She is modern R&B’s definitive rags to riches story. Raised on New York’s mean streets, the mixed race daughter of a single mother, Alicia Keys has matched soul influences, personal confession and classical music training to become a 30 million-selling, Grammy
Award-winning star.

In her limousine, travelling to rehearsals for the latest stage of the tour to promote her recent fourth album The Element Of Freedom, Alicia is a sanguine presence, the diva at the centre of an impressively smooth- running company.

“I have an incredible group of people to help put the show together,” says the 29-year-old. “Everybody has their part to play in making it work. It’s a very exciting process. I’m making changes constantly, and it’s like seeingdrawings come to life.”

Freedom became Alicia’s first chart-topping album in the UK and its themes are at the centre of the new show.

“Everytime I go out and perform, it changes,” says Alicia. “I get better because I’ve learned a lot and I know how I want things to work.”

The fruits of her efforts will be seen when she arrives in the UK this week.

“The show is a process that takes time to come together,” Alicia explains.
“At first I’m observing, watching in a critiquing way. You hit your stride after four or five shows. I used to dream about this. Even before I knew about the power of positive projection, I definitely dreamed hard enough to create it.”

So how has stardom changed her?

“I’ve learned,” smiles Alicia. “I’ve got more experience, but fundamentally I’m still the same person. I’ve just become smarter, wiser, more aware how to conduct my business, what works for me and what doesn’t.

“But people tell me all the time that I’m still the same person they’ve always known. My circle of friends is a nice mixture. There are people I have known for a very long time and friends I’ve made over the years in music. But the majority of my friends are from my childhood.”

The tough exterior Alicia developed to protect her art and enable her to make the journey from the mean streets to celebrity served her well.

Raised by a single parent, she has only recently developed a relationship with her father, but she feels growing up without a dad didn’t harm her at all.

“I think the idea we are meant to have a perfect little house with one older brother, one younger sister, a dog and two parents isn’t always the case,” she says.

“I had a really strong, driven mother. I think my upbringing was very positive and showed me a lot about life. I feel really blessed about the way I was raised.

“Family comes in many varieties, I think that’s what makes it beautiful.”

The limousine has arrived at the venue and it’s time for Alicia to offer her farewell. She steps out and goes back to making more of her dreams come true.