Sometimes it can feel that the music that comes out of the New Orleans scene is an art of polar extremes—extreme jazz, extreme hip hop, extreme zydeco, and so on and so forth. And then your finger hits the pulse of something that just defies categorization, something that a lot of music in our city instantly demands.
When you hear the latest track from Delores Galore (of Sexy Dex and The Fresh fame) titled “Continue?,” their song calls to mind different genres and different musical epochs but their voice paired with slowed down hypnotic beats defies classification.
“I didn’t have a vocal influence for this song, but I do always look up to my father Michael Washington, Whitney Houston, Minnie Riperton, Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Selena, and many many more at random times of creating,” says Galore, otherwise known as Gabrielle Washington. Something spooky and ethereal underlying the track calls to mind the haunting “Resolution” by the late and mystical Aaliyah or the mysterious brooding of Sade. Galore explains that the song is about “facing challenges be it relationships, jobs, or anything in general that is challenging you. I was inspired by the game Tekken for the name of the song. When you lose the game it asks will you ‘Continue?’ For me, that signified continuing to fight through whatever challenge you are facing or to end the game.“
Fans of Galore’s body of work, which includes a recent appearance on the Strange Daisy project Cash for Uhuru and Works in Progress Volume 1 via Community Records, will not be shocked to know the song subject is video game oriented. After all, last summer, Galore and Dex set to work learning to code their own videogame, VirtuaMall, which not only highlighted their music but the music of other underground New Orleans artists.
The visuals for this video, as are to be revealed later this evening, are another story. Galore struts and frets their hour upon the stage, crushed by a steamy romantic disconnect with partner Dex, in full Depeche Mode meets Janet Jackson regalia. And it’s no surprise that the music video, a family affair full of sisters and other relatives, was inspired by Miss Janet’s “That’s The Way Love Goes.”
“Growing up my mom, big sis Anastasia, and my brother Michael would always play classic ‘90s music videos. ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ always stuck with me. I always loved the visuals and thought Janet Jackson’s look was beautiful,” says the Virginia native who moved to New Orleans in 2013.
Washington and partner Dex aka Pearce star in the forefront while the co-stars, made up of the Washington family and friends, pitched in behind the scenes. Bianca Washington assisted with creative directing and makeup along with Chloe Washington. Alexa Washington did hair and clothing styling with Frank Lagmay lending a hand. Duke Gilmore directed and edited the video and Roy Briggs managed outside shots/b-roll. Lee Smith was another star.
The super sexy but achingly harrowing video drops tonight on Galore’s website. Tune in to The Chamber at 7 p.m. CST to board the interactive virtual spaceship to watch the “Continue?” music video.
To purchase music by Delores Galore, visit here.
To access Virtua Mall, and to stay up to date on the upgraded version, click here.
As of Friday, February 26, you can now watch the video below.
