Bebe Rexha

Bebe Rexha

Photo: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images

Interview

Bebe Rexha On 'All Your Fault,' Harry Potter & Cardi B

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Singer/songwriter also opens up about hanging with Wiz Khalifa in the studio, her bucket-list experience with Lil Wayne and what she'd do if she wasn't in music
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Sep 12, 2017 - 12:00 pm

If you think you haven't heard of singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha, think again.

Bebe Rexha: "I Got You" Inspiration

As a songwriter she has co-written hits such as GRAMMY winners Rihanna and Eminem's "Monster," David Guetta's "Hey Mama" featuring Nicki Minaj and Afrojack, and Selena Gomez's "Champion." You can also hear her signature vocals on the Top 10 hit with G-Eazy, "Me, Myself & I." But that's not all.

Rexha released her latest EP, All Your Fault: Part 1 in February, spawning the hit "I Got You." She released a sequel, All Your Fault: Part 2, on Aug. 11, which features artists such as 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne and country duo Florida Georgia Line.

In this exclusive GRAMMY.com interview, Rexha dishes on her EPs, her favorite recent collaborations, including Florida Georgia Line and Wiz Kahlifa, why Cardi B is dope, her Harry Potter obsession, and more.

Is there one song in particular from All Your Fault: Part 2 that is really speaking to you right now, that you're really emotionally connected to?

I'm definitely connected to "Meant To Be," which is with Florida Georgia Line. And I think it's just funny because I think I wake up every day kind of being like, "Why isn't this working out? Why isn't this guy texting me?" Or, "Why didn't this situation pan out the way that I want it to be." And my mom always actually texts me, and she's like, "Well if it's meant to be." She's like, "Listen to your own lyrics." So I think that's the song that I'm the most emotionally connected to at the moment, my favorite song.

"The Way I Are (Dance With Somebody)" looks like it was a fun video to shoot with all the dancing. What was the process of shooting that video like?

I think dancing is another form of like expressing yourself, and that's the reason why I love music and writing and performing. And I love dancing — I may not be the best dancer. … And shooting the music video for "The Way I Are" was a memorable time in itself because it was my first time working with director X, and he's done so many incredible music videos and has worked with so many amazing artists. And being on set with Lil Wayne is definitely a moment you can check off the bucket list. He's been such a big influence on me and my career, and he's been around for so long and has started record labels and signed off on Nicki [Minaj], signed off on Drake. He's done so many great things, so that was really cool.

What was the inspiration behind the track "I Got You" from the first EP?

The inspiration behind the track "I Got You" was knowing that when you've had your heart broken, you kind of have this wall up. And it's like, after that … you meet somebody new and you're kinda trying to dance with them but you can't seem to get the right step in. And you just meet them and you think they're awesome, but they kind of have their wall up, and you have your wall up and you just can't seem to get on the same wavelength. And I think that's where I was, and I was just in the recording booth and I felt kind of stuck in this relationship and this situation, and I was just literally just saying, "I can see that you're hurting. I've been through the same exact thing, I've been hurt too. I don't want to hurt you. I got you." And that was just as simple as that, and I don't think that guy will ever know that song was for him, because it never worked out. But at least I tried and I wrote that song, and it was a fun song.

You've worked with or written for many different artists across many genres. Is there a particular memory of working with or writing for one of these artists that really stands out for you?

I will say that I've loved working with so many different artists. I think working with Florida Georgia Line was incredible. Martin Garrix, David Guetta ... I mean, I think all of them have their own special memory or place in my heart. But recently I got in the studio with Wiz Khalifa. And the one thing that I loved about the session was that it was fun and it was like a party. It was like 10 people in the studio and we were dancing. And I remember just leaving, being like, "Man, he had a candy section in his session." And then he had Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles catered for 50 people — there was only like 10 of us, 15 of us. And I was like, "I want my studio session to be like that.'" He was really awesome to work with, and he's so talented. We were writing this song, and Wiz just literally walks into the booth, the recording booth, and just lays down a whole verse in five minutes. And I'm like, this is not human. He's just amazing.

You have a Recording Academy tie in your past. Could you talk a little bit about that?

Yeah. So the first time I ever heard of The Recording Academy was when I was 16 and it was for GRAMMY Career Day. I remember my teacher coming into choir class and being like, "Well everybody, there is some type of contest or whatnot, it's called GRAMMY Career Day, and you have to submit a song that you have written and recorded." So I was in a little girl group at the time, and we wrote a song called "Let Me Know." And it was the first song I ever recorded. And we submitted it and we won. And it was really cool because I got to meet Chris Brown before he was Chris Brown and all these managers and label people and it felt like I won an award. It felt like I won a GRAMMY. It was funny. It was like my big thing that I was going around telling everybody about. But it was really cool. It definitely helped kick-start my confidence into really going into the music business and that's why I feel like that the foundations and a lot of the stuff that The Recording Academy does is really important also. My mom also was like, "Well maybe my daughter can do this now," you know, "The Recording Academy noticed her."

Everyone has a music guilty pleasure. What is your current guilty pleasure in music?

My current guilty pleasure in music right now is Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow." I've been listening to that nonstop. And I remember she had a song called "Lick." It sounds so dirty, but I remember when she came out with "Lick," I was like, "I'm obsessed with this girl. I love her so much." I was like, "She's so dope." And I was telling everybody, "Watch she's going to blow up," and now "Bodak Yellow" is so big, and … I love this song. So, yeah. That's my guilty pleasure. I listen to it all day.

In an interview with Music Freaks, you said you've watched Pride & Prejudice on repeat. Do you have a current favorite movie that you've been watching repeatedly?

I've been watching Harry Potter every night for the last six months, all eight movies back to back to back and that's the only way I can fall asleep. So I love Harry Potter, like so obsessed it's not healthy. Like obsessed with Harry Potter. I watch it every night.

If you could pursue a career other than music, what would it be?

If I could pursue a career other than music I would … I don't know. I have three options. I would be either a nutritionist because, I don't know why. I just think it's fun. I would maybe own a restaurant, an Italian restaurant. And then … I would be an interior designer. I think that would be cool.

Selena Gomez On Her Fetish For Remixes, Cheese & The Late '60s

Elton John and Lady Gaga at the 52nd GRAMMY Awards in 2010

Elton John and Lady Gaga

Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

News

Elton John On Loving Lady Gaga: "GRAMMYs Greatest Stories"

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The GRAMMY winner discusses the "brilliant" experience of performing with artists on Music's Biggest Night; tune in to "GRAMMYs Greatest Stories" Nov. 24 at 9 p.m. on CBS
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Nov 24, 2017 - 12:33 pm

Elton John is a GRAMMY Legend — literally. Not only is he a five-time GRAMMY winner, he's also a recipient of the prestigious GRAMMY Legend Award, joining a class of only 15 artists to receive the honor.

Elton John On His GRAMMY Moment With Lady Gaga

Appropriately, John has performed with a wide range of artists over the years, opportunities he describes as "always inspiring" and "brilliant," especially when he gets the chance to perform with artists on the GRAMMY stage he wouldn't cross paths with otherwise. This includes his performance with the Backstreet Boys at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards and his unforgettable collaboration with Eminem at the 43rd GRAMMY Awards.

John fondly recalls his performance with Lady Gaga at the 52nd GRAMMY Awards, which saw the pair of GRAMMY winners set up dueling pianos, don sparkly ensembles, and lead renditions of her "Poker Face" and his "Speechless/Your Song."

"I got a phone call from Gaga who asked me to perform the opening number with her, and she said, 'What would you like to do?'" says John. "I said, 'I don't care. It's your opening number. … I'll do what you want because I love you and I love what you are and who you are and I love the music.' When we finished the duet and it was really spine-chilling and I knew it was a big success."

Watch John and other artists reminisce about the most memorable performances in GRAMMY history on the upcoming TV special "GRAMMYs Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special," airing Friday, Nov. 24 from 9–11 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Justin Timberlake, Al Green & Bathtubs: "GRAMMYs Greatest Stories"

Justin Timberlake and Al Green at the 51st GRAMMYs in 2009

Justin Timberlake and Al Green

Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Interview

Justin Timberlake, Al Green & Bathtubs: "GRAMMYs Greatest Stories"

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Learn how JT ended up performing with the R&B legend at the 51st GRAMMYs; tune in to "GRAMMYs Greatest Stories" Nov. 24 on CBS
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Nov 17, 2017 - 9:51 am

GRAMMY winner Justin Timberlake is no stranger to the GRAMMY stage. In fact, he's graced the stage seven times in his career so far, including performances with Arturo Sandoval, the Black Eyed Peas, Robyn, Jay Z, and T.I.. But what's his favorite GRAMMY moment? The time he performed alongside "the Reverend" Al Green with Boyz II Men and Keith Urban at the 51st GRAMMY Awards.

Justin Timberlake's GRAMMY Moment With Al Green

This supergroup of performers took on Green's classic hit "Let's Stay Together" but, according to Timberlake, the performance was a last minute-ensemble cobbled together by GRAMMY telecast producer Ken Ehrlich. 

Timberlake recounts how Ehrlich kept trying to get a hold of Green to confirm his telecast performance. While Green ultimately came through to help deliver this incredible GRAMMY moment, it turns out he was otherwise occupied when he got the phone calls.

"I picture that [Green's] taking this fantastic bubble bath and he gets the phone call and someone walks in and they say, 'Reverend, the GRAMMYs needs you,'" says Timberlake. "For me, it was one of the greatest moments I've ever had at the GRAMMYs."

Watch Timberlake and other artists reminisce about the most memorable performances in GRAMMY history on the upcoming TV special "GRAMMY Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special," airing Friday, Nov. 24 from 9–11 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

When Bruno Mars Covered Prince: "GRAMMY Greatest Stories"

SZA

SZA

Photo: Courtesy of RCA Records

Interview

SZA On 'Ctrl,' "Drew Barrymore" & Trampolines

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The breakout R&B star also talks about her songwriting inspirations, why she's connected to freeform expression and her responsibility to fans
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Oct 11, 2017 - 4:44 pm

Since her 2013 signing with Top Dawg Entertainment — home of GRAMMY-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar — the industry has kept its eye on rising alternative R&B star Solána Rowe — aka SZA.

SZA's "Drew Barrymore" Connection

While she has a handful of EP releases to her name and has written songs for artists such as Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna, it's her debut studio album, 2017's Ctrl [TDE/RCA], that has launched her into the stratosphere. The album, which AllMusic.com describes as full of "frank songs that wield power," peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of songs such as "Drew Barrymore," "Broken Clocks," and the platinum-selling "Love Galore" featuring Travis Scott.

Now, in this exclusive Recording Academy interview, the singer/songwriter opens up about Ctrl, her feeling of responsibility to her fans, the meaning behind her analog-based album cover as well as how she gathers inspiration from film and freeform physical expressions.

How has your life changed since you released your album, Ctrl?

People noticing me [and] that never happened before. I was quiet in high school and relatively unpopular, so being noticed is not something that I'm used to. Being noticed on a very different end of the spectrum is very intense, but it makes me feel like I have a responsibility because I feel like every person that I'm meeting at a meet-and-greet or at a show — or that's listening to my album or that I'm seeing on the internet — I see that they're genuine reflections of me.

I didn't know that because [I'm] telling [my] truth, [I would] get to introduce [myself] to friends that [I] didn't know that [I was going to] have. They're really [my] friends because they relate to the same things [I] relate to, they think [my] same thoughts, they love the same aesthetics — so I have a lot more friends than I ever imagined. But that is a great responsibility to take care of those people and those minds and cater to their hearts and what they deserve as people. I want people to feel like they're loved and cared about and part of something way bigger than me, because to feel alone and not a part of anything was crazy growing up.

What song on the album are you currently most emotionally attached to?

"Supermodel." It was the first time I ever sang something, freestyled something, all the way down. I never made an acoustic song before. My friend taught himself how to play the guitar the day before, so he's only repeating the same two chords the whole way. And he was like, "No, you can't do this, you can't just use this loop." I love a loop because I don't write physically. I write in my brain so loops help me keep track of my words or where I'm at. I've never felt sadder listening to those chords or thinking about where I was or talking about a boy that I don't care about anymore. But it took me to a weird place. They say certain chords evoke certain emotions from you, like sadness. It made it very easy for me to express and talk s*** at the same time without stopping.

What is the story behind the album's cover art?

My parents never had a Mac — PC only. And my mom kept the giant box we had forever upstairs. She must have brought it from [her] office before I was born or something strange. I spent so much time crouched over a desktop. I felt like that was my world and that's before there was even any world to see on the internet. Something about the analog-ness about a landline, computer, email only — like when you had to explain things in email and really talk to people like you knew them.

Ctrl 6.9.17

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We've heard that you find inspiration outside of music. Can you tell us about three of your biggest inspirations?

I'm a visual learner, so film is a huge inspiration to me. I'm very into details, so I watch movies just for the details. I'll watch Blow for the hair — everyone's hair looks great in that movie. [I] watch Scarface for the 'fits. I live in my imagination, so sometimes movies help me get lost. I feel like I'm in it. Like Poison Ivy. I wrote "Drew Barrymore" about Poison Ivy or Never Been Kissed because I connected to [the character] Josie Grossy, like I am Josie Grossy. Film just really takes me to a weird place where I'm making a soundtrack to a movie I've already seen that already has a soundtrack, but this is what that movie means to me, and that's what I'm translating.

[Another inspiration is] gymnastics or dance. I was a gymnast for 13 years, and I was a dancer for maybe 10 of those. Any kind of expression, any explosion of expression — it doesn't even have to be dance or gymnastics. I love any sort of intricate freeform expression. I love going to Skyzone [in California] because it has a trampoline, and that's a freeform expression. That is so inspiring for some reason, getting your blood going. I never feel more inspired than when I'm leaving Skyzone.

And then art. There [are] so many different types of art, especially now that [the number of art] mediums has grown. I'm very inspired by any type of visual art and physical expression.

Fifth Harmony

Fifth Harmony

Photo: Hector Vivas/LatinContent/Getty Images

Interview

Fifth Harmony "Deliver" On Latest Album, Talk Inspirations & Gucci Mane

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The all-female quartet also discuss having creative control, shout-out Demi Lovato and dish on what it's like being the best-selling girl group of a generation
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Oct 9, 2017 - 4:27 pm

Thanks to their Billboard chart success, this group has been called the biggest modern-day girl group in a generation. Who are they?

Fifth Harmony: Biggest Girl Group In A Generation?

That would be Fifth Harmony — Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane, and Lauren Jauregui — who have raced up the charts and straight into the hearts of millions of fans. Their 2017 self-titled album marks the first the group has released since Camila Cabello departed in December 2016. But a lineup change hasn't slowed them down.

Fifth Harmony peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, their fourth consecutive Top 10 album, equaling the Top 10 status of iconic groups Destiny's Child and Dixie Chicks, thanks in part to a slew of breakout tunes such as the gold-selling "Down" featuring Gucci Mane, "Deliver," "Lonely Night," and "Messy." Working with producers Skrillex and Poo Bear, among others, for the first time the quartet had a hand in co-writing and producing each track on the album.

In this exclusive Recording Academy interview, Fifth Harmony dished on why their eponymous LP is their best album yet, what each member brings vocally to the table, the artists they look to for inspiration, and more.

Congratulations on your self-titled album. What's been the most exciting part about releasing your album so far?
Jauregui: This is the first album that we were able to be creatively a part of. We co-wrote more than half of it and on the production side of things we curated this whole album. Like every single song, we chose — which is the first time that we could really say that, honestly. And that was just so special for us, to be able to give to the world and to hear their reaction to it and to see the fans' reaction to it. We feel like it's our best album so far, so we were just ecstatic to release it to the world and hear the feedback. It was amazing.

What were some of your inspirations as you were writing?
Brooke: As we were writing, some of our inspirations were our own personal stories and experiences. We would get in the room with the producers and the songwriters and we would let the track inspire us. The music really would speak to us and we would say, "Oh, this music sounds like something fun, or sounds like something really happy," like going out with your friends [on] "Sauced Up." And then another one like "Bridges," the music was very sentimental, so we were inspired by just wanting to have a powerful positive message and share love, hope and unity on that record, so it would depend.

Jane: I think, as a whole, we look up to a couple of artists [and] girl groups. We definitely are inspired by Destiny's Child, TLC, En Vogue, and we made sure to incorporate that into our music because that's who we are and that's who we listen to. There's a couple tracks in there that have R&B tones to it, such as "Lonely Night," "Deliver," my fave — all of our faves, collectively. This album, like she said, it's definitely our fave and the one album I'm most proud of.

Bounce back

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What are some of your other standout tracks off the album at the moment?
Kordei: Honestly, my favorite has always been "Angel." I really love "Angel" and I feel like people got to see us in a different light and we kind of got to explore as artists and become different parts of ourselves.

Jauregui: My favorite would have to be "Lonely Nights." I love that song so much. I think it's so cool. And I also love "Don't Say You Love Me." Right now I'm really vibing that song.

Brooke: My favorite off the record, it does change, but I think I really just love "Deliver." I love the throwback [sound]. It even reminds me of Motown music. It has that kind of funky, jazz, R&B soul to it, which is what I love. I love that we were able to bring that fire and flavor and soul to this record, which is so, so amazing. And everybody just shines in their element. Also every time I hear "Bridges" I always get chills. It never fails. My goosebumps come out.

Jane: Overall on this album, what I love so much is you get to hear us all in a different light, such as our vocals. And we were able to showcase that more so than ever. Some of us bring different strengths to the table, so I love that some of us showcased a side of us that we were never able to show to anybody. Like, Lauren's playing with like her raspy tones or whatnot but she's belting most of the time and she's always afraid to go there. Or even Normani doing her whistle notes but then taking it to her lower register and playing with that. And Ally too, she's a belter. She's the belter queen, so [you] feel her feel every lyric moving you. She literally moves you the way she feels about the song. I love it so much and just seeing every girl in every different light, it makes me really proud.

Let's talk just a little bit about "Down." What was it like working with Gucci Mane?
Kordei: We actually didn't get to meet Gucci until our first performance. I think it was for "Good Morning America." It's funny because so many people on an outside perspective often think that you're in the studio with an artist. We didn't meet him until our first performance. But he is such a special human being, an incredible artist and I know that we've been fans for such a long time and he just makes the process so enjoyable, so fun, and he's very appreciative for each and every opportunity. I remember even him being very excited for the MTV Music Awards, and he has the biggest smile on his face. It lights up a room, so we're appreciative to him and he killed his verse.

You are the best-selling female group of this generation. How do you feel about that?
Jauregui: That's just such an honor to be told that and to have been able to be part of it personally is really special. I'm so grateful to these girls and to what we've accomplished together because it's literally magical, what we've been through and what we have been able to create together and where we've been able to go together in our careers. I'm so grateful to be part of the biggest girl group in a generation. That's lit. We definitely worked hard, so I'm grateful.

Jane: All I can say is huge shout-out to Simon Cowell. He knew what he was doing. And Demi Lovato, Demi takes a lot of credit in this. Those two definitely [deserve] credit for putting us together.

Kordei: Just the fact that we're able to be that for this generation is something really, really special.

Jane: What's so funny, when we're in the studio, when we're on tour, I feel like we are in this space where we really don't know how big we are. When we take in those moments to ourselves in a room, taking downtime, I feel like I can never process the words, "You're in the biggest girl group in the world." It's really hard to take that in.