Additionally, Green said knowing Crescent City Sounds was built by the Library makes it all the more special. Growing up, she spent countless hours at Nora Navra Library and makes it a point to bring her son to their local Library location as often as she can.
“I’ve had a Library card since I was 8 years old. I love going to the Library, and my son does too,” Green said. “I think it says so much about the Library as an organization that they’re thinking outside the box and finding new ways to engage with the city and with the community, beyond just lending out books.”
Green said libraries have played a special role in her life, beyond childhood memories and sharing time with her son.
“After Hurricane Katrina, I moved up to Oklahoma City and I was up there for a few years. And that’s when I decided I wanted to sing for real, to make it my career,” Green said. “But, once I realized that Oklahoma didn’t really have the venues I wanted to be playing in, I had to find some different types of outlets for my singing until I could get back home,” Green said.
She ended up finding that outlet in an unlikely place –– her local public library.
“Can you believe, I ended up booking most of my gigs in Oklahoma at libraries, and at this one festival they had every year,” she said, laughing. “And that was cool for a while, but I knew I needed to get back home if I really wanted to perform the way I wanted to.”
Green connected with her band, the Soul Machine, about a year after moving back to New Orleans. She describes their sound as bluesy mixed with old-school R&B, and more than a hint of funk.
“Our music is fun, it’s dancing music,” Green said. “It will get you out of your seat, you’ll be dancing and having a good time. It’s a party.”
To party with Green and her Soul Machine in person, check them out at Frenchmen Street’s Café Negril every Thursday and Saturday from 10pm to 2am. Or, stream them on Crescent City Sounds here.