Style Session With Alicia Keys

Last week singer Alicia Keys sat down with Joe Zee for an exclusive interview in her recording studio as she prepares to release her sixth album next year. While Zee and Keys chatted about her singular style (she has an impressive collection of hats and loves to rock her braids on the red carpet), joked about having the Grammy award-winning singer write a free song for the channel, and even performed a duet of her latest single, “We Are Here,” the two also discussed more serious topics, including her various philanthropic efforts.

Keys, 34, recently hosted the 11th annual “Keep a Child Alive Black Ball,” her charity, which provides medicine for children and families with AIDS that can’t afford it. “It’s my favorite night of the year because I get to bring together artists from genres that would never be in the same room,” Keys tells Yahoo Style. The singer, who has 20 million followers on Twitter and 35 million on Facebook (“That’s the size of small European country!” says Zee), has found plenty of supporters for her cause — everyone from Riccardo Tisci to Padma Lakshmi.

But her charity is not limited to children with HIV. The singer’s latest single is part of her global #WeAreHereMovement, which aims to raise awareness about various social injustices including racial inequality, gay rights, poor education, even gun laws in America. “All the things that are going on around the world I think so much of it is effecting us,” says Keys. “We’re wondering how can we be a part of creating a better world?” But Keys didn’t just use her pitch perfect voice to get her message across for a kinder, better world. She recently posted a nude photo of herself with a giant white peace sign painted on her pregnant belly on Instagram. (She’s expecting her second child with husband Swiss Beatz this December.)

Ironically, Keys told Zee, “The worst style advice I’ve ever gotten is ‘Don’t worry it will look better on camera.” Never believe that.” This time, we have to disagree and give her a thumbs up for this on camera look.