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It Goes To 11: Watch Amanda Shires Open Up About The Fiddle Of Her Dreams

Amanda Shires

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It Goes To 11: Watch Amanda Shires Open Up About The Fiddle Of Her Dreams

In the debut episode of It Goes To 11 — a GRAMMY.com video series in which musicians explain their favorite gear — watch Americana singer/songwriter Amanda Shires discuss how she lost her prized fiddle, but gained one with a fascinating story behind it

GRAMMYs/Dec 16, 2021 - 09:00 pm

Can you imagine your prized instrument shattering onstage? It's every musician's nightmare, and Amanda Shires lived it.

Luckily, when she headed to a music shop to procure a replacement, the GRAMMY-winning Americana singer/songwriter found one with a captivating backstory. She knew it was exactly what she needed.

In the inaugural episode of It Goes To 11 — a GRAMMY.com video series in which musicians explain their favorite gear — watch Shires detail the moment her go-to fiddle bit the dust and the engaging history behind its replacement. (Her festive new album, For Christmas, is available everywhere now.)

Check out the clip above and keep checking GRAMMY.com for more episodes of It Goes To 11.

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It Goes To 11: PsychoYP Reveals How An Equipment Explosion Led Him To Making "Crazy" Music
PsychoYP

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It Goes To 11: PsychoYP Reveals How An Equipment Explosion Led Him To Making "Crazy" Music

Nigerian rapper PsychoYP introduces his Aston Spirit condenser microphone that he found when he had to replace all of his equipment — which ended up being a blessing in disguise.

GRAMMYs/Mar 20, 2024 - 05:15 pm

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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It Goes To 11: Meet J.Fla's "Best Friend," Her Acoustic Taylor Guitar
J.Fla

Photo: Courtesy of J.Fla

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It Goes To 11: Meet J.Fla's "Best Friend," Her Acoustic Taylor Guitar

South Korean singer J.Fla shares the history of her beloved Taylor guitar — and why she spends most of her time with it.

GRAMMYs/Mar 6, 2024 - 05:35 pm

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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It Goes To 11: DPR IAN Unveils The Drumsticks That Inspired His Musical Dreams
DPR IAN

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It Goes To 11: DPR IAN Unveils The Drumsticks That Inspired His Musical Dreams

Korean artist DPR IAN shares the story behind his Ahead 5A Drumsticks, the nostalgic piece of gear he discovered while watching Joey Jordison's Slipknot performance videos as a teenager.

GRAMMYs/Feb 21, 2024 - 06:01 pm

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 SlipknotJoey 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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It Goes To 11: B.I Shares The Sweet Story Behind His Fan-Gifted Microphone
B.I

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It Goes To 11: B.I Shares The Sweet Story Behind His Fan-Gifted Microphone

Korean rapper B.I shows off his favorite instrument, a Shure J5E microphone — not because it's blinged-out, but because it's a symbol of his fans' love.

GRAMMYs/Feb 14, 2024 - 07:38 pm

Most musicians' favorite instruments are ones they seek out — the ones they've dreamed about since childhood, or ones passed down from a family member. But Korean rapper B.I cherishes his most beloved item because it was a token of appreciation from his loyal supporters.

"It was my 24th or 25th birthday," he recalls in the latest episode of It Goes to 11. "At the time, my fans were showing me their love because they wanted me to continue making music, and they gave me this microphone as a birthday present."

Thankfully, the fans made sure to invest in high-quality tech that B.I could enjoy for years to come. It's a Shure J5E, blinged out in cubic crystals.

"Now, it's lost a few crystals since I've used it a lot. It's so shiny and glittery. It catches my eye and my heart," B.I explains. "Since I know it's a good microphone, I like it even more. It's like my fans are saying, 'I want the best things for my singer.'"

When he doesn't perform with the microphone, B.I confesses he feels "insecure." But he's on top of the world when he does use it because of its clear sound, and he can never get enough of the lights shimmering on the crystals: "It makes it stand out more, or it gives off a nice effect."

Press play on the video above to learn the full story of how B.I acquired his treasured Shure J5E microphone, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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