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CNN Live Today

India Arie Discusses Work

Aired August 13, 2002 - 11:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: There are few folks that sound just as good live as they do in the studio. You know she is the real deal. The sultry sound of India Arie singing "Video," the song that catapulted her to pop star status, earning her debut album, "Acoustic Soul," seven Grammy nominations. India Arie's new album comes out next month, we're told. But earlier this spring, she performed at Jazzfest, which was a series of concerts featuring jazz, R&B, and rock and gospel and zydeco acts, all in New York. India hosts a replay this Saturday and Sunday on the Trio Entertainment Channel.
And guess what? She is with us live right now from New York to talk about that and a whole lot more.

How are you doing this morning?

INDIA ARIE, SINGER: Fine. How are you?

HARRIS: I'm all right. They threw me a curve, though, when they told me you were going to be with us this morning. I thought you were going to be here in Atlanta.

ARIE: I wish.

HARRIS: We know you live down here. That's another reason why we love you.

So tell us about the show this weekend. What is this all about? I understand you also do some interviews during it?

ARIE: Yes. I got to finally interview Taj Mahal, who is my favorite, and C.J. Chenier. I keep forgetting how to say his name: C.J. Chenier, Chenier -- however you say it, he's like the prince of Zydeco music. His family invented the washboard. So I got talk it a lot of people. I was reading a TelePrompTer, and I add microphone and everything. It was pretty neat.

HARRIS: You like it? You like doing that kind of stuff?

ARIE: Yes. They told me I was good at reading a TelePrompTer.

HARRIS: Listen -- all right now: Be careful with that. You don't know where that might end up taking you.

ARIE: I might take your job.

HARRIS: I don't know if you want it.

But anyway, we will have that conversation later.

ARIE: You have you to get up too early.

HARRIS: You got that right. That's one reason you don't want this.

Let's talk about what you are doing, because you really have blazed a lot of trails, and a folks very, very proud. You made a lot of women very comfortable with themselves with the way you've presented yourself.

Let me ask you about how the last six months have been for you, all that talk going into the Grammys. You got seven nominations. Unfortunately, you didn't walk home with any. Alicia Keys took almost everything that she got nominated for as well in the same categories. How has that experience informed or changed the way your music came out on this next album?

ARIE: You twisted that question at the end.

HARRIS: I sure did.

ARIE: The way it affected my music is -- my first single is called "Little Things," (ph) and "Little Things" (ph) talks about why I make music and why I started making it in the first place and the things in my life that I need and the things that I want. And the difference between what I need and what I want. It talks about the things that make me happy, the little things, like phone calls from my friends and honey and warm weather and those kind of things. And the Grammy nominations -- not just the Grammy nominations, but the whole year taught me a lesson about accepting the little things and having respect and reverence for the little things while you are on a quest for the big things.

HARRIS: How deep did all that touch you, the walking away without actually taking home something? I know you had to have some expectation that you would get something there.

ARIE: Yes. I had -- I had an expectation because everyone around me was like, you got get at least one or two -- I feel three -- I don't know, I had a dream that you won three. All of that. But it was disappointing. But in the end -- maybe this is not the end -- but in the long run, it has taught me a very valuable lesson about why I'm doing what I'm doing, and what matters.

HARRIS: Did it teach you a lesson about next time out, doing the same thing Alicia Keys did and just jump on the hype bandwagon. You didn't really hype yourself up that much going in. And it seemed like she had the hype wagon working full-time, overtime. Do you think that is something you might do next time around? I you know you are very hesitant to change a lot of things about yourself, but would you change that?

ARIE: I don't think so. I do as much as I can, and when I'm tired, I take a break. And you know, I have to be able to have me. I want my mind to be clear. So when I'm tired, I rest. But I will always sing my songs.

HARRIS: Good for you.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: India, Daryn Kagan here. I'm the one you talked to right after all of those Grammy nominations came out. You were just kind of overwhelmed.

Let me tell you something, as a fan, as a journalist, don't you change a single thing. I think that night, even though you had all those nominations and you didn't technically walk away, you are a star and you are the real deal. I walk around here and I say, You watch India. She is the real deal. It is your music and how you talk about the little things and especially the song "Video." I know that is now old news, but that touched a lot of women in this day and age when we feel we have to conform to this one standard of beauty. Can you talk a little more about that and trying to get the message out to your fellow women out there?

ARIE: It is a little bit different than that because I had no idea what "Video" was going to do. And I wasn't trying necessarily to get the message out about loving yourself. But that's the lesson I have learned, so I wrote that song. And it just is a whole other bit of confirmation as it why God would have me write the kind of songs that I write and think about the things that I think about. I don't know. It is a mission. It is a mission. And I don't know why I was chosen. But I'm going to do it.

HARRIS: There you go. And you do it quite well. Keep it up.

KAGAN: Keep doing it. Do not change a single thing. Just keep making more of your music magic. That's coming from a fan right here.

HARRIS: In fact, can you make some for us right now? Could you please make a little music for us before we go to break right now. Please? Please?

ARIE: It would be my pleasure.

KAGAN: OK. Thank you.

ARIE: (sings "Strength Courage Wisdom")

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