Goapele
Interview 8 June 2004
Interviews Menu – Interviews
Let's start with
the album 'Even Closer'. Tell me about it, how it came together, how long it
took, about the people around you that made it happen.
-- EVEN CLOSER is my first official release. It originally stemmed from the EP
my family and I put out in the San Francisco Bay Area, entitled: CLOSER. CLOSER
had only 10 tracks and we duplicated about 3,000 copies altogether of which we
sold at local stores like Amoeba music , Rasputins, and at my live shows. This
was to test the water. To see – and hopefully prove that I could put out the
music that I really wanted to; songs that I believed in and may stretch beyond
one music genre. And people responded well to it and the demand was there, so
we decided to start our family independent label SKYBLAZE RECORDINGS , and got
a national distribution deal (which the Hieroglyphics helped us out with) and
now we are to the present... EVEN CLOSER; with 14 tracks of which I wrote all
the lyrics and got to work with some great up and coming producers, musicians,
and people I consider friends, on the music.
Tell me about how you write the songs and who helps you and how they come
together. Who influences you out there right now, both vocally and writing.
Your songs can be personal or thought provoking. How deep and opinionated are
you?
-- As far as writing songs...each time it’s a different experience. For
example with ‘Salvation’, ‘Butterfly Kisses’, and ‘Things Don’t Exist’ I worked
with Jeff Bhasker, and I came to him with the lyrics and melody, then he
created the music around it. ‘Romantic’ happened similarly with Soulive, but I
had a better idea of what I wanted b4 hand. Songs like ‘Catch 22’, ‘It takes
More’, ‘Closer’, and the other tracks – I wrote straight to what the
producers created. 'EVEN CLOSER’ has a balance of love songs and thought
provoking songs. My stuff is introspective and personal, and I hope that others
can reflect on their lives and the world around them when they listen to it.
With a song like ‘Red, White and Blues’ that Mike Tiger produced, it really
took me a while to express my thoughts in a way that could be strong, but also
compassionate and not naive to possible reactions. I’m inspired by lots of
artists- right now- Lauryn Hill, D’Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Blackstar, Bjork,
Nas, Erykah Badu, Sade....so many.
There's a mixture of styles in there, very soulful neo soul arrangements
plus stuff like the very R'n'B "Ease your mind". Lot's of descriptions
these days Urban, Organic. What direction do you like, where do you fit and
which path do you think you'll be headed. There's also jazz. There's also jazz
gospel and hip hop in there.
--I find that categories can be limiting - I try to make everything soulful.
I see a bit of funky old school in songs like "Got it" and
"Romantic". Who from earlier era's do you like.
-- As far as ‘Got it’ and ‘Romantic’ I wanted to bring out a Prince vibe,
and even D’Angelo for 'Romantic’. There are many people who have influenced me
from other era’s like; Marium Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Stevie Wonder, Al Green,
Roberta Flack, Hugh Masekela, Etta James, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, Otis
Redding, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and more...
You're bio calls you a poster girl for individualism, a non conformist.
Explain?
--I just try to be myself, and try not to worry too much about the rest.
Tell me about your parents, a Jewish mother and a South African activist
father. Tell me bout your upbringing.
--You know the old African saying-”It takes a Village to raise a child”-- I
believe that to be true. I grew up in a strong community in the San Francisco
Bay Area. There was a strong community in the Bay Area. There was a strong
South African community- gatherings and lot’s of music (especially b4
many of the laws changed, most South African’s in the States we’re living in
exile and far from there families). I was involved in the arts. My mother was
always active in organizing and encouraged my brother and I to be involved in
different programs; youth groups martial arts, the Bay Area Black women’s
Health project and Sister’s and Allies.
You been brought up with strong beliefs?
Fahari ? is that something your close to in it's ideals.
--It’s fresh when there’s clothing companies out there that are also
progressive in their thinking. I actually am involved with a company called
‘Wild Life Works’ and though their customers are moistly in the United States
they are doing some incredible things in Kenya: They support a wild life
sanctuary in Kenya and employ local women to work for good living wages in the
factories, where they use organic materials, and they’ve set up some
school facilities for rural children. They’re making some cute and comfortable
shirts and exercise wear.
This is your first album isn't it. What else have you done prior to this.
You studied music?
--I started singing in the Oakland Youth Chorus as a teenager, and studied with
a vocal coach, and later attended Berklee College of Music for a little while.
Tell me about some of the people you have worked with and what has been done
eg India arie, Badu, Amel, Jazzyfatnastees, Jaguar, Roots, all great artists
-- I shared the stage and got to know a great deal of people I admire, and I’ve
got to collaborate with different folks, and it has been really fun. I’ve
done some stuff on other peoples projects: I have a song with Aceyalone, E-40,
The Hieroglyphics, Zion I, Raphael Saadiq (on his live album), and I look
forward to working with a lot more artists and producers.
How are things looking for the future. The albums been out a while. Are you
working on anything else
-- It’s a trip- the album has been out in the SF Bay Area for a while, but
since we’ve been doing on a family label we’ve had to concentrate on different
markets and areas at a time- so Nationally it’s just starting to grow. I am
working on more music, I’m still getting the word out on ‘EVEN CLOSER’. We just
finished a video for the title track ‘Closer’, and the song is on the sound
track for the movie HONEY, and there’s a few other things opening up this year.
Do you have a band, are you giggin? You coming to Europe/UK?
--I’ve been performing with my band THE HEAT for a couple years and some
members rotate depending but we really enjoy doing the music live. I will be
coming to Europe soon! I will be performing at The Jazz Café Picnic @
Kenwood House in Hampstead July11th, which is actually my birthday!
Then I will do some shows with Meshell Ndegeocello at the Jazz Café on
July 14th, 15th, and 16th. Hope to see you there. You can go to my website
for more info. www.goapele.com
Are you happy with
the way things are looking.
--Yes. I feel blessed.
Tell me about skyblaze, who it is and your involvement with them. Any other
artists likely or that you might recommend?
--SKYBLAZE is our family label of which I am one of the owners. It has been a
good empowering experience where my music and artistic vision have been
strongly supported. In December we signed with Columbia to expand nationally,
and Internationally. EVEN CLOSER was re-released in the States and we now have
distribution in South Africa, Japan soon, and I’m looking forward to getting
distribution in Europe. As far as other artists- I don’t know what the future
will hold…SkyBlaze is still taking one step at a time.
Who else out there are you working with ? Do you know Ledisi?
--Yes, Ledisi is a great singer from out here. Martin Luther is a great soul
singer from this area too. Also Latoya London (who was one of 4 finalist’s on American
Idol), she’s an amazing vocalist from this area.–We’ve all done shows
together…and I’m sure I’m leaving names out.
Good luck for the future ? keep me informed and I'll cover it on the site. Anything
else you'd like to add.
Take care now
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