A voice initially heard by women around the world has developed into a voice heard by people around the world. With strong support from the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Stevie Wonder, India continues to write and sing music that touches the hearts of all that hear it.
“Ms. Arie’s music only further enhances her reputation as an artist of substance.”
– New York Times
In between touring and writing music, India.Arie finds the time to help promote things close to her heart. As the spokesperson for the National Museum of African American Music, Ms. Arie is deeply engaged in finding ways to use her music to make a difference in the lives of many. A former ambassador for UNICEF she has traveled to Africa several times addressing the AIDS crisis there and was featured in a VH1 documentary entitled Tracking The Monster: Ashley Judd & India.Arie Confront AIDS In Africa.
“Putting spiritual and empowering ideals into music concepts, that’s always been the core message of my music—and while it seemed that I was talking to others, the truth is that it was my message to myself because I was yearning to know the peace of a self-defined life.”
– India.Arie
India has played alongside Stevie Wonder, Sting, Elton John, Better Midler, Michael McDonald and others just to name a few. She has written with Stevie Wonder (“A Time For Love,” the title track for his last album) and has been featured on various songs including John Mellencamp’s “Peaceful World.” She has performed on such prestigious TV specials as The Kennedy Center Honors, The NAACP Awards and The Grammy Awards. An animated India.Arie has even appeared on Blues Clues Blues and she danced with Elmo on Sesame Street’s home DVD Healthy Happy Monsters. Her songs have been featured in motion pictures, including; A Shark’s Tale, Diary Of A Mad Black Woman and Sex In the City.
India.Arie’s recently expanded Soulbird, her label imprint, into a multi-faceted company housing her other entrepreneurial endeavors: jewelry, apparel, merchandise, film and TV, music and book publishing. She has also released a new single entitled, “Breathe.” The song, inspired by the death of Eric Garner and written in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives was co-written and co-produced by India.Arie and Aaron Lindsey. In only that way that we’ve come to expect, India sings this song to grieve those we have lost while powerfully affirming life.
Griots Republic is honored that India has decided to lend her energy and voice to #BlackTravel: The Anthology. As the writer of our foreword, her perspective on Blackness, life and travel can be summed up in one quote:
“TAKE THE LEAP and let life show you that no matter where you come from, or what you’ve been through, you are WORTHY OF THE WORLD.
GO! IT IS SO WORTH IT! YOU ARE SO WORTH IT!”
– India.Arie
