December 20, 2007
Goapele, the Bay Area’s princess and pioneer of world soul music continues to receive rave reviews for her ingeniously raw live performances across the country alongside her electrifying instrumentalists "The Heat," and will bring her seductively galvanizing vocals back home for the ‘Sneakers Required New Year’s Eve Ball 2008′ at La Terra in San Francisco, featuring live sets with DJ Namane and producer Mike Tiger, hosted by the multi-talented Rapper, Activist and Thespian Mos Def who recently collaborated in the studio with the vintage dressed diva on the reflective love song "Different"
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December 20, 2007 – Oakland, California – Goapele possesses one of the most alluring and powerful voices within the soul genre, injecting poignant words with both passion and substance. In an industry that advocates monotony, Goapele is an autonomist – a poster girl for individualism and perhaps because of her cultural heritage, a non-conformist. For a woman whose name means ‘to go forward’ in Setswana, the South African language of her grandmother, Goapele lives her name. The Oakland, California-based songstress broke onto the Bay Area music scene with the ethereal Even Closer (Skyblaze Records) an indie masterpiece which went on to sell an unprecedented number of units, largely based on the success of the smash hit single "Closer." 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 poised chanteuse delivered a testimony-driven, emotionally aching yet uplifting and candidly charged classic cuts to soul music junkies who feigned for organic gutbucket vocals and raw bass lines. Goapele brilliantly experimented with skillful compositions and heart wrenching harmonies while the songs showcased the singer/songwriter’s impeccable ability to mix classic soul with rhythm and blues along with new-age funk, dripping with sensuality, instantly garnering her respect for skillfully uniting hip-hop, jazz, R&B and melodic soul. Critics from every major media outlet hailed the songstress as the "next" musical icon and heralded Even Closer as an album ahead of its time. The exquisite dread headed beauty went on to grace the covers of Bay Area’s premier San Francisco Magazine "Best of the Bay Area" issue and SF Bay Guardian’s end of the year "Music" issue, was named #5 artist to watch in Rolling Stone, received the first ever Ella Baker "Human Rights Cultural Hero Award" Award, made the countdown on MTV’s "Top Ten Artists To Watch" and collaborated with ALDO Shoes’ huge advertisement campaign in their fight against HIV/AIDS featuring renowned artists Avril Lavigne, Ludacris, Dave Navarro, Charlize Therron, Eve, Rosario Dawson, Eva Mendes, Bow Wow and Kelly Rowland.
The Bay Area based ingénue who was equally influenced by Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley and Portishead as she was by Miriam Makeba, Zulu Spears and Hugh Masekela brings a well-needed enigmatic presence to a mundane industry that is devoid of innovative magic and fascination, but thick with semblance. Her signature of throaty moans and nostalgic lyrical poetry evoke all things old yet somehow manages to be refreshingly new. While she garnered the support of music critics and fans, a host of fellow musicians and celebrities–including The Roots, Rosario Dawson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kanye West, Prince and Stevie Wonder–came under the spell of her music, style and sensibility and called her in various words "The next big artist to watch." Erykah Badu voted Even Closer as the most creative and innovative albums for the 2003 ShortList Music Project and exclaimed, "Goapele you Shine! I love you. I’m pleased that you demonstrate True Jedi, and the music is beautiful too." Next Goapele brought an infusion of fresh energy and a classic, yet new sound to R&B music with her highly anticipated and groundbreaking sophomore set, Change It All, (Sony Records) and proved that enlightened change could be a positive force in the world of music and beyond. Featuring production work from old friends who set precedents for The Game, E-40, Martin Luther, Sa-Ra, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Bilal, Pink and Christina Aguillera the result was a collection of love songs and politically/socially inspired songs that remained true to Goapele’s firmly planted roots. This coming Spring 2008 Goapele will release an emotively inspiring Live DVD, filmed at the Great American Music Hall, the original historical French restaurant, the inspired symbol of San Francisco’s rebirth, the legendary jazz club after World War II and the contemporary favorite nightspot for Bay Area elite which has showcased luminaries such as Duke Ellington, the Grateful Dead and Robin Williams.
After emerging as the Bay Area’s "golden child" years before Keyshia Cole made her musical debut the recent introspective mother has taken her serene – yet inspiring – sound to the masses, both stateside and abroad for the past decade. Time and again, the singer wowed sold-out crowds with her emotionally powerful songs, energetic spirit, and luminous shows, receiving rhapsodic reviews from The New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, LA Times, etc. When Goapele opens her mouth to sing on stage, she doesn’t just sing, she rips it. She can’t hold back. But then again, "moving forward" is what Goapele is all about.
This New Year’s Eve the Bay Area is the place to be for the exclusively chic "Sneakers Required New Years Eve Ball 2008," hosted by the gifted lyricist turned Emmy & Golden Globe Award nominated actor Mos Def. The celebratory and philanthropic event is produced bi-annually by the San Francisco based Ankh Marketing in association with Oakland’s own Skyblaze Music. To usher in the coming year Goapele will make a special appearance and take the stage alongside DJ Namane and producer Mike Tiger ("Closer") for the hottest event in town. Guests are expected to parade their most fashionable pair of kicks and are additionally urged to bring an extra pair for charitable donations. Whether shoe styles run the gamut of Nike, Addidas or Reebok to Puma, Vans or Converse this extraordinary night will be all about sneaker couture. The venue is La Terra in San Francisco (511 Harrison St) and Doors open at 9pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.going.com/TerraNYE08. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit H.E.A.R.
For More Information Please Contact
HPR (310) 645-4246 or media@heliopr.com
