The 2015 Grammy Awards are taking place in Los Angeles in only a matter of hours, but a number of awards have already been announced, with two Aussies picking up much-deserved recognition.
Producer M-Phazes‘ (real name Mark Landon) work on Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP2 was given the nod, with the release picking up Best Rap Album, beating out Australian rapper Iggy Azalea’s album The New Classic. The album also claimed Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Eminem’s Rihanna-featuring track The Monster.
South African born Melbourne-based composer Wouter Kellerman’s collaborative effort with Indian composer and producer Ricky Kej, titled Winds Of Samsara, was also recognised, taking out the Best New Age Album Of The Year award.
Iggy Azalea’s hit single Fancy featuring Charli XCX unfortunately lost out in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, which saw the award go to Say Something by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera.
New Zealand born Australian country singer Keith Urban also failed to win early awards which he was nominated for in the Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Duo/Group Performance categories. Those two awards went to Carrie Underwood’s Something In The Water and The Band Perry’s Gentle On My Mind, respectively.
Early Grammy Award announcements saw Beyoncé’s self-titled album secure the Grammy for Best Surround Sound Album, whilst Beck’s Morning Phase won Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and Aphex Twin’s Syro won for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
In the rock world, Paramore’s Ain’t It Fun has picked up Best Rock Song, and St. Vincent’s sterling self-titled album has taken home the Best Alternative Music Album prize. Best Rock Performance was awarded to Jack White for Lazaretto, with Best Metal Performance going to The Last In Line by Tenacious D.
Best Comedy Album went to Mandatory Fun by “Weird Al” Yankovic, whilst Pharrell Williams’ Happy has claimed the Best Music Video prize.
The Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance award has gone to Jesus Children by The Robert Glasper Experiment, with Beyoncé & JAY Z picking up Best R&B Song for their collab Drunk In Love. Best Urban Contemporary Album has been awarded to Pharrell Williams’ Girl, with Best Rap Performance going to Kendrick Lamar, for his track i.
Other notable awards thus far include the Best World Music Album award, which was given to Angelique Kidjo’s Eve and Best Reggae Album, which went to Ziggy Marley’s Fly Rasta.
Stream the 2015 Grammy Awards live online via the Grammy Awards website.
Watch: Longing – Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman
