00:00Hi, I'm Cori Murray and this year for Essence Festival we did something a little extra special.
00:11We partnered with the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network to give you a real taste of New Orleans music.
00:18Ten talented New Orleans artists are competing for a chance tonight to perform at Essence Festival.
00:23They'll be judged by myself, Herma Thomas, the godmother of New Orleans music, and Tank of Tank and the Bangas.
00:30Check out what these artists had to say about their own personal musical journey.
00:37My name is Kazmae Barnes.
00:39I was feeling that band, what they call it. Word on the street, that's the grass of heart.
00:43My name is Drea Marie and I'm from right here, uptown New Orleans.
00:48It's easy to get stagnant in New Orleans because there's a band here, there's a band there.
00:52And what happens is when people begin to talk in about your success, that's when stuff starts to happen.
00:57I do call myself a gumbo artist because I am a mixture of soul and funk and jazz.
01:02In New Orleans, gumbo is good, but that gumbo music is good too.
01:08Even people outside of here, they're remaking our music, the bounce.
01:12We have this sound that's like none other.
01:16One more time for Vic Colaban, yo.
01:21Essence has always been in my life, music wise.
01:25I've been going to the concerts and seeing different artists perform on this huge stage.
01:30But the city, when Essence is in town, is so beautiful.
01:35So to be a part of that, oh my gosh.
01:38Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for Dawn.
01:41I've always wanted to do Essence, man.
01:43A lot of the greatest artists that I've loved, I've seen at Essence.
01:46I have never performed at Essence, ever.
01:48I'll give you even one bigger.
01:50I've never performed as a solo artist in my city.
01:52My dad was diagnosed with cancer about two, three years ago.
01:58We've never performed together.
02:00This will be the first time.
02:01It's always been a goal since then for me to perform somewhere during Essence.
02:06It's pretty cool to just have this opportunity just to be affiliated with y'all.
02:10Just to say, hey, Essence is here.
02:12I'm just with that.
02:14As you can tell, this was a tough call.
02:16Their stories are so enriching and not to mention their talent.
02:19But I think we picked our winners tonight.
02:21It's going to be a NOLA takeover like no other.
02:23Drea Marie.
02:28Vegas!
02:31And the first place up tonight is Dawn.
02:40And it only feels right to have one more.
02:44And that's going to be Cashmere.
02:46Oh, wow!
02:49Be sure to check out your favorite New Orleans acts and more.
02:53Buy your tickets today at EssenceFestival.com.
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