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Home , Aaliyah, As I Am, Jungle City Studios, Keep A Child Alive, More Myself, Novel (musician)

Teaches Songwriting and Producing

C  Songs in the Key of Alicia The making of a modern-day Renaissance woman

he world loves a prodigy. It was obvious to those closest to bums, four No. 1 singles, more than Blaise Pascal, Wolfgang her long before. When Alicia was 42 million records sold worldwide. Mozart, Bobby Fischer— growing up in the notorious Hell’s But to describe Alicia strictly Twe obsess over their minds and Kitchen neighborhood of , as a prodigy would do her a dis- gifts with amazement and envy. We her mother—single, fierce—sup- service. The term, while accurate, imagine the headiness that comes plied ample encouragement. By age writes off her career as God-given with making something immensely seven, Alicia had found her muse talent—something anyone could’ve difficult look as easy as breathing. in the piano, the instrument that pulled off had they been born with We wonder what it must be like to would inspire her stage name; soon her same musical inclination. In harbor a deep, relentless, natural tal- she was creating original compo- reality, her tireless work ethic—the ent and how remarkable it must feel sitions, translating emotion into decades she spent becoming a to unleash that talent on the world. lyrical syllables and onto musical better musician, a better performer, To be sure, Alicia Keys (born staffs. Her songs blend R&B, , a better human—was as crucial a Alicia Cook) is deeply, relentlessly, pop, soul, and into component of her meteoric rise. As naturally talented. That much has a sound that’s at once familiar and a young artist with a singular vision, been clear to the world since 2001, inimitable. The accolades that she’s Alicia often fought for creative con- when her debut , Songs in A accumulated speak for themselves: trol of her music. She wrestled with Minor, swept the Grammy Awards. 15 Grammys, seven hit studio al- self-doubt and the pressures of con- formity. She asked big questions, took a solo pilgrimage across Egypt, became an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and gender equality, and discovered a passion for non- profit work. Along the way, she kept learning and listening, refining her sound, experimenting in the record- ing studio and on tour. Alicia would be the first to tell you: It might look easy, but it wasn’t easy. So she understands the importance of sharing what she’s learned with a new generation. It’s what compelled her to be a judge on NBC’s The Voice, and it’s what brings her here. Songwriting has led Alicia down a path of self-accep- tance and self-discovery—a path

she hopes you’ll take, too. LEE CELANO/AFP VIA GETTY GRAMMYS: ALICIA KEYS; COURTESY IMAGES ARCHIVAL:

1  For more on how to read sheet music for piano, head to masterclass.com.

2 3  Charting two decades of artistic evolution (and a lifetime of spiritual growth) across Alicia’s seven studio

s a precocious teenage star, Alicia wasn’t afraid teuse in the mold of . to present herself as an artist—one who was Not one to be pegged, though, Alicia swerved, tapping thinking in the long-term. Two decades later, into the influences of both piano ballads (see: her rumina- Aher impressive discography reflects a lesson gleaned tive 2009 album, The Element of Freedom) and anthemic from the likes of and Nina Simone: Never make the ’80s- and ’90s-inflected pop and R&B (see: “Like You’ll same album twice. Never See Me Again” off 2007’s , as well as the Even today, Alicia’s debut LP—2001’s wise-beyond- triumphant, titular track from 2012’s Girl on Fire). its-years —has the power to make any In recent years, Alicia’s music has reflected changes listener erupt in goosebumps. She was 20 when the lead in her personal life and the world. The evolution heard on single, “Fallin’, ” dropped, but she’d been toiling away at her impassioned 2016 release, Here, found her exper- the album for years (she wrote its earliest song, “But- imenting with new sounds; it’s her most hip-hop-influ- terflyz,” at the age of 14). The record is virtuoso piano, enced album to date, with a bold, compassionate mes- city-kid swagger, and the soulfulness of her musical he- sage of justice and peace. Songs like “Blended Family,” roes—Marvin Gaye, , and, yes, her “homie” “The Gospel,” and “She Don’t Really Care_1 Luv” eloquent- Frédéric Chopin—remixed to a beat all her own. ly place her own experiences—marriage, motherhood— You get a lifetime to make your first record, and then within a larger social context while adapting to a new about a year—if you’re lucky—to make your second. sonic palette of driving beats, sparser soundscapes, and Alicia elegantly sidestepped a sophomore slump with bluesy vocals. ALICIA, released in September 2020, picks 2003’s The Diary of Alicia Keys. The album explored up that thread and runs with it. The album features some the sensuous textures of neo-soul and what she calls of the most political songs of her career (“Perfect Way to “retro-futuristic” production styles; she was pegged as Die,” “Good Job”) while making space to collaborate with a modern-day torchbearer for the 1960s and ’70s, a chan- young artists like Sampha, Khalid, and Tierra Whack.

Developed in the mid-20th and develop rigorous habits sensitivity, discipline, and century by the Japanese through repeated practice endurance. He gets a beauti- violinist Shinichi Suzuki, the and sequential introduction ful heart.” Suzuki Method is an educa- to classical compositions. tional system that teaches Suzuki’s philosophy also children how to play music focuses on music’s ability Learn the fundamentals with the same ease that they to inspire the spirit. “If a of music—from scales learn to speak their native child hears fine music from and chord progressions language. Practitioners start the day of his birth and to the difference between early—Alicia was around six learns to play it himself,” he melody and harmony—at years old when she began— once wrote, “he develops masterclass.com.

4 The Essential Alicia Playlist Soaring ballads and hip-hop flare, soulful grooves and social commentary—it’s all here

“FALLIN’ ” reconsiders materialism in the wake handful of top 10 charts, further Now her signature song, “Fallin’ ” of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the solidifying Alicia’s star power and introduced the world to Alicia. The death of R&B luminary Aaliyah. technical prowess. seminal arrangement showcases her vocal range, lyrical maturity, and “YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME” “LIKE YOU’LL NEVER early neo-gospel–infused sound. Another top-ten hit, another Grammy SEE ME AGAIN” winner. This lovelorn treat, produced A soothing piano riff helped this “A WOMAN'S WORTH” by and featuring a pre- sumptuous track skyrocket up the The tango-style earworm and fame on background R&B charts, where it bumped anoth- second single of Alicia’s career vocals, ensured Alicia’s second er of Alicia’s songs, “No One,” out of broke into single digits on the Hot album got the music world buzzing. the No. 1 spot. 100 thanks in no small part to an award-winning music video. “DIARY” “NO ONE” Featuring original instrumentals by “No One” topped Billboard’s Hot “IF I AIN’T GOT YOU” ’90s neo-soul act Tony! Toni! Toné!, 100 for five weeks straight and the Winner of one Grammy Award and “Diary” was certified gold, garnered Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for nominated for a second, the song a Grammy nom, and cracked a 10 weeks. It was the most-heard

SONGS IN A MINOR (2001) THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS (2003) AS I AM (2007) THE ELEMENT OF FREEDOM (2009) GIRL ON FIRE (2012) HERE (2016) ALICIA (2020)

5  radio song of 2007. Within a year, it ranked among the bestselling singles of all time, earning a pair of Grammy Awards.

“SUPERWOMAN” The super-catchy, organ-driven ode to female empowerment became the theme song for the WNBA’s 2008 season.

“UN-THINKABLE (I’M READY)” The longest-running No. 1 single of 2010—it sat atop Billboard’s R&B away the hip-hop swagger and dou- “BLENDED FAMILY chart for a solid three months—was bled down on Alicia’s warm, intimate (WHAT YOU DO FOR LOVE)” propelled by a hit music video that piano playing. It was a hit overseas, Exploring coparenting and modern- explored interracial relationships charting at No. 4 in the U.K. day familial dynamics, this collab- and was recognized at the NAACP oration with Gen Z megastar A$AP Awards. “GIRL ON FIRE” Rocky was both a conversation Building on “Try Sleeping With a starter and a top 10 track on Bill- “TRY SLEEPING WITH Broken Heart,” the smash hit served board’s Adult R&B. A BROKEN HEART” as the centerpiece for a three-song The song peaked at No. suite (alongside a stripped-down “GRAMERCY PARK” Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop version, plus a remix with Nicki Mi- Alicia performed this meditative chart—Alicia’s 13th top 10 hit of the naj) that showcased Alicia’s mastery groove—equal parts soul, gospel, and decade—but also marked a par- of musical arrangements. folk—during her weeklong, socially ticular moment in her career: Once distant concert residency on The Late

enamored of Prince’s synthy power “HOLY WAR” Late Show. (Special guest star Bebe ballads, Alicia was composing all- A gem of minimalist composition, Rexha sang the second verse.) time classics of her own. “Holy War” picked up where Alicia’s remarkable poetic recital at the “ME X 7” “ MTV Video Music Awards left off, A collaboration with 25-year-old (PART 2) BROKEN DOWN” weaving a lyrical tapestry that Tierra Whack (née Dizzle Dizz), this This sequel-slash-companion to Jay- echoed one of her musical heroes, multilayered labor of love about Z’s “Empire State of Mind” stripped Marvin Gaye. the labor of love proved once again that Alicia’s take on contemporary sounds remains relevant and unique.

“” Released in June 2020, weeks after police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd, the song quickly became a protest anthem for the reinvigorated Black Lives Matter movement.

For more on how to write, structure, and record a great song, head to masterclass.com.

SONGS IN A MINOR (2001) THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS (2003) AS I AM (2007) THE ELEMENT OF FREEDOM (2009) GIRL ON FIRE (2012) HERE (2016) ALICIA (2020)

6 Alicia came of age surrounded by different cultures, and a career spent touring and traveling has only led to more discovery. Still, some places have particularly special meaning to her, leaving an outsize impression on her musical journey.

> Alicia needed permission from > In a city with no shortage of musical > When Alicia first traveled to South Prince to cover his “How Come U tributes, it takes a lot to stand out. Africa, in 2003, she witnessed the Don’t Call Me Anymore,” one of her Gotham’s buzzy artistic energy is a devastation wrought by the AIDS all-time-favorite songs (the clas- recurring theme in Alicia’s body of epidemic firsthand. It inspired her to sic appeared on her debut album, work, heard on exceptional tracks embrace activism and cofound her Songs in A Minor). This meant trav- like “She Don’t Really Care_1 Luv” first nonprofit, . eling to the icon’s private Minnesota and “Gramercy Park” as well as her The organization provides finan- estate, known as Paisley Park, to es- feature on Jay-Z’s New York-centric cial and programmatic support to sentially audition her version of the anthem, “Empire State of Mind.” community organizations in Kenya, tune for him. Thankfully, Prince gave Rwanda, India, and elsewhere, at last her his coveted seal of approval. count serving more than 150,000 people a year. PAISLEY PARK: CARLOS GONZALEZ/STAR TRIBUNE VIA GETTY IMAGES; NEW YORK: CHRISTOPHER CZERMAK/UNSPLASH; SOUTH AFRICA: BFG IMAGES/GETTY CZERMAK/UNSPLASH; TRIBUNE VIA GETTY CHRISTOPHER IMAGES NEW YORK: IMAGES; GONZALEZ/STAR CARLOS PARK: PAISLEY

7  From Sandra Bland

Michael Brown

STRENGTH, POWER, FEELING Finding a voice for social change

In her autobiography, Alicia says she studied “every note” of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On. “It blew me away each time I heard it. I admired how artists like Gaye and Nina Simone stayed in tune with their political times, how their music reflected and defined the spirit of change. I dreamed of one day doing the same.”

Alicia’s latest album finds her doing just that, and many of its most powerful songs address injustices. “Perfect Way to Die,” a heartbreaking ballad inspired by the deaths of Michael Brown and Sandra Bland, confronts police brutality and the unlawful killing of Black people in America through > Great are always look- > Grappling with the pressures of poetic storytelling; “Good Job,” ing for new locales to nurture their fame, Alicia made her first pilgrim- which Alicia penned in Egypt creative energy. Alicia is no differ- age to Egypt in 2006. She’s returned (where she witnessed children ent. One of her favorite recent dis- many times since, and a recent trip busking for change) sets out to re- mind disenfranchised people that coveries has been the serene desert there inspired her to write the song they matter. The song became an landscape of Joshua Tree, California, “Good Job” for ALICIA. The country anthem during the COVID-19 pan- where she spent time working on now represents, as she writes in her demic, along with the triumphant ALICIA and celebrated her wedding memoir, , space for her single “Underdog,” the latter of anniversary with husband Swizz “spirit’s deep rejuvenation.” which resonated with the frontline Beatz. In an interview, she compared workers whom Alicia addresses directly in the song’s lyrics: “Keep the experience to being “on Mars or on keeping on at what you love/ something because it just felt…oth- You’ll find that someday soon

JOSHUA TREE: JOSHUA EARLE/UNSPLASH; EGYPT: SPENCER DAVIS; ILLUSTRATIONS: SARAH DAVIDSON ILLUSTRATIONS: SPENCER DAVIS; EGYPT: EARLE/UNSPLASH; JOSHUA TREE: JOSHUA erworldly.” enough, you will rise up.” > Best known as the frontwoman of 4 Non Blondes, Perry’s prolific behind- Play, Lady, Play the-scenes work—as both a song- writer and producer—helped define The future of music production is female—and so is its past modern as we know it. She’s worked on hit songs with P!nk, Producing has empowered Alicia to SUZANNE CIANI Christina Aguilera, and, yes, Alicia. shape her own sound and allowed > Ciani has been described as her to see firsthand the inequalities “America’s first female synth hero.” ESTER DEAN within an industry historically domi- In the 1970s, her glistening, other- > Dean has written and produced so nated by men. But plenty of women worldly, self-produced composi- many hit songs that she’s known have made space for themselves tions introduced many people to as the Song Factory. She’s worked behind the recording console— the then-unfamiliar sounds of the extensively with Katy Perry and here's a sampling. Buchla . The pop-and- , received a Grammy pour audio in Coca-Cola ads and nomination for her production work SYLVIA ROBINSON those GE dishwasher bleeps? She on ’s 2010 album, Loud, > Two influential rap songs—the made both. and maintained a successful acting Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” career, notably appearing as Cyn- and Grandmaster Flash and the SYLVIA MASSY thia-Rose in the Pitch Perfect films. Furious Five’s “The Message”— > Massy has shaped the pummeling were produced by Robinson. An hard-rock sounds of bands like Sys- CATHERINE MARKS accomplished R&B artist in her tem of a Down and Tool as well as > Working out of the Assault & Battery own right, she brought the sound the Red Hot Chili Peppers. She’s also studio in London, the pianist turned of the streets into the mainstream worked as an engineer alongside alt-rock producer has worked with during the late 1970s. Hence her Rick Rubin on Johnny Cash’s Gram- an eclectic group of artists like the

nickname: The Mother of Hip-Hop. my-winning 1997 album, Unchained. Killers, Wolf Alice, and St. Vincent. FILMMAGIC/GETTY

TOKIMONSTA > Los Angeles–based DJ and producer Jennifer Lee (a.k.a. TOKiMONSTA) stays busy. Beyond making her own music (her acclaimed 2017 album, Lune Rouge, was nominated for a Grammy), she also produces for other artists and remixes tracks by everyone from Beck and to Lil Uzi Vert.

9  FATIMA AL QADIRI > Born in Senegal and raised in Ku- wait, Al Qadiri produces experimen- tal dance music. She’s a member of the Future Brown production collective, created an alter ego Bach (Shaneera) for a concept album exploring queerness in Arab culture, and recently composed and pro- duced the score for the acclaimed French film Atlantique.

WONDAGURL > In 2013, one of Ebony “Wondagurl” Oshunrinde’s beats wound up on Debussy “Crown,” a song on Jay-Z’s Magna Chopin Carta Holy Grail. The Canadian- Nigerian producer has since racked up production credits with , Travis Scott, Rihanna, Mariah has played a vast quantity Carey, and others. of notes and more notes, it Clavier is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” Want to learn more about synthe- sizers, music sampling, and how Caviar CLAUDE DEBUSSY to set up a home recording studio? These classical composers have Provenance: Paris, France Head to masterclass.com. informed Alicia’s distinctive Years active: 1880–1918 approach to piano Influential compositions: “Clair de Lune”; “La Mer”; Pelléas et Mélisande JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH In his own words: “Works of art Provenance: Leipzig, Germany make rules; rules do not make Years active: 1708–1750 works of art.” Influential compositions: Brandenburg Concertos; ERIK SATIE Goldberg Variations Provenance: Paris, France In his own words: “The final aim Years active: 1887–1925 and reason of all music is nothing Influential compositions: other than the glorification of God Trois gymnopédies and the refreshment of the spirit.” In his own words: “I have never written a note I didn’t mean.” FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN Provenance: Warsaw, Poland MAURICE RAVEL Years active: 1830–1849 Provenance: Paris, France Influential compositions: The Years active: 1893–1937 Nocturnes, op. 9; Piano Sonata Influential compositions: no. 2 in B-flat Minor, op. 35 “Boléro”; “Gaspard de la nuit” (“The Funeral March”) In his own words: “Music, I In his own words: “Simplicity is feel, must be emotional first the final achievement. After one and intellectual second.”

10 have one of the first Höfner 500/1 violin basses that we used on Alicia’s album As I Am. I have an old EMI TG- 12345 console. I have a 1937 Gibson EH-150 guitar amp, which people used to carry around because they could plug their guitar and micro- phone into it, pull up to their gig, and sing. We probably have 20 different drum kits and 50 different snare drums and 100 different cymbals in our arsenal, and they all sound differ- ent. But Alicia and I are into the brand-new gear, too, like the whole Dave Smith keyboard collection.

What’s one of the hardest instruments you’ve had to track down for Alicia? When we were recording “No One,” we used a plug-in for 149 bucks. But then I had to source the real key- board for her to perform live— a Jupiter-8, which I found on eBay.

What’s the vibe when Alicia comes into the studio to record? Sometimes she has a vision for an album: the sonic picture of each song, the arrangement, the writing Mix and production, the musicians that we’re going to bring in to comple- ment the tone she’s hearing in her head. But then sometimes there’s no Master expectation—when we start, we Meet Ann Mincieli, cofounder of Jungle City Studios in don’t really know what the end result and Alicia’s most trusted producing partner is going to be. At the end of the day, there are no rules.

You’re in the studio with Alicia all You and Alicia are big-time Where does Alicia’s inspiration the time. How did you two meet? gear collectors, and your studio, come from when she’s creating I started working with Alicia way Jungle City, is a wonderland of on the fly? back at Quad Studios in 1998. I was cool finds. What are you looking All of the elements in the room can an assistant engineer, and she was for when you’re sourcing different be part of the inspiration behind the an up-and-coming artist. We built instruments? song. Sometimes a particular key- our partnership and collaboration When I look for rare gear, I scour ev- board inspires a lyric or a melody. over time—the type of producer that erything from Guitar Center in Los Our gear, whether it’s microphones, she was was the type of engineer I Angeles to Vintage King to eBay. We guitars, amps, pedals or key- wanted to be. We both saw making have old , which the Beat- boards—from Wurlitzers to Rhodes

sounds as an art. les made famous back in the day. I to Moog —they all have ANN MINCIELI COURTESY

11  different sounds. They’re all crayons in the crayon box. It’s very granular, down to the type of guitar strings The Private that are on the guitar. Some days she sits behind her piano and writes Collection a song by herself, other times there are five different producers on a Ann shares some of the equipment that track and she uses elements from all she and Alicia can’t live without of them. Some songs take a day, some songs—like “Love Looks Bet- ANN’S TOP PICKS ter”—can take six years. She’s kind of like Prince in that she’s always 1. Pro Tools 3. Shure SM7B 5. Apollo Twin “This digital worksta- Microphone Interface working on music. We might be tion is the gold stan- “The best $400 mic “This interface comes working on songs right now that are dard in recording and you could ever buy.” with a great Universal for two albums from now. mixing.” Audio Digital (UAD) 4. Native Instruments plug-in production How does that philosophy—of find- 2. Ableton Push 2 Komplete bundle. It also has a “A great workstation “This package offers mic preamp for vocals ing the perfect instrument or musi- to learn sequencing virtual keyboards and built in and Direct Input cian for the job—affect the final and how to structure plug-ins. Alicia’s piano (DI) built in for instru- product? music.” plug-in comes in this ments.” One reason why we love old records package, too—it’s is because musicians sat in a room called Alicia’s Keys.” together and played. There’s magic when everyone gets in the room. ALICIA’S TOP PICKS That’s the beauty of Alicia: She is so retro-futuristic in that she still has 1. Alicia’s Keys program and sequence infamous bass that musicians come in. And when Alicia “This pocket piano cur- with.” Paul McCartney made rently sold through Na- famous.” has a musician come in, she doesn’t tive Instruments is one 4. UAD Plug-in Bundle copy and paste his part throughout production tool that we “This incredible plug-in 7. Various Vocal the song. She makes him play it use in the studio and bundle can be used as a Chain Items over and over because the human on tour.” production tool and for “Neve 1073 mic pre- swing can never be duplicated. The recording and mixing. amps, Telefunken V76 2. Moog Voyager It has some of the best vintage mic preamps, tempo changes, the part has more “The Electric Blue Edi- EQs, compressors, and Tube-Tech CL 1B com- soul, the song can breathe. That’s tion is great for many fun analog tape plug- pressors, Urei 1176 why there’s so much emotion behind synth bass sounds.” ins all in one.” compressors, Neve her music—it’s raw and it’s real. 2254 vintage com- These days you can identify some 3. MPC 5. CP-70 Electric pressors, and anything of the sample packs and drum “It’s the best drum Grand Piano Solid State Logic con- machine you can buy. “This electric piano soles—they make in- loops that people are using, but Experiment with all was made famous by credible mic preamps you don’t have to be robotic just the different models to Prince on ‘Purple Rain.’ and mixers for your because you’re getting a sequencer. figure out which one It was also used by on home studio setup as Make your own sound, hit your own works for you—Alicia U2’s album The Joshua well as for professional drums, distort your mic preamps. started with a 3000, Tree.” studios.” and now she uses Do the things that are going to help many different models 6. Höfner 500/1 8. Ampeg you find your style. depending on what Vintage Violin Bass B-15 Bass Amp she is working on. The (1956) “Vintage for not only swing of this drum “Alicia can’t leave home bass but for my Moog For a guide to different pianos machine and the user without it. It’s one of synth as well when I and their unique parts, head to interface make it fun to the first models of the want to use an amp.” masterclass.com.

12 Beyond the Music A prolific recording career hasn’t kept Alicia from pursuing other creative endeavors, from movies and TV to book publishing and voice-over work. Here is a short list of her most surprising nonmusical pursuits

Empire > Alicia por- trayed ficti- Five tious pop star > Alicia’s direc- > Part journal, part song- Skye Sum- torial debut book, this expansive mers—and saw her helm lyrical collection appeared sang the an- a segment of on them “Power- the Lifetime Best Sellers list. The title is The Backyardigans ful”—during a anthology borrowed from her poem > Alicia lent her talents to two-episode series, which “Love and Chains,” which a playful Nickelodeon arc on Fox’s told stories includes the line “I don't animated children’s series acclaimed about living mind drinking my tears for as the voice of Mommy hip-hop with breast water.” Martian. drama. cancer.

2004 2006 2008 2011 2015

Smokin’ Aces The Secret Life of Bees Stick Fly > Alicia made her big-screen > Diving into the world of > Lydia R. Diamond’s play, debut playing an assassin dramatic acting, Alicia about competing broth- in this stylish Las Vegas performed in Bees, adapt- ers in a wealthy Black action flick, costarring ed from Sue Monk Kidd’s family, opened on Broad- alongside Ryan Reynolds, bestselling , and way with Alicia billed as Andy García, and Ben received an NAACP Image both a coproducer and Affleck. Award nomination. composer.

13  Grammy Awards > After amass- ing 15 gilded gramophone trophies of her own, Alicia took over hosting duties of the TV event to great acclaim.

2019 2020

More Myself Work It > Alicia’s raw and candid > Alicia coproduced this autobiography was the coming-of-age flick about first release from Oprah a spirited North Carolina Winfrey’s publishing dance team through her imprint, An Oprah Book— production company, AK and Alicia’s first foray into Worldwide. According to the world of audiobook director Laura Terruso, it narration. topped Netflix’s Top 10 the week of its premiere.

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