Winnipeg mixer a top contender at Grammy Awards

Pop superstars Bryan Adams, Michael Bublé and Drake could emerge Grammy Awards winners Sunday, but it’s the Canadian hitmakers behind the scenes who are chasing some of the top prizes.

Winnipeg-born mixer Jesse Ray Ernster and the team that worked on Doja Cat’s “Woman” is nominated for record of the year.

“Woman” is an immersive fusion of R&B and Afrobeat energy that clawed its way up the charts.

The team of producers, engineers and mixers behind the song competes with nine other heavyweight tracks including Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and Beyonce’s “Break My Soul.”

Ernster won his first Grammy in 2012 for his work on a Burna Boy record that captured the award for best global music album.

Despite their connection, Ernster has never met Doja Cat, born Amala Dlamini.

“Woman” was mostly finished when the song landed in Ernster’s hands, he said. His final touches included adding extra “spark” to its steady heartbeat, boosting the impact of the kick drum and throwing in “a couple production tricks” to help the arrangement flow better.

The final mix glows like a beacon at the start of Doja Cat’s 2021 album, drawing the listener into a universe of sonic delights that extends into the pulsing carnal hunger of the second track “Naked,” which he also mixed.

Ernster brings his own flavour to the post-production process, turning the right knobs and making subtle tweaks that elevate the listening experience

His inspirations include Canadian super-producer and fellow Winnipeg native Bob Rock, whose credits include working with Michael Buble and Bryan Adams – two artists also up for Grammys this year.

Other top Canadian contenders

While mixer Serban Ghenea isn’t as recognizable as the stars he works with, the Romania-born, Canada-raised pop wizard is nominated six times this year, including a staggering four times in the album of the year category as part of the team behind projects by Coldplay, Lizzo, Adele and Mary J. Blige.

Ghenea also shares a nomination with Blige for record of the year – the same category as Ernster.

And producer Boi-1da, born Matthew Samuels, has four nods, including two in the album of the year category. He holds another for best rap song with Jack Harlow and Drake, one of four nominations the famed Toronto rapper has for various collaborations.

Four-time winner Bublé’s “Higher” is up for traditional pop vocal album, while Adams could win his second Grammy for “So Happy It Hurts” in best rock performance.

Most of the 91 categories are handed out at an industry ceremony before the broadcast that streams on the Grammys website. The 65th Grammy Awards air on Citytv and CBS hosted by Trevor Noah.

Other leading Canadian contenders to note include Montreal conductor and pianist Yannick Nézet-Séguin who has five nods in the classical categories. And North Vancouver’s Tobias Jesso Jr. holds three for his work with Adele and Harry Styles, including one for songwriter of the year.