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Get To Know The 2020 Latin GRAMMYs AOTY Nominees get-know-2020-latin-grammys-album-year-nominees-2020-latin-grammy-awards

Get To Know The 2020 Latin GRAMMYs Album Of The Year Nominees | 2020 Latin GRAMMY Awards

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We are days away from the Biggest Night in Latin Music. See who's up for one of the most coveted awards of the night
Lucas Villa
GRAMMYs
Nov 6, 2020 - 4:06 pm

The 2020 Latin GRAMMYs are less than two weeks away and that means we are only days away from knowing who will take the coveted Album of the Year honor. While we'll have to wait until the 21st Latin GRAMMY Awards air on Univision on Nov. 19 to find out who will win, let's take a look at which albums have been nominated for one of the most anticipated Latin GRAMMY Awards each year.

YHLQMDLG - Bad Bunny

This is one of two Latin GRAMMY nominations for Bad Bunny in the Album of the Year category. For his second solo album, YHLQMDLG (short-hand for "Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana," or "I Do What I Want"), the Puerto Rican rapper revisited reggaeton's Puerto Rican 2000s breakthrough sound, paying ode to its makers, while also taking the genre to new places. The album's most ambitious song "Safaera" is a party anthem beast that samples and blends Alexis & Fido's 2005 track "El Tiburón" along with Missy Elliott's 2001 massive hit "Get Ur Freak On." The album's Record of the Year nominee, "Yo Perreo Sola," is a perreo-de-résistance tribute to women and their space on the dance floor. Ultimately, Bad Bunny stays true to the album title and the result is a sprawling collection of reggaeton that sound familiar yet fresh.

Oasis - J Balvin & Bad Bunny

A reggaeton equivalent of Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne, J Balvin and Bad Bunny joined forces for their collaborative album Oasis. Two of the most electifying producers of the moment, Marco "Tainy" Masís, one of the genre's pioneers, and Alejandro "Sky" Ramírez, the future of the reggaeton sound, are at the helm of the album. Factor in all those heavy-hitters and you get an album of epic proportions. The rappers from Colombia and Puerto Rico are a dynamic duo throughout the album, whether they are celebrating life without an ex on "Qué Pretendes" or missing that loved one dearly on the haunting "La Canción." Oasis is a refreshing approach to reggaeton by two of the genre's biggest personalities.

Colores - J Balvin

Following Oasis, Colores, or "Colors," marks J Balvin's second nomination in the Album of the Year category this year. For his fifth solo album, J Balvin tackled a chromatic theme with each song reflecting different shades of emotions. On Colores' Record of the Year nominee "Rojo," he longs for a lover who is no longer there while on "Morado," he tells the story of an independent woman who is living her best life in the club. Alongside longtime producer and fellow Colombian Alejandro "Sky" Ramírez, J Balvin also collaborated with DJ Snake, who produced "Amarillo," and Diplo, who produced "Rosa."  Balvin, undoiubtedly the most colorful character in reggaeton, took the genre to the next level with 10 tracks. With 13 overall nominations, Balvin broke the record for the most nominations for an artist in a single year.

Por Primera Vez - Camilo

Camilo took some time away from the industry to pen hits for other artists including Becky G and Natti Natasha on their 13-times platinum "Sin Pijama." This year he found his voice again and marked his return as a singer/songwriting artist with Por Primera Vez, or "For the First Time." Although it's the Colombian singer's third album, he's often remarked that it feels like his debut. In a Latin music scene dominated by reggaeton, Camilo has found his niche, blending that sound with his quirky pop edge. That's apparent on his infectious single "Tutu" with Latin GRAMMY winner Pedro Capó, which is nominated for both Record and Song of the Year. There's no doubt, when Camilo is writing for himself, his honesty shines through. The bright artist is also nominated in the Song of the Year category for a second time in his career for the haunting "El Mismo Aire."

Mesa Para Dos - Kany García

Since winning Best New Artist at the 9th annual Latin GRAMMYs, Kany García has remained a constant force at the awards and in Latin music in general. For her seventh album Mesa Para Dos, or "Table for Two," she shares her moving lyrics in duets with artists like Mexican pop star Carlos Rivera on "Cobardes" and Colombian singer Camilo on "Titanic." The album's most beautiful moment, "Lo Que En Ti Veo" with Argentine musician Nahuel Pennisi, is nominated for both Record and Song of the Year. With five nominations overall, Garcia is the most nominated female artist at this year's Latin GRAMMYs.

Aire (Versión Día) - Jesse & Joy

Like García, Mexican sibling act Jesse & Joy are past Best New Artist winners—they won the award at the 8th annual Latin GRAMMYs, just a year prior to Garcia. Not only have they won several Latin GRAMMYs over the years, but the duo also won a GRAMMY at the 59th annual awards for Best Latin Pop Album. Jesse & Joy's fifth album Aire (Versión Día), or "Air (Day Version)," marks their most personal release to date, especially for Joy. In April 2019, Joy revealed that she married her wife, Diana Atri. In May of that year, the couple revealed the birth of their daughter, Noah, who inspired the album's opening song "Noah's Intro." Jesse & Joy celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with the empowering anthem "Love (Es Nuestro Idioma)." They remain a breath of fresh air in Latin pop music.

Un Canto Por México, Vol. 1 - Natalia Lafourcade

Since the first time she was nominated at the 4th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, alternative singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade has won several Latin GRAMMYs. Lafourcade also has one GRAMMY under her belt after winning Best Latin Rock, Urban, or Alternative Album at the 59th GRAMMY Awards. A Latin music shape-shifter, she has tackled many genres, but embraced the music of her country, Mexico, for her ninth album, Un Canto por México, Vol. 1, or "A Song for Mexico." On the album, she pays tribute to several Mexican sounds, including son jarocho and mariachi—she put her heart in mariachi music for "Mi Religión," a 2020 nominee for Best Regional Song. Lafourcade also put a proud Mexican spin of a few of her classics on the album like "Hasta La Raíz" and "Nunca Es Suficiente." 

Pausa - Ricky Martin

Over his illustrious career, Ricky Martin has won three Latin GRAMMYs and two GRAMMYs. This year, he could earn one more Latin GRAMMY with his first album since 2015's A Quien Quiera Escuchar. After the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the world earlier this year, the Puerto Rican superstar split a project he was working on into two EPs and thus Pausa was born. On Pausa, or "Pause," Martin recorded ballads to inspire hope in these challenging times and he brings huge names in English and Spanish language music. British legend Sting sings in Spanish on their duet "Simple." It's also his most proud Boricua release with the standout "Cántalo" featuring Residente and Bad Bunny that celebrates their homeland. With García, Joy Huerta, and Martin nominated, it's a banner year for artists in the LGBTQ+ community in the Album of the Year category.

La Conquista Del Espacio - Fito Páez

Fito Páez is a Latin music legend whose music career long precedes the inception of the first Latin GRAMMY Awards in 2000. It's only fitting that the Argentine rock star has been recognized by his peers over the years with several Latin GRAMMY awards. La Conquista Del Espacio, or "The Conquest of Space," marks Páez's 20th studio album. This year, Paez is also up for Best Pop/Rock Album. But that's not all, Páez's soaring centerpiece "La Canción De Las Bestias" is nominated for Best Pop/Rock Song.

Cumbiana - Carlos Vives

Carlos Vives is another Latin music legend who has multiple Latin GRAMMYs and two GRAMMYs to his name. For his 14th studio album, Cumbiana, the Colombian singer-songwriter celebrates the cumbia music rooted in his country. He gives the genre a fresh spin on "Hechicera" featuring rising GRAMMY-nominated Canadian-Colombian singer Jessie Reyez. Vives is also up for Song of the Year for "For Sale," his creative collaboration with Spanish GRAMMY-winning singer Alejandro Sanz.

Don't forget to tune in to all the excitement on Univision on Thurs., Nov. 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (7:00 p.m. CT). The broadcast will also air on TNT (cable) at 7:00 p.m. (MEX) / 8:00 p.m. (COL) / 10:00 p.m. (ARG/CHI) and on Televisa on Channel 5.

Learn more about the 2020 Latin GRAMMY Awards via the Latin Recording Academy's official website.

2020 Latin GRAMMY Awards Nominees Announced: See The Complete List

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Best Música Urbana Album Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs best-musica-urbana-album-nominees-2022-grammys-bad-bunny-j-balvin-karol-g

Get Familiar With The Inaugural Best Música Urbana Album Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYS

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The brand new category features some of Latin's biggest names. Dive into the nominated albums from Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, KAROL G, and Kali Uchis
Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
GRAMMYs
Dec 1, 2021 - 7:34 am

Editor's Note: The 2022 GRAMMYs Awards show, officially known as the 64th GRAMMY Awards, has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 3, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The below article was updated on Tuesday, Jan. 18, to reflect the new show date and location.

Música urbana has had an undeniable impact on music far beyond the Latin landscape over the last two decades, with a more recent, rampant revival that has seeped into the U.S. mainstream via various experimental, multicultural tracks. Bilingual songs and collaborations with artists in the Anglo and K-pop markets and beyond have made the genre's global impact undeniable.

On a more microscopic level, música urbana has rewritten the blueprint for Latin pop, expanding the possibilities of the sound and canon. At the 2022 GRAMMYs Awards show, officially known as the 64th GRAMMY Awards, the Recording Academy will further recognize and celebrate that shift with a new category: Best Música Urbana Album.

Encompassing several Latin genres, this newly minted category will aim to highlight the varied work of artists producing albums with at least 51% playing time of new Música Urbana recordings. The inaugural nominees are some of Latin's biggest stars — Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, KAROL G, and Kali Uchis — further proving just how impactful música urbana has become.

Ahead of the 2022 GRAMMYs Awards show, which air Jan. 31 on CBS, take a look at the albums in the running for the first-ever Best Música Urbana Album GRAMMY.

Read More: Get To Know The First-Ever Best Global Music Performance Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs

AFRODISÍACO — Rauw Alejandro

A few years into his career, Rauw Alejandro has proven to be one of the most promising well-rounded acts of his generation.

On Afrodisíaco, Alejandro paints outside of the lines of urbano to infuse it with refreshing electronic elements and Spanish-language R&B. The singer/rapper incorporates an experimental wave of pop that bends genres, setting him apart from his peers.

The Puerto Rican artist shows off his range with standouts like the EDM-meets-reggaeton track “Química,” and a futuristic pop song that lives up to its name, “Algo Mágico” (or ”Something Magic”). Eleven of the album’s 16 tracks are collaborations, which see Alejandro joining forces with Latin heavy hitters like Tainy ("Pensándote") and Camilo ("Tattoo Remix"), as well as rapper Trippie Redd on "Un Sueño."

A valiant and versatile effort, Afrodisiaco established a strong foundation for Alejandro: After the album gave the singer his first two Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart (”Tattoo” and ”Reloj”), his follow-up project, 2021’s Vice Versa, debuted atop the Top Latin Albums chart.

EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO — Bad Bunny

Since his start in 2016, Bad Bunny has proven he isn't afraid to get weird and tap into his varied musical inspirations, including rock en español.

On El Último Tour Del Mundo, the Puerto Rican singer/rapper reminds us of his range with tracks like the rock-inspired track "MALDITA POBREZA," which he performed at the 2021 Latin GRAMMYs. Kicking off with "EL MUNDO ES MÍO," the 16-track project is a diverse collection that flaunts Benito’s range, from the thumping hip-hop infused track "HOY COBRÉ" to the soulful “SORRY PAPI,” featuring Queens-born Alt R&B princess Abra.

The album is one of three offerings Bad Bunny released in 2020, following YHLQMDLG (which won the singer his first GRAMMY last year) and a compilation album titled Las que no iban a salir. El Último Tour Del Mundo spawned one of his biggest hits to date, the wavy reggaeton smash "Dákiti" featuring Jhay Cortez, earning Bad Bunny his first No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200.

Read More: J Balvin On His New Album 'Jose,' The Future Of Reggaeton & Getting Back On Stage: "It's About Getting Back To Feeling That Vibe Again"

JOSE — J Balvin

JOSE is J Balvin's sixth studio album, self-defined as his most personal yet — encapsulated in the project's title, his first name. Throughout the hefty 24-track project, we hear Balvin lean into his signature suave poppy reggaetón sound, mixing his worldwide appeal with unprecedented sentimentality.

Balvin's longest project to date, JOSE teams up with fellow superstars both in and out of the Latin genre, including Ozuna ("Pa' Guayarte"), Karol G and Nicky Jam ("Poblado - Remix"), Khalid ("Otra Noche Sin Ti") and Skrillex ("In Da Getto"). The album also makes room for rising acts like Dominican trapera Tokischa ("Perra") and Argentine singer Maria Beccera ("Qué Más Pues?").

Pushing his diverse sound even further, JOSE is a personal win more than anything. "The album was made thinking about myself and what I like to do," Balvin explained to Billboard. "The concept is me."

KG0516 — KAROL G

Nearly 18 months after Karol G's Nicki Minaj collaboration "Tusa" took off, the Colombian star produced a holistic, confident heartbreak album. KG0516 channels a place of hurt to eventually heal and release one's inner "Bichota," loosely translated to a boss woman.

Following 2019's introspective Ocean, Karol G takes on more heartfelt ballads, honors reggaetón greats, and even delves into corridos for the first time on “200 COPAS.” The 16-song project includes collaborations with Camilo ("CONTIGO VOY A MUERTE"), Nathy Peluso ("GATO MALO"), and even Ludacris ("BEAUTIFUL BOY," which also features rising singer Emilee). 

KG0516 saw Karol G produce her project for the first time, as she co-produced "Déjalos Que Miren," "200 COPAS" and "EL BARCO." She told ET earlier this year that she "really wanted to experiment with new sounds,” including country guitars on the J Balvin collab "LOCATION."

"For me, it's like every song is an opportunity to bring something different to my people," the singer said. "That's what I love to do with my music."

Read More: Kali Uchis On What It Means To Be A Latin "Crossover" Star In The 21st Century

SIN MIEDO (DEL AMOR Y OTROS DEMONIOS) — Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis' all Spanish-language project Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) is a statement piece of freely creating, with longevity and connection in mind. The Colombian-American singer dawned into this new space without fear, making its title — which translates to "Without Fear (of Love and Other Demons)" — all the more significant.

Standouts like the sweet and sultry bilingual song "telepatía" and tribute cover of late Cuban star La Lupe's "que te pedí" exhibit Uchis' multifaceted abilities. Across the album's 13 tracks, she blends old-school reggaetón and soulful alt-pop with grace and ease.

The Virginia-born star's goal for this project (and her work at large) is simple: "I'm going to make something timeless that inspires people and pushes people to reflect and feel something," Uchis said last year. "It comes from the most authentic parts of me."

2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List

Photo of Amara La Negra attending the release party for her 'Unstoppable' EP at The Association on March 27, 2019, in Los Angeles, California

Amara La Negra in 2019

Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

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Listen: Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 Playlist stream-hispanic-heritage-month-2021-playlist-bad-bunny-farruko-kali-uchis-j-balvin

Listen: GRAMMY.com's Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 Playlist Featuring Amara La Negra, Helado Negro, Andrekza, Maluca, And Many More

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The 50 songs featured on GRAMMY.com's official Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 playlist will give you a sonic tour of the artists shaping Latin music today
Taj Mayfield
GRAMMYs
Sep 15, 2021 - 2:04 pm

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month 2021, which takes place Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, GRAMMY.com is shining a light on the diverse sounds of Latin America in true GRAMMY fashion: music, of course.

Between chart-toppers like Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Kali Uchis and breakout stars like CJ, CLUBZ and Maye, today's Latin artists are fearless when it comes to exploring multiple genres. As a result of that boldness, listeners are greeted with the colorful culture and sounds of Latin America, no matter where they wander on the music landscape.

No one playlist can fully capture the expansive sounds and styles of today's Latin artists and genres. But the 50 songs featured on GRAMMY.com's official Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 playlist will give you a sonic tour of the artists shaping Latin music today.

Listen on Spotify:

Listen on Amazon Music:

Listen on Pandora Music.

Listen: Celebrate AAPI Month 2021 With This Playlist Featuring Artists Of Asian & Pacific Islander Descent

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Lizzo shows off teeth at 2021 GRAMMY Awards

Lizzo at 2021 GRAMMY Awards

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What's Your Favorite Monday Motivation Hype Song? poll-monday-motivation-hype-song-Lizzo-DJ-Khaled-Britney-Spears

Poll: What's Your Favorite Monday Motivation Hype Song?

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We've got bangers from Lizzo, Britney Spears, DJ Khaled, Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, Bad Bunny, J Balvin and more in our latest poll—feel free to cue up all these tracks to make your day—and playlist—extra fire
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 13, 2021 - 12:13 pm

It's Monday. Maybe you wish you were still at the beach. Or still in bed. Or that it was Friday already. However you're feeling in this moment, we're certain you have great go-to tracks that always get you hyped. So, for the latest GRAMMY.com poll, we want to know what your favorite #MondayMotivation song is!

We've got bangers from Britney Spears, BTS, DJ Khaled, Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, J Balvin and more in the poll—feel free to cue up all these tracks to make your day—and playlist—extra fire.

Polls

What's your favorite Monday Motivation song?

"All I Do Is Win," DJ Khaled feat. T-Pain, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris & Rick Ross
5%
"Bitch Better Have My Money," Rihanna
5%
"Dynamite," BTS
25%
"Eye Of The Tiger," Survivor
3%
"Formation," Beyoncé
4%
"Get Paid," Aluna feat. Princess Nokia & Jada Kingdom
1%
"I Like It," Cardi B feat. J Balvin & Bad Bunny
2%
"I'm Still Standing," Elton John
1%
"Levitating," Dua Lipa
7%
"Linda," ROSALÍA feat. Tokischa
1%
"Me Against the Music," Britney Spears feat. Madonna
0%
"POPSTAR," DJ Khaled feat. Drake
2%
"Pump Up The Jam," Technotronic
0%
"Savage (Remix)" Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
2%
"Solar Power," Lorde
1%
"Sour Candy," Lady Gaga feat. BLACKPINK
2%
"Tempo," Lizzo feat. Missy Elliott
2%
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," Wham!
1%
"YO LE LLEGO," J Balvin & Bad Bunny
1%
Other
35%

Vote now in the poll above. Make sure to pick your song by Sept. 27, when the poll will close, and return then to see if your pump-up jam is also other GRAMMY.com reader's favorite.

Up Close & Personal: DJ Khaled Talks 'KHALED KHALED,' Brotherhood With JAY-Z & Nas, And Deep Love Of Reggae

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Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa

Photo: Hugo Comte

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Dua Lipa: From Best New Artist To Massive Pop Star dua-lipa-2021-grammys-future-nostalgia

'Future Nostalgia': How Dua Lipa Rose From Best New Artist To Massive Pop Star

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Nominated for six GRAMMYs at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show, Dua Lipa leaped into powerhouse territory with her 2020 sophomore album, 'Future Nostalgia,' becoming pop's newest reigning queen in the process
Ilana Kaplan
GRAMMYs
Mar 12, 2021 - 1:04 pm

For Women's History Month 2021, GRAMMY.com is celebrating some of the women artists nominated at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show. Today, we honor Dua Lipa, who's currently nominated for six GRAMMYs.

There was so much to mourn in 2020: The last time we hugged our families, traveled to new places and swayed among sweaty strangers on a dance floor. But that didn't stop Dua Lipa.

Since last March, the English pop star has released not one, but three albums. The first of the trilogy, her defiant dance pop sophomore record, Future Nostalgia, released last March just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to take hold over the world, quickly became a nu-disco-tinged masterpiece. It was a bold move for Lipa to release a record in a pandemic, with the major-label pop album rollout upended and international touring put on pause. 

The risk paid off: Future Nostalgia became her first album to enter the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot 200 chart. And if Future Nostalgia was any indication, the thrill of taking risks was far from over. 

Backstage At The 63rd GRAMMYs: Dua Lipa

Last August, the singer released Club Future Nostalgia, an adrenaline-filled remix album for the digital dance floor, made with DJ/producer the Blessed Madonna. For the album, she enlisted collaborators Blackpink, Mark Ronson, Madonna, Missy Elliott and Gwen Stefani.

Related: Dua Lipa Talks 'Club Future Nostalgia,' Working With Madonna And How She's Navigating The Music Industry In The COVID-19 Era

But she still wasn't done expanding the Future Nostalgia universe. Just last month, she shared another version of the album, The Moonlight Edition, which included three new singles as well as Lipa's "Prisoner" collaboration with Miley Cyrus; "Un Día" with J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Tainy, for which she's currently nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance; and "Not My Problem" with J.I.D.

It's clear Lipa put in the work to get here. With the release of her 2017 self-titled debut album, the singer became crystallized as a feminist force in the pop world. Singles like the beguiling synth-pop anthem "Be the One" and the club-ready "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" captivated listeners. But it was the empowering smash "New Rules" that ignited a viral craze for its infectious lyrics and GIF-able music video, which is filled with women holding and uplifting each other while dancing sleepover-themed choreography. 

Watch: Dua Lipa Wins Best New Artist

Dua Lipa and the subsequent success of "New Rules" helped Lipa nab a Best New Artist GRAMMY in 2019—plus an internet nickname ("Dula Peep")—and primed her for pop superstardom. While her self-titled album established her as a headlining pop contender, Lipa continued to push herself.

Read: Taylor Swift's Road To 'Folklore': How The Superstar Evolved From 'Diaristic' Country Tunes To Her Most Progressive Music Yet

Part of challenging herself came in the fallout of the pandemic. The pop album release cycle is generally highly orchestrated, teeming with the careful planning of single releases, music videos and tour dates. But one cannot prepare for unprecedented times: Per The New York Times, as Lipa's 85-date arena tour was pushed back, there were talks in her camp of postponing the drop of Future Nostalgia—then days before her livestream of the album leaked—and an imminent release became necessary. This was all happening in parallel with the collective trauma and grief the world was facing with COVID. 

Future Nostalgia delivered exactly the escapism people around the world sought.

The anthemic single "Don't Start Now," currently nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show, was the kind of carefree, disco-inflected number you'd hear while skating backward at a '70s roller rink. What followed was the candy-coated, dance pop track "Physical," which delivered '80s aerobics touchstones, and "Break My Heart," a glittery, disco funk jaunt with swaggering guitar riffs. (The album's retro-futuristic slant touched everything: from the songs themselves to the neon leotards in the music videos.)

Lipa saw how cathartic the music had become for her fans. The album hailed quarantine anthems and received the meme treatment: "Don't Start Now" for its refrain ("Don't show up/Don't come out") and "Break My Heart" for its very timely chorus ("I should have stayed home").

As fans found new ways to connect with Future Nostalgia, so did Lipa—and innovation took the lead. Doing late-night TV performances required a newfound sense of creativity.

Then there was the idea of trying to recreate concerts. While a garden variety of livestreams had been sprinkled throughout 2020, the absence of flashy arena performances was an obvious void. But despite live shows being canceled indefinitely, Lipa led the charge behind one of the year's most highly anticipated—and polished—virtual concerts with Studio 2054, which paid homage to the Future Nostalgia universe. Filmed in a sprawling London warehouse, the livestream concert saw Lipa command the stage of custom-built sets with sleek choreography, glitter, glam, raves and roller discos, along with special appearances from Elton John, FKA twigs, Kylie Minogue, Bad Bunny and more.

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Future Nostalgia was indeed a game-changer for Lipa's musical arc and aesthetic; it was a transformation for her career, too. She didn't just create an album—she created an era. "Her voice changes a song the same way her presence lights up a room," Future Nostalgia producer Ian Kirkpatrick tells GRAMMY.com. 

Future Nostalgia took Lipa into powerhouse territory, with the singer making the massive leap from Best New Artist to pop's newest reigning queen. Most of all, it showed that Lipa could seamlessly redefine herself. Sarah Hudson, who co-wrote songs on her debut album as well as "Levitating" and "Physical" off Future Nostalgia, had "no doubt" that Lipa "would take over the world." "[Dua] had a very specific vision for Future Nostalgia, and she executed it flawlessly," she tells GRAMMY.com. "It comes genuinely from her heart, and you can feel that in every single song."

It also helped that Lipa had a top-tier team behind her. Chris Gehringer, who mastered Future Nostalgia, says that the album's success stemmed from the fact that Lipa enlisted producers and engineers who all "worked on a No. 1 song and album before." "I mastered three songs from her debut album, 'Lost In Your Light,' 'Blow Your Mind' and 'New Rules,' so I knew this new album was going to be big," he tells GRAMMY.com. Ali Tamposi, who co-wrote "Break My Heart," describes Lipa as a "force to be reckoned with." "We're lucky to have someone like her at the forefront of music who [continuously] raises the bar."

And the 2021 GRAMMYs reflect that. With six GRAMMY nominations, including Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, Lipa is one of the most nominated artists this year.

Following this year's GRAMMYs, it'll be interesting to watch how Dua Lipa continues to evolve as an artist. Future Nostalgia was such a sonic departure from her first album—how will she push the boundaries of pop next? 

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