Alicia Keys goes global with Sennheiser

USA - With sales of over 25 million albums, seven number-one hits, and eleven Grammys in less than a decade in the spotlight, Alicia Keys is at the top of her game. This summer will find her headlining shows and playing festivals throughout the world in support of her third studio album, As I Am.Keys sings into a Sennheiser SKM 5200 wireless mic with a dynamic MD 5235 capsule. Her backing singers use Sennheiser SKM 935 G2 wireless mics, and all of the mobile members of the band, including Keys, rely on evolution wireless ew 300 IEM G2 wireless personal monitor systems.

FOH engineer Larry Mignona comments, "The 5235 has a warm sound without the unnatural high-end boost that's so prevalent in many wireless mics. In my opinion, that high-end boost is there to flatter singers who can't really sing. But Alicia can really sing. In addition, the rejection from a Sennheiser cardioid is way more effective than anything else I've used and helps keep the mix clean."

Keys and her entourage have spent July touring through Europe. Between headlining dates, she performed at Moon & Stars Locarno and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland as well as the Umbria Jazz Festival and Lucca Festival in Italy. August will take the tour to Southeast Asia to play, among other shows, Japan's Summer Sonic festival. After returning to the US in August, Keys will play a selection of theatre shows before heading back to Eastern Europe for a further string of headlining dates.

(Jim Evans)