Grammy Park 2016, sponsored by M&Ms, hit Brooklyn this weekend with a set dedicated to “The Next Generation: Emerging Artists”, bringing to life a shivering crowd on Saturday morning at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park.
Each performer showcased why they are on the rise to success and made the most of the spotlight they were given. The most notable artist of the day was Kevin Garrett, performing songs off of his EP Melodrama. His name is currently popping up in the pop world after he co-wrote and co-produced a song “Pray You Catch Me” on Beyoncé’s album Lemonade. His own songs (“Control”, “Pushing Away”) showcased the level of talent that brought him into the studio with Queen Bey.
A Brooklyn boy himself, Garrett provided the perfect sound to accompany a dreary weekend day in Prospect Park — calm and cool, slow and full, like syrup being poured over a stack of warm pancakes. His voice may be compared to that of Sam Smith but his music has an added element of intrigue, pushing the boundaries of traditional pop-vocal production to make each song novel. “Thanks to the Grammys,” he said, followed by, “Hopefully that’s not the last time I get to say that.” If his set said anything it was that he no doubt would be thanking the Grammys again, possibly in the not too distant future.
Ending the late-morning/early-afternoon show was Alex and Sierra, the winning duo of The X Factor US in 2013. Their acoustic set of both covers and originals capped a concert that proved the talent and ambition of these young emerging artists, including the other artists who performed on the Saturday stage — Chelsea Chris and Sparsh Shah. It would be no surprise to see any of these names appearing in the Google search bar with the word “Grammy” soon.
