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India.Arie Creating Moments Moods and Music.and Musiq
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A Beautiful Surprise

Im not your average girl.... begins the hook to a revolutionary and necessary (says Oprah) song titled Video (Acoustic Soul 2001) by India.Arie. The revolution inspired a movement the fertilization of a brand that represents women of purpose and passion Cocoa Cure Magazine. Upon hearing this news India released a surprising and flattering wow and promised to dedicate her performance of that song to Cocoa Cure on stage during her tour stop in NYC on May 1. Unfortunately India forgot to give the shoutout but her willingness and interest in continuing our conversation from our meeting the week before was purely honorable pleasing and quite sweet. But this is precisely what you would expect from the musician the artist the spirit who is India.Arie. Meeting expectations is desirable but embracing the unexpected is uniquely extraordinary. India is extraordinary and beautiful inside and out.

An Amazing Experience

Fans expect India to give a great show. In her words Lets create a moment like no other. Moments can never be duplicated and you cant get them back so any moment every moment should be special. India created very special moments onstage including a very spiritual moving a capella rendition of her song God is Real from her 2002 album Voyage to India. The rendition included sung testimonials from her backup singers and her lovely mom. It was a joyous feeling and that moment surely could not be recreated for the loads of fans who were privately testifying their own experiences with God at the Manhattan Center that evening. But hopefully they were able to share and give inspiring testimony for those who missed it. Onstage: long flowing bright and colorful dresses. Offstage: dark jeans trendy tee and a crop jacket. Her hair is majestically wrapped in fabric. India is all smiles gracious and feminine in whatever she wears.

Obamas First Dance

Music with beautiful rhythm and smooth delivery receives great reception. India.Aries songwriting specifically her tributes and dedications to others who inspire her have the ability to touch the listeners inner core. Songs like Wonderful (Conceptions: Musical Tribute To Stevie Wonder 2003) her dedication to Stevie Wonder is a perfect blend of honor love and admiration. And her song Good Man (Voyage to India 2002) which she tells me she wouldve sung for President Obama and First Lady Michelles first dance is the ultimate song of reverence. That song completely expresses what it means to be two people in the world who want to do whats best for their relationship whats best for their children and whats best for the world India explains. India spoke of the song and its relevance to the soldiers responding to 9/11: Its one of those songs that finds its own way. The song is about what it means to lose a loved one the affect it can have on children and the person whos left behind. It sounds like its directly related to September 11 but I didnt really have the nerve to sit down and write a song for September 11. That song just found its own way.

Her Music Her Way

Popular music including HipHop sometimes influences the listeners thinking and fills their minds with messages that could be considered regressive. India.Arie is aware that her music which is enriched with spirituality harmony and love is overshadowed by what is played on the radio. She debuted on the scene when mainstream music was bodyrockin bootybumpin and lets admit misogynistic. Ive had moments in my life when it was more or less difficult to reconcile that I couldve made a lot more money if I just did this thing over here...but in my quiet moments when Im just writing my songs and Im producing and you know not being in the music industry and just being an artist before I give it to the music industry I always know whats true so I do that. She continues And sometimes it gets on my nerves but not in the way that makes me want to change who I am. And also I love making that kind of music and I know that most of the time especially more recently in my life as I grow older and care less what people think about me and trust more in Gods plan for my life...especially now in the last couple of years with this album Testimony: Vol. 2 I just trust that who the music is really for theyll get it and I dont have to try to push it down anyones throat and not try to compete with anyone. The spiritual messages are important for me. I comment that the sultry tone of her voice and the soothing melodies of her slow jams make some of her music quite sexy. She says shes surprised that more people dont pick up on that. The part thats seductive thats very feminine and womanly without being gross is important to me. I know for certain that it just feels right.... India elaborates. Id like to have more money. But more money is not always success. Now to be able to do what I want to do and still have commercial success is a great rare position.

Behind The Music

Music is best delivered when its from the heart and speaks to the listener in a profound and provocative way. India.Arie listens to a wide variety of music and often admits to idolizing singer/songwriter James Taylor. She acknowledges the feelings and emotions behind her own releases. Acoustic Soul (2001) is empowering and delivered messages of selfesteem to her newly acquired fans. Voyage to India (2002) shares the joy and happiness she was feeling from being in love. In Testimony: Vol. 1 Life & Relationships (2006) she is expressing the pain she was feeling from dealing with a broken heart. She says more specifically that it was about the death of the naivety in romantic relationships. And now with her current release Testimony: Vol.2 Love & Politics (2009) she says is clearly about authentic selfexpression. Its more than hope. Its the sound of a person really expressing their truth India states ....it says what I want to say sounds how I want it to sound and is packaged exactly what I want it to look like...it is me. It is more hopeful honest and authentic. Like other artists India has chosen to expand her music and its vision with an imprint label Soulbird. She hopes to release music into the marketplace that is thoughtful and beautiful and socially responsible. Her artist Antony David with whom she shared the 2009 Grammynominated single Words is an example of her vision for Soulbird.

Sexy Chocolate

Is India.Arie sexy Sexy is often equated with formfitting clothing sculpted bodies babymaking music. But not usually categorized in the same reference with India.Arie. She tells a story that might change the popular opinion about who or what sexy sounds like. Listen to Brown Skin (Acoustic Soul). The lovemaking record Ready for Love (Acoustic Soul