Nadia Ali
Encyclopedia
Nadia Ali is a Pakistani-American
singer-songwriter
, born in Libya
and raised in Queens, New York. She gained attention as the frontwoman and songwriter of the band iiO
, after their 2001 hit "Rapture
" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart
. The song also charted across several countries in Europe. Their 2006 single, "Is It Love?
", reached the top of the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play Chart.
After embarking on a solo career in 2005, Ali became successful as an oft-requested vocalist in electronic dance music
. She released her debut album Embers
in 2009. Critics praised her unique songwriting, which combined electronica
with ballads, Eastern and acoustic
music. Three singles from the album reached the top-ten of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart, including the No. 1 hit, "Love Story
". The song was also nominated at the International Dance Music Awards at the Winter Music Conference
, while "Fantasy
" was nominated for a Grammy award. She has collaborated with several notable producers and DJs, such as Armin van Buuren, Schiller
, BT
, John Creamer & Stephane K
and Avicii
.
to Pakistani parents in 1980. The family relocated when she was five years old and she was subsequently raised in Queens, New York. An eight year old Ali used any opportunity she could get to sing after a friend heard her humming a Madonna
song at school and complimented her. While continuing singing as a hobby and for the thrill of performing and receiving no formal vocal training, she had also started writing poems and songs for her friends by the time she was 15. As a teenager her interest in dance music developed after visiting nightclubs in Manhattan and inspired her to dream that she would one day be featured on one of the records playing in the club.
Ali started working in the New York
offices of Versace when she was 17, where she attracted attention by singing at the Christmas parties. A colleague from Versace introduced her to producer
Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his original production for a girl group
in Germany. The two teamed up with Moser working on production, while Ali wrote the lyrics and vocals for the songs. Her first song was the single "Rapture
", which she wrote in 30 minutes based on an encounter with an Australian nightclub patron. A demo of the song was first played at the New York club Twilo
in 2001 and received early support from influential DJ Pete Tong
who played the demo on his show Essential Mixes on BBC Radio 1
. The song eventually became an Ibiza favourite after support from prominent DJ's such as Sasha
, Danny Tenaglia
and Sander Kleinenberg during the summer season. Released in late 2001 by Ministry of Sound
, the single became a commercial success peaking at No. 2 on UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart, while charting in several countries in Europe. The success of "Rapture", Ali said, caused the formation of iiO as the music they were initially working on was quite different from dance music and were asked to come up with a project name to promote the single. They originally named themselves Vaiio after the Sony
VAIO
laptop
Ali used to write the lyrics on. The duo toured internationally and released several more singles, including "At the End
", "Runaway
", "Smooth
", and "Kiss You
". Their first studio album, Poetica
followed in 2005.
Ali left the group in 2005 to pursue a solo career, while Moser continued to release iiO material featuring her on vocals. Most notably, these releases include the 2006 single "Is It Love?
", which reached No. 1 in America on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart, the 2007 remix album Reconstruction Time: The Best Of iiO Remixed
and the 2011 studio album Exit 110. When asked about her decision to pursue a solo career, she said her time with iiO was a great learning experience but she decided to leave because she didn't want to restrict herself to one style of music but explore her creativity and also to have the freedom to collaborate with others artists.
Her decision to pursue a career as a singer was not initially encouraged by her Pakistani parents who were academically inclined and wanted her to pursue a more stable career. She has said since then they have evolved and are one of her biggest supporters. Speaking of her identity as a Pakistani and Muslim woman, she has said it is very important to her to set an example that they are able to contribute positively and capable of taking their career into their own hands. Explaining further, she said that she feels it as her responsibility to any women who are sometimes stereotyped to show that they can contribute to arts or any professional field. Her ethnicity, she has stated, has been an advantage and helped her stand out in the entertainment industry. She has said that over the years, she has met South Asian women who have told her that her story has inspired them to pursue something they loved.
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". Her first solo release was the 2006 single, "Who is Watching?", a collaboration with Dutch DJ
Armin van Buuren, which appeared on his album Shivers
. She has described "Who is Watching?" as one of her most meaningful songs, the song described one's struggle to reach the top, only to realise once one is there how lonely it is and how one has forgotten their priorities and the important people in their life. This was followed by "Something to Lose" in 2006, a duet with singer-songwriter Rosko
, produced by John Creamer & Stephane K
and released by Ultra Records. 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.
In June 2008, she released "Crash and Burn
", the first single from her solo album. The single became a club success peaking at No. 6 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart. She released the second single, "Love Story
" from the as-yet untitled album in February 2009. It 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 at the Winter Music Conference
. 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 No. 4 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart. 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. Embers generally received positive reviews, Chase Gran from About.com
called it a "well rounded, gourmet album with impressive songs". Gail Navarro from Racket magazine complimented Ali on her songwriting saying, "It wasn’t just her sultry sound mixed in together with that enchanting singing voice; her songwriting got me hook, line and sinker". Speaking about the self-release of the album, she has cited her creative independence and the pressure of deadlines as the main reasons why she created her own record label. She chose to release her singles and albums digitally citing the nature of the electronic music audience with the listener choosing to click a button and getting music instantly and the traditional method of distribution deals in the United States.
Ali released two collaborations in 2009, the first "Better Run" with Tocadisco was released on his album TOCA 128.0 FM, and "12 Wives In Tehran" with Serge Devant was released on his album Wanderer.
, chosen as the lead single from his album Atemlos
, the music video premiered on YouTube
in February 2010. In April 2010, Ali released "Fantasy
", the fourth single from Embers. The track was chosen as a single by her fans after a poll conducted by Ali on her Facebook
page. The music video for "Fantasy" was set to the Morgan Page
remix, which served as a prologue to Ali's next project; Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed. Speaking about the project, Ali mentioned that she wanted a remix compilation, which spanned the 10 years of her career from her one-half as iiO, to her solo album and collaborations. Explaining the name of the concept, she said she wanted to incorporate her upbringing in Queens and the fact that her music is predominantly played in nightclubs. Using that inspiration, she decided to use the playing card "Queen of Clubs
" as the title, portraying herself as the Queen, a move she described as "audacious" but something she felt she could prove because she had the substance. 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, Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery
and Avicii
amongst several other prominent DJs and producers.
With a decade-long career, MTV
described Ali as one of the "enduring empresses" of electronic dance music and the Queen of Clubs Trilogy as "aptly titled". Noted for being the "definitive" and "unmistakable" voice of dance music, she is said to have "enriched" and "invigorated" the genre. Billboard
praised her vocals for having "too much life on its own". Ali has went on to become an oft-requested collaborator by DJs and producers. She was praised for acquiring notability in a male and DJ-dominated genre where vocalists serve as supporting acts. In December 2010 she received her first Grammy nomination when the Morgan Page remix of "Fantasy" was nominated in the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category.
Her first track with iiO, "Rapture" was re-released as a single from Queen of Clubs Trilogy with remixes by Tristan Garner, Gareth Emery and Avicii. A new music video for the track was shot based on the "Queen of Clubs" theme and released on January 24, 2011. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Romanian Top 100
chart, while charting in other European countries.
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. Ali was featured on the track "Feels So Good" on Armin van Buuren's fourth album Mirage
. The song was released as the fifth single from the album on June 20, 2011. She was also a featured guest on his Armin Only
tour.
During 2011, Ali announced the release of collaborations 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 No. 5 on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart. The second track "Pressure
", a collaboration with Starkillers and Alex Kenji was released on February 15 by Spinnin' Records. The Alesso remix of "Pressure" became a club and festival anthem and received support from notable DJs such as Armin van Buuren, Tiesto
, Swedish House Mafia
and Calvin Harris
.
In April, iiO released the studio album Exit 110, which featured Ali on vocals. Speaking of the album, she distanced herself from it and stated she had no involvement in it besides her vocals and words from nearly 10 years ago being used for the songs. She described it as "interesting" that there was new material featuring her released by iiO when she hasn't worked with Moser since 2005. She further said that she hadn't spoken with Moser since then and when asked whether the split of iiO was amicable, she refused to explain the circumstances surrounding her departure.
On May 23, her next collaboration, "Free To Go" with Alex Sayz was released by Zouk Recordings. She was featured on Sander van Doorn
's second studio album Eleve11 on the track "Rolling the Dice", a collaboration between van Doorn, Sidney Samson
and her. Her next release was the single "Believe It" with the German duo Spencer & Hill, which was released on October 3 by Wall Recordings. She has also collaborated with Morgan Page
and BT
. As of November 2010, she is working on her second studio album. A music video for the lead single from the album, "When It Rains", was released on her YouTube channel on August 17 with a release date to be announced.
described her work as "masterfully encapsulating euphoric and melancholic, Ali’s signature music style sees Eastern mystique caressed with intelligent electronica
and fortified with soul
". The songs on Embers were likened to Madonna's work in her prime and a "modern re-intepretation" of Stevie Nicks. Ali has been influenced by an eclectic mix of artists, which she credits to her Eastern background and upbringing in Queens. She listed alternative, folk
, Indian and Pakistani music as her biggest influences. Some of her vocal and songwriting influences, she said, were Stevie Nicks
, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Madonna
, Sade
and Bono
.
Her debut album was noted for a blend of electronica, acoustic and Middle Eastern melodies. Speaking about Embers, Ali said she did not want a typical dance record and chose to experiment, particularly with the number of ballads on the album. Ali has collaborated with DJs from a broad range of genres and styles in electronic dance music. Some of the resulting work has been described as minimal trance, "sad disco" and "mainstream pop".
She has been praised for her songwriting, describing personal experiences with people, which "hit a powerful and striking chord" with the listener. Ali has said she almost always prefers to sing a song she has written herself and that the best songs are mostly written when they narrate a true account. The songs on Embers, Ali has stated, describe the relationships she has experienced and the emotions they have left behind. The song "Fantasy", she said, summed her up how she likes to be recognised, "an emotional songwriter who loves being a part of electronic music". Ali has said in the future she would like to focus more on production and songwriting and has written songs for Tocadisco, Avicii, Hardwell, Sultan & Ned Shepard, EDX and Pete tha Zouk.
Compilations
| style="text-align:center;"|2010
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|"Love Story
"
| Best Progressive/Tech House Track at International Dance Music Awards
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2011
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|"Fantasy (Morgan Page Remix)
"
| Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
at 53rd Grammy Awards
|
|-
Pakistani American
A Pakistani American is any citizen or resident of the United States who has Pakistani heritage.- History in the United States :Muslim immigrants from areas that are now part of Pakistan have been migrating to America and first entered the United States as early as the eighteenth century, working...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, born in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and raised in Queens, New York. She gained attention as the frontwoman and songwriter of the band iiO
IiO
iiO was a New York City-based house music act composed of singer-songwriter Nadia Ali and producer Markus Moser. The group gained prominence for its 2001 single "Rapture", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Following the success of "Rapture",...
, after their 2001 hit "Rapture
Rapture (iiO song)
"Rapture" is the first single the New York-based dance music duo iiO. Released in 2001, reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, reached the top-ten in six other countries and charted in several other countries. The song also became a dance floor hit in the United States reaching number two on...
" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The song also charted across several countries in Europe. Their 2006 single, "Is It Love?
Is It Love?
"Is It Love?" is the sixth single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart on October 21, 2006.-Track listing:...
", reached the top of the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play Chart.
After embarking on a solo career in 2005, Ali became successful as an oft-requested vocalist in electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
. She released her debut album Embers
Embers (album)
Embers is the debut album of Pakistani American singer-songwriter and former iiO front-woman Nadia Ali, released on September 15, 2009 by Smile in Bed Records. The album features Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number one single "Love Story", top 4 single "Fine Print" and top 6 single "Crash and Burn"...
in 2009. Critics praised her unique songwriting, which combined electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
with ballads, Eastern and acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
music. Three singles from the album reached the top-ten of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart, including the No. 1 hit, "Love Story
Love Story (Nadia Ali song)
"Love Story" is a song by Nadia Ali. It was released on March 10, 2009 as the second single from Ali's debut solo album Embers by Smile in Bed Records.-Love Story: Remixes:-Love Story: Les Remixes Noirs:-Awards and nominations:...
". The song was also nominated at the International Dance Music Awards at the Winter Music Conference
Winter Music Conference
The Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
, while "Fantasy
Fantasy (Nadia Ali song)
"Fantasy" is the fourth single from Nadia Ali's solo debut album Embers. It was released on April 27, 2010 by Smile in Bed Records.-Background:"Fantasy" is written by Nadia Ali and produced by Ali and the DJ duo Sultan and Ned Shepard...
" was nominated for a Grammy award. She has collaborated with several notable producers and DJs, such as Armin van Buuren, Schiller
Schiller (band)
Schiller is the main project of Christopher von Deylen , a German musician, composer and producer. He won the ECHO award in 2002 for the Best Dance Single of the Year.. Schiller has sold over 7 million albums worldwide.Christopher Von Deylen does not provide vocals for any of his compositions...
, BT
BT (musician)
Brian Wayne Transeau is a classically trained and Grammy-nominated American music producer, composer, audio technician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter better known by his stage name, BT. He is an artist in the electronic genre...
, John Creamer & Stephane K
John Creamer & Stephane K
John Creamer & Stephane K are international DJs, and as a duo, a New York City-based electronic music and house music production team. They are perhaps best known for creating original dance singles as well as dance remixes for artists such as iiO, Moby, New Order, Rosko and Sinéad O'Connor.-...
and Avicii
Avicii
Tim "The Phoenix" Bergling , known professionally as Avicii, Tim Berg, "Ashwin", "Yeshel", "Harshil" and Tom Hangs, is a Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer. His single "Bromance" has charted in the top 20 on the national single charts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and his native Sweden...
.
1980–2005: Early life and iiO
Nadia Ali was born in LibyaLibya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
to Pakistani parents in 1980. The family relocated when she was five years old and she was subsequently raised in Queens, New York. An eight year old Ali used any opportunity she could get to sing after a friend heard her humming a Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
song at school and complimented her. While continuing singing as a hobby and for the thrill of performing and receiving no formal vocal training, she had also started writing poems and songs for her friends by the time she was 15. As a teenager her interest in dance music developed after visiting nightclubs in Manhattan and inspired her to dream that she would one day be featured on one of the records playing in the club.
Ali started working in the New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
offices of Versace when she was 17, where she attracted attention by singing at the Christmas parties. A colleague from Versace introduced her to producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his original production for a girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
in Germany. The two teamed up with Moser working on production, while Ali wrote the lyrics and vocals for the songs. Her first song was the single "Rapture
Rapture (iiO song)
"Rapture" is the first single the New York-based dance music duo iiO. Released in 2001, reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, reached the top-ten in six other countries and charted in several other countries. The song also became a dance floor hit in the United States reaching number two on...
", which she wrote in 30 minutes based on an encounter with an Australian nightclub patron. A demo of the song was first played at the New York club Twilo
Twilo
Twilo was an American nightclub in operation from 1995 to 2001 in New York City and from 2006 to 2007 in Miami. The New York location at 530 West 27th Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan regularly attracted a crowd of thousands to its warehouse-like dance floor...
in 2001 and received early support from influential DJ Pete Tong
Pete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
who played the demo on his show Essential Mixes on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. The song eventually became an Ibiza favourite after support from prominent DJ's such as Sasha
Sasha (DJ)
Sasha is a Welsh DJ and record producer. Sasha began his career playing acid house dance music in the late 1980s...
, Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
and Sander Kleinenberg during the summer season. Released in late 2001 by Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
, the single became a commercial success peaking at No. 2 on UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart, while charting in several countries in Europe. The success of "Rapture", Ali said, caused the formation of iiO as the music they were initially working on was quite different from dance music and were asked to come up with a project name to promote the single. They originally named themselves Vaiio after the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
VAIO
VAIO
VAIO is a sub-brand used for many of Sony's computer products. Originally an acronym of Video Audio Integrated Operation, this was amended to Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer in 2008 to celebrate the brand's 10th anniversary...
laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
Ali used to write the lyrics on. The duo toured internationally and released several more singles, including "At the End
At The End
"At the End" is the 2nd single by New York house band iiO. It was released on October 22, 2002.-Official Remixes:* At the End * At the End * At the End...
", "Runaway
Runaway (iiO song)
*Maxi CD 2-Charts:-External links:* at Discogs...
", "Smooth
Smooth (iiO song)
"Smooth" is the third single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica.-Track listing:-Charts:-External links:* at discogs...
", and "Kiss You
Kiss You
"Kiss You" is the fifth single by New York house band iiO. It was released in 2005 and timed with the release of the band's debut album Poetica.-Track listing:-Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed:...
". Their first studio album, Poetica
Poetica
Poetica is a 2005 album by the New York City based house music act iiO.The album was delayed a couple of times, and released in March 2005, and June 2006 worldwide. It includes six singles, of which four were released before the album . "Kiss You" was released alongside the album, and "Is it Love"...
followed in 2005.
Ali left the group in 2005 to pursue a solo career, while Moser continued to release iiO material featuring her on vocals. Most notably, these releases include the 2006 single "Is It Love?
Is It Love?
"Is It Love?" is the sixth single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart on October 21, 2006.-Track listing:...
", which reached No. 1 in America on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart, the 2007 remix album Reconstruction Time: The Best Of iiO Remixed
Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed
Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed is a 2007 release by the group iiO. As the title implies, the album is a collection of remixes of the group's singles as well as a few other songs from the album Poetica.-Track listing:...
and the 2011 studio album Exit 110. When asked about her decision to pursue a solo career, she said her time with iiO was a great learning experience but she decided to leave because she didn't want to restrict herself to one style of music but explore her creativity and also to have the freedom to collaborate with others artists.
Her decision to pursue a career as a singer was not initially encouraged by her Pakistani parents who were academically inclined and wanted her to pursue a more stable career. She has said since then they have evolved and are one of her biggest supporters. Speaking of her identity as a Pakistani and Muslim woman, she has said it is very important to her to set an example that they are able to contribute positively and capable of taking their career into their own hands. Explaining further, she said that she feels it as her responsibility to any women who are sometimes stereotyped to show that they can contribute to arts or any professional field. Her ethnicity, she has stated, has been an advantage and helped her stand out in the entertainment industry. She has said that over the years, she has met South Asian women who have told her that her story has inspired them to pursue something they loved.
2006–09: Embers
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Armin van Buuren, which appeared on his album Shivers
Shivers (album)
Shivers is the second studio album by Dutch trance producer and DJ Armin van Buuren.-Track listing:-Credits:*Track 1: Vocals by Justine Suissa*Track 2: Vocals by Mic Burns. Vocals produced by Mic Burns....
. She has described "Who is Watching?" as one of her most meaningful songs, the song described one's struggle to reach the top, only to realise once one is there how lonely it is and how one has forgotten their priorities and the important people in their life. This was followed by "Something to Lose" in 2006, a duet with singer-songwriter Rosko
Rosko
Paul Eric Bosko, also known as Rosko, is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer. He is perhaps best known as a recording artist for his 2005 single "Love Is A Drug" which reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart, and was produced by John Creamer & Stephane K...
, produced by John Creamer & Stephane K
John Creamer & Stephane K
John Creamer & Stephane K are international DJs, and as a duo, a New York City-based electronic music and house music production team. They are perhaps best known for creating original dance singles as well as dance remixes for artists such as iiO, Moby, New Order, Rosko and Sinéad O'Connor.-...
and released by Ultra Records. The track was licensed to Roger Sanchez's
Roger Sanchez
Roger Sanchez, also known as Roger S. and The S Man, is a Grammy award-winning American House music DJ who has scored many hits in the European and World Charts...
Release Yourself, Vol. 5, as well as Sharam Tayebi of Deep Dish
Deep Dish
Deep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle,...
for his Global Underground
Global Underground
Global Underground is a music label founded in 1996 by Andy Horsfield and James Todd. The label symbolizes the international explosion of dance music during the 1990s and first manifesto for high-end DJs such as Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Danny Tenaglia, Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Darren...
debut Dubai.
In June 2008, she released "Crash and Burn
Crash and Burn (Nadia Ali song)
"Crash and Burn" is a song by Nadia Ali. It was released on June 17, 2008 as the first single from Ali's debut solo album Embers by Smile in Bed Records. The single reached the top 10 of Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart.-Track listing:-Charts:...
", the first single from her solo album. The single became a club success peaking at No. 6 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart. She released the second single, "Love Story
Love Story (Nadia Ali song)
"Love Story" is a song by Nadia Ali. It was released on March 10, 2009 as the second single from Ali's debut solo album Embers by Smile in Bed Records.-Love Story: Remixes:-Love Story: Les Remixes Noirs:-Awards and nominations:...
" from the as-yet untitled album in February 2009. It 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 at the Winter Music Conference
Winter Music Conference
The Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
. 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
Fine Print (Nadia Ali song)
"Fine Print" is a song by Nadia Ali. It was released on July 1, 2009 as the third single from Ali's debut solo album Embers by Smile in Bed Records.-Track listing:-Charts:-External links:* at iTunes...
" was released in July 2009. Ali announced that the single preceded the release of her debut solo album Embers
Embers (album)
Embers is the debut album of Pakistani American singer-songwriter and former iiO front-woman Nadia Ali, released on September 15, 2009 by Smile in Bed Records. The album features Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number one single "Love Story", top 4 single "Fine Print" and top 6 single "Crash and Burn"...
. The single peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart. 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. Embers generally received positive reviews, Chase Gran from About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
called it a "well rounded, gourmet album with impressive songs". Gail Navarro from Racket magazine complimented Ali on her songwriting saying, "It wasn’t just her sultry sound mixed in together with that enchanting singing voice; her songwriting got me hook, line and sinker". Speaking about the self-release of the album, she has cited her creative independence and the pressure of deadlines as the main reasons why she created her own record label. She chose to release her singles and albums digitally citing the nature of the electronic music audience with the listener choosing to click a button and getting music instantly and the traditional method of distribution deals in the United States.
Ali released two collaborations in 2009, the first "Better Run" with Tocadisco was released on his album TOCA 128.0 FM, and "12 Wives In Tehran" with Serge Devant was released on his album Wanderer.
2010–present: Queen of Clubs Trilogy and other projects
Ali's first release in 2010 was the track "Try", a collaboration with German producer SchillerSchiller (band)
Schiller is the main project of Christopher von Deylen , a German musician, composer and producer. He won the ECHO award in 2002 for the Best Dance Single of the Year.. Schiller has sold over 7 million albums worldwide.Christopher Von Deylen does not provide vocals for any of his compositions...
, chosen as the lead single from his album Atemlos
Atemlos
Atemlos is the sixth studio album of German Electronica and Global Pop artist Christopher Von Deylen under his principle project "Schiller". The album was released on March 12, 2010...
, the music video premiered on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in February 2010. In April 2010, Ali released "Fantasy
Fantasy (Nadia Ali song)
"Fantasy" is the fourth single from Nadia Ali's solo debut album Embers. It was released on April 27, 2010 by Smile in Bed Records.-Background:"Fantasy" is written by Nadia Ali and produced by Ali and the DJ duo Sultan and Ned Shepard...
", the fourth single from Embers. The track was chosen as a single by her fans after a poll conducted by Ali on her Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page. The music video for "Fantasy" was set to the Morgan Page
Morgan Page
Morgan Page is an American progressive house and electro house DJ from Los Angeles. His most widely recognized track is "The Longest Road," featuring Lissie, which was included on his debut album Elevate, released in March 2008. The Deadmau5 remix was nominated for a Grammy...
remix, which served as a prologue to Ali's next project; Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed. Speaking about the project, Ali mentioned that she wanted a remix compilation, which spanned the 10 years of her career from her one-half as iiO, to her solo album and collaborations. Explaining the name of the concept, she said she wanted to incorporate her upbringing in Queens and the fact that her music is predominantly played in nightclubs. Using that inspiration, she decided to use the playing card "Queen of Clubs
Queen (playing card)
The Queen is a playing card with a picture of a queen on it. The usual rank of a queen is as if it were 12 ....
" as the title, portraying herself as the Queen, a move she described as "audacious" but something she felt she could prove because she had the substance. The package was broken into three releases: Ruby Edition
Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Ruby Edition
Queens of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed is a three-part compilation of remixed tracks by singer-songwriter Nadia Ali. The albums feature songs from her time as one-half of iiO and her subsequent solo career. The compilation celebrates Ali's decade-long career as a musician...
(August 2010), Onyx Edition
Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx Edition
Queens of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx Edition is the second installment in the Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed, a compilation of remixes of tracks by singer-songwriter Nadia Ali...
(October 2010) and Diamond Edition
Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Diamond Edition
Queens of Clubs Trilogy: Diamond Edition is a remix album by singer-songwriter Nadia Ali. The Diamond Edition is the final installment in Ali's three-part compilation, Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed...
(December 2010). It featured collaborations with, and remixes by, Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery
Gareth Emery
Gareth Emery is a trance-genre producer and DJ. In 2011 he was voted the #13 DJ in the world by DJ Mag Poll.-Background:...
and Avicii
Avicii
Tim "The Phoenix" Bergling , known professionally as Avicii, Tim Berg, "Ashwin", "Yeshel", "Harshil" and Tom Hangs, is a Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer. His single "Bromance" has charted in the top 20 on the national single charts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and his native Sweden...
amongst several other prominent DJs and producers.
I think the fact that it (electronic dance music) is mostly male dominated makes females stand out that much more if they are driven enough. I believe anything is possible with hard work.– Nadia Ali
With a decade-long career, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
described Ali as one of the "enduring empresses" of electronic dance music and the Queen of Clubs Trilogy as "aptly titled". Noted for being the "definitive" and "unmistakable" voice of dance music, she is said to have "enriched" and "invigorated" the genre. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
praised her vocals for having "too much life on its own". Ali has went on to become an oft-requested collaborator by DJs and producers. She was praised for acquiring notability in a male and DJ-dominated genre where vocalists serve as supporting acts. In December 2010 she received her first Grammy nomination when the Morgan Page remix of "Fantasy" was nominated in the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category.
Her first track with iiO, "Rapture" was re-released as a single from Queen of Clubs Trilogy with remixes by Tristan Garner, Gareth Emery and Avicii. A new music video for the track was shot based on the "Queen of Clubs" theme and released on January 24, 2011. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Romanian Top 100
Romanian Top 100
The Romanian Top 100 is the national airplay-based singles chart of Romania. It is weekly and it started running in 1996. It is recognized as an official chart by the European division of Billboard, Music & Media....
chart, while charting in other European countries.
Throughout 2010, Ali's collaborations with DJs and producers were released. These included remixes of her upcoming collaboration "That Day" with Dresden and Johnston
Dresden and Johnston
Dresden and Johnston are an American DJ and production duo composed of Dave Dresden of Gabriel & Dresden and Mikael Johnston of Mephisto Odyssey.-History:...
, which were released on compilation albums. The next, "The Notice" with Swiss duo Chris Reece was released on July 13 on all digital retailers. Ali was featured on the track "Feels So Good" on Armin van Buuren's fourth album Mirage
Mirage (Armin van Buuren album)
Mirage is the fourth studio album by Dutch trance producer and DJ Armin van Buuren, it was released on September 10, 2010. It was preceded by the release of the lead single, "Full Focus" on June 24, 2010...
. The song was released as the fifth single from the album on June 20, 2011. She was also a featured guest on his Armin Only
Armin Only
Armin Only is an all-night dance event featuring solo performance by Armin van Buuren. The event consists of various genres of electronic dance music , light, laser and firework shows and supporting acts of vocalists such as Nadia Ali, Racoon, Ilse de Lange, and Audrey Gallagher.-Album promotion:In...
tour.
During 2011, Ali announced the release of collaborations 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 No. 5 on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart. The second track "Pressure
Pressure (Nadia Ali song)
"Pressure" is a song by Nadia Ali, Starkillers & Alex Kenji. It was released on February 15, 2011 by Spinnin' Records. The song reached No. 16 on the Ultratip Chart in Walonia, Belgium.-Background:...
", a collaboration with Starkillers and Alex Kenji was released on February 15 by Spinnin' Records. The Alesso remix of "Pressure" became a club and festival anthem and received support from notable DJs such as Armin van Buuren, Tiesto
Tiësto
Tijs Michiel Verwest, , known as Tiësto , is a Dutch musician, DJ and record producer of electronic dance music. Although he has used many aliases in the past, he is best known for his work as DJ Tiësto...
, Swedish House Mafia
Swedish House Mafia
Swedish House Mafia is a Swedish House Music group consisting of the three disc jockeys and producers; Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. The group officially formed in late 2008....
and Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
.
In April, iiO released the studio album Exit 110, which featured Ali on vocals. Speaking of the album, she distanced herself from it and stated she had no involvement in it besides her vocals and words from nearly 10 years ago being used for the songs. She described it as "interesting" that there was new material featuring her released by iiO when she hasn't worked with Moser since 2005. She further said that she hadn't spoken with Moser since then and when asked whether the split of iiO was amicable, she refused to explain the circumstances surrounding her departure.
On May 23, her next collaboration, "Free To Go" with Alex Sayz was released by Zouk Recordings. She was featured on Sander van Doorn
Sander van Doorn
Sander van Doorn Sander van Doorn Sander van Doorn (born Sander Ketelaars [] on February 28, 1979 in Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands is a Dutch tech trance DJ and producer...
's second studio album Eleve11 on the track "Rolling the Dice", a collaboration between van Doorn, Sidney Samson
Sidney Samson
Sidney Samson is a Dutch DJ and dance musician. Samson started DJing at the age of 13, focusing on hip-hop music before working seriously on house music from 1999. He is a resident DJ at The Matrixx, a major Dutch nightclub and released "Bring That Beat Back" and "It’s all funked up" on the...
and her. Her next release was the single "Believe It" with the German duo Spencer & Hill, which was released on October 3 by Wall Recordings. She has also collaborated with Morgan Page
Morgan Page
Morgan Page is an American progressive house and electro house DJ from Los Angeles. His most widely recognized track is "The Longest Road," featuring Lissie, which was included on his debut album Elevate, released in March 2008. The Deadmau5 remix was nominated for a Grammy...
and BT
BT (musician)
Brian Wayne Transeau is a classically trained and Grammy-nominated American music producer, composer, audio technician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter better known by his stage name, BT. He is an artist in the electronic genre...
. As of November 2010, she is working on her second studio album. A music video for the lead single from the album, "When It Rains", was released on her YouTube channel on August 17 with a release date to be announced.
Musical style and influences
Ali is perhaps most strongly known for her "enchanting singing voice", "lyrical depth and eloquence" and the "omnipresent quality" in her delivery. Reema Kumari Jadeja from MOBOMobo
Mobo can refer to:*Shorthand for the motherboard in computers and other electronic equipment*Shorthand for a mobile [network] operator or MNO *Shorthand for a mobile bohemian, a person who embraces mobile technology...
described her work as "masterfully encapsulating euphoric and melancholic, Ali’s signature music style sees Eastern mystique caressed with intelligent electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and fortified with soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
". The songs on Embers were likened to Madonna's work in her prime and a "modern re-intepretation" of Stevie Nicks. Ali has been influenced by an eclectic mix of artists, which she credits to her Eastern background and upbringing in Queens. She listed alternative, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, Indian and Pakistani music as her biggest influences. Some of her vocal and songwriting influences, she said, were Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Sade
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
and Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
.
Her debut album was noted for a blend of electronica, acoustic and Middle Eastern melodies. Speaking about Embers, Ali said she did not want a typical dance record and chose to experiment, particularly with the number of ballads on the album. Ali has collaborated with DJs from a broad range of genres and styles in electronic dance music. Some of the resulting work has been described as minimal trance, "sad disco" and "mainstream pop".
She has been praised for her songwriting, describing personal experiences with people, which "hit a powerful and striking chord" with the listener. Ali has said she almost always prefers to sing a song she has written herself and that the best songs are mostly written when they narrate a true account. The songs on Embers, Ali has stated, describe the relationships she has experienced and the emotions they have left behind. The song "Fantasy", she said, summed her up how she likes to be recognised, "an emotional songwriter who loves being a part of electronic music". Ali has said in the future she would like to focus more on production and songwriting and has written songs for Tocadisco, Avicii, Hardwell, Sultan & Ned Shepard, EDX and Pete tha Zouk.
Discography
Studio albums- EmbersEmbers (album)Embers is the debut album of Pakistani American singer-songwriter and former iiO front-woman Nadia Ali, released on September 15, 2009 by Smile in Bed Records. The album features Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number one single "Love Story", top 4 single "Fine Print" and top 6 single "Crash and Burn"...
(2009)
Compilations
- Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Ruby EditionQueen of Clubs Trilogy: Ruby EditionQueens of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed is a three-part compilation of remixed tracks by singer-songwriter Nadia Ali. The albums feature songs from her time as one-half of iiO and her subsequent solo career. The compilation celebrates Ali's decade-long career as a musician...
(2010) - Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx EditionQueen of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx EditionQueens of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx Edition is the second installment in the Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed, a compilation of remixes of tracks by singer-songwriter Nadia Ali...
(2010) - Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Diamond EditionQueen of Clubs Trilogy: Diamond EditionQueens of Clubs Trilogy: Diamond Edition is a remix album by singer-songwriter Nadia Ali. The Diamond Edition is the final installment in Ali's three-part compilation, Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed...
(2010)
Awards and nominations
|-| style="text-align:center;"|2010
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|"Love Story
Love Story (Nadia Ali song)
"Love Story" is a song by Nadia Ali. It was released on March 10, 2009 as the second single from Ali's debut solo album Embers by Smile in Bed Records.-Love Story: Remixes:-Love Story: Les Remixes Noirs:-Awards and nominations:...
"
| Best Progressive/Tech House Track at International Dance Music Awards
Winter Music Conference
The Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2011
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|"Fantasy (Morgan Page Remix)
Fantasy (Nadia Ali song)
"Fantasy" is the fourth single from Nadia Ali's solo debut album Embers. It was released on April 27, 2010 by Smile in Bed Records.-Background:"Fantasy" is written by Nadia Ali and produced by Ali and the DJ duo Sultan and Ned Shepard...
"
| Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
The Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical is an honor presented to producers for quality remixed recordings at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
at 53rd Grammy Awards
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
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