Gina Alice’s versatility and international star power transcend boundaries across the globe, amassing worldwide acclaim as an accomplished classical pianist, singer/songwriter, as well as an influencer/model. Now signed on to Republic Records, Alice is setting her sights on going pop with her highly anticipated EP, “Dreamcatcher”. During this exciting time in her new pop era, Alice was kind enough to answer some of my questions in a recent °1824 press conference.
Growing up with a very musical family, studying music was an inseparable core part of her upbringing. Alice started playing classical music since she was 4, training for endlessly for hours each day. But despite her strong classical training and background, she always had a love for different genres of music. “My father introduced me to different genres, including jazz and pop,” Alice said, noting artists such as Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Queen, and The Beatles as one of her driving musical influences early on. And eventually, she discovered a love for hip hop, especially 2Pac and Drake. She has been really drawn to Drake’s music because of its strong storytelling and piano elements, which opened her eyes to how well hip hop and piano went together. Other notable favorites she mentioned include The Weeknd, Rhianna, and Billie Eilish, who all have played an influential role in guiding her down a path through pop music, finding her own voice, and shaping her musical destiny.
Besides being a virtuoso pianist and an accomplished singer, she is also an international fashion icon, and she gives it at the same obsessive level of artistry and care as her music. And I have always admired how she curates her personal style and how she envisions these elements into her musical world. She synthesizes art, fashion, and music together with her unmistakable signature charisma, charm, and poise. “Life is so versatile. Why should we be in one box forever? Sometimes we should get out of our comfort zone and just discover and be bold, be open, and have courage to experience to just do crazy things. This is what life is about,” she notes as she credits fashion as a considerable influence in her music and a gateway to how she views her world. “I love that for every different song, I could have a different style because I just love playing around with different styles and genres.” And her elegance and appeal have not gone unnoticed, as she has graced the pages of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and has collaborated with notable fashion houses such as Dior, Guerlain, and Roger Vivier.
“Dreamcatcher” evokes a stripped-down understated sense of cool. Her first single, “Slo-Mo,” calls back to the golden age of R&B of the late 90s and early aughts with her hypnotic expressive vocals and smooth laid-back production. “Lonely in Paris” charms the listener with its catchy bedroom city pop piano beat, followed the playful soulful energy of “Ladies Room.” And with “Game Show,” she finishes off the EP in dramatic fashion. Check out her new EP available on all streaming platforms.
- Carlo De Dios
