2019 Grammy Predictions

In breaking news, I've learned the Grammys are tonight. I kid, but basically that's what this whole post is going to be: a little levity to close out the weekend. I'm gonna do my usual shtick of making predictions for categories I know/care about, and again it'll be my 'who should win' and 'who will win' double pick scenario, because even with two picks per category I'm still out to lunch most times. Oh and one more thing before the predictions, will the dance/electronic categories be in with all the obscure categories? Or will they continue to disregard their impact and treat them as a sideshow not fit for their floundering broadcast? I'd lean towards the latter, but let's just get to the good stuff, shall we?

*** Update: Results noted with ✓ or x ***

BEST DANCE RECORDING

Above & Beyond - Northern Soul (ft. Richard Bedford)
Disclosure - Ultimatum (ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
Fisher - Losing It
Silk City - Electricity (ft. Dua Lipa)
Virtual Self - Ghost Voices

Who Will Win: Silk City ✓
Who Should Win: Silk City ✓
Reasoning: I feel like the Academy is equally likely to go with any of Disclosure, Silk City and Fisher as they are seemingly the most widely-popular productions in the list. My bet is that they will make the 'right' choice with Silk City as they love both Diplo and Mark Ronson, and it is indeed the most accessible and perhaps most successful production of the bunch. That said, I would not be surprised if "Losing It" got the nod, as love it or hate it, it was without a doubt the club track of the year.

BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM

Jon Hopkins - Singularity
Justice - Woman Worldwide
Sofi Tukker - Treehouse
SOPHIE - Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
TOKiMONSTA - Lune Rouge

Who Will Win: Justice ✓
Who Should Win: TOKiMONSTA
Reasoning: This was a tough one. Obviously any of these could take the trophy, but I feel like they'll be too scared to go with SOPHIE, who might be the obvious choice in many eyes. The other nom that set itself apart from the group in terms of hype was Singularity, and I think it's got a solid chance. However, due to last year's seemingly unfair Kraftwerk catalog/best of winning, I see them doing the same with Woman Worldwide this year. That said, I've got Lune Rouge as the most enjoyable album through and through.

BEST REMIXED RECORDING

LSD - Audio (CID Remix)
Charlie Puth - How Long (EDX's Dubai Skyline Remix)
Gabriel & Dresden ft. Sub Teal - Only Road (Cosmic Gate Remix)
Kygo ft. Justin Jesso - Stargazing (Kaskade Remix)
HAIM - Walking Away (Mura Masa Remix)

Who Will Win: EDX
Who Should Win: Mura Masa ✓
Reasoning: This marks the 5th time Kaskade has been nominated in this category since 2008, and his 4th time in 5 years. Surely this is his year right? But sadly for him, I think not. I put CID and EDX in a near dead heat, with the advantage going to EDX in the kind of dance delivery that seems to get recognized most at The Grammys. My choice is obvious though, as I love both HAIM and Mura Masa, and see "Walking Away" as by far the most adventurous and progressive production in the list.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL

Boi-1da
Larry Klein
Linda Perry
Kanye West
Pharrell Williams

Who Will Win: Kanye West
Who Should Win: Pharrell Williams ✓
Reasoning: I see the Academy going for drama with this pick, and while he's likely deserving after an incredible year, there's no doubt Kanye will have people talking. That said, I believe Pharrell's output is more wide-ranging and because of his contributions to Timberlake and Grande's albums, he ought to become just the 4th person to win this category 3+ times.

***OTHER, MORE UNINFORMED PICKS***

Best Music Video: Childish Gambino - This Is America ✓
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: Black Panther ✓
Best Spoken Word Album: Jimmy Carter ✓
Best Americana Album: Brandi Carlile ✓
Best American Roots Song: The Joke ✓
Best American Roots Performance: The Joke ✓
Best Rap Album: Mac Miller x
Best Rap Song: Sicko Mode x
Best Rap/Sung Performance: This Is America ✓
Best Rap Performance: Sicko Mode x
Best Alternative Music Album: Björk x
Song Of The Year: The Joke x
Album Of The Year: Janelle Monae x
Record Of The Year: All The Stars x

DJ Khaled ft. Beyonce & Jay Z - Shining (CID Remix)

Usually I try to focus on brand new tracks, but CID's remix of this DJ Khaled, Beyonce and Jay Z joint is too good to pass up. Hopefully you recall my post about his original track "Believer" with CeeLo Green (read here), as it remains one of my favourite tracks of the year, and only further establishes CID as an artist you need to keep your eyes and ears on. Last month he gave "Shining," a hearty house flip, and while it's not quite as heavy or deep as his brand new Bruno Mars bootleg or killer Cardi B flip, it's just a juicy. The magisterial marriage of Beyonce and Jay Z still remains front and centre, while riding a reinvigorated, groovy house rhythm. The track itself is a splashy wave pool of a party, succeeding through somewhat simple, yet entirely effective dance designs. It's killer club tool that should both get the party started and bring a good bounce to the dance-floor. Download it for free via Dropbox here.FOLLOW CID: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

CID - Believer (ft. CeeLo Green)

Some days I can find a track that I want to write about almost immediately, others it becomes increasingly difficult as I wade through throngs of the same old sounds, further frustrating me and closing my mind, making me less receptive to the following tracks. However I hold out hope as I continue down the never-ending ether that is soundcloud's server. Today was one of those days, where my faith paid off and I came across an aptly titled track "Believer," from New York's CID.

My eye was immediately drawn to this track because of CeeLo, whose been one of my favourite vocalists ever since I first came across him in Gnarls Barkley. There's just something about the emotional intensity he's able to inject in each and ever syllable he delivers. Perhaps the best example of this is in his tremendously touching tribute "Robin Williams," as performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

CeeLo brings that same uplifting emotion to "Believer," just as CID builds him a brilliant and bouncy bed. There's no denying its infectious nature, from sublime sound design, playful progression and wicked warmth. This is the kind of summer anthem that I fully expect to garner radio play across the continent. While there's another song with the same name, currently dominating the airwaves, I'll be made a "Believer" in commercial radio if CID and CeeLo were to usurp that quartet, just imagine! Stream/Download "Believer" from your favourite outlet, here.

FOLLOW CID: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW CEELO GREEN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

A-Trak & Jamie Lidell - We All Fall Down (STFU Remix)

For months now I've been beyond obsessed with A-Trak's latest original with Jamie Lidell, "We All Fall Down." The 4 mixes that came with the original, CID, Volt & State, Jarreau Vandal and Jamie's Version, were all stand outs. But when I heard a new version in his Mixmag Asia live set, I nearly died, overcome with hype. I downloaded the set, listened to it on repeat, and even ripped the version out of the set so that I didn't have to keep fast-forwarding to hear it over and over again. Last week, the man himself was posting more remixes to his twitter and soundcloud, but none of them were the version that I was so desperately waiting for, that is until yesterday when he dropped STFU (Stand Tall, Fists Up)'s version. I absolutely love the raw, cut-down styling that so perfectly utilizes Jamie Lidell's infectious vocals. I'm so excited that I'll be able to have a full 320 version that I can play out on repeat, and in my forthcoming radio shows. I've got to say that literally every version of the track I've heard is stellar. I think that speaks to the sheer genius that is A-Trak, true Canadian music royalty. Catch the bright and bubbly, Cory Enemy & Syre remix, as well as the much darker, trapped out Willy Joy version that is sure to turn any party into an all out rager. Those two mixes (and maybe more, unannounced versions) are set to join STFU's in another remix package due to be released this Friday the 11th.