A group of exceptionally talented and perceptive female musicians, ranging from pop to R&B, indie-rock, and more, will be honored at the upcoming Grammy awards on Sunday evening. However, it is possible that only one of them, Taylor Swift, may win the top awards.
The leading categories are currently influenced by a majority of female artists, with only one male artist, Jon Batiste, nominated for a Grammy in the categories of record, album, or song of the year. This week, significant studies in the US and UK recognized advancements in representation within the traditionally male-dominated and sexist music industry. However, these studies also uncovered instances of misogyny. The Grammys serve as a reminder that female artists are being recognized and honored at the most prestigious level.
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Leading the nominations is 34-year-old singer SZA, who received nine nominations after the release of her second studio album, “SOS”. The album reached the top spot on the US charts, along with its lead single “Kill Bill” – a seemingly innocent song with a dark theme of revenge. Critics were captivated by the album’s diverse range of R&B, hip-hop, folk, and rock influences, as well as SZA’s raw and introspective exploration of the complexities of love.
Taylor Swift could potentially be the biggest winner of the night. Many believe that the music industry’s admiration for her has led to her success this year, with her album “Midnights” and subsequent tour “Eras” dominating pop culture. Analysts predict that the tour will bring in over $2 billion in revenue, more than double the previous highest-grossing tour by Elton John. Swift is aiming to become the first artist to win album of the year four times, currently tied with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon at three wins each. Additionally, her song “Anti-Hero” could potentially earn her her first wins in the record and song of the year categories.
Victoria Monét, an R&B singer, has received seven nominations in her breakthrough year as a solo artist. She was previously nominated as a songwriter for Ariana Grande and Chloe x Halle. Monét’s two-year-old daughter Hazel is also a nominee, making her the youngest ever to be recognized by the awards. Other women with multiple nominations in the top categories include Lana Del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, and Boygenius. Each of these artists brings their own unique style of heartache and existential angst. If Eilish wins record of the year for the third time in five years, she will tie with Paul Simon and Bruno Mars for the most wins in that category by an artist.
The band Boygenius, made up of indie-rock artists Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus, has been nominated for six awards. Their debut album was co-produced by Catherine Marks, who has three nominations of her own. However, she is the only female producer listed in the record and album categories, compared to 22 male producers, alongside Boygenius, Swift, Eilish, and Del Rey.
Marks was amazed by the group’s nominations and shared her approach to creating a tangible sound for their album, The Record. The album was recorded at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu, which provided a beautiful and warm atmosphere that enhanced the drum tones. Marks utilized the room as a fourth element in shaping the overall sound of The Record.
Mark’s professional journey started two decades ago when she relocated from Australia to London. “I have heard of some terrible experiences, but I was fortunate to have mentors,” she reflects on being one of the few female producers at the time. “The sexism I encountered came mainly from other women in the field, but back then there was a prevailing attitude of women being in competition with each other, whether intentionally or not. Fortunately, we now exist in a society where women uplift and empower one another.”
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Despite men still dominating production for now – all five producers in the non-classical category are male – Marks is heartened by the number of women coming through: “Even in the past year so much has happened.” That diversity, she says, will particularly help young female artists who have otherwise been “working with old white men – understandably, their experiences are not shared. Communication could be difficult or they might not feel comfortable enough to express their ideas. So the environment is really important. But there are so many more [producers] to choose from now.”
In order to maintain the current progress, she proposed the idea of government grants for interns at recording studios. She emphasized the importance of having a diverse next generation, not just in terms of gender, but also in terms of economic and racial backgrounds. She hopes that others will have a faster path to success than she did. She has already received one award this week, the Powerhouse prize at the Resonator awards, which honors female producers and engineers. This is the first year for the ceremony, showing how the industry is quickly becoming more diverse.
Trevor Noah will be hosting the Grammys ceremony at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles. The event will feature performances from nominees such as SZA, Rodrigo, Eilish, and Travis Scott. However, the biggest applause is expected for the two returning legends.
After giving up touring and not releasing any new music since 2007, there were concerns that Joni Mitchell’s career was over, especially after she suffered an aneurysm in 2015 that left her needing to relearn how to walk. However, as she recovered, she began hosting private jam sessions with famous musicians like Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Harry Styles at her home. In July 2022, she surprised fans by performing at the Newport Folk Festival, and in June 2023, she made a full comeback with a live performance at the breathtaking Gorge Amphitheater in Washington state. She has also been invited to perform at the Grammys for the first time, despite having already won nine awards throughout her career. It is worth noting that some of her most beloved albums, such as Blue, Hejira, and Ladies of the Canyon, were not recognized by the Academy.
Billy Joel will also take the stage to perform, possibly delivering the first public rendition of Turn the Lights Back On – his second solo single in over two decades.
In 2023, British artists had a successful year at the awards ceremony. Harry Styles received the album of the year award and also won in various pop categories alongside Adele and Sam Smith. Wet Leg and Ozzy Osbourne also had a strong presence, each winning two awards in the rock and alternative categories. However, this year’s nominations may not be as prominent for British artists, with only Dua Lipa and Fred Again being nominated in the “big four” categories of record, song, album, and best new artist. Nonetheless, Fred Again is leading a notable representation from the UK’s dance and electronic music community, with fellow nominees including Aphex Twin, the Chemical Brothers, James Blake, Romy, and Calvin Harris in the genre categories.
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Mark Ronson, a producer from Britain, received four nominations for his work on the Barbie soundtrack. The soundtrack included popular singles such as “Dance the Night” which earned Dua Lipa a nomination for song of the year, and “I’m Just Ken”, a passionate power ballad performed by Ryan Gosling.
At this year’s awards, Fred Again, also known as Frederick Gibson, received four nominations, putting him on par with Ronson as the most accomplished British artist. This further solidifies his rising popularity in the United States. Last year, during an unexpected DJ performance at Coachella festival in California, Gibson amazed the audience and gained widespread attention when he shared the stage with Skrillex and Four Tet. The set highlighted his ability to evoke intense emotions and even touch on poignant themes amidst the fast-paced beats.
In 2023, he demonstrated a more subdued side of his talent by releasing a joint album with his former mentor Brian Eno. He has also worked behind the scenes with several popular musicians, such as Ed Sheeran, and was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year for Sheeran’s “Bad Habits” in 2022. This summer, he will take on the role of solo headliner at the Bonnaroo festival in the US and at Reading & Leeds in the UK.
If Swift is awarded album of the year, the main focus will rightfully be on her groundbreaking accomplishment. However, this also means that her studio engineer Serban Ghenea will surpass her with the highest number of wins in this category, with a total of five. Ghenea, who hails from Romania and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1976, has previously won for his work on Swift’s 1989 and Folklore, as well as Adele’s 25 and Bruno Mars’s 24K Magic. He has also earned 15 Grammys in other categories for his work dating back to Justin Timberlake’s debut album in 2002. With his contribution to another album of the year nominee, Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts, Ghenea has yet another opportunity to claim the all-time record.
Source: theguardian.com
