meta-scriptGlobal Spin: Katerine Duska And Leon Of Athens Premiere "Babel," A Bilingual Tale Of A Love Lost In Translation | GRAMMY.com
Global Spin: Katerine Duska And Leon Of Athens Premiere "Babel," A Bilingual Tale Of A Love Lost In Translation
(L-R) Leon of Athens, Katerine Duska

Photo (L-R): Ria Mort, Thanos Poulimenos

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Global Spin: Katerine Duska And Leon Of Athens Premiere "Babel," A Bilingual Tale Of A Love Lost In Translation

Frequent songwriting partners Katerine Duska and Leon Of Athens grapple with a relationship full of miscommunication in this emotional duet, which they debut with a powerful Global Spin performance.

GRAMMYs/Nov 29, 2022 - 10:31 pm

"Can I love you a little more clearly?" Katerine Duska and Leon of Athens sing in the emotional chorus of their new song, "Babel." "Can we get it right? Can we talk another night away?"

In this episode of Global Spin, the two pop singers — and frequent songwriting partners — effortlessly trade off between Greek and English in a compelling performance. But as beautiful as the bilingual, harmony-driven duet may be, "Babel" chronicles a fraught relationship where, ultimately, the love gets lost in translation.

"Babel" brings the two lovers back to where they started: Frustrated and failing to see eye to eye, but still invested in one another. That narrative pairs with an equally passionate, string-filled sonic backdrop in this song, which Duska and Leon of Athens premiere on Global Spin.

The song's visual component further underscores its message. Duska and Leon of Athens perform the song from a bed, surrounded by candles and rippling water. As they wrestle through their disagreements — both lyrically and physically — the two artists make an attempt to find tenderness, but their best efforts dissolve into frustration and disconnection.

The bilingual duo have co-written several times in the past, and they're no strangers to performing together, either. Their first duet, "ANEMOS," came out in 2019; a year later, the pair released another collaboration, "Communication."

Press play on the video above to get a first look at the latest collaboration between Katerine Duska and Leon of Athens, and keep checking GRAMMY.com every Tuesday for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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Global Spin: Watch Karin Ann Deliver A Sultry Performance Of "She"
Karin Ann

Photo: Cameron Lindfors

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Global Spin: Watch Karin Ann Deliver A Sultry Performance Of "She"

On the heels of announcing her debut album, 'through the telescope,' Slovakian singer Karin Ann offers a live, full-band rendition of the project's lead single, "she."

GRAMMYs/Mar 28, 2024 - 05:00 pm

On her burning single "she," Slovakian singer Karin Ann beams about a confident, effortlessly beautiful mystery woman — from her unique distaste for modern television to her quaint apartment in the city.

"If someone ever would take her to the dance floor/ The world would disappear, the music would still be playing," Ann croons in the chorus. "Her heart beats so loud, even after everyone is gone/ She'd still be dancing, dancing in her own mind."

In this episode of Global Spin, watch Ann deliver a full-band performance of the track, complete with two guitars, a keyboard and a drum set — and a wall of records as a backdrop.

Ann came up with the concept for the track while searching through her phone during a sleepless night: "I stumbled upon a sentence that sparked inspiration. Most of my songs lean towards the sad or melancholic, but this particular lyric was different. I find it challenging to write happy songs, so it felt like creating this character allowed me the freedom to explore new territories with 'she.'"

"She" is the lead single from Ann's debut album, through the telescope, which arrives May 10 via 3amRecords. As "she" and second single "false gold" hint, the album will explore themes of love, identity and mental health while also showing off Ann's musical versatility.

Press play on the video above to watch Karin Ann's edgy performance of "she," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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Global Spin: AleXa Is "Sick" In Love In This Monochrome Performance Of Her Latest Single
AleXa

Photo: Choi, Jong-in De Leon

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Global Spin: AleXa Is "Sick" In Love In This Monochrome Performance Of Her Latest Single

K-pop star AleXa performs "sick," her first single that highlights her pop-punk influences — and, in turn, "the most authentic version of myself."

GRAMMYs/Mar 21, 2024 - 05:00 pm

On "sick," K-pop star AleXa is so in love that she's almost physically ill.

"Boy, you make me sick/ You're too f—ing perfect/ I don't deserve it," she gushes in the chorus. "Losing my s—, and you make me sick/ Sick to my stomach/ I wanna vomit/ Kissing your lips."

In this episode of Global Spin, AleXa delivers a grungy performance of the track, tied together by her edgy fashion and a grayscale filter.

"Sick" is AleXa's first single of 2024, dropping on Feb. 23 via Interview Music and ZB Label. The vulnerable song also marks a new sonic era, leaving behind her pop hits like "Back in Vogue" and "Wonderland."

"This era of my career feels like the most authentic version of myself. 'Sick' is a departure from my previous releases, and I'm excited to share a side of me that is deeply connected to my pop-punk influences," she revealed in a press statement.

On March 29, AleXa will commence the Sick of You Tour in New York City. She'll hit six cities — including her hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma — before ending April 7 in Los Angeles. 

Press play on the video above to watch AleXa's rocking performance of "sick," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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Global Spin: SISTAR19 Honor Their Roots With A Confident Performance Of "NO MORE (MA BOY)"
SISTAR19

Photo: KLAP Entertainment

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Global Spin: SISTAR19 Honor Their Roots With A Confident Performance Of "NO MORE (MA BOY)"

Hyolyn and Bora — better known as K-pop duo SISTAR19 — celebrate their return to music with a charming performance of "NO MORE (MA BOY)."

GRAMMYs/Mar 14, 2024 - 05:00 pm

For the two women of SISTAR19, there is no passive way to love. They're fully committed to their emotions — slowly causing them to break down when the other person doesn't reciprocate.

"You're so casual, unlike me/ I'm burning intensely inside," Hyolyn croons in Korean in the opening verse of "NO MORE (MA BOY)." "For you, it's a simple curiosity/ Do you know it's everything for me?" Bora adds on the pre-chorus.

In this episode of Global Spin, SISTAR19 deliver a charismatic performance, elevated by their perfectly synced choreography and cheeky expressions.

SISTAR19 is a sub-group of the former Starship Entertainment K-pop quartet SISTAR, which disbanded in 2017. "NO MORE (MA BOY)," their first single in over a decade, dropped on Jan. 16 via KLAP Entertainment. It's an homage to their 2011 debut hit single, "Ma Boy," officially closing the chapter to the previous era of their career.

"We're more mature now, so the song's protagonists are, too," Hyolyn said in an interview with Rolling Stone. "We are all more sophisticated about handling the end of relationships than back then."

Press play on the video above to watch SISTAR19's empowering performance of "NO MORE (MA BOY)," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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Global Spin: María José Llergo Performs "Aprendiendo A Volar" Live In Switzerland
María José Llergo

Photo: Alejandro Madrid

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Global Spin: María José Llergo Performs "Aprendiendo A Volar" Live In Switzerland

Straight from the stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival Winter Residency in Switzerland, Spanish songstress María José Llergo performs a thrilling onstage rendition of "Aprendiendo a Volar," the second track from her debut album, 'Ultrabelleza.'

GRAMMYs/Mar 7, 2024 - 06:30 pm

On the B-side of her debut album, Ultrabelleza, Spanish singer María José Llergo is "learning how to fly." Troubled by love, she has grown frustrated with her earthly circumstances, wishing, instead, to fly away — even if it's only for a brief moment.

"I see all the peaks, the summits, from my windows/ So far from me that I have no dreamed of reaching them," she sings in Spanish in the opening verse of "Aprendiendo a Volar," which translates to "Learning To Fly" in English. "Nailed flag, nailed flag/ On my back/ If every time I win I lose/ What kind of poison do I deserve?"

In this episode of Global Spin, revisit Llergo's performance from the Montreux Jazz Festival Winter Residency, which took place at Switzerland's Villars-sur-ollons in February.

"Aprendiendo a Volar'' is the second track from Ultrabelleza, which was released on October 27, 2023, via Sony Music Entertainment España. The project is largely about Llergo's manifesto to "live without cracks, barriers, or prejudices as a source of power," as detailed in a press statement. 

On March 3, Llergo launched her first-ever U.S. tour — aptly titled the Ultrabelleza Tour — in Chicago. The singer will stop by Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston before wrapping at New York City's Le Poisson Rouge on March 15.

Press play on the video above to watch María José Llergo's live performance of "Aprendiendo a Volar," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.

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