In a city where music is everything, seeping from the streets and every corner, two iconic forces have come together for a full-length collaboration.
The "Soul Queen of New Orleans" Irma Thomas alongside the genre-bending funk band Galactic, have released their first joint album appropriately titled, Audience With The Queen.
Thomas, who began her career back in 1959, has long been a cornerstone of New Orleans soul and R&B. Over time, Thomas has moved effortlessly through gospel, funk, blues and beyond. Galactic got their start in 1994 blending their version of funk that includes rock, jazz, brass band, electronic and world music into a high-energy blend.
Though their first recording together came in 2010 with the Galactic song “Heart of Steel,” — which still appears on both Galactic and Thomas live show sets — this new album is their first full project as collaborators. It’s a natural pairing, with Galactic rising to meet, and honor, Thomas’ extraordinary voice, which at 84, remains remarkably rich.
The album is almost entirely made up of original songs, with lyrics that touch on everything from heartbreak and resilience to racial justice and personal empowerment. It’s a testament not just to New Orleans music, but to the enduring brilliance of Irma Thomas herself.
Co-produced by Galactic’s Ben Ellman and Robert Mercurio, the project came with its own kind of pressure. The duo has spoken candidly about the nerves that came with giving direction to a living legend — what they described as full-on imposter syndrome.
More than just an album, this collaboration is a celebration: of New Orleans, of musical legacy, and of an artist will captivate a whole new generation of listeners through Audience With The Queen.
Must listens
- "Where I Belong"
- "Love's Gonna Find a Way Again"
- "Lady Liberty"
- "Puppet on Your String"
- "Peace In My Heart"
- "Over You"
