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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 24 January 2020
Ousted Grammy chief

suggests awards are tainted

egory, of songs performed
by Ariana Grande and Ed
Sheeran, although there
has been some question
about whether Grande
had submitted her indelible
hit, "Thank U, Next," for the
award.
Brandi Carlile, Kendrick La-
mar and Lady Gaga were
among the nominees for
this award, which was won
by "This is America," per-
formed by Childish Gam-
bino.
In the category of jazz vo-
This cover image released by ALA.NI shows "ACCA," a release
by ALA.NI. This Nov. 14, 2019 file photo shows Grammys CEO Deborah Du- cals, Dugan alleged that
Associated Press gan at the 20th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas. an artist nominated for an
Associated Press award participated in the
Review: By DAVID BAUDER televised on CBS in three she did not name the artist
nomination process. Again,

ALA.NI aces on AP Media Writer days. involved.
"The system should be Overall, she said some
NEW YORK (AP) — The oust-
an astounding ed head of the Grammy transparent and there are 30 artists whose work was
not chosen as a potential
Awards says that music's incidents of conflicts of in-
biggest awards are tainted terest that taint the results," nominee by the Record-
a capella adventure because of conflicts of in- Dugan said on ABC. ing Academy membership
Her complaint charged were added to that list be-
terest that infect how cer-
tain songs and artists are that a "secret committee" cause they had personal or
By PABLO GORONDI & I” bonus track. Lakeith nominated. that decides who gets business relationships with
Associated Press Stanfield’s rap on “Van P” Nevertheless, Deborah Du- Grammy nominations con- people on the nomination
Paris-based, London-born provides a bit of contrast- gan said in an interview tains people with business committees or the Acad-
ALA.NI’s second album, ing frenzy. Stylistically, ALA. on ABC's "Good Morning and personal relationships emy's board.
“ACCA,” astounds with NI proves to be quite re- America" on Thursday that with artists, and that they Dugan also said that nomi-
its artistry, an adventur- sourceful, taking the songs she plans to watch the push their favorites ahead. nations were handed out
ous, almost-all a capella in both traditional and Grammys this weekend. The Grammy membership to songs or albums be-
recording whose intricate more modern directions. Dugan was fired only generally selects 20 poten- cause the producer of the
arrangements and instant- “ShaLaLa,” as you may months into her job as head tial nominees in categories annual awards show want-
ly-familiar melodies prove have guessed, is in a doo- of the Recording Academy and internal committees ed them to be performed
irresistible. wop mode, while “Papa” and this week filed an ex- whittle those lists down to on the show.
The self-produced “ACCA” and “Van P” are basically plosive complaint with the the five or seven eventual Producer Ken Ehrlich did
expands on the promise stripped-down contempo- Equal Opportunity Employ- nominees. not answer a message
ALA.NI showed on “You rary. “Papa” in particular is ment Commission that al- She charged that an artist seeking a response to Du-
& I,” her 2017 debut — a ripe for a smart, respectful leged she was sexually ha- who was ranked 18th out gan's allegations.
timeless album featuring remix, its beats and chants rassed and that the music of 20 in the initial song of Despite her charges, Du-
her crystalline singing and practically dance floor organization was a "boy's the year process last year gan said she's watch-
songs set during the four ready. Opener “Differently” club" that favors friends. got a nomination and the ing Sunday because she
seasons of a year-long af- sounds like an ode to diver- The academy, which has artist was actually on the worked very hard on the
fair — and opens a wide sity or romantic skills, but, a accused Dugan of mis- committee that decided show and loves the artists
horizon for her musical fu- bit like The Police’s “Every conduct, has said it has the nominees. The same who will be performing.
ture. Breath You Take,” it can launched an investigation. artist, who Dugan did not "I couldn't say more positive
While the songs are domi- also have a more ominous The personnel allegations identify, is represented pro- things about all of the nom-
nated by her layered vo- interpretation, a sentiment had largely overshadowed fessionally by someone on inations and everyone that
cals, ALA.NI gets some as- that also fits the dense and Dugan's charges about the the Recording Academy performs," she said. "Oh, my
sistance on several tunes intense “Wales.” integrity of the Grammys' board. God, I hate that I'm in this
from beat boxer Dave “Away Go” ends “ACCA” awards process — a huge Dugan suggested the situation because I'd much
Crowe, while Iggy Pop re- on a purely vocal note, problem given that its an- conflict was behind two rather be talking about the
cites in French in a possible as ALA.NI bares her heart- nual ceremony is set to be notable snubs in the cat- artists and their music."q
Leonard Cohen homage break and makes it impos-
on “Le Diplomate” and sible to listen without being
also has a much more typi- affected by her emotional
cal cameo on “Bitch.” plea for separation.
There’s also some bass gui- ALA.NI’s again shows her-
tar, cello and accordion, self to be an extraordi-
while a discrete string quar- narily skilled musician and
tet performs on the gentle, “ACCA” is an emotionally
lullaby-like “In the Land,” piercing album that’s up-
and on “Hide,” which holds her ability to create
sounds the most like a “You some timeless sounds.q