Check Out Burna Boy's Grammy Award Challengers

Burna Boy

The PUNCH takes a look at the musicians challenging Burna Boy in the race for the Grammy.

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Singer and 2020 Grammy Award nominee, Burna Boy’s album, ‘Twice As Tall’ was recently nominated for the 2021 Grammy Awards in the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category, which makes it his second time of being nominated for the prestigious award. Saturday Beats takes a look at the other nominees Burna Boy is up against

Antibalas― Fu Chronicles

‘Fu Chronicles’ is a six-track album off the seventh studio album by the American band, Antibalas. The Brooklyn-based Afrobeat, funk and jazz band is known for their exuberant live shows and this six-song collection from Daptone Records is a vibrant display of what Antibalas does best― fusing the spirit and soul of Fela Kuti with modern funky sounds. The group which currently consists of 15 band members was founded in 1998 by saxophonist, Martin Perna (who was part of the initial stable of musicians at Daptone Records), but Antibalas got its start when Duke Amayo — known on stage simply as Amayo — joined the band. Born to Nigerian parents in Britain but raised in Lagos on a steady diet of Kuti’s music, Amayo was running a kung-fu dojo and working as a fashion designer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn when he was recruited to Antibalas as a percussionist and lead singer. According to reports, Amayo says ‘Fu Chronicles’ was inspired by Amayo’s martial arts background and the Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.

Bebel Gilberto― Agora

Bebel Gilberto is a Brazilian-American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, and ‘Agora’ is her first album in six years. Her last album, ‘Tudo’, was, in 2014, nominated for the 16th Latin Grammy Awards in the best Brazilian song category. She learnt how to sing from her mother, Miúcha, and as a child, was already participating in musicals such as ‘Saltimbancos’ and ‘Pirlimpimpim’. At seven, she made her recording debut on a solo album by her mother. At age 17, Gilberto shared an album with the singer, Pedrinho Rodrigues. ‘Agora’ is a mature and sincere album that features organic and sultry Brazilian rhythms. It moves from funky and dissonant upbeat songs to poignant and heartfelt ballads. Gilberto made ‘Agora’ after several personal tragedies, including the deaths of her parents, legendary Brazilian musicians, João Gilberto and Miúcha.

Anoushka― Love Letters

Indian sitarist, composer and producer, Anoushka Shankar, is the daughter of legendary sitarist, Ravi Shankar. She is a remarkable, genre-defying presence in classical, modern and progressive world music scenes. Her charismatic and spiritual musicality has received a variety of prestigious awards, including six Grammy Awards nominations; recognition as the youngest and first female winner of the British House of Commons Shield, and the Songlines Best Artist Award. She began working on the Extended Play album, ‘Love Letters’, after going through a difficult time in her private life. The songs explore the complicated reality of coping with her divorce and the emotional implications. ‘Love Letters’ is a collection of songs about love, tragedy and healing. It features artistes such as Ibeyi Lenz, Shilpa Rao and Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

Tinariwen― Amadjar

Tinariwen is a collective of singers, songwriters, and musicians from northern Mali who come together in different combinations to perform at concerts and record songs. The band was formed in 1979 in Tamanrasset, Algeria, but returned to Mali after some years. The group first started to gain a following outside the Sahara region in 2001 with the release of ‘The Radio Tisdas Sessions’, and with performances at Festival au Désert in Mali and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Their eighth full-length album, ‘Amadjar’ was recorded outdoors with mobile equipment near Nouakchott (Mauritania) and was released on September 6, 2019. ‘Amadjar’ features guest appearances by Noura Seymali, Micah Nelson, Cass McCombs, Stephen O’Malley, Warren Ellis, and Rodolphe Burger.

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Source: The PUNCH