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By Bobby Marvin

R&B star Raheem DeVaughn and Go-Go legend Chuck Brown will be aiming for gold at the 53rd Grammy Awards this year, but they are not alone. Fellow DC native, Carolyn Malachi, joins the Grammy elite with the nomination of the critically acclaim single “Orion.” Released in 2010 from her EP Lions, Fires and Squares, “Orion” will compete against Cee Lo Green’s “F*** You” and Eric Roberson’s “Still” for Best Urban/ Alternative Performance.

From open mic venues to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Malachi opens up about life since the announcement of her first Grammy nod.

NO: So how do you feel about all the attention you’re getting now?

Carolyn Malachi: My response to people wanting to take my picture or wanting an autograph etc., the answer is “yeah it’s cool.” I mean you’re human just like I’m human and we’re all in this world together so, it’s new but it’s not huge, you know? I’m looking forward to just meeting more people. Meeting more friends, making new friends, you know that’s what it’s about, just human connection.

NO: On December 1st, you found out that you were nominated. What was that day like for you?

CM: It was an interesting day. I had to go to work and had a show immediately after. I finished my day, got in the car, went down to U Street. My show that night was at Liv, it was a fundraiser for Bloombars. The event was going on downstairs and we were upstairs in a little closet. My phone rang and I got the news and fell to my knees and started crying. And I still had the person on the line and cried for like two minutes or whatever. Then I said thank you for the information, hung up the phone, looked at my stylist and my manager and I said, “Ok ya’ll let’s go get it.”

NO: Were you surprise that “Orion” was the song that earned you Grammy recognition ?

CM: I was just happy. It’s a surprise and a huge honor either way. Like it could have been “Dumela” or “Textual.” It could have been the whole record. I think my response would still have been the same. Like wow, this is huge.

NO: Where do you want to go from here?

CM: My ultimate goal is to enjoy a long life as a world class performing artist and philanthropist. That’s what I want my life to look like.

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