Terri Walker

Terri Walker is a British soul and R&B singer and songwriter. She begins as a solo artist and later returns to solo work after leaving the duo Lady, a classic-soul project with Nicole Wray that earns critical acclaim in the UK and the US.

Career

Walker releases her debut album, Untitled, in 2003. The album includes a collaboration with Mos Def and brings Mercury Prize recognition, along with four MOBO Award nominations. Her second album, LOVE, leads to tension with her label over the musical direction, which she does not want to follow. She then leaves the label.

Her third album, I Am, receives strong notices from The Guardian and the BBC and is described by some as confirming her status as one of the UK’s leading artists. After touring the record extensively, she takes a break from music.

Collaborations and side projects

Walker later works with producer Salaam Remi, with whom she develops an ongoing collaboration. While recording backing vocals for Nas, Cee-Lo and Jennifer Hudson, she and Remi write Hey Baby for the Sex & the City soundtrack and begin the concept album Champagne Flutes. She also works with producer Ski Beatz on material intended as her fourth studio album, later linked to Damon Dash’s BluRoc.

Her other collaborators include Damon Albarn’s Africa Express project, where she appears alongside Paul McCartney, Rizzle Kicks and Spoek Mathambo on a train tour with African musicians. She also works with T Williams, Brackles, Donaeo and Joe Buhdha. A later EP with Joe Buhdha receives support on Mistajam’s BBC Radio 1Xtra show.

Later work and artistic direction

Walker’s later material draws on hip-hop and rock as well as her soul background. She works with the collective Sticky Blood, which includes ex-Arctic Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson, Jamie Shield and Baby J, who also produces Skinny Man and remixes Amy Winehouse. She also collaborates with film-maker and photographer Kevin Morosky, who directs her visuals, videos and artwork.

Her songs include Feel It In The Water, Paranoia, Thunderdome, Skin I’m In, Testify, Open Your Mind, Bad Boy, Loose Twice and Already Told Ya. These tracks reflect themes of self-doubt, independence, personal growth, nights out, instinct and refusing to be defined by circumstance.