ALICIA

Released in tandem with her memoir More Myself, ALICIA represents Alicia Keys' most introspective and stylistically diverse work to date. Moving beyond the New York-centric grit of 2016's Here, this album reconciles her classical piano roots with a modern, genre-fluid sensibility. Recorded primarily at Oven Studios and Jungle City Studios, the project is notable for its high level of collaboration, enlisting a curated group of artists including Sampha, Snoh Aalegra, and Jill Scott to create a rich tapestry of vocal textures. The album's production, handled largely by Keys alongside Swizz Beatz and Ryan Tedder, emphasizes a 'less is more' approach, utilizing negative space and organic instrumentation. Critically, it was praised for its emotional intelligence and its ability to tackle sociopolitical themes (Perfect Way to Die) alongside personal liberation (So Done), marking a significant evolution in her discography from pop-soul superstar to a more experimental, progressive soul auteur.