2022 Dance/Digital Grammy Preview: Illenium on His First Nomination & Why Dance Classes Ought to Be Expanded

Editors be aware: On this collection, Billboard Dance is talking with every 2022 Grammy nominee from the dance/digital classes forward of the sixty fourth Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (April 3) in Las Vegas.

Illenium‘s nomination for greatest dance/digital album (Fallen Embers) isn’t only a massive deal for him, however for the style of music he helped pioneer. The producer’s first nomination marks the hovering, bombastic future bass style’s foray into the awards and in addition places him amongst a bunch of first-time nominees together with Main Lazer, Marshmello and Black Espresso, whose music has been setting traits within the dance world and past for years.

Coming off an enormous closing set at Extremely Music Competition in Miami final weekend, the artist born Nick Miller will make Grammy historical past if he wins Sunday in Las Vegas. “I’m unsure what set this one aside,” Illenium tells Billboard of his nominated album, “however I’m actually blissful that it stood out for them.”

The place and when was Fallen Embers made?

I made Fallen Embers in the course of the pandemic. Nearly all of it was made at my residence studio in Denver, Colorado. I did a lot of the collaborations with individuals on-line on Zoom.

How lengthy did it take you to finish it?

I labored on it for round a yr, from begin to end.

What non-album collaborator did you first play it for, and what was their response?

I have a tendency to point out lots of people stuff I’m engaged on all through the entire course of. I actually wish to get suggestions from as a lot of my family and friends as doable, to know if I’m not off course. I don’t know if there was anybody that I simply confirmed the entire album to they usually hadn’t already heard any of it.

Do you know the album was particular, or a “hit”?

It undoubtedly felt like a special form of album for me. I used to be holed up at residence for nearly all the creation, so I feel the music displays that. Normally I’ve the power to play the songs out stay, and it actually influences the best way I produce the songs. So I undoubtedly suppose it’s particular, as a result of I’m not usually in that mindset, and the world was simply in such a bizarre place once I made it.

Why do you suppose the album appealed to Grammy voters?

I used to be shocked once I received the information. I used to be actually excited and couldn’t consider it. I’m unsure what set this one aside, however I’m actually blissful that it stood out for them.

What had been you doing whenever you discovered you had been nominated?

I simply awoke and noticed all of the texts and mentions on-line. It was a extremely thrilling day for me.

The gathering of albums nominated this yr is basically sonically numerous, from home to future bass to bass and past. What’s your tackle disparate kinds of dance music competing in opposition to one another in the identical class?

I’d actually hope that they begin to broaden the classes of dance music. There are such a lot of totally different genres so I do know that it may be laborious to make an award for all the things. However I feel sure kinds find yourself dominating the class and would make extra sense if there have been a pair extra choices for individuals to slot in to.

What’s the perfect Grammy afterparty you’ve been to?

I haven’t been to any.

Are you going to Vegas for the present? Do you suppose town’s standing as a dance music hub will in any means affect the Grammys this yr?

Sure, I’ll undoubtedly be going. I feel it may have an effect on the ambiance, as Las Vegas is a reasonably loopy metropolis.

For those who win, how will you have a good time?

I’d be tremendous excited to win. I’d take a day to thank everybody that has been part of my profession and received it up to now and attempt to use that success as a solution to hold shifting the venture ahead.