Galactic and Irma Thomas confirmed details of their highly-anticipated collaborative album Audience With The Queen. The New Orleans icons will release the eight-track effort on April 11 via Galactic’s own Tchuop-Zilla Records imprint with lead single “Lady Liberty” out today.
While most of Galactic’s 10 previous LPs were based of the band’s core instrumentalists — Ben Ellman (saxophones, harmonica), Robert Mercurio (bass), Stanton Moore (drums), Jeff Raines (guitar) and Rich Vogel (keyboards) — joined by a mix of vocalists, Thomas is the lone featured singer on Audience With The Queen. Each of the eight new songs was written specificially for the 83-year-old to sing. Irma Thomas worked in conjunction with producers Ellman and Mercurio to select the tunes and fine-tune the lyrics.
“Lady Liberty” is a social justice anthem for modern times. “It’s about what’s happening now,” said Thomas, “and now isn’t going anywhere. No protesting is involved, it’s just that what’s happening around us needs to be sung about and heard. I’m making people more aware, through song, to pay attention to what’s going on.”
“The music is super funky on this track but I was also really excited to hear Irma Thomas tackle lyrics about such important social issues,” explained Robert Mercurio. “The subject matter is a departure for her. She gave me goosebumps when we were recording this song in the studio. Hearing a person of her stature sing about social injustice in America really hits home for me.”
“Irma puts so much energy and heart into her vocal performance on ‘Lady Liberty’ that it makes the lyrics’ message that much more powerful,” added Ben Ellman. “You can hear this strength in her tone that just insists we have to look seriously at what’s been happening around us and take a stand for justice. I also love hearing her interpret a song that’s not about love or relationships. It’s different from what people may associate her music with but Irma’s voice is incredibly versatile.”
Watch the video for Galactic and Irma Thomas’ “Lady Liberty” below:
Galactic first united with Irma Thomas on “Heart Of Steel” for their 2010 studio album Ya-Ka-May. The song became a fan favorite and kept the band thinking of more work with the esteemed singer. “We were just going through a wish list and we thought, ‘Oh, we should do an Irma Thomas record,’” Ellman said. They initially considered bringing in another band to back Thomas in the studio but “then we kind of had a moment where we’re like, ‘Whoa. Maybe it should be Galactic.’ We had a label to put it out on and an audience and we had a history with her in the studio, so we approached her.”
The recording process started in New Orleans in December 2022 and continued through 2024. Galactic and Irma Thomas teamed up for select dates last year as they put the finishing touches on Audience With The Queen.
“I feel incredibly fortunate that we’re able to work with somebody like Irma Thomas,” added Ellman. “I mean, we’ve worked with Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, Cyril Neville, Corey Glover – just incredible lead singers, who have really contributed to the fabric of contemporary American music. I just feel like a kid in a candy store.”
Thomas said the sessions made her “feel youthful” and has her looking into the future. “I won’t ever retire from singing,” Irma Thomas promised. “I’m having too much fun.”
