR IAN says it taught him a valuable lesson: not to become a drummer. But it also showed him that one negative experience shouldn't ruin his entire perspective on music.

"The greatest success is actually from a failure," he declares. "You have to learn how to be bad [at] things."

Press play on the video above to learn more about DPR IAN's history with the drums, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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