A former warehouse in the St. Roch neighborhood has been transformed into a performance space and venue for promoting local artists and vendors. The New Free World, located at 1941 Arts St., opens its doors weekly for a wide range of recurring events, including THURapy Thursday Lounge electronic dance parties, Friday night open mic sessions, and The Kickback, a combination rap concert, DJ party, and vendor market. Owned by audio engineer and entrepreneur DeCarlo Wright, the venue intends to embrace local talent that might not otherwise have a creative outlet.
Everyone is welcome at The New Free World, but the founder hopes to attract the youth of troubled urban communities. Wright welcomes “outcasts and negative thinkers,” as he calls them, to expressly show them it’s okay to be themselves, specifically referring to the “toxic masculinity and internalized queer-phobia that exists in the Black community.”
DeCarlo Wright, photo by Jawdat Tinawi
Native to New Orleans, Wright had spent recent years in California “where we saw everyone being themselves, to change the narrative,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of Black men out here from the hood who think they have to be hard, be a gangster, and we know all the effects that had on us growing up. You can be other things: an artist, a painter, a photographer, a doctor, anything.”
Live performances, art and clothing vendors, and food pop-up stalls are all part of The New Free World. Since July 17 the Plug Talk workshop has been underway as a meeting space where young go-getters can network, pitch ideas and sell their products. It serves as a promotional opportunity for small business owners, including art and food vendors with local chefs including plant-based food.
Resident rapper Godlee hosts The Kickback at the venue monthly, named after his clothing line. The collection is featured for sale during his live music performances.
“We’re at a point where we want to collaborate with other artists, DJs and brands. It’s just that New Orleans never had anybody pushing that unity,” Godlee said.
Wright emphasized the inclusion of non-creatives. “You can also just be a consumer and come chill at our events, dance, and hang around a different set of people. Even if you’re a tough guy, we have open arms to whoever because maybe you can change your perspective”, he said. “This is a place where you come around if you want change, if you think you’re being boxed in, you come over here and we accept all walks of life, races, culture, religion, sexuality. Everybody is free and no one is judging.”
Both Wright and Godlee referenced their own musical experiences and its power as a positive motivator for personal growth.
“When I started rapping, I overcame that fear of expressing myself and having no barrier,” said Godlee. “When I’m performing, I don’t have that fear of ‘What will people think once they see this?’ I’m just being me.”
Since its opening in April 2021, The New Free World has consistently drawn a sizable audience thanks to word-of-mouth support and online promotion. As a safe place for the youth with a supportive ethic of people doing more for their community.
“Here, you can be yourself. You don’t have to be what you think you have to be,” said Wright. “Let’s bring all communities together, be normal and understand each other.”A St. Roch warehouse is transformed into The New Free World music and arts venue
For more information, visit @thenewfreeworld on Instagram.
