Cole “Empress” Williams issues a soulful call to action with her inspiring new single and video Organize — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Renowned for her commitment to social justice with the houseless and inspired by the practice of Civil Rights activist Ella Baker, the Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team founder channels her experiences into a powerful new single, a social justice anthem in support of her podcast House The Houseless: Music And Action.
Not a far cry from the vintage vibes of her 2023 single A Better Woman, Cole’s new song transcends musical boundaries with a DIY ethos to guide the way toward building an inclusive community from the bottom up. This upbeat gem straddles the fence between R&B, Afrobeat and reggae with the help of a lush percussion section, horns, and ’70s wah-wah guitar. Sonically uplifting, Cole’s vocals take center stage as she educates with melody, “Organize education, best practices, and strategies for the children.”
Sharing her perspective on the song, Williams states, “No one is disposable and we have to treat everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve. There’s no reason why any human being should not have access to any of the basic human necessities. My focus is housing.”
A Jamaican-American singer, radio host, composer, actress, songwriter, percussionist, and activist, Williams has been described as having “the heart of Bob Marley, soul of Sam Cooke and grit of Etta James.” Her album with her New Orleans collective The Cole Williams Band, Give Power To The People (2021) incorporated elements of R&B, gospel and ska with social justice-fueled lyrics.
Her previous studio albums include The Basement Sessions (2007), Out Of The Basement, Out Of The Box (2012), Sin City (2016) and The Punk Empress Of African Rock: Testimony (2018), the last of which was a collection of singles and collaborations for her anniversary compilation album. She has collaborated with artists such as Joey Bada$$, Nickedeumus, Macy Gray, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Aloe Blacc and Lisa Lisa And The Cult Jam.
Williams was nominated for Best Female Vocalist by OffBeat Magazine in 2017. Her debut performance at the New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival in 2016 with The Cole Williams Band cemented her status as a staple in the New Orleans music community.
Watch the video for Organize above, hear more from Cole “Empress” Williams below, and find her on her website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
