theGrio artist spotlight: Algebra Blessett

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When most people hear the word “algebra,” memories of high school math classes come to mind. However, for the true R&B, neo soul fans, Algebra Blessett is a critically acclaimed artist who they cannot get enough of.

TheGrio caught up with the “Run and Hide” artist to discuss her road to Recovery, her sophomore album, and life as an independent artist.

Blessett describes Recovery as a “growth album.” When asked what has happened in her life since her debut album, Purpose, Algebra states, “age, life, [laughs] the whole nine… transitioning from being a little girl to a business woman this time around.”

While Purpose was a collection of everything Algebra had ever learned, Recovery was strategic. Blessett intentionally chose Kwame Holland, Bryan-Michael Cox, Shannon Sanders and LTMoe to craft this album about developing the elements of a grown woman: sexiness, confidence, boundaries & comfort in one’s vulnerability; “Danger Zone,” one of Algebra’s favorite tracks on the album, and “Mystery” are examples of such development.

Rising artists breakdown personal tracks on theGrio’s B-Side

Algebra hopes to re-introduce herself to the world with Recovery and stay busy “[touring] about 250 days out the year.” The hardworking singer-songwriter says, “It’s always a goal to reach out and touch those who have help me continue doing what I do… being in the space of the people who have supported you– that have basically fed you.” Being “in tuned with [one’s] audience” is particularly important as an independent artist, Algebra explains, “the grind is completely different; you have no choice but to understand more sides and facets of the media industry,” including one’s fan-base.

The business acumen of independent artists is piquing the interest of others in the music industry. “A lot of major artist have a tendency to watch independent artist… Right now, we’re pretty much in the same boat,” Algebra shares. Blessett believes that Beyonce’s latest project is exemplar of this paradigm shift. Algebra was more impressed by the process than the fact that Beyonce “dropped an album and it sold millions of records; it’s that her team respected her enough to not leak the material until it was time… The teamwork of keeping it quiet until the unveiling of it was the amazing part of it… The beautiful thing with her platform, is she encouraged a lot of artists, major and independent, to just take their careers in their own hands and keep it going and not wait on anyone.”

Recovery, in many ways, is about taking one’s own life into their hands.

Algebra “[wants] people to walk away excited and inspired and definitely full of hope that things will change in their lives and things will be great.” Her advice to those on their own road to recovery is to “definitely stay true to who you are; stay honest in whatever your endeavors are because challenges will come, for sure, but you just have to continue.”

Recovery will be available on January 28^th, 2014. Click here to check out Algrebra’s latest video, “Nobody But You.”

Follow Victoria on Twitter at @MsAnomalous and on YouTube.