Goapele on Fusing the New Orleans Sound

Songstress Goapele is best known for hits neo-soul like “Closer” and “Strong as Glass,” but will she be incorporating the New Orleans sound into her new music?

The ESSENCE Festival alum sat down with our Entertainment Director Cori Murray at this year’s festival and revealed that she’d love to bring the Nawlins’ flavor in to the studio.  

“I think there are undertones of the influence but I haven’t done a straight-up classic with the New Orleans flavor yet,” she said. “I would love to at some point!”

She went on to say that the Crescent City is one of her all-time favorite music destinations. “It’s such a rich musical place, even when Essence isn’t going on, just seeing pockets of people performing jazz, it’s just vibrant!”

When she’s not enjoying the music scene, you can catch Goapele chowing down on some good ol’ NOLA grub. “That’s probably one of my favorite things! I like to hit a bunch of different restaurants and get seafood and beignets,” she gushed. “I love the food in New Orleans!”