FEATURE: Spotlight: Say She She — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Say She She

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I have already included…

Say She She in another feature. I have not done a Spotlight on them yet. Whilst established and known to many, I wanted to highlight them, as there are still people who do not know about their work. Their latest album, Silver, came out in September. It is a remarkable work from an awesome NYC trio. With a string of shows across the U.S. from next month, Say She She are in the U.K. in March before heading to Europe. I am going to come to some interviews with Say She She. I will finish with a review of the mighty and mesmerising Silver. First, here is some biography about this beguiling trio:

“Say She She, the soulful female-led group, stand rock solid on their disco-delic duty with their boundary-breaking sophomore album Silver (released September 29 on Colemine/Karma Chief Records). The strong voices of Piya Malik (El Michels Affair, Chicano Batman), Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown front the band. Following the NYC siren song, the trio was pulled from their respective cities — Piya from London, Nya from DC, and Sabrina from NYC — to Manhattan’s downtown dance floors, through the Lower East Side floorboards, and up to the rooftops of Harlem, where their friendship was formed on one momentous, kismet evening.

Silver was written and recorded live to tape at Killion Sound studio in North Hollywood in early 2023, and produced by Sergio Rios (Orgone, Neal Francis, Alicia Keys). While these analog recording techniques help root Say She She’s sound in a bedrock of tonal warmth that only tape can achieve, it is also their process of cutting the track in the moment and capturing the magic of communal creativity that have critics reeling. Musical inspirations include Rotary Connection, Asha Puthli, Liquid Liquid, Grace Jones, and Tom Tom Club.

Described as “a glorious overload of joyful elation and spiritual elevation” (MOJO) and “infused with the wonky post-disco spirit of early 80s NYC” (The Guardian), the band consistently tops the radio charts of tastemaker stations KCRW and KEXP, as well as BBC’s Radio 6 Music. Sold out shows from London to Los Angeles and televised appearances on CBS Saturday and Later…with Jools Holland are a testament to a rapidly growing fan base. Say She She has toured with the likes of Thee Sacred Souls, and have already played iconic festivals like Glastonbury, Central Park Summerstage, and more.

Ultimately, Silver oozes with quirk and adventure and embraces the multifaceted nature of what it means to be a modern femme. Say She She fully embrace their role as beauticians, actively reminding people of the inherent beauty in the world. They skillfully employ double entendres and humor to encourage open dialogue and fearlessly address important matters that demand attention”.

Before getting to some interviews from last year, Earmilk spoke with them around the release of their debut album, 2022’s Prism. We get introduced to the trio once more and their backstory (apologies), though there are some interesting observations and responses from the trio. A reason why they are an act that we need to embrace. A reason why their music is so powerful. They make music that can be serious and tackles big themes. They also want to uplift people:

“You'd be hard-pressed to find a more distinctly 'New York' story of how the trio was formed. Piya Malik, former El Michels Affair staple, and other founding member Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, were upstairs/downstairs neighbors in their Lower East Side apartment building. "We lived above and below each other, and she would hear me coming in late at nights, stomping around and singing, and I would hear her early in the morning doing her warmups" Malik recalls. "Below it's worse, which I was" Cunningham interjects with a smile. Third member Nya Gazelle Brown had also known Malik for years prior, having met at a rooftop party, and the three singers immediately coalesced to become one. "Sometimes you're colliding with someone by accident or running to see someone's show together. It's just such an amazing city and I don't think we could have quite come together like this anywhere else."

The group immediately began recording at Dap-King Joe Crispiano's Dumbo studio and recorded the bulk of the demos that became Prism in just two days, working off of a tape machine and splicing together vocals and instrumentation themselves as well as with additional production from The Shacks' Max Shrager. "We recorded this with friends, who knew we were on a budget and were willing to work with us and chip in. It was like a jigsaw puzzle; you're working with all your friends in New York and everyone's trying to make rent somehow so you try to just honor each other and trade where you can" Malik explains.

A key piece of funk and soul music throughout history, all the way back to Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye, has been its rebellious nature and the ability to make people move while pushing for a more acceptable social climate. With records like "Forget Me Not" and "NORMA", Say She She continues this tradition, especially in the wake of the Roe v Wade decision and its inevitable fallout by taking some key inspiration from the Guerrilla Girls movement that started in 80s New York and continues to this day, in New York and around the world. "Their reach and what they did was incredible" Cunningham explains, "We really fed off their energy and injected some of that activism into our own work." Malik continues, "When the 'Me Too' movement kicked off, we felt like this is a really important time, not only for us to use our voices, but also through messaging, campaigning, lobbying and also, most importantly, just soothing."

"Even though we do have records with a more serious message, at the end of the day our purpose remains to make people dance and feel good," Brown explains of this balance. "We like to use our voices to uplift, to protest, to make people feel sexy and loved. Just to make people feel something. And I think we really did that on this record." With their debut record Prism taking a decidedly more soothing tone, there is still an undeniable passion and verve that runs as a through-line from start to finish. Titular track and lead single "Prism" is the perfect example of the trio's more upbeat leaning songs that are nigh impossible to not bob your head to. Sprinkled throughout are gems that soothe and abet the listener from the tribulations of daily life. "Pink Roses", a song about grief that, first and foremost, seeks to uplift, is a definite standout from the record and a cut that places a special emphasis on Say She She's unique take on the juxtaposition between melancholia and joy. "It's quite easy to write a sad song" Malik states, "It's much harder to make an effort to put some energy into something. We really wanted to make an effort to uplift people, especially after Covid. Enough with the sad songs!”.

Prior to getting to some promotion around Silver, Bristol Beacon focused on a group whose debut album gained a lot of love. Appearing on T.V. and with some big dates under their belt, more and more people were discovering who Say She She and what they are about. A truly hypnotic and essential musical force. I am not sure whether they have plans for an album this year or not. There is a lot of demand for this sensational trio:

“The making of ‘Prism’ and evolving their sound

The band describe their sound as a hat-tip to late 70s girl groups, and their catalogue is full of dreamy harmonies, catchy hooks and uptempo grooves. “We had a clear vision for the type of music we wanted to make in this project from the start”, the band say. “The name Say She She is a silent nod to Nile Rodgers (a homophone in French; ‘c’est Chi-Chi’ or ‘it’s CHIC’) – Nile is an undeniably prolific writer and producer and no matter what he touches, his music makes listeners dance and feel uplifted. That is what we always wanted to emulate and create in our own way with Say She She.”

“We also always wanted to be free of genre and not defined by one label. Our dream is that one day you can find a Say She She record in every corner and crate in the records shop. A song for different moods that reflect the multifaceted nature of us as women.”

Indeed ‘Prism’ has garnered praise from critics and listeners alike for its eclectic sound, with its songs originating from piano-centred sessions and demos then laid down to tape, giving it its rich, analogue sound.

Since the end of lockdown restrictions, the trio have been intent on further evolving their sound. “We were itching to get out of our apartments and make music with our friends again so we approached things a bit differently once we were able to travel”, say the band. “Instead of writing a song individually in front of the piano and bringing it to the group we wanted to feel the energy of a rhythm section while writing, so we started writing songs from scratch with our band in the room. That change instantly made a difference for us and inspired a new creative energy that allowed us to further define our sound…we were really able to lean into the more uptempo grooves with a rhythm section present.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Caroline Safran

The importance of community and friendship

Despite differing greatly in size, both Bristol and New York share an emphasis on community, collaboration and a DIY ethos which inspires each city’s artists and musicians.

“New York is such a melting pot of ideas and cultures and we feel that our music directly benefited from being immersed in that”, reflects Sabrina. “The level of creativity of people around you trying to play out also pushes you to be better and more dynamic and inspires you to keep working harder. This city teaches you grit and determination – two things that you need to survive in the music biz”.

The warmth and friendship between the three female leads is immediately apparent. This closeness has been imperative when overcoming difficult situations and has lent an authentic power to singles such as ‘Forget Me Not’ and ‘NORMA’, which challenge racial and gender discrimination.

“We want to inspire people with our music”, say the band. “We were so touched that our own frustrations about the anti-abortion issues resonated with others via our song NORMA. There is still so much work to be done but we are proud that we can use our voices to try to inspire change and hopefully one day restore a woman’s right to choose in all the states.”

From studio to stage

The joy and magic of live music is clearly deeply felt for the group. “Performing our songs live and seeing people dance and react to them in real time is what we live for”, says Sabrina. The growing buzz around the band has been bolstered by a string of live appearances this year opening for Thee Sacred Souls and their own shows across the US in 2022.

With their UK and EU tour a matter of days away, the trio are now looking forward to their first live performance as a band in Bristol”.

There is one more interview I will come to after this one. A German site, Bedroom Disco, featured Say She She back in October. They noted how, if you need the mood lifted, then Say She She’s music has the ability to transform and transport you:

“Piya is the most communicative of the three women. She grew up in London and worked full-time in the political arena. On election campaigns and in lobby groups. At the same time, she devoted herself to her true passion, music. She was involved in studio sessions and sang jazz standards in the legendary Ronnie Scott's . “I was never a member of a band because I didn’t have the time or the courage ,” she remembers. “That only changed in New York. I was born in the States and wanted to go back there because I couldn't stand it in Britain under the Conservative government. Especially not as a speechwriter for the opposition.” She didn’t need a long time to get used to it; she quickly came into contact with artists in the Big Apple. “At a party I met this cool DJ who was playing great stuff. It turned out to be Sal Principato from Liquid Liquid. He invited me to sing for his punk band. I liked that straight away because I could improvise and didn't have to rehearse anything." In London, it's common to work with people from the same age group. In New York you meet representatives of different generations. Mostly men. What Piya didn't accept as a permanent situation. “I would rather work with women, like I used to in choirs. I met Nya who sang in local bands. Sabrina did it under me in the apartment. I once toured with Chicano Batman. When the three of us tried something together, we quickly realized that our voices formed a unit.”

When looking for a name, they quickly agreed on Say She She. It fits in two respects. On the one hand, the singers want to show how women feel in today's world. As an example, Piya cites the song Norma (named after the real first name of plaintiff Jane Roe in the 1970 Texas abortion case). “It was created in 2022 on the day it was first announced that the Supreme Court would overturn the nationwide right to abortion. This shocked many, many women in this country. When something like that happens and we feel personally touched, we as a band think it's logical that we deal with the topic and address it. I still remember how insecure I was as a teenager and in the years that followed. Now I feel stronger, I'm committed to dealing with things. We all think like that in the band. We want to support young girls and women when they find themselves in a bad situation.” Nya doesn't believe in the advice of managers and employees in record companies who think it's better if there is no political content in the lyrics. “Of course we want to reach as many people as possible with our songs. But not at any price. Nobody can expect us to pretend to be human beings for the sake of money and popularity. Statement is important to us. We want to reach people, touch them, set an example. Stand up for things we believe in. Be loud and proud.”

And don't forget to be relaxed. It is the prominent trademark of Say She She and is conveyed through singing and music. Which brings us to the second explanation for the meaning of the name. “C'es si bon, c'est si chic ,” it says at the beginning of the hit. You don't have to look long to find out who is meant. Of course it's about the band Chic , and one title in particular. “We all like Le Freak ,” informs Piya. “The song exemplifies the impact of the band. It creates a vibe and ensures movement in the body and mind. For me, that's pretty damn helpful. I usually function better in the studio than on stage. It's different here. Sabrina and Nya make me take off my bonds. What, you're not a good dancer? Just show that you can bring the feeling of the dance floor to the stage in front of an audience, they say. Le Freak helped me understand what they meant.” Since our esteemed compatriot Roosevelt recently teamed up with Chic's Nile Rodgers , it's natural to wonder whether they have something similar in the works. “We would love nothing more than a collaboration with him ,” says Sabrina. “But we are like all people. We don't deal well with rejection. That's why we don't ask him. We're waiting for him to move. And they’re very patient.” They definitely don’t have to hold out for long. Say She She frees disco from the one-way street of celebration and gives the genre meaning and depth. The momentum remains, even if it sounds psychedelic and somewhat reminiscent of Linda Perhacs . It will be impossible for Nile Rodgers to escape the charm of it all. No chance. We can't do it now”.

I am going to wrap up soon. GRAMMY chatted with Say She She in September. Shortly before Silver came out (it was released the following month), we got to learn more about the creative process behind the album and addressing progressive causes and championing them. A group who, as I said, mix heavier and important themes with something uplifting and bright:

“On Writing Their New Album, Silver

Sabrina Mileo Cunningham: We planned the writing of the second album and did a nice writing camp in L.A. with our band. It was a labor of love. When we were planning when to do these writing sessions, we knew we wanted it to be a good chunk of time, but we definitely consulted the stars for a creative period of the year.

Piya Malik: If you ask any person who grew up as a Hindu, we consult the stars for everything.

Cunningham: That was definitely the most creative that I've ever personally felt. That was like channeling all sorts of different things. And yeah, it was just a really kind of wonderful and big, magical experience to write all those songs.

Malik: Prism was made in this kind of context of the fact that we were in a lockdown. And we had these old tape stems that we'd made with our friend Joey Crispiano that were originally meant to be demos and Sab and I had gone in and cut those. When we first started the band, it was really just a very quick thing.

And then, of course, we had COVID, and a lot of it was done remotely with all the production and the mixing and all that stuff, which is extremely difficult. Now, fast forward to Silver, we're all physically in the room during the process of the recording and the writing, just feeding each other's energy. And that absolutely changes things. Most of the lyrics were written on the spot — I think it's to do with capturing this excitement and this energy and this moment.

Nya Gazelle Brown: After we wrote "Questions," I think we all had to take a moment. I don't know if all the listeners would feel the same way, but there's a certain drive in that song — what the bassline is doing and what the drums are doing together — that creates this tension that physically works your body up. We had to have a moment of silence after we wrote it because we just couldn't believe that that came out of us.

Championing Progressive Causes Through Their Music

Malik: We are all political just by being who we are, not just because of the jobs and the experiences that we've had. Just by being women from diverse backgrounds with something to say, who have gone through some life experience. So why not allow our truest expressions to come out in our music?

In "Reeling," there's a lyric, "Kick the door down, smash the ceiling, leave them reeling." So I think, again, you can see here, there's passion and rage, but also trying to be constructed and move forward. And we launched that single with a piece of evovinyl with Frank Moody and the money goes towards climate change activism.

Cunningham: For "Norma," there were so many emotions that we were experiencing. Because we woke up and read in the Times that Roe v. Wade might be overturned, and we just came into the studio. I think half of us were crying, half of us were just pissed. And it was just a very visceral expression of exactly what we were feeling and there was just not really anything else we could write that day.

Brown: To be able to use our voices in such a forward way, standing for the things that we really truly believe in, was really important for me. It's really special when we see the audience relate to it and sing along and do the choreography. It just feels like we're united and that we're going to be okay.

Malik: [Our tour had some] all-ages shows, and you could see teenagers. And they were screaming the lyrics, and I got such chills on that stage watching them. I felt like they felt supported. Okay, there are older women fighting for us. Even if the government isn't, we're here fighting to try and make sure that things don't go so far to the right.

"Echo In The Chamber" is about gun control and we've actually launched a postcard writing campaign; it's a letter to senators that we're going to be including this on the mailouts with all of the vinyl …a campaign to help support the Background Check Expansion Act. We need to do something to use our voice in a constructive way. We start every writing session and well, "What is it that we want to say and what are we mad about right now? What are we feeling and what's going on out there in the public?"

Our live set and a lot of our music is there to uplift, and we believe the medium is the message. And so the way in which you present messages is important for how people receive them. So I love that our protest song, "Norma," is actually a space to dance and to make people get up. To protest, to fight for your rights, to defend that doesn't have to be violent. It can be a celebration too.

Performing Sold-Out Shows At Iconic Venues

Cunningham: Opening for Thee Sacred Souls at Brooklyn Steel was a real highlight. It was a sold-out show. We're all from New York, so the family was there and it just was such an incredible night.

Brown: Just the air was right, the sound was right. The energy was just so perfect. Everybody was waiting to experience the night and the magic was just so thick.

Malik: [Playing] the Hollywood Bowl was really special. Portugal. The Man are just the nicest people on earth; we'd met them some years back and stayed in touch. And so, it was crazy that they invited us to open for them for the Hollywood Bowl. Who could have thought? We were practically an unheard of band — people wait their whole lives to play the Hollywood Bowl. And it's special for the boys [in the backing band] because they're from LA. [The venue holds] 17,000 people and it's a sold-out show and we didn't know that until afterwards”.

There were plenty of hugely positive reviews for Silver. One of the best-received albums of last year, it confirmed the fact Say She She are a massively vital group you need in your life. With some unaware of their brilliance, I wanted to spotlight them here. This is what The Line of Best Fit had to say about the majestic and moving Silver:

“Firstly, there’s the echo of original disco deities Chic, whose effortlessly funky, sleek ghost hangs over Silver like a Batlight you can’t and shouldn’t switch off, even when the album ventures from outright disco grooves (“C’est si Bon”) towards pillowy soul, slow-burn incantations and psychedelic space-disco (Discodelia? Discodelic?).

Secondly, Silver is infused with a righteous but ultimately positive political anger against forces of regression that are trying to turn back the clock to the dark ages when people (especially women) were supposed to know their place: "Don’t mind your manners / Throw a spanner in the works!", as the trio chant during the high-octane funk of “Questions”, one of the album’s many highpoints. It’s hard to think of a more entertaining yet still determined musical stand against gender-based condescension and barriers in the workplace than the positively levitating stop/start strut of “Entry Level”.

Silver is hardly a direct disco homage or a plain political broadside, however: backed by members of Los Angeles cult funkateers Orgone, the trio’s second album is above all a celebratory demonstration of real musical imagination and scope, echoing such past notables as Liquid Liquid, ESG and Tom Tom Club in how oft-visited strands of rhythm-forward music – rooted in funk, soul and disco – are successfully moulded in the band’s own, unique image.

According to a recent interview, the band’s story started when one of the three singers heard another future member sing through the floorboards, and just had to investigate further. Listening to telepathically tight vocal blends and by turns soaring and soft harmonies of Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileno Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown, it’s not hard to buy into that origin myth. The music and the songwriting are often sublime (check out the cosmic glide of “Reeling” or the impassioned lament of “Echo In The Chamber”, for example), but the seamlessly unified, powerfully expressive voices of three vocalists really separate Silver from the competition.

Complaints about having too much of a good thing can seem petty, but it’s fair to say that some of the stylistic directions on Silver work better than others: there is an absolutely unbeatable standard-length album hiding inside this 70-minute colossus. That said, the album’s sprawl also allows the stunning space-funk title track to spread its wings for full lift-off unhurriedly over 9 minutes until total resistance-shattering hypnosis has been achieved. If this is their Silver, Say She She’s gold must be out of this world”.

I have been imagining an album inspired by Steely Dan and Donald Fagen. I bemoaned the lack of artists tackling big themes like gun control, abortion rights, L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ rights and heftier social issues. Say She She are doing this. When thinking about a Dan/Fagen record and the sublime backing and harmony vocals that define many of the best songs, Say She She came to my mind. They intrigue me hugely.! They do have shows coming up. If you are near any of them, then make sure that you go and check them. With lyrics packing punch and exploring a variety of themes, their music and vocals are soaring and beautiful. Albums like Silver definitely put the listener into…