Grammys: Scottish producer wins Best R&B Song for work on SZA’s ‘Snooze’

A 20-year-old Glasgow music producer who wrote the only song to have spent the whole of 2023 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, has won a Grammy award for his work on the track.

Under the name BLK Beats, Blair Ferguson told the BBC he wrote the music for the song Snooze in his Glasgow bedroom: “It’s crazy to think that’s happening around the world and I made the song in a makeshift studio at my aunt’s house.”

Ferguson has worked with some of the biggest stars in the industry including Justin Bieber and has also contributed to three albums which have been nominated in four categories for the 2024 Grammys.

They include SOS by SZA which was nominated for album of the year and best progressive R&B album, Diddy’s The Love Album: Off The Grid, and Girls Night Out by Babyface.

The former Kelvinside Academy pupil said it was “incredible” to be a winner at the Grammys representing his home country.

Up and coming Glaswegian Band Bride have expressed their excitement over seeing Glasgow talent recognised on music’s biggest stage: “Seeing a Scottish music producer collect a Grammy is absolutely insane to put into perspective how much is possible when you come from a place like Glasgow. The success of Blair Ferguson’s work with a massive pop star like SZA shows us collectively what we can be capable of, making us more motivated to put in as much work as possible to our own music.”

‘Snooze’ by SZA is currently certified Gold in the UK.