SOUL star Alicia Keys this week may dabble in her sideline job during her Melbourne visit.

The Grammy Award winning singer is a part-time travel writer. Keys files travelogues to a daily New York newspaper, her most recent being on Dubai and China.

“If I have time, I’d love to write a travel story about my Australian experience,” Keys told the Herald Sun.

“I know it would start something like this: ‘I can’t believe I am in Australia!’ ” she laughed.

Classically trained Keys has released two albums and sold 13 million records worldwide.

She performs tonight and tomorrow in St Kilda’s Palais Theatre.

Source: HERALD SUN 22nd OCTOBER

Alicia is beginning her tour of Australia in the next few days!!!- naturally, living in Australia myself, I’m going to be at her show in Brisbane(2nd row!) and wanted to ask Alicia[if she's reading this] what Australian audiences are in store for…what kind of show can we expect?

……….& most importantly; will you be inviting any fans onto the stage with you??!!!
(…perhaps even those of us who know how to play your repertoire very well on piano…hehe!!!)

Do you think that America is ready for a black or a female president? And can you tell us what you wrote about in your diary last night?

Alicia Keys, 23, was born Alicia Augello-Cook and was brought up by her Italian mother in the Hell’s Kitchen district of New York. She wrote her first song, “Butterflyz”, at 14 and left school at 16 - the same year that she signed to Columbia Records. By 18, she had switched record label, signing to Arista Records in 1998. The following year, she released her debut album, Songs in A Minor, which won her seven Grammies and went multi-platinum. Her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, went straight to No 1 in the American charts. She lives in New York.

Is America ready for a black president or a female president?
Sue Smith, Chelmsford

I don’t know. America, like everywhere else, is scared to death of change. But I’ll tell you what: I think a female president would whip this country into shape; it seems America needs a mommy right now.

Who is Britain’s best current musical export?
Carla Hanlon, Skegness

I like The Darkness. I know there are others that I love, but that’s who I’m diggin’ right now.

What has living in New York done for you?
Ben Collins, New York

New York is my favourite place to be. I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve been taught some of my hardest lessons here. I’ve had to make life-threatening decisions here in an instant, but I’ve also seen the drive, the spunk and the heartbeat of the world from here. I’ve seen the best and the worst on the same block and I think that’s why I am who I am. In fact, I know that’s why I am who I am. If I hadn’t grown up how I did, I feel like I would be much more one- dimensional. That’s some of what NYC has done for me.

Second albums are supposed to be difficult to write. Was yours?
Pete Crook, by e-mail

No, this album was much easier to make for me than the first. I had more experience and 10 times more confidence. My travelling gave me new perspectives on life and people and myself. I was ready to say new things and create new songs.

“You Don’t Know My Name” - surely this song cannot be autobiographical. Who doesn’t know your name?
Helen Shepherd, Barnsley

Sure, it is autobiographical in many ways. People didn’t always know my name and there are plenty of times when you see someone who you really want to know, who has no idea you feel that way about them. They don’t even know your name, but you want to change that. Who hasn’t felt like that in one way or another?

What’s the best time of day and the best environment in which to write songs? Do you have any superstitions, anything you have to do before you start writing?
Rebecca Adam, by e-mail

I usually write when it’s kind of late. The phones stop ringing and I can really hear my thoughts. I don’t have any superstitions: I just write when I have something to talk about. I try not to force it, it comes out much better that way. But when I’m in the writing zone I’m away, even if it’s just mentally, kind of like creating my own world. That’s when the magic happens. I love that.

Do you keep a diary? If so, when did you start to write it? And can you tell us what you wrote about last night?
Karen Regan, Southampton

Yes, I keep a diary. I love being able to have one place where I can honestly vent all my feelings and experiences. I like looking back on them and laughing at myself because I thought that something was so serious and now it really means nothing. I started my first diary when I was nine, so you can only imagine how funny that is.

What I wrote about last night? I just came back from a little vacation that was long overdue and I had one of the most incredible experiences last night. I was in a bath that looked out onto the mountains of Jamaica. Everything was so green and lush. It was heaven on earth. Suddenly, there was a rain shower. It poured down and I was right in the middle of it in this warm bath. The smell of the rain was like a dream. That’s what I wrote about last night.

What do you think of the Iraq war? Would you consider becoming more political as a songwriter? If so, what issue would you write about?
Gareth Monighan, London

I think that the war in Iraq is unnecessary. It’s much bigger than any of us, but it involves all of us.

I think the war proves how much more involved we all have to be in exercising our right to vote and therefore shaping the world we live in. Becoming more political as a songwriter is inevitable for me. It has already begun.

Will you sing a song just for me?
Thomas Washington, by e-mail

Sure. What do you want to hear?

Why did you decide on the surname, Keys, instead of your family name, Augello-Cook?
Owen MacCaskill, Dundee

I decided on the name Keys because it perfectly describes me and what I do. Not only does it describe the instrument that I play and love, but it also represents the keys to opening infinite doors. Every time I hear the name it reminds me of how many more doors I want to walk through. So, in a way, it’s not only a name, but also a mantra, a belief, a reminder.

On your second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, there are several songs about touring. Do you find it hard? What do you take with you to keep you sane?
Scott Inman, Wolverhampton

There are several songs that I wrote while I was on tour. But I don’t find it hard. I like travelling, I like meeting and seeing different cultures and people, and styles. It’s definitely strenuous. It’s hard living out of a suitcase for months. It’s hard travelling so much that you lose your balance and the date and time. It’s hard to find things to eat in some of these places, so you find yourself eating peanut butter and jelly or oatmeal for every meal.

It’s hard to be away from the people you love for so long, and being in the company of people who just see you as a dollar sign. But my love for the music keeps me sane, plus a cell phone so I can call when I’m lonely.

In your teens, Columbia tried to fit you into the Mariah Carey mould. How did you escape?
Yvonne Clarke, by e-mail

I escaped it by choosing not to go along with it. It was really hard to do and took a lot of strength and patience. It forced me to push any fears I had to the side and have faith in destiny, but I sure am happy I did.

Source: independent.co.uk

Thx 2 txga

“The Chosen Words”

Express the thoughts that make deeper questions
Throw emotions that we catch with our hearts
Maybe ignite the spark for laughter
Then share them with Alicia
so that you may win the chance to attend
and read your poem
at her special Book Launch Party,
“Tears For Water”
in early November in New York City

Poems must be submitted by AKFC Members who live in the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania area, no later than midnight, October 29th. Include your full name, and AKFC membership number. Only one poem per member (21 years and older, please). Send all entries to AKFCalicia2@aol.com. If you want information on joining Alicia’s official fanclub log onto www.aliciakeys.com and hit the “community tab.” Good Luck, Poets!
~Cherbear~

The Grammy winning RnB Diva was finally in Hong Kong! The mega debut ‘Fallin’’ made Alicia Keys the hottest singer-songwriter of her time. Seeing how she pushed the limits in ‘Diary Of Alicia Keys’, she is proving that she does not just sit in front of the piano and sing, she can dance, she can hype the crowd, she can do it all! As we here in Hong Kong have been catching up on her latest rumored romance with Usher, we bring you back to how she writes her diary and who she really is.

Alyson: Alicia, Alicia! You have no idea of how long I’ve been waiting for this moment, to see you in person!

Alicia: Thank you! Me too!

Alyson: You’re magnificent out there at the show. And I know that you were in Beijing, China, performing at the Great Wall… so how has the whole China, including Hong Kong, experience been?

Alicia: It’s unreal! And when I say it’s unreal, it’s really unreal! I just look around and I just can’t believe I’m here! I wake up in the morning and I look out the window, and I can’t believe I’m here, I’m like, “What are you doing here, Alicia? How did you get here? How did this happen??” So I just feel very excited and I feel really happy, and proud, and just to experience… first hand… places that I’ve only dreamed about, or heard about or read about, or learned about through other people’s words… to see it from my own eyes, it’s really really special, so I love it. I’m really happy.

Alyson: So did you get the learn any Chinese?

Alicia: They try to… (LOL) They try to make me say… they try to get me to say a couple of words! So far I only know “Ni Hao!” (“Hello” in Mandarin). Well I’m not so good at “Thank You”, I keep messing it up! “Sin sin”? “Sie Sie”!! (LOL) But when they get me in a room, and had me do these Ids for television, they’ll have me say it. I think I’m alright, I’m pretty good, if someone else says it first, I do pretty well. I’m gonna learn more though!

Was the Phil Collins song before the show intentional?

Alicia: Very intentional! Infact, when we were first starting the tour back in America, there was a… you know sometimes you run into funny energies… when you’re meeting the people, and you know you’re walking into a brand new situation everyday. You have your own team, but sometimes, you run into some strange people so… We were touring in America, and there’s a funny… just a very BAD vibe, it was like really bad! And I started singing, “I can feel it, calling in the air…” I said we need that song! We need that song! I need to hear that song everyday! I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life, and that all that matters, is this show, and nothing else! And that’s why I play that song. And when I was in Europe, we did a show with Phil Collins. He was on after. And we asked him if it was okay if we play that song, and he said “Yes”. So it’s all good!

New materials on the way?

Alicia: Funny enough, today I was in my dressing room, and I was… I’ve been messing around with this melody for a while, but today was the day when I came up with the music for it. So I was in my room, playing the different ways that I wanted it to go. So I think I’m gonna go home and work on that tonight. So that all happened here. I’m glad that I bring my studio with me. I travel with it, and I set it up, and record, and put it away and then go to the next city!

While writing your new music…

Alicia: I was speaking to Stevie Wonder one day, it was before we got together and performed together on MTV Music Awards. It was so cool to speak to him because he’s been in this for so long, and to speak to somebody who has experience and had been there before, when I’m just learning and figuring it out, and he said to me, “Just take your time. Just live your life and take your time. You don’t have to rush.” And you forget! Coz there’s so much going on, and you just wanna try and get things going. We forget to just take your time. So that’s what I think is the best way.

You’re gonna do a movie soon! How’s that like?

Alicia: It’s a lot like music to me! Because it’s very… you try to find the most honest part of you, as related to what you’re trying to betray to people. And I feel like that’s what I wanna do. And I act the way that I… the same way that I wanna do in music, and really making emotion to come across. That’s definitely the same affect that I wanna have on film. That’s why I haven’t been rushing to do anything, I wanna take it slow, and when it’s right, it’s right. However long it takes. I want to be fantastic, and it will be.

Catch Alicia Keys’ latest action, as she will not only stay with music, but releasing her debut book, her debut movie, and the song she wrote in Hong Kong!

Interview done by www.hkentertainment.com

Alicia was nominated @ the African American Literary Awards in the category ‘Songwriter of the year’.

The nominees were:

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Alicia Keys
Ashanti
Beyonce
Floetry
Kem

WINNER: Alicia Keys

Congratz 2 Alicia!!

Alicia Keys will headline the Barbados Jazz Festival in January which also includes veteran saxophonist Gato Barbieri on the lineup, organizers said.

The 23-year-old singer and pianist from New York has won five Grammy Awards — “Best New Artist,” “Song of the Year,” “Best R&B Vocal Performance,” “Best R&B Song” and “Best R&B Album.”

Other acts at the Caribbean island’s jazz festival, scheduled for Jan. 10-16, include Yellow Jackets, Kenneth Garrett and Pieces of a Dream from the United States; Kaeko Matsui of Japan; Barbieri of Argentina; Tito de Garcia of Puerto Rico and the Charles Flores Quintet featuring Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and Giovanni Hidalgo.

Festival venues include the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium outside Bridgetown, the Colony Club Hotel on the west coast and the Farley Hill National Park in northern St. Peter, organizer Gilbert Rowe said on Sunday.

Thx 2 AKeysalldaway

Oct 18, 2004 01:00 PM

What’s good?

Everything is everything over here. I see things are still poppin as usual on the home front.
I was going to write a whole thing about what’s going on over here, but I don’t think now is the time; I’ll wait a little while. The one thing that I have to say is really good about everyone always having different opinions on who you are and what you should or shouldn’t be is that it really challenges you to know how YOU really feel. It’s very interesting I must say. It’s a very good character study, in a way. Self-character study if you know what I mean. If I was out here concerned with what every single person thought was right or wrong, I would surely be insane by now. I say this for all of us, really. Not for anyone in particular, so please don’t go taking these words all personal, I mean this in general, as a whole. We all have to know that each of us are different, and we all have different things that we are experiencing and learning that make us into ourselves. We have to spread our wings. How does it feel when the wind blows through them? How would we know if we never opened them up? Don’t, not do what you feel because you don’t want people to judge you or you don’t want people to have something negative to say. Please, that’s a prison sentence. Making choices to suit others? Or god-forbid, even worse, staying the same so that no one will question your intentions? Oh my goodness that’s like burying yourself. I just hope that we don’t stifle ourselves and stop ourselves from our greatness or even our greatest mistakes because we fear what others think of us, instead let us be honest with what we think about OURSELVES!!!!!!! We’re so quick to talk about everyone else, but what about ourselves? What about looking at ourselves?

I’ll tell you what; the biggest thing I’m looking at with myself now is how I can make a change. How I can make a change on a bigger level? The first step for me is making sure that I am a part of this years’ election. This to me is for sure one of the most important dates we will live through and be a part of. Feel my urgency! I know a lot of us still feel a helpless feeling but we gotta negate that! We are not helpless. We are unaware of the power we are capable of. We are limitless and we have to help each other to be unstoppable and relentless with this, this year. I challenge us to not let this slip through our fingers. Let’s look at ourselves and see the power. Let’s encourage each other instead of judging each other and lets go VOTE! I appreciate all of your opinions, I think they are all valid, now let’s take our strong opinions and use it for something unforgettably worthwhile. Let’s show them that we know what’s going on in the world and we won’t be taken for a ride of their choosing. Let’s show them that we are the heartbeat of America and we want to stand up!

For any more info go to
www.yourvotematters.org

Let’s do this!

AK

Alicia Keys is hot!!!!

Last Saturday night was a night of firsts for me. For one, it was the first time I ever entered the Araneta Coliseum. This is where many of my classmates go to watch college basketball games, while at the same time encouraging me to join them for the “school spirit.” But since I personally think college basketball is best enjoyed at home with a pizza and a cold six-pack of beer (as opposed to breathing in other people’s sweat and spit at an overcrowded stadium), there was absolutely no reason for me to set foot in the Araneta Coliseum ever. Until last Saturday night.

The fact that I went into the Araneta Coliseum for the first time is a mere footnote to another “first” I experienced. Last Saturday night, I experienced Alicia Keys and the wall of soulful sound that she and her band generated. Forget that I even made a big deal about entering the Araneta Coliseum for the first time.

After watching Keys’ extraordinary performance, I now consider myself a convert to her music. Before her concert, I had no knowledge of Alicia Keys: what kind of music she played, what style she sported, and what kind of flair she would bring to her performance. For me, she was just “the hot R&B chick with braided hair who could sing.” I did, however, also know that she wrote and composed her own songs, which for me, makes her a true musician and artist in her craft.

After the concert, all the blanks were filled in for me: Her music is an eclectic mix of R&B and soul, her style is sexy, and her performance on-stage is based on pure musical talent and charisma.

The night started off a bit slow with Luke Mijares and Kyla singing songs to sampled beats. It’s a shame because both of them are very talented singers, yet they were given “karaoke” duty for that night. The truth is, everyone was really looking forward to Alicia Keys’ performance. The crowd could not wait any longer. It seemed that the slow start of the show transformed into a strategy wherein public anticipation was played around with and manipulated. Good tactic, even if it wasn’t planned.

When Alicia Keys got on-stage, the crowd erupted. Not one person stayed in their seat. Everyone was grooving to her sound. In short, everyone was “feeling” her. I say this because on Alicia’s command, people would get up, sway or clap their hands, and after every song, it seemed as if the applause kept on getting louder. I found myself, a foreigner in a plethora of Alicia Keys fans, getting out of my seat as well; cheering her on, making it known to her that I truly do appreciate her music.

Technical skill is always present in concerts such as this. For events of this grandeur, artists must be up to par with certain standards in music. I am definitely not a musical connoisseur, but I can tell when musicians are “good” technically. Most definitely, Alicia Keys, her back-up singers and her band are good, skill-wise. Her band, which fuses jazz, hip-hop and soul, always keeps in unison (”poste”) and is definitely good. Her back-up singers have wide vocal ranges, and can possibly even cover for Alicia.

Yet, technical skill was not one of my concerns that night. Of course, I expected that out of such a performance; but there was much more than that. The look in all their eyes, especially Alicia’s, told a different story. You could see so much life in them. They were performing on a different level that night and the crowd must have felt it, too. Alicia Keys and her band weren’t merely giving a performance. They were actually reiterating one of the most important facts when it comes to making music: Technical skill is nothing if there is no soul.

If I could describe Alicia Keys’ performance in one word, I would say “soul.” Man, that girl has soul. I don’t know any of her songs by heart and I don’t even have an Alicia Keys CD, but I felt that every contraction of her vocal cords echoed out another message saying: “Yo, Manila, this is what I gotta say, and this is how I wanna say it.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines soul as: “1) The spiritual part of man; 2) Emotional feeling.” In her performance, Alicia Keys expressed her spirit through her music, while at the same time, kept the audience emotionally connected. “Soul” is such an abstract thing, yet Alicia Keys made it tangible through her music.

I am surprised that one performance could make me earnestly reflect on soul in music. Many artists nowadays lack this, but Alicia Keys has more than enough to fill an entire stadium.

Source: The Philippine STAR

Thx 2 Vikkicar

As of today, Sat. Oct 16, Miss Keys and Usher are number one on the R&B Charts, she’s number 3 with Diary, and number 19 with If I Ain’t Got You! On the main billboards, they’re number 2 and Diary is number 10 and IIAGY is 14…..she’s doing it big time ladies and gent and recognition is due…
www.billboard.com new charts are posted every Saturday…