Best Electronic/Dance Album GRAMMY excites electro-pop composers
and performers around the world!
A new GRAMMY category enables creators of sonic masterworks,
including such influential innovators as BT, the Crystal Method,
Paul Oakenfold and Deepsky, to compete against similar artists
instead of having to fit into other musical categories - a
report by The G-Man.
Until very recently, the aural excitement of a BT album like
"Emotional Technology," a Crystal Method album such as "Legion
of Boom," or a Paul Oakenfold album like "Creamfields" could get
overlooked in the GRAMMY balloting.
In fact, you can find spine-tingling electronic pop and dance
music being made in all parts of the world that might easily
miss out on a chance to have the kind of high-intensity
spotlight that results from a GRAMMY nomination.
But this year, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
(NARAS), the organization that controls the GRAMMY Awards, has
changed everything for electronic artists with the introduction
of the "Best Electronic/Dance Album" category.
"This is an exciting event for everyone in the world of
electronic and dance-oriented music," stated producer/mixer
Carmen Rizzo, who is a NARAS Los Angeles Chapter Trustee. "It is
fitting that such a vital form of music receives some of the
recognition it deserves." Appearing at a pre-concert party to
officially announce the category, Rizzo added, "As someone
involved in the creation of this music as well as a listener, I
feel this is a giant leap forward."
NEW GENERATION OF MUSICIANS. The attraction of music with a
technological slant crosses many boundaries. Brian Transeau, or
BT, as he is professionally known, is a classically-trained
musician who embraced the electronic music world at an early
age. "This is what my heroes Debussy, Stravinsky and the like
were looking for," BT stated. "Technology-based music is the
only idiom that packs such infinite sonic possibilities," he
added.
Jason Bentley, widely known for his hosting of radio programs on
KCRW and KROQ in Los Angeles, is involved with
electronically-generated rhythmic music in many ways, as radio
personality, club DJ, music supervisor for films (including the
"Matrix" series), and producer. "It was high time for the
industry to acknowledge electronic and dance music with this
album category," Bentley stated. "For a long time, the
electronic and dance categories have been in stealth mode in the
USA, so it is exciting to be a part of this new effort to shine
a light on a vital aspect of the music industry."
Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland, better known as the Crystal
Method, were both pleased at the announcement. "From my first
year as a voting member of the GRAMMY Awards, several of us from
the electronic music genre have been working towards this goal.
We never thought it would happen this fast and were just
thrilled with the result. We're just so happy that this style of
music can now be recognized by our industry's premiere awards
show," Jordan stated.
AN EMERGING FORCE. The acceptance of dance and electronic music
around the globe has been phenomenal, except in the United
States. "It's somewhat similar to the situation with soccer,"
Bentley stated. "Soccer is a global force with millions of
followers, intense fans, and tremendous marketing resources, but
it is just not as widespread in the U.S. The same thing may be
said about dance and electronic music, which makes this GRAMMY
category so much more important."
Bentley sees the emergence of underground dance music into the
mainstream as healthy and inevitable. "A lot of people who
started getting involved in this music in the eighties and
nineties are now taking their place in the business. People like
BT, Carmen Rizzo and the others who worked on the committee at
NARAS represent something of a changing of the guard." Bentley,
drawing on his background as producer, music supervisor and DJ,
is totally committed to this form of music. "This has been my
rock and roll, my punk rock, my movement. This was always
something that moved me, and it is gratifying to see so many
people, performers and companies coming together to back it."
BACKERS AND SUPPORTERS. Among the sponsors of the event were BPM
magazine, DTS, Life's Good, and musical equipment manufacturer
Roland, which had several pieces of gear on display, including
their SP-606 Sampling Workstation, the MC-909 Sampling
Groovebox, and the new MV-8000 Production Studio.
"Electronic music is finally garnering the respect and
recognition it deserves, and we're excited to be a part of
that," says Doug Hanson, Roland Director of Product Management
and Marketing. "It is an exciting time for this genre and we
look forward to working with BPM in the future to co-develop
events that will generate additional public awareness of this
music style," Hanson added.
The official announcement of the new GRAMMY category came during
a reception at the Spider Room prior to a show at the Avalon
Hollywood featuring sets by Oakenfold, Junkie XL, the Crystal
Method and BT.
More than 250 attended the reception, including DJ/producer DJ
Irene; DJ/producer the Angel; Second Sun's Antoine Toupin and
Adam Cavarelli; the Postal Service' Jimmy Tamborello and Jenny
Lewis; James Lamb of Skychurch; DJ/producer David Alvarado;
producer David Aude; Jason Blum and Scott Giaquinta of Deepsky;
Jes Brieden of Motorcycle; DJ Eve Falcon; producer Charles
Feelgood; DJ Mea Fisher; Jan Johnston; DJ Christopher Lawrence;
Tommy Lee; DJ "Colette" Marino; and DJ producer Richard "Humpty"
Vission.
Who's Who:
Brian "BT" Transeau In on the creation of trance music, BT is
involved with artists in many genres, having worked with *NSYNC,
Sting, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Madonna and Seal. As composer
for motion picture scores ("Fast and the Furious," "Monster")
and as recording artist and performer, he is often cited as
representing music of the highest quality. "BT mounts
mesmerizing journeys with his compositions," Peter Gabriel has
stated. "He is not only a virtuoso programmer, but an extremely
gifted musician," Gabriel added. BT has as his goal the marriage
of "melody, harmony and memorable songwriting with the most
bleeding-edge technology possible. These are the things that
excite me," he added. http://www.btmusic.com
Jason Bentley Host of the nightly "Metropolis" program on
KCRW-FM in Los Angeles, Jason Bentley is always on the frontier
of pulse music. Coupled with his work as a music supervisor for
the "Matrix" films, he has been instrumental in promoting the
success of such inventive artists as The Chemical Brothers,
Groove Armada, Jamiroquai, Jazzanova, Massive Attack,
Portishead, and Roni Size. Even while on the NPR station, KCRW,
he also hosted "After Hours with Jason Bentley" on commercial
powerhouse KROQ-FM. Additionally, he held an A&R (artist and
repertoire) position at for Maverick Records (often referred to
as Madonna's label). As if this wasn't enough, he regularly
appears as a club DJ.
http://www.midiman.net/artists/en_us/JasonBentley.html
The Crystal Method Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland are the Crystal
Method, an electronic band that filters its rock through
hip-hop, soul and pop. Firmly entrenched in Los Angeles by way
of Las Vegas, the CM duo has collaborated with Stone Temple
Pilots and Velvet Revolver lead singer Scott Weiland as well as
former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. You'll
find DJ Swamp on one of their songs, but that's reportedly a
pseudonym for Beck. Less well known publicly, but held in high
regard in the music industry is another collaborator,
multi-instrumentalist and producer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Aimee
Mann). With impressive sales figures and extensive worldwide
appearances, they have had their songs on soundtracks to such
films as "Spawn," "South Park," and "Lost In Space."
http://www.thecrystalmethod.com
Paul Oakenfold He began in hip-hop, then worked as an A&R man
and had phenomenal success, signing the then-unknown Jazzy Jeff
& the Fresh Prince as well as Salt N