Alice Cph always thought of herself as “the young generation’s love affair with country music,” but when I heard her perform at the Center for Folk Festival in Cleveland, she surprised me with her maturity beyond her years. Her maturity is on full display as she sings with passion and emotion about life, love, death, family, faith, country music and country women. As she sings about her heart, arms, home and all those other things we hold dear, she seems only able to communicate her feelings by sharing her soul with those that she loves. Her heartfelt lyrics convey a message of hope and love to those with whom she comes into contact. Her music inspires us with strength and hope, reminding us of the possibilities of finding true happiness despite our differences in race, religion, culture or sex.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia Alice Cph is described as having “a natural sense of what’s real” by her mother. Growing up in the music and entertainment household influenced by her parents, Cph has always had a passion for music and a lifelong commitment to her education. At the age of sixteen she began studying classical piano and while pursuing this degree she also pursued her singing, performing both in school and in clubs. At the age of twenty-one she was performing both as a member of a local country band and solo on her recording of an original song. It was at this time that she decided that she wanted a career that would allow her to not only express her innermost emotions but also help her spread awareness of issues such as racism, poverty, drugs and violence.
It is interesting that Alice Cph chooses to talk about race and gender so early in her career, yet in doing so she did not keep her gender a secret. Throughout her songs, Cph uses the term “colored people” with affection but without being derogatory. Throughout her career she never singles out anyone of any race or nationality specifically, yet the height difference between Alice Cph and her partner is mentioned several times. Her vocal range is very versatile and is able to fit many songs into a relatively short octave, which makes her music distinctively unique. As she gets older her voice gradually lengthens and she seems to favor a low, soulful, yet powerful tone.