The members of Fountains Of Wayne were just as shocked as the rest of the world at last week’s Grammy nomination in the Best New Artist category. Lead singer Adam Schlesinger revealed he’s thrilled about the nod, but finds it ironic considering the band has been around for more than seven years.
“I was told that it has to do with, defining it as the record that sort of gets you into the larger public consciousness or something,” Schlesinger said. “So I guess, in that sense, maybe it’s a fair definition. Yeah, this is our third record. Our first record came out in October 1996, so it’s ironic.”
Adam hit the nail on the head. The National Academy Of Recording Arts & Sciences-which distributes the Grammys-defines a Best New Artist nominee as one “who releases, during the eligibility year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.”
Competing against Fountains Of Wayne for the award are Evanescence, rapper 50 Cent, Heather Headley, and reggae singer Sean Paul.
The 46th Annual Grammy Awards will be held February 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Fountains Of Wayne completed their stint as Matchbox Twenty’s opening act on Monday (December 8) in Champaign, Illinois.