Let's Meet — Alem Worldwide

Today I spoke to one of the most compelling people I have spoke to in quite some time.  It has been a while since I interviewed somebody and I am glad this young woman was here as an introduction into returning to this old hobby.  I was welcomed with her well-mannered way of speaking, musical notion, and just overall visual style. All of this was taken into deep consideration as every characteristic she gave off completely tied in with her music. Her abstract and conceptual style of music solidifies who she is as a person and it almost seems as is it is a direct definition of who she is.  

To further explain– if I had met her in a disparate situation, not knowing anything about who/what she is and she told me she made music; I would automatically be able to assume that this is the audio she would be breaching to the world. The conversation was an insightful one; I learned what limits and sacrifices a young woman will go to, to reach her blissful peak and have peace in doing what she enjoys most – music.  My fellow peers, I welcome: Shara Maya Ali aka Alem Worldwide.

Urban Time: Hello, the previous person that was in charge of transcribing and publishing this interview left you with no response so I'll be glad to take over right now and get you the best post. So the interview starts as of now. [Are you fine with that?]

Shara Maya Ali: That’s perfectly fine with me.

Urban Time:  Wow, your music is very very good. So name and where you’re from?

Shara: My name is Shara Maya Ali. I go by the name [of] Alem Worldwide aka Sprite Lee.  I’m a DMV girl [(DC Area)].  Thank you by the way.

Urban Time: I’m hearing lots of [experimental] neo-soul influenced sounds; some Erykah Badu, Aaliyah, maybe some later Etta James pumping through the veins of this.  Would you say that [those sub-genres] influenced you heavy?  Lots of layers and abstract instrumentation, it ties together very well.

Shara: I consider myself an experimental soul singer. A lot of my influences are hip-hop based, not all within those genres. Gil Scott Heron is considered the godfather of rap [but] had mostly jazz fusion and blues ties. He made a huge impact in my life at a young age, he made me pick up he pen and start writing. I’m a writer before anything. Sun Ra is an extremely important cat to me. He mapped out the stars and planets with every single note he laid down, Afro-Experimental-ism wouldn't be the same without him.

Urban Time: Hell yes, I feel that.  I am aware of Gil Scott's influence but I am vague of his music, [but] I can tell you Sun Ra is definitely heard in your music.  He would very, very, very proud.  I've studied music for ages and this sound your bringing is amazing.  With that being said; are you a fan of Kendrick Lamar's style?  Section.80 having lots of Jazz, To Pimp a Butterfly having hella funk.  Thundercat? [BJ the Chicago Kid]? You know, newer artists who are coming up that are as versatile as the God's who started up this genre.

Shara: Yeah man. Kendrick the future; To Pimp a Butterfly was very essential to me during the time of the Baltimore Riots. Thought provoking and morale boosting [music] for the children, we really needed him in this generation and I thank God we have homie; someone who can make us nod our heads and still preach that real spit when the time comes. I’m actually pretty chill with Stephen (Thundercat). He cool peoples,  he reminds me of the latter day instrumentalists like Bobbi Humphrey and Idris Muhammad, You don't see many people these days blowing up from instruments, happy for their Grammy success. There’s a lot of cool people out these days that are really bringing the new millennium in awesome.  Hiatus Kaiyote, Tyler the Creator, Mac Demarco, Sir E.U., Don Monique, D.R.A.M. Leanblunt.  I could go on for days.

At this point I was very intrigued by her comprehension and extensive knowledge of not only her influences in music but music as a whole.

Urban Time: I feel that completely man. You got it, girl.  Do you wish to work with [any of] these people?  If so, who do you want to work with the most?

Shara: I want a track with Goerge Clinton like super bad. So bad. I need that.               

Urban Time: I could picture you with something along the lines of Flying Lotus, D.R.A.M.  and Hiatus.

Shara: Yeah, around that ballpark.  If I ever worked with D.R.A.M., it would be groovy. To work with Dennis Hamm, Donnie Trumpet and Metro Boomin on a semi classical funk/trap piece [Metro’s] booming harmonies, Dennis' pretty keys, Donnie's organized ass pockets [plus] Metro's crank ass 808's [and] bass would compliment each other way too well. I want to combine my classical training and favorite types of music to make hot sonic throw up. Every musician should try to make their favorite song any time we leave the studio.

Urban Time: I’m a little iffy about that one but I feel like your vision is good enough to make it happen.

Shara: The vision is pretty unearthly in it’s approach.

Urban Time: Do you have any new stuff releasing anytime soon?

Shara: I’m interested in bringing trap into a big band setting. I’m already composing musical scores late at night. One of my biggest goals as a composer is to reconstruct the Oratorio Handel's Messiah with a psychedelic jazz vibe and perform it with a 70 piece orchestra (with an electric and acoustic section for most instruments) and a 100 piece choir. It would be bananas dude! I’m working on a few things, actually. An EP, a documentary with Produced by Girls, a few singles with videos, preparing for a tour. I’m never not working; either I’m listening to music, watching cartoons and eating foods to inspire new work, or personifying my deep thoughts.

Urban Time: Absolutely amazing.  Follow that. [Do you] have any riders?  What do you just do that will give you that push/drive to do what you do so well?

Shara: People tell you at a young age to never put all of your eggs in one basket, I never listened to that rule. I dropped out of art school in 11^th grade and left america to get the ball rolling… It was the best mistake I've ever made. I'm here for the art and the love, I want to eventually make all of my money through doing what I love. I'm willing to die for it; I love music more than air. If someone made me chose between music and oxygen, I'd be jamming out to the greats on my way into the next level. That love drives me.

Urban Time: Any heavy weight on your back being that you dropped out? Were your parents not all the way okay with it?

Shara: There is no real weight on my back. My parents had no choice in the matter; I was a "bad girl" with an honest heart in school. After a while they figured out they couldn't tame me, [so] I moved out and got a job. Remained self sufficient. You can't just be loud and wrong making big life decisions. That's how you go crazy. I still apologize to them for what i put them through, they my homies right now. The only weight I carry is the want to change the world, I want people to feel okay being different and know they can amount to something if they use an expressive artistic medium to live out of.

Urban Time: A big dream; you’re capable of it.

Shara: Thank you.

Urban Time: It has been a wonderful time speaking with you.  If you have any words for those out there, say them now.

Shara: Find God for yourself. Find God in yourself. Feel things out. Bump your head a few times. Break some hearts. Get your heart broken. Make the wheel. Now burn it to bits and make another one. Cut your hair off and wear a wig when you're tired of it. Life will never be perfect. You will never be completely happy 24/7. We are meaningful and meaningless compared to the multiverse. Be alive, don't be afraid to live out of love. Chase after your dreams and watch them unfold. Just don't do coke, crack, meth, heroin or whatever cause that's freaking retarded. and try to smile.

Also, cartoons are freaking amazing Oh my God, dude! Ok I’m done.

Urban Time: Haha until next time Shara. Vaya con dios!

Shara: Uh?... Muchacho! I’m shit at spanish.

Stream Alem’s music via Soundcloud below:

https://soundcloud.com/alemworldwide

Contact Alem via Twitter: @alemworldwide

Contact the interviewer via Twitter: @xalexvonx