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

My Mixtape featuring 404

DOWNLOAD MY MIXTAPE FEATURING 404

Tracklist

1. 404 - X
2. 404 - ID
3. 404 - Bar 416
4. 404 - Ghost Pirates vs Deadmau5 & Kaskade - I Remember (Acapella)
5. 404 - Long Time Ago
6. 404 - ID
7. 404 - In The Galaxy
8. Jesse Zimmerman - ID

2017 Grammy Nominations

Every year, when The Grammy nominations come out, I debate whether a post about them is worth my time, or whether I'll just be promoting the garbage pop that does not need, nor deserve, any more promotion. I eventually come to the conclusion that there are enough deserving artists nominated to warrant a post. So here I go, I'll list the nominees from each category relevant to this blog, give my two cents, then write in my own nomination. I'll also place my bets on who should win from those nominations, and who I think will actually win, but I'm almost always wrong, cause you know, I'm obviously not on the same level as those in charge of the Grammys. See last year's predictions post.

Song Of The Year

• Beyonce - Formation
• Adele - Hello
• Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza
• Justin Bieber - Love Yourself
• Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Why is "I Took A Pill In Ibiza" on this list? Isn't it too old to be included? I definitely remember Benzi playing it in his Get Right Radio 2015 mix. Anyway, it'd be hard to argue with any of these tracks being nominated for this category. Must say I'm not sure I've ever heard "7 Years," but there's always at least one track per category that I'm clueless about.

Who Should Win: Formation

Who Will Win: Hello

My Write In Nomination: Flume - Never Be Like You

Best New Artist

• Anderson .Paak
• Chance The Rapper
• Maren Morris
• The Chainsmokers
• Kelsea Ballerini

What constitutes a new artist? While I'm not sure who Morris or Ballerini are, the other three have been on my radar for at least at least two years. This is a group of heavy hitters, and perhaps one of the best/most deserving list of nominees, despite my disdain for anything Chainsmokers. But that's why this is the Grammys, and that's why I write a blog about underappreciated art, not pop refuse.

Who Should Win: Anderson .Paak

Who Will Win: The Chainsmokers

My Write In Nomination: Flume

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

• The Chainsmokers - Closer (ft. Halsey)
• Lukas Graham - 7 Years
• Rihanna - Work (ft. Drake)
• Sia - Cheap Thrills (ft. Sean Paul)
• Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out

Best? This is really the best? Or most poppy... How about we call a spade a spade? I've never heard a track more widely hated than "Closer" and "Work," what's with all the mumbling? I can at least stomach, and understand its appeal. No question Sia had a massive year, and I like Sean Paul so I get that.

Who Should Win: Cheap Thrills

Who Will Win: Closer

My Write In Nomination: Flume - Never Be Like You

Best Dance Recording

• Bob Moses - Tearing Me Up
• The Chainsmokers - Don't Let Me Down (ft. Daya)
• Flume - Never Be Like You (ft. Kai)
• Riton - Rinse & Repeat (ft. Kah-Lo)
• Sofi Tukker - Drinkee

Okay, we're really starting to get into the good stuff here. I've got huge love for Bob Moses, and their nomination is perhaps the best thing the Grammys did with this years nomination. Again, with the Chainsmokers though, yet another track that I just don't get; it's rather awful, but not as bad as "Closer." Here's where I'll also address the reasoning behind Flume being my write in for each of the previous categories. I feel Flume is perfectly suited for music award shows, specifically the Grammys. His productions are poppy and easily accessible, yet far from mindless drivel. His near clean sweep of the ARIA Music Awards were well deserved, as Skin is a true work of art. Rounding out the category I'm blown away by the last two nominees, for different reasons. I absolutely love "Rinse & Repeat," but had never heard Drinkee until today.
Who Should Win: Rinse & Repeat
Who Will Win: Never Be Like You
My Write In Nomination: Pusher - Clear (ft. Mothica)

Best Dance/Electronic Album

• Flume - Skin
• Jean-Michel Jarre - Electronica 1: The Time Machine
• Tycho - Epoch
• Underworld - Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future
• Louie Vega - Louie Vega Starring... XXVIII

Why is this category dance/electronic while the above is only dance? The Grammys usually do a good job with the album category, and this year is no exception. That is to say there's usually one odd ball, and it certainly seems to be Louie Vega. There's no questioning Flume's inclusion here, nor the triumphant return of Jean-Michel Jarre and Underworld, but it seems like the Grammys are leaning a little bit too hard on prior accomplishments and name recognition. Apart from the inclusion of Bob Moses above, Tycho's appearance in this category is the Grammys greatest success.

Who Should Win: Tycho

Who Will Win: Flume

My Write In Nomination: Machinedrum - Human Energy

Best Remixed Recording

• Soul Pacific - Cali Coast (Psionics Remix)
• The Silver Lake Chorus - Heavy Star Movin' (staRo Remix)
• Paul McCartney & Wings - Nineteen Hundred Eighty-Five (Timo Maas & James Teej Remix)
• Ry X - Only (Kaskade x Lipless Remix)
• Bob Moses - Tearing Me Up (RAC Remix)
• The Chemical Brothers - Wide Open (Joe Goddard Remix)

This category is almost always way out there. Sometimes it's full of popular mixes and other times it's like this, littered with mixes and artists I've never heard of. Once again we see the Grammys going for name recognition, with the obligatory inclusion of Kaskade and RAC. The Paul McCartney track is really weird, seems like voters just went "Oh that guy was from The Beatles, he can do not wrong," WRONG! The Psionics remix has 159 views on soundcloud, seriously. SERIOUSLY, what is up with this category? At least Bob Moses, Chemical Brothers and Joe Goddard got nods, but I'm basically at a loss for this one.

Who Should Win: Joe Goddard

Who Will Win: RAC

My Write In Nomination: Manila Killa - All That's Left (The M Machine Remix)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

• Benny Blanco
• Greg Kurstin
• Max Martin
• Nineteen85
• Ricky Reed

This is always a funny category for me, because it's always a bunch of names basically nobody knows, with the exception of Diplo, who for some reason was not nominated this year, despite being a perennial contender. So now, I'll give a little backstory for each unknown. Blanco's credits this year include "Love Yourself," "Cold Water" among various productions for Vance Joy, Selena Gomez and Passion Pit. Kurstin was responsible for many Adele, Sia, Ellie Goulding, and Tegan & Sara tracks, including "Hello" and "Cheap Thrills." Max Martin may even be more prolific than Kurstin, authoring tracks from Starboy, and Dangerous Woman, as well as the likes of "Can't Feel My Face," "Hands To Myself," "Love Me Like You Do," "Into You" and "Can't Stop The Feeling!" Nineteen85 is best known for his work with Drake, producing "One Dance," "Hotline Bling," and DJ Khaled's "For Free" with of course, Drake. Ricky Reed's credits include productions for Meghan Trainor, Robin Thicke and Twenty One Pilots.

Who Should Win: Max Martin

Who Will Win: Greg Kurstin

My Write In Nomination: Shaun Frank

Winners will be announced February 12th on CBS, but most of these categories will be announced earlier in the day with little to no fanfare, because as is likely obvious by now, The Grammys still have disdain for electronic music and clearly do not consider it that highly. But the question then is, do electronic music fans even care about the Grammys? And therefore does it matter what they do?

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Paul David - Shocking!

With the long awaited and always awesome Canada Day long weekend right around the corner, it's only fitting that this week's episode of Bump In The Hump contains not just the biggest and brightest remixes of the year, but also slew of fresh new original tracks. Released as last week's Bump In The Hump went live, local DJ and producer Paul David's three track Fresh EP is an incredible combination of old school vibes and future forward sensibilities. I'll be kicking off this episode with "Shocking!" which blends bass, house and fidget feels. Fresh is available now on Beatport, iTunes, and Spotify.

As mentioned above, I've also got remixes of Zhu's "Faded," Shaun Frank & DVBBS' "La La Land," Kaskade & Felix Cartal's "Fakin It," Keys N Krates' "Nothing But Space," Pusher's "Clear," Vaults' "Midnight River," and as the Weekend Warmup Dabin's "Hold." To find out who the remixers are, tune in to Radio Humber live from 6-7 EST.

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Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Interview and Premiere from AGNO3

After his set Friday night at The Hoxton, I got a chance to chat with friend of the show, AGNO3 about many topics, including but not limited to: his name, where he finds his inspiration, his rock influences, the expectations that come with a DJ set, his artistic vision, his upcoming shows, working with Monstercat, his dream collaboration, and the story behind Deadmau5 blocking him on twitter. Whet your appetite with the lead in, here (I promise, the rest of his answer and the interview itself is not lame): Furthering the Deadmau5 storyline, AGNO3 has blessed me with a copy of his remix of "I Remember," which I'll be giving it's well deserved radio premiere. Until then enjoy the stream below. For all of this and more, including another exclusive premiere, you'll want to tune into Radio Humber live from 11-midnight EST here and later on, on this very blog. Even further, I'll be uploading the director's cut of the full conversation between myself and AGNO3. Stay tuned to this page for more!

CLICK TO HEAR BUMP IN THE HUMP LIVE FROM 11-MIDNIGHT EST

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2016 Grammy Nominations Revealed, Does Anyone Care?

The Grammys are fighting to retain some kind of relevance and I'm not sure they're succeeding. How long ago was it that Homer Simpson gave away his Grammy? Do people even care? What's the point?

The joke, that is the Grammys, continues to flounder and beg the question what are the criteria for these awards? Apparently, the rules call for voting based on quality alone, and not be influenced by sales, chart performance, personal friendships, regional preferences or company loyalty. Quality alone. Hmm, that's not very clear, what kind of quality? Whatever quality they are talking about, they have spoken with their latest list of nominees. There are the usual suspects and there are the usual seemingly random unknown nominees (see Al Walser's 2013 nomination). Below you'll find my take on the four categories relevant to this blog; Best Dance Recording, Best Dance/Electronic Album, Best Remixed Recording (Non-Classical), and Best Producer (Non-Classical).