Alicia Keys coming to Korea: 'I'd tell my 17-year-old self to believe in yourself'

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys shared advice she would give her 17-year-old self: "You don't need to know everything right now. Believe in yourself and your voice." Keys expressed this sentiment in a recent written interview with The Hankyoreh, adding that she would hold her younger self's hand and offer those words after taking a deep breath.

Her memories from age 17 have been brought to life in the musical 'Hell's Kitchen,' which is set to open in Seoul on November 24th and run until November 8th at the GS Arts Center. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2024 and received 13 Tony Award nominations, is the first licensed production to be presented in South Korea following its Broadway run.

For Keys, Hell's Kitchen is more than just a setting; she describes it as "home, energy, and family." Despite its rough exterior, the area holds a deep, warm energy. More importantly, it was where she "learned how to discover the light within." When asked to describe Hell's Kitchen as a musical genre, Keys envisioned a "sound that mixes soul, classical, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and pop." She explained it as a "human, complex, joyful, and soul-filled sound, like a gumbo with many ingredients and energies intertwined."

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You don't need to know everything right now. Believe in yourself and your voice.

Musical theater presented a new creative language for Keys, whose music typically captures a single emotion within a short timeframe. She described her previous work as "capturing a feeling in a brief moment," like a "short but intense flash of light." In contrast, musical emotions unfold beyond a single song, flowing with a character's choices, spreading to the next scene, and driving the entire narrative. Working with director Michael Greif and playwright Kristoffer Diaz, Keys learned "to see an entire narrative arc beyond the emotion of one song."

Keys' debut album, 'Songs in A Minor,' released in 2001, marked her powerful entry into the global music scene. Building on a classical piano foundation, she blended R&B, soul, and hip-hop. Her songs, including 'Fallin',' 'No One,' and 'If I Ain't Got You,' earned her both popular acclaim and critical recognition. She has since expanded her career as a performer, composer, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. 'Hell's Kitchen' stands at the center of this expansion, representing a retelling of her music and life on the grander stage of Broadway.

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Home, energy, and family.

Her familiar hits are reinterpreted in the musical. 'No One,' originally a love song, now represents the emotions between a mother and daughter named Ali. 'If I Ain't Got You' conveys a significant emotional moment between Ali and her father. Keys found the experience of viewing her music through a completely new lens "thrilling."

New numbers were also written for the show. '17,' featured in Act 1, is a song where Keys experimented with a traditional musical style. She recalls the moment she first shared this song, which she had refined over a long period, with the cast as unforgettable, calling it a "still-thrilling moment of the song coming into the world."

Keys noted that her relationship with her mother, Teresa Joseph, is woven into the story. Her mother was her closest friend and the one who opened the doors to the worlds of art, music, and performance. Therefore, 'Hell's Kitchen' is not only a coming-of-age story for a young girl but also a story of a mother-daughter relationship. Ali discovers and falls in love with music, and like many teenagers, she rebels against her mother. However, as time passes, she realizes the power and meaning of her mother's love. Keys expressed her joy in sharing this relationship with the audience, stating, "The bond between a mother and daughter is paramount, yet it's not often explored on stage."

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A sound that mixes soul, classical, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and pop.

Keys feels a special connection to the South Korean production. She was deeply involved in the casting, musical direction, and coaching process. "I've never heard my songs sung in Korean before," she said, describing it as "a tremendous gift." She added, "I was amazed by the talent of the Korean actors. I look forward to presenting this wonderful cast to the Korean audience."

Keys hopes that audiences will use the musical as an opportunity to reflect on their own lives. "Never forget where your dreams began," she urged. "And please remember that your family and community are precious beings who shape who you are today."

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To see an entire narrative arc beyond the emotion of one song.