Alicia Keys & Dream Team On The Element of Freedom
It’s hard to say anything about Alicia Keys that hasn’t already been said – until you listen to her new album, The Element of Freedom. Then you hear how much more this NYC-born/raised/inspired artist has to say in her music.
Longtime fans fear not: Keys’ entrancing voice and equally hypnotic keyboard mastery will always be a common thread from song to song, album to album. But one of the richest rewards of her global success – over 30 million albums sold and 12 GRAMMY Awards to date – has been the ability to blaze her own musical trail.
She takes full advantage of that liberty with every moment she spends at The Oven, her purpose-built Long Island recording facility, and it shows with the adventurous sounds of Freedom. Armed with the unbending commitment of her Executive Producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers, and Chief Engineer/Album Coordinator/Studio Managing Director Ann Mincieli, Keys worked a workflow that made each new idea come alive. Completed by a mixing and mastering team located entirely inside The Oven, the Keys team made themselves into a Motown for the 21st Century.
“The Oven is one of my favorite places on Earth,” says Keys. “To have a place that can handle any vision, any creative expression from beginning to end, in an environment that is so inspiring and calm, and a reflection of my own energy becomes the best way for me to be creative. Kind of like one-stop shopping! And I’m very grateful for what we’ve all been able to contribute to make it that way.
Alicia Keys in her element.
Mincieli made sure that the Oven, which has been in a constant state of evolution since being penned by the Walters-Storyk Design Group in 2005, was stocked with dozens of vintage keyboards, amps and the best recording tools on the planet to make Freedom – putting all the choices right at Keys’ fingertips, inspiration on tap. “Sometimes I do feel a bit overwhelmed,” Keys admits. “Just that there are so many options that I haven’t even gotten to yet. But that’s what ends up being my inspiration, because I know there is so much more to create. It’s fun to take some fantastic piece that I’ve never used before and learn it, experiment with it…a song always comes from that. So instead of being overwhelming, it becomes a playground.”
Ready to play along? All you need to do is listen. Unquestionably one of the most important artists to emerge from the dense NYC music scene in the last decade, Alicia Keys has made a case for her own sonic style of travel with her most expressive album yet.
”This record sounds like a journey,” she says. “Sonically it is very different from my other records because of all of the new equipment that we got: lots of keyboards, lots of synthesizers from the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. It was a lot of fun to go back to these sounds and reinterpret them. And because of that the songs are still heavily piano-based, but have a lot more color around them. What inspired me to go in this direction was a mixture of the music I was listening to and the new equipment in the studio. Thanks Ann!”
To look inside each room in The Oven, click on the following keys to Keys:
Executive Producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers
Chief Engineer/Album Coordinator/Studio Managing Director Ann Mincieli
David Musial
December 16, 2009 at 8:00 pm (15 years ago)Is Carlos Alomar on this project? He is amazing!
Janice
December 17, 2009 at 4:51 am (15 years ago)Yup, Ann Mincieli mentions Carlos on guitar: https://www.sonicscoop.com/?p=2467
David Musial
December 16, 2009 at 1:00 pm (15 years ago)Is Carlos Alomar on this project? He is amazing!
Janice
December 16, 2009 at 9:51 pm (15 years ago)Yup, Ann Mincieli mentions Carlos on guitar: https://www.sonicscoop.com/?p=2467
Veebz
December 16, 2009 at 11:13 pm (15 years ago)Juust The Kind Of Interview I Like 2 Read : )
Getting Right Into The Core Of Making The Music and all that goes into it. Intersting too see all the differnt people, elements and what they do. That come togeather to make the finall whole album
Hope too Help make great music like this WHEN (fingers crossed) I become an A&R
: D
Veebz
December 16, 2009 at 4:13 pm (15 years ago)Juust The Kind Of Interview I Like 2 Read : )
Getting Right Into The Core Of Making The Music and all that goes into it. Intersting too see all the differnt people, elements and what they do. That come togeather to make the finall whole album
Hope too Help make great music like this WHEN (fingers crossed) I become an A&R
: D
Jenetic
December 17, 2009 at 8:01 am (15 years ago)@ Veebz
“Hope too Help make great music like this WHEN (fingers crossed) I become an A&R”
A&R DON’T help in making great records. Don’t fool yourself! They have nothing to do with the creative process. They just think they do.
Jenetic
December 17, 2009 at 1:01 am (15 years ago)@ Veebz
“Hope too Help make great music like this WHEN (fingers crossed) I become an A&R”
A&R DON’T help in making great records. Don’t fool yourself! They have nothing to do with the creative process. They just think they do.
Lauren--NY (@TheGrottoTweets)
December 17, 2009 at 8:22 pm (15 years ago)So excited this album is out!
Gienah
December 17, 2009 at 8:22 pm (15 years ago)great pics,wonderful and powerful voice
Lauren--NY (@TheGrottoTweets)
December 17, 2009 at 1:22 pm (15 years ago)So excited this album is out!
Gienah
December 17, 2009 at 1:22 pm (15 years ago)great pics,wonderful and powerful voice
Laura
December 17, 2009 at 8:28 pm (15 years ago)i really enjoyed reading this. it was very interesting and definately worth reading every word of it :-)i didn’t knew it was so much work.
you guys did a really good job. loving every song on the album
keep the good work coming!
Laura
December 17, 2009 at 1:28 pm (15 years ago)i really enjoyed reading this. it was very interesting and definately worth reading every word of it :-)i didn’t knew it was so much work.
you guys did a really good job. loving every song on the album
keep the good work coming!
Tracy J. Smith
December 17, 2009 at 9:50 pm (15 years ago)Looking good baby girl. I know what you need.
Tracy J. Smith
December 17, 2009 at 2:50 pm (15 years ago)Looking good baby girl. I know what you need.
abu ibrahim
December 18, 2009 at 3:42 am (15 years ago)i like it ,so cool
abu ibrahim
December 17, 2009 at 8:42 pm (15 years ago)i like it ,so cool
Ty
December 18, 2009 at 11:31 am (15 years ago)Wow, I didn’t really realize until now what technical work Alicia Keys really really does.
Now I KNOW she is a musical genius, until now I only suspected it.
Ty
December 18, 2009 at 4:31 am (15 years ago)Wow, I didn’t really realize until now what technical work Alicia Keys really really does.
Now I KNOW she is a musical genius, until now I only suspected it.
Amanda Mendiola
December 18, 2009 at 6:35 pm (15 years ago)To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.(William Blake – Auguries of Innocence)
*This reminds me of your beauty and how much you inspire me*
Amanda Mendiola
December 18, 2009 at 11:35 am (15 years ago)To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.(William Blake – Auguries of Innocence)
*This reminds me of your beauty and how much you inspire me*
Amanda Mendiola
December 18, 2009 at 6:53 pm (15 years ago)To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.(William Blake – Auguries of Innocence)
*This reminds me of your beauty and how much you inspire me*
Amanda Mendiola
December 18, 2009 at 11:53 am (15 years ago)To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.(William Blake – Auguries of Innocence)
*This reminds me of your beauty and how much you inspire me*
Daphne
December 19, 2009 at 4:39 am (15 years ago)I love Alicia Keys’ music. I don’t care what inspires it. I love the talent of this young lady. ba hum bug to her haters!! This lady writes & performs totally AWESOME music!! I’m all about the music! Love you always Ms Alicia!!
Daphne
December 18, 2009 at 9:39 pm (15 years ago)I love Alicia Keys’ music. I don’t care what inspires it. I love the talent of this young lady. ba hum bug to her haters!! This lady writes & performs totally AWESOME music!! I’m all about the music! Love you always Ms Alicia!!
Heart
December 19, 2009 at 11:45 pm (15 years ago)Two things especially impressed me about this article. The first being the well formulated questions asked by the writer (Janice), which really goes to the “Heart” of the matter of how greatness in sound is reproduced time and again…
Secondly, what stands out even more-so than the technical aspects of the production is the bond of love and friendship that exists between all the players on Alicia’s team. Truly, that bond of love is what comes through on every note that’s played in her music.
Heart
December 19, 2009 at 4:45 pm (15 years ago)Two things especially impressed me about this article. The first being the well formulated questions asked by the writer (Janice), which really goes to the “Heart” of the matter of how greatness in sound is reproduced time and again…
Secondly, what stands out even more-so than the technical aspects of the production is the bond of love and friendship that exists between all the players on Alicia’s team. Truly, that bond of love is what comes through on every note that’s played in her music.
Blacklight_Rising
December 20, 2009 at 4:37 pm (15 years ago)THE IMMACULATE… Alicia Keys. Nuff Said!!!
Blacklight_Rising
December 20, 2009 at 9:37 am (15 years ago)THE IMMACULATE… Alicia Keys. Nuff Said!!!
lisa
December 21, 2009 at 7:15 am (15 years ago)ALICIA IS VERY GOOD AT EVERYTHING SHE DO, ACT, SING, DANCE, AND CARING FOR PEOPLE, IT’S ALL PERFECT WORK. I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW SHE PUT HERSLF ASIDE TO CARE FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. I LOVE ELEMENTS OF FREEDOM SO MUCH I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT ALBUM, I KNOW IT’S ASKING A LOT BUT TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO IT RIGHT KEYS. YOU LEARN FROM EVERY EXPERIENCE SO I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW YOU USE WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM ELEMENTS. MAY I SUGGEST THIS CALLED “DO ANYTHING FOR YOU”. I HOPE IT WORK. KEEP PLEASING YOUR CROWD AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE MORE FANS THAN HATERS.
lisa
December 21, 2009 at 12:15 am (15 years ago)ALICIA IS VERY GOOD AT EVERYTHING SHE DO, ACT, SING, DANCE, AND CARING FOR PEOPLE, IT’S ALL PERFECT WORK. I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW SHE PUT HERSLF ASIDE TO CARE FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. I LOVE ELEMENTS OF FREEDOM SO MUCH I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT ALBUM, I KNOW IT’S ASKING A LOT BUT TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO IT RIGHT KEYS. YOU LEARN FROM EVERY EXPERIENCE SO I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW YOU USE WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM ELEMENTS. MAY I SUGGEST THIS CALLED “DO ANYTHING FOR YOU”. I HOPE IT WORK. KEEP PLEASING YOUR CROWD AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE MORE FANS THAN HATERS.
Myla Connor
December 22, 2009 at 12:44 am (15 years ago)It allures if it overcomes in each new album. And this certainly in the ribbon the breath in each strip. He/she/you is really incredible and adicted.The more I hear more he/she gives will of hearing!! Like this, I will be forced to like eternally of your sound. He/she is a great artist.
Myla Connor
December 21, 2009 at 5:44 pm (15 years ago)It allures if it overcomes in each new album. And this certainly in the ribbon the breath in each strip. He/she/you is really incredible and adicted.The more I hear more he/she gives will of hearing!! Like this, I will be forced to like eternally of your sound. He/she is a great artist.
sexsi29
December 23, 2009 at 12:52 am (15 years ago)Alicia your music always gives me peace of mind. Is Denise apart of this team? we share the same first name. You have a wonderful team,big up Krucial fam.
sexsi29
December 22, 2009 at 5:52 pm (15 years ago)Alicia your music always gives me peace of mind. Is Denise apart of this team? we share the same first name. You have a wonderful team,big up Krucial fam.
Toxonix
December 23, 2009 at 8:25 pm (15 years ago)Why does Alicia constantly sit below the pitch? Is this intentional? I can understand not wanting to use any kind of pitch correction, but I wonder if she or anyone else hears this in the studio and says ‘That’s a little flat’.
Toxonix
December 23, 2009 at 1:25 pm (15 years ago)Why does Alicia constantly sit below the pitch? Is this intentional? I can understand not wanting to use any kind of pitch correction, but I wonder if she or anyone else hears this in the studio and says ‘That’s a little flat’.
nureen
December 24, 2009 at 3:05 pm (15 years ago)she had beautiful sound im so very like her much more
nureen
December 24, 2009 at 8:05 am (15 years ago)she had beautiful sound im so very like her much more
wayne
December 24, 2009 at 9:16 am (15 years ago)just putting the music aside for a moment, what a kool/funky top to wear on the cover of the new cd, i just had to give it a mention ! LOLSssss
Juanita
December 25, 2009 at 2:32 am (15 years ago)I dont care what ANYBODY says Alicia KEYS is a genius and you know it! she’s very good at what she does and soon just watch very soon she will be producing and all that stuff!! shes the best. you got my support and everyone at CHI-TOWNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE U IM YOUR BIGGEST AND MOST LOYAL FAN GIRRRRL!!
GOOD LUCK IN EVERYTHING AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOUR KINDNESS!
Juanita
December 24, 2009 at 7:32 pm (15 years ago)I dont care what ANYBODY says Alicia KEYS is a genius and you know it! she’s very good at what she does and soon just watch very soon she will be producing and all that stuff!! shes the best. you got my support and everyone at CHI-TOWNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE U IM YOUR BIGGEST AND MOST LOYAL FAN GIRRRRL!!
GOOD LUCK IN EVERYTHING AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOUR KINDNESS!
Anntastic
December 25, 2009 at 3:22 pm (15 years ago)Tononix of course we hear pitch….Alicia doesnt like tuning vocals…Period….She is not Britney Spears, Britney CANNOT sing so they make her sound perfect in Meoldyne….Thats the Problem….People get so used to technology…Bar one, beat one, copy, paste, tune….We use Melodyne, but were not dragging things perfectly….Alicia is real unlike the rest of the people in this Industry that let technology make things so robotic
Anntastic
December 25, 2009 at 8:22 am (15 years ago)Tononix of course we hear pitch….Alicia doesnt like tuning vocals…Period….She is not Britney Spears, Britney CANNOT sing so they make her sound perfect in Meoldyne….Thats the Problem….People get so used to technology…Bar one, beat one, copy, paste, tune….We use Melodyne, but were not dragging things perfectly….Alicia is real unlike the rest of the people in this Industry that let technology make things so robotic
Wayne
December 27, 2009 at 3:18 am (15 years ago)do we have to type the hype?……..personally i cannot wait to just talk to you, (hope you get it)………..GBAA !
Ben
December 28, 2009 at 1:59 am (15 years ago)So Simple…so tight, brilliant
Ben
December 27, 2009 at 6:59 pm (15 years ago)So Simple…so tight, brilliant
Ben
December 28, 2009 at 4:51 pm (15 years ago)What does “oh,word?” mean in You Don’t Know My Name? “Really”?
Ben
December 28, 2009 at 9:51 am (15 years ago)What does “oh,word?” mean in You Don’t Know My Name? “Really”?
Hunter Niebergall
September 4, 2010 at 2:09 pm (14 years ago)I really love Alicia’s performing. I can sing, too and I’m often told i look like her. keys, goodluck cause youre God’s gift to my world and my inspiration
Hunter Niebergall
September 4, 2010 at 7:09 am (14 years ago)I really love Alicia’s performing. I can sing, too and I’m often told i look like her. keys, goodluck cause youre God’s gift to my world and my inspiration