Fourteen-time Grammy®-winning singer, songwriter and producer, Alicia Keys’ highly anticipated forthcoming single ‘Brand New Me’ will be released by RCA Records on 17th February 2013.
This announcement comes hot off the heels of Keys receiving a BRIT Award nomination for ‘International Female Solo Artist’ and her performing at President Obama’s inauguration.
"The crazy thing about that song is how it catches people off guard," says Keys, "The song is about finding a new you and letting go of anyone that doesn’t know you anymore.
"It’s about someone in your life that for whatever reason you’ve outgrown. It’s a conversation between you and that person where you say, ‘You might not have seen me in a while, you might not recognize this brand new me.’"
‘Brand New Me’ was produced and co-written (alongside Emeli Sande) by Keys. With an impactful video directed by Diane Martel (Nicki Minaj, White Stripes, Beyonce), ‘Brand New Me’ has already been added to Radio 1’s playlist and was premiered live on the Jonathan Ross Show on 26th January when Alicia performed it accompanied only by her piano.
The follow up single to ‘Girl On Fire’ - which saw Alicia score her highest week one of single sales ever in the UK and has remained in the top 10 airplay charts for over 8 consecutive weeks - ‘Brand New Me’ is the second single from Keys’ fifth studio album ‘GIRL ON FIRE’, which topped the iTunes charts in over 20 countries worldwide when it was released in November last year.
Described by The Telegraph as Alicia’s 'Best Record in Years' and The Times as 'combining modern touches with classic-song writing sensibility', the critically acclaimed ‘Girl On Fire’ album features powerful anthems and intimate ballads, led by Keys’ signature soulful voice and personable and relatable lyrics.
The album was written and produced by Alicia alongside collaborators from both sides of the Atlantic, including Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Bruno Mars), Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Nas), Frank Ocean, Emile Sande, and Jamie XX among others.
The songs on ‘Girl On Fire’ are anchored by Keys’ powerful vocals and trademark piano alongside heavy drums, electric sounds and reggae and future soul influences, giving the album an evolved, modern-day feel while simultaneously sounding like a classic body of timeless music.
Following on from the release of ‘Brand New Me’, Alicia Keys will be returning to British shores in May 2013 for Girl On Fire - The Tour. Keys will set the UK alight with arena dates in Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham and London (see below for dates). Tickets for the UK leg of Girl On Fire - The Tour are on sale now through www.aeglive.co.uk.
Since the 2001 release of her monumental debut album, ‘songs in A minor’, Keys has built an unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments with more than 30 million albums and 30 million singles sold worldwide, and over one hundred award wins, including fourteen Grammy® Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards and three MTV Europe Awards.
Keys’ fourth, multi-platinum fourth studio album, ‘Element of Freedom’, sold one million copies in the UK alone and was one of Britain’s top 10 best selling albums of 2010.
Girl On Fire - The Tour, May 2013 UK Dates
Saturday 18th May, Liverpool, Echo Arena
Sunday 19th May, Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
Friday 24th May, Manchester, Manchester Arena
Saturday 25th May, Birmingham, NIA Arena
Tuesday 28th May, Nottingham, Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Thursday 30th May, London, The O2 arena *** SOLD OUT ***
Friday 31st May, London, The O2 arena
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