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When Erykah arrived on the scene, she arrived fully formed, meaning her style was already her own.

Erykah expanded my music palette to Jazz, rap, funk, electronica and Neon Soul "The Queen of Neon-Soul". She introduced me to the world of Jazz mainly and I fell in love! I love the fact that she is so diverse in her music and isn't afraid of expressing her style, spirituality, culturally and religiously in her music. She has found ways to weave her African heritage into her sound and cultivate a new domain for expression, she created a new era of freedom of expression. I also found ways to express my individual fashion style through her, she doesn't conform or fit into one box. Fashion has always coincided with music for Erykah. Noted by Jasmin Pirovic in an interview with Erykah "I’ve always enjoyed dressing my head, whether it’s head wraps, hats, or wigs, I’m not sure why, I think that’s just where my mojo lives.”

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My Creation inspiration

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Carole's Early influencers were mainly Broadway and classical, in her earlier years. I would say in the last 4 to 5 years I started listening to King, I found her record in an old-school music shop.

Her musical influence has been monumental, shaping the landscape of pop and rock music. She became a well-known songwriter, with a hit like "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman", defining the sound of the 1960's. Her 1971 Album "Tapestry" marked a significant point in Carol's Career, showing her talents as a solo artist, but also showing women that they could excel as both performers and songwriters. Carol's Influence on women's songwriting is profound, as one of the few female songwriters in a male-dominated music industry. Carol has voiced strong support for the National Organisation for Women. She has emphasised the importance of gender equality and women's empowerment.

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Chaka Khan is known for being an influential singer-songwriter, her iconic song 'I'm Every Woman', released in 1978, has been widely regarded as a feminist anthem. She is often referred to as the "Queen of Funk", just like Erykah was known for being the "Queen of Neon Soul". Over the years she was also known for her versatility in crossing genres such as R&B, funk, jazz and pop. She is a feminist Icon, her powerful voice and incredible stage presence have made her a stand-out figure in the musical industry for over 5 decades. Khan's work has resonated deeply with feminist themes and values. In addition to this, her role as the curator of the Meltdown festival in London highlights her commitment to prompting diverse voices and empowering women in arts.

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Erykah Badu was recognisable for her eccentric style, which often was her head wraps, just like Billy used to wear performing, which later on extended into flowers or other forms of headwear.

Billie was an inspiration to so many in her community in Philadelphia, her song "Strange Fruits" sparked an undying truth that ricocheted through the black community and the world, making it the beginning of the civil rights war. Billy lived an undeniably chaotic childhood and life, as a young girl Billy loved Louise Armstrong and Blues singer Bessie Smith.

Tom Vitale noted "She speaks to your heart. She catches your ear. She reaches your mind, and she does this with an emotional power that, of course, is genius and is beyond words."

To this day, she has captured attention with her incredible voice, through generations she has inspired.

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Miles is one of the most phenomenal trumpet players to date, he was a modern Jazz and Blues influence but also dabbled in many other forms of music like most great artists do. Miles Davis's music style reflects the civil rights movement through the changes, evolution, and presentation of his music. Once again another leading person in the forefront in the genre for more than 40 years, he helped redefine the role of their culture through music. Noted by Master Class Miles Davis was an innovator in jazz music, helping to define jazz fusion and develop modal jazz. Most notably, Davis used his trumpet as a way to emulate the sound of the human voice by cutting out vibrato, turning his jazz into a smoother and more emotional form of music. He was innovative in music and defined Jazz, he was known for a lot of the jazz movements such as Bebob, Cool Jazz, Modal Jazz and Jazz Fusion. His musical approach was characterised by constant innovation and exploration and has inspired many musicians, he still shapes the landscape of modern music today.

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Taylor is known For "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina in My Mind" these reflect his songwriting abilities. Taylor's Music blends folk, rock and country, expressed through his distinctive guitar style and warm vocals. It was through friendship with King that both of their inspiration flourished for one another. They seemed to have mutual respect and an amazing connection to music, James said in a CNN interview in 2020 that they both have the same musical DNA and musical sources. Their friendship broke the stigma of man and woman relations. James prompted Carole to perform for the first time and helped her with feelings of insecurity. James influenced Carol to have a solo career and write some of the best-known songs. Their collaboration includes Taylor's covers of Carol's songs like "You've Got a Friend." Their friendship significantly helped shape her carer.

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In Franklin's earlier years as a Gospel soul singer, she grew up around the Church.

Aretha's Influencers were mainly Gospel soul singers like Clara Ward, she helped influence Aretha.

Aretha was admired after she covered the famous Otis Redding song "Respect" in 1967, it became an anthem operating on personal, sexual and racial levels.

Elwood Watson noted that Respect laid out a set of demands about how a woman should treat the man in her life in exchange for the resources he provided. By recording the song as a woman, without changing the perspective, Franklin produced a version that became both a feminist and civil rights anthem, placing the spotlight not only on a woman demanding respect but also on a woman as the primary provider.

Aretha withstood her feminist sensibilities in a manner that produced real, concrete results. Unlike some artists of colour who try to walk a middle line to not offend white people, she comfortably stood in her authentic blackness in both her music and activism.

In 2015 Franklin gifted Carol by singing “Natural Woman” when she was being celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors.

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She was known for her Country, folk, rock and roll, eclectic taste for her social activism and beautiful vocals. She grew up listening to traditional Irish music with her father but her taste evolved when she found folk music. Collins studied classical piano and taught herself guitar, also was a feminist and Social activist. Her Talents were so broad and she pushed the envelope to stand out as a leading feminist at these times, John Williams spoke about the film she produced in Mary Ellen Times "She is the director of a film called Portrait of a Woman, the first woman to conduct major symphonies worldwide." She has paved the way for many female artists including Carole to assert the creativeness and autonomy. By writing her songs she proved that women would be ok, in a male-dominated industry. Collins's Legacy still shines on through artists today, as her music and activism remain relevant in a world still grappling with issues of inequality and injustice.

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WATCH: Aretha Franklin sings "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"