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Empress state of mind
When you're as successful as Alicia Keys, you have to create your own pain in the ass.
It’s good to be Alicia Keys. The New York native (perhaps you’ve heard “Empire State of Mind” a few thousand times) is R&B royalty before turning 30. Her latest, The Element of Freedom, hit the top of the U.K. album charts last week—a first for her. When she rings us up, the hip-hop contralto has just jetted back from Rio, where she shot a video with Beyoncé. So, understandably, the 30-million-records-selling stunner is upbeat, giddy even, adorably peppering her responses with ecstatic adjectives like uh-may-zing and bee-yoo-ti-ful. Can you blame her?
So you just got back from Brazil.
Yes, yes, yes. It was amaaazing.
Can’t say I’ve been there.
It was my first time. We were shooting a video for “Put It in a Love Song,” which is an in-cred-i-ble song that we have on our album, produced by Swizz [Beatz]. To end up in Brazil, many months later in this un-be-liev-able visual video, oh my God, it was magnificent. The culture was incredible. The people. They came out to every place we shot. It’s officially Brazil’s song now.
Did you film on the sand or in the slums?
We didn’t make it to the beaches. We did do the favelas. We did these, like, beautiful, incredible alleyways and streets and this one scene on an abandoned bus, before ending up in our own Carnival moment.
I’m assuming you wore a giant headdress.
I was. I had to! Absolutely. It was my first time wearing a headdress. Everyone kept asking me, “Are you balanced?” It was spectacular.
You’ve been to Africa several times.
Yes. That’s an incredible process. I’m going again around the World Cup. And to follow up on all the work we do out there [with Keep a Child Alive charity].
Are you a soccer fan?
I have to say that…I do like…exciting games.
Careful. The Brits love soccer, and you’re finally No. 1 in England. What took them so long?
I know! Let’s go, guys, let’s go! They really got this record.
You’ve moved away from the piano more and more, using synthesizers. That’s why Europe’s into it now.
It’s definitely something I feature more. It’s cool to have so many different sounds. I can’t carry a piano around like a guitar.
Do you always travel with a keyboard?
Definitely. Except Brazil. I just created my own plug-in. It’s got the most beautiful piano sound.
What can we expect from your tour?
I always make music the main focus. But then I also like to have a theme, a message. I don’t wanna tell everything. Because it’s called the Freedom Tour, it’s really about finding your freedom. I’m in a perfect time in my life when everything’s come together in a perfect way. It’s the first time I’m going out and feel totally empowered and excited.
When you see Pink spinning above a crowd or Lady Gaga wearing a bra that’s on fire, do you think, That’s a little too much for me?
[Laughs] I thought that Pink’s performance was really beautiful. Really incredible. To be able to sing like that upside down is no easy feat! I think that it’s expression. But, for me, I tend to like to not have to do a ton of…tricks.
Why did you name your production company Big Pita, Little Pita?
P-i-t-a stands for pain in the ass. It started off as a joke: big pita and little pita. I find that the more and more I grow, the more I want to find new ways to be creative.
You’ve been acting more.
I love it. I so love it. To become this whole other person that is not me but is me. I’m looking forward to doing more parts and producing pieces. I’m getting into Broadway, actually.
Are you writing a musical or looking to star in something?
I’m developing one now. Musical theater, you know? I love it. There’s a wide room open for a new energy to Broadway, to bring a whole new audience to it.
You grew up in New York City. Did you see shows as a kid?
Yes. My mother is an actress. She came to New York from Ohio to follow her dream. As a little girl, I would go see plays with her or watch her in productions. It’s something that’s been a part of my life since [I was] a little girl.
Would you put your mom in one of your productions?
Hell yes! She’ll kill me if I don’t!
Alicia Keys kicks off her Freedom Tour at Allstate Arena Wednesday 3.
