ALICIA KEYS PLUGS HER NEW JEWELRY LINE: Plus, singer confirms Beyonce, Drake duets on new album.
As previously reported, the artist has teamed with Canadian designer Gisele Theriault to launch a jewelry line called "The Barber's Daughters," which features silver and gemstone pieces with quotes and poetry from iconic figures such as Gandhi, Buddha and Shakespeare.
One of the items, a sterling silver cuff, is inscribed with words of wisdom from Keys herself.
"There's a gorgeous cuff, it's so beautiful, and it says 'I am a superwoman!'," Keys told Reuters after launching the collection in New York this week. It goes on sale in 2010.
"I realized that this was another way to reach out to people and to really bring them inspiration in some way," she added. "If people tell me how much they love my music because it's gotten them though a certain time in their life, I felt like this was an extension of music."
The jewelry line is being sold through Collette Blanchard Gallery in a temporary "pop-up" shop on Manhattan's lower east side. The pieces range from necklaces and earrings, to watches, cuffs and bracelets and are priced from $85 to $2,500.
"My favorite part about them was not only were they individual, one of a kind, something you would really cherish and hold but the words on them affected me so personally, they uplifted me, it made me feel good, want to hold it and wear it like a mantra," Keys said.
Keys is set to release her new studio album, "The Element of Freedom," on Dec. 15. Her label, J Records, confirms the album includes a duet with Beyonce as well as one with newcomer Drake.
"Put It In A Love Song" features Beyoncé, while "Unthinkable (I'm Ready)" has background vocals by Drake. There's also the reggae-tinged "Love is My Disease;" the 80s-inspired "This Bed;" and first and second singles "Doesn't Mean Anything" and "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart," which are at No. 18 and No. 41 on this week's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, respectively.
