I'm excited to kick off this series of articles where I'll be sharing a song or album that I am currently listening to and which reflects my current mood. This is a great opportunity for me to introduce you to some of my favorite music and perhaps help you discover new gems. I hope you'll enjoy this series and be inspired to explore some fresh sounds.
I admit it wasn't easy to choose an album for this very first Friday Tune because there were several excellent candidates. But nothing that a good cup of tea can't solve. As you know, earlier this week, we celebrated International Women's Day, and I wanted to start with a gentle and uplifting tone. Therefore, I have chosen the album Prism by Say She She.
Say She She is a Brooklyn-based band composed of Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, and Nya Gazelle Brown. Sabrina and Piya first met as neighbors on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side and quickly bonded over their shared love of music. Sabrina had been singing for several groups, while Piya had been lending her vocals to Chicano Batman, El Michel Affair, and 79.5. In between gigs, they began performing together around town as a duo. Soon after, they convinced Nya, who was also singing for 79.5 at the time, to join the band, and Say She She was born - named as a silent nod to Nile Rodgers' legendary funk band, Chic.
Prism, their debut LP was released on October 7, 2022.
The description by their label "Colemine Records" of a “female-led discodelic soul band” is quite accurate because, from the first notes, the elements of soul, funk, disco, and classic jazz are recognizable. The irresistible groove combined with the wonderful vocal harmonies of the three singers quickly carries us away.
Although recorded over several years, the 8-song album forms a coherent whole with relationships as its central theme. From the cheerful and new relationship excitement vibe of the album's title track, to the soft psychedelic reprimand of “Fortune Teller”. While most tracks on the album are reflective of collective experiences, some are deeply personal. “Better Man” is about Sabrina's new relationship, and the highly danceable “Pink Roses” is a touching tribute to the singer's mother, written on the anniversary of her passing.
Piya Malik, Nya Gazelle Brown, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham
On stage, the trio emphasizes the significance of their New York musical family, which includes rotating members Mike Sarason and Nikhil Yerawadekar (Combo Lulo and Antibalas), Preet Patel (the Frightnrs), Steve Okonoski (Durand Jones & the Indications), and Andy Bauer (Twin Shadow).
I had the pleasure of seeing them perform live, and it was an amazing experience. The band's stage presence is really captivating, and they play their music with so much passion and energy that it is impossible not to dance and sing along. At the time of writing this post, the band is currently on tour in Europe. So, if you're in the area, don't miss the opportunity to see them. I will quote Piya talking about her fantasy performance:
“Our dream show would be a situation where, like, no one was just looking at us or facing forward at the stage. They’re all just looking at each other and dancing with each other, like a proper disco.”
I should also add that, in my opinion, this delicatessen would be best enjoyed in its vinyl format as it provides a warmer sound that perfectly matches the '70s vibe and overall atmosphere of the album.
And I leave you with “Fortune Teller”.
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