New Orleans’ one and only Galactic and the legendary Soul Queen of New Orleans, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer Irma Thomas, have shared the second song from their all-new collaborative album, Audience With The Queen. The buoyant “Where I Belong” puts the listener squarely in Thomas’ world as she reflects on an incredible life in music.
From her vocal growls to the bright and joyful tone of her rich contralto, Thomas exudes positive energy and strength against the backdrop of high-energy horn lines. During a spoken word pause sheathed in barely-there effects, Thomas assures us she still loves what she does and has no plans to stop. When she belts out, ‘I still got a love affair / with the sound of music in the air,’ it’s hard not to feel her elation.”
“This is a fun song where Irma sits back and reflects on the life she’s lived and the things that make her content with how she’s lived it,” says Galactic’s Robert Mercurio. “I particularly love the line, ‘I was in Paris drinking Champagne, when you were in diapers and crying.’ It’s funny and light but also so true.”
“This one’s a horn-heavy New Orleans party track built around Miss Irma’s confidence and happiness in knowing she’s right where she should be at this point in her life – making music and singing songs,” says Ben Ellman. “The lyrics couldn’t be more true. Her vocal chops are still amazing and she constantly pushes us to play at a higher level.”
Audience With The Queen (out April 11 on Galactic’s own Tchoup-zilla Records) marks a landmark departure from Galactic’s 10 previous studio LPs, most of which revolved around the band’s core instrumentalists – Ellman (saxophones, harmonica), Mercurio (bass), Stanton Moore (drums), Jeff Raines (guitar) and Rich Vogel (keyboards) – accompanied by a mix of different vocalists.
Here, the 83-year-old Thomas retains the spotlight across eight brand new songs written specifically for her famously warm, blues-drenched voice, as well as a reimagined take on Nancy Wilson’s classic “How Glad I Am.” Thomas worked hand in hand with producers Ellman and Mercurio to select and fine-tune the lyrics and other details, finding her own special way inside the story of each song.
