Music

SZA Shines Bright, Clinches ‘Best International Artist’ Crown at BRIT Awards

SZA Shines Bright, Clinches ‘Best International Artist’ Crown at BRIT Awards

SZA emerged triumphant as she seized the prestigious “Best International Artist” accolade at this week’s BRIT Awards, outshining a star-studded lineup that included Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, and Taylor Swift. The St. Louis songstress stole the spotlight on a night that proved surprisingly subdued for Swift, who notably missed out on nominations in this category.

While Cyrus claimed the “International Song of the Year” title with “Flowers,” Swift’s absence from the contention didn’t go unnoticed. This was a far cry from her prior triumph over SZA for “Album of the Year” at the Grammys.

On a contrasting note, rising rap sensation Central Cee faced a challenging night despite entering with the second-highest number of nominations (4). The promising artist left empty-handed, despite his meteoric rise in the last 18 months and the buzz surrounding a potential collaboration with Drake.

SZA’s winning streak extends beyond the BRIT Awards, as she and Phoebe Bridgers clinched the 2024 Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their track “Ghost in the Machine.” This victory was particularly sweet, given that they triumphed over Swift’s “Karma” featuring Ice Spice. SZA expressed her gratitude on social media, shouting out her collaborator and the entire production team.

“Ghost in the Machine” not only secured its place in Grammy history but also soared to No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, solidifying SZA’s status as a chart-topping sensation.

Looking beyond the winners’ circle, formidable contenders for the award included Cyrus for “A Thousand Miles” with Brandi Carlisle, Lana Del Rey for “Candy Necklace” featuring Jon Batiste, and Billie Eilish, whose Barbie soundtrack contribution and feature on Labrinth’s “Never Felt So Alone” garnered nominations of their own.

In the world of music, SZA is undeniably on a roll, leaving an indelible mark as she continues to rise to new heights and collect accolades along the way.

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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

Connect with LAST ALEX! on Spotify