Embers is the debut album of Libyan-born 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",[1] top 4 single "Fine Print"[2] and top 6 single "Crash and Burn".[3] On December 1, 2010, the Morgan Page remix of "Fantasy" was nominated in the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category at the 53rd Grammy Awards.[4]
| Embers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 15, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2005–2009 | |||
| Genre | EDM | |||
| Length | 56:49 | |||
| Label | Smile in Bed Records | |||
| Producer | Nadia Ali, Sultan + Ned Shepard, Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz, Alex Sayz, Nick Wahlberg | |||
| Nadia Ali chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Embers | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Racket Magazine |   |
| About.com |   |
Background
editNadia Ali gained prominence as the front-woman of the house act iiO, with their single "Rapture". She left the band in 2005 to pursue a solo project. Ali stated it took her over four years to produce the album as she was busy touring and because she was still learning as an artist and trying to establish her identity as a songwriter and co-producer.[5] Further describing the delay, she said "I think every artist is constantly evolving. It was important for me to showcase my more thoughtful side."[6] Ali collaborated with producers Fritzy, Sultan and Ned Shepard and Alex Sayz and co-produced each track on the album.[7] She wrote all the tracks on the album besides "Promises".
She decided to name the album Embers because, as she said, "most of the songs that I wrote were about relationships that I've experienced and how they leave like tiny embers inside me still".[5] Explaining further she stated "Embers are the smoldering remains of a fire that was once ablaze. It represents all of the feelings that still remain even when that particular situation [or] relationship is over".[6]
Talking about the songs on the album she mentioned that she chose "Fantasy" as the last single on her album, because of how it summed her up "as an emotional songwriter who loves being a part of electronic music".[5] Speaking about ballads on the album, she stated that she didn't want a typical dance album but more variety so she chose to go "experimental".[7]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Triangle" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali, Ossama Al Sarraf & Ned Shepard | 5:41 |
| 2. | "Crash and Burn" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali & Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz | 4:11 |
| 3. | "People" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali, Ossama Al Sarraf & Ned Shepard | 4:49 |
| 4. | "Ride With Me" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali, Alex Sayz & Nick Wahlberg | 3:30 |
| 5. | "Not Thinking" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali & Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz | 3:03 |
| 6. | "Be Mine" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali & Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz | 3:47 |
| 7. | "Silver Lining" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali & Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz | 6:03 |
| 8. | "Point the Finger" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali, Alex Sayz & Nick Wahlberg | 2:57 |
| 9. | "Mistakes" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali & Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz | 3:54 |
| 10. | "Fine Print" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali, Alex Sayz & Nick Wahlberg | 5:30 |
| 11. | "Promises" | Paul Bosko | Nadia Ali & Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz | 3:59 |
| 12. | "Love Story" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali, Ossama Al Sarraf & Ned Shepard | 4:05 |
| 13. | "Fantasy" | Nadia Ali | Nadia Ali, Ossama Al Sarraf & Ned Shepard | 5:15 |
Personnel
editThe following people contributed to Embers:[8]
- Ossama Al Sarraf – Record producer, engineer and mixer
- Nadia Ali – songwriting, vocals and producer
- Paul Bosko – songwriting (track 11)
- Scott 'Fritzy' Fritz – producer, engineer and mixer
- Dave Kutch – mastering
- Gabriella Manrique – graphic design
- Nausheen Shah – styling
- Ned Shepard – producer, engineer and mixer
- Alex Sayz – producer, engineer and mixer
- Nick Wahlberg – producer, engineer and mixer
- Jade Young – photography
References
edit- ^ "Dance Club Play Chart". Billboard charts. Rovi Corporation. April 25, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Dance Club Play Chart". Billboard charts. Rovi Corporation. October 24, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Dance Club Play Chart". Billboard charts. Rovi Corporation. October 18, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical – Nominees and Winners". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c Stern, Bradley (February 17, 2010). "Interview with Nadia Ali". muumuse. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ a b Richards, Lola (January 8, 2010). "Nadia Ali: interview Article". Hipster Overkill. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "Nadia Ali interview". Pro Motion. The Brad LeBeau Co. Inc. August 12, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Embers (Liner Notes). Nadia Ali. Smile in Bed Records. 2009.
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