Full Version

“It never will rain roses,” novelist George Eliot once wrote. “When we want to have more roses, we must plant more trees.” Iconic R&B and soul vocalist Aloe Blacc has focused his career on putting positivity and beauty into the world. “When I first signed a record deal, I promised myself that I would use my voice for positive social transformation,” he says with that trademark warm smile. And this year will prove to be the gold standard in Blacc’s effort. In addition to the upcoming 10th anniversary edition of his landmark album Lift Your Spirit, 2024 will also see Blacc cover a variety of classic alt rock hits on two EP-length volumes called Rock My Soul. Whether spiritually transformative or rigorously reinventing songs, Blacc’s metamorphic energy is higher than ever: “I always want my songs to inspire people, motivate people, and help them dream bigger.”

Blacc has chosen to embody that inspiration in part because of the artists that inspired that same feeling in himself. The California native picked up trumpet in grade school, but dreamed of being an emcee—putting together hip-hop projects, including three records with producer Exile as Emanon. But when a recording of Blacc singing a take on Sam Cooke's "Change Is Gonna Come" hit the indie label circuit, the potential for his more soulful side started to unlock. “My heroes were Bill Withers, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, people with messages that were self-affirming,” he says. And beloved early solo hits like "I Need a Dollar" and "The Man" (from 2010's Good Things and 2014's Lift Your Spirit, respectively) followed powerfully in that tradition. “That solidified my position as a vocalist, and I didn't turn back from there,” he says.

The first taste of Rock My Soul, though, shows that Blacc’s prodigious scope stretches far beyond soul and hip-hop: Through his regal vocals and a deep-in-the-pocket rhythm section, Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” morphs from smoky ‘90s alt epic to interstellar funk rock journey. “That was a song that affected me the very first time I heard it—and it always will,” Blacc says. That personal connection permeates the two-volume EP series, each track completely transmuted yet familiar for their intense core. The bossa nova acoustics that open Blacc’s take on “Lithium” might not immediately call Nirvana to mind, but his softly downturned syllables on the verse and full-to-bursting callouts on the chorus each recall the spectrum of Kurt Cobain’s resonant emotionality. The first EP's other highlights include a twitchy, Rhodes-driven version of No Doubt's "Don't Speak", a satin ballad take on RHCP's "Under the Bridge", and Green Day's "When I Come Around" burst through with horns and a rubber band groove.

These rock-via-funk and soul tracks may be a pleasant shock to some listeners, but many will recognize their place in a long tradition. Otis Redding was one of many to take on "Satisfaction" in the '60s, a fascinating ouroboros reattaching the Stones to their R&B inspirations, while a decade later Donny Hathaway's version of "A Song For You" highlighted the gospel reach of Leon Russell's original. “That’s what we did in hip-hop—we’d take from everywhere, interpret, and I love to see music growing that way,” Blacc says. “Grunge and alt rock had a lot of the depression, anxiety, angst of their era. Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, the Isley Brothers, they took rock songs and transformed them into soul or funk songs, and found how to channel their emotions.”

Ever tapped into the larger industry culture and American spirit, Blacc has felt the same transformations surrounding his iconic album—even if he hadn’t kept the 10-year anniversary of Lift Your Spirit at top of his mind. “I can’t say no, so too many things were happening all at once,” he laughs. “But it felt right to celebrate the 10-year mark, to tell people again that they deserve joy.” 

The record’s opening track and lead single embodies that reminder. After catapulting Blacc to the top of the charts worldwide in its first-released incarnation alongside Swedish DJ Avicii, the acoustic version of “Wake Me Up” here further elevates those golden vocals and the calls for harmony. Elsewhere, the stomping, shout-along “Here Today” provides a powerful call to embrace the moment. In addition to the original album, the 10th anniversary Deluxe reissue of Lift Your Spirit will feature three additional tracks that were initially released on retailer-specific editions or international markets. “This shines a light on how I’ve always operated in the music business,” Blacc says. “Positive, motivating songs written from a clear perspective with narratives focused on really deserving communities.”

And as if all that weren’t enough, Blacc has his eyes set on another album release in February of 2025, with its first track dropping later this year. This time, though, he’ll match his philanthropic streak to the music, with each track inspired by a different nonprofit organization. “As time progresses, I hear things that I’ve done 15 years ago and I still think it sounds nice,” Blacc smiles. “I’m so excited to bring these ideas back to the fore.” And considering the tension and conflict that surrounds so much of every day, there couldn’t be a better time for the soothing balm of Aloe Blacc. 

Short Version

Iconic R&B and soul vocalist Aloe Blacc has focused his career on putting positivity and beauty into the world. “I always want my songs to inspire people, motivate people, and help them dream bigger,” he says with that trademark warm smile. And this year will prove to be the gold standard in Blacc’s effort. In addition to the upcoming 10th anniversary edition of his landmark album Lift Your Spirit, 2024 will also see Blacc cover a variety of classic alt rock hits on two EP-length volumes called Rock My Soul. 

The California native picked up trumpet in grade school, but dreamed of being an emcee—putting together hip-hop projects, including three records with producer Exile as Emanon. Later, a recording of Blacc singing Sam Cooke's "Change Is Gonna Come" lit up the indie label circuit. “My heroes were Bill Withers, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, people with messages that were self-affirming,” he says. Blacc’s beloved early solo hits like "I Need a Dollar" and "The Man" (from 2010's Good Things and 2014's Lift Your Spirit, respectively) followed powerfully in that tradition. 

The first taste of Rock My Soul, a regal take on Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”, finds Blacc on an interstellar funk rock journey. “That was a song that affected me the very first time I heard it—and it always will,” Blacc says. That personal connection permeates a bossa nova-indebted take on “Lithium”, a twitchy, Rhodes-driven version of No Doubt's "Don't Speak”, and a satin ballad take on RHCP's "Under the Bridge".

“That’s what we did in hip-hop—we’d take from everywhere, interpret, and I love to see music growing that way,” Blacc says. “Grunge and alt rock had a lot of the depression, anxiety, angst of their era. Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, the Isley Brothers, they took rock songs and transformed them into soul or funk songs, and found how to channel their emotions.”

Ever tapped into the larger industry culture and American spirit, Blacc has felt the same transformations surrounding Lift Your Spirit. “It felt right to celebrate the 10-year mark, to tell people again that they deserve joy,” he says. The record’s opening track and lead single embodies that reminder, and after catapulting Blacc to the top of the charts worldwide in its first-released incarnation alongside Swedish DJ Avicii, the acoustic version of “Wake Me Up” further elevates the calls for harmony. The Deluxe reissue of Lift Your Spirit will also feature three additional tracks initially released on retailer-specific editions or international markets. 

And as if all that weren’t enough, Blacc has his eyes set on another album release in February of 2025, with its first track dropping later this year. This time, though, he’ll match his philanthropic streak to the music, with each track inspired by a different nonprofit organization. And considering the tension and conflict that surrounds so much of every day, there couldn’t be a better time for the soothing balm of Aloe Blacc.