The Epic Records x Hennessy Pre-Grammys Party Doubled As Tyla’s Birthday Bash
New York may be dubbed the city that never sleeps, but Los Angeles gives it a run for its money—at least during Grammys weekend. Such was the case on Friday night, when music industry movers and shakers took over the storied Sunset Tower Hotel’s Terrace Room for an Epic Records and Hennessy pre-Grammys party, dancing and mingling until the wee hours.
The evening spotlighted the label’s Grammy nominees, including Tyla, Zara Larsson, Yolanda Adams, and Eddie Benjamin. It was a double whammy celebration too, with Tyla ready to mark her 24th birthday in, well, epic fashion. When the woman of the hour—who is up for Best African Music Performance on Sunday for her hit single Push 2 Start—made her grand entrance around 11:00 p.m., the room practically fell silent. Clad in a teeny-tiny white backless mini dress, stacks of neon bangles by Alexis Bittar, rings by Spinelli Kilcollin, and lime green eyeshadow, the South Africa-born star commanded attention. And it wasn’t just because of her mismatched shoes—one fluorescent yellow, the other hot pink—and highlighter-hued body paint.
Tyla, who took home the inaugural Best African Music Performance award in 2024 for Water, was taking it all in her stride and not letting any pre-show jitters get to her. “Right now, I m just trying to focus on my birthday and take it one day at a time,” she told Vogue. “I m just really excited to be able to go to the ceremony again, and to see all my friends be nominated.”
Swathed in a gauzy and sheer hot pink gown with a plunging neckline, Larsson appeared completely at ease, despite being mere hours away from her inaugural Grammys performance. “The closer I get to the day, the calmer I feel, which is pretty nice,” she admitted. The Swedish chart-topper, who is nominated for Best Dance Pop Record for Midnight Sun, added: “The band who are playing with me are amazing—I was rehearsing with them today, and I got full-body chills!” As for what she’s most excited about? It’s the chance to hopefully rub shoulders with some of her longtime idols, particularly one: “Meeting Beyoncé would be iconic,” Larsson gushed.
DJ sets from Skyla Tylaa and Blissman, SHOOP, and KP kept the crowd on their feet all night, while cocktails nodding to the musicians’ hit tracks flowed continuously. (Think: a Tyla-approved Hennessy V.S ‘Henny-Rita,’ a Zara Larsson-inspired Hennessy V.S Ginger, a Yolanda Adams take on a Hennessy V.S.O.P espresso martini, and a Hennessy X.O on the rocks à la Eddie Benjamin.)
Fresh off her MusiCares Person of the Year appearance, Kesha, dressed in a fluffy jacket and chainmail mini, could be seen chatting with Adam Lambert in one area of the terrace while other notable attendees included Usher, Kelly Rowland, and Ty Dolla Sign caught up nearby.
Moments before 12:30 a.m., staff signaled revellers to step aside to make way for a gigantic white cake to come through the crowd as Skya Tylaa got a Happy Birthday chant going from the DJ booth. Of course, everyone did the exact opposite and rushed forward to get a close-up of the pop princess blowing out her candles. As the lights came up around 1:00 a.m., everyone got the hint that it was time to call it a night—or so it seemed. Instead, guests migrated downstairs to Duke’s for the after-party. It seems sleep can wait, on Grammys weekend.
Photo by: Matt Weinberger1/14Zara Larsson, Ezekiel Lewis, Tyla
Photo by: Matt Weinberger2/14Usher
