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)
Interlude
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miles Davis
Dizzy Gillespie
This is a song for you
Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughn
And Robert Johnson
And Charlie Patton
The lyrics of India.Arie's Interlude pay tribute to some of the greatest musicians and artists of our time. John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie are all renowned jazz musicians who have made significant contributions to the world of music. Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Johnson, and Charlie Patton are all influential guitarists who have left their mark on the music industry. The fact that India.Arie mentions these artists in her song shows the profound impact that they have had on her music and career.
The lyrics also suggest that great musicians never truly die, and their legacy lives on through their music. The list of artists "goes on and on," indicating that there are countless musicians who have made significant contributions to the world of music and who have left a lasting impact on the industry. The lyrics of Interlude are a powerful tribute to these artists, and they serve as a reminder of the profound impact that music can have on our lives.
Overall, the lyrics of India.Arie's Interlude pay tribute to some of the greatest musicians of our time, acknowledging their impact and influence on the music industry. The song celebrates their legacy and serves as a reminder of the power of music to inspire and uplift us.
Line by Line Meaning
John Coltrane and
This song is dedicated to John Coltrane and his music.
Miles Davis
This song is dedicated to Miles Davis, a legendary jazz musician.
Dizzy Gillespie
This song is dedicated to Dizzy Gillespie, a jazz trumpeter known for his contributions to the genre.
This is a song for you
This song is dedicated to all the great musicians who have inspired the artist and made an impact on the world of music.
Jimi Hendrix
This song is dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, a legendary guitarist and songwriter.
Stevie Ray Vaughn
This song is dedicated to Stevie Ray Vaughan, another influential guitarist and songwriter.
And Robert Johnson
This song is dedicated to the blues musician Robert Johnson, who made significant contributions to the genre.
And Charlie Patton
This song is dedicated to Charlie Patton, a blues musician known for his distinctive style and sound.
The list goes on and on
There are countless musicians who have made an impact on the world of music and this song pays tribute to them all.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATHEW SARGEANT, JAMES BOURNE, CHARLES ROBERT SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind