Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook, known by the pseudonym Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Keys released her debut album with J Records, having had previous record deals first with Columbia and then Arista Records. Keys' debut album, Songs in A Minor, was a commercial success, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. She became the best-selling new artist and best-selling R&B artist of 2001. The album earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002, including Best New Artist...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPop Singer
Date of Birth25 January 1981
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
When I perform in front of large audiences, I'm much more comfortable, because I've already performed in front of tiny audiences - which is much harder, honestly. The smaller you strip things down, the more you depend on the songs and yourself, as opposed to arrangements.
When I did get signed and I was going around letting people know what I was about, that's exactly how I did it: me on the piano, playing a couple of songs I'd written and talking to the people in between. That's how I got my performance chops up.
When I was first learning songs, I'd have a favorite song, and I'd take the chords and twist them around. I'd learn the chords and then play them backward. That was my first experimenting with writing a song.
Only joy comes from song.
The smaller you strip things down, the more you depend on the songs and yourself, as opposed to arrangements.
It's not until I hear songs that I've done, that I realize how much of an inspiration music from the '60s and '70s has been.
A Minor is one of my all-time favorite keys to play in. It's a very moody key, and also 'A' is the first letter of my name. It just represents the songs through my eyes.
I feel alive in quiet moments with my son, riding our bikes or watching him line his trains up in a particular order, witnessing how his mind works, hearing him learn a new word. I'm alive in these special moments because I never knew a love like this.
I've learned that one of my greatest secrets is scheduling downtime into a busy schedule. This gives me the time to have quality moments with my husband and son, who both recharge my spirit in ways I never imagined.
Even though I was telling myself I wasn't going to commit to anything because I wanted to take some time off, I was so moved by (the movie) and I really wanted to be involved. Beyond color, beyond being a black or white thing, it was just a human story about struggle and about overcoming when it seems the toughest.
I've always been a very big fan of the show and when they stopped doing it I was like, what happened to 'MTV Unplugged?' I specifically went in there and said we have to do an 'Unplugged,'
I've always been a very big fan of the show, and when they stopped doing it, I was like, what happened to
My coming here has helped. I have been able to speak and meet the people who are experiencing the problem. Now I understand very well what is happening and I can work with the image in mind.
I think Mariah is going to have a great night. It's very nice to see people not give up.