INTERVIEWSo Alicia welcome to the show, how’s it going?Alicia: Thanks it’s awesome to finally be here, It’s going great right now, I don’t think things could get any better.
Yeah, it’s been quite an incredible year for you, did you expect things to get so crazy?Alicia: Honestly? No, definitely not I never expected things to get so crazy, like I sort of experienced a small amount of craziness last year but things just kinda blew up this year and although it’s of course a great thing I really really didn’t expect it.
Obviously we’re talking about your new music, but let’s go back to your first album, what are thoughts on that album when you listen back to it?Alicia: I actually tend not to listen back to it, obviously I perform a lot of those songs on tour but I don’t really listen to my own songs, but my opinion of the debut album as a whole was, I dunno, I guess a little bit of disappointment but not so much really. Maybe some people notice how different it is compared to my second album, but for me, it’s a little sloppy to be honest, it’s like the focus was on the more dance-pop songs and that’s not really who I am to be honest but I’m still proud of the album because it was still something I put a lot of effort into but It’s kinda like a world away from where I am now.
So you clearly rate your second album ahead of your debut, what’s the differences in your opinion?Alicia: Well it’s maybe a cliché for me to say this but there’s so much growth between the two albums, the debut was essentially a complete pop record, kinda made primarily for commercial success I guess, although that was never the intention, I never sat down and thought, Ok I need to write a top ten single or anything but the songs did seem to form into that mainstream pop category and that’s not necessarily a bad thing but just really my preference, with my second album, Waking Up it was essentially the best interpretation of me as an artist rather than just a pop star, the themes are a lot different, you just need to look at the track titles to notice that, on the debut you’ve got songs called Party-Starter and Don’t Break My Heart No More, essentially the most clichéd pop songs I’ll ever make but on the second album, you’ve got songs like The Butterfly Effect, which touches on a beautiful story I was once told, and you’ve got Who I Am, Who I’m Not, Who I Wanna Be, which is about trying to find your way in the world and figure out the best possible version of yourself, So I think there’s a lot of growth between the two records and It’s no secret that I’m extremely proud of my second album.
The success of the album was pretty huge but your record for the singles released from the album so far are quite staggering, 3 singles released from the album and each one went to number one, how under pressure do you feel when you release a new single?Alicia: I don’t feel under pressure so much really, that’s not in like an egotistical way or anything, it’s just I don’t see it as a case of, I have to get to number 1 again because anything less is considered a failure, that’s not the way I think to be honest. Obviously it’s one of the most amazing feelings when you find out that your single has done well and especially with my previous three singles because I’ve watched the songs grow throughout the process, from an idea, to a hit and that is perhaps an even better feeling when a song that you can call your own, a song that you created by yourself becomes a success it’s amazing and that’s something I love, however if my next single fails to get to number one, which I don’t expect the next single to go to number one because I never expect that, if it does fail to get there though, it doesn’t make it a failure and it doesn’t make me a failure.
That’s understandable, the success that you’ve had this year has been pretty immense, I remember meeting you a couple of days after you signed for Junction Records and it was like can she be any more polite, you get called humble a lot by your peers does that bother you?Alicia: Hehe, no of course it doesn’t bother me, I’ve honestly never given it much thought. Umm, I’m just really blessed to be given the chance to live my dreams and not many people get the chance to become a professional musician or even the chance to do something they love so I don’t take it for granted, I pray every night before I go to sleep and I try to do whatever I can to make the world a better place, there’s no reason for me to be ungrateful or angry or impolite, it’s just not in my nature I guess and I’m living my dream and I’m where I want to be so I’ve got no reason to act any other way, my life has turned out better than I’d have ever expected and I thank god every single day for blessing with this life.
Okay, and now what about your personal life, that seems like something nobody really knows about it, it’s never really speculated and you tend to avoid the media pretty well, what is Alicia’s personal life like?Alicia: I don’t think things have changed an awful lot. Umm, When I’m on tour I essentially arrive at the location, spends an hour or two looking around the area, I rehearse and then I relax for an hour or two, I then do the show and head back to either the apartment or the airport. When I’m not on tour, I’m in New York, I live at the same apartment I’ve lived at for the past 3 years, I spend my spare time either out in New York with friends or at my apartment with my dogs, I read, watch TV, listen to music, Write music, cook and just whatever, it’s a pretty basic life really and I know It’s kinda boring but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So what about relationships, what’s your deal with that because unlike other celebrity’s I don’t remember reading anything about who your dating, what’s the deal Ms. Lena?Alicia: I guess I’m just sneaky, hehe I dunno what to tell you, my life isn’t like sex, drugs and rock and roll you know? But I’m not really so focused on the relationship thing, I guess I’ve always been pretty independent, that’s my excuse anyway but in all honesty it’s not really something I think about, I figure I’m happy with things the way they are so why would I do anything to change that, I guess I’m just really a relationship kinda person.
So do you plan on being alone for the rest of your life, I never knew my buddy was such an emo?.Alicia: Really? You’re not so observant are you Jake? I’m a Sylvia Plath obsessive, I’m probably the biggest emo you’ll ever meet. I’m totally joking of course, but yeah sure one day I wanna get married and have kids but there’s no rush for that, I’m still pretty young and I guess the focus is on my career right now but hey, if the right person comes along then great but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Ok, so your 23 years old, you’ve released two albums and eight singles, played some of the biggest venue’s in the world and sold over ten million albums worldwide, are you the biggest name in music right now?Alicia: Wow you sure know how to make a girl smile. But no I’m definitely not, I’m nowhere near that level, there’s a long way to go before or if I get there. There’s so much talent right now and we’re in such a fickle business, if my next record doesn’t live up to the first two then I could disappear off the face of the earth so no I’d never consider myself the best because I’m definitely not, I’m not even close, thank you for the compliment though.
Ok, so what can we expect from Alicia in the next year?Alicia: Geez that’s like the toughest question, I have no idea right now. This album cycle will be done around December, it’s been an incredible year so far and I do plan on taking some time out but you know me pretty well Jake, you know that I’m kinda obsessed with working, I plan on taking a long break but if I’m totally honest with you, I don’t think I’d be able to take a long break from music, I think I’d go insane so I’d say maybe three or four months out from working would be a good estimate but I’d love to have my third record released sometime next year but I can’t promise anything right now, I’m very interested in some outside projects and I’ve started to think about that for a little while now, there’s so much that I want to do and being 23 years old means that I’ve sort of got a lot of freedom to take my time with things but I should hopefully work on new music around May 2012 and hopefully I could have my third record out towards the end of 2012 but it’s a really tough thing to estimate.
PERFORMANCE
Jake turns to the audience and says, “Well that’s all for tonight and now performing her next single Another Face In The Crowd, It isn’t gonna be released until the end of the month but this is the first televised performance of it, Ladies and Gentlemen, please thank our amazing guest for the evening, Ms. Alicia Lena!!!.” The crowd cheers as Alicia smiles and blows a kiss at the fans, she makes her way over to the piano and sits down at the stool, she takes a drink of water and then looks at the audience and smiles, “So this is the first televised performance of this song, it’s called Another Face In The Crowd.” She adjusted the microphone slightly and began to play the opening piano notes of the song, she then began singing.
“New York Is Lonely And New York Is Cold
You Learn To Grow So Quickly, You Learn To Grow Old
Main Street Is Over-Crowded Even At The Best Of Times
And New York Is Scary, Full Of Those Petty Crimes
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I’ll Head Out Into The Country
Where I Can Walk The Streets Without A Care
I’ll Head Out Into The Country
Because I Know I’ll Never Find You There”She continually smiled as she looked at the audience, she played the piano throughout providing the backdrop to the song and showing her ability as a pianist, she continued to play the piano right through the song, until she got to the final verse of the song, she then stood away from the stool and took the microphone and walked over to the center of the stage and sang the final verse of the song.
“Who Needs Money, Who Needs Fame
Who Started The War And Who Is To Blame
Who Needs Nightmares When We Can Learn To Dream
Who Needs Tragedy And Everything In Between
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All I’ve Ever Wanted Is To Be So Proud
All I’ve Ever Wanted To Be, Is Another Face In The Crowd
I’ll Sing My Song Until I Lose My Voice, I’ll Sing It So Loud
I’ll Sing My Song Until The Sun Turns Black
So Long As I’m Another Face In The Crowd” 