Soul music comes from a musician’s core, it speaks to soul music lovers on a level that cuts through the pretence, soppyness and bravado often associated with genres like Pop, R&B and Rap.
But in today’s musical landscape, unfortunately, some people (usually born after 1990) don’t “get it”, they think soul music is for old people and believe it stopped being made after the 80s, but one person who definitely gets it and who has been making soul music well into this century is the relentlessly hard-working Alice Russell.
We somehow managed to steal some time with Alice towards the end of her most recent globe-trotting tour to find out what she’s been working on, what advice she has for aspiring musicians in today’s climate and to discover what she’s planning next – we were hoping it involved taking a breath – but we weren’t holding ours!
Tell us about your current project ‘To Dust’, what was the inspiration behind the title, the sound you’ve gone for and the content?
The title came from the title track “To Dust’ – I felt it most conveyed the feeling of something that had hovered over me for the time we made the album. The album has a darker feel due to some ‘issues’ I had to deal with that at the time seemed relentless, in fact the tail end reached up to this October and started in 2010!! The sound of the album reflected this mood also, it was a feeling of frustration and sadness but also I learnt a lot; the time we took to make the album due to a few hiccups along the way also paved the way to going back and reworking some of the songs and for the better I feel!
So ‘To Dust’ for me talks about bureaucracy that seems to take a lot of our headspace in this day and age and when all is said and done that bureaucracy means nothing, it is just paper and words. I also lost two friends in this time, and this only highlighted how petty these other problems were in the big scheme of things.
How and when did you first discover your love for soul music and what about it appealed to you when you decided to become a soul artist?
It was first from hearing some James Brown, Cameo and Aretha on the radio, it just blew my little head off. From there I just gravitated towards it, and later when I had some money I then started to dig for records. I can honestly say there was never one defining moment where I thought to myself “I want to be a singer”, it just happened and felt natural to follow that path, plus singing makes you feel goooood – it’s addictive.
…I think when you hit a wall maybe you just haven’t got anything you need to say, or communicate; best to sit back and leave it for a while then the ideas will come to find you.”
You seem to spend as much time performing abroad as you do at home, has the international music scene influenced your sound and creativity? If so, in what ways?
I think travelling always influences what comes out creatively in the studio. I have been lucky enough to travel to Colombia, to Japan, to Istanbul where I just got home from – I had some time so went up to see the sultan’s palace. It always prods the old noggin to think how the past has shaped today, good and bad. Travelling and snatching time to see the cities you travel to and soak up some of the history is great creative fodder!
What did your friends and family think of your love and pursuit of soul and being an artist?
They just keep my feet on the ground, I am just Alice to them, and I am lucky as they have all always been really supportive.
A lot of singers seem to hit a wall, a drought in creativity after an album or two, but your output is relentless, how do you maintain such a high level of productivity and creativity?
Aha yes the wall, yes it comes every now and then, sometimes after touring a lot you need to recharge to be able to unwind (if you know what I mean!?) and need to get some alone space to shift through the thoughts and ideas that may have sprung up on the road but you where too busy to develop. Also I think when you hit a wall maybe you just haven’t got anything you need to say, or communicate; best to sit back and leave it for a while then the ideas will come to find you. But it can feel weird. I feel my collaborations keep me fresh too, working with others always sparks new ideas and with this I have been lucky!
Remixes and collaborations are also a big part of what you do, what have been the standout collaborations so far and who would you love to work with or have a song remixed by in the future?
Well the most stand out collabs have been with TM Juke and Quantic. With remixes I like the ones where it is a new upcoming artists – young guns, you get a nice surprise then.
If you could perform with anybody at all, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Hermeto Pascoal, Thundercat and me in a room please!!! Hermeto because he is the walking talking moving embodiment of music, he makes music with his beard!! And Thundercat I just adore what he does with that bass, his harmonies mmmmm, I feel he is really a standout musician of our time!
A lot of aspiring artists lose their way chasing mainstream fame. You’re not a household name but you have a massive following, and earn a living from your art internationally – what advice would you give to young and aspiring acts who genuinely want to make music for a living?
Keep true to making the music YOU want to make, don’t get pushed around and value what you do. And take care of business, make sure you keep an eye on what others say they are doing on your behalf!!! But most important keep your truth in your music and that way you can never go wrong!
What are you working on and what’s next for you?
Well just coming to the end of a big stint of touring, I have a bit of time at home coming up and I intend to get in the studio and start hatching the new album!
That’s good to hear you’ll be taking a break! Thank you Alice.
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If you want to keep up-to-date with Alice and her upcoming projects/tours, check out: http://www.alicerussell.com
Free Alice Russell Track also here:
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Photos: Kenny McCracken and Steve Glashier
