Johari Noelle

Songwriter and musician Johari Noelle unveils a new single “Get Free,” with a compelling accompanying video. Following Noelle’s 2020 single, “Time,” praised by The New York Times as capturing “the warped, elongated, suspended pace of pandemic life,” “Get Free” is driven by Noelle’s soothing and rich voice. The instrumentation is at first minimalistic, allowing Noelle’s vocals to take center, before opening with grooving bass, scintillating keys, and mellow percussion.

“I wrote ‘Get Free’ to bring ease and joy to myself and others,” says Noelle. “You can’t love anyone without limits until you first love yourself without them. My music is about getting out how I feel and being very present in that moment. It’s important for me to embrace myself in a way that empowers me to feel each emotion and remain in touch with myself. I want people to know that they aren’t alone in what they are feeling. I want to convey a sense of relatability. My songs are meant to touch people. I want you to feel peace and comfort. I want to create something that creates conversation or community through shared experiences.”

Noelle released her debut EP, Things You Can’t Say Out Loud, in 2019. The EP was met with praise from the likes of Billboard, Refinery29, Bandcamp, Chicago Tribune, Exclaim, BlackBook, and more. The daughter of a DJ, the Southside Chicago-bred singer cut her teeth performing in choirs and musical theatre during her formative years. In 2015, Noelle joined the cast of BET docu-series Chasing Destiny, where Noelle was mentored by singer Kelly Rowland (of Destiny’s Child) and famed choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. Her creative resume has since grown to include acting credits on Empire and Proven Innocent, along with the React II campaign from NIKE, Inc.