Photo Credit: SZA Instagram 3.3 Views – 15 K Comments 

Thank you to @recordingacademy for having me and for allowing me the insane honor to be apart of tonight’s show 🥹

As a passionate advocate for live music, I am always thrilled to see local talent garnering national and international recognition. This year, our hometown music star, Solána Imani Rowe, also known as SZA, stole the spotlight at the highly regarded 2024 Grammy Awards.

SZA’s music is known for its unique blend of R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop influences, as well as her raw and vulnerable lyrics. She has been praised for her soulful vocals and relatable storytelling, which have resonated with audiences around the world.

SZA received an impressive nine nominations, making her the most-nominated artist of the night. According to Grammy.com, SZA was nominated for Album Of The Year (SOS), Record Of The Year (“Kill Bill”), Song Of The Year (“Kill Bill”), Best Progressive R&B Album (SOS), Best R&B Song (“Snooze”), Best R&B Performance (“Kill Bill”), Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Love Language”), Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Low”), and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Ghost In The Machine”).

Prior to this year’s Grammys, Maplewood Mayor Nancy Adams said “She’s hometown proud for sure, and we’re rooting for her to blow up the Grammys this weekend,” 

Well blow up – she did! For 2024 SZA secured three Grammy’s – Best R&B song for “Snooze,” Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Ghost in the Machine ” with Phoebe Bridgers, and Best Urban Contemporary Album for SOS.

In a highly competitive industry, SZA has risen as a dominant figure in American pop music. Singer Solana Rowe graduated from Columbia High School in 2008. She was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2018. Our SOMA/MAPSO community couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments.

I had the pleasure of running into community resident Johanna Wright on her way to host a regional poetry contest at the South Orange Performing Art Center. As one who keeps her hands on the pulse of the young folks in the community, she  stated: “Don’t “SNOOZE” on SZA!!  Hard work pays off!’ FIVE YEARS Solana worked on this album!!  She stood on BUSINESS!!!  Ten toes down as the young folk would say!  I was just so proud of her, and extremely happy for her parents, family, friends and the SOMA community at large.  This is also about the brilliance of our young people!!  The talent in SOMA is endless!!!  And It’s more than the 💦 water!!

SZA prior to this years’ award show had a total of 24 Grammy nominations and one win. With three more wins this year, SZA is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed artists in the industry right now. 

Knowing her parents  Audrey and Abdul Mubarak-Rowe, I know she grew up in our towns with a strong diversified background or as SZA said in a 2013 interview with Billboard Magazine, “… when I think of what shaped me, I would definitely say Maplewood over everything. It’s such a bubble. It’s a small town with tons of secrets but everybody knows you and your parents and your first and last name.”

As a local live music events producer I am very happy to witness a local talent achieve major success and it bodes well for all our local up and coming musicians. Congratulations SZA and Family! 

About the Author – Gregory Burrus

Having fun with South Orange Maplewood Community Coalition on Race Audrey Rowe

Gregory Burrus Productions produces and promotes live music events in the Greater New Jersey and New York Area. Moving to the South Orange, Maplewood area over 26 years ago, Gregory Burrus is intimately involved in the community, has produced hundreds of local live music events and has documented numerous local community events.