India.Arie

One of a handful of neo-classic soul artists to emerge following the late '90s success of
artists like D'Angelo and Lauren Hill, Atlanta's India Arie stood poised at the beginning of
2001 to make a major impact. A studied songwriter and guitar player rooted in the R&B, soul,
Motown, and blues of the past, but grounded in the post hip-hop urban world of today, Arie's
debut, Acoustic Soul, was rich with textured songs, kooks, and impressively mature lyrics
considering the artist had only been writing songs for five years.
Born in Denver, CO, to parents from Memphis and Detroit, music was always in Arie's life.
The family moved to Atlanta when India was 13 and after high school she began playing
guitar at the encouragement of her mother. Involvement in the fertile Atlanta urban music
scene led to the formation of an artist's collective called Groovement and an independent
label, EarthShare, which released a compilation CD featuring Arie's first songs. A second-
stage slot on the 1998 Lilith Fair tour garnered major-label interest, but Arie eventually
signed with Motown after being assured of having full artistic control.
Work on Acoustic Soul dragged out over nearly two years, but Arie's relentless pursuit
of perfection and musical integrity yielded very pleasing results: as successful a graft of
classic soul and modern hip-hop style productions yet attempted. The album's first single,
"Video," received strong radio and club play early in the year. Acoustic Soul was released
on March 27, 2001.