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.