CalArts alum Greg Kurstin, left, has been nominated for two Grammys this year. He’s pictured here with Inara George, his partner in the band Bird and the Bee. | Image: Facebook
The 60th Annual Grammy Award nominees were announced on Tuesday (Nov. 28) with CalArts alumnus Greg Kurstin (Music BFA 92) earning nominations in two categories: Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Never Give Up” from the Lion soundtrack) and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.
For the Producer of the Year nomination, Kurstin was cited for producing the album Concrete & Gold by Foo Fighters; the tracks “LOVE” by Kendrick Lamar and “Wall of Glass” by Liam Gallagher; and co-writing the songs “Dear Life” by Beck, “Dusk Til Dawn” by ZAYN and “Strangers” by Halsey.
As one of the foremost producers working in the music industry today, Kurstin is known for his work with some of the top-selling and critically acclaimed artists today, including Adele, Sia, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Lana Del Rey, Foster the People, Lykke Li, Katy Perry, Charli XCX and Lily Allen, among others.
Kurstin’s no stranger to accolades from The Recording Academy. Last year, he won the Grammy for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for producing the album Love You to Death by Tegan & Sara, and co-writing “Hello,” “Million Years Ago” and “Water Under the Bridge” by Adele; “Cheap Thrills” by Sia; and “Something in the Way You Move” by Ellie Goulding.
He’s also one-half of the indie pop band The Bird and the Bee (along with Inara George).
Here are a few examples that show the breadth of Kurstin’s producing work.
Beck:
Sia:
Liam Gallagher:
The 60th GRAMMY Awards will he held in New York on Jan. 28, 2018.
—by Thomas Sclafani