With the biggest night in music coming up this Sunday, we were excited to speak with someone in music who knows the ins and outs of the industry and can give us some insight on the Grammys. Betty Moon, who is a notable Los Angeles-based songwriter and producer, has attended the Grammy Awards in years past and is excited to once again be attending this Sunday. We asked her a few questions about the big night, what she’ll be wearing and what we can look forward to.
Tell me about Betty Moon and life in LA, the home of the GRAMMY awards.
I currently live in Malibu, but spent a lot of time living in LA at various points throughout my career. There’s just something about the county, Hollywood, downtown and all the coastal areas that make it so unique for musicians to thrive, and there are so many great venues to check shows out at. As an artist growing up in Toronto I knew I had to be here, especially as a pop/rock artist who was targeting all the things that LA is known to offer up.
I remember watching past airings of GRAMMY awards and thinking to myself this is where I need to be. I want to be amongst the best of the best, without compromising who I am and trying to fit in, without compromising my unique persona. I knew early on what the best parts of LA were, and what to steer clear of for the sake of avoiding falling into being a typical Hollywood artist.
Being in LA is very important, especially to have immediate access to the best producers, writers, musicians and most importantly great restaurants and shopping haha. The GRAMMY Foundation, museum and team are in LA for a reason, just as other major record labels, publishers, rockstars and more call LA home. It’s nice to have a home base, and I’m proud to call it home.
We’re just a few days away from the 62nd GRAMMY awards, and I’ve heard all the buzz under the sun and read way too many blogs. One minute I feel like I know who the obvious winners are, and other days I can’t make up my mind. Do you have any thoughts on some clear winners?
“Slide” by H.E.R. is my jam, and I know her time is now and she deserves a lot of the glory for all her 2019 accomplishments. I think Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X will walk away with at least an award or two, as they were the most buzzed artists on the planet for most of 2019 and for good reason. Some of the other artists I think should win are Lizzo, Black Pumas (so much soul, my god), The Chemical Brothers, Rival Sons, Tool and DaBaby.
How do you feel the GRAMMY awards set the tone in the music industry?
The night is closely watched by industry and music fans alike, and is mainly a celebration of successes but also sets a standard for what genres of music and artists to keep an eye on for 2020 and beyond. Often other artists may emulate their favorites because they are popular and award-winning artists, but some may see this as an opportunity to be proud of their uniqueness and strive towards being 110% themselves so they may have a chance of winning in the future. Everyone loves a winner, and I think it’s natural to want to watch awards ceremonies like this to keep their pulse on an industry that is constantly changing and setting new standards of “what’s cool.”
I know there is some intense drama going on with the academy this week, and a lot of it is very worrisome for obvious reasons. I’m just hoping the right justice is served and that as details emerge we can see a better version of the Recording Academy rise above and somehow evolve and/or benefit if that makes any sense. I know many really wonderful people and some great women at the Recording Academy and I’m confident things will get worked out one way or another.
We all know the awards are about music, but let’s be real here, it’s also about fashion. Do you think the awards set the standard for style in music, or act more as a piece of art?
Primarily for the Women in music and attendance, it’s really about expressing yourself in a way an artist may or may not in real life or even in music videos. There’s something powerful about wearing incredible designer clothing, as most of the time it may be the only time you wear that unique dress or outfit and is a direct reflection of your creativity and emotion at that given time. It’s more expressive than any car, home, a pair of jeans or whatever; this is what potentially could be on many websites showcasing your taste in fashion and creative art.
Fans of the GRAMMY awards seek out galleries of what celebrities are wearing, so I see it as being a gallery of art, in the same way you would go to a museum to check out paintings and statues. I know that sounds a bit exaggerated, but it’s really dead-on if you think about it.
Do you have any plans for outfits this Sunday, and what about any after-parties?
Right now I am down to three different outfits for the big night, and they are dresses by Zuhair Murad (Blue psychedelic dress), Pamella Roland (Silver dress), Tom Ford and a black jacket by GF Ferre. It’s been a lot of fun weighing the options, especially since I love fashion, unique designers and finding outfits that will be perfect to sport for iconic events such as the GRAMMY awards. I’m leaning towards the Murad dress, just because of the patterns, material and unique throwback ’90s rock n’ roll energy woven in.
I’ll be attending a couple of after-parties as well, and have a dress picked out by either Prada or Valentino. I had to think about comfort, equally as much as style and nightlife appeal. This dress will stand out without screaming too much “look at me” since we’ll be in tightly packed rooms with some pretty amazing people in music. I’m just thankful to be a part of the mix, and can’t wait for the big night to be here.
What do you have planned after this Sunday with your music career?
I’m getting right back into the studio Monday morning to finish up a new album I’ve been working on. Taking this week has been necessary and super inspiring, and it will help me have a new dose of energy when mixing and tweaking these 20+ songs I have in the hopper. I’ve also been working on some licensing opportunities and have been jamming with my band here in LA. I haven’t forgotten about my 2019 record either, and have been working on some new placements in the media for my single “Crazy (What You Make Me).” The music video is doing really well and I hope you all can check it out!
Learn more about Betty Moon at her Official Website, Instagram or on Spotify