10th Annual Awards Psychic Music Award Winners

Album of the Year
Winner - Olivia Rodrigo "Sour"

Runners Up - Rhiannon Giddens with Francisco Turrisi “They’re Calling Me Home”, Little Simz “Sometimes I Might Be an Introvert”, Megan Thee Stallion “Good News”, Jazmine Sullivan “Heaux Tales”, and Halsey “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” 

Commentary - To me, an Album of the Year is not just the album with great reviews (hint: all of the nominees had great reviews). It is the album that is great, but also makes a cultural impact. To me, no album did that more this year than Olivia Rodrigo's debut pop masterpiece. An engaging earworm, a melancholic ode to lost love, a haunting yet infectious album. Sour hits all the right notes, and proves that Rodrigo is the next great pop superstar to watch, joining the likes of Taylor Swift, Adele, and Billie Eilish. That is quite the company to keep. 

Single of the Year 

Winner - Jazmine Sullivan “Pick Up Your Feelings” 

Runners Up - Olivia Rodrigo “Drivers License” and Mickey Guyton “Remember Her Name"

Commentary - Sometimes, simplicity is best. Pick Up Your Feelings is the one song of this eligibility period I simply could not get out of my head. Great vocals, an old school simple sound, and on point lyrics lent themselves to an R&B masterpiece. It was easily my favorite single of the year. 

Best New Artist

Winner - Olivia Rodrigo 

Runners Up - Arlo Parks and Saweetie

Commentary - See Album of the Year.

Best Pop Album

Winner - Olivia Rodrigo "Sour"

Runners Up - Billie Eilish "Happier Than Ever" and Taylor Swift "evermore"

Commentary - See Album of the Year

Best Rock/Alternative Album

Winner - Halsey “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” 

Runners Up - Japanese Breakfast “Jubilee”, Arlo Parks “Collapsed in Sunbeams”, St. Vincent “Daddy’s Home”, Wolf Alice "Blue Weekend"

Commentary - Halsey has topped charts, made hit singles, and been a consistent part of pop culture over the last several years. But her latest album, an intriguing alternative, rock-pop record, is a well-made, well-produced (Reznor and Ross) album that finally showcases her talent to its full potential. A beautiful ode to pregnancy, birth, and motherhood, this album is authentic, emotional, and powerful. 

Best Rap Album

Winner - (TIE) Little Simz “Sometimes I Might Be an Introvert” and Megan Thee Stallion “Good News”

Runners Up - Nas “King’s Disease II” and Tyler the Creator “Call Me If You Get Lost” 

Commentary - Megan Thee Stallion has been on the radar for awhile now, but her full-length debut album Good News, which was unceremoniously snubbed by Grammy voters, proves that the years-long hype was worth it. A self-assured, fun, creative, and fantastic debut. But I could not leave this year's awards without honoring the greatness that is Little Simz. Her latest record is perfectly crafted, bold, and ambitious, stretching the limits of what hip-hop can be in the modern era. This is one that will not soon be forgotten. 

Best R&B Album

Winner - Jazmine Sullivan “Heaux Tales” 

Runner Up - H.E.R. “Back of My Mind” 

Commentary - Pick Up Your Feelings is just a small glimpse of the brilliance that is Jazmine Sullivan's latest, Heaux Tales. A powerful, emotional, brazen, and sharp album that showcases an artist's brilliance in full form. Sullivan has been on the music circuit for a long time now, and this record proves why she has had such staying power, and why she is one of the most vital voices in modern R&B music today. 

Best Country/Americana Album

Winner - Rhiannon Giddens with Francisco Turrisi “They’re Calling Me Home” 

Runners Up - Mickey Guyton “Remember Her Name”, Kacey Musgraves “Star-Crossed”, Chris Stapleton “Starting Over” , and Yola “Stand For Myself”

Commentary - Rhiannon Giddens, a North Carolina native (we NC folks have to stick together), has been churning out genre-bending music of substance for a long time now. Her latest record, a collaboration with Francisco Turrisi, is a brilliant mix of traditional mountain blues and bluegrass, with a classic and operatic flair. Americana music has become a genre that is hard to define, but is endlessly fascinating to listen to. This album is the perfect representation of the fantastic and constantly evolving greatness of this genre. 

Best Pop Performance

Winner - Olivia Rodrigo “Drivers License” 

Runners Up - Taylor Swift “Willow” and Billie Eilish “Happier Than Ever"

Commentary - A haunting song that hits you whether you are 16 and losing your first love, or 80 and losing your only love. A universal expression of sadness that is current pop music at its best. 

Best Rock/Alternative Performance

Winner - Mammoth WVH “Distance”

Runners Up - Big Thief “Little Things/Sparrow” and Halsey “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God” 

Commentary - I am so proud of Wolfie for creating his own path in rock music. He is a talented guy, and has a bright future ahead of him. His first major single, Damage, is a beautiful ode to his dad, one of the greatest musicians of all time. Heartfelt and emotional, this record makes us root for Wolfie and makes us miss Eddie even more. 

Best Rap Performance

Winner - (TIE) DMX feat. Jay Z and Nas “Bath Salts” and Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle “What it Feels Like”

Runners Up - Little Simz “Introvert”, Megan Thee Stallion “Body”,Tyler, the Creator feat.YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla Sign “WUSYUNAME”, Vince Staples "Law of Averages"

Commentary - Jay-Z and Nas, two of the best, lend their talents to great last records of two of hip-hops most influential, Nipsey Hussle and DMX. Both taken too soon, they were legends of the genre, and these two last records prove that, up until the end, these legendary artists never lost their talent or their impact. 

Best R&B Performance

Winner - Jazmine Sullivan “Pick Up Your Feelings” 

Runners Up - H.E.R. “Damage”, Silk Sonic “Leave the Door Open”, Lizzo feat. Cardi B “Rumors”, and Summer Walker with JT of Summer Girls "Ex For a Reason" 

Commentary - See Single of the Year

Best Country/Americana Performance

Winner - Mickey Guyton “Remember Her Name"

Runners Up - Brandi Carlile “Right On Time”, Brothers Osbourne “Younger Me”, Kacey Musgraves “Camera Roll”

Commentary - Mickey Guyton is one of the most fascinating and important country artists of our time. Her debut album is a classic country record, elevated by her amazing vocals, and personal lyrics. Remember Her Name is an infectious and powerful record that is a great showcase for this fantastic new talent. I can't wait to see what she does next.