She lets her powerful voice soar in one song, “Delta Shine”, along with Latin-American musician, Antonio Vergara, who received the nomination in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category.
For Meta, this nomination signifies more than personal success; it highlights the potential of Malaysian artistes to compete and excel on the world stage.
She said: “For an independent artiste, being part of a Grammy-nominated album carries a significance beyond the honour itself.
“Without the backing of a major label, it’s a validation of one’s dedication to creating something meaningful, like spinning gold from hay amidst the noise.”
The nominations for the 2025 Grammy awards were announced last Friday and Meta hopes for support to be at music’s biggest night in Los Angeles on Feb 2.
While Meta is the first Malaysian singer to be part of a Grammy nomination, Malaysia-born composer Zuraini Khalid Zonneveld earned a Grammy for a blues album.
US-based Zonneveld co-wrote the song, “One Friend”, in American blues musician Keb’ Mo’s effort, “Keep It Simple” that won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2005.
Another Malaysian-American to have shone is Phil Tan, a three-time Grammy award winning and 14-time Grammy- nominated audio engineer and mixer.
A dream come true
Meta’s Grammy dream began when she was approached by Vergara to collaborate on “The Fury”.
Vergara, known for his evocative music, was looking for a fresh voice to bring a new dimension to his album.
Meta’s unique vocal style and versatility made her the perfect fit for the project.
Meta said when she received the invitation from Antonio to join his blues album, she didn’t hesitate, knowing it was a chance to explore yet another avenue of expression.
“A Grammy nomination for Antonio’s album and, as he generously says, ‘our album’, is proof that every late night, every ounce of self-belief, and every moment dedicated to crafting authentic music truly matters.
“I never imagined that I would be part of something like this. It’s an honour to work with such talented musicians and to be appreciated by the industry in this way.
“It’s a reminder that, as an independent artist, even without the industry’s full machine behind me, the power of perseverance, creativity, and connection can resonate on a global stage, transforming hard-won dreams into reality,” she said.
Meta said she stayed in close orbit with her musical projects alongside her American collaborator and confidant Denise Dimin.
“Denise fuelled my desire to push even further, driving me to pursue collaborations that expanded my artistic reach.
“This led to projects like Descendents (79 languages) in the Global Music Album category and my own album, Next, with Denise in the Traditional Pop Vocal Album category.
“Both albums were also in the ballot for the latest Grammy nominations, ” she said.
Unleashing the fury
The Best Contemporary Blues category is for albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental contemporary blues recordings.
“The Fury”, a 14-track album, features contributions from some of the finest voices in the genre, including Grammy and Emmy winners and nominees.
These collaborations add vocal diversity that enrich and expand each song, unleashing “The Fury” as a rich and emotional narrative.
According to Meta the entire album is a tribute to the traditions, fetishes, and superstitions of the old Delta bluesmen from Mississippi, “which is why some of the songs talk about the lucky mojo.”
Meta recorded her part in the guitar riff-driven song “Delta Shine” at the Big A Productions studio here.
She said “Delta Shine” is a play on words that refers both to the shine of the night in the Mississippi Delta and the celebration of the roots of blues under the Mississippi moonlight.
“I’ve always been drawn to guitar riff based music, where each note and rhythm pulls you in and sets a tone all its own.
“There’s a raw, unfiltered fury woven into every note, whether it’s expressed through my voice or the searing riffs of Vergara’s guitar.
“The lyrics are straightforward, but it’s in how we deliver them that the impact truly comes alive,” she said.
At the 67th Grammy awards, Vergara faces competition from Joe Bonamassa, Shemekia Copeland, Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour and Ruthie Foster.
Vergara has also received a Latin Grammy nomination as mixing engineer and is a voting member of the Recording Academy in the United States.
Throughout his career, Vergara has shared the stage with blues and jazz legends, including Sugar Blue, Lurrie Bell, Billy Branch, Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter and Etta James, among many others.
What the nomination means to Malaysia
This landmark achievement has cemented Meta’s status as an international music star, who has won top blues, country and pop music awards in the US and Europe since 2018.
Malaysian Artistes’ Association (Karyawan) president Freddie Fernandez said Meta has brought immense pride to Malaysia.
He said it proves that with passion and perseverance, Malaysian artistes can achieve international recognition.
“It is an acknowledgment of Meta’s artistry, a promise of even greater things to come for her, and a beacon of hope for Malaysian musicians,” he said.
Fernandez urged the government and private sector to provide more resources and opportunities for artistes to develop and showcase their talents.
“We need to nurture our homegrown talent,” he said. “With the right support, there is no limit to what our artistes can achieve.
“Win or lose, the nomination alone is a significant feat that will have a lasting impact,” he said.
Lyia Meta and Antonio Vergara belting out “Delta Shine”. (YouTube)