Anda di halaman 1dari 4

Cover

Its undeniable something

about Alicia Keys has well and truly changed.


Pinpointing exactly what that change is
however, is whats proving to be the tricky
part. Sure, I could plump for the obvious
things, the most outward changes like her
body for starters. Im definitely not going
overboard in saying that Alicias in the best
shape of her career. If thats what motherhood
does for a persons body, bring it on! Then
of course, theres her hair. Gone are the freeflowing curls weve grown accustomed to and
in their place, a short, slick cropped do. Yet
still Im not satisfied. As clich as it sounds,
the change is evidently one thats come from
within.
One thing that hasnt changed though, I
notice as she greets me, are those velveteen
vocal chords. Well, hello, she purrs
seductively, drawing out the second part
of her address, so she sounds just like
your archetypal Bond villain. Instantly
recognisable, its these same deep, sultry
tones that made the world fall in love with
the New York born, soulful songbird way
back in 2001 when she set the charts alight
with her debut album Songs in A Minor a
glorious melding of old-school jazz, R&B and
soul which would go on to sell 12 million
copies. While signs of that gritty Brooklyn
edge are still manifest, for the most part Alicia
speaks softly and deliberately, with a languor
that only a global star could get away with.
Clearly she understands that good things
come to those who wait. Far be it from me to
disagree

This time three years ago, Alicia Keys was


gearing up for the release of her fourth
album, 2009s The Element of Freedom. Fast
forward to the present and shes back in the
saddle once again for its much-anticipated
follow up, Girl On Fire. Business as usual
then. Well, it would be if not for the little
fact that her life has undergone some pretty
massive changes in the interim. Alicias 31
now, wife to American hip-hop producer
Swizz Beatz and mother to their son, twoyear-old Egypt. Chronic overachiever that
she is, sitting back and chilling out after
any of those monumental life changes was
never going to be her story. So, what has she
been up to? Oh, I have to think, she offers
coyly. So I got married and had a baby, I

I
know
who
I
am
as a
woman.

Period.
The extraordinary Ms Keys
is back with a new album,
a new look and a brand
new attitude to boot. Bolder,
braver and blazing hot if
you cant handle the heat,
then get the hell out of her
way says Gloria Ogunbambo.

42

042-045 CoverAliciaAA.indd 42

23/11/12 18:52:44

Cover

a GIrl on fIre
just oWns It.
she doesnt let
anybody tell
her who she is,
who she cant
be or who she
will be.
43

042-045 CoverAliciaAA.indd 43

23/11/12 18:52:51

Cover
produced and created the score for my
first ever Broadway play Stickfly, I did
a TV movie for Lifetime called Firelight
and my company Passion Projects has
just wrapped our first indie film, The
Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,
starring Jennifer Hudson and Jordin
Sparks. Oh, and in the midst of all that
Ive been figuring out how to make a new
record! Leave it to Alicia Keys to make
you feel just a little bit lazy.
Its a brave woman who can step outside
of her comfort zone, despite the intense
media glare, and turn her hand to
something completely alien. And thats
exactly what Alicia has done. Out from
behind the piano has emerged a strong,
self-assured woman, unafraid to push
boundaries or immerse herself creatively
into areas where shes still yet to find her
feet; a woman whos raised her game
performance wise and upped the levels
in the fashion stakes too. To steal a lyric
from the singers own songbook: this girl
is on fire. I have changed, its officially
true! Alicia laughs, as I seek her own
perspective on the issue. Im justfree.
Im more capable and confident and
excited about doing things Ive never
done before. Im having fun uncovering
that part of myself. I love that people
have noticed. Its something I want
them to notice! And was this newfound
confidence the motivation behind her
recent big chop? Ive wanted to cut my
hair for a really long time. I remember
it was the day New Day came out and I
was just like, What the hell! Do it. Right
now! It felt so powerful its a new me,
a new start.
As we speak, it becomes apparent that
her hair isnt the only thing shes done
away with. Gone with those luscious
locks is any regard for what other people
have to say about her personal life. I
know who I am as a woman, period.
We spend too much of our lives asking
people what they think when what
we think is what matters. Now that
Ive been able to let those people go, I
just feel so much braver its a great
feeling. This newly acquired take no
prisoners attitude no doubt stems from

the fact that her formerly squeaky-clean


reputation was well and truly tarnished
in 2009 by claims that she began dating
her husband while he was still married
to another woman. For the first time
in her career; the intensely private and
distinctly non-showbiz star; infamous
for being all about her business; found
herself in the midst of a full-blown
scandal. Although Alicia maintains
that this isnt how events went down,
nevertheless the doggedly persistent
homewrecker tag is still proving hard to
shake.
Ruthless as it may sound, theres
something to be said for the liberating
feeling that comes from weeding out
the people who no longer fit in with
the vision you have for your life and
thats most certainly a power that Alicia
Keys has harnessed and channelled into
her latest studio effort. Listening to her
album, particularly the imposing drum
patterns and soaring chorus of the titular
track Girl On Fire her evolution as an
artist and human being is palpable. It
feels like a movement is coming and so
I feel it necessary to ask, what exactly
it means to be a Girl On Fire? A girl
on fire she begins, pausing a beat to
consider, just owns it and is proud of
who she is in this moment. She doesnt
let anybody tell her who she is, who she
cant be or who she will be. It dawns
on me that this is the change Ive been
trying to identify and rather than explain
it to us in words, Alicias chosen, as she
always does, to let the music and her
piano do the talking for her.

We spend
too much
of our lives
asking
people
what they
think....
Now that
Ive been
able to
let those
people go,

I just
feel so
much
braver.

You can feel the same heart. Ive always


written from a very personal place so
that hasnt changed at all. Youre going
to feel that and the piano will be as
prevalent as always because its my best
friend. Its not a departure. Its growth
not just sonically but emotionally.
Youre going to feel something fresh.
Im just super excited for everyone to
hear it. I want people to listen to it and
years from now think, This album was
that moment in my life.
Alicia Keys new album Girl On Fire is out now.

44

042-045 CoverAliciaAA.indd 44

23/11/12 18:52:53

Cover
QUICKFIRE WITH

MS KEYS
I really love

that blend of masculine and


feminine. To me thats sexy.
I love cool looking blazers,
beautifully fitted pants and
killer heels. Thats a look
that makes me feel cool and
powerful yet feminine and sexy
all at the same time.

My husband is

a car fanatic so one of our


favourite things to do is take
long drives together. Well take
an amazing car, drive maybe an
hour or two out of town and
just find our own little corner in
the world.

The more I become


a woman the more

I realise what a great and


empowering feeling it is to be
able to make a difference in the
world. With my organisation,
Keep A Child Alive, were able
to provide medicine for children
and families affected by AIDS.

Love has made me

appreciate those small everyday


moments and the importance of
carving out time to make them.
Those are the moments I want
to look back and remember.

I would tell my
20-year-old self

to live loudly and boldly and


just be who you are! Being in
the spotlight, its almost like
youre censored from your own
self, because you feel like you
have to fit everything you feel
into the perfect sound byte.
Thats not true.

45

042-045 CoverAliciaAA.indd 45

23/11/12 18:52:57

Anda mungkin juga menyukai