Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard Talks New Album, Songwriting in the Basement and Why She Pours Beer on Her Feet
Sowmya Krishnamurthy
http://www.essence.com/2015/04/27/al...ment-beer-feet
Black girls rock! Nowhere is this more apparent than in fiercely talented Brittany Howard. As the lead singer and guitarist of Alabama Shakes, the twenty-something proves that women can more than hold their own in rock music.
The band’s 2013 debut Boys & Girls was a commercial and critical success, including three Grammy nominations. Bolstered by Brittany’s soulful, bluesy pipes, the band has steadily become a group-to-watch.
Born in Athens, Alabama, the biracial singer is often compared to the legendary Janice Joplin—much to her chagrin--but she points to Nina Simone and David Bowie as her real influences. Last week, Brittany and the Shakes released their new album, Sound & Color, which features the achingly pleading track “Don’t Wanna Fight." Brittany spoke to ESSENCE about the new release and her strange, yet totally rock star creative process.
Boys & Girls was so well received that there’s often a fear that a follow-up won’t do as well (known as the “sophomore slump” in the music industry). Was there any added pressure when making Sound & Color?
No. The only pressure we felt was from ourselves, impressing ourselves. I just wanted to do something I’ve never done before. I didn’t want to make Boys & Girls 2. That’s just boring.
Alabama Shakes have toured everywhere, from Glastonbury Festival in England to Saturday Night Live. How is life on the road? Do you have any pre-show rituals before you perform?
I pretty much just pack my bags and think positive. I’m pretty used to it now. We’ve toured nonstop for a year. At this point in my life, I’m pretty used to it. [Before the show] we do a little “mojo.” Mojo is when we pour beer on our feet, before the show.
[B]Does it matter if the beer is a lager or ale?[/B
]Any beer.
See link for entire interview.