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It Goes To 11: Singer/Songwriter Victoria Anthony Explains How She Coaxes Songs From Her Piano

Victoria Anthony

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It Goes To 11: Singer/Songwriter Victoria Anthony Explains How She Coaxes Songs From Her Piano

In the latest episode of It Goes To 11, a new series in which musicians explain their favorite gear, watch singer/songwriter Victoria Anthony show off her living room piano and demystify her creative process

GRAMMYs/Dec 22, 2021 - 01:42 am

In many ways, making music remains incorporeal, unexplainable — the Recording Academy is predicated on this magical creative outlet. But perhaps it starts with a musician's bond with their instrument — in this case, Victoria Anthony's relationship with her piano.

In the latest episode of It Goes To 11, a new series in which musicians explain their favorite gear, the singer/songwriter shows off her piano and elaborates on how she coaxes songs from her living room ivories, demystifying her creative process on camera.

Anthony recently put out a new single, "Dirty Lipstick"; if you're wondering how she plucked the song from the ether, this clip should prove instructive.

Check out the illuminating video above and keep checking GRAMMY.com for upcoming 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

video

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

interview

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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It Goes To 11: Noel Schajris Recalls The Fateful Story Of His Favorite Keyboard
Noel Schajris

Photo: Mayra Ortiz

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It Goes To 11: Noel Schajris Recalls The Fateful Story Of His Favorite Keyboard

Ever since Argentinian singer Noel Schajris was introduced to the Roland Go:Keys, he knew "we were meant to be."

GRAMMYs/Oct 16, 2023 - 06:00 pm

It's easy to assume that a touring pianist's favorite instrument would be a top-of-the-line grand piano. But for Argentinian singer Noel Schajris, his go-to is one that is much more modest: a Roland Go:Keys keyboard.

"We were touring Spain last year, and my friend and collaborator, Jesús Molina, had it," Schajris recalls in the newest episode of It Goes to 11. "He was traveling with this beautiful thing — it weighs like two pounds. It was so light."

Beyond its practicality, Schajris also loved the Go:Keys for its sound and knew he had to purchase one for himself. By a twist of fate, Molina's vendor was in the same country and had another one in stock.

The instrument's light weight allows Schajris to take it with him wherever he goes. That means the singer can make music anywhere in the world — ultimately, the Roland Go:Keys has become his "vehicle to express something."

And as the icing on the cake, this instrument is in his favorite color, red. "So, things happen for a reason. We were meant to be!" Schajris says with a smile.

Press play on the video above to hear more about Noel Schajris' bond with his Roland Go:Keys, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.

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