Grammy nominations create 'a lot more choice' for Canadian musicians

"Massive" and "a dream" is howsongwriter and producer Stephan Moccio describes the lead-up to Monday'sGrammy Awards.

Moccio, who most recently has worked alongsidepop star The Weeknd and over the years has collaborated with artists such asJohn Legend, Ne-Yo andMiley Cyrus,is nominatedfor threeGrammysincluding album of the year forThe Weeknd'sBeauty Behind the Madnessand best R&B song for Earned It.

He says the nominations alone open new doors.

"All of a sudden, youget fast-tracked," he told CBC News at the SOCAN Grammy partyFriday night in Los Angeles, where he lives.

"I've met some incredible directors, incredible new artists as well. You just have a lot more choice and that's really one of the best things that's come out of itfor me."

It's a phenomenon Ron Korb, who's nominated for best new age album,is noticing, too.

"Assoon as you get nominated, things just start to happen," the Toronto-based musiciantold CBC News."People start to call you. Everybodyyou've ever known is congratulating you."

If Korb wins, it'llbe the first time a Canadian has taken the category. He still has a hard time putting his finger on how it all came about.

"For some reason my album Asia Beauty has just really resonated with people in the music world and the academy. You don't really know why, you can't really predict it or try to make an album like that. It just happened."

That element of surprise was a big one for Michael Silver, aMontreal-based remixerknown as CFCF. Hehas a nomination for best remixed recording for a chilled-out version of German composer Max Richter'sBerlin by Overnight.

If you compare it to the other songs in his category, among thema higher-energy version of the popular hit Uptown Funk,Silver's work definitely sticks out.

"It's surreal and strange," Silver told CBC News.

"I think when they announce the category I'll probably feel a little bit anxious and a little bit of a heartbeat, but it's all so surrealanywaysthat it's just a fun, weird thing that I get to do."