Drake Bell portrait

Drake Bell

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Drake Bell Talks 'Honest' EP, Sketch Comedy & Favorite Albums

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Find out about the singer/songwriter's inspiration for his new EP, whether he can beat his mom at pool or not, and why sketch comedy and the Beatles rule
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Sep 21, 2017 - 9:41 am

Honesty is always a good policy, especially for Drake Bell.

Drake Bell On 'Honest' EP, Latin Influences

Following his 2014's rockabilly-inflected Ready Steady Go!¸ Bell followed his creative muse to pursue a new pop direction. The result is Honest, a four-track EP that gives off good-time feels, top-down thrills and sunny California vibes.

In an exclusive GRAMMY.com interview, the former Nickelodeon star opens up about his path on Honest, his YouTube channel and family sports ties, plus his five favorite albums of all time.

Honest is your first release since Ready Steady Go! Why did you decide to go with a four-song EP this time around?
I was touring that last record, the rockabilly album, almost for two years and I was feeling so deprived creatively because it was more of a cover album. And when I got back in the studio and started writing my own material, these songs started coming out and I was so excited to get them to the fans. I thought, "Why wait until I have 12 or 13 songs when, the way music's delivered now, I could just drop four now and drop another four in a couple months or drop a single?" I was more interested in getting this new sound out to the fans than waiting for an entire album.

What was your goal with Honest?
I mean, it's a complete departure from the last album. The last album we recorded with all these musicians and everything and total stripped-down rockabilly. But this new album is completely different … it goes back to my earlier albums as far as the songwriting process. And sonically, it's just totally different. We've taken on a whole new pop, EDM dance … sound. It's really exciting. I don't know how to describe it, but it's really fun and new.

Tell me about the inspiration for the track "Rewind."
I have a big Latin following. I go down there and play in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and all these places. I think being down there and around that culture and hearing the music down there, it influenced "Rewind." There's a Spanish guitar and a very Spanish sound to it. Spending so much time down there kind of contributed to that sound.

Your cousin is former Major League Baseball pitcher Heath Bell. Ever step in the batter's box against him?
(laughs) No, no. I never batted against him. But when I was a kid, I played little league and, before he was in the majors, I would go out and practice with him and he would teach me pointers and show me stuff. Everyone in the whole family was like, "He's going to be in the majors someday!" And you just think, "Everybody's parents say that about their kid who plays baseball." And lo and behold, he became one of the best closers. It's pretty awesome to say, "That's my cousin." And all the baseball fans were like, "No way!" They didn't care about what I did. They were like, "That's your cousin. That's amazing!"

Speaking of amazing, your mom, Robin Dodson, is a champion pool player.
My mom is a two-time world champion pool player. She's in the WPBA Hall of Fame. She's incredible — one of the top three women who have ever played pool. It's unreal.

Did you ever beat her at a game of pool?
No, I've never beaten my mom at pool. Never. The thing is when we were little, she used to have to practice all the time. And we would want to go in and play. She would need the time to practice and when we'd play she couldn't practice. It would be distracting. She'd go, "OK, we can play. Go ahead and rack the balls." And then she'd break, and she'd run out. She's like, "OK, go ahead and rack the balls again." Break, run out. And then we'd get bored. All we'd do is rack the balls so we'd end up going outside and playing. And then she would be able to continue and practice. But yeah, she doesn't miss.

You've got a variety of fun content on your YouTube channel. What do you have in the works coming up?
We do the "Where's Walter" series on there, which is a throwback to "Drake & Josh." I love sketch comedy and I love playing different characters and writing for different characters and being wacky, zany and funny. Coming from "The Amanda Show" and that background, I just love "SNL" and [Canadian comedy show] "SCTV" and that style. Probably just more sketches and fun stuff like that. Also, I'm about to go on tour for six, seven weeks around the country. So a lot of vlogging and I'm probably going to be showing a lot of the tour for people who aren't able to make it out to the dates.

What is your favorite TV show now?
Right now, my favorite show that I've seen recently is "Better Call Saul." I didn't watch "Breaking Bad" so I came into "Better Call Saul" with a completely blank slate. I can sit and binge-watch that for the entirety of the season.

You can only stream five albums for the rest of your life. What are Drake Bell's five desert island albums?
Oh man. Let's see, I would take [the Beatles'] Sgt. Pepper, Revolver [and] Magical Mystery Tour. Graceland by Paul Simon. And then I'd have to [add] an Elvis greatest hits.

Camila Cabello Talks Going Solo, Michael Jackson, Love & Poetry

 

Demi Lovato portrait

Demi Lovato

Interview

Demi Lovato Heals Her Wounds Through The Power Of Music

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GRAMMY nominee is fierce and free on soulful new album, 'Tell Me You Love Me'
Ashley Monaé
GRAMMYs
Sep 26, 2017 - 11:44 am

Demi Lovato is glowing.

Demi Lovato On Renewed Faith In Music, New Album

On the lower level of Steinway & Sons' New York City showroom, she sits perched with perfect posture and a warm smile as her makeup artist dusts a hint of blush across her cheeks. In this moment — lights in place, cell phones silenced, cameras ready to roll — it's hard to believe that just a year ago Lovato vowed to take a break from the industry, her nearly decade-long music career included.

"I am not meant for this business and the media," she candidly tweeted in October 2016.

It's a significant shift for someone who has long been in the spotlight. However, Lovato's ascension from tween Disney star to full-fledged chart-topping pop songstress hasn't come without its bumps or bruises as she's openly discussed her struggles with bipolar disorder, bulimia and substance abuse. But this time around there was no juicy tabloid headline to churn out, no scandal on the horizon to be uncovered, no countdown to a rehab stint.

"I had just been getting frustrated with feedback online with certain things that I had tweeted and said in interviews," Lovato explains. "I had just started to become jaded and frustrated about how people were more focused on the things I was saying rather than my music."

Lovato was simply a 24-year-old woman then, who understood that taking time to find a balance between the anxieties and ambitions that come with a career as such was the best choice of self-care she could embrace. And so she retreated.

However, her break came to a sudden and unexpected halt two months later when she received her first-ever GRAMMY nomination. Her fifth studio album, Confident, a fun and super-sexy coming-of-age pop gem, was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.

Up against the likes of Adele's 25, which would win the category, Justin Bieber's Purpose, Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman, and Sia's This Is Acting, the announcement alone gave Lovato a renewed faith in her music that she once felt was being overshadowed.

"It was just the recognition that I really needed to get inspired again,” she reminiscences of the moment as if it all just happened yesterday.

In that moment, Lovato's upcoming sixth album, Tell Me You Love Me, was born.

Continuing her vow of silence, she unshackled the chains and stigma of celebrity and hunkered down on placing on all her time, energy and emotions into the new body of work. Unlike some of her contemporaries, she doesn't just use her platform to belt out Top 40 hits and marvel in clout. She's found a larger purpose in her career: a fully evident love and enthusiasm for speaking out on addiction and mental health, as well as self-empowerment and spreading its healing powers. 

On Tell Me You Love Me, she channels the drama (mostly breakups and matters of the heart) that once consumed her life, making for the strongest, most enduring body of work the singer/songwriter has ever created.

There's a stark contrast between the past five albums Lovato has released and Tell Me You Love Me. It's more savory and soulful, and influenced by commanding voices like Aretha Franklin, Christina Aguilera and Kehlani.

"I don't have much fun singing the pop songs," she reveals.

But while the album leans towards more of a slick, modern R&B sound with the help of super producer DJ Mustard, among others, she hasn't abandoned the pop tendencies that brought her this far.

"One of the most important rules that I live by today is to always speak your mind and always stand up for the things you believe in."

Take the album's lead single, "Sorry Not Sorry." Produced by Warren "Oak" Felder, who has lent his shapeshifting sound to the discographies of contemporary hotshots like Kehlani and Alessia Cara, the unapologetic gospel-tinged track takes Lovato's oft-undervalued yet dynamic vocal range to new heights. Soaring over chest-thumping bass and electronic synths, it’s a match made in heaven for the defiant, no-nonsense anthem.

Other released singles like the title track and "You Don't Do It for Me Anymore," both searing ballads, prove that Lovato has reached a new level as an artist. The latter, which she points out is void of background vocals and stacks of instrumental tracks, is one of her many favorites on the project.

With Tell Me You Love Me, it's clear that Lovato wants to make music that shows the world what she can really do.

"I've got this super personal song that I'm nervous about people hearing for the first time," she shares, noting that she recorded it half in tears. But no matter how painful revisiting old wounds can be, Lovato isn't ashamed to be vulnerable.

"One of the most important rules that I live by today is to always speak your mind and always stand up for the things you believe in," she declares. "Those two things give your career and your life purpose."

For many years, Demi Lovato has graced our television screens, performed in sold-out stadiums, posed for magazine covers, and developed a deep affinity for philanthropy. To say the least, it's been quite the journey for an individual who just celebrated her 25th year of life. On Tell Me You Love Me, it seems Lovato has finally found her voice: fresh, fierce, and unapologetic.

And the music itself? Well, it will play louder than any controversy ever could.

(Ashley Monaé is a Brooklyn-based writer. Her work has appeared in the pages of PAPER and Nylon and online at Pitchfork, Billboard and Highsnobiety, among others.)

Zara Larsson

Zara Larsson

Photo: Jacklyn Krol/The Recording Academy

News

Pop Star Zara Larsson On Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, 'So Good'

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Armed with an impressive list of high profile collaborations, the 19-year-old singer/songwriter has arrived to take America by storm
Jacklyn Krol
GRAMMYs
Aug 25, 2017 - 5:49 pm

At only 19 years old, Swedish pop singer/songwriter Zara Larsson has set her sights on world domination with her latest album, So Good.

Zara Larsson On Writing With Ed Sheeran

One of Larsson's biggest American buzzworthy hits from the album so far is "Symphony," her collaboration with Clean Bandit, which came to life after the GRAMMY-winning group heard Larsson's "Lush Life" and approached her.

"We just recorded it. It sounds great. We did the video and boom it was out, very easy and very effortless," said Larsson. "So hopefully I'm going to be in the studio with them to write some more."

A more recent single, "Don't Let Me Be Yours," also resulted from a collaboration, this time between Larsson, Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac, and GRAMMY winner Ed Sheeran.

"[Johnny] just basically told me, 'Well, tomorrow when we have the session Ed might swing by,'" said Larsson. "We were just jamming and … I was like, 'Whatever, he's not going to show up, like, why would he do that?' And then he showed up! On time actually, and he was just the nicest guy."

Believe it or not, "Don't Let Me Be Yours" was not set to be on the album initially, but Larsson fought for it to make the cut because she felt the vibe between her and Sheeran in the studio was so natural.  

"That's how I feel collabs should be, you know? You should work with each other in the studio and it should just come easy and that's what happened."

Speaking of Sheeran, Larsson has even incorporated a cover of his hit "Shape Of You" into her live shows.

"I'm still starting off, and I think my biggest song to this day is definitely "Never Forget You" here in America, so I think I want that element of, 'Oh, you know this one,' to keep [the audience] interested and keep them singing along."

Larsson lists Beyoncé as part of a wide range of influences from various genres, but still understands that her music is undeniably pop. Most importantly, she is maintaining an open mind and letting her sound develop naturally.

"Honestly, I don't really know what I want, I don't have this vision where I want it to sound like this," Larsson said. "I'm super open to everything."

More Exclusive Interviews: The xx Travel The World On New LP "I See You"

BTS

BTS

Courtesy: Big Hit Entertainment

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BTS Talk New Album 'Map Of The Soul: 7': "The Genre Is BTS"

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The international pop stars discuss the creative process behind their latest release and shine a light on the growing creative community in South Korea
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Feb 22, 2020 - 12:27 pm

International pop stars BTS are used to shattering world records. They've done it time and time again.

In 2018, the septet became the first Korean group to receive gold status from the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA), for the Steve Aoki remix of their 2017 track, "Mic Drop," featuring rapper Desiigner. The song, now certified platinum, became the act's first hit in the U.S., setting off an ongoing streak of Stateside hits and world records for the South Korean boyband. That same year, they became the first Korean act to top the Billboard 200 chart with Love Yourself: Tear. 

BTS are now back to dominate the charts once again with Map Of The Soul: 7. Released just yesterday (Feb. 21), the new album is already the best-selling album of the year worldwide. Another day, another world record in the life of BTS.

Map Of The Soul: 7, BTS' fourth studio full-length to date, is the next installment in the band's ongoing Map Of The Soul series. It picks up from the 2019 chart-topping Map Of The Soul: Persona EP. In addition to featuring songs from the latter, Map Of The Soul: 7 expands on some of the themes and topics from the overall series, including the concepts of persona, shadow and ego. 

"[Map Of The Soul: 7 is a] continuation from the album before, called Persona," BTS member RM tells the Recording Academy. "And this time, we put the other two themes, shadow and ego, and we put it together into [this] album, called 7. The difference is [the] persona, which is like the social mask before the good things that we have, [like] the spotlight. This time [on 7] we talked about the real shades and shadows that we had inside, and also the big manifesto that we admitted: all the shadows as our destinies and we're gonna carry on." 

Sonically, Map Of The Soul: 7 touches on many genres and sounds. Album opener "Intro: Persona" sees RM rapping over a guitar-laced, bossy hip-hop beat, while "Interlude: Shadow," a solo track from BTS member Suga, is an atmospheric pop ballad that converts into an industrial rap monster. 

For the group, Map Of The Soul: 7 breaks free from genre confines once and for all.

"I think it's less and less meaningful to divide music into genres now," Suga says. 

"The genre is BTS. That's the genre we want to make and the music that we want. New genre," the group's Jungkook, V and J-Hope add. 

On the day of the album's release, the Recording Academy caught up with BTS—all seven members!—at the Park Hyatt New York in Midtown Manhattan to discuss the creative process behind and deeper meanings within Map Of The Soul: 7, the group's all-star collaborator wishlist and the growing creative footprint of their South Korean homeland.

This interview was edited for clarity and brevity. An  interpreter translated all answers from BTS, except for RM.

Can you talk about the creative process behind Map Of The Soul: 7? How does it differ from the rest of your albums?

Suga: It took us a little longer, and this is our first full album in quite a while. But making an album isn't just making the music. We have the songs, there's the choreography and a lot of other elements that come with it, so it took some time. But once we got started, it really started rolling along and it was really fun. 

The album features individual tracks that highlight traits from each of the seven BTS members. How does the album reflect each individual member? And how does it reflect BTS as a whole? 

Jungkook: I think individually, it really contained what we wanted to put into the music and the ideas that we have, and this is what we put in.

RM: As a group, it's like a big statement or like a manifesto that we finally admitted our shadows and egos at the same time as part of our destiny. So it's like, you're going to carry on and you can bring the pain and we'll carry on.

Map Of The Soul: 7 reflects on the seven years since BTS debuted in 2013. What has been the biggest life and career lessons you've learned so far?

Jin: Thanks to these guys, I think I learned more about music. I didn't really know a lot about music when I started out, but now I've learned how to write music or make melodies. That's what I really got out of the past seven years, thanks to these guys. 

Jungkook: I think I really learned how precious music is, how important it is to me. Recording the music for this album, working on the music—through this whole process, [it was] really fun and meaningful because, again, I kind of learned and figured out how precious music is and how important it is to me.

The new album features collaborations with Halsey and Sia. Who are some other artists you want to collaborate with?

All (shouting out loud): Ariana [Grande], Travis [Scott], Taylor [Swift], Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, "Big" Nas, Lil Nas X!

RM: Call our label, please.

BTS On Creativity, Breaking Records & More

Your music as BTS has touched on many genres, from rap to pop. Are there any other genres or sounds you're interested in exploring in the future?

Suga: I think it's less and less meaningful to divide music into genres now. 

Jungkook, V, J-Hope: The genre is BTS. That's the genre we want to make and the music that we want. New genre.

Map Of The Soul: 7 is a continuation of Map Of The Soul: Persona. How are the two projects related? And how are they different?

RM: Like you said, [Map Of The Soul: 7 is a] continuation from the album before, called Persona. And this time, we put the other two themes, shadow and ego, and we put it together into [this] album, called 7. The difference is [the] persona, which is like the social mask before the good things that we have, [like] the spotlight. This time [on 7] we talked about the real shades and shadows that we had inside, and also the big manifesto that we admitted: all the shadows as our destinies and we're gonna carry on. We put all the three things [together] and made a series.

Watch: Lil Nas X, BTS & Billy Ray Cyrus Enter The "Old Town Road" Multiverse At The 2020 GRAMMYs

The K-pop genre has exploded across the world over the past few years. Where does K-pop go from here? What would you like to see happen for your community?

Suga: As you said, the stature of K-pop has really grown all over the world. But rather than be recognized as the rise of a genre or the rise of K-pop as a genre, I would like more talented Korean artists to be better known around the world, because I think there are a lot of talented Korean artists, and it's really amazing to have this small country and so many talented people coming out of it. That's what I'd like to see.

Speaking of talented Korean artists, how did you feel when Parasite won so many awards at the Oscars this year?

RM: We felt like we won the GRAMMYs. Parasite is a great movie; I also watched it in the cinema. And like Suga said, we just know that there are a lot of talented people in Korea, also including outside K-pop or K-movie or anywhere else. Parasite's honor is our honor, too. We're happy.

Why is K-pop's popularity exploding in the United States?

Shahadi Wright Joseph

Shahadi Wright Joseph

Photo: Geoff Levy

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Shahadi Wright Joseph Talks "The Lion King," Meeting Beyoncé & Being A Positive Role Model

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The teen actor/singer, who voiced Young Nala in "The Lion King" and played Zora in "Us," is fully embracing her part as a role model to other young women of color
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 9, 2019 - 5:38 pm

This year was a big one for 14-year-old actor and singer Shahadi Wright Joseph. Not only did she star in Jordan Peele's "Us" as Zora (Lupita Nyong'o's daughter), she also voiced Young Nala (a.k.a. young Beyoncé) in one of the biggest films of the summer, "The Lion King" and released her debut single, "Skin I'm In."

The Recording Academy caught up with the rising talent to learn what it was like working on "The Lion King" and meeting Beyoncé, the other artists she looks up to and who her dream collaborator is (hint: he also worked on "The Lion King"). Check out our full conversation below.

You voiced Young Nala in "The Lion King" reboot. What did it feel like just to be part of such a talented group of creatives and people?

Well, in all, I think that I was really just honored and blessed, and I would definitely want to work with every member in the cast a thousand times. We had a lot of fun recording and you can definitely hear that in the music and in the songs. It sounds really authentic, so I think that's what I love most about it.

You've mentioned in interviews how finding out Beyoncé was playing the role of Nala made you want to work even harder. What did that moment of realization feel like for you?

It was really amazing, and I told myself that I really had to up my game because Beyoncé and I were going to share a role. It was just really exciting, and there was a lot of anticipation because I never knew when I was actually going to meet her. So it was a lot of fun meeting her at the premiere; that was a great opening present. [Chuckles.] Obviously I want to meet her again.

How do you feel that learning about Bey drove you as you worked on the role?

I think everybody in the cast tried to keep it in as magical a state as possible. I think that we also tried to put our own twist to it and add our own personalities to it since we do want to make sure people know that there's a difference to both [of "The Lion King"] movies, other than the animation. But I think that we really tried to make it our own.

What was the biggest thing you learned from working with everyone on the film?

I think I learned the most about voice acting because I've never been in a voiceover feature film before, so it was really exciting. And I would definitely want to do voiceovers again, and I think that it's a great way where you get to practice your craft without using your body language. It was a lot of fun.

And right before the movie came out, you released "Skin I'm In," which, if I'm not mistaken, is your debut single. How did it feel to share that with the world?

Yeah, it is. It was really, really awesome. I'm glad that I got to drop it right near when "The Lion King" was opening. I'm so glad for everybody supported me on this entire crazy journey between acting and singing. It was definitely a lot of fun releasing the single.

The song is very positive and self-affirmative; can you talk a bit about the main goal or message that you wanted to give with that song?

The main goal of the song was really to be a great influence for girls who look up to me or look up to young black Hollywood. To help younger kids who are inspired by me or anybody else who looks like me to really just love themselves just the way that they are and they don't have to change themselves for the standard of anybody, really.

I love that. Are there any artists you look up to, who've made you feel like you have a place in music and in film?

Well, I am a huge fan of Normani, and I have a feeling that I look a little bit like her. [Laughs.] But my sister's shaking her head "no" right now. I'm also a big fan of Jorja Smith. I know there's more; Ariana Grande too.

When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you'd be where you are today?

Not at all. I really did not. But with a lot of hard work and determination, I think that I have definitely come a very long way from where I used to be.

That's awesome. What are your biggest hopes and goals right now as a young, rising artist?

Well, I am really excited about being in high school now, but I'm also excited to start applying to colleges. I have some time, but it sneaks up on you. I think that I would definitely want to go to Howard, Spelman or N.Y.U.

Do you have any advice for other young people who are looking to get into music but either they don't know where to start or they're struggling to get to that first step?

I would say keep striving for your goals and never give up, because if I gave up, I would not be in the position where I am today. Keep going for whatever you want in life.

What's up next for you? Are you working on new music?

I am. New music will be released soon, so I'm pretty excited for that and for you guys to hear that as well.

Do you have any dream musical collaborators that you would love to work with?

Ooh. I would love to work with Childish Gambino.

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