Ali Angel

What would a queer Sheryl Crow sound like? It's not a question anyone is ever likely to ask you. Nobody has ever asked me. But it turns out the answer is Ali Angel, the Queer Crow. I mention it here because she so evidently loves the name herself. It was quite a long time before I understood Ali is queer, but then... it took her a while to realise herself.

Another thing that might distract us is whether Ali is an Americana artist at all. She clears it up here: "retro-soul production and classic songwriting style emanate a 1970’s influence, giving lovers of classic rock, indie, soul, and Americana music all something they can gravitate towards. Listeners have compared her classic sound to the likes of Sheryl Crow, Margo Price and Haim."

Margo Price was a new one on me but is now in the library. Enough labels. Let's dig in for another British perspective on that most American of genres. And what was it that first drew me to American music in the 1980s? It was the era of Madonna when female solo performers were rare. It was also the peak for the Eagles, Blondie, Tom Petty, even Fleetwood Mac settled their differences sufficiently to stage a comeback with Tango in the Night. One thing I loved about Californian and Southern music was their upbeat lyrics, no doubt influenced by sunshine. In Manchester, England we had lots of grey rain and Stephen Patrick Morrissey singing about not wanting to sit in an office all day and kicking people in the eye, or how shit Sundays felt. There was no contest.

Photos of Ali, and her Instagram channel, convey her bubbly and infectious personality. I spent a pleasant hour listening to her in conversation on the excellent Liner Notes podcast and there isn't a moment when she isn't giggling. Even the heavier topics are handled with humour. And yes, I also love Beck and Call. What a groove! And a middle finger in the video? Love it.

It was Ali's Stone Cold that discovered me first, most likely through some sort of algorithm. Just like the pills, and reluctant though we are to admit it, the algorithms do work some of the time. My interpretation of the song is completely away from what Ali seems to have intended, but then that's why we're all here, enjoying music. You don't have to agree with the poet. They usually prefer it if you don't.

I remember feeling passion, when it was raw and wild
Then I remember feeling shame for it, when I was only a child
So I controlled it, pushing and pulling, 'til it couldn't breathe
But like most things that you try to hold in, it took a hold of me

This meant something to me as a sufferer of various mild to moderate (and somewhat unspecific) mental health concerns. But it applies equally to any emotions or feelings that might be avoided for one reason or another, whether forbidden love, alcoholism, addiction, an inappropriate crush or all manner of other interpretations. Whatever the words mean to you, the tune and her voice - that voice! - and even the fuzzy old skool production, are immaculate.

Ali's TikTok reveals her funny personality even better than Instagram, and you learn her middle name that way. Middle names turn out to be important to Ali May Angel, as her song Middle Name explains. She maybe an angel and probably is. She certainly sings like one. But what a range. I just had to check that the current song in my ears, Loving You Lately, is her. It is. I had the same moment with Hideaway. But she can really sing anything, any vibe, any style. Oh to watch her live!

Ali is unusual in this series on Americana artists because she is from LA not Tennessee and is established there as someone who can sell out the notorious Viper Room almost on a whim. She knows all the producers and they play around on retro analogue equipment to get her amazing sound. It's a sound familiar to any fan of 1970s pop rock but is likely very challenging to reproduce on Pro Tools and MIDI. Thank goodness vinyl is on the up and up again.

One of the things I have enjoyed most about this series is better understanding the indie community, especially in Tennessee but really anywhere else too. Platforms such as Bandcamp reward artists in ways that the streamers cannot do. And buying CDs from America is astronomical when you factor in postage. So having more digital options like Bandcamp but also Ko-fi, Patreon, Substack and any number of tip jars either on Instagram or elsewhere all add to the sense of community.

I suspect all of these artists are quite happy building a US-focused audience. The USA is a big gigantic place. But funnily enough most UK acts seem to do little else other than dream of America. I have not found the reverse to be the case. But Ali and so many others would have strong appeal here, the place where country music derives from through our folk traditions. There is an SXSW in London now and the C2C Country to Country festival gets bigger each year.

I can strongly recommend Ali Angel. She's the authentic genuine article. As with all of these profiles, I find myself falling head over heels for the subject. The more you learn, the more you find to love. It's okay though. She's six thousand miles away. Everyone can relax.