We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Alabama Shakes, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the Southern rock group that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: They Appreciate Snail Mail. Lead singer Brittany Howard used to work at a post office, and she has said that she hopes the future of mail will not be completely electronic. She says that she loves to receive mail.
Number Seven: They Do Not Believe in Originality. Not that that’s a bad thing! Howard has said that she believes every piece of music is an homage to something else. She said, “I don’t care what you’re playing. You can be playing EDM music. Well, guess what? That came out in the early ’80s. There’s no way to be original.”
Number Six: Howard Listens to Different Musicians While on Tour. When the Alabama Shakes are on tour, Howard likes to listen to many different artists. Some of these artists include Erykah Badu, Mendelsohn, Ghostface Killah, and D’Angelo.
Number Five: Their Sophomore Album Debuted at Number One. After the wild success of their debut album, Boys & Girls, Alabama Shakes’ second album, Sound & Color, debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard Top 200. The album was released in April of 2015.
Number Four: They Were Nominated for Four Grammy Awards for the Upcoming Year. The Alabama Shakes were nominated for an impressive four Grammy Awards in 2016. They were nominated for “Don’t Wanna Fight” for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, and they were also nominated for Sound & Color for Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album.
Number Three: They Think New York Is Too Expensive. In an interview, Howard admitted that she still likes the small town feel of Athens, Alabama – not to mention the price point is great. She says that “the boredom always leads to something creative.”
Number Two: Howard Had a Sister. Howard was very young when her sister died of retinal cancer. It was after her sister’s death that she became obsessed with the thought of pursuing music.
Number One: Howard Is Self-Taught. Incredibly, Howard taught herself how to play piano and guitar. Although, considering she was born with the voice of an angel, this comes as no surprise.