When Tracy Young won the Grammy for best remixed recording on Sunday, she was part of something historic. the first female to win a Grammy the Best Remixed Recording — for the Tracy Young Pride remix of Madonna’s “I Rise.”
She acknowledged as much in her acceptance speech, opening with “We made history ladies!”
She thanked Madonna, of course — “for all the opportunities and recognition over many many years — I’m overwhelmed wth gratitude to you.”
And then she welled up as she closed her speech. “We shattered the glass ceiling — together, in a male-dominated industry. I proudly accept this on behalf of all female producers who have been overlooked.”
With the death of Kobe Bryant — which prompted an outpouring of grief among fans of the basketball legend, who gathered at the Staples Center — the Grammy ceremony was unusually emotional. We spoke to Tracy Young shortly after she won.
DJ Times: OK, you were shocked I’m sure. You said in our last talk didn’t want to be disappointed, and you weren’t.
Tracy Young: I was in the far back of the room, so when they called my name I had this long walk. It was so overwhelming. I was in shock and I cried all the way up.
Was there an acknowledgement that this was a first time thing?
I kind of touched on that in my speech — I said I shattered the glass ceiling. A lot of people were stopping me after the speech and when I was walking through the ceremony, telling me that they were inspired and I made them cry. And I was like, “What? Me?”
And Madonna?
I touched on her in my speech. She’s the first person I talked with after winning. I said to her that we won, and she’s happy. Definitely. She did something major again — and her legacy continues.
Tell me a little bit about the Grammy experience.
I had been to the show before but it was my first time as a nominee. It’s different as a nominee, because you go to the nominee reception and there’s a medallion, you’re just recognized at all these events. I really enjoyed the nominees reception, and then the next day was the ceremony, so it was an all day thing.
What was the ceremony like?
The day of the ceremony, Kobe passed, so it was a somber event. All the Kobe fans were meshed in with the Grammys. It’s absolutely something I’ll never forget that’s for sure.
Many emotions going.
Yes, it was also a happy joyous occasion celebrating music. My publicist walked me down the red carpet which was ginormous — I’ve never been on a carpet like that. I was there with my brother, and I did the carpet thing and then they rush you into the ceremony and then when you win you go backstage, you take a picture with the Grammy and you do another press opportunity. And then you can go eat or do whatever before the live ceremony — I had like 3 hours to kill.
Did you feel like part of a larger community?
Um, well I wore bright pink, fuchsia, so I stuck out like a sore thumb. But I thought the performers were top notch.
How was the sound in there?
Well, it off at times, but you know, it’s live — what are you gonna do?
Is there any kind of Grammy bump you can expect?
I heard from one of my, like, the chapter president, as I was leaving the afterparty he said, “You’re rates just went up.” We’ll see — but winning a Grammy is a high endorsement. I think it’s like anything else. You play the main stage of Tomorrowland, it’s an honor, you know, it’s something to be celebrated and not everybody gets those opportunities. And I feel honored and I’m humbled and I’m extremely grateful. Just to be in this business, still, after all these years, I mean, I don’t know how to do anything else.
See Tracy Young’s acceptance speech here.
Photo credit: Robby Klein
