Alicia Keys

I’m meant to be an artist who can stand on my own. That’s my place; that’s what I’m supposed to do.

I want my sons to grow up in a world where they’d never think boys are better than girls or that black is better than white.

Musicians have a really big part to play in spreading messages because they’re able to reach a large portion of people on an emotional level. Artists reach people at their heart; it’s the only time we meet in one place and put our differences aside. When you’re in a forum listening to music, all you feel in that moment is love and the understanding.

I feel like….Music is the – it’s the answer. It’s the reason.

[on Serena Williams] You are THE epitome of grace and prowess!!! You are an inspiration to all of us. Your purpose to be a leader and a light is a gift to the world!! We love you and thank you for sharing your greatness and spirit!

I was subscribing to this sick identity. … Stay in your place, be feminine, be a lady, don’t make too much noise.

Always look ahead, but never look back.

Music always turns into music. As soon as I play a key, push a key down, there’s no theory any more. When I go and I hear a sound on the keyboard, all theories go out the window.

When you know the lyrics to a tune, you have some kind of insight as to it’s composition.

Jazz attracted me because in it I found a formal perfection and instrumental precision that I admire in classical music, but which popular music doesn’t have.

Everybody that you could name would join in our audiences from, Laguardia on down. Everybody came. Everybody came to the Cotton Club.

My style is to just play. The more “live” you capture your music-the more unthought-out-the more magical it is.

Jazz is a spectacularly accurate model of democracy and a look into our redemptive future possibilities.

I don’t care much about music. What I like is sounds.

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.

My dream is to do whatever I want without any interference from the record company.

Play the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you play.

I never have any trouble playing anything I can think of. The trouble is thinking of what to play.

So until we see you again, bright moments and keep searchin’ for your mystery note on the universal piano of life.

I was unfashionable before anyone knew who I was.

Creativity shouldn’t be following radio; it should be the other way around.