By Bill Vaughn
Contributing Columnist
Columbus Post

With her debut album 8 years ago, ALANA DAVIS was lauded as one of the top new artists by Rolling Stone, Good Morning America, and other media observers. Now the husky-voiced singer is back with Surrender Dorothy, the first release on her own label, Tigress Records. "I do more than just sing," she told Tasty Clips. "[Being able to decide] who I want to play for, why, what venue, and who we're going to reach is exciting. I can't say I know for sure who's going to like it, but I put myself in front of everyone. I figure it's about being a force as opposed to being a star."

Q. With your first hit, [a cover of Ani DiFranco's 24 Flavors], you became a sort of poster child for bi-raciality. Does your audience reflect that?
A."They do. My audience was like semi-bi-racial, no doubt. As a kid, I used to feel like an outsider. Nowadays, I'm not really an outsider anymore. I'm just one of a billion. I hope that other hybrids see me and know I'm one of their people.
Q. I found some songs on your new album to actually be a bit unromantic. Where were your emotions when writing them?
A."They ran the gamut. That's what I try to do with a record. You have the whole spectrum. I don't want to just do one record of all hate or all love in life. That would be boring. I don't think there's a person in the world that doesn't have a problem. It reflects life. And you know the old analogy, if it doesn't kill you.... If I can go through one heartbreak and write it down in a way that makes one person not to have to go through quite that pain, that seems valuable to me."

Q. You cut your signature mane. What happened? A. "You just get to a point where you want to change and you wonder if you can. I'm used to getting a compliment on my hair at least once a day. How silly is that? It's very easy to feel that your hair is your crowning glory. I personally feel life's too short to spend three hours in the morning getting ready to walk out on the runway of life. It's very liberating now to not have to deal with that."

Q. You seem to be leaning more towards reggae music.
A. "I'm all about groove. I love the bass. I've been in reggae forever. The genuine energy. The strong notes. The beautiful mistakes. Reggae has that. And not only that, but some of the most conscious lyrics. I need to be positive and real and about the oneness in particular. I need that. Right now, I need that a lot."

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