India.Arie

Artist Image: India.Arie
Attribution
Image Credit: Chris Hakkens (https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_hakkens/3610724010/in/set-72157619403935157/), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

One of a handful of neo-classic soul artists to emerge following the late-'90s success of artists like D'Angelo and Lauryn Hill, Atlanta's India.Arie stood poised at the beginning of 2001 to make a major impact. A studied songwriter and guitar player rooted in the R&B, soul, Motown, and blues of the past, but grounded in the post-hip-hop urban world of today, Arie's debut, Acoustic Soul, was rich with textured songs, hooks, and impressively mature lyrics, considering the artist had only been writing songs for five years. Born in Denver, CO, to parents from Memphis and Detroit, music was always in Arie's life. The family moved to Atlanta when India was 13 and after high school she began playing guitar at the encouragement of her mother. Involvement in the fertile Atlanta urban music scene led to the formation of an artist's collective called Groovement and an independent label, EarthShare, which released a compilation CD featuring Arie's first songs. A second-stage slot on the 1998 Lilith Fair tour garnered major-label interest, but Arie eventually signed with Motown after being assured of having full artistic control. Work on Acoustic Soul dragged out over nearly two years, but Arie's relentless pursuit of perfection and musical integrity yielded very pleasing results: as successful a graft of classic soul and modern hip-hop-style productions yet attempted. The album's first single, "Video," received strong radio and club play early in the year, and the full-length followed in March. Just over a year later, Arie had completed her second record, Voyage to India, and it appeared in September 2002. Four years later the singer hit number one on the Billboard charts for the first time with Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, which also netted her three Grammy nominations. Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics was released in February 2009.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1976
Number of Albums 22
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia India.Arie on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What is difficult to label a singer as a successor to the great artists of the early 70s?

D'Angelo

...ast decade. In that light, it is tough to label a singer such as, say, D'Angelo , as a successor to those great artists of the early 70s. He's a good s...
What two soul artists did she draw inspiration from?

Wonder and Hathaway

... the 21st Century. She drew inspiration from soul artists such as Wonder and Hathaway , but also from popular singersongwriters James Taylor and Bonnie...
What popular singer songwriters did Sherry draw inspiration for?

James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt

...Wonder and Hathaway, but also from popular singersongwriters James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt . After scoring a second stage spot at Sarah McLachlan's Lil...
What was Kedar Massenberg's job title?

CEO

...d stage spot at Sarah McLachlan's Lillith Fair, she was spotted by Motown CEO Kedar Massenberg and signed in 1999 to record her debut album. The initi...
How many Grammy nominations did the album receive?

7

...lbum. The initial buzz of the disc took it up the charts quickly, but it faded nearly as fast. This was enhanced by a surprising 7 Grammy nominations....
What was the name of the college where my mother studied guitar?

Savannah College of Art and Design

...orado, but her interest in the guitar while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design led to a personal revelation about songwriting and perfor...
What was the name of the Atlanta-based independent music collective?

GroovmentEarthseed

...ic Soul. Cofounding the Atlantabased independent music collective GroovmentEarthseed (Groovement was the collective artists name and Earthshare was th...
What was the collective artists name?

Groovement

...ing the Atlantabased independent music collective GroovmentEarthseed ( Groovement was the collective artists name and Earthshare was their independent ...
Who was the CEO of Motown?

Kedar Massenburg

...own music scout spotted her and made an introduction to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg . Sidestepping all the devices of flavorofthemonth recordmaking, Ac...
Who is Kedar Massenburg?

Motown CEO

...sal RecordsMotown music scout spotted her and made an introduction to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg. Sidestepping all the devices of flavorofthemonth re...
When was Acoustic Soul released?

2001

...c troubadourstyle singersongwriting, all at once. The album, released in 2001 , debuted at number ten on the U.S. Within months, without the concentrat...
At what number did Acoustic Soul debut on the U.S. charts?

ten

...rsongwriting, all at once. The album, released in 2001, debuted at number ten on the U.S. Within months, without the concentrated radio play that typi...
Arie performed on what show in 2005?

The Tyra Banks Show

...l was certified doubleplatinum. On the September 2005 premiere of The Tyra Banks Show , Arie performed Just 4 2day. She wrote this song especially for ...
What song did Arie write for The Tyra Banks Show?

Just 4 2day

...fied doubleplatinum. On the September 2005 premiere of The Tyra Banks Show, Arie performed Just 4 2day . She wrote this song especially for Tyras show....
How many records has Arie sold worldwide?

over 10 million

...She has sold over 10 million records worldwide. When she was 13, her parents divorced and Arie moved with her mother and siblings to Atlanta, Georgia....
How old was Arie when her parents divorced?

13

...She has sold over 10 million records worldwide. When she was 13 , her parents divorced and Arie moved with her mother and siblings to Atlanta, Georgia....
Where did Arie move with her mother and siblings when she was 13?

Atlanta, Georgia

...er parents divorced and Arie moved with her mother and siblings to Atlanta, Georgia . When she got to Atlanta, Arie began to play guitar. Arie went on ...
Arie began to play what instrument when she got to Atlanta?

guitar

...blings to Atlanta, Georgia. When she got to Atlanta, Arie began to play guitar . Arie went on to also play the saxophone, baritone clarinet, French hor...
What college did Arie attend?

Savannah College of Arts and Design

...aritone clarinet, French horn, and trumpet. Arie attended Savannah College of Arts and Design where she studied jewelry design. She would eventually g...
When was Arie discovered by and signed a deal with Motown records?

Los Angeles, California

...Arie was discovered by and signed a deal with Motown records in Los Angeles, California . There at the age of 24 she began her career as a solo artist....
Arie began her career as a solo artist at what age?

24

... deal with Motown records in Los Angeles, California. There at the age of 24 she began her career as a solo artist. Arie is famous for writing songs a...
Arie is famous for writing songs about what?

female empowerment

...f 24 she began her career as a solo artist. Arie is famous for writing songs about female empowerment and dismissing the societal standards of beauty....
Who is an American singer and songwriter?

India Arie Simpson

...ikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search India Arie Simpson (born October 3, 1975), also known as India Arie (sometimes style...
How many Grammy Awards has India won from her 23 nominations?

four

...d over 5 million records in the US and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 23 nominations, including Best R&B Album. Backgro...
Where was India born?

Denver, Colorado

...tions, including Best R&B Album. Background edit India was born in Denver, Colorado , the daughter of Joyce and Ralph Simpson. Her musical skills were ...
What was India's mother's name?

Joyce

...bum. Background edit India was born in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Joyce and Ralph Simpson. Her musical skills were encouraged by both parents i...
What is the name of her older brother?

J'On

...der and Al Green) and is now her stylist. She has an older brother named J'On and younger sister Mary A Martin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Arie is ...
What is the name of Arie Simpson's younger sister?

Mary A Martin

... her stylist. She has an older brother named J'On and younger sister Mary A Martin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Arie is AfricanAmerican, and accordi...
What is Arie's ethnicity?

AfricanAmerican

...younger sister Mary A Martin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Arie is AfricanAmerican , and according to a DNA analysis, she descends from the Mende peop...
When did Simpson's mother move the family to Atlanta, Georgia?

After Simpson's parents divorced

...Kru people of Liberia and the Fula people of GuineaBissau. After Simpson's parents divorced , her mother moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia when Indi...
What album did Arie release in 2001?

Acoustic Soul

... one of the most notable debuts in music history with her 2001 album Acoustic Soul . A critical and commercial hit, the album sold 1.6 million copies i...
How many copies of Arie's album Acoustic Soul sold in its first year of release?

1.6 million

...01 album Acoustic Soul. A critical and commercial hit, the album sold 1.6 million copies in its first year of release and earned the musician seven Gr...
What did the publicity catapult her into the front ranks of?

contemporary female R&B performers

...ear, the publicity catapulted her into the front ranks of contemporary female R&B performers , a roster that included Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, Lauryn H...
What award did Arie win in 2003 for Little Things?

Best UrbanAlternative Performance

...ia. Arie did walk away with Grammy Awards in 2003, one for Best UrbanAlternative Performance for Little Things and another for Best R&B Album for Voya...
In what year did she win a Grammy?

2003

...to alienate my fan base, India. Arie did walk away with Grammy Awards in 2003 , one for Best UrbanAlternative Performance for Little Things and another...
What university did Simpson attend?

Michigan State University

...ed well with her first and last names. Simpson spent a year at Michigan State University before getting a hardship exemption to enter the draft of the...
How old was Simpson when she entered the NBA draft?

19

... exemption to enter the draft of the American Basketball Association as a 19 yearold. Drafted by the Denver Rockets (later the Denver Nuggets), he beca...
Who was Simpson drafted by?

Denver Rockets

... the American Basketball Association as a 19yearold. Drafted by the Denver Rockets (later the Denver Nuggets), he became one of the nowdefunct leagues...
What is the name of the song that reunites the Grammy winning singersongwriterproducer with longtime writing partner?

SongVersation

...nlet alone taking that crucial first stepcan be a daunting endeavor. SongVersation (SoulbirdMotown, June 25) reunites the Grammywinning singersongwrit...
How many Grammy nominations have been received?

21

...es and hard decisions that occurred over the past four years. But despite 21 Grammy nominations, four Grammys and 10 million albums sold worldwide, so...
How many albums have been sold worldwide?

10 million

... past four years. But despite 21 Grammy nominations, four Grammys and 10 million albums sold worldwide, something was wrong. I realized I had to seize...
Who did I ask to show me where I am supposed to be?

God

...not accepting what others wanted me to do. So I decided to retire, asking God to show me where I am supposed to be. Music did eventually come back int...
What was the name of her self funded project?

Open Door

...be. Music did eventually come back into her life through a series of vulnerable songs she began writing for a selffunded new project called Open Door ....
What kind of songs did she write?

vulnerable

... be. Music did eventually come back into her life through a series of vulnerable songs she began writing for a selffunded new project called Open Door...
How many singles has Arie had on the Billboard R&Bhiphop chart?

eight

...ctive, additiveresistant singersongwriter soul. Although Arie has placed eight singles on the Billboard R&Bhiphop chart, she's an album artist through...
What award did Arie win with her 2002 album Voyage to India?

Grammy

...an album artist through and through. Four subsequent LPs, including the Grammy winning Voyage to India (2002) and the number one Testimony, Vol. 1: Lif...
Where was Arie born?

Denver

...ary country musicians instead of seeking hits with hot rappers. Born in Denver to parents from Memphis and Detroit, India Arie Simpson always had musi...
What city did her family move to when she was 13?

Atlanta

...t, India Arie Simpson always had music in her life. Her family moved to Atlanta when she was 13, and after high school she began playing guitar with h...
When did she begin playing guitar with her mother's encouragement?

after high school

...usic in her life. Her family moved to Atlanta when she was 13, and after high school she began playing guitar with her mother's encouragement. A secon...
What label signed Arie after guaranteeing her artistic control?

Motown

...he 1998 Lilith Fair tour garnered interest from major labels, including Motown , which signed Arie after guaranteeing her artistic control. Heralded wi...
What is India's zodiac sign?

Libra

...India hails from Denver, Colorado, United States, and her zodiac sign is Libra . Talking about her family, Indias parents are mother Joyce and father R...
When was India Arie born?

October 3, 1975

...Early Life India Arie was born on October 3, 1975 , and she is currently 45 years old. India hails from Denver, Colorado, United States, and her zodiac...
Who are Indias parents?

mother Joyce and father Ralph Simpson

...n is Libra. Talking about her family, Indias parents are mother Joyce and father Ralph Simpson . Her mother is a former singer who was signed to Motown...
What was India's mother's job?

singer

...rents are mother Joyce and father Ralph Simpson. Her mother is a former singer who was signed to Motown as a teenager and opened for Stevie Wonder and...
Who encouraged Indias musical skills in her younger years?

Indias parents

... to Motown as a teenager and opened for Stevie Wonder and Al Green. Indias parents encouraged her musical skills in her younger years. Moreover, India...
Where did I study jewelry making?

Savannah College

...er. However, Indias interest in the guitar led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. At Savannah College , studied jewelry making....