Goapele: the boom box is her soapbox

Goapele Mohlabane's musical roots are as complex as her ancestral ones-she is the daughter of a South African freedom fighter and a Jewish German-American mother. Her debut, Even Closer [Skyblaze/RED/Sony] is a mix of jazz, funk, and soul influenced more by male artists like D'Angelo and Prince than any of her spiritual soul sisters. "I love Roberta Flack, but I really relate to Stevie Wonder," explains the 25-year-old singer, who has performed with Erykah Badu and Alicia Keys.

The Bay Area native studied at Boston's acclaimed Berklee College of Music before developing a local following through performances and a self-distributed EP.

Clearly, she's a lover not a fighter, as the sexually charged track "Romantic" is sure to testify. But because of her family history, she also dabbles in politics. "Red, White, & Blues" is a subtle meditation on patriotism in the Marvin Gaye mold. "I would get tired of singing just political songs or love songs," she says. "At some point, you just say someone's name and you don't categorize them," she explains. "That's how I want to be."

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