There
comes a time in every artist’s life when they have to step into the spotlight
on their own terms. For Janet, it was about Control. For Prince, it was about
Emancipation. But for Alice Smith, it’s the art (and hard-won battle) of simply
being herself.
The
NYC-bred singer, songwriter and producer, known for her 4-octave vocal range and
stunning stage presence, made a name for herself with her critically-acclaimed
2006 debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, released on BBE Records. At
the time, her artful blend of bluesy, soulful vocals and mid-tempo grooves
garnered a passionate following that packed venues like NYC’s Mercury Lounge
and Joe’s Pub, while Vibe Magazine gushed that her sound “evoke[s] Fiona
Apple’s finest material.” Her single “Dream” was nominated for a Grammy Award
in the Best Urban/Alternative category.
For a
young performer who had until recently cut her teeth within the New York
Afro-Punk scene—where she sang with Black Rock Coalition and Tamar Kali, and
collaborated with Zero 7’s Sia Furler and Imani Coppola—the spotlight attention
was a surprise. The glow dimmed rather quickly, however, when it came time to
record her sophomore album.
She
signed to Epic Records after a bidding war and re-released For Lovers in 2007.
The next four years were dedicated to writing and recording new material.
Meanwhile, the label went through numerous, well-documented changes to its
executive staff. For an artist who had always been self-reliant, Alice suddenly
found herself at an impasse. Though she was producing new material at a steady
clip, it was being held back by the inner workings of her label.
“It was
painful,” explains Alice of the process of recording her unreleased album.
Though she recorded countless tracks, they lingered on the shelf. While her reps
tried to mold her into something she was not, fans showed that they love her as
she is—they packed her performances, demanding new music. It was a wake-up call
for the fiercely independent singer. “It’s almost embarrassing, to be
performing a sold-out show and people are asking me where the new music is,”
recalls Alice, adding that she had so little control over her own music, that
she didn’t even know when her fans might get the chance to hear it.
Though
her fans may have wondered what happened to Alice Smith, she was hardly silent
during those years. She performed new material for sold-out crowds at top
venues like New York’s Highline Ballroom, SOB’s and Blue Note Jazz Club, and
Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater. Meanwhile, she experienced huge shifts in her
personal life, giving birth to a baby girl, and moving her new family to Los
Angeles for a sunny but serious change of pace. With a new pair of trusted
collaborators—producer Syience and singer/songwriter Rebecca Jordan—she put
these experiences into song.
Today,
Alice looks forward to finally giving her fans a hotly anticipated dose of new
music. “It’s an exciting time, but it’s a really calm excitement,” she
explains. “I feel really inspired to get where I’m going musically. I'm excited
to get back to work and continue examining what it is and what it takes to be a
powerful woman, happy and fulfilled.”
The new
collection reveals the same passions of the “country at heart” singer, raised
between Washington DC and Augusta, Georgia. Surrounded by everything from
go-go, to gospel, to pop, she crafted her own stories blending elements from
her favorite genres. By the time Lovers debuted in ’06, Alice was known for a
unique approach to soul, tempered by a heady dose of rock and her own personal
take on matters of the heart. It’s the same appeal that she brings to her new
material.
>“I've
always written about and been interested in relationships,” says Alice, musing
over her songwriting process. “I'm still interested in those things, because I
think they are most important. However, I'm just as interested in how they
relate to the self. I've been more consciously applying what I've learned about
relationships in my outward life, to my relationship with myself inside.”
With
notes of ‘60s pop, Burt Bacharach-style melodies and that intoxicating element
ofattitude, Alice’s upcoming collection has something for die-hard followers
and new fans alike. Her sound has evolved, adding lush, orchestral arrangements
and multi-hued melodies. Though she has always been an artist at heart, Alice
is now a mother, and she’s been through some powerful experiences over the past
few years. She emerges with new insights to realize through song. Still
singing, of course, but today, stepping out independently, she has all the more
reason to give ‘em something they can feel.
No comments:
Post a Comment