Fireside Chat

Alice Russell

Little Poppet, Brighton

'Music Takes Me Up', Alice Russell sings on her Ninja Tune released collaboration with Mr. Scruff, but in her case it's safe to say this works both ways: Any track she sings on is elevated to a whole new level. Be it as singer for Quantic or as the lead singer for the stage-filling Quantic Soul Orchestra, or her spot covering the White Stripes with Nostalgia 77, or her solo records, her passion and enthusiasm shine bright and, yes, soulful in a genre that is all too often plagued by trite nostalgia. Born the daughter of an organist, you could say that music is her first language, and she speaks it with fluent grace as she moves through more genres than you can shake a stick at. A fixture in the closely-knit Brighton scene and the international touring circuit, her powerful performances have a way of transfixing audiences and fellow artists alike so it's no wonder that music is indeed taking her up where she belongs. For this Fireside Chat she sat down with us to talk about some of the most remarkable tracks and moments of her career.