Macy Gray
For Grammy winning R&B songwriter & vocalist Macy Gray, the title of her new album, Big, is appropriate on many levels.
“I’m a big woman,” says the six-foot songbird, but the word “big” hardly begins to describe her coarse, sultry, one-of-a-kind voice, which quickly brought her worldwide recognition. Her first album, On How Life Is, garnered her 1999 Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Performance. Then in 2000, she won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for both Record of the Year & Song of the Year for “I Try,” one of the year’s biggest singles.
“Big” also describes Gray’s popularity worldwide. Her first album went triple platinum in the U.S. and Canada, and quadruple platinum in the U.K., selling over seven million copies worldwide. She has continued to tour and enjoy a huge fan base in Europe and across the globe. “I’m starting my tour [to promote] the new album in Europe.” She cites London and Rome as two of her favorite cities. “The fans over there are great,” she says.
After a nearly four-year hiatus from the recording studio, Gray got together with old friend & producer will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, who recently produced fellow bandmate Fergie’s mega-hit solo album, The Dutchess for his label, Will.I.Am Music Group/Geffen Records. He is currently working with music legend Michael Jackson on his comeback album, and he has recently worked on projects with Rihanna, the Pussycat Dolls and Hilary Duff, among others. “I’ve known Will for about eight years now,” she said. “He’s like a little brother to me.”
For her new album, Gray decided to take will.i.am’s advice and collaborate with other songwriters, artists and producers. As a result, many top music pros came together to make Gray’s fourth studio album a musical event. “With this record I wanted to try to get some different energy. It’s been a really great learning experience and we got some incredible performances,” she said.
As co-producers, Gray and will.i.am share an interest in many different styles of music and this is reflected in the album, which is the second release under will.i.am’s label deal with Geffen Records. Geffen Chairman Ron Fair, who produced Mary J. Blige’s triple Grammy award-winning The Breakthrough as well as Christina Aguilera and the Pussycat Dolls, also worked closely on the project.
For Big, Gray puts her unique set of vocal cords through their paces, with the help of some of today’s music industry giants such as Justin Timberlake, Fergie and Natalie Cole, who sings backup vocals on the album’s first single, “Finally Made Me Happy.” “I’m a huge fan of all the people I worked with,” she says. “Natalie Cole is a legend and Justin (Timberlake) is really intense and talented. We had a great time making this record and I know everyone’s going to love it.”
In addition to her impressive musical credentials, Gray has found the time to become an accomplished and busy actress. Her first acting job was with no less than Denzel Washington in 2001’s Training Day. Since then she has starred in such movies as Spider-Man, Scary Movie 3, Lackawanna Blues, Domino and most recently Déjà Vu (again with Denzel Washington), for which she also performs “Coming Back to You” for the movie’s soundtrack. “I’ve had a ball,” she said. “I’ve been lucky that I’ve gotten some really good roles. Working with Denzel was a lot of fun.” Although she has recently been focused on recording, she says she’ll be back to the movies soon. “I took a break from the movies so I could work on my record, but when I go out on tour I’ll be taking some scripts with me.” She has also made television appearances in Ally McBeal, That’s So Raven and Blue’s Clues, to name just a few.
Gray has also found ways to express her philanthropic side. In addition to playing poker for Habitat for Humanity on Bravo TV’s eighth season of Celebrity Poker Showdown (she finished third), she opened The Macy Gray Music Academy in 2005. Located in North Hollywood, CA, the academy offers affordable after-school and weekend music classes for youth in the area. She has been highly praised for her work with the academy and has given underprivileged children and teenagers the chance to perform. “One of my kids just got signed to a record deal,” she proudly reports.
In addition, the always glamorous Gray has a clothing line, The Natalie Hinds (her real name) Collection by Macy Gray, a men’s fashion collection called SNAC, and she will soon launch a joint fashion venture with Interscope Records for curvaceous women called HUMPS.
Gray kicks off her Big concert tour in Europe early this summer, to be followed by an U.S. tour. And Gray couldn’t be happier with the way her album Big turned out. “This is a really, really great album,” she says, “everyone should get a copy right away.
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