Now I am willing and able - I have the head and the fearlessness to be in that space - and we could share and tease pieces on this new music that was coming. We talked about things that I haven’t before. I had the “Untold Stories” series with YouTube which opened the door to people seeing their way into my growth, my thought process, where I am. This piece, “Keys,” just came more organically. This one, though, save for hints and a few appearances - nothing. We know when a next Alicia Keys album is coming a long time before you drop it because you ramp up with singles, branding connections, press. VARIETY: You normally don’t do stealth album drops. Then there is the “Unlocked’ version of “Keys,” a fully arranged production where “me and my brother Mike Will Made-It re-imagined the ‘Original’, sampled it and created a new perspective.”Īlong with Mike Will Made-It, “Keys” plays host to Swae Lee, Pusha T, Lil Wayne, Khalid and Lucky Daye, along with the pianist’s new best friend, Brandi Carlile, with whom Keys just got Grammy-nominated for song of the year for their election-inspired single, “A Beautiful Noise.”

Alicia keys as i am album cover