Sometimes you just have magic moments. You don’t exactly know that they’re coming, but when you’re on it…..you just ride it till you cain’t no mo! That’s my new philosophy… while you’re holding the bat make the swing count! Ha-ha. That’s how I’m on it!
So these new songs of mine have been so much fun! I’m all about the moment.
In the studio I’ve been having moments of clarity! When an emotion just fills me up and I’m about to burst…and the only way to get it out is that MOMENT! Sayin’ /singin’ it right there to the music and getting it off my chest. I can’t tell you there’s a better feeling in the world. It’s like a ray of light that frees me. It’s A magic moment that I never want to take for granted.
That sensation, that freedom, that honesty and desperate truth, THAT’S the thing about music that makes me SOAR….and I never wanna come outta the sky.

I’m new at this blog thing…. Now what happens?;-)

Check one of my favorite songs that I was BLASTIN’ today….

Peace and love
AK

[video] Prince-The Beautiful ones

What�s today? January 12th already??

Hey Yall! Just checkin in on the blog side from the studio. I was driving to the studio today and heard this song I hadn�t heard before, and one of the lines was �They don�t play love songs on the radio anymore�. I think the artists name was Lena?? I really liked that line�. It�s true�. ya know? What love songs are on the radio that either make you want to fall in love? happy to be in love? or reminisce of a good love? That�s kinda crazy! How are we suppose to know what love is if we never see it, or hear it, or feel it? I really wonder about that. Who teaches us about love like Marvin Gaye, or Even Jodeci?

Today I was listening to �Angel� by Marvin Gaye and I took it back to �Forever my lady� by Jodeci for good memories sake. Joints that give you CHILLSSSSSSS!!! Make the hair on the back of your neck stand up!!
Do you think people aren�t in love the same like they use to be? and if we had more love songs do you think that we would have more love in the world? It�s got me thinking�.
I�m not sure about the answer but I do know that I need alittle more love songs in my life, songs with alittle more romance, alittle more feeling� a lot more CHILLS�. so we can feel the love!

I�m about to jet back into the studio�..I�m working on something that I want to give you goosebumps�. So far It�s called �Like you�ll never see me again� I�m feeling the zone.

[musica] Forever My Lady- Jodeci

Big Shout To all my folks for all the birthday wishes and love sent to me on my BDAY!!!! Thank you so much for thinking of me. A super Big Up to Ann for writing such a fly A-Z for me�.I�ve been officially alphabetized!;-)

I am so damn tired! Guess that�s what happens when you try to extend your birthday over the course of 2 days! Did I do it or did I do it!!?? I def had a tremendous birthday and was able to truly celebrate and appreciate life, love, family, health and good times!

Now, I�m gonna go head to the sheets and the Big Pillow so I can get back right! hehe�.

In the meanwhile�. Someone who has rocked with me since the begginning (another Big Up!) gave me this ill early interview prince did when he was just getting started, and since I�m on such a prince kick right now I wanted to share it with ya.
Here�s part 1.

Tell me what you think. Do you think he sounds different? Meaning do you think his mentality was dfferent at this time when everything was so fresh and new? or does he have that same swagger then and now?

We�ll be talking soon�. and you know this man!!

Much love
4eva!
Ak

To hear it, click play now below�

[audio] Prince Early Years Interview [14:52m]

Along the way, sometimes, you are able to meet some really good folks. Harold Lilly is one of em! This brother is one of the truly talented. We wrote together on �You Don�t Know My Name�, �Unbreakable� and some songs on the new album!
The writing process for me is really sensitive. It�s gentle, it�s delicate, It�s vunerable, it�s special, it�s fun! But the most important thing for me is to really be able to be free enough to say what is truly felt without hesitation. Rare is it to find someone you are compatible with and comforatble enough with to let your ideas flow and who it is easy and natural to share some of the private things about your life that makes a great song. I don�t write with many people because of this very reason but I�m lucky enough to find that in a couple of people. K being the main one, but Lilly is also another person that I really enjoy rockin with!
This footage is just one late nght in the studio, I suddenly decided to interview him. He has such an interesting story and I love finding out more about special people who you don�t often hear much about. I wanted to be the interviewer this time so I asked him everything I wanted to know�
It takes a while to load but hang in there��and don�t mind that piece a hair stickin out from the back of my head;-)
Check it out!

[video] KK Lounge – Harold Lilly Interview [12:27m]

I�m sitting here lost in the music. Realizing how much I love the process of making an album. It�s like my own personal time, where I�m actually allowed and encouraged even to really delve as deep as I can go down inside the trappings of myself and discover the deepest covered emotional baggage;-) and dig it out! so that we can all know that we�re all strange and deranged and beautifully human together so no one feels bad about it!;-) Life it is! and we all are blessed to go thru it, in all it�s many versions, cause when the opportunity to really live it has gone, there is nothing more we will miss but the chance to live a give-it-all-you-got-kinda-life.

Anyway, this is all way to rhetorical, but I�m feeling great lost at sea.

Me and K just finished putting a KILLING on this song called �Superwoman� Man I wish we could put up little snippets of the new songs. but sadly, we�re just gonna have to have you wait a little longer�..

In the meanwhile�.Here are some pictures of me, K and Steve in the lab�..Lost in the music

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/building.jpg

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http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/the-magic.jpg

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Reading the comments on the ask Alicia.
Giving away secret overseas ID scandals and such LOL!
What other funny stories or memories do you have to tell me? You got me going now�.

Hope this finds everyone feeling good. I tell you what, I�m feeling great! And I�m thankful for that. My angel I was telling you about on AK.COM is carrying me and taking me somewhere unbelieveable. I can feel it! AND it�s about to be warm soon! I can�t wait for some heat! I need some sun.

Anyone graduating this year? Its close to that time�.

BTW: aren�t we about ready for another blog from the one and only master blogger ANN (E) with no E???�.. (No pressure or anything ann)

Holla!

DISCLAIMER: I know these flicks are small as hell, but hey! I can�t figure out to make em bigger, and it�s probably better that way anyway! So don�t go tryna fix it!

ENJOY!

___ Sorry Alicia I had to Hook You Up, – Krucial

Now Enjoy!

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/the-beautiful-harpsi.jpg

This is the BEAUTIFUL Harpsichord that I played last week on the some songs for the album. CAN YOU BELIVE HOW HOT THAT LOOKS?? I love it because I think of all the composers that composed on something like this before pianos exsisted. I love the history of it all. It has a very gansta sound. Hypnotic�.wait till you hear it.

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ak-and-mb-and-the-keys.jpg

This is me and Mark Batson. This boy is BAAAADDDD!! We�ve been rockin on some craaazzzy music. We both play keys so we had the ULTIMATE set up with the Harpsichord, the grand piano, and the organ. We had to take a flick stuntin! LOL!

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/cutie-pies-studio.jpg

I�ve always been around alot of guys�
Mark Batson, K, Big C and Steve�.Cutie Pies Chillin in the lounge. Gheah!! (lucky me )

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/k-marc-me-and-steve.jpg

A GREAT night of music in the studio� WHAT!
(but why did I wear that short shirt underneath that sweater? not cute! LOL! Thank goodness it�s to small to see anyway!!)

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/k.jpg

K so focused and fresh!

More coming soon�.

I am officially the blog LEADER at this point! Gheah baby! Who loves you!??

Check it out�

They prob will be small as hell again till K makes em bigger for me�LOL!

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ak-at-the-mic.jpg

Me contemplating�.. wonder what I was thinking??

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Me breakin it down� Go Lellow, go lellow, go lellow! haha

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There I go thinking again�.could be dangerous.

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K and ANN (with no E of course!) Theres no I in team�..;-) my folks! Nothin but love for two very talented people.

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Awww damn! I can�t figure out how to turn this picture around�.but this is the one and only fantastic Linda Perry, Rockin that guitar! She�s one of a kind and our collaborations are out of this world!

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/pedals.jpg

Oh well, Another sideways flick�but I�ve been experimenting A LOT with different pedals and sounds to put on my keyboards�.it opens up a whole new world. I�m lovin it!

http://www.krucialkeys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ak-and-marsha.jpg

This was obviously stripe shirt day�� and this is the BRILLIANT Marsha, one half of the group Floetry. She is truly gifted, we were in the action of writing the magic right here! I love rockin with talented people. OOOOO WEEEEEE!!

Are you feeling me??!! Or what!?;-)

By the way, Nanny Dairies was moved to September. I think the new release date is Septemer 7th. But that�s the studio�s thing, I think they waited so that it would have the right set up, can�t be mad at that.

The album is looking like it will be Late Sept/mid October too, but no worries! you�ll be hearing some music Late July/Aug and it is SOOOOOO worth that wait, that�s my word!

Much love to my fam�I�lll be back soon

Dammit Ann! Where�s your blog???;-)

Ladies and gentleman we are getting close! I�m here in the room now mixing one of my FAVORITE songs on the album �Like you�ll never see me again� I think I told yall about this the first night that I was working on it. It�s incredibly exciting to hear everything coming together to be ONE special body of work! I know you feel like I�m torturing you because you haven�t heard anything yet�.but when you hear this you are going to have so many of thoughts and feelings and things to say�I can�t wait to hear which ones are your favorites�

Anyway, I�m to amped for words! and I have to leave for a flight at 5am and still have to pack so I�m in trouble!�
So, I know this is kind of a cheap ass entry, and mad short, but I didn�t want to go to long without saying hey�.

I�ll write something longer soon

Mad love
Holla!

Just got finished reading all of your posts on Ann�s last Blog. (Big Up Ann!) she�s great aint she??
I love it here because it�s just this simple world were you can be who you really are, say what you want, feel what you feel and share it. I like that it is almost this underground world that people discover naturally.
Let me just take a few to thank you for those beautiful words that you wrote, memories that you shared, all the understanding and encouragement that you give that you�ve always given.
There are 2 things I pray for often (We�ll, I pray A lot, but as it relates to this�) The first thing is �something to say�. I ask for this because I think that if God has Given me the chance to speak to a large amount of people, I want to have something worthy to say, not just something that means nothing. The 2nd thing I pray for is �to ALWAYS have the courage to be myself�, Not only to be myself, but to be unafraid to do the unexpected, to do the things that are not always The �safe� thing, because those are the things that are the most enriching and the most exciting. I ask to be lead to where I belong and to truly be able to hear, listen and FOLLOW my instinct. I know that is how God speaks to us and I always want to listen. Anyway, not to get all heavy, but These are 2 things that are really important to me, I�m learning.
because of this I am unafraid, I am not worried, I am not concerned. Somewhere deep deep down I KNOW that everything that my life has been, has lead me to this moment now, As with all of our lives. And I KNOW that I have a destiny that Is to be fufilled, as we all do. and I KNOW that this Destiny is going to be something special and moving and tremendous. as we all have. And although I don�t know exactly how it�s all going to play out, I Do know that it is going to be more than I could EVER imagine. As it is with all of us! and so I put my heart into it, truly working hard and giving it my all and let GOD do the rest.

And that�s why I�m so DAMN excited!!!!LOL! Everywhere I go and everything I do I feel like I am holding this HUGE secret that I just can�t wait to let everyone in on�and that�s a great feeling! infact its a realy SLY grin!!

Here�s a little taste of the process of what hapens after most of the recording of an album is done:
SO for me, as you probably know by now, the recording process is really personal and intimate. Nobody is really involved in it except Me, K, Ann, the creative people I�ve been working with, Jeff, and peter (my A&R). Other than that it�s like this Big mystery. So when the album is close to done we start to get some of the important people at the Label to get into it. These are the people who truly support it and make sure they get behind it to make it win in everyway possible, like of course Clive, like the people who get you to know all about it and push it to radio, television and get the stores to buy it, the people who help to market and promote it. and thats just to name a few. Then, there are those same people not only in America but in Europe, in Asia, in South America�all over the world who get behind my record and help push it to the top. Then there are other people like the ones who own different magazines who help to review the album or give me the covers of magazines. There are the people who help sponser the album and the tours and any events we might need to do who have to hear the music and get excited about it. There are the DJ�s and radio programmers who need to get into it and support it from the beggining so that the music can be heard in many forums. and this is just a small bit of the proces of who is involved to make an great album be heard. And ALL these people have to be behind it and be excited so that they can help me to bring it to you in the biggest and best way possible. It�s an ineresting process, but it all lends to the overall feeling and enthusiasm of and for an album.

So Since you weren�t able to be in these listening sessions (yet, at least) let me at least tell you the names of the 6 songs we played:

1) Go Ahead
2) Superwoman
3) The thing About Love
4) Teenage Love Affair
5) Sure Looks Good To me
6) Like You�ll Never See me again

hmmmmmm mmmmmm��.Man oh man!!! do you see the sly grin????;-)

Everyday we get closer and closer and I�m humbly and gratefully looking forward to discovering with you, the journey it will take us on!

Much love, as always

Ak

I�m sitting here in the KK studio. We have about a week and a half and we�ll be TOTALLY DONE with this album!!!!! WHoohoooooo!!! Excitement is TO WEAK to describe how we feel!;-)
IT�s on baby! in a real way�

So I�m going down memory lane alittle bit
come with me�.

This woman Oumou Sangare is one of the most beautiful voices I�ve ever heard! Me and Erika Rose discovered her a couple of years ago while we were on tour. She�s from Mali and and her lyrics and music is sick! Although she sings in another language you can FEEL every word she says. When I was in Paris we were able to join together here and it�s one of my favorite memories.

[video]

It�s crazy how people can just take a phone and capture this moment. This was from last years Blackball! CRAZY! This year is going to be EVEN BETTER. We�re honoring BONO on OCT 25th. Get involved www.Keepachildalive.org

[video]

Dag!! I did this but Never saw it back�.Top Of The Pops in London.

[video]

I remember this day�Amsterdam, at the beginning of the diary Album. Amsterdam was one of the first european countries to really show me mad love�.so I love going there and showing my gratitude�.

[video]

I�m gonna find this dress and wear it while I rock that harpsichord I told yall about in that earlier post! lol!

[video]

THis is creative: but I tried to load it up and it said the video was no londer available;-( oh well, maybe it�s just me.

[video]

Hey Family�.

First let me say how exciting it�s been to see all of you at the different places I�ve performed! The love that you have for this album means SOOOOO much and has made it the #1 ALBUM IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!! I am so greatful and humbled and HAPPPPYYYY that we have connected again on a new musical level. This is just the beggining of all the ways that we will continue to connect but I must personally thank you SO much for all of your support and love and dedication from the beginning until now!

ohh wee!!! wait until the tour!!;-)

It�s also Good to see the board is alive and poppin�! Much love to Ann and all the KKFam!

So, I was in London and we did this live performance on the radio�They asked me to do a song of mine and one of another artist that I liked. The Fray Song �How To Save A Life� Is one of the most TOUCHING songs I�ve ever heard. The way that chorus says �Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend, Somewhere along in the bitterness and I would have stayed up with you all night had I known HOW TO SAVE A LIFE� THose words mean more to me than I could ever explain. So here�s my version of �How to Save A Life� that I did in London A couple of weeks ago that I wanted you guys to hear�..Much love and I�l be seeing you soon in a city near you.

Holla!!!!!

AK

[musica] Alicia Keys "How To Save A Life"

WOW!!! Its been a LOOONGGGGG time since I blogged!!!! Between all the promo for the record and the movie and prepping for the tour and award shows and superbowls and personal life stuff and mean MAN it gets hard to keep up!!;-) but here I am. Checking in!
I�ve been in Europe since the Middle of FEB. Got Crazy sick right before my tour started and was worried for a minute there! but I�m ALL better now and the tour is off and running!!! It�s pretty incredible out here. Putting the music into a beautiful show that really talks about my journey and what has brought me to this point. The vibe is SICK and I�m just really enjoying the growing process. Nothing worth something is easy but I am truly growing as a woman in every way and I seriously can tell everywhere I look.
The other thing that is Killing me is the time difference. I just can�t seem to get off of NY time. So I�m up every night until 4 and 5am. But hey! that�s kind of my time anyway. I�m adjusting to all the travel. I mean I travel a lot anyway, but a different city every night, and back to bus life took a little adjustment for me;-)
I�m feeling great though! I�m loving to see the Fam from Europe. Much much love.

So From the road I�ve been doing little video blogs just checking in, telling you about what�s happening, where we are and how everything�s going and we�re gonna put them up here so we can keep in touch more regularly.

I hope all is well with you and life is good. Take it one day at a time, and don�t be afraid to follow your heart, it leads you to your happiness.

Check back for that, so we can keep in touch

Talk soon

much love and gratitude for all that we share.

A.

Wow! it’s been forever hasn’t it?? Dont be mad;-). I’m out here WORKIN’ IT! In the past two weeks I’ve done 4 days of London, 2 days for the Video “Like You’ll Never See me Again both days with 4am start times that went way into the night and took so much of my energy to tell the story I wanted to tell…(WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THIS!!) that I just FELL in the bed at night. Then more promo on Monday and rehersal for My first New York Show at Spotlight live Which was CRAZZZYYY Fun! More rehersal on Wedensday for the Blackball honoring Bono on Thursday with Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stafani and the INCREDIBLE opera Singer Kathlen Battle!!! WOW! that was hard work but when I tell you how It was ABSOLUTELY the best Blackball YET!! Then Back on the plane to London for a couple of TV shows, off to Spain for one day, Italy the next and now back in London for some other shows and interviews and now Today one more day of madness and then I have the weekend off! Phew! I say all of that to say that I hope you understand why it is so hard to write during this time but I am doing SO WELL! Feeling healthy and strong and excited about the way that the WHOLE WORLD is responding to the music! Want to send YOU SO MUCH LOVE! becuase you are the ones that REALLY support and love me through it all and there is nothing more precious than that to me!

It’s about 915am in London now just sitting here getting ready. Looking out the window to foggy london. BUt its pretty still. The trees are changing and the sky’s electric blue is peaking through the clouds.

How have you been? Great I hope! Can’t beleive that the album is dropin in less than 2 weeks!!!! GHEAHHHHH!!! BABY!!!!!Eye-wink
Next week I’ll be in ATL and DC doing some special shows. IT’s been so much fun doing these shows and being able to play the new music for you before it actually is in the stores. Thats a special expereince! I was DEF Bummed about the bahamas show being cancelled but you can’t fight nature! and I’m SURE not trying to! lol! I hope anyone who has been affected by the Hurricane is ok and I’m praying that noone is hurt. We’re in the process of rearragning that show for another date so soon we’ll have an update on whats going on with that.

Other than that, just sitting here listening to Common and zonin’ and making sure that I am taking care of myself, smelling the flowers, and taking those litle moments to be GRATEFUL! because life is short and we have to live hard, Work hard, play hard, LOVE hard…

much love to you

just wanted you to know I”m HERE!!
NEVER far away

A.

I had to write you and tell you how EXCITED I am about this music and this album and how TOUCHED I am at how much you all have embraced it and loved it!

For this album to be NUMBER 1!!! is such a blessing! and I couldn’t have done it without you so I had to write and give you MAAAAADDDD love and respect for all of your support of me from day 1!

I’m sitting here right now, seasoning up some fish for thanksgiving.Eye-wink

My thanksgiving is going to be quiet and sweet with some of my closests…thats the way I like it. it’s so nice to be back home for alittle bit. I only have the weekend but that’s more than I thought that I had originally. Originally I only thought I would have thanksgiving day and then would have to leave on the friday, but now I have two more days. lucky me!Eye-wink

So what are your plans?

I’m about to head to the studio

But I just wanted to spread much love and send you beautiful wishes for a thanksgiving filled with love and people that bring you joy and fill you up!

I’ll write soon

A.

Happy Valentine’s Day FAM, today and EVERYDAY!

Love, Alicia

Wow! It’s officially been forever since I’ve written. It’s crazy out here on the road! I swear I try to do it all, but man! It’s HARD!! I hope you’ve at least been enjoying my shout-outs and check-ins from the road.

Its been insane out here! Felt like I flew through the arena tour in Europe, then jetted through the one in the US. Both were incredible experiences and really taught me about myself and new enviroments on the stage and how its possible to still be intimate even in front of 10,000 people. Wow! I just felt so blessed to be able to share, in that capacity, the love we all have for the inspiration of music.

Dear Diary,

Don’t feel neglected. I know it’s been alittle while since Ive written in you. But don’t think I haven’t been thinking about you.
Sometimes at night when I come in really late, I say lemme write in my favorite place..(that’s you by the way), then I sit down for a second (ususally on the bed) and well….next thing I know it’s morning

Nonetheless, happy Sunday diary, hope you are having a good day. Maybe even relaxing and able to enjoy the fact that it is another day and the limits are limitless:-)

I’m actually going n2 the studio @ 6pm to do a song that I love with all my heart. I can’t wait for yall to hear this album, this heart this soul.
I know you’re wondering if I feel pressure or if I’m nervous diary, but I feel Wonderful!, for some reason I feel like everything is in devine order. This whole time I’ve just been feeling God walking by my side, and I know that is leading me on the right path, so I’m just trying to listen to myself, because I know that is God talking to me…….

Well diary, did you know I wrote a song with the same name as you?
Ohhh man, wait until you hear it!

What else diary what else? So much.
Mostly just grindin to get everythng in place and ready to go, that’s why I’m not really able to write in you as much as i’d like, this aint one of those gigs that the hours you have to work are designated for you, with vacations and holidays planned in……so, I have to basically go all around the clock, but that’s why I thank God that I LOVE what I do. Because I Love to put my heart on my sleeve thru song, It relieves me, it fills me and there’s nothing more fufilling to me, than to hear what was in my head become tangible; a real thing that I can play and feel, and hear thru the speakers on my broken lil stereo I’ve had forvever……

Anyway, the title of the album is……….

coming to me, that’s the same way it happened to me with Songs in A minor,
It’s like one day or one night out of nowhere, but from somewhere always intended, it’s there and it’s perfect!
I think that might have happened last night…. so soon you’ll know.

So Diary, good to talk to you again
and give you alittle update on some things.
take care and stay close
you’ll never know when I need to get something off of my chest

stay true

love,
Keys

What’s the deal yall??
how’s thangs?

So you heard about the phone call thing huh?……I’m excited about that.
It’ll b too fly to talk one on one, say whatup, have a connection for a sec…I’m feelin the vibe, feelin the flow;-)

How’s your summer goin? Anyone been somewhere real special? or met someone, you cant get off your mind, or how bout a water park or great adventure or sumpthin?

My favorite one used to be Action Park! OHHHHHHHHWEEEEEEEEEEE…..I don?t know if that’s just a east coast thing or what, but man that was the best! Nothing but water rides ALL day, burnin hot, havin fun…Yea, and me a person who just might have been a mermaid in another life cause I LOVE water so much, that was a paradise for me.
I think I gotta go back bfo the summers ova:-)

Got another studio video were gonna put up, and this time it?ll be at a different location, I just shot some new flicks for the new calender that?s gonna hit for the tour and for anybody who needs to keep track of what damn day it is;-) LOL

and since we?re on the topic, lets set the story str8.
I know you?ve been wondering when EXACTLY is the album gonna be out….weeeeeeellllllllll

NEVA! I?m movin to South America and gonna just make my livin? diving for rare and unseen algae and rocks….

SIIIIKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

The album is bangin! and you will be hearing some new music by the beginning of September. The album will officially drop on NOVEMBER 18th!!! You get all the inside information cause we family.
I don’t know where u heard that it was coming out in September, or October but here?s the real deal! and U HEARD IT FIRST!!

Awwww man, I?m excited, and wait till we hit the road again!! Its on and poppin baby!!

Well, I just wanted to holla atcha give you some special info.
I?ll talk to you real soon….b on the lookout!

stay cool

love