interview by Tony Smith, publisher Indie Incognito Magazine

Melba Moore opens up with Indie

Incognito about All Things Melba.

In this exclusive Q&A with IndieIncognito, Melba talks legacy, faith, evolution, and what it means to be an artist who still believes in the power of truth

Q. You've reinvented yourself across Broadway, R&B, gospel, and beyond. What's kept you grounded through every transformation?

Melba Moore: God. Full stop. Myvfaith has been the anchor, the compass, and the parachute. When the business gets noisy or cruel, I go quiet with God and get centered That's what allows me to move, shift, and evolve. Yet I stay rooted.

Q. You were one of the first Black women to win a Tony Award. How did that moment shape your voice offstage, as much as on it?

Melba Moore: Winning that Tony was beautiful. But what came after taught me everything. The silence, the closed doors, the typecasting. That's where I found my real voice: offstage, behind the scenes, fighting for visibility and value. It made me bold, not bitter.

3. We're living in a time where artists are expected to be brands. How do you stay authentic in a world that rewards image over substance?

Melba Moore: Authenticity is not a strategy. it is a decision I never wanted to be trendy. I wanted to be true. I'd rather be remembered for my truth than noticed for my style. Though I do love a good stage outfit!

4. Your music has always had spiritual and social depth. How do you balance the sacred and the soulful in your work?

Melba Moore: I don't see them as separate. Whether I'm singing gospel or R&B, it's all spirit to me. My job is to lift people up. Sometimes that's through a praise song, sometimes through a heartbreak ballad. The source is always the same.

5 Looking back, was there a moment you almost walked away? and what pulled you back?

Melba Moore: Oh yes, more than once. When you feel forgotten or dismissed, it's hard to keep singing but then someone reminds you. You matter. A letter, a fan, a church lady who says "You helped me heal". That's when I remember: I'm still called to do this.

Q. You've mentored and inspired countless artists. What do you tell young performers about the price and purpose of longevity?

Melba Moore: Longevity means knowing who you are before the applause, and remembering who you are after the applause fades. It's a calling, not a career. You have to be patient, pure in your intent, and passionate when no body is watching.

Q. What does freedom mean to you, as a woman, as an artist, and as a cultural icon?

Melba Moore: Freedom is being able to choose your truth and walking it, without apology. As a woman and a Black artist, that wasn't always safe. Now, I sing what I want, say what I believe, and stand in my full power. That's freedom.

8 If you had to title this current chapter of your life, what would the headline be?

Melba Moore: Still Rising. I have lived many lives in this one life, and I'm not done. I'm still climbing, still growing, and still giving glory where it is due. follow Melba Moore on instagram facebook press: Tom Estey