ATL to the Bone: Adia Victoria

Much of the past year I’ve mostly been stuck inside my head writing my next album. In between bouts of extreme and self-inflicted agoraphobia, I’ve gone out and performed some. Even recorded a bit, too. My new EP “Baby Blues” is an exploration of grief and isolation. It reimagines three blues tracks that influenced my art, and bends them into a twisted altar of abject loneliness.

1. October 15th. I had the brilliant idea of featuring balloons and blades during our set at Afropunk in Atlanta. Half way through our set I accidentally slashed open my left thumb while going at the balloons. After our performance I was rushed to the hospital for stitches and pain pills.

2. September 13th. “Baby Blues” recording session at Atlantic Records in NYC. This whole session was a blur. I was dealing with the passing of my best friend Jessi Zazu the day before, and nervous about delivering in the studio. Luckily, the band had my back and our studio engineer/co-producer Ebonie Smith made me feel secure and supported enough to get the art out of me.

3. September 14th. Tracking guitar and vocals for our cover of Lee Hazlewood’s ‘Ugly Brown’. I used to sing this song around town at open mics in Nashville with my friend Jessi. Our plan was to record it together before she passed, but we never had the chance. I like to think she’s somewhere in the cosmos grooving to it.

4. September 13th. You can’t see it but my shirt says ‘NEW SHIT’. Kinda my mantra at the moment.

5. Blood. Blades. Balloon. Afropunk class of 2017.

6. October 11th. LA. My shoes are so ugly, they’re cute.

7. October 9th. Pioneer Town, CA, just after Foo Fighters CalJam Festival. Out in the desert on a shoot. Looking for ghosts and gods.

8. October 8th. LA. Taking a break from work. Probably reading an email from my Grandma reminding me to get enough fiber while on the road.

9. October 9th. Joshua Tree. I [❤] cats. Dead or alive.

10. July 14th. Atlanta. In my dressing room at the legendary Fox Theater. Opening for the equally legendary Sturgill Simpson. I was in the middle of listening to Radiohead warming up my vocals. Thom Yorke is basically my vocal coach.

11. July 14th. Atlanta. Deep South til I die. ATL to the bone.

12. July 14th. Onstage on the Fox Theater opening for Sturgill. The whole time I’m trying not think about the fact that Billie Holiday had performed on that exact same stage. I’d never been more nervous in all my life.

Adia Victoria's Baby Blues EP is out now on Atlantic Records, containing three vintage blues tracks, each marked with Adia's unique interpretation. All photos by Patrice Jackson and Steven Salgado.