The Grammy Awards are a huge deal.  Obviously, all the nominees want to win, but there can only be one in the end.  Never-the-less, it is an honor to be nominated and every one of the bands or artists that we spoke to for this piece were all very surprised when they got the news of their nomination. 

In order for a musician, band or artist to get nominated their work must be submitted to the Academy by their record companies or a member of the Recording Academy.  From there, review sessions comprised of over 150 industry professionals for a specific genre are held to make sure that the submission falls into the appropriate category.  Then, ballots are sent with the eligible nominations for round one of the voting process.  Voting members are instructed to only vote in their field of expertise and four general categories, which include Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.  The ballots are then sent to Deloitte, an independent firm who counts the votes.  The final lists are then sent back out to the members for a final vote.  This process decides the winners.  Specific guidelines must be adhered to, again only voting for the four general categories and no more than eight out of the 31 fields.  Again, the ballots are sent to Deloitte, who tabulates the winners, sends them in sealed envelopes only to reveal the winners on National Television.  This year, the 50^th Annual Grammy Awards!

Popular Underground had the opportunity to chat with three bands for this piece.  We were hoping to also include Paramore, nominated for Best New Artist, but their schedule would not allow interviews.  Additionally, we had hoped to chat with The Plain White T’s, who picked up two nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal.  The PWT’s European tour and timezone differences made nailing something down difficult.

So as we get into this piece, PUM would like to wish all the nominees luck.

As I Lay Dying:

THE NOMINATION: Best Metal Performance

THE SONG: “Nothing Left”

THE ALBUM: An Ocean Between Us

PUM:  Tell me a little bit about the song for which As I lay Dying was nominated for.

JORDAN:  It started with a riff.  (laughs)  We never really saw [the nomination] coming.  It was one of my favorites.

PUM:  What about the album as a whole?

JORDAN:  We just wanted to write a solid record with good songs, something different from our other ones.  It’s a lot of metal and hardcore.  It’s more of a diverse record while keeping the vibe.

PUM: A Grammy dude.  What are your thoughts on the nomination?

Jordan:  I woke up to a text message from our manager.  I first called my mom and dad.  They seemed more excited that I was.  We feel that we haven’t done this on our own.  We’ve had our family’s support.  Our parents let us practice at their house.  We’ve had support from the label and management.  They deserve it more than we do.  It means more to those who worked behind the scenes, and our fans mean the most to us.

PUM:  What will you do if you win?

JORDAN:  I think it will open up opportunities.  It doesn’t seem likely for us to win.

PUM:  What does this nomination mean for metal?

JORDAN:  For the older generations or business people, it brings a little more respect for a band.  The fans just want good music.

PUM:  What’s coming up for As I Lay Dying?

JORDAN:  We’ll finish up the current tour, take some time off.  We’ll go to Australia and Europe.  We’re booked up till the end of summer.

Don Clark of DEMON HUNTER & his design company INVISIBLE CREATURE:

THE NOMINATION: Best Recording Package

THE BAND: The Fold

THE ALBUM: Secrets Make You Sick (Don Clark was responsible for the art and packaging of The Fold’s 2007 release)

PUM: Tell me a little bit about the nomination.

Clark:  You submit to be nominated and throughout 2007, committees within the U.S. and the Academy, which is usually made up of designers and industry professionals, get together three times and vote.  Once the nominations are announced, the entire community votes for the winner to be announced at the Grammy Awards.

PUM:  Tell me a little bit about your design company Invisible Creature.

Clark:  I started the firm about a year ago with my brother [Ryan].  It’s 100 percent print house and 95 percent music packaging.  Last year has been the best.  It’s the third year in a row we have been nominated.

PUM:  A Grammy dude.  What are your thoughts on the nomination?

Clark:  It’s an honor.  I’m still in shock.  We went last year and it’s a blast.  It’s surreal because you’re hanging out with rockstars and there a lot of actors and actresses there too.

Notes:  Clark also says that he has worked with many other artists over the past couple years, including Foo Fighters, Korn, P.O.D. and Chris Cornell.  Demon Hunter, Clark’s band released their fourth album on November 4, 2007 and plan on touring beginning in June.

Mark Wilkerson (Course of Nature):

THE NOMINATION:  Best Rock Song

THE SONG:  “It’s Not Over”

THE BAND: Performed By Chris Daughtry

PUM: Tell me a little bit about the nomination and how you got involved in this project.

Wilkerson:  The song was originally written for my band, Course of Nature.  We submitted it to the label and they didn’t like it.  Some time later, the producer that I recorded an acoustic version of the song with said that they were looking for songs for Chris Daughtry’s record.  I didn’t know it was going to be used, then I heard it was the first single!

PUM:  What were your thoughts when you found out you were nominated?

Wilkerson:  I was putting Christmas decorations on the house when I found out.  I was like, “Do they have the right phone number?”

PUM:  Who Else have you written songs for?

Wilkerson:  This was a one shot thing.  It was the first time and I’m excited about doing it again.  The song isn’t as dark as it was for Course of Nature.  That’s the beauty of it.

PUM:  What is on the horizon for you and Course of Nature?

Wilkerson:  Our CD has been finished since January 2007.  We’re ready to get it out.  My baby is due in March so touring would have been hard in February for six weeks.

Notes:  Wilkerson hadn’t met Chris Daughtry throughout the entire process of releasing “It’s Not Over.”  The two finally met at MTV’s Video Music Awards.  Mark Wilkerson is married to Melissa Joan Hart.  The couple is expecting their second baby in February or March.

By: Adam K. Zakroczymski III - Senior Editor / Founder