CALIFORNIAN singer Aloe Blacc wraps modern tales in a classic package. His latest album Good Things tells stories of economic hardship, corrupt politics and the struggle to survive, in a voice like Marvin Gaye or Donny Hathaway.
“My goal is to honor my teachers by continuing the culture of soul music. I’m not so concerned with being original because I feel like I am carrying on a tradition, however it appears that many accept Good Things as something unique, even though it is ostensibly informed by classic soul music.”
Blacc’s music is also informed by hip-hop, albeit without the bling. Ice Cube might sing,
“I got a hundred dollar bill, y’all”, but Blacc’s biggest hit asks for a little less:
“I need dollar, dollar, a dollar is what I need, and if I share with you my story would you share your dollar with me.”
 “I can’t relate to the opulence projected in hip-hop music over the past few years and neither can the majority of people. I prefer to sing songs that mark the times and reflect reality,” says Blacc.
His voice might be smooth, but his words are smoother.
“Good words have always been more important than a good voice. At the end of the day, people respond to stories.  Sometimes the story is in the timbre of the voice, but a good singer with poor lyrics is just criminal,” he says.
Blacc sings of hard times, but he’s hopeful for change.  
“My goal is to inspire happiness directly and indirectly. At my concerts people truly enjoy themselves, I just hope that they can take that joy outside of the concert hall and share it with other people in their lives.”
Blacc played a sold-out Auckland gig with his band The Grand Scheme in January before heading to Australia to play there. Two more New Zealand dates were then added to his schedule, including one in Wellington.  
“I figured we’d come back and share the love there as well.”
Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme, San Francisco Bath House,
February 17.