Time and again, the singer wowed sold-out crowds with her emotionally powerful songs, energetic spirit, and electrifying shows. Goapele followed up the release of her album debut by hitting the road and taking her serene - yet inspiring - sound to the masses, both stateside and abroad. Released on her family-owned record company, Skyblaze Recordings and RED Distribution, the album's mix of soulful grooves and thought-provoking lyrics introduced the world to a multi-faceted artist and songwriter, known as much for her social and political activism as for her lush romantic ballads. The Oakland, California-based songstress broke onto the Bay Area music scene in 2001 with her ethereal EP, Even Closer. I'm also part of the hip hop generation, and my influences continue to grow, so my music has become a blend of many musical traditions."įor a woman whose name means 'to move forward' in Sitswana, a South African dialect, Goapele is instinctively living up to her moniker. These artists created timeless music and positive change in the world. We listened to Sweet Honey in the Rock and Nina Simone, as well as South African music such as Hugh Masekela, Zulu Spear, and Miriam Makeba which was banned in South Africa at the time. These issues were not only important, but the focus of our everyday lives. "What those two cultures faced historically forced my brother and I to be sensitive toward various cultures and social issues.
Her New York-born Jewish mother met and married exiled South African political activist Douglas while in Nairobi, Kenya. Perhaps her bloodline/lineage itself helped hurt her nonconformity. In an industry that advocates monotony, GOAPELE (Gwa-pa-lay) is an autonomist - a poster girl for individualism, a non-conformist. It's quietly seductive, sexy, galvanizing, and sweet. She doesn't need to rely on technical wizardry because her voice is its own instrument all within itself. She possesses one of the most alluring and powerful voices within the soul genre, injecting poignant words with both soul and substance.
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