AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Today, our first-time Grammy nominee series continues with the singer Destin Conrad. I met him while he was on tour, backstage at The Wiltern Theatre in LA. He was trying to get revved up before his show.
Is that, like, a vitamin boost?
DESTIN CONRAD: Yeah. Ginger shot.
CHANG: (Laughter).
CONRAD: Needed a little pick-me-up.
CHANG: Yeah. Exactly.
A little pick-me-up for one of his biggest concerts yet.
CONRAD: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Check, check, check, check, check.
CHANG: Destin's running through his soundcheck here. And as I was listening to him, I was wondering, is this guy a jazz singer?
CONRAD: (Vocalizing).
CHANG: Is he an R&B singer? Is this neo soul?
CONRAD: (Singing) I want to wash you away...
CHANG: But that's the thing about Destin Conrad. He doesn't need you to define him because in the same year that he released a jazz album, which ended up climbing the charts, he also released his Grammy-nominated R&B album, "LOVE ON DIGITAL."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "KISSING IN PUBLIC")
CONRAD: (Singing) You like it. I love it. Too low, you can't keep above it. We kissing in public here in and out of discussion.
CHANG: This is Destin's first Grammy nomination as a solo artist for best progressive R&B album.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "KISSING IN PUBLIC")
CONRAD: (Singing) You so far from my job. You in LA.
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