May 5, 2011

Today GUEST HOST Ainslie MacLeod interviewed musician, India Arie. India Arie is known and cherished by fans and fellow musicians as a poet, a songwriter, a daughter, a producer, a musician, a sister, a singer, an advocate, a friend and a philanthropist but she is possibly best known for the love in her music that has inspired and motivated people worldwide. From the moment that her very first single Video, and her multi platinum debut album Acoustic Soul were released in 2001, India's music established an extraordinary bond of trust, affection and communication with her followers. Her sophomore release the platinum selling Voyage to India in 2002 was hailed worldwide by critics. The New York Times called it music that only further enhances her reputation as an artist of substance; centering on her acoustic guitar and confident but restrained vocals, it recalls such soul masters as Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack. Although they’ve been understated, the politics of India Arie’s Grammy honored music have also been on open display ever since Oprah Winfrey pointedly thanked her for writing the sentiment I may not be built like a supermodel/But I’ve learned to love myself unconditionally a declaration of independence from a set agenda that, eight years later, remains as politically definitive as any protest song ever written. Winfrey also singled out the Testimony: Vol. 1 track There’s Hope as music that really stimulates and revives the soul, and India’s music was known to be heard on campaign buses and planes, rallies and fundraisers during the historic Presidential run of Barack Obama. I want people to hear my music for a long time, says India, for this generation to say decades from now: Everybody’s looking for ways to feel better the world is so unpredictable, people are looking inside themselves to ask what’s meaningful in life. My music has always addressed this, and now it’s so much in vibrational accordance with what people are thinking. India.Arie has stood often with her peers in the top echelon of entertainment as an activist for global health and human dignity. As a U.S. Ambassador for UNICEF, she traveled to Africa several times to address the AIDS crisis, and filmed the VH1 documentary Tracking the Monster: Ashley Judd & India.Arie Confront Aids in Africa.