TAKE FIVE
The keys to this Alicia
By Pocholo Concepcion
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:23:00 07/21/2008
MANILA, Philippines - The first time Alicia Keys played in Manila four years ago, she experienced her first earthquake.
Not that she was scared; there are other things that have shaken the 27-year-old, 11-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter.
Having traveled the world, Alicia has witnessed, for instance, the damage that HIV/Aids has wrought upon children in Africa. This has prompted her to get involved in Keep A Child Alive, a movement that extends crucial treatment to families in the Sub-Saharan region.
She’s also a member of various groups in America that motivate and inspire youths to engage in the arts.
Born in New York and the only child of multi-racial parents (her mother is Irish-Italian; her father, Jamaican), Alicia was fortunate to have received early musical training. She started playing the piano at age 7 and was performing in small clubs at 14.
Enrolled under a scholarship at Columbia University, she left after two years and plunged head-on into a full-time music career.
Meeting record producer Clive Davis sealed her fate. He signed her first to Arista and then she followed him when he set up J Records. She has recorded four albums that have thus far sold over 30 million copies.
Two weeks before she returns to Manila for a concert on Aug. 5 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay, Alicia spoke by phone to Inquirer:
Have you had any unusual or amusing experience while on the road lately?
We had this show in Europe where we had a lift on the stage. Somehow this girl got backstage, went up the stairs and on top of the lift, while I was up there, too. Pretty crazy. That was pretty bold of her.
Your website says you want to retire at 30 so you can travel around the world. Among the places you’ve been to, where would you like to spend more time?
In Europe … definitely in Greece … I’d like to experience more of South America. I’d love to see many more parts of Africa ... Tanzania, Somalia ... I would like to go farther, like Fiji and the islands off France, as many places as possible.
Is any one of these places special to you?
Spain is very special to me because of the people, the culture, the food and the music ... I love flamenco. Egypt [is] very interesting, spiritual and historic. Greece is like that as well ...
The four albums that you’ve done so far have been well-received critically and commercially. Which one was the most difficult to record?
Probably this last one (“As I Am”) … There was a lot going on in my life personally … but it also gave me a lot to talk about.
Who among your musical influences have made the deepest impact on your work?
I would say Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone … Stevie made me search deeper and experiment and go down further for lyrics, sounds and melodies ... Nina Simone always encouraged me to be unique …
You were trained in classical piano and have absorbed different musical styles. What is it about hip hop that you like?
Everything. I love the pulse of it, the urgency, the honesty, the soulfulness ... In its purest form, it’s definitely creative ... and represents what I’m familiar with in my life, so I love that.
How do you feel about being mentioned in songs by other people like Bob Dylan?
I love it.
This is your second time to perform in Manila. Your act is said to be elaborate, with a big entourage. Has it always been like this?
It’s very much like before, although we’ve gotten better and there’s new music.
What was the most outrageous thing people have said about you?
The craziest one was when they said I was Clive Davis’ illegitimate daughter.
What would you like to say to your Filipino fans?
I’m really excited about coming back. The last time I was there I experienced my first earthquake, and this time we’re gonna shake the earth up with music.
Do you know you’ll be performing in a large, open-air venue?
Awwrighhht!
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