Who can forget the breakthrough album "Acoustic Soul" by India.Arie? Its intelligent and honest lyrics, soulful voice and elegant guitar lines earned 9 Grammy nominations -- the second highest number of nominations ever. If India.Arie had recorded no other album after "Acoustic Soul," she still would have been remembered as one of the most successful new artists in history.
Fortunately, India.Arie did record a second album, and it rivals the creative power of "Acoustic Soul." As its metaphorical title suggests, "Voyage to India" is an album of self-discovery that depicts a more mature artist. India continues the theme of self-love that is found in "Acoustic Soul," expanding this repertoire to include reflections on important persons in her life.
Judging by her devotion to the theme of self-love, one would suspect that India.Arie had a difficult and tumultuous life preceding her rise to stardom. To most people's surprise, the opposite is true, for her rise to stardom was a simple and expeditious process -- especially in comparison to such artists as John Mayer, Norah Jones and Mark Melloan, all of whom certainly paid their dues.
Born India Simpson in Denver, the daughter of former basketball star Ralph Simpson, India.Arie showed an interest in music and played several instruments. After her 13th birthday, her family moved to Atlanta and her pursuit of music continued. Still, she had yet to develop an interest in the skills of her future career -- guitar and song writing.
India.Arie later moved to Savannah to attend a local college. She began taking guitar lessons on the advice of her mother and her interests in music suddenly burgeoned. In time, she forged her own style and sound with the malleable instrument and she moved back to Atlanta in order to become a performing artist.
She contributed one original song to a compilation album of Atlanta-based artists, earning her an invitation to perform at the Lilith Fair in 1998. Her invigorating performance there caught the attention of Universal/Motown, who offered her a recording contract. After two years of tedious production, her debut album "Acoustic Soul" was released. Then came
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