Neal Francis, a singer-songwriter and pianist, fuses New Orleans funk with '70s soul, shaped by his personal journey through addiction. His newfound sobriety has helped him establish a deep connection with himself and his music. He discusses the influence of artists like Dr. John and Sly Stone on his work and reflects on the role of mindfulness and ritual in his creative process. Francis is slated to perform live at the Outside Festival in Denver on May 31.
Neal Francis: "I first fell in love with Dr. John's music because I liked his piano playing and flamboyant style of dress. I was probably six when I remember hearing him for the first time."
In a recent conversation with Yoga Journal, Francis opens up about mindfulness in the creative process, the spiritual roots of soul music, and how ritual shows up in his life as a performer.
Only after finding his footing through sobriety and self-reflection was he able to experience what he considers a strong connection to self, spirit, and sound.
As I matured, I became aware of Allen Toussaint, the artist/producer behind several of Dr. John's records, and the band The Meters, the session musicians on those recordings.
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