Over the course of the past few weeks, I asked several friends what they thought of India.Arie. As usual, I did not hear any negative comments. Most said that the singer/songwriter was very good and they liked her music. Interestingly, everyone that I questioned was familiar with at least more than one of her songs. Yes, If you are a musician, you want not only fans but others to recognize your work. She has sold over 3.3 million records in the US and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album. Those accomplishments solidify the worthiness of a twenty year career effort.
As always I hope to reach the reader who may not be familiar with the artist, or have a limited knowledge of the musician. When that happens, I can initiate a good discussion about the music of the artist. Then, the discussion might move to the things that help of hinder the creative process. Therefore, the post for this week will consider the things that make India.Aire a worthy musician.
Earlier this year, India.Arie released a studio album titled Worthy. A perfect title for an album that seems to have legs like many of India.Arie’s other works. What I mean by that is there are songs on the album ready for radio plays for years to come. How did India.Arie get to this point in her career? Perhaps some clues can be found in her early life and career. Let’s take a look.
India Arie Simpson was born October 3, 1975 in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Joyce and Ralph Simpson. Her musical skills were encouraged by both parents in her younger years. Her mother is a former singer (she was signed to Motown as a teenager and opened for Stevie Wonder and Al Green) and is now her stylist. After Simpson’s parents divorced, her mother moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia when India was 13. Simpson had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, but her interest in the guitar while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. “When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs”.
Co-founding the Atlanta-based independent music collective Groovement EarthShare, her one-song turn on a locally released compilation led to a second-stage gig at the 1998 Lilith Fair. In 1999, a Universal/Motown music scout signed her and made an introduction to former Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg.
Arie released her debut album Acoustic Soul on March 27, 2001. The album was met with positive reviews and commercial success. “Acoustic Soul” debuted at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Within months, without the concentrated radio airplay that typically powers pop and rap albums, Acoustic Soul was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling 2,180,000 copies in the U.S. and 3,000,000 copies worldwide. The album was also certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry and platinum by Music Canada. The album was promoted with the release of the lead single “Video”. “Video” attained commercial success peaking at forty seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming her highest charting song in the region to date.
I remember when that song “Video” hit the airwaves. I thought it was one of the best songs ever recorded. The lyrics were an affirmation for people young and old who ever entertained self-doubt. The song also told us much about India.Aire. Coupled with her followup single Brown Skin, and we had a clear picture of a singer/songwriter who provided the entertainment world with the role model so sorely needed.
While Arie and the album were nominated for seven Grammy awards in 2002, they won no awards, losing in five of seven categories to Alicia Keys. She closed the ceremony with a performance of her song “Video”. Arie performed a duet with jazz singer Cassandra Wilson on the song “Just Another Parade” for her 2002 album Belly of the Sun. That night is still in my memory, not because I thought India.Arie should have won at least one Grammy, but because of the gracious manner Arie accepted the results. She genuinely respected the work of all other artists. That’s what this whole thing is about. There is room for many artists in the market of music, and we should embrace the differences without confrontation.
Arie followed the success of her debut on September 24, 2002 with the release of Voyage to India. It debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 109,000 copies and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with the RIAA certifying it Platinum. At the 2003 Grammy Awards, it won Best R&B Album, and the single “Little Things” won Best Urban/Alternative Performance. The song “Get It Together” was featured on many film soundtracks including Brown Sugar (2002) and Shark Tale (2004).
India.Arie knew something that many of us disappointed by her Grammy shutout the year before did not. She knew that more music was on the way, and the accolades would come her way in the near future.
Arie continued to deliver memorable music throughout the next years that also proved that she was quite worthy of all the attention from fans and critics alike. However, that word popped up once again, worthy. What does it mean?
Of interest is the word worthy can be used as both an adjective and a noun. The adjective “worthy” is defined having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in a specified way. It is easy to see how the definition would apply. However, the noun “worthy” is a person notable or important in a particular sphere. A person can be described as worthy or can be worthy themselves. Both definitions apply in this case.
Once again I listened to the album, and other India.Arie music. Not necessarily looking for differences, I found that like most artists she has evolved throughout her twenty year career. Most artists undergo such changes. Nevertheless, I hear more music that will stand the test of time. Therefore the music itself is “worthy” of attention from her continuously growing fan base. Yes, India.Aire is also a “worthy” artist filled with much musical talent.
I hope everyone is ready for more music!