Project Description
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Interview with
ALIA
(2nd June 2021)
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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When did you know you wanted to make music? Has it always been an important part of your life?
I knew from a very young age that I was born to Sing, Dance and Perform. My father Doug Williams is a Singer and Bass Player from Chicago so it truly is in my blood. I was blessed to be born with these talents and know exactly what I wanted to do career wise and as a young adult decide to write and record my own Music only to soon realize how difficult the profession could be on many levels. Still, I love what I do and wouldn’t change it.
How would you describe your unique sound? How has your sound evolved since you started out writing music?
My unique sound is a fusion, in essence it’s Pop Rock but also draws elements from genres like Funk, RnB and World Music. When I started writing and performing I would vibe with certain Artists I like and somewhat emulate them to create something I thought would be popular. Still with my flavour to a degree but I wasn’t completely expressing myself and creating my own lane. Now I am.
Which music artists did you listen to growing up? How have they influenced your own work?
Well there was definitely a variety of Music in my household. I began listening to a lot of soul artists like George Benson, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Chaka Kahn, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire, Sade, Pointer Sisters etc. Then as I grew in to my own tastes I was favouring Whitney Houston, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana, Tupac, Biggie, Mariah Carey and many more before moving in to an electronic world. Honestly I think all the influences have blend together to create who I am as an Artist and also what I appreciate in Music and life in general. Music is very powerful.
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You have just dropped your debut EP! Can you share with us the origins or inspiration behind the EP? When did you know you wanted to write an EP?
I have been writing for many years and so I felt that I wanted to start to release mini journeys of my Musical and creative life. To express the stages, experiences and emotions.
“Calling Me” is a beautiful track from the EP about being called to your true purpose. Is this one personally meaningful for you?
Aww thanks so much. All the songs I write are personal to me in some way. “Calling Me” being the first off the EP was the perfect introduction. The current journey I am on is highly geared toward personal evolution and a key message in this song is paramount to self discovery. Finding out your true, life purpose and living it in full, without fear.
I really like the track “Just Love Me,” a heartfelt song about breaking up and having the strength to let go of those painful feelings. Can you share the inspiration behind the song?
Oooo it’s a secret haha. It was of course born from a story of my own personal heartbreak and what happened in that particular situation. It is coming from the empowered position of not understanding why that person wouldn’t love me…because clearly I’m awesome haha. Though it still does hurt to go through things like that and it does have you evaluate yourself in many ways, in this case and in all cases it’s important to stand strong yourself and practice self-love. You are good enough to love regardless of how relationships can turn out.
What are you hoping listeners will take away from your new EP?
The time is now to truly connect with who you are and live that life. Learn all you can and understand that things happen for you not to you, finally, love and life are beautiful.
You produced the EP with producer Phil Anquetil, a veteran in the music industry. What was it like to work with Phil, and how did he help shape your music vision?
Phil is such a legend truly. A true legend!…. He has a super comfortable studio environment and there’s zero judgement. He’s very quick and great at creating a unique sound for you as he also specializes in Artist development. We had a dig deep session in which we discussed all of my Musical influences and my outlook on life as well as the kind of personality I am… and voila he came up with this super dramatic, sexy, edgey mix of sounds to which I added my flavor and lyrical messages to.
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YOU DON’T OWN ME from ALIA WILLIAMS on Vimeo.
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Did the COVID-19 pandemic have an impact on your work and creativity? Did it present any unique challenges you had to overcome?
During Covid as we all know the Music industry was hit really hard and I was not spared. I chose to flip it on its head and really get creative and write lots. 2020 was also the time I decided to practice more self-healing and self evolution. It gave us the prefect opportunity to re-evaluate our lives and pay attention to the present instead of rushing in to the future.
You have performed along-side some huge international artists, including Craig David and Nelly Furtado. Can you share with us a time you performed or worked with a major artist that is particularly memorable for you?
Performing at the same concert as Nelly Furtado and Craig David was definitely a very memorable experience as it was such a huge concert but I actually did a play with Russell Crowe when I was 10. We did 6 weeks 3 days per week together at the Ensemble theatre in Kiribilli. That was a different brilliant experience that was cool because it was a small cast so we were all quite close and I got to know him quite well at the time, as well as a 10 year old could haha. Love his character.
Do you have any plans to perform live in the coming year?
As soon as I get things organized from a live perspective I plan to do some performances so Yes….cant wait!
What can fans expect from one of your live performances? Do you incorporate dancing and singing into your live shows?
They can expect where possible large live sounds, electric guitars full band edgy drama. I do move/strut a lot though there won’t be a lot of choreographed routines or will there be? Surprise…haha.
If you could book a gig at any live venue in the world right now, where would it be?
Super Bowl Yay! Raymond James Stadium.
Where do you see yourself in three years’ time in your music career? Do you have any long-term aspirations for your music career which you are working towards?
3 years time, definitely a couple of world tours under my belt, (fingers crossed) as a highly successful Music Artist. I’d love to start a Performing Arts school at some stage too so that would possibly be in the works. Dream Big.
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Buy/Stream HERE
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Follow ALIA
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify
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Press Release May 16 below
Pop-rock music artist
ALIA
releases her
debut self-titled EP
Buy/Stream HERE
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Multi-talented singing, song-writing and dancing machine, ALIA, has just released of her highly anticipated self-titled debut EP, cementing a new era of ALIA as an artist.
A star in the making, as the daughter of the highly acclaimed RnB soul singing and bass playing legend, Doug Williams, music is truly in ALIA’s blood. She has performed all over Australia at iconic venues as well as on a global stage along-side international artists including Craig David and Nelly Furtado.
ALIA is no stranger to the music industry, she has previously released hit records as a member of all girl group Fox Fire 4 whilst signed to Village Roadshow. Last year, ALIA celebrated two number 1 records, Only Now and Victim on the iTunes Dance charts under the guidance and production of Jonny Sonic from The Potbelleez.
ALIA brings a fresh sound and new direction to her own music and live shows as a solo artist. Through her new EP, she aims to draw her listeners to the insight of the core nature of their existence, self-evolution, and love.
The EP was produced by the highly acclaimed Phil Anquetil (Little Mix, One Direction, Tinie Tempah) who is a veteran in the music industry and has drawn inspiration from rock bands such as Evanescence, Paramore and Guns n Roses, along with the pop influences of artists such as Pink and Rihanna.
Made up of tracks including her current single Calling Me – “to be called” to your true purpose. Forever, to understand the ultimate test of human strength; Just Love Me a bonus track in which ALIA sings about releasing old feelings and coming to terms with heartbreak and You’re The Song, a playful, fun tune that describes and embodies the mood and feelings of summer love.
“It’s time that live music graced our ears again and the element of live instruments and performance makes a commercial come-back!” says ALIA
ALIA has reinvented her style, image and artistry to evolve into a glam-rock goddess, transforming her sound into a pop/grunge fusion that will leave the listener craving more.
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