Love Letter to Oakland
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GOAPELE
Goapele Mohlabane, known as Goapele, is a singer-songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian from Oakland, CA. Born to a South African father who escaped apartheid and a Jewish mother, she grew up immersed in activism and began organizing for social justice at a young age while attending Berkeley Arts Magnet School. In high school, she sang in the Oakland Youth Choir and a music group called Vocal Motion. She attended Berklee College of Music, where she studied music theory. In 2001, Goapele made her debut with the breakthrough hit “Closer,” an anthem on perseverance toward achieving dreams and goals. Blending soul, jazz, pop, and moody basslines with an ethereal voice and compelling lyricism, she has become a defining voice of modern R&B. Her songs explore themes of life, love, self-worth, healing, transformation, and social justice. She co-founded independent music label, Skyblaze Recordings, and has released seven albums. Her music's featured in films, television, and soundtracks. Inspired by her synesthesia, she launched lifestyle brand Dreamseekers, which merges her music with colors (apparel) and scents (candles) to create immersive experiences. A passionate lifelong humanitarian, she’s used her platform to advocate for human rights and social change. She’s worked on multiple prison reform efforts and public health campaigns, and performed globally at rallies and demonstrations for social justice causes. In 2006, she was named the Ella Baker Center’s first Human Rights Cultural Hero.
www.goapele.com | www.dreamseeker.shop