Photo Credit: Benedict Evans Is it hard for you to stay true to yourself and not lose sight of who you are and your intentions as an artist in this musical climate and the music industry? How do you navigate all of that? I feel like all of that has to do with my internal growth, but also my artistic growth. I just say what I want to say and make them clean. I think there’s something to be said for just being able to say it without having to draw it out or make the songs really long. So growing as a songwriter, maturing as a producer, maturing as a person, maturing as a person who is able to be more self-expressed and self-defined… I think that’s what that album has - more of all that, which surprised me too. I’ve been around for 20 years now, and this is my eighth album. I feel like I’ve hit my goals on the head with the songs and the body of work, and that comes from just growing. I personally think the songs on Worthy are a more accurate reflection of what I was trying to say and achieve as a body of work and as each song. Being more confident and empowered makes the songs be more of the same. I think the thing that has changed is me and how empowered I am, how mature I am, and how confident I am. I don’t think my intention has changed, and, actually, my mission statement is to spread love, healing, peace, and joy through the power of words and music. Has your musical mission changed over the years, or your intentions with making music, and how is it reflected most in Worthy? If I had to put it into words, it is the conscious use of the power of words and music. You mentioned brands… how would you describe your brand? But it really ended up being a perfect choice.Ī post shared by indiaarie on at 7:47am PDT He brought so much to the set – so much of himself and so much order and manliness – he brought a lot to the project, and I thought it was an interesting choice. And then his presence made me really understand that he was the right person. I do see David and I as having matching brands, but I didn’t understand that we intersect brand-wise until we were on the set together, and we were just talking about stuff and I was like “we have a lot in common,” so having that experience made me understand how much he was the right person for the video. I didn’t want to get someone where I’d be like, “oh no, why did we get them?” I wanted them to be an interesting choice, but I also wanted it to be someone whose brand I could stand behind. I wanted someone who people knew, but I also needed it to be someone who I thought would be an interesting choice without being real far left. He would hold my hand and bow down every time “Queen, if you ever need me I’m here, I’m at your service.” When Lyriq couldn’t come, I just asked David because every time I would see him he would say “if you ever need me call, I’m at your service…” He would stay stuff like that every time. I had an idea of wanting David Banner in a different video. Then I wanted to cast my friend Lyriq Bent, but he was in rural Canada and couldn’t leave. It was glowingly clear that this was the one, and it ended up being Nandy McLean. (The chemistry came across so real people questioned if they were actually a couple.)
The video was a success, largely due to the on-camera chemistry between the two. Last month we premiered the Nandy McClean-directed video, which features an appearance from David Banner as her love interest. A song about a partner who is there day-in and day-out. Then there is “Steady Love,” a song that’s not about the highs or lows of a relationship, but about steadiness. There is a wide range of sounds and topics displayed on the album, from the uptempo single “ That Magic” to “ What If,” an ode to legendary activists and civil rights icons, from Martin Luther King Jr. The album, which was recorded in Nashville, features the singer diversifying her sound.
(Not to say there weren’t some struggles she has openly spoke about the time she almost left the music industry.)Įarlier this year, she released her eighth studio album, Worthy.
Since that time, she’s built and maintained a career based on consistency. It’s been almost 20 years since she gave us Acoustic Soul, an album in which she was nominated for seven Grammy Awards.