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by Jordan Campbell Amel Lanieux, Macy Gray and Jill Scott exhibit their own style of true soulful expression. Each one adds a new ingredient to the melting pot. Depicting real-life situations thmugh personal experiences and obsen/ations, they are able to reflect a broad spectrum of emotions that tap deep within the souls of listeners. Whether the topic is love for another, love for oneself or simply fun loving, it is seen in a new light each time, from each artist. The categorization that these artists have been placed in, known as “altemative R&B" or “neo-soul", opens the door for the continuance of imagination-grabbing, soul-gripping experimentation. Amel Larriiux The undaunting, unexpected^ sexy and dmpBguishabte voice of Amel Larrieux is ati art in itself. PdrmaMy of Ihe duo Groove Theory, along Bryce Wltew, thte sonijbtrd re-enters the industry with her sojo debut “fnfinlte^Ptossibitities." The album takes you on a soul-eip*llrtl|[)^sdM|rfifting aruJ spiritual joumey seen through thej eyes of Amel. :>ter eclectic background and appreciation of we 9vident in her fresh, thought-provoking style. BqMUBO she Wfitdfi her Qwn music, and always has, about pe^BOB0 situaitoi)$ and fh^gs she has witnessed, Amel feels a cert* intimacy in bereft Uiat aiie tries to share with her audience, thW( i do envision I it's also what I see in real life: oth downs. I somehow try to marry i so I have a body of work I can re^ can relate to * Due to her immense variety of influence, Amel fuses ja22, sot^, R&B and her own special ingredient, incapable of label, to her music. SN| truly cannot be compared to any other artist. The honesty and complete sincerity that is present in her work leaves you with a beautiful sense of complaisance that lures you frorn reajity, tttomentarily. At the same time, her music seems to have a tt’artshjcent effect, transmitting spirituality thfOt^ reality, prc^/ldjng something that we all can relate to. Some critics l^er to her music as “conscious soul,” which Amel neittier j^psees nor disagrees with. In her own words Amei says, ifs not a cwicept ...it’s just a way of life—and how I do things my penscaifid life...it's the way I’ve always been writ- sirK:e Grooveit’s not “conscious” at all, its just from as a person. Macy Gray The first aspect of Macy Grawirt te rrft^l^9|fe«*ble is her distinctively squeaky and urmjeV rsepjf of blues great, Billie IHoliday| ^zz singer Be%.^arter and “Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin. j||no oan j^tte truly compared to anyone because of tW flTWKftS® aho'mSsicMJog- gling fusion of old-school hip-hop, i^, blues, R&B, ful^ and rock. The way in which Macy fornP|Mes her delivery aS|jjre- sents her talent makes it virtually impossible to igrrare. Growing up in a musically inclined household and attending a predominately white boarding school, Macy “ctevel- oped a real appreciation for all kinds of music just by bein^‘ exposed to it." Her playfully boisterous and fun-loving style compliments her experimentation with other genres of music while exploring the emotions of her listeners. It simply reflects “the basics of life," says Macy. Even though we’re all different, we all end up living the same kind of life. We're all in the same ***»; 90 to work, everybody wants to be loved, ever^rtJOdy #|i^s sex, everybody wants money." Her firstliA from her debut album “Macy Gray on How Life Is,” entitled^o Something", discusses the importance of tak^ advantage cjf positive opportunities in life; while anoth er song, “I’ve Cc^f^iftgd Murder,” playfully and humorously tells the story of Macy her boyfriend’s ex-boss for firing him. In so«gs yt*e °Sssx*0-Maic Venus Freak” and the poetic ballad “^fl.* Macy dBscusse* the sadness, joy and spirituality of love lost and found. Not mention the funky and groovy opener "Why Didn’t You Galilee,” which explores the all-too-familiar dis appointment of a lost Ibve interest. Macy (teMteiy touches on all aspects of life. Whether wl^t you d^ what j^ntributions she’s making to the music industry, you must ?^ect her. She has, no doubt, spawned a creative corrwr forj^^elf and others to relate to. Macy is truly an esseroe erf soul from which any R&B artist can take note of. She deftnitefy has something to say. 19 Black Ink
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Nov. 1, 2000, edition 1
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