Anitta, Måneskin more in the spotlight at Spotify’s Best Artist Night
WEST HOLLYWOOD — It’s a wide open contest for this year’s Best New Artist crown at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, and a live platform for the nominees recalled how difficult the decision was for Recording Academy voters.
For the first time since 2020, Spotify held its Best New Artist party, a showcase for hopefuls to perform and prove their worth. And with this year’s nominees ranging from bluegrass to jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, there was plenty of diversity.
Held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, the gathering featured performances from this year’s 10 nominees during the more than four-hour event: Anitta, Omar Apollo (who was also on the guest list at the Warner Party Music Grammy at nearby Hollywood Athletic Club earlier in the evening), Muni Long, Samara Joy, Latto, Måneskin, Tobe Nwigwe, Molly Tuttle and Wet Leg. Here’s a look at some of the most notable performances.
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Molly Tuttle
Supported by her four-piece Golden Highway band, Tuttle, the resident bluegrass nominee in this year’s lineup, was charmed by songs from her 2022 album “Crooked Tree,” including the banjo title track and “Dooley’s Farm “. Wearing a short, shimmering black dress, her acoustic guitar draped over her shoulder, Tuttle presented a warm and welcoming presence.
Samara Joy
The young New Yorker – she’s 23 – shined a light on her old soul on ‘Can’t Get Out of This Mood’, the first track from her acclaimed ‘Linger Awhile’ album. With a bassist on her feet and a pianist joining her on stage, Joy tapped into her guttural jazz inclinations during her short set that included a dark, organ-dappled reading of Adele’s “Someone Like You.”
Muni long
Although she’s no stranger to writing powerful songs—Kelly Clarkson’s “Love So Soft” and Pitbull and Kesha’s “Timber” are among her musical creations—Long broke through as a solo artist. last year with “Hrs and Hrs”, which she performed on Thursday with a heavy dose of sensuality. Flanked by a group of male dancers in costume, Long (née Priscilla Hamilton) also demonstrated her pop instincts on squealing guitar-filled “Time Machine.”
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Maneskin
In matching white suits and under a halo of fiery strobe lights, the saviors of Italian rock once again demonstrated just how much they’ve come to last year. Since the opener “Kool Kids” and the cynical “Gossip,” both off new album “Rush!”, the quartet of vocalist Damiano David, guitarist Thomas Raggi, drummer Ethan Torchio and bassist Victoria De Angelis s went wild with their usual musical sense and flair. Their unvarnished rock display culminated with the seductive growl “I Wanna Be Your Slave,” a song from their 2021 album, “Teatro d’ira: Vol. I”, which is still throbbing.
Anita
Despite singing along to a backing track, the sizzling Brazilian (née Larissa de Macedo Machado) still made a noticeable impression with her undeniable stage presence. Sporting sunglasses, skimpy shorts and a sequined bra, Anitta cruised through her heart-pounding hit ‘Lobby’, eventually joined by a group of dancers to keep her company on stage. After “Envolver,” Anitta cooed “Welcome to Brazil” before embarking on a lengthy dance routine and segueing into the catchy pop of “Boys Don’t Cry,” a detour that displayed her stylistic range.
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