Music We Love: Singer-Songwriter Alicia Waller on the Virtues of Cultural Diversity

Here at tigernoodles, we talk - and write - a lot about the simple things that can help us all, kids and grownups alike, feel a bit more calm and connected to ourselves during these troublingly stressful times. For instance, getting off of social media to focus on being creative, or communing with nature always seem to do the trick. But great music is also particularly effective at swifting us away from all the worry and apprehension that are the unfortunate hallmarks of this overwhelming new digital age.

Singer-songwriter Alicia Waller makes music that most definitely feels like an escape to somewhere more emotionally comforting. Virginia-born, but NYU-educated and currently residing in Harlem, NYC, her music effortlessly draws upon jazz, funk, R&B and soul, yet is also sprinkled with delightfully unexpected global flavors. Add to that a voice that was formally trained in the operatic bel canto style, and the result is a debut album, 'Louder, Then', which is full of warmth and intensity, and rife with surprises.

On the sonically sophisticated 'Tempo 120', for instance, she seems to be channeling jazz legend Sarah Vaughn, as she relates a story of romantic misunderstanding over a jittering beat and mercurial piano. But our favorite is 'My Day, Pt. II (If for the first time)', with its poignant gospel-soul vibes, and Alicia's uplifting, impassioned vocal performance.

We caught up with her for a chat as she prepared for a September 11 show at the Chelsea Table & Stage in New York (tickets available at Eventbrite); and as a sometime voice teacher, she was generous enough to offer some meaningful insights into how parents can nurture and encourage creativity in their children every day.

Alica Waller video for 'Love Story'

Tell us a bit about your debut album. What are some of your highlights / proudest moments?

'Louder, Then' has eight tracks including seven original songs and one cover that was first recorded in 1973 by the incredible singer-songwriter Donny Hathaway. I started writing the first songs back in 2020, right after my EP came out, which was a four song project called 'Some Hidden Treasure'.

One of my proudest moments so far has been reading a review of my album in DownBeat magazine, which is an important music publication dating back to 1934.  Lineage has always meant a lot to me as an artist; by this I mean being a part of a larger line of vocalists, storytellers, and culture-bearers. So seeing my name mentioned in a magazine that has covered some of my favorite artists meant the world to me.

Your music draws on classic soul and R&B, but you’ve also studied Latin American music and trained in the operatic bel canto style. How has that helped to make you the singular artist that you are now?

I think one of my unique skills as an artist is finding an ability to move seamlessly between different musical styles. Awhile back I became interested in the study of musical forms as expressions of the cultures they represent. So, instead of focusing on one style of music, I wanted to understand and effectively perform within a range of styles - being good at identifying the differences. When I started writing my own music, I naturally ended up drawing upon all of the forms that have inspired me.

Are there other artists that particularly inspire you? And how would you describe your sound? 

One of my favorite artists of all time is Marvin Gaye, he was just a genius at constructing musical color. When I was little, I used to sit and listen to his old albums, which my parents owned - the sonic worlds that he created seemed all-encompassing. There’s a part of me that wants to be a world-builder, like he was.

We’re living in divisive times; but with songs like 'My Day, Pt. II (If for the first time)', it feels like you want to uplift yourself and your listeners. Why is it important to stay positive in the face of all the negativity?

That’s so amazing that you noticed that! Yes, we are living in times that are very divided; but they are also very homogenizing too, which means that it kind of makes us all the same. For instance, algorithms quickly group us together to make us think, act, and respond similarly. This can make it very hard for artists to feel confident enough to make something that truly reflects their unvarnished opinions.  

For example, you might have noticed while enjoying the music on a given playlist in a restaurant, that a lot of the songs sound oddly similar. This is what I mean, we’re living in a creative world that can have 100 artists on a playlist, but they’re all kind of doing the same thing. So, for 'My Day, Pt. II (If for the first time)', I wanted to speak to that by writing something that reminds artists and creatives - and also myself too - to stick to the uniqueness of their own voices, and to be brave in putting their most honest work out into the world.

You studied “music diplomacy” - can you explain what that is?

Well, you’re in luck! Because I created my thesis around “Music Diplomacy & International Relations.” I actually have my own definition for this concept, I like to define music diplomacy as 'a mutually beneficial intercultural exchange achieved through creative musical dialogue'. This means that it is a creative process that intentionally uses music as a tool to not only entertain people, but to also forge intercultural contact, so that people who might not otherwise meet end up “connecting” through sound.  

My ideal form of music diplomacy intentionally weaves culture-sharing into every step of creation and development. In this way, intercultural dialogue ends up happening between (1) the artist and the new culture they are discovering, (2) the artist and their collaborators, and finally, (3) between the artist and their audience.  

You have also been a teacher. Can you tell us about that experience? 

Being a voice teacher is so much fun, it allows me to share with others my greatest passion, which is the joy of singing - and to think about ways to do it most optimally. It’s such a special gift.

Why is it important for young people to be encouraged to be creative? 

I’m the sort of person that thinks everyone has something unique to share. The challenging part, however, is that not everyone gets a chance to discover, or foster their secret sauce. I also think that the desire to share is bigger for some folks than it is for others. But I still do think we all have "something" inside of us; so, when we are creative, it gives us the chance to connect to our inner voices, which creates internal security within oneself, and happiness.

What can children learn by opening themselves up to different cultures and seeing their greater possibilities?

I always say that one of the easiest hacks to cheap international travel is to simply “press play.” Artists have a tendency to paint their lives into their music, they paint the landscapes, cultural rhythms and norms, and values of where they live. You can literally hear the sounds of the jungle in Brazilian Samba, for example; you can also hear the boisterous city life of Lagos, Nigeria in the music of Fela Kuti. 

So by listening to other cultures and other peoples, you can actually begin to “meet” them in a way too. The world can literally open up to you, which is really profound.  Getting to know other people and learning to respect cultures that are different from yours is one of the most special experiences in life.

What would you suggest to parents who hope to cultivate and inspire creativity in their children, whether it be music or any of the other arts?

I always encourage parents to listen and watch. If a child is showing an aptitude or interest in a particular area, let them explore it by giving them a little space, some tools, and time. As a kid, I spoke to my dad endlessly in Spanish in the car every day after school. I wouldn’t stop telling him every new word or phrase I learned, even when it annoyed him to the point of exasperation.

But now as an adult, I’m still a girl chasing language, culture, and people. Furthermore, these things meant so much to me that, lo and behold, I insisted upon weaving them all into my musical career. It’s just a part of my unique creative fingerprint - part of who I am and why I get to share it with you today.