Algebra: My Mom Named Me That!
Sep 26th, 2006 by Marcel
It almost seems she was destined for stardom. Between her family’s rich musical heritage, her continuous musical training, and her unique name, Algebra Blessett’s divine path to artistry was all but decided prior to her birth. “My first beginning with music was in the womb,” Algebra reveals. “My mother was a musician and an artist. She used to hold the bass guitar against her stomach and just play while I was in there. She used to sing all the time. I think because of that I sound like my mom more than anyone.” Her mother’s resonant voice echoing internally and bass riffs vibrating against here still forming self gave Algebra an early introduction to the formal and informal training she’s received.
“Everything that I’ve ever listened to is a part of me”
Treading the well-beaten path of hundreds of soulful singers before her, Algebra’s vocals were developed in the church choir as well as at home. “My mother and my granny sang with a gospel quartet,” she says. “They did a lot of gigs.” When asked whether her upbringing was more spiritual or secular, she mildly resents the division. “That’s always the dividing line, one or the other. Secular seems so… negative, so bad. Our household was a musical one; we listened to gospel, we listened to rhythm and blues, to soul music, funk – everything. My mom is a bass player so the funk was it! But my mother is also a minister, so she understands the balance of music. It’s about living life, spirituality is very important. You have to have your relationship with God.”
The young Algebra also found solace in her parents’ music collection. “I get inspired every time I listen to them, to this day,” she beams. “Nina Simone… that lady speaks to me. Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder of course. Aretha Franklin. A lot of older acts that are still around today. Some newer acts are a very big inspiration to me as well: Brandy, Erykah, D’Angelo, Joi… anything that moves me.” And what moves her isn’t only classic and contemporary soul artists. Algebra will take inspiration from anywhere or anybody and lists artists like The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, and Bach as favorites. “If it’s just a melody or a simple lyric, whatever it sparks in me.”
Algebra attended music school growing up and lauds the experience as eye opening, exposing her to aspects of music she would have never been aware of otherwise. While there, her love of true musicianship through orchestration blossomed. “Thanks to music school, I kinda dabble in every instrument that I can because I would rather be really good at a lot of things than be great at just one thing. But sometimes it works the other way around.” Fans are most likely to see her on stage with a well-decorated guitar. “I play guitar, I didn’t learn in school or anything, I just picked it up a few years ago. I’m not Santana or John Mayer. I don’t do all that. To me it’s another pencil, more paper. I use it as a writing tool. I play with it on stage sometimes but I don’t hide behind it. It’s not my thing. What I say and how I present it is the most important thing to me.”
“I feel close to God on stage. I feel like I’m at my most honest on stage.”
Her response is confident when asked at what point in her life she realized she would become a performer. “I’ve always done it,” she replies. “Some people look at music and artistry as another type of life versus a 9 to 5. To me it’s the same thing. You do what you’re passionate about. Don’t get me wrong, some people are very unhappy at the cubicle, but some people are very excited about getting up at 7 and being home by 4 or 5 o’clock to work in the yard, or be with their families. That’s passion too.” Her foresight of a life spent performing in the limelight didn’t come with all the details clear. As a talented dancer, musician, writer and vocalist, Algebra wasn’t always sure of which avenue to pursue, but just like her approach to instruments, she found comfort in practicing them all.
“My mom named me that!”
Her mathematical moniker is indeed her real name. “My grandmother loved math. I was named after both of my aunts. My first name is Algebra, middle name Felicia and my last name is Blessett, I’m happy with my name!” In scholastic circles, algebra is known as a branch of mathematics focused on the study of structure, relation and quantity. Algebra breaks down the roots of her given name, its Egyptian/Arabic origins, invented as a way of understanding the unknown, and putting together things that most wouldn’t usually think to compare. Further research of her name reveals that it was also invented to help solve love problems in fluctuating circumstances, not exclusively for calculating train arrival times in different cities like Mrs. Pendleton had me believe back in the sixth grade. Algebra conducts some studies of her own on her upcoming album. “We’re talking about pride, friendship, relationships; whether man and man, man and God, man and woman. A lot of love on different levels.”
“The name of the album is Purpose. The reason I named it that is because it’s a transition album. I’ve been through so many different emotions and I’ve found that through it all, I have a purpose. Not only in the traditional ‘purpose driven life’ sense. I’ve noticed that the smallest setback can seriously hinder your whole life. But at the end of the day you really have to define what your purpose is and continue on. You can’t let anyone or anything, nothing, change your path.” Algebra casually downplays past instances where others have tried to manipulate her career, image, and vision. “I know who I am”, she adds confidently.
“The industry has forced me to be more creative.”
“Every industry has its bad side,” Algebra says, “but at the end of the day, we have to recognize that it’s a business. It’s a tug-of-war because you want to be this creative entity so much, but then on the business side they’re stressing artists. The music industry has been good and bad to me. It varies, but it’s leveled.” With respects to outside influences affecting her style, Algebra finds herself conflicted in her view, “I find myself not wanting to sing over anything that’s not Algebra, not me. And to define Algebra… it’s simple, but it’s not. Everyday we wake up and look at ourselves in the mirror, we think we know ourselves but really we don’t cause we’re changing so much. The music has got to be honest. I try my best to have conversations in my songs, and tell you how I feel or try to relate a feeling that someone else has. Lessons I’ve learned, I share them with love… along with my anger and the negative stuff!”
“I’ve gotten a lot of good advice”
Having shared the stage and toured with the likes of Kem, Keyshia Cole, The Roots, Common, Anthony Hamilton (with whom she has a duet on Miri Ben Ari’s album), and other talented musicians, a strong sense of accomplishment surrounds Algebra. “It’s been a very good journey; different characters that I’ve had the opportunity to open up for and these people have shared the stage, their space. I’m so humbled by it because they didn’t have to.” She’s accomplished, but she remains ambitious. “I want to work with legends,” she says, “people that our parents listened to.” She continues genuinely, “I wanna get in the studio with Earth, Wind & Fire, or George Clinton and just watch. I don’t have to say nothing, I just wanna watch and get a whole new technique. I’m willing to work with anybody because you never know. Sometimes you just want to see what might happen.”
Every year music aficionados are introduced to a slew of new artists with very little variance between their styles and sounds. I ask Algebra how she feels she stands apart from the masses. “I don’t think there’s a difference. I see it as a likeness. There’s a same drive, a same passion. I don’t think God would allow artists to make it, to touch so many people if he didn’t call them to do it. I think there’s a shared passion for the music, for the stage and for the artistry. I honor that more than anything else. I’m grateful for all the friends I’ve met along the way.” Her frank yet modest response is true to how she presents herself; happy to be playing the game, but in it to make an impact. She admits, “I want the accolades. I want the recognition. I want that. As a people, we all want to be accepted and appreciated. However, I’ll know physically, mentally and emotionally that I’ve made it when I can say nothing else matters. Right now there are things I have to do. I gotta get right with God. I gotta pay this car note. I gotta eat! I’ll know I’ve made it when my faith is no longer tested.”
