Biography
Singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, humanitarian, Goapele has solidified herself amongst the most prolific R&B and soulful visionaries and creators of our time. And now, Goapele is back with her seventh and most introspective album yet, COLOURS. The eight track gem, on the indie artist’s label Skyblaze Recordings, is as sensual as it is unforgettable.
The Oakland, CA native is the daughter of a South African father, who escaped Apartheid and lived in exile, and a New York-born German Jewish mother. Goapele’s roots and musical background at Berkeley School of Music fueled her to create commanding songs that examine life’s complexities with openness and precision relatable to the ordinary person. This soulful art has been Goapele’s gift, demonstrated through her 2001 iconic breakthrough hit “Closer.” While the industry was saturated with “neo-soul” and “progressive soul” artists at that time, Goapele creatively liquefied a dynamic artistry of soul, R&B, jazz, pop, & bass lines, blending her ethereal voice, moody melodies, and evocative lyrics.
For the very private, and slightly enigmatic artist, songwriting and creating music is therapeutic, making her entire catalog an authentic collection told through a lens of truthful experiences. Goapele wrote and recorded several of the tracks on COLOURS with some of her favorite musicians, producers, and fellow songwriters, including producer Bedrock, a collaborator since her second album (Raphael Saadiq, Tyga), Chris Dave (Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq), Keyon Harold (Gary Clark, Jr., Robert Glasper), Mike Aaberg (Lalah Hathaway), Marcus Phillips (Ledisi, Mali Music), Chris Johnson (Stevie Wonder, Fantasia), Nate Mercereau (Jon Batiste, John Legend), and Errol Cooney (Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson) who she’s worked with since the beginning.
With each track on COLOURS, Goapele seduces the listener into a deeply personal journey, whether it’s through the hypnotic melodies or her sweet, captivating voice. One of the themes on this album is the concept of time, referenced in “Ojai,” with the notion of time standing still in moments of ecstasy, and in the album’s hauntingly beautiful prelude, “Time Heals,” the path to healing unfolds with every step you take. “Moments of uncertainty can feel scary, but I try my best and push forward, and trust that things will eventually land where they're supposed to,” she says. “Color My Heart” is a dreamy love song of painting outside the lines when falling in love. “Need You,” a mesmerizing track with addictive bass and intensifying vocals guaranteed to be played on repeat, and “Enough” is an honest and deep song about feelings of inadequacy. And then there’s “Purple” (co-written by Lauren Evans and features Nate Mercereau on guitar), a sexy and raw track highlighted with electric guitar, providing an immersion into the raw vulnerability of love – helping to set the tone for the entire album.
Goapele will offer an enhanced experience to the songs on COLOURS by merging her music with color tones, scents, and aesthetic apparel to create an immersive experience. As an artist with synesthesia (the ability to experience one of your senses through another), she has curated and recently released scented candles and apparel through her lifestyle brand Dreamseeker.
Goapele has been making profoundly moving music since her debut album Closer in 2001. After the success of that album, she released Even Closer (Skyblaze/Columbia) in 2002, followed by Change It All (Skyblaze/Columbia/SBMG) in 2005, Break of Dawn (Skyblaze/Decon) in 2011, Strong as Glass (Skyblaze/Primary Wave/BMG) in 2014, and DreamSeeker (Skyblaze/Empire) in 2017.
Goapele’s timeless music has been featured in a wide variety of films, television series, and soundtracks, including Dave Chappelle Presents: Luenell (Netflix), So You Think You Can Dance (Fox), Homeroom (Proximity/Hulu), Hitch (Sony Pictures), Power (Starz), Power Book II: Ghost (Starz), Honey (Universal Pictures), Black Lightning (Netflix), 90210 *Reboot (Fox), Baggage Claim (Fox Searchlight Pictures), and South African film Zulu Wedding (Ster Kinekor Pictures). She also made appearances in the movie Sparkle (Sony Pictures) and Ava DuVernay’s fashion short film, The Door, for Miu Miu, and served as an executive producer and appeared in the art-noir, experimental short film #WhereIsBeauty.