HHM Choice: Grammy Awards Predictions

Kendrick Lamar (Photo: Sonja Flemming) With Lady Gaga (Photo credit: Frank LeBon)

As a composer, I get that same electric, heavy anticipation every time I look at the Grammy slate.

It’s unavoidable. We’re heading into the "Last Dance" at the Crypto.com Arena, and let’s be honest: the Academy isn't just voting on songs this year; they’re voting on the future architecture of the industry.

I’ve spent the last few weeks analyzing the stems of this year’s narratives-trying to strip away the marketing reverb and hear the dry signal of where the votes are actually going to land.

This isn’t about who I’d sign to my label or who I’m blasting in the car on the way to the studio. This is an estimation of how the voting bloc-the engineers, songwriters, and producers like me-are actually going to mark their ballots. We’re looking at a year where the language barrier finally shatters, hip-hop takes its throne back, and an animated K-Pop group might just out-write the biggest stars on the planet.

Album of the Year

When I listen to Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, I don’t just hear a hit record; I hear a production masterclass. The team, led by MAG and Tainy, built a sonic landscape that feels expensive, lush, and historically significant. It proves that great production doesn't need a translator.

Then you have Kendrick Lamar’s GNX. For a producer, this album is a dream in terms of arrangement. The layering is dense, musical, and a perfect lesson in building tension and release.

On the pop side, Lady Gaga’s Mayhem is a beacon of industrial brilliance. Andrew Watt and Cirkut delivered a mix that is polished to absolute perfection, showing off Gaga’s ability to constantly reinvent the form.

My Prediction:

1. Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos

2. Kendrick Lamar – GNX

3. Lady Gaga – Mayhem

Record of the Year

Remember, this award is for the technical achievement-the compression, the balance, the "glue" of the track. Kendrick Lamar’s "Luther" is the one making every engineer in the room nod their head. With SZA on the feature, the production bridges organic instrumentation with modern fidelity in a way that feels warm and timeless.

Lady Gaga’s "Abracadabra" is a massive competitor simply because the engineering is flawless. It punches through the speakers with the kind of clarity and dynamic range that pop radio demands.

Bad Bunny’s "DtMF" offers a rich, textured sound design that wraps around the listener. It’s a sophisticated use of space that sets a new bar for urban production.

My Prediction:

1. Kendrick Lamar & SZA – "Luther"

2. Lady Gaga – "Abracadabra"

3. Bad Bunny – "DtMF"

Song of the Year

This is about the bones of the track-melody and lyrics.

"Golden" from the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack is the standout for me purely for its compositional intelligence. Songwriters like Mark Sonnenblick and EJAE used leitmotifs that weave through the film's score to represent "togetherness," doing heavy narrative lifting while still being a catchy pop anthem. That is hard to do.

Billie Eilish’s "Wildflower" is equally stunning. It’s got that raw, emotional vulnerability and melodic phrasing that proves why she connects so hard with listeners.

Kendrick’s "Luther" is also a contender here because of the lyrical density. He turns intricate storytelling into an accessible piece of art, which is rare.

My Prediction:

1. Huntrix – "Golden" (from K-Pop Demon Hunters)

2. Billie Eilish – "Wildflower"

3. Kendrick Lamar & SZA – "Luther"

Best New Artist

I always look for the "musician's musician" in this category-the artist who can do it all.

Leon Thomas fits that description perfectly. He’s a producer and songwriter who has paid his dues writing for major stars, and his solo work on Mutt shows a level of control you rarely see in a debut.

Olivia Dean brings a beautiful, soulful texture to the mix; her vocal control appeals to anyone who values pure, organic talent.

Then there’s KATSEYE, who represent the pinnacle of pop polish. They execute their vision with a precision and charisma that screams "future star."

My Prediction:

1. Leon Thomas

2. Olivia Dean

3. KATSEYE

Best Pop Vocal Album

This category is for the albums that defined the radio.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend is easily the cleanest pop production of the year. Jack Antonoff’s work here is surgical. Every hook is placed to trigger a dopamine hit, and the vocal stacking is pristine.

Lady Gaga’s Mayhem offers a more experimental edge, pushing the boundaries of what a pop album is "allowed" to sound like.

Justin Bieber’s Swag is a masterclass in modern R&B-pop fusion. The vocal production alone reminds everyone why he’s still one of the most compelling vocalists in the game.

My Prediction:

1. Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend

2. Lady Gaga – Mayhem

3. Justin Bieber – Swag

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Collaboration is an art form, and "APT." by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars is a lesson in chemistry. It feels vintage yet hyper-modern, and the vocal production just radiates joy.

"Defying Gravity" by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande is a powerhouse. Both singers deliver a level of theatrical perfection that is undeniable.

"Golden" by Huntrix offers intricate harmonies and a group dynamic that translates the energy of the film perfectly. It shows just how well voices can blend to create a unified sound.

My Prediction:

1. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – "APT."

2. Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – "Defying Gravity"

3. Huntrix – "Golden"

Best Rap Album

Kendrick’s GNX is getting universal acclaim because the production actually matches the weight of the lyrics.

Tyler, The Creator’s Chromakopia is inventive and weird in the best way. He uses synths and arrangements that are genuinely surprising.

Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out is a triumphant return. The production feels nostalgic but fresh, highlighting that legendary interplay and lyrical sharpness.

My Prediction:

1. Kendrick Lamar – GNX

2. Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia

3. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out

Best Country Album

The split into Contemporary and Traditional allows us to honor the full spectrum.

For Contemporary, Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken blends rock, soul, and country in a way that feels honest. The production accommodates his gritty vocals perfectly.

For Traditional, Willie Nelson’s Oh What A Beautiful World is a pristine example of the genre's roots, delivered by a living legend. You can hear the history of country music in every note.

Contemporary Prediction:

1. Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken

2. Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns

3. Miranda Lambert – Postcards From Texas

Traditional Prediction:

1. Willie Nelson – Oh What A Beautiful World

2. Charley Crockett – Dollar A Day

3. Zach Top – Ain't In It For My Health

HHM congratulates all the Grammy nominees.