Nadia Ali (Urdu: نادیہ علی; born August 3, 1980) is a Pakistani-American singer-songwriter and the former front-woman and songwriter of the band iiO, whose 2001 hit "Rapture" reached number two on the UK Singles chart. Embarking on a solo career in 2005, Ali has garnered much success. Her single "Love Story" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart, while "Fantasy" was nominated for a Grammy award. She has also collaborated with several prominent producers and DJs such as Armin van Buuren, Schiller, BT and John Creamer & Stephane K.
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Early years
Nadia Ali was born in Libya to Pakistani parents in 1980. The family relocated to Queens, New York shortly after and has remained there ever since.[1]
A 17-year-old Ali was working in the New York offices of Versace, and aspiring to start a music career when a co-worker introduced her to producer Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his original dance music production.[2] The two teamed up and started a group that was originally named Vaiio, named after the Sony laptop Ali was working on. They later dropped the "va" to avoid causing problems in the future with Sony.[3] Working with Moser, she wrote the lyrics and the vocals for the songs. The single charted at number 2 on UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart.[4][5] After the success of the 2001 hit "Rapture", the single was remixed many times by the likes of Paul van Dyk, Armin van Buuren, John Creamer & Stephane K, and Deep Dish with bootleg and white label remixes emerging as well. The duo toured internationally and released several more singles, including "At the End", "Runaway", "Smooth", and "Kiss You". An album, Poetica followed in 2005.[6]
Ali left the group in 2005 to pursue a solo career, while Moser continues to release iiO material featuring her on vocals. Most notably, these releases include the 2006 single "Is It Love?", which reached number one in America on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart[7], the 2007 Album Reconstruction Time: The Best Of iiO Remixed[8] and the 2011 album Exit 110[9].
Solo career
After leaving iiO, Ali toured extensively and collaborated with prominent DJs and producers. The first, "Who Is Watching?", was a collaboration with Armin van Buuren, which appeared on his 2005 album Shivers. Followed by "Something to Lose" in 2006, a duet with singer-songwriter Rosko, produced by John Creamer & Stephane K and released by Ultra Records. Championed on the UK's BBC Radio 1 by influential DJ Pete Tong,[10] the track was licensed to Roger Sanchez's Release Yourself, Vol. 5, as well as Sharam Tayebi of Deep Dish for his Global Underground debut Dubai.
[edit]2008-2009: Embers
Ali started working on her debut solo album soon after leaving iiO, a process which took her four years. She attributed the delay to her busy tour schedule and the fact that she was still learning and 'trying to establish her identity as a songwriter and co-producer'.[11][12] The first single from the album was "Crash and Burn", released in June '2008. The single became a club success peaking at number 6 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart.[13]
In February '2009, she released the second single, "Love Story" from the yet unnamed album. The single topped Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart in April '2009 and was nominated for the Best Progressive/House Track at the 2010 International Dance Music Awards.[14][15] Ali was featured on MTV Iggy in March 2009, where she recorded three live acoustic videos, performing "Rapture", "Crash and Burn" and "Love Story".
The third single "Fine Print" was released in July '2009. Ali announced that the single preceded the release of her debut solo album Embers. The single peaked at number 4 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart.[16]
Embers was released in September '2009. Co-produced by Sultan & Ned Shepard, Alex Sayz and Scott Fritz, Ali self-released the album on her own label, Smile in Bed Records.[17] Embers generally received positive reviews, About called it a 'well rounded album, with gourmet songs'.[18] Racket magazine complimented Ali on her songwriting saying, "It wasn’t just her sultry sound mixed in together with that enchanting singing voice; it was her songwriting that got me hook, line and sinker".[19] A reviewer at Sputnik music said while the album 'fails in memorability', it captures the listener with 'heart-felt lyrics, and smooth sailing'.[20] The reviewer further said the album was 'oddly appealing' and 'given time, the album grows on you'.
Soon after the release of Embers, Ali's collaborations with several DJs were released. Her song, "Better Run", with Tocadisco was released online in September '2009 on Tocadisco's album TOCA 128.0 FM and the single was released in January '2010. "12 Wives In Tehran" with Serge Devant was released on his album Wanderer in June '2009, and the single was released in December '2009.
2010-present: Queen of Clubs Trilogy and other projects
Ali's first release in 2010 was the track "Try", a collaboration with German producer Schiller, chosen as the lead single from his album Atemlos, the music video premiered on YouTube in February '2010.[21] She was also a featured guest on his "Atemlos" tour.
In April '2010, Ali released "Fantasy", the fourth single from her Embers. Remixed by several DJs, the Morgan Page remix of Fantasy was nominated for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 53rd Grammy Awards. The music video for "Fantasy" was set to the Page remix, which served as prologue to Ali's next project -the Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed. The trilogy marked Ali's decade in Electronic Dance Music and her 'unrivalled contributions to club culture'.[22] Speaking about the project, Ali mentioned that she wanted a remix compilation, which spanned from her one-half as iiO, to her solo album and her collaborations with prominent DJs.[23] Explaining further about the name of the concept, she said she wanted to incorporate the fact that she grew up in Queens and that her music is predominantly played in clubs.[24] Using that inspiration she decided to use the character "Queen of Clubs" from the deck of cards, a move she described as 'audacious' but something she felt she could prove because she had the substance.[25]
The package was broken into three releases - Ruby Edition (August 2010), Onyx Edition (October 2010) and Diamond Edition (December 2010). It featured collaborations with, and remixes by several prominent DJs and Producers. Notable ones included Armin van Buuren, Tocadisco, Schiller, Gareth Emery, Avicii, Morgan Page, Sultan & Ned Shepard, DJ Shah, TyDi, Myon & Shane 54, Andy Moor, Dave Dresden, Afrojack, the Scumfrog, Alex Sayz, Starkillers and Max Graham.
She also re-released "Rapture" with remixes by Tristan Garner, Gareth Emery and Avicii, which were featured on the Queen of Clubs Trilogy. "Rapture" was released as a single and licensed to Armada Music and Ministry of Sound for worldwide release and was featured on several compilations. A new music video for the track was shot based on the "Queen of Clubs" theme and released on January 24, 2011.[26][27]
Throughout 2010, Ali's collaborations with DJs and Producers were released. These included remixes of her upcoming collaboration "That Day" with Dresden and Johnston, which were released on compilation albums. The next, "The Notice" with Swiss duo Chris Reece was released on July 13 on all digital retailers.[28] Ali was featured on the track "Feels So Good" on Armin van Buuren's fourth album Mirage. The track was announced as the fifth single from the album, due to be released in spring 2011. She is also a featured guest on his Armin Only tour.[29]
During 2011, Ali will be releasing tracks with several DJs and producers. The first of these was "Call My Name" with the duo Sultan & Ned Shepard, released by Harem Records on February 9. "Call My Name" has been a club success, charting at number 5 on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart.[30] The second "Pressure" with Starkillers and Alex Kenji was released on February 15 by Spinnin' Records. Ali will also be featured on Morgan Page's upcoming third album.[31] Other collaborators include BT, Sander van Doorn, Sidney Samson and Alex Sayz.[32]
As of April 2011, Ali is working on her second artist album and an experimental acoustic project.[33] On April 25, Ali announced that the first single from her upcoming dance album will be called "Such Love", with a release date to be announced in summer 2011. The music video for the single was shot in Hawaii in April '2011.[34]
Musical Style and Influences
Ali has been an influenced by an eclectic mix of artists, which she credits to her Eastern background and growing up in Queens.[35][36] She lists her main influences as Radiohead, Stevie Nicks, Sade, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, U2, Madonna, Led Zeppelin, Carole King, Carly Simon, and The Beatles.[37][38] She is perhaps most strongly known for her 'enchanting singing voice' and the 'omnipresent quality' in her delivery.[39][40] Her work has been likened to Madonna's in her prime and a 'modern re-intepretation' of Stevie Nicks.[41][42]
Her debut album was noted for a blend of electronica, acoustic and Middle Eastern melodies.[43][44] Ali has stated herself that with Embers she didn't want a typical dance record and chose to experiment particularly with the number of ballads on the album.[45] She has been noted for her songwriting, describing personal experiences, which 'hit a powerful and striking chord' with the listeners.[46] The songs on Embers, Ali has stated, describe the relationships she has experienced and the emotions they have left behind.[47]
With her collaborations, Ali has been known to work with a producers from a broad range of genres and styles in electronic dance music, which have been described as "minimal trance"[48], "sad disco"[49], house with a "Miami" sound [50] to "mainstream pop".[51]
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