Alicia Keys Returns to Sennheiser for “As I Am” Tour
Wedemark, Germany, July 2008 — With the sale of over 25 million albums,
seven number-one hits, and eleven Grammys in less than a decade in the
spotlight, R&B singer Alicia Keys is at the top of her game and shows no signs
of slowing. This summer will find her headlining shows and playing festivals
throughout the world in support of her third studio album, “As I Am,” released
in late 2007. To convey her nuanced, emotional voice, Keys sings into a top-
of-the-line Sennheiser SKM 5200 wireless mic with a dynamic MD 5235
capsule. Her background singers use Sennheiser SKM 935 G2 wireless mics,
and all of the mobile members of the band, including Keys herself, rely on
evolution wireless ew 300 IEM G2 wireless personal monitor systems.
Key’s SKM 5200 with MD 5235 capsule came at the request of FOH engineer
Larry “Filet” Mignona, who favors the mic over other wireless brands for its
natural frequency response and superior off-axis rejection. “The 5235 has a
warm sound without the unnatural high-end boost that’s so prevalent in other
manufacturers’ wireless mics,” he says. “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.” Mignona uses a
Sennheiser EM 3732 receiver for Keys’ mic.
Depending on the day, Keys will have three or four background singers on tour
this summer, all on Sennheiser SKM 935 G2 wireless mics that use
EM 550 G2 receivers. “I like the 935 for the same reasons I like the 5235,” said
Mignona. “It has a warmth that’s uncommon in live vocal mics. And even
without any high-end hype, the 935 cuts through perfectly.”
The band and the techs have been using ew 300 IEM G2 wireless personal
monitors for a long time, and Mignona prizes their RF stability and reliability.
Traveling the world with a big-ticket show like Alicia Keys leaves no room for
error in what can often be an unpredictable RF environment. Despite that,
Mignona has used the ew 300s night–after–night without so much as a hiccup.
Freed from worrying about such things, the band loves the Sennheiser
personal monitoring system for its transparency and musicality.
Keys and her entourage will spend July touring through Europe. Between
headlining dates, she will perform 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 States in August, Keys will do a few theater shows before heading back to
Eastern Europe for a string of headlining dates.
The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of over €395 million in 2007, 83% of which were generated abroad. Sennheiser employs almost 2,000 people worldwide, around 55% of whom are in Germany. Sennheiser has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA and is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones), K + H Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Klein + Hummel studio monitors, installed sound) and the joint venture Senn-heiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres). You can find all the latest information on Sennheiser by visiting our website at www.sennheiser.com or by contacting: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG Press Office • Edelgard Marquardt Greg Beebe Am Labor 1 • 30900 Wedemark Director Global Relations Tel: +49 (5130) 600-329 Tel: +1 (860) 581-8052 Fax: +49 (5130) 600-295 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
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