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It Goes To 11: Watch Goody Grace Detail His Love For Guitars And Break Down His Unique Woody Guthrie Homage
Goody Grace

Photo: Zain Elwakil

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It Goes To 11: Watch Goody Grace Detail His Love For Guitars And Break Down His Unique Woody Guthrie Homage

In the latest episode of It Goes To 11, singer/songwriter Goody Grace names his favorite piece of musical equipment, shares the music he grew up on, and explains his connection to folk legend Woody Guthrie

GRAMMYs/Feb 2, 2022 - 08:04 pm

In the newest episode of It Goes To 11 — a GRAMMY.com video series in which musicians explain their favorite musical gear — Canadian singer/songwriter Goody Grace details his remarkably cultivated musical journey, dating back to his introduction to the guitar at just four years old to his present-day homage to folk legend Woody Guthrie.

"Every time I get a guitar, I feel like a kid in a candy store," Grace gushes in the video.

Watch Grace break down the meaning behind some of his favorite pieces of equipment in the episode below.

Grace showed off his extensive music background on his 2021 debut album, Don't Forget Where You Came From, receiving producer credits on all 12 of the project’s tracks. The album featured collaborations with blink-182, Burna Boy, Juicy J, Cigarettes After Sex, and G-Eazy.

Learn more about Goody Grace in the video above and make sure to check back for more episodes of It Goes To 11.

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It Goes To 11: Josh Levi Introduces His Yamaha Keyboard That Makes Him Feel "Like A Superhero"
Josh Levi

Photo: Blair Caldwell

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It Goes To 11: Josh Levi Introduces His Yamaha Keyboard That Makes Him Feel "Like A Superhero"

Meet R&B singer Josh Levi's favorite instrument, a Yamaha keyboard gifted by his neighbor who "saw a light" in him — and now, he can't perform without it.

GRAMMYs/Dec 6, 2023 - 05:48 pm

R&B singer Josh Levi finds charm in a used instrument — or, as he says in the latest episode of It Goes to 11, one with "some gray hairs." That's why his favorite piece of musical gear is his trusty Yamaha keyboard, broken in and gifted to him by his neighbor.

"She was like, 'You have a beautiful voice, and I have a keyboard I'm trying to get rid of,'" Levi recounts. "She saw a random light in me that she wanted to amplify."

Instantly, he felt a connection to it: "It felt familiar. It felt like we met before."

The keyboard was also how Levi taught himself how to play piano. It still has the Sharpie marks that helped him remember challenging chords.

But the Yamaha didn't officially feel like it belonged to him until he wrote his first song on it. "The lyrics were, 'I'm glad I still got my imagination,'" he recalls. To this day, it's one of his most memorable tracks, and he wouldn't have had the inspiration without the keyboard.

Today, he feels "like a superhero" whenever he tickles its ivories. "I feel like I'm floating. There's a peace that I have. Something about this keyboard feels like home."

Just in time for the holiday season, Levi released a cover of Boyz II Men's rendition of "Let It Snow." Listen to the track here, and watch the video above to learn more about the rich history behind Josh Levi's first Yamaha keyboard. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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It Goes To 11: Eva B Shares The M-Audio Microphone That Helps Her Share Her Voice With The World
Eva B

Photo: Courtesy of Eva B

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It Goes To 11: Eva B Shares The M-Audio Microphone That Helps Her Share Her Voice With The World

Meet Pakistani rapper Eva B's favorite piece of musical equipment, her trusty microphone that empowers her to make a positive impact on society.

GRAMMYs/Nov 29, 2023 - 06:05 pm

As a rapper, Pakistani artist Eva B's most important tool is her voice, so it's no surprise that her favorite piece of musical tech is her prized M-Audio microphone.

It was the first piece of gear she bought, and the mic introduced her to new software and recording systems. She didn't know it at first, but she could hear herself while recording, which motivated her to write three songs daily.

"I think it gives me the confidence to speak," she explains in this episode of It Goes To 11. "Besides, my voice reaches the whole world through it."

She believes "music can become a medium for changing perspectives. Music transforms philosophies and fosters a sense of peace." And that's what she hopes to achieve with her microphone and songwriting.

Now, it's her medication. Even if she's depressed, her mic infuses her "with energy and optimism" and empowers her to keep spreading positivity with her lyricism.

"That microphone really helped me out," she explains. "I learned a lot of new things" — about herself and the impact of her music.

Press play on the video above to learn more about Eva B's bond with her M-Audio microphone, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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It Goes To 11: Thuy Reveals The In-Ear Monitors That Have Become Her Guiding Light On Stage
Thuy

Photo: Brandon Lee Davis

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It Goes To 11: Thuy Reveals The In-Ear Monitors That Have Become Her Guiding Light On Stage

At every performance, there is one item that Vietnamese singer Thuy must have: her UE Live in-ear monitors. They allow her to hear everything — most importantly, her fans.

GRAMMYs/Nov 8, 2023 - 06:04 pm

When Vietnamese singer Thuy hits the stage every night, she has one item that can instantly calm her nerves and ensure a smooth performance: her Ultimate Ears Live monitors.

"They're my everything," she explains in this episode of It Goes to 11. "When I can't hear, I don't do a good job."

Thuy considers the UE Live monitors one of "the best in the game" because of their crisp quality — she can hear her voice and the instrumentals through any frequency. And she can chat with her band through them, which may be her favorite part: "Sometimes, we'll have banter and a little morale during the show."

The UE Live monitors also have face plate customization, so she likes to switch them to match whatever outfit she's wearing that evening. One day, she hopes to have a personalized plate of her dog to feel his presence even when he's not there.

And most importantly, Thuy can still feel the audience with her UE Lives. "You're almost in your own world. With other ears, you feel like you can't connect with fans, but with these, I can hear them," she reveals.

Press play on the video above to learn more about Thuy's beloved UE Live in-ear monitors, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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It Goes To 11: Sammy Rae Reveals The Keyboard That "Transformed" Her Writing Process
Sammy Rae

Photo: Sara Haile

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It Goes To 11: Sammy Rae Reveals The Keyboard That "Transformed" Her Writing Process

Singer/songwriter Sammy Rae reveals the story behind her favorite instrument, a Korg G1 Air digital piano that unlocked new "artistic and creative autonomy."

GRAMMYs/Nov 1, 2023 - 03:00 pm

Sammy Rae's favorite instrument is also a milestone for the singer: her "first adult keyboard," a Korg G1 Air digital piano.

When she first set up the keyboard — which was gifted to her by the brand — it made her cry because she finally had something "to write on whenever she wanted."

"It's a gorgeous piece of furniture that lives in my room," she mentions in the latest episode of It Goes to 11. "When I open the door and see it here, I know this is my keyboard, nobody else's."

Rae considers the Korg G1 Air to be the "perfect writing keyboard," as it's able to create grand, acoustic and electric piano sounds. "It really was a missing piece in my writing process that's made things a lot easier…it has transformed my writing process," she adds.

Besides its functionality, her G1 Air was symbolic of "a step towards artistic and creative autonomy." No more heading to her closet to pull out a bulky keyboard — this one is ready whenever she desires.

Press play on the video above to learn more about how Sammy Rae's Korg G1 Air keyboard optimized her songwriting process, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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