From Knobs to Noms
Past producer winners — like Greg Kurstin and Jack Antonoff — had big years, but is it time for a new face?
From familiar names to rising stars and living legends, the producer of the year, non-classical category promises to be one of the most hotly contested fields at the 65th annual Grammy Awards. With Adele’s “30” very much in the mix this year, Greg Kurstin is a front-runner to nab his fifth nomination. The producer-musician, who helmed the “30” hits “Easy on Me” and “Oh My God,” as well as tracks for Maren Morris, Tate Mcrae and Gorillaz, previously won in 2017 and 2018. He joins fellow frequent flier Jack Antonoff, who could follow his win last year thanks to his production on Florence + the Machine’s “Dance Fever” and songs for acts ranging from the 1975 to Tame Impala with Diana Ross. But three-time nominee Ricky Reed is coming off of a strong year, with major contributions to Lizzo’s “Special” and Camila Cabello’s “Familia,” while alt-nashville ace Dave Cobb — a two-time nominee — will also be looking to pick up his first win for his production duties on Brandi Carlile’s “In These Silent Days,” James Bay’s “Leap” and Brett Eldridge’s “Songs About You.” Given their respective bodies of work, both have solid odds. Also in the mix are a pair of comparative newcomers and a couple of legends long overdue for Grammy recognition. Tainy has been the titan of modern Latin music for years and had a hand in two of the genre’s biggest albums, Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” and Rosalia’s “Motomami.” Kid Harpoon also left a huge mark as a key force behind Harry Styles’ all-conquering “Harry’s House” and cuts with Lizzo, Maggie Rogers and Years & Years. If the category needs a feel-good story, however, it could come by way of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance”: Veteran producers the Dream and Tricky Stewart have never been recognized in this category, which is staggering considering their line-up of classic hits including Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.” Is 2023 their time to shine?