3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Big Freedia on the Gospel Music That Lifts Her Up
Big Freedia will be the first to admit it's been a rough year. A terror attack struck the musician's New Orleans hometown on New Year's Day; in May her partner of 20 years, the visual artist Devon Hurst, died from diabetes-related complications; and in June, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to those fighting for transgender youth in a decision about medical care. An ambassador for the style of New Orleans hip-hop called bounce, Freedia always turns to music for solace and strength.
'It's something that the world needs right now,' she said while preparing to release 'Pressing Onward,' an album-length celebration of the lively, uplifting gospel she grew up performing at the Pressing Onward Baptist Church. 'It's something that I need, going through what I'm going through, with this healing process.'
'Pressing Onward' combines the party-starting rapping that made Freedia a sought-after guest for artists like Beyoncé (that's her exhorting 'Release your anger! Release your mind!' on 'Break My Soul') and the classic sounds of gospel (she's a former choir director).
Freedia, 47, has dedicated the album, due Aug. 8, to Hurst, who enjoyed it while she was recording it. 'He was so proud of it,' she said. 'Every moment that I'm not busy, he's on my mind and I'm thinking about him. I'm still in disbelief.'
In a video interview, she chatted from New Orleans about the culture that lifts her up and inspires her to break down doors. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
She used to sing with Raymond Myles and the RAMS from New Orleans and that's how she was discovered. She's been in churches, tearing the church down with that voice. 'The Battle Is the Lord's,' 'In the Midst of It All,' there's many songs I listen to from her.
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