Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Rosalía rule at pre-Grammy Spotify gig

Lizzo screamed at top of her lungs, Lil Nas X brought out Billy Ray Cyrus for “Old Town Ro” and Billie Eilish sang softly with her bror-turned-producer assisting on keys.  three artists — acts with most ds at Sunday’s Grammy Awards — celebrated ir minations for best new artist Thursday night at Spotify’s annual event houring breakthrough performers.

Lizzo kicked off show in Los Angeles for a crowd of music industry players — some jed, ors in a chatty mode. “Are you happy to be here?” she questioned. “Am I first person to perform tonight? So y’all really t loose yet. Let’s loosen () up.”  singer — top contender Sunday, with eight minations — worked her magic on st and won over audience, singing popular hits “Good as Hell” and “Truth Hurts,” which is minated for record and song of year.

Eilish is also up for same hours with “B Guy,” which she performed Thursday. Dressed like a neon highlighter, she shined brightly — both with her performance and outfit. “I look extra as (). This outfit is stupid,” she said. “If I saw someone wearing this...”

But she was top-tch as she sat still and sang beautifully, hitting all right tes on songs like “Ocean Eyes” and “idontwannabeyouanymore.” She was backed by her bror Finneas, who is also minated for multiple Grammys since he produced and engineered his 18-year-old sister’s debut album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” It was Spotify’s most-streamed album of 2019.

“Grammys are on Sunday,” said Eilish, minated for six awards. “This () is crazy.” Lil Nas X, also competing for six hors, was energetic as he worked st with hits like “Panini,” “Rodeo” and “Old Town Ro,” surprising audience with Cyrus. Spanish singer Rosalía also brought out a special guest: Puerto Rican singer Ozuna joined her for anmic hit “Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi.”

Rosalía, who mixes tritional flamenco sounds with reggaeton and Latin trap, won album of year at Latin Grammys in vember with “El Mal Querer.” album is competing Sunday for best Latin rock, urban or alternative album. Rosalía worked st with skilled choreography and background dancers who matched her striking energy, and she earned loudest standing ovation Thursday.

“It’s such an hor to perform here tonight, honestly, because I really mire all artists who are performing here tonight,” she said. Or performers, and best new artist minees, included singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, British country-soul singer Yola, Austin-based soul duo Black Pumas and New Orleans funk-soul band Tank and Bangas.

Lizzo worked double duty Thursday night, running from Spotify’s event to sing ar a four-song set at a pre-Grammys party thrown by her parent record label, Warner. singer-rapper — who released her debut album in 2013 and toured for years before her major breakthrough last year — thanked Spotify for helping her reach a wider audience.

“I wanna thank Spotify so much for being re with me from beginning. I kw I’m best new artist minee, but this (stuff) is t new to me,” she said. “But I am new to world and that’s all because of people at Spotify who brought me into ir offices when I h 50,000 fans and showed me () pie chart and was like, ‘All your fans are in Minneapolis,’” Lizzo explained, referencing where she started her musical career. “And y were like, ‘Let’s make that global.’ And y did. And w I have 42 million monthly listeners, a billion streams and I’m among lineup of incredible new artists.”