#IMMusicMondays: Is The Grammys’ Best New Artist Really New?

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This category makes me feel like a pedant. One of those nauseating bores who sit in corners of darkened rooms writing long opinion pieces about how Star Wars was ‘better in the past’. What you have to understand about the Grammy’s new artist list is that new means to the public, rather than the industry. 

The Grammys describe new as ‘…whose eligibility-year releases(s) achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness’ which makes sense. The list includes the song of the summer performers Sabrina Carpenter and Shaboozey both getting nods in this category. It feels like we have fulfilled the brief of ‘breakthrough’. 

Like an accident in an Italian Cafe, ‘Espresso‘ was everywhere. Sabrina changed from her email era to the Betty Boop-inspired outfits covering social media. It was the soundscape of the summer. Shaboozey’s ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)‘ is a fantastic country piece, focusing on real-world struggles. Also, as the first Black man to hold number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts, this must be highlighted as a major achievement.   

Other artists have really had that breakthrough on the list. Benson Boone’s (who for note looks like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and now I cannot unsee this) wonderful build and release in ‘Beautiful Things‘ is an air punch and anger that seeps in an Americana desire. This makes sense as new. He might have been in the game for a long time, but this is his first real hit. 

Chappell Roan fits into that category next. ‘HOT TO GO!‘ is just fun. Her lyrics have such a solid material feeling to them. It feels like gossip between friends before rushing off to the dancefloor. Furthermore, ‘Good Luck, Babe!‘ is so dramatic and raw. Do we remember when pop stars were also artists? With the outfits, the glitz, and the glam. It’s her and Sabrina who are keeping the glitter industry alive.  

However, some choices seem a little left field. RAYE is on this list. I want the world for her! ‘My 21st Century Blues’ spilled forth onto the radio, so raw, and angry, yet her voice is soulful, weeping, and powerful. Although, the song that appears to have qualified her was ‘Prada‘. It must feel like winning a silver medal in a sack race when you have a gold medal in the 400m. 

Doechii has broken doors wide open, featuring most recently on Tyler, The Creator’s ‘CHROMAKOPIA‘. However, her mixtape ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal‘ received a darling critical reception. Meanwhile, Teddy Swims’ ‘Lose Control‘ was one of the more somber joints of the summer. Marinated and gorgeous, this was a breakout hit. 

Now why the heck is Khruangbin here? Do not get me wrong, I love this band. But their most popular song on Spotify (Texas Sun) is from their 2020 EP ‘Texas Sun‘. This and RAYE’s nomination feel like the ‘Oh we are sorry you are really very good and we forgot about you award.’. Furthermore, the trio recorded with Paul ‘Yes That One’ McCartney in 2021. They are here because of ‘A LA SALA‘, one of honestly, their simplest albums of recent years. It’s very digestible and easy to listen with that complexity that is happy to sit in the background. But it’s not their debut and it’s not the Leon Bridges double EP which might be one of the best things committed to sound this decade. 

To conclude, the best new artist list feels as weird as ever. RAYE is not getting one for her debut, due to it falling in a bit of a weird time all things considered, and Khraungbin is on this list for pure vibes reasons. Also, I cannot stress this enough, when I am about thirty I will go to a Halloween party as Mark Speer. I guarantee nobody will get the reference. 

Read the full Grammys list here and follow them on Instagram, X, BlueSky, and TikTok. Read more opinion pieces or our thoughts on the nominations here.

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