Say She She

Last updated
Say She She
SaySheSheDSC03155.jpg
Say She She at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York
Genres Psychedelic soul
Years active2019–present
LabelsColemine/Karma Chief Records
MembersPiya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, Nya Gazelle Brown
Website saysheshe.com

Say She She is a female-led band based out of Brooklyn, New York. They are led by Piya Malik (formerly of El Michels Affair and Chicano Batman), Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, and Nya Gazelle Brown, all classically trained singers. [1] [2]

Contents

Their music, self-described as "discodelic soul" with "dreamy harmonies," prominently combines disco and 70s funk, among other influences. [3] The group cites Nile Rodgers and Chic as major influences on their sound. [4]

History

Malik and Cunningham originally met as neighbors in the same apartment building. Both professional singers, they could hear each other practicing and eventually struck up a friendship. [5] That relationship transformed at a house party in Harlem when the two were joined by Brown for a spontaneous rooftop singing session. [4]

Shortly after, the trio began writing music together. They were soon collaborating with musicians from Orgōne, The Dap-Kings, The Shacks, and Chicano Batman. [5]

In 2022, their debut album Prism was released on independent label Karma Chief/Colemine Records. The work received a positive review from The Guardian , giving it five out of five stars and calling it a "delightful place to visit for half an hour." [6]

On Feb. 4, 2023, CBS Saturday Morning aired the band's first televised appearance. [7] Later in November, returning to CBS for a follow-up interview with Anthony Mason, they were surprised by a video from their inspiration Nile Rodgers, who told them he was pleased to hear them making music inspired by his group in such "an organic way." [4]

Their sophomore album Silver was released Sept. 29, 2023. [8] [9] The album was positively reviewed by public radio station KCRW who ranked it the top album of 2023. [10] WXPN named them the Artist to Watch in October, [11] and KEXP placed it in the top 20 of its year-end album review. [12]

They toured throughout 2023, performing in Europe and America, including the Glastonbury Festival [13] and the Hollywood Bowl. [14]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nile Rodgers</span> American musician (born 1952)

Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Edwards</span> American bassist, songwriter and record producer (1952–1996)

Bernard Edwards was an American musician, songwriter and record producer, known primarily for his work in disco music with guitarist Nile Rodgers, with whom he co-founded Chic. In 2017, Edwards was selected as the 53rd greatest bassist of all time by Bass Player magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Times (Chic song)</span> 1979 single by Chic

"Good Times" is a disco soul song by American R&B band Chic, released in June 1979 by Atlantic Records as the first single from their third album, Risqué (1979). It ranks 68th on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and has become one of the most sampled songs in music history, most notably in hip hop music. Originally released with "A Warm Summer Night" on the B-side, it was reissued in 2004 with "I Want Your Love" on the B-side, a version which was certified Silver in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Freak</span> 1978 song by Chic

"Le Freak" is a 1978 funk-disco song by American R&B band Chic. It was the band's third single and first Billboard Hot 100 and R&B number-one hit song. Along with the tracks "I Want Your Love" and "Chic Cheer", "Le Freak" scored number one on the disco charts for seven weeks. The single achieved sales of 7 million and also scored number seven in the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Risqué</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Chic

Risqué is the third studio album by American disco band Chic, released on Atlantic Records on July 30, 1979. One of the records that defined the disco era, the album became highly influential not only within the movement, but also in other styles such as hip hop, art rock and new wave. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 414 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

<i>KooKoo</i> 1981 studio album by Debbie Harry

KooKoo is the debut solo album by American singer Debbie Harry, released on July 27, 1981, by Chrysalis Records. Produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, the album was recorded whilst Harry took a break from her band Blondie. It was a moderate commercial success, reaching number 25 on the US Billboard 200 and number six on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backfired</span> 1981 single by Debbie Harry

"Backfired" is the debut solo single from American singer and Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry. Released in 1981, it was taken from her debut solo studio album, KooKoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Coming Out</span> 1980 song recorded by Diana Ross

"I'm Coming Out" is a song recorded by American singer Diana Ross. It was written and produced by Chic members Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, and released on August 22, 1980, as the second single from Diana’s self-titled eleventh album, Diana (1980).

<i>Diana</i> (album) 1980 album by Diana Ross

Diana is the eleventh studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on May 22, 1980, by Motown Records. The album is the best-selling studio album of Ross's career, spawning three international hit singles, including the number-one hit "Upside Down".

<i>Genesis</i> (Busta Rhymes album) Album by Busta Rhymes

Genesis is the fifth studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. The album was released on November 27, 2001, by Flipmode Records and J Records. The fourth single from the album, "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II", peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included at the end of the album on some later pressings. The album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 185,000 copies. It later sold one million domestic copies and certified Platinum by RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Dance (David Bowie song)</span> 1983 single by David Bowie

"Let's Dance" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally included as the title track of his 1983 album of the same name. Co-produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic, it was recorded in late 1982 at the Power Station in New York City. With the assistance of engineer Bob Clearmountain, Rodgers transformed the song from its folk rock origins to a dance number through studio effects and new musicians Bowie had yet to work with. Bowie hired then-unknown Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who added a blues-edge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chic (band)</span> American disco band

Chic, currently called Nile Rodgers & Chic, is an American disco band founded in 1972 mainly by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It recorded many commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " (1977), "Everybody Dance" (1977), "Le Freak" (1978), "I Want Your Love" (1978), "Good Times" (1979), and "My Forbidden Lover" (1979). The group regarded themselves as a rock band for the disco movement "that made good on hippie peace, love and freedom". In 2017, Chic was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the eleventh time.

Nu-disco is a 21st-century dance music genre associated with a renewed interest in the late 1970s disco, synthesizer-heavy 1980s European dance music styles, and early 1990s electronic dance music. The genre was popular in the early 2000s, and experienced a mild resurgence in the 2010s.

<i>Real People</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Chic

Real People is the fourth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1980. It includes the singles "Rebels Are We", "Real People", and "26".

<i>Tongue in Chic</i> 1982 studio album by Chic

Tongue in Chic is the sixth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1982. The album includes the singles "Hangin'" and "I Feel Your Love Comin' On". Tongue in Chic peaked at No. 173 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Dance (Chic song)</span> 1977 single by Chic

"Everybody Dance" is a song by American band Chic. The disco song, which features Norma Jean Wright on lead vocals and Luther Vandross, Diva Gray, Robin Clark and David Lasley on background vocals, was released as the second single from the band's self-titled debut album Chic (1977). According to guitarist Nile Rodgers, it was the first song specifically written for Chic, and, due to its historical status and popularity, is usually played as the opening song of the band's live set. It was later heavily sampled by British group Steps on their song "Stomp" and echoed by the Manic Street Preachers on their single "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love".

<i>Up All Night</i> (The Chic Organization album) 2013 compilation album by Nile Rodgers presents The Chic Organization

Up All Night is a compilation album by Nile Rodgers and The Chic Organization, released in 2013. It contains recordings written, played and produced by Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for various artists including Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Sheila & B. Devotion, Deborah Harry, Norma Jean Wright, Carly Simon, Johnny Mathis and their own group Chic. In its original form, the album included every UK Top 40 hit single produced by Chic, excepting remixes. The Johnny Mathis track was widely publicised as being previously unreleased, though it had in fact appeared on Mathis' own Ultimate Collection CD in 2011.

<i>I Love My Lady</i> 2017 studio album by Johnny Mathis

I Love My Lady is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was completed in 1981 but not released in its entirety until December 8, 2017, when it was included in the box set The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection. It was written and produced by Chic founders Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers and represented an attempt at shifting away from the easy listening style of music that Mathis had been recording for 25 years to the more contemporary sound of the team behind "Le Freak" and "We Are Family".

<i>Its About Time</i> (Chic album) 2018 studio album by Nile Rodgers & Chic

It's About Time is the ninth studio album by the American band Chic released on September 28, 2018 through Virgin EMI Records. It was written and conducted by Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers. It’s About Time is the first album to be released in over two decades for the group, and is the first Chic album to not feature founding member Bernard Edwards who died in 1996. Originally scheduled for a 2015 release, heralded by the single "I'll Be There", the album concept kept changing and the release delayed for three years, partly due to the deaths of Prince and David Bowie. Eventually released on Virgin EMI Records in September 2018, the album cover is a homage to the group’s 1977 self titled debut album Chic. The lead single, "Till the World Falls", featuring Mura Masa, Cosha and Vic Mensa, was released on June 22, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Anderson</span> American singer and educator (1946–2024)

Alfa Anderson was an American singer and educator, best known as one of the lead vocalists of the 1970s band Chic.

References

  1. Lipsky, Jessica (28 September 2023). "Say She She's Big Year: How The NYC Disco Funk Group Made Sure The World Wouldn't Forget Them". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. "Say She She Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  3. "Say She She: Racket 2023". WFUV.org. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Mason, Anthony (28 November 2023). "Say She She surprised by Chic's Nile Rodgers". CBS News. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Say She She: KCRW Live from Apogee Studio (Oct. 6, 2022)". KCRW.com. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  6. Petridis, Alexis (19 December 2022). "Say She She: Prism review – boundary-busting discodelic soul". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  7. "Say She She performs 'Fortune Teller'". CBS Saturday Morning. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. "Say She She - Silver Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  9. "New Music Reviews (10/2/2023)". KEXP.org. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  10. "KCRW best albums of 2023". KCRW.com. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. "11 concerts to see this week, including Say She She, Genesis Owusu, Palehound and more". XPN.org. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  12. "KEXP's Best Albums of 2023". KEXP.org. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  13. Petridis, Alexis (26 June 2023). "Glastonbury 2023 review". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  14. "Playlist: 2023 KCRW Festival Highlights". hollywoodbowl.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.