Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor ahead of the 2025 Grammys

The biggest names in music are set to be honoured at the 67th Grammy Awards ceremony on Monday afternoon (NZT).

Beyoncé leads this year’s nominations with 11, with Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Charli xcx and Post Malone following along with 7 each, while Taylor Swift landed 6.

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall outlines his predictions before the big day.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks EDB eight past ten.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Time to talk entertainment with Steve Newll. Morning to you, Steve,
Good morning, Big news, Big news from the Sundance Film Festival.

Speaker 3 (00:21):
That's right. So this year's festival is drawing to a
close with the announcement of all of the awards from Sundance,
obviously still kind of the most prestigious indie film festival
in the world. The Grand Jury prize went to a
drama called a Tropia about a relationship romantic relationship that
derails a training exercise. But the big news for New

(00:42):
Zealand listeners is that documentary Prime Minister, described as a
view inside the life of former New Zealand Prime Minister
Jasinda Adurn, capturing her through five tumultuous years in power
and beyond as she redefined leadership on the world stage,
has won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the festival.
This film covers Dame Desinder's time as leader for five years,

(01:04):
and it features home video a lot of home shot
by Clark Gayford and also unheard audio clips recorded by
the Alexander Turnbull Library's Political Diaries project. Yeah, looks she's
been on the charm offensive in Sundance. Look forward to
seeing this doco later this year. Sort of has New
Zealand International Film Festival written all over it.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Hop it does. It'll be a smash it here in
New Zealand. People will be queuing up for that one.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
I mean one way or the other.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, yeah, they will. Oh the Grammys there on the
way to what there's so much there's so many awards
on at the moment. How do you keep up with
the wool and what's happening at the Grammys exactly?

Speaker 3 (01:42):
And it is a bit tricky to keep up because
they're not all televised or at useful helpful times of
the day. So in the case of the Grammys, this
kicks off at two pm tomorrow, so it's a Monday
afternoon show for New Zealanders who it's probably not the
ideal time to watch a bunch of musicians receive awards,
make speeches and have the od performance. But this year
Beyonce leads the nominations. This year, she has eleven names,

(02:05):
including Record Album of the U and Best Country Album.
Following closely Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Charlie xxx and post
Malone with seven nominations each. Charlie XX, of course headlining
this week's Laneway Festival in Tammacki Maikodo. This is happening
on Waitangi Day this Thursday. Incredible time to have a

(02:26):
festival headlined by currently one of the biggest acts in
the pop world, but also on the Laneway bill Be
remiss to not mention Claro, who is also up for
a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album for Charm. Grammys
are not really streaming available, but I'm sure get to
see some highlight clips from the event. Performing at the event,

(02:48):
Billie Eilish Chapel Roone a very strong nominee this year,
alongside Charlie XCX, Shakira, Sabrina Carpenter and Teddy Swim. So
I think probably just stay tuned to YouTube or other
ways of finding little excerpts of that.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yeah, because I I work on news talks, ab I
don't know. I think I knew about three of those
names you just mentioned. The Beatles put out a new track,
of course, I love that new Beatles song.

Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, it does seem that that's probably a Shewan, because
who wouldn't in the Recording Academy vote for the Beatles?
But is the Beatles and AI the Beatles.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Or Yeah, it's a fair question, I guess.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
I mean, I think it's like it's a as an exercise.
It's a great exercise, But I'd feel for the artists
that are nominated and up against the Beatles in any
category in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
What about you, with your preferences, with your taste of music,
who are you hoping does well at this year's Grammys.

Speaker 3 (03:39):
I think that Beyonce is a deserving winner in a
number of categories. Charlie XCX's Brat album defined pop music
last year. I think that that's she will have a
hopefully a strong shong at the Grammys, but maybe the
brit Awards is maybe where she's more likely to pick
up a bunch of awards for that album. But also

(04:00):
it's been a huge year for Sabrina Carpenter in twenty
four kind of just really has one song under her belt,
but that's a song that that goes a long way
Espresso and and Chapel Rohan. I think we're seeing the
dawning of a pretty significant artist for the medium term
as well. Also, one thing on note is obviously news
Stork z'b is the home of rap battles and hip

(04:21):
hop fans. But Kendrick Lamar's feud with Drake last year
really I think pushed him to some of his most
incisive and impulsive songs. He's up for a couple of
awards at the Grammys. He is a strong candidate to
win those. Drake is touring in Australasia, so he's he's

(04:45):
nowhere near all right, So from your point of view,
who should be there?

Speaker 2 (04:49):
That isn't there this time round?

Speaker 3 (04:51):
Hey, that's a hard one. The Grammys is always tricky
because it definitely reflects an orthodox view of the music industry.
You know, you kind of keep saying every time Metallica
put it put a record out, Metallica's nominated, you know,
for as a metal act. It reflects here. But I
think as far as outliers go, he only got to
make this album because he was an outcast. But Andre

(05:14):
three Thousand's Flute album, which is a great listen. It's
a huge left turn in a career. It's meditative and buzzy.
There really shouldn't be any way that This is up
for a bunch of big awards. It is, and I'm
really happy about it.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
So were now the Grammy's again start.

Speaker 3 (05:31):
This is on Monday at two pm. There's some red
carpet and pre performance coverage starting from like eleven or
twelve tomorrow. I believe that's going to be on YouTube.
But yeah, the main ceremony itself, unfortunately will not at
the stage.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
Very exciting, very exciting, especially that just sender a dun
doc Oh, that's going to really be a blockbuster here.
Steve Newell, the editor of flects dot co dot is
he thanks for your time this morning.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to news Talks he'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.