Join us for episode two of Upgrade Yourself Live featuring intimate conversation and Q+A with Alicaì Harley.
For 25 year-old Alicai Harley, music is her getaway, her refuge, her spirit – and the tool through which she’s telling her story to the world. Born in Jamaica but raised in south London, she has been submerged with a culture of music for as long as she can remember – which was evident when she’d accompany her older brothers to the studio from the tender age of eight to learn and immerse herself in the environment.
Raised on a blend of dancehall and R&B, she cites her three biggest inspirations as Buju Banton, Lady Saw and Beyoncé. “They were my core in terms of tone, being able to sing. I admired the way Buju and Lady Saw could ride a beat and knew where the pockets were. I liked the journey their music took me on too,” she says. “And through her whole career, watching Beyoncé’s work rate, she’s got to a phase where she’s doing so many things – that’s the kind of energy I want.”