GRAMMY U offers programs each semester that can kick-start your career in music. Take a look at some of the highlights over the summer and headed into the Fall 2018 semester, and stay tuned for more music industry opportunities across the country.
GRAMMY U SoundChecks with Travis Scott/ Photo: Jessica McDevitt
The Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour stopped by Madison Square Garden and took lucky GRAMMY U members inside the room where it all happens. Before his sold-out show, Travis Scott encouraged students to pursue the future of music with creativity and freedom. The candid conversation included hometown themes, concert anecdotes, and his journey to stardom.
GRAMMY U Los Angeles members had the incredible opportunity of attending a SoundChecks with Travis Scott on December 20th at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. GU members entered a private room within The Forum Club to meet with Travis Scott and his team. There, many topics were discussed from his humble beginnings as a writer/producer to how he approaches playing sold out arenas. At the end, members were able to take a group photo with Travis Scott before he had to leave. Big thanks to Travis and his wonderful team for hosting GRAMMY U during the Los Angeles leg of the Astroworld, Wish You Were Here Tour!
Photo: SFC Staff
San Francisco GRAMMY U members visited with GRAMMY® nominated Reggae artists Raging Fyah following a chat with various members of the Ineffable Music staff for a chat about artist management, tour and festival booking, artist promotion and their acclaimed Rootfire Collective program for new artists. The informal chat shed a lot of light on the back end of touring and promotion for new and established artists, and was led by GRAMMY Award®-winning member of the FL Chapter Board, Lukes Morgan.
Photo: SFC Staff
Students arrived for an acoustic sound check of Mraz and his backing band, The Raining Janes. Mraz was working on the tune “More than Friends” featuring Meghan Trainor and had a puppet in her likeness singing along to her parts, it set the tone for a funny and lighthearted visit with the artist, who then joined the students for some Q&A time. A veteran GU speaker, Mraz jumped right in with advice for those starting a career in music and shared some perspective on his new album and the inspiration behind it. He appreciated our questions about his last album, entitled Yes! and his new album,Know. and how he likes seeing them following each other on things like Spotify playlists. He explained the positive meaning of using the word “know” vs. “no” and left a great impression on the group before rushing off to his preshow preparations.
Photo: SFC Staff
Photo: Rachel Lai
On Monday, November 12th, GU Texas Chapter members gathered in none other than the extravagant Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX to chat with Tori Kelly about her "Hiding Place" tour. Tori touched on what it means to "make it" in the music industry, and her journey from where she was to where she is now.
Photo: Yvan Nguyen
The GU Texas Chapter hung out with Billie Eilish and brother, Finneas O'Connell. Billie talked about what it's like being a teen growing up in the music industry, and even gave out some of her fashion tips and favorite trends.
SoundChecks With H.E.R. / Photo: Jessica McDevitt
On November 25, New York GRAMMY U members were able to attend SoundChecks With H.E.R. at Brooklyn Steel followed by a special Q&A. Recovering from Thanksgiving turkey, GU members showed up in full force eager to see the starlet perform her latest hits. The tour’s production featured a full band, back up singers, and the talent onstage was nothing short of incredible. H.E.R. was very interested in learning about the GRAMMY U experience by asking members about the connections they’ve made as emerging industry professionals.
Industry Insights event with Jesse Kinch
GRAMMY U Nashville hosted an Industry Insights event with ABC’s Rising Star Winner, Jesse Kinch. The event was moderated by Nashville-based Recording Engineer Leslie Richter who prompted Kinch on several topics including the release of his debut album, I’m Not Like Everybody Else, under new-label Curb Records following the discontinuation of his contract with Capitol Records.
SoundChecks With EDEN
In New York, 20 students attended GRAMMY U SoundChecks With EDEN at Brooklyn Steel on November 9, 2018. The students were able to participate in an exclusive Q&A with one-man-band, Jonathon Ng. GU members were also able to learn more about his songwriting process, social media platforms and the importance of soundchecking before a show.
SoundChecks With CHVRCHES / Photo: Ashley Thomas
CHVRCHES shared inside stories of their touring and creative lifestyles. Their tour manager discussed personal stories of how she got to working with CHVRCHES."
SoundChecks With Troye Sivan / Photo: Troye Sivan
GRAMMY U San Francisco Chapter met up with Troye Sivan for a SoundChecks on the first of his two-night run at The Masonic in SF.
Following the performance of his first song, Troye asked each student member what career path they wanted to take. Troye then shared his advice for those starting a career in music and shared some perspective on his career's journey. The Q&A was intertwined with the sound check, performing songs between answering questions was something new and really engaged the group. He spoke about his collaboration with Ariana Grande and how she’s a role model for him because of her hard-working nature. He talked about his songwriting process and how he doesn’t write while he’s on the road touring because it’s a different headspace than when he’s in the studio. After listening to the sound check and having lots of questions answered, Troye joined us for a photo before meeting with his next group of fans. Thanks to Troye and his team for the memorable visit! - GRAMMY U Rep Danielle Ferrari
SoundChecks With LANY / Photo: Recording Academy
Lucky GRAMMY U students attended a very special SoundChecks with LANY before their soldout show at Terminal 5 in NYC.
SoundChecks With Billie Eilish / Photo: Recording Academy
Seattle GRAMMY U students got weird with Billie Eilish before her sold out show at the iconic Showbox. She shared tips on recording hit songs at home and how writing with brother, Finneas, helps her to remain her authentic self. Students were also treated to a high-energy performance of three of Billie’s hit songs, amidst a stage set that included a giant tarantula with neon legs.
SoundChecks With LANY / Photo: Kristin Klimas
During the SoundChecks With LANY, it was evident how much the band valued visuals as grandiose LED screens with enlivened patterns lit up the entire venue. They later mentioned that controlling their aesthetics is an important part of their identity which they manage by designing their merch, album artwork, and even personally running LANY’s social media accounts.
LANY also talked about their experience navigating different aspects of the music industry: from negotiating label deals to touring. Finally they reminisced about their early days as a band crammed in a small van to play a few shows to now heading an international tour. Their advice to the GRAMMY U members, “no matter how big of a band you become, I recommend ditching a tour bus for a small white van because that shared experience builds unbreakable bonds”.
SoundChecks With St. Lucia / Photo: Bri Buchanan
“You have to decide what you want to do…if you’re in it for the art, then really listen to yourself. No one is ever going to stop telling you how to be.” St. Lucia front man, Jean-Philip Grobler, spoke to GRAMMY U members in Nashville about pursuing a career in the music industry. Students attended a SoundChecks With St. Lucia and participated in a Q&A with each band member following.
SoundChecks With Noah Cyrus / Celeste Villarreal
Dallas GRAMMY U members enjoyed the SoundChecks With Noah Cyrus at the Granada Theatre.
SoundChecks With Lord Huron / Jordan Leonard
GRAMMY U students fellowshipped with the members of Lord Huron at the iconic Moore Theater in Seattle, Wa.
SoundChecks With Dua Lipa / Photo: Michael Compton
GRAMMY U students swapped performance stories with Dua Lipa at WaMu theater before her show on July 7th. They were also treated to a meet and greet with other members of her team, including drummer and band manager, William Bowerman.
SoundChecks With Noah Cyrus / Photo: Jessica McDevitt
Lucky GRAMMY U students attended an exclusive night at GU SoundChecks with Noah Cyrus during her "Good Cry" tour at Irving Plaza in New York City.
GRAMMY U students at the GRAMMY Museum's Whitney! exhibit / Photo: Jessica McDevitt
GRAMMY U students in the New York Chapter experienced a behind-the-scenes tour of the GRAMMY Museum’s latest debut, the Whitney! exhibit featuring over 60 artifacts honoring Whitney Houston’s legacy.
SoundChecks With Troye Sivan / Staff photo: Sarah Jansen
On October 19, Chicago GRAMMY U members were able to attend SoundChecks With Troye Sivan at the iconic Chicago Theatre. The venue complimented Troye’s alluring sound as he performed songs off his recent album Bloom in preparation for that night’s show. Troye was very interested in learning what the members were looking to do in the music industry and helped make connections between the GRAMMY U members in attendance and his team to help further their network within the music community.
SoundChecks With Brandi Carlile / Photo: Michele Caplinger
When asked about how the changing music industry has impacted her, Brandi discussed how she has had a great relationship with her record label which she added is now very uncommon, but she realized that the industry has a long way to go before artists and songwriters are compensated fairly. She then took the time to go around the room and asked each GRAMMY U student for their name, major, and what they wanted to do in the music industry.
Industry Insights: Mental Health in Entertainment with MusiCares and Elizabeth Porter (Nashville) / Photo: Bri Buchanan and Nathan Pyle
Highlighting Mental Health Awareness Week, GRAMMY U sponsored an event with Elizabeth Porter, Founder and President of Entertainment Health Services, and Christina Scholz of MusiCares. Elizabeth and Christina discussed the importance of mental health in entertainment with Elizabeth emphasizing “our brains are the most important part of our body. Take a step back, put the phone down and talk to one another.”
SoundChecks With CHRVCHES (Nashville) / Photo: Bri Buchanan and Nathan Pyle
GRAMMY U Nashville members were invited to a SoundChecks with hit synth-pop band, CHVRCHES, at Ryman Auditorium. Not only were students able to speak with each member of the band, but they also spoke with the tour manager and other crew members about life on the road.
Lord Huron with GRAMMY U members in Chicago
Chicago GRAMMY U members got a taste of Lord Huron’s indie folk flavors that were inspired from both their time spent growing up in Michigan and living in Los Angeles. Lord Huron is a group that cares greatly about both their visual work as well as their music, so the SoundCheck at Riviera Theatre not only covered the normal necessities like mic adjustments and tuning, but also stage directions from lead singer Ben Schneider.
-Matt Sanders, GRAMMY U member
Jason Mraz with GRAMMY U members in Nashville
In Nashville, 20 students attended GRAMMY U SoundChecks With Jason Mraz at Ascend Amphitheater. The students were able to listen to Jason and Raining Jane’s rendition of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’ and ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ as well as participate in a Q&A following the performance.
Greta Van Fleet with GRAMMY U members in Nashville
GRAMMY U students gathered in Nashville at Marathon Music Works on May 14 for SoundChecks With Greta Van Fleet. The band ended the sound check with a sneak peak of a new song followed by an intimate Q&A session with the band members.
