- Sun, 2006-02-19 09:38
With an astonishing voice far belying her tender years and an impeccable ear for melody, this 19-year-old North Londoner brings a breath of fresh air to the British pop scene. At a time when audiences are moving away from the manufactured and toward the genuine, Keisha meets this new demand perfectly. With Keisha White there's no mimed, over choreographed dance routines, just an amazing voice, cutting edge lyrics and great music. Keisha insists, “I want to bring back something that's been almost lost for so long - great singing, live instruments and first rate songs.”
I Like Music caught up with Keisha on Valentines Day to chat about her music, touring with the Black Eyed Peas and being recommended to star in Halle Berry’s Catwoman by Alicia Keys.
“I like music because… it’s a way of expressing your feelings and yourself. It sets the mood and it can control all your emotions.” Keisha White
ILM: Happy Valentines day Keisha. Any cards?
Keisha: Funnily enough I got up really early this morning so I don’t know yet.
ILM: Your debut album, 17 is out now, packed with timeless songs fusing classic and contemporary. Which track did you have the most fun laying down in the studio?
Keisha: It would have to be 'The Weakness In Me' because it was more musical and we hired in live musicians to come in play, so it was more interesting in terms of the music side of it. It’s a cover and the only one on the album so it was a chance for me to make the song my own.
ILM: That single is in fact your new one, 'The Weakness In Me' is out on Feb 20th, your own interpretation of Joan Armatrading’s song. Can you give us your own personal description of its vibe?
Keisha: Basically it’s a love song, but it can relate to all genres, whether you’re in a relationship, whether its family members, so it’s pretty much generalized. It’s just the voice and the music, that’s all it’s about. It’s just the main vocal, which is my vocal and then the lead piano carries the record throughout. Joan Armatrading, the original writer was a fantastic writer and there’s a lot of history behind her as well. She was one of the first black females in the UK to really blow up on the scene. It’s kind of bringing back a bit of history that not a lot of people know about it.
ILM: You were nominated for an Urban Music Award (Best R&B Act), wowed audiences across the UK whilst touring with Black Eyed Peas, Jamelia and Lemar. What was it like touring with BEP? Any funny stories?
Keisha: It was really cool. I was 16 when I did that and it was one of the best things I did. At that time I was doing something a bit different which was a bit edgier, so it all fitted.
ILM: And great experience.
Keisha: Without a doubt and the guys were fantastic. Fergie being the main vocalist was saying, ‘you’re really fantastic and have a great voice,’ so it was really overwhelming. But it gave me more of an insight to where I want to be. They all have their own individual characters, they’re mad. Exactly what you get with how you see them in videos is exactly what you get in real life. They’ve all got their own individual crazy thing about them.
ILM: What’s your current favourite song to play live and your favourite live experience seeing someone else play?
Keisha: My favourite song to play live is an Aretha Franklin cover called Giving Him Something He Can Feel. The reason why I like that is because it’s one of the songs I got signed on. So it’s quite sentimental really and brings back memories of when I walked into the label and sang for them.
ILM: And, when you walk out on stage singing it, it confirms that you’ve been signed, you’re touring, you’re doing it…
Keisha: Yeah, exactly.
Seeing someone else play. For me the last person I saw was John Legend. He was really fantastic. For me, I kind of compare myself to him, like the female version, because he’s quite raw and fresh.
ILM: You’ve said you want to bring back something that's been almost lost for so long - great singing, live instruments and first rate songs. I couldn’t agree more. What other artists doing that do you rate?
Keisha: There a lot of American people doing that. Such as Kanye West, Alicia Keys and other soul divas out there, but there’s not enough UK. I think at the moment, the UK urban/soul scene for females has gone a little bit quiet. Except for new artists coming out like Corinne Bailey-Rae, obviously Ms Dynamite’s and Jamelia, who’s gone a bit quiet. And I just think there needs to be more and people who are around for years and years. I think that’s something the UK has to master. You can’t be seen out of the public eye, you have to be there all the time and just work hard.
ILM: Talking of Alicia. You appeared in Halle Berry’s Catwoman movie- personally recommended for the role by Alicia Keys – how did Alicia Keys end up recommending you, and how was that experience of film?
Keisha: Alicia Keys was doing her European tour at the time so was unable to do the role. She was listening to all the singers that had come in, the vocalists and she apparently just fell in love with my voice and said, ‘she’s the girl, she has to do it.’ So I did. But I didn’t get to meet her. I did meet Halle Berry though and she’s a lovely person.
The film was good. It was kind of different to what I usually do. Usually when you’re recording it’s your song, but this was more of me getting into character and getting into a role, so doing it that way was kind of different. When I sing I’m myself not somebody else, so that was different.
ILM: You then caught the eye of US rapper Cassidy, which resulted in a collaboration on your last single on Don’t Care Who Knows. How was it working with Cassidy?
Keisha: He was cool. That was quite funny and he came over and was doing some promo in London. And I was only performing at a gig and he absolutely fell in love with my record and said he really wanted to be on it. It was so weird to have to someone so well established to want to work with me. And he pursued it until it came through. We collaborated and he did his thing. He was really cool to work with, a really nice guy – down to earth. I think the song worked because they were both off personal experiences and we just put it together.
ILM: What advice do you have for other musicians breaking into the industry?
Keisha: I would say for any young person who aspires to be a musician or singer or dancer, practice your craft. Practice all the time Don’t think that you’re good. You can always get better. When you have that mentality you can always strive for more, never settle. And always believe. In London you have music on your door step and can go to stage school, but if you come from somewhere where you don’t have that, anytime there is an opportunity that comes up, run for it. Keep believing and be hungry for it. Because, when you’re hungry for it, you’ll get it.
ILM: You’ve clearly got an incredible voice and write great lyrics and melodies. Please can you describe the Keisha White process of making such gorgeous music?
Keisha: The key to my process would have to entail the raw sound. When I sing in the studio, I like my voice to be the main point. So, the voice, the song (lyrics) and then the music. From that to that, to that. Because, once you have those two foundations: the voice and the lyrics, the music will follow.
ILM: What’s your favourite instrument?
Keisha: The piano definitely.
ILM: Can you describe your favourite place on earth?
Keisha: Barbados!
ILM: What’s the best thing about London and the worst thing?
Keisha: The best thing about London is the West End and Camden market. You can’t beat that. And the worst thing is the amount of rubbish on the streets in certain areas.
ILM: What is in your CD player right now?
Keisha: I’ve bought the Mary J Blige album and I like that, so I’m playing that at the moment.
Keisha releases 'The Weakness In Me' on February 20th 2006. Her album, 17 is out now.
