Johannesburg flautist, producer and composer Wouter Kellerman is pinning his hopes on a second win on Sunday night at the 64th Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The eight-time South African Music Award winner has been nominated for a third Grammy — this time in the New Age Album category for Pangaea, a collaboration with American composer David Arkenstone.
Kellerman met Arkenstone in 2015, when the flautist won his first Grammy for the album Winds of Samsara, a collaboration with Indian composer Ricky Kej.
“David (Arkenstone) is such an incredible musician and is constantly writing a wealth of compositions,” Kellerman told the Sunday Times. “When the pandemic struck, David was in California and I was in Joburg, so we emailed the track files back and forth, added more live instrumentation, and then mixed and mastered the album in San Francisco.”
Arkenstone praised Kellerman for his constant dedication and artistry. “Logistically, it was sometimes difficult not being in the same room,” he said via teleconference. “But it all worked beautifully, remotely, as I would send something and go to sleep, and when I woke up, I had some wonderful tracks from Wouter to listen to.”
Kellerman said the album was about unity.
“Pangaea was the name of the supercontinent that began to break apart about 200-million years ago. The theme behind the music is unity in these divided times, these times of war — for people to love and listen with an open heart and compassion.”
Kellerman, who has spent the past six months in the US and will return to SA after the Grammys, has high hopes for South African artists. “I think South African music has incredible depth and multicultural diversity, which I appreciated during my travels. Our music is so deserving on a global scale — the music is there, but our business sense and marketing skills have room for improvement.”
DJ Black Coffee is also a favourite to win a Grammy in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category for his seventh studio album, Subconsciously. It is the first time a South African artist has been nominated for a Grammy in this category.
The globe-trotting artist, who has been on tour in South America and Miami, Florida, over the past month, will be attending the Grammys for the first time tonight with his son Esona.
Trevor Noah will be the first South African to host the Grammys not just once, but twice in back-to-back ceremonies.
The Emmy award-winning host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show — who has previously been nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 2020 for Son of Patricia — will be introducing two new categories in this year’s show: Best Global Music Performance and Best Música Urbana Album.
Noah says the show may touch on some serious topics, such as the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. “I think the show is going to find the right place and the right space to do something. It’s one of those interesting balances in life we try to achieve, which is acknowledging what’s happening in the world while allowing yourself the grace to celebrate some of the moments that are also going on,” Noah said.
Skinny Sbu Socks founder Sibusiso Ngwenya has been selected as the official sock partner for this year’s Grammys celebrity gift bag, which is given to award presenters, nominees, performers, VIP guests and select members of the press.
A 2021 collaboration with LA-based niche marketing agency Distinctive Assets, which has handled the Grammys swag bags for 23 years, brought the opportunity.
“For Skinny Sbu Socks, I’ve always been building a ‘glocal’ brand, which has roots in our local market, with its operations and manufacturing on our local terrain — but with a global overview and strategy,” the 30-year-old told the Sunday Times. “This is a big move for a brand like us to start planting some seeds on US soil, so I’m very excited.”
This year’s swag bag is expected to be worth up to $30,000 (R448,753) and will include Trevor Noah Foundation T-shirts and tote bags by South African artists.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.