She absorbed musical skill early in life, encouraged by both parents: her mother, Joyce, herself a former singer, and now India Arie's stylist; and her father, former ABA and NBA basketball player Ralph Simpson (not former NBA star player Ralph Sampson, as has been mistakenly reported in some media). She had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, Colorado, but her interest in the guitar while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. "When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs," she said at the press release of her debut album, Acoustic Soul.
Co-founding the Atlanta-based independent music collective GroovmentEarthseed (Groovement was the collective artists' name and Earthshare was their independent label name), her one-song turn on a locally released compilation led to a second-stage gig at the Lilith Fair. Their Universal Records/Motown music scout spotted her and made an introduction to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg. Sidestepping all the devices of flavor-of-the-month record-making, Acoustic Soul acquainted listeners with a brave and eloquent new voice, drawing an uncommonly broad swath of listeners from hip-hop, the so called neo-soul, blues, folk, and classic troubadour-style singer/songwriting, all at once. The album, released in 2001, debuted at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart and number three on the R&B album chart. Within months, without the concentrated radio play that typically powers pop and rap albums, Acoustic Soul was certified double-platinum.
India.Arie also features on Stevie Wonder's album A Time To Love which was released on October 18, 2005. India.Arie and Stevie Wonder duet on the title track "A Time To Love" that India wrote, which was nominated in the 2006 forty-eighth Grammy Awards, for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration with Vocals.
On the September 2005 premiere of The Tyra Banks Show, Arie performed "Just 4 2day". She wrote this song especially for Tyra's show. Arie also wrote "What About the Child", a song that did not air but was made available as a $1 internet download to support child victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Voyage to India
India.Arie followed the success of her debut in 2002 with the release of Voyage to India. Debuting at number six on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B chart, the album eventually earned a 2003 Grammy for Best R&B Album. The single "Little Things" also won a 2003 Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Soon after its release, Voyage to India was certified gold; and it was certified platinum on Friday 4 August 2006.
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
India.Arie's third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, was released on June 27, 2006. Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship gave India.Arie her first number-one on the Billboard 200 and was her second chart-topper on the U.S. R&B album chart. This album was also the first #1 album for the Motown record label in 33 years since Diana Ross's #1 Lady Sings the Blues Its first week sales of 161,000 copies is Arie's best sales week to date and was certified gold on Friday, August 4, 2006.
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics was released on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
Songversation (2013)
Christmas with Friends (2015)
Worthy (2019)
Interested
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you like to do
Your favorite color
Or any other
Thing on your mind
That you'd like to share
'Cause I could stay here
Because I'm interested
Can I be an instrument
In changing your life
Is that alright?
Because I'm interested
I'd rather be with you instead
Of anyone else
Because I'm interested in your middle name
Now don't be ashamed
It's between me and you
Everything that we do
So let your guard down because
There's a new girl in town
Gonna turn it around
I hope that you are down
Because I'm interested
Can I be an instrument
In changing your life
Is that alright?
Because I'm interested
I'd rather be with you instead
Of anyone else
I'm wide open, no more secrets
No more lies
Don't wanna look like a fool
But I will
For you
So I'll beg
I'll scream (I'll beg, I'll scream, I'll call, write)
I'll call
I'll write
If that's what it takes for you to be in my life
Because I'm interested
Can I be an instrument
In changing your life
Is that alright?
Because I'm interested
I'd rather be with you instead
Of anyone else
Because I'm interested
Can I be an instrument
In changing your life
Is that alright?
Because I'm interested
I'd rather be with you instead
Of anyone else
In India.Arie's song "Interested," the singer is expressing her interest and deep desire to know and connect with someone. The lyrics are a reflection of how much she is willing to do to create a bond with that special person. The first verse paints a picture of how she is eager to know every detail about this person, from their favorite color to their favorite food, and anything else they'd like to share. She emphasizes her willingness to listen to the tiniest detail while indicating she wants to be a positive force in this person's life.
In the next section, India.Arie firmly stresses her interest in being closer to this person while acknowledging the barriers she may have to overcome. She says she is ready to lower her guard and hopes the other person can do the same, a sign of how much she wants something real and genuine between them. The line "Gonna turn it around, I hope that you are down" is a vow to make things work, and she hopes that the other person reciprocates, leading to a profound connection.
The bridge section signifies the lengths she is willing to go to, such as begging, screaming, and writing, to get his attention and be a part of his life. It depicts her vulnerability and emotional openness, and how much she is willing to risk to get what she wants. In summary, the song is a confession of deep interest in wanting to know and connect with someone at any cost.
Line by Line Meaning
Your favorite food
Tell me about your likes and dislikes, I'm interested in getting to know you.
What you like to do
Share your interests and hobbies with me, I'm interested in what makes you happy.
Your favorite color
Tell me about your favorite things, I'm interested in learning more about you.
Or any other
Thing on your mind
Don't hold back, share anything that comes to mind, I'm interested in hearing what you have to say.
That you'd like to share
'Cause I could stay here
And listen to your every word
Feel free to open up to me, I'm interested in being present for you and listening to you.
Because I'm interested
Can I be an instrument
In changing your life
Is that alright?
I'm invested in you and want to make a positive impact on your life, would you be willing to let me do that?
I'd rather be with you instead
Of anyone else
I have a strong connection to you, and I would choose to be with you over anyone else.
I'm interested in your middle name
Now don't be ashamed
It's between me and you
I'm curious about you, and I'm interested in small details about you like your middle name, you don't have to feel embarrassed to share that information with me.
Everything that we do
So let your guard down because
There's a new girl in town
Gonna turn it around
I hope that you are down
Our relationship is important to me, and I want to make things right if there's anything that needs to be fixed. I hope you're willing to let me in and allow me to help.
I'm wide open, no more secrets
No more lies
Don't wanna look like a fool
But I will
For you
I am willing to be transparent and honest with you, even if it means being vulnerable or risking rejection. You're worth it to me.
So I'll beg
I'll scream (I'll beg, I'll scream, I'll call, write)
I'll call
I'll write
If that's what it takes for you to be in my life
I'm willing to fight for what I want, and I want you to be a part of my life. I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: India Arie, Paul Morton Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind