The Window Is Open, Remember To Hydrate And More...

13 minutes ago

3 min read

For anyone who’s already confused: GRAMMY® voting opens today and runs until October 22.

This is the first round of voting. Those of us who are voting members of the Recording Academy (roughly 13,000+ of us) decide the official nominees in each category. Nominations will be announced on November 16.

There are always more deserving projects than there are nomination slots. That’s one of the heartbreaking parts of any competition. I see that, and I commend every artist who stepped forward with their best new work and asked, “Why not me? Why not now? Why not this project?”

I’m right there with you, asking the same questions.

Remember: This Is Joyful

Don’t let this season stress you out! We’re celebrating a year’s worth of creation. MUSIC! GLORIOUS MUSIC! What an incredible feast for the ears we’re all sitting down to.

Every year I’m blown away by the collective creative power of the music community.

At the end of the day, we all deserve a huge round of applause for creating beauty and sending it out into the world. That’s pretty incredible.

Remember: Everyone Votes in Their Own Time

Voting is one small but important part of every voter's bigger life. Some people are heading out on tour and voting on day one. Some are at a cousin’s wedding or looking after an aging parent, and voting on the last day. Some are just starting to listen today, and others will finish listening today.

My advice: proceed respectfully.

(Get ready, the mom in me is coming out.) Remember your manners! “Please” and “thank you” go a long way. Don’t desperately fling your project at voters. That works against you, not for you, and I wouldn’t do you dirty. Manners matter, in this and in everything.

Meant with love. Voters are people, not numbers!

Remember: Take Care of Yourself

Making art is emotional, expensive, expansive, beautiful, and brave.

So hydrate. Eat good, healthy food. Take some time to celebrate the amazing feat of creating something gorgeous and getting it out into the world, all the way onto the GRAMMY® ballot! Connect with people you love and who love you, and laugh a little. Allow a little delight in.

Art Is Service, Music Is Medicine

We all need a little levity, and a little sincerity. We need permission to drop our ballast and be tender, and to know that we’re seen and respected.

I’ve always seen art as service and music as medicine. That’s how and why I make my art on my own dime and my own time, with every resource I have inside and outside of me: to offer you a much-needed break.

I can’t personally be there for every person on the planet, but I’ve multiplied myself by making art that can be, just a click away on any streaming service.