October 30, 2023 • 27 mins
In this episode, we conclude our conversation with the multi-talented Goapele. She delves into the art of building a brand, emphasizing the core values that underpin her image. Goapele also shares her aspirations in acting and provides insights into her latest album, 'Dreamseeker,' a unique sensory experience she created. As the conversation unfolds, we explore the exciting collaborations that have shaped her journey, providing a well-rounded look at Goapele's multifaceted career and artistic contributions.
Host IG:@itstanyatime
Guest IG: @goapele
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Kind of like the more we learn, the more and
the more we grow, the more we can, you know
what I mean, And kind of like what I'm trying
to hold on to these days, which is really hard
for me because I overthink things, but like done is
better than perfect.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
You're listening to Money Moves powered by Greenwood, a finance
podcast dedicated to dropping all the knowledge and gems from
the world's leading celebrities, entrepreneurs and experts, and tech, business
and more. I'm your host, angel investor, technology enthusiast, and
media personality Tanya Sam. Each week, we talk with guests
who are making significant strides in their fields and learn
(00:35):
how they are making their money move. If you're someone
who's looking to make your money move, you're in the
right place. So open up your notes app and lock
us in because this podcast will give you the keys
to the kingdom of financial stability, wealth and abundance you
so rightly deserve. Before we start the episode, I'd like
to remind you to check us out at gogreenwood dot
com and follow us on social media at Greenwood and
(00:58):
me on all Things social at It's Tanya Time to
stay locked into new episode Moneymovers. Please join us and
welcoming the talented Goopola.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
To the show.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Hello, Hello, you know you have had a brand that
is like you know, people know you, but you're also
still out here. You're evolving it, You're giving people content.
If you guys follow her on social you'll see this.
What does building a brand look like to you today?
That is a great question. I am still trying to
(01:31):
figure it out. I think.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
For me.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
For me, it's kind of like what I who I am.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
As an artist is very close to who I am
as a person. So I think it's along the way
deciding like what I want to share and I value
having my privacy also, you know, so that can be
a difficult balance sometimes. But I would say, like as
(02:02):
a business woman, I think sometimes I'll take myself out
for a second and try and vision as a brand.
And I think one of the most valuable things to
me that's kept me grounded is just to like always
have a big personal vision for myself so that I
(02:25):
can stay consistent with that and it kind of teaches
me internally when to say yes and no so that
my brain feels authentic.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I love that because it's a struggle. It's a
funny question, right, because at the bottom line where I'm like, oh,
you should just be yourself, right, and this is what
you would think. But it's hard in the public eye
balancing both like how much you want to put out,
you know, and especially when you have such soulful music,
people gravitate, I'm sure to your music because they feel
(03:02):
you've touched something in themselves. And so I surmise it
would be even harder because you want to give that
back to people, but at the same time, like you
can't give it all away. It has to be sort
of cognizant of that too.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Yeah, And I think there's also things like for me,
like just like you know, tapping into what are my
core values for myself because I think you just want
to say yes to everything and every kind of support
because it's like, it's great to have resources, and it's
definitely challenging sometimes as an independent artist to have enough resources.
(03:42):
But when you think about brand, like for me, just
thinking about what different companies I would want to work with,
you know, getting to work with Aldo around you know,
they did like a awareness around HIV and there was
(04:02):
a whole thing with just like fashion and consciousness versus
you know, there was like maybe a tobacco company that
approached me early on, and I was just like, I
can't say yes to that. Even though I want to
say yes to the money, it's not gonna it's going
to be a conflict within me and so knowing when
(04:25):
to say no. And then it's like, you know, full circle.
All these years later, I ended up working with the
anti tobacco.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Oh look at that, and then and then they were like,
we want to support you.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
So I think just kind of knowing, like what what
is the right synergy?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I always look at that because it's they're tough choices,
like you can get a big check and you're like, ugh,
I need this, but am I okay with this? And yeah,
like really tough everyday decisions that I mean not just
musicians have to make, yeah, totally.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
And sometimes it's worth it, and sometimes it's worth thinking
outside the box how can I make this work? And
sometimes it's just like I'm just gonna have to pass
on that because bigger picture, this is totally not in
line and it's gonna just throw off what I've been building.
And then you just have that the right thing is
(05:22):
gonna come.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Oh, well, the right thing comes, and you've had your
hands in many many pots from acting to entrepreneurship, so
you've been able to sort of monetize and create many
streams of income for yourself as well, you know, throughout
the course of your music career. Talk a little bit
about the acting, and then we'll go back and we'll
speak a bit on these brand partnerships as well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Yes, the acting, I feel like I haven't got to
do as much as I want to do in acting,
and it can be kind of an intimidating thing because
it's like a whole different a whole different muscle to
practice and it's really vulnerable. But I did get to do.
(06:05):
One of the first things I got to do was
being Sparkle with the late great Whitney Houston, and it
was so fun for me because I got to play
a retro group, you know, a singing group, and I
got to have like fun and I got it was
just like fun, and I got to sing the actual
song running in a studio with Chuck Harmony and then
(06:29):
we got to perform it and that was a great
way to get my feet wet. And I also met
Omari Hardwick on that set, which you know we've become
friends and got to work together creatively, so that was
just awesome. And also got to work a mirror a
Kiel and Selima Killmore just houses Tower Houses and you know,
(06:53):
had my music in other of their projects. I got
to work with Ava du Verne. She did this short
film called The Door and it was with Giants. You know,
it's like with Alfre Wooder and Gale Union and ama
Yatzi and at Apperil and it was just like, for me,
(07:17):
one of my favorite things because it was like it
was with me.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And you and I love that brand.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
But then yes, black women just like as friends telling
a story and.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So that was really fun.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And there's a couple other indie projects Where's Beauty and
other things that I've got to be involved with. But
I hope to get even further into that world because
I have some different ideas.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
I hope this for you as you talk about some
of the collaborations and you know I had, it always
gets people excited. But can you share with us some
of the other incredible artists that you've worked with, some
of the hits that you've worked on.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Let's see, I've worked with a lot of rappers, mainly
I'm like from E forty the Snoop High Road to
and I Rex Life, Raj a lot of different folks,
and I love that because it's like, you know, I
can do a hook or a verse and they're filling
(08:23):
it in and it just kind of like it's not
as much pressure, you know, yeah, yourself. And then I
just recently did a song with Raheem Devong, who's like yeah,
because he's amazing live. But we did this song called
Love around the Clock that's on his new album.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And I also got to work with bj the Chicago
kid who's also.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
A singer and songwriter, you know, besides his own stuff,
he's done all this amazing stuff with Kendrick Lamar and folks.
And I'm also collaborating with folks visually. And I just
for the new project Colors, Like for the first song
Time Heels, I worked with a visual artist called Human,
(09:16):
Filipino woman out of the Bay Area, and she does
amazing murals, amazing canvas, all kinds of stuff. But she's
she designed my album cover. But she also I worked
with her on this piece that she did called Ecclusion
for Time Heels, and it's like art, the animates with
the merch and I'm just excited to be thinking outside
(09:40):
of the box and getting to bring in visual aspects
because it's like for me, I hear, I see visuals
and I've been wanting to incorporate more of that. And
then I also have candle sense that go with the
different songs, and smell is.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Like really cute for me. I like think good, smell
good and look.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Good and feel good and and so just incorporating more
of a holistic approach, which feels like a little more
like my lifestyle getting to bring that to the public.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
So I saw this, y'all, and if you were tuning
in to listen, make sure you go check it out.
The lifestyle brand is dream Seeker.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
And it's because this just feels like the natural evolution
if you you know, we have this auditory experience where
you get to listen to music, but then you're adding
all these sensory elements on from the smell to visual
And if you check out on Guappalaid's Instagram, you'll see
a little teaser of it there. It is really beautiful.
I really love that, and there's butterflies. It's everything I
(10:46):
would have imagined it to be. In a perfect sensory experience.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
So thank you. I'm so happy.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, it is really really incredible, and I love that
you're able to you know, this is how you want
to experience some music, so you're bringing it to the
people that love your music.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah, And it's something that I've thought about for a
really long time and it's finally coming to fruition and
like manifesting, Like okay, there's something physical that I can share,
you know, because I concept for a long time and
it was you know, it took a while to figure
out how to translate it.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And so talk about it.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I mean, it's really interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
So you and the artist human collaborated to sort of
create this visual tell us a little bit more about that.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So I did a She had an immersive art installation
in Berkeley or Emeryville near Oakland. What was this maybe
like a year ago and incredible. I mean there was
like five rooms you could walk through. She had fabric
painted that was hanging strips from the ceiling projected on it.
(12:02):
You could walk through it. That was her art was
all over the walls and some of it she had
built in filters where if you put your phone over
it it animates. There's not a lot of visual artists
that also have that technical translation where they're able to
sticulate on more mediums. So that was really dope. And
(12:25):
I was invited to sing there and it was just
after I had you know, I had been visioning, like
how am I how can I bring other sensory experiences
to my music? And I had like found the first
scent that I was going to use. So I was like, oh,
this is the perfect place where I can perform some
(12:46):
of my songs and have the scent going through the room,
you know.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
And it's subtle, but I was like, it's.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
A step, it's a step, It's a step, yes, in
this place that's so immersive already. So we just kept
talking after that, and there was a piece that she
painted that just really resonated with me because it was
about time, it was about healing, it was about transformation,
(13:13):
and I was like, can we do something around this piece?
So she kind of customized a version of that piece
for Time Heels because it just felt like in the
right tone. It was already like Time Heels was kind
of like a golden hour sunset, you know, burnt oranges
(13:36):
type color tone for me in my mind, which is
a lot of that is in the painting, but it's
also about transformation and how time heels things.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
So I was like, this is perfect.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
How can we perfect, you know?
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And so we did a limited edition merch together, and
now she's done the album cover and all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Okay, you remiss if I didn't allow you right now
to tell us where we can find this, like plug
plug my sister.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Yes, So people can go to Dreamseeker dot com. That's
where the merch is available and the candles are available.
And if people go to guappola dot com, it'll link
through to that g OA p E l E dot com. Yeah,
and all my handles are just at wappola.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
So beautiful.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I don't even know how you got dreamsecret dot com
as a website that just feels like gold right there.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I think as so many people that I interact with,
you know, the songs called closer, but so many people
I interact with are like, closer to my dreams, you know,
got me through this or that or whatever. And I
feel like, and they'll tell me the story of how,
you know, what dreams they've fulfilled. They're at in their
evolution and I feel there's all these dream seekers out
(14:55):
there that are on their journey doing all these make
things in different fields, and I want to stay tapped
in with them.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, oh I'm a dream seeker. I love this.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
This is so beautiful because I think it brings me
full circle to some of your work you do with
sky Blaze Recordings for emerging artists. You're helping others seek
their dreams and achieve their dreams. Tell us about a
little bit how a little bit more about how you
support these emerging artists.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Well, to be honest with you, that's something that we're
still working on. We've definitely worked with a lot of
up and coming producers that are now, like you know,
have some solid careers and they're not up income anymore.
So I think just from the beginning, just working with
(15:46):
people where there's been good synergy cream and building together.
I really believe in that. And I've been working with
some of the same people since the beginning, you know,
Mike Tiger, bed Rock, Eryl Cooney, Jeff Basker, a lot
(16:08):
of different folks and different writers. I think sky Blaze
has been historically more of a vehicle as an artist
that's been more of a vehicle for me. They're emerging artists,
but definitely there's always been a lot of community building
(16:28):
where we're working with you know, different emerging artists and
definitely producers and musicians. And I think that the mentorship
part is so important and helped me immensely, like when
I was first getting into music of like you know,
(16:48):
folks like DJ Fuse from Digital Underground or E forty
or Prints, you know, all these like artists and musicians
with longevity that have been that we're honest out their
journey and like, you need to be writing, you need
to have ownership, you need to buy your own equipment,
(17:11):
you need to you know, think about this and that
in deals and you know, surrounding myself with a trustworthy team.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
And so okay, you mentioned Prince, Yes, so I've got
to go back to that. Was he a big mentor for.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
You in this space? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:29):
He was, and he I think I met him probably
in like oh five oh six something around maybe a
little before that, because I think it was where I
put out my second album, right before I put out
Change at All. Because if I look back, we gave
him like some some of the songs before I put
(17:52):
him out.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
You know, kind of like what are you.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Oh yeah, please don't break my heart, but tell me something.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I remember he was like, like that song crushed out
and I ended up later on, you know, years later,
performing that at his club when he did the thirty
one twenty one in Vegas and he came up and
did a solo on it. But he used to come
to my shows.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
He flew out to the Bay Area for the album
release party.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
He would, you know, he would host these parties and
dinner and include me and so many amazing musicians and
independent artists and just talk about like how important ownership
is and being your masters, and how to think about
(18:45):
your music like art, you know, and not give all
your power away. And he just did things in such
a innovative way.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
You know. It's like he was always thinking out of
the box.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Of course, he had so much success, he had a
lot of freedom to decide, I'm going to press up
my own.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I don't know how many albums.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
You know, what I meant is included in the tickets,
Like that's genius.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
And but also about he was so prolific, but he
really valued what he brought.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
And I think it was just like a different perspective
of not being a victim the industry, but really bringing
being valuable and recognizing that and not in a conceded,
not in an arrogant way. You know. He also had
such an inredibly intense work ethic.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
You know, you don't want to have an air like
time to me.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Because you know I should so fire that, but it's like, hmmm,
we have to put in the work, you know what
I mean, and the best we can because we care
so much about what we're giving, you know. So I
think like he was such an example of that, but
(20:09):
then at the end of the day, like he really
valued what he had and don't just give everything away.
So you know, some just some things that were instilled
in me, but even also like his creative process, like
going in the studio and recording on your own, you know,
(20:30):
and just being a little more open and vulnerable and
all of that.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
So, now, as you're about to drop your next this
latest album, what do you have advice now that you've
sort of come through, you know, years of experience, what
is the final piece of advice that you would give
to artists now that are creating, putting out music, trying
to be successful, trying to build a brand, trying to
create generational wealth, all these things that keep.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Us all That is such a great question and that
I feel like I'm still trying to find the answer
to myself.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
What I would say to me, what I have to
come back to is like I want to do what
I love.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
I need to stay like stay creative, you know, get
in the studio and when you don't feel motivate, work
with different people just so that you're there enough for
the magic to happen when it can, because it's not
going to happen. And then like surround yourself with trustworthy
(21:36):
people that are down to hold up your vision but
also and believe in you, but also like question you
and be honest with you. Then just give the best
that you can. And it's kind of like the more
we learn, the more and the more we grow, the
more we can, you know what I mean. And kind
(21:58):
of like what I'm trying to hold onto these days,
which is really hard for me because I overthink things,
but like done is better than perfect.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
That is like my I say that all the time.
Let me tell you when.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Somebody told me that, I was like, I really need
to hold on to this because I can overthink my
way at everything, like, oh it's not good enough, you too,
And it's like, okay, once I have really done my
best and it's not gonna stre in the next near future,
let it.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Go, you know, let it go.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Just let it get out there, and you know you'll
build on it, you'll iterate, you'll change. And it's it's
funny because nowadays, when you look at it, I could
see I understand. Right, Remember back in the day, you're
talking about pressing a CD like it had to be perfect.
I guess right now you can iterate, you can release
a remix on your social media.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Done is better than perfect.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
It's it's a tough one. It's a beause it's scary
and vulnerable, you know, to put your there. But it's like, okay,
once I've done the best that I know I can do,
and like maybe I want it to be better, but
I'm not going to get to that.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Yeap, Now all right, share it?
Speaker 1 (23:16):
And then I also it's really important to not burn
bridges because if I told you how many people I've
run back into overall these but I've been in the industry,
not at the same company, not in the same place,
in all different places, and it's like if you can
maintain respect, you know, with people and good relationships, like
(23:42):
you can't have to worry. It's such a rollercoaster in
this entertainment industry, Like certain opportunities don't come back around,
certain relationships do come back around, Like you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
You feel like you have to move with good intention.
You can't be a pusher where you can't you know,
You've got to stick up for yourself when you do.
But there's always a way that you can do it
that you know, doesn't alienate the people around you, doesn't
disrespect you know, And I say this all the time.
You never know.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Twenty years is a long time that.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Person who is bringing you coffee shows up as like
in the c suite, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (24:18):
So true, it is so true.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
But you sleep well knowing like I treated everybody around
me fairly and kind.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, you know, it's just back to like treat people
the way you want to be treated and not like
you know, any of us are perfect. I'm sure I've
offended some people no different days if I was in
a bad mood or something. But at the end of
the day, like I feel like there's a lot of
(24:46):
good people that have stood the test of time that
I've been able to come back to.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Oh, lovely, this is beautiful. Thank you so much for
your beautiful words. Thank you so much for sharing all
your mindset and wisdom with us moneymovers. As we run
out of time for today, I want to make sure
that we give you the opportunity again to share where
they can follow you on social, where they can buy
your candles, tell us again about dream Seekers, let us
(25:13):
know everything.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Yeah, okay, so on all the handles on guappola g
O A p E l E. You can go to
gapla dot com to kind of find anything. But the
specialized merch that I'm really excited about is on dreamseeker
dot com, d R E A M S E e
(25:39):
K e.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
R dot com.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
And like I said, the candles associated with the songs,
two of three of them are out now and this
month the third one will be coming out with my
with my song Purple and Yeah and keep your eyes
and ears open for Colors. That's the album that's coming
(26:04):
out soon.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Well, thank you for helping us all get closer to
our dreams and inspiring us in this conversation it was
such a pleasure. Money Movers, make sure you follow go uply,
make sure you get those candles, make sure you get
all the visual art and IDs like invent your life.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Let's go and thank you again for your time. Thank you,
thank you for this conversation.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Here's a sneak peak of next week's episode.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
I had success very early on as a production assistant
and I was like, I know everything. So that humbled me, Tanya.
So when I got to do the reality show and
I was like, no, I'm meant to do this, and
I learned my lesson. I'm I'm never going to complain
to this day. I just I don't complain. I think
complaining is and I'm going to say it, complaining is
(26:52):
telling God he got it wrong.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Thanks for listening to today's episode. If we helped you
make your money move, please share it with your community,
Scribe and leave us a review on iHeartRadio and Apple podcasts.
Follow us on social media at Greenwood and visit us
at Gogreenwood dot com for more financial tips and remember,
money Movers, if this were easy ever,
Kind of like the more we learn, the more and
the more we grow, the more we can, you know
what I mean, And kind of like what I'm trying
to hold on to these days, which is really hard
for me because I overthink things, but like done is
better than perfect.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
You're listening to Money Moves powered by Greenwood, a finance
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and more. I'm your host, angel investor, technology enthusiast, and
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who are making significant strides in their fields and learn
(00:35):
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(00:58):
me on all Things social at It's Tanya Time to
stay locked into new episode Moneymovers. Please join us and
welcoming the talented Goopola.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
To the show.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Hello, Hello, you know you have had a brand that
is like you know, people know you, but you're also
still out here. You're evolving it, You're giving people content.
If you guys follow her on social you'll see this.
What does building a brand look like to you today?
That is a great question. I am still trying to
(01:31):
figure it out. I think.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
For me.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
For me, it's kind of like what I who I am.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
As an artist is very close to who I am
as a person. So I think it's along the way
deciding like what I want to share and I value
having my privacy also, you know, so that can be
a difficult balance sometimes. But I would say, like as
(02:02):
a business woman, I think sometimes I'll take myself out
for a second and try and vision as a brand.
And I think one of the most valuable things to
me that's kept me grounded is just to like always
have a big personal vision for myself so that I
(02:25):
can stay consistent with that and it kind of teaches
me internally when to say yes and no so that
my brain feels authentic.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I love that because it's a struggle. It's a
funny question, right, because at the bottom line where I'm like, oh,
you should just be yourself, right, and this is what
you would think. But it's hard in the public eye
balancing both like how much you want to put out,
you know, and especially when you have such soulful music,
people gravitate, I'm sure to your music because they feel
(03:02):
you've touched something in themselves. And so I surmise it
would be even harder because you want to give that
back to people, but at the same time, like you
can't give it all away. It has to be sort
of cognizant of that too.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Yeah, And I think there's also things like for me,
like just like you know, tapping into what are my
core values for myself because I think you just want
to say yes to everything and every kind of support
because it's like, it's great to have resources, and it's
definitely challenging sometimes as an independent artist to have enough resources.
(03:42):
But when you think about brand, like for me, just
thinking about what different companies I would want to work with,
you know, getting to work with Aldo around you know,
they did like a awareness around HIV and there was
(04:02):
a whole thing with just like fashion and consciousness versus
you know, there was like maybe a tobacco company that
approached me early on, and I was just like, I
can't say yes to that. Even though I want to
say yes to the money, it's not gonna it's going
to be a conflict within me and so knowing when
(04:25):
to say no. And then it's like, you know, full circle.
All these years later, I ended up working with the
anti tobacco.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Oh look at that, and then and then they were like,
we want to support you.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
So I think just kind of knowing, like what what
is the right synergy?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I always look at that because it's they're tough choices,
like you can get a big check and you're like, ugh,
I need this, but am I okay with this? And yeah,
like really tough everyday decisions that I mean not just
musicians have to make, yeah, totally.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
And sometimes it's worth it, and sometimes it's worth thinking
outside the box how can I make this work? And
sometimes it's just like I'm just gonna have to pass
on that because bigger picture, this is totally not in
line and it's gonna just throw off what I've been building.
And then you just have that the right thing is
(05:22):
gonna come.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Oh, well, the right thing comes, and you've had your
hands in many many pots from acting to entrepreneurship, so
you've been able to sort of monetize and create many
streams of income for yourself as well, you know, throughout
the course of your music career. Talk a little bit
about the acting, and then we'll go back and we'll
speak a bit on these brand partnerships as well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Yes, the acting, I feel like I haven't got to
do as much as I want to do in acting,
and it can be kind of an intimidating thing because
it's like a whole different a whole different muscle to
practice and it's really vulnerable. But I did get to do.
(06:05):
One of the first things I got to do was
being Sparkle with the late great Whitney Houston, and it
was so fun for me because I got to play
a retro group, you know, a singing group, and I
got to have like fun and I got it was
just like fun, and I got to sing the actual
song running in a studio with Chuck Harmony and then
(06:29):
we got to perform it and that was a great
way to get my feet wet. And I also met
Omari Hardwick on that set, which you know we've become
friends and got to work together creatively, so that was
just awesome. And also got to work a mirror a
Kiel and Selima Killmore just houses Tower Houses and you know,
(06:53):
had my music in other of their projects. I got
to work with Ava du Verne. She did this short
film called The Door and it was with Giants. You know,
it's like with Alfre Wooder and Gale Union and ama
Yatzi and at Apperil and it was just like, for me,
(07:17):
one of my favorite things because it was like it
was with me.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And you and I love that brand.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
But then yes, black women just like as friends telling
a story and.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So that was really fun.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And there's a couple other indie projects Where's Beauty and
other things that I've got to be involved with. But
I hope to get even further into that world because
I have some different ideas.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
I hope this for you as you talk about some
of the collaborations and you know I had, it always
gets people excited. But can you share with us some
of the other incredible artists that you've worked with, some
of the hits that you've worked on.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Let's see, I've worked with a lot of rappers, mainly
I'm like from E forty the Snoop High Road to
and I Rex Life, Raj a lot of different folks,
and I love that because it's like, you know, I
can do a hook or a verse and they're filling
(08:23):
it in and it just kind of like it's not
as much pressure, you know, yeah, yourself. And then I
just recently did a song with Raheem Devong, who's like yeah,
because he's amazing live. But we did this song called
Love around the Clock that's on his new album.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And I also got to work with bj the Chicago
kid who's also.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
A singer and songwriter, you know, besides his own stuff,
he's done all this amazing stuff with Kendrick Lamar and folks.
And I'm also collaborating with folks visually. And I just
for the new project Colors, Like for the first song
Time Heels, I worked with a visual artist called Human,
(09:16):
Filipino woman out of the Bay Area, and she does
amazing murals, amazing canvas, all kinds of stuff. But she's
she designed my album cover. But she also I worked
with her on this piece that she did called Ecclusion
for Time Heels, and it's like art, the animates with
the merch and I'm just excited to be thinking outside
(09:40):
of the box and getting to bring in visual aspects
because it's like for me, I hear, I see visuals
and I've been wanting to incorporate more of that. And
then I also have candle sense that go with the
different songs, and smell is.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Like really cute for me. I like think good, smell
good and look.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Good and feel good and and so just incorporating more
of a holistic approach, which feels like a little more
like my lifestyle getting to bring that to the public.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
So I saw this, y'all, and if you were tuning
in to listen, make sure you go check it out.
The lifestyle brand is dream Seeker.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
And it's because this just feels like the natural evolution
if you you know, we have this auditory experience where
you get to listen to music, but then you're adding
all these sensory elements on from the smell to visual
And if you check out on Guappalaid's Instagram, you'll see
a little teaser of it there. It is really beautiful.
I really love that, and there's butterflies. It's everything I
(10:46):
would have imagined it to be. In a perfect sensory experience.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
So thank you. I'm so happy.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, it is really really incredible, and I love that
you're able to you know, this is how you want
to experience some music, so you're bringing it to the
people that love your music.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah, And it's something that I've thought about for a
really long time and it's finally coming to fruition and
like manifesting, Like okay, there's something physical that I can share,
you know, because I concept for a long time and
it was you know, it took a while to figure
out how to translate it.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And so talk about it.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I mean, it's really interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
So you and the artist human collaborated to sort of
create this visual tell us a little bit more about that.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So I did a She had an immersive art installation
in Berkeley or Emeryville near Oakland. What was this maybe
like a year ago and incredible. I mean there was
like five rooms you could walk through. She had fabric
painted that was hanging strips from the ceiling projected on it.
(12:02):
You could walk through it. That was her art was
all over the walls and some of it she had
built in filters where if you put your phone over
it it animates. There's not a lot of visual artists
that also have that technical translation where they're able to
sticulate on more mediums. So that was really dope. And
(12:25):
I was invited to sing there and it was just
after I had you know, I had been visioning, like
how am I how can I bring other sensory experiences
to my music? And I had like found the first
scent that I was going to use. So I was like, oh,
this is the perfect place where I can perform some
(12:46):
of my songs and have the scent going through the room,
you know.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
And it's subtle, but I was like, it's.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
A step, it's a step, It's a step, yes, in
this place that's so immersive already. So we just kept
talking after that, and there was a piece that she
painted that just really resonated with me because it was
about time, it was about healing, it was about transformation,
(13:13):
and I was like, can we do something around this piece?
So she kind of customized a version of that piece
for Time Heels because it just felt like in the
right tone. It was already like Time Heels was kind
of like a golden hour sunset, you know, burnt oranges
(13:36):
type color tone for me in my mind, which is
a lot of that is in the painting, but it's
also about transformation and how time heels things.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
So I was like, this is perfect.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
How can we perfect, you know?
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And so we did a limited edition merch together, and
now she's done the album cover and all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Okay, you remiss if I didn't allow you right now
to tell us where we can find this, like plug
plug my sister.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Yes, So people can go to Dreamseeker dot com. That's
where the merch is available and the candles are available.
And if people go to guappola dot com, it'll link
through to that g OA p E l E dot com. Yeah,
and all my handles are just at wappola.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
So beautiful.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I don't even know how you got dreamsecret dot com
as a website that just feels like gold right there.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I think as so many people that I interact with,
you know, the songs called closer, but so many people
I interact with are like, closer to my dreams, you know,
got me through this or that or whatever. And I
feel like, and they'll tell me the story of how,
you know, what dreams they've fulfilled. They're at in their
evolution and I feel there's all these dream seekers out
(14:55):
there that are on their journey doing all these make
things in different fields, and I want to stay tapped
in with them.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, oh I'm a dream seeker. I love this.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
This is so beautiful because I think it brings me
full circle to some of your work you do with
sky Blaze Recordings for emerging artists. You're helping others seek
their dreams and achieve their dreams. Tell us about a
little bit how a little bit more about how you
support these emerging artists.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Well, to be honest with you, that's something that we're
still working on. We've definitely worked with a lot of
up and coming producers that are now, like you know,
have some solid careers and they're not up income anymore.
So I think just from the beginning, just working with
(15:46):
people where there's been good synergy cream and building together.
I really believe in that. And I've been working with
some of the same people since the beginning, you know,
Mike Tiger, bed Rock, Eryl Cooney, Jeff Basker, a lot
(16:08):
of different folks and different writers. I think sky Blaze
has been historically more of a vehicle as an artist
that's been more of a vehicle for me. They're emerging artists,
but definitely there's always been a lot of community building
(16:28):
where we're working with you know, different emerging artists and
definitely producers and musicians. And I think that the mentorship
part is so important and helped me immensely, like when
I was first getting into music of like you know,
(16:48):
folks like DJ Fuse from Digital Underground or E forty
or Prints, you know, all these like artists and musicians
with longevity that have been that we're honest out their
journey and like, you need to be writing, you need
to have ownership, you need to buy your own equipment,
(17:11):
you need to you know, think about this and that
in deals and you know, surrounding myself with a trustworthy team.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
And so okay, you mentioned Prince, Yes, so I've got
to go back to that. Was he a big mentor for.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
You in this space? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:29):
He was, and he I think I met him probably
in like oh five oh six something around maybe a
little before that, because I think it was where I
put out my second album, right before I put out
Change at All. Because if I look back, we gave
him like some some of the songs before I put
(17:52):
him out.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
You know, kind of like what are you.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Oh yeah, please don't break my heart, but tell me something.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I remember he was like, like that song crushed out
and I ended up later on, you know, years later,
performing that at his club when he did the thirty
one twenty one in Vegas and he came up and
did a solo on it. But he used to come
to my shows.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
He flew out to the Bay Area for the album
release party.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
He would, you know, he would host these parties and
dinner and include me and so many amazing musicians and
independent artists and just talk about like how important ownership
is and being your masters, and how to think about
(18:45):
your music like art, you know, and not give all
your power away. And he just did things in such
a innovative way.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
You know. It's like he was always thinking out of
the box.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Of course, he had so much success, he had a
lot of freedom to decide, I'm going to press up
my own.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I don't know how many albums.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
You know, what I meant is included in the tickets,
Like that's genius.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
And but also about he was so prolific, but he
really valued what he brought.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
And I think it was just like a different perspective
of not being a victim the industry, but really bringing
being valuable and recognizing that and not in a conceded,
not in an arrogant way. You know. He also had
such an inredibly intense work ethic.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
You know, you don't want to have an air like
time to me.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Because you know I should so fire that, but it's like, hmmm,
we have to put in the work, you know what
I mean, and the best we can because we care
so much about what we're giving, you know. So I
think like he was such an example of that, but
(20:09):
then at the end of the day, like he really
valued what he had and don't just give everything away.
So you know, some just some things that were instilled
in me, but even also like his creative process, like
going in the studio and recording on your own, you know,
(20:30):
and just being a little more open and vulnerable and
all of that.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
So, now, as you're about to drop your next this
latest album, what do you have advice now that you've
sort of come through, you know, years of experience, what
is the final piece of advice that you would give
to artists now that are creating, putting out music, trying
to be successful, trying to build a brand, trying to
create generational wealth, all these things that keep.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Us all That is such a great question and that
I feel like I'm still trying to find the answer
to myself.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
What I would say to me, what I have to
come back to is like I want to do what
I love.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
I need to stay like stay creative, you know, get
in the studio and when you don't feel motivate, work
with different people just so that you're there enough for
the magic to happen when it can, because it's not
going to happen. And then like surround yourself with trustworthy
(21:36):
people that are down to hold up your vision but
also and believe in you, but also like question you
and be honest with you. Then just give the best
that you can. And it's kind of like the more
we learn, the more and the more we grow, the
more we can, you know what I mean. And kind
(21:58):
of like what I'm trying to hold onto these days,
which is really hard for me because I overthink things,
but like done is better than perfect.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
That is like my I say that all the time.
Let me tell you when.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Somebody told me that, I was like, I really need
to hold on to this because I can overthink my
way at everything, like, oh it's not good enough, you too,
And it's like, okay, once I have really done my
best and it's not gonna stre in the next near future,
let it.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Go, you know, let it go.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Just let it get out there, and you know you'll
build on it, you'll iterate, you'll change. And it's it's
funny because nowadays, when you look at it, I could
see I understand. Right, Remember back in the day, you're
talking about pressing a CD like it had to be perfect.
I guess right now you can iterate, you can release
a remix on your social media.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Done is better than perfect.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
It's it's a tough one. It's a beause it's scary
and vulnerable, you know, to put your there. But it's like, okay,
once I've done the best that I know I can do,
and like maybe I want it to be better, but
I'm not going to get to that.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Yeap, Now all right, share it?
Speaker 1 (23:16):
And then I also it's really important to not burn
bridges because if I told you how many people I've
run back into overall these but I've been in the industry,
not at the same company, not in the same place,
in all different places, and it's like if you can
maintain respect, you know, with people and good relationships, like
(23:42):
you can't have to worry. It's such a rollercoaster in
this entertainment industry, Like certain opportunities don't come back around,
certain relationships do come back around, Like you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
You feel like you have to move with good intention.
You can't be a pusher where you can't you know,
You've got to stick up for yourself when you do.
But there's always a way that you can do it
that you know, doesn't alienate the people around you, doesn't
disrespect you know, And I say this all the time.
You never know.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Twenty years is a long time that.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Person who is bringing you coffee shows up as like
in the c suite, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (24:18):
So true, it is so true.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
But you sleep well knowing like I treated everybody around
me fairly and kind.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, you know, it's just back to like treat people
the way you want to be treated and not like
you know, any of us are perfect. I'm sure I've
offended some people no different days if I was in
a bad mood or something. But at the end of
the day, like I feel like there's a lot of
(24:46):
good people that have stood the test of time that
I've been able to come back to.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Oh, lovely, this is beautiful. Thank you so much for
your beautiful words. Thank you so much for sharing all
your mindset and wisdom with us moneymovers. As we run
out of time for today, I want to make sure
that we give you the opportunity again to share where
they can follow you on social, where they can buy
your candles, tell us again about dream Seekers, let us
(25:13):
know everything.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Yeah, okay, so on all the handles on guappola g
O A p E l E. You can go to
gapla dot com to kind of find anything. But the
specialized merch that I'm really excited about is on dreamseeker
dot com, d R E A M S E e
(25:39):
K e.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
R dot com.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
And like I said, the candles associated with the songs,
two of three of them are out now and this
month the third one will be coming out with my
with my song Purple and Yeah and keep your eyes
and ears open for Colors. That's the album that's coming
(26:04):
out soon.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Well, thank you for helping us all get closer to
our dreams and inspiring us in this conversation it was
such a pleasure. Money Movers, make sure you follow go uply,
make sure you get those candles, make sure you get
all the visual art and IDs like invent your life.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Let's go and thank you again for your time. Thank you,
thank you for this conversation.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Here's a sneak peak of next week's episode.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
I had success very early on as a production assistant
and I was like, I know everything. So that humbled me, Tanya.
So when I got to do the reality show and
I was like, no, I'm meant to do this, and
I learned my lesson. I'm I'm never going to complain
to this day. I just I don't complain. I think
complaining is and I'm going to say it, complaining is
(26:52):
telling God he got it wrong.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Thanks for listening to today's episode. If we helped you
make your money move, please share it with your community,
Scribe and leave us a review on iHeartRadio and Apple podcasts.
Follow us on social media at Greenwood and visit us
at Gogreenwood dot com for more financial tips and remember,
money Movers, if this were easy ever,
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