Alicia Keys on new double album “Keys”, unveiled at Expo 2020 Dubai – The Hollywood Reporter

In September, Expo 2020 kicked off in Dubai and over the past three months 192 countries have invited the biggest names in music and theater to perform, along with science and engineering experts to sit on panels and deliver speeches.

Originally supposed to take place from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021, Expo 2020 has been postponed due to the pandemic; it now runs through March 31, 2022 and has attracted 5.6 million visitors to date. On Friday December 10, Alicia Keys was the last performer to arrive at Expo 2020, unveiling her new double album Keys, before returning to the United States to perform songs from the new album on the Today NBC show and finale The voice.

Of his appearance on the latter, Keys tells THR, “The voice is one of my favorite shows because as a songwriter the contestants really love to sing my songs. And my new songs are like a new copyright of what I think people are going to start playing on the show.

From the Arabian Desert, Alicia performed in the heart of Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza in her world show broadcast live under a 360-degree projection dome, which made for a vibrant viewing experience for those who watch the whole world. The album features collaborations with rappers Lil Wayne and Pusha T. Others who appear on the album include Swae Lee, Lucky Daye and Khalid.

Face A of Keys, titled “Originals,” puts more emphasis on Alicia’s beloved piano sounds, while the B-side, “Unlocked,” features a more intense and upbeat sound.

“The Keys albums are about a homecoming, bringing it back to the beginning for me, ”Keys said. Hollywood journalist. “It means owning my personal power. In addition, in true New Yorker, it is a double album. We sampled “Originals” to create “Unlocked”, me and Mike WiLL. I love the ingenuity and innovation of this. People have made double albums, and they’re made up of all kinds of different music; or people made fancy albums and released different versions of the music; or, people made remix albums, and later they put out a vibe out of it. But no one has this where at the same time he was supposed to create a world of different perspectives. I like to call it a Saturday and a Sunday, given that those weekend days have totally different vibes.

One of the themes of his new music is opportunity, and the new album emphasizes uplifting messages.

“The album penetrates people in an authentic way, and that’s the point, and for that I’m really grateful,” Keys said. “People understand, and they compare it to work that has been done, like a Stevie Wonder or a Marvin Gaye – I believe it was in The telegraph – this is one of the most incredible quotes I have ever read. And that takes me to a whole new universe.

“Keys has emotion, ”Keys continues. “You’re drawn to it, the lyrics are often something that reflects something you’re experiencing. A lot of people tell me, ‘I needed a song like this.’ On the contrary, fans are excited to hear new music and what an artist is doing. It gives us more of a conversation. We’ve been having this conversation we’ve had for a long time, and they fall in love with it all.

During her concert at Expo 2020, the 20-year veteran of the music industry performed new arrangements of the albums as well as some of her hits like “Empire State of Mind” and “Girl On Fire”.

About why she thinks her fans are enjoying her old songs, Keys says, “Because they’re so fun. For my songs, what I’m so grateful for is that they are top notch, have parts you can sing along to, and they have memorable parts or vocals – and they are easy. to share. (Upcoming Expo 2020 concerts include AR Rahman, Oscar winner on December 22, and Lea Salonga, star voice of Aladdin and Mulan, occurring on Christmas Day.)

Keys also says THR that she finds it free to perform again in person. “It’s really powerful to be back in person connected with the audience. And now it’s the holidays, and I feel grateful to be able to share moments with other artists. For me, letting people hear my beautiful new songs is like an old memory. With these two shows, I feel like I can just touch people and share with them where they are in the world.