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It Goes To 11: Watch Sueco Tell The Story Behind His Sticker-Festooned First Guitar

Sueco

Photo: FrankHavemercy

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It Goes To 11: Watch Sueco Tell The Story Behind His Sticker-Festooned First Guitar

In the newest episode of It Goes To 11, a GRAMMY.com video series in which musicians explain their favorite gear, watch rapper/singer Sueco show off his first acoustic guitar — which, naturally, is covered in punk stickers

GRAMMYs/Jan 12, 2022 - 09:12 pm

Any musician who still has their middle or high school instruments probably winces when they see the sticker collection they accumulated on them. But Sueco's stickers go hard.

In the below clip, the 24-year-old rapper, singer and songwriter — who found fame on YouTube, TikTok and Soundcloud with his 2019 single "Fast" — shows off his first guitar, an acoustic Taylor he received for Christmas at "12 or 13" from his bluegrass-playing father.

"It's got all the punk stickers from when I was a little punk kid," Sueco explains. The Dickies and Misfits logos alone say it all. "Most of these probably came from Hot Topic!"

In the newest episode of It Goes To 11, a GRAMMY.com video series in which musicians explain their favorite gear, watch Sueco tell the rest of the story behind this musical heirloom — which he wouldn't have without his supportive, music-loving patriarch.

Check out the heartwarming video above and keep checking GRAMMY.com for more 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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It Goes To 11: Meet Claire Delić's Classical Guitar That Became Her Most Reliable Shrink
Claire Delić

Photo: Courtesy of Claire Delić

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It Goes To 11: Meet Claire Delić's Classical Guitar That Became Her Most Reliable Shrink

Dutch singer/songwriter Claire Delić introduces her favorite instrument, a classical guitar that's helped her understand her deepest fears and insecurities.

GRAMMYs/Oct 23, 2023 - 05:12 pm

For Dutch singer/songwriter Claire Delić, guitar isn't just an instrument she plays — it's a tool for healing.

"When I play the guitar, I feel she has something to tell me. It's not only me," Delić explains in the latest episode of It Goes to 11. "She has something to give me. We have a conversation."

Delić feels nervous communicating her thoughts, but when she has her guitar in hand, it becomes easy to express her emotions. It also helps her understand her fears and insecurities. As she reveals, "Music is my language."

"I was having a hard day, and I took my guitar and started to play. Suddenly, I was weeping," Delić recalls. She continued to play, and something magical happened: her cries began to coincide with her strums. "With no hesitation, I didn't have to control it. They were just being together, dancing."

After many years together, Delić believes her guitar has become her most effective shrink. It knows her most intimate stories and exactly how to heal her. "There's nobody like my guitar," she says.

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

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