Say She She
{{Short description|American female singing trio}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name =
| image = File:SaySheSheDSC03155.jpg
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| caption = Say She She at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas
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| origin = Brooklyn, New York
| genre = Psychedelic soul
| discography =
| years_active = 2019–present
| label = Colemine/Karma Chief Records
| spinoffs =
| spinoff_of =
| current_members = Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, Nya Gazelle Brown
| past_members =
| website = [http://www.saysheshe.com saysheshe.com]
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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.{{cite news |last1=Lipsky |first1=Jessica |title=Say She She's Big Year: How The NYC Disco Funk Group Made Sure The World Wouldn't Forget Them |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/say-she-she-big-year-new-album-silver-tour-videos-interview |access-date=12 December 2023 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |date=28 September 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/say-she-she-mn0004215864|title=Say She She Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic}}
Their music, self-described as "discodelic soul" with "dreamy harmonies," prominently combines disco and 70s funk, among other influences.{{cite web |title=Say She She: Racket 2023 |url=https://wfuv.org/content/say-she-she-racket-2023 |website=WFUV.org |access-date=12 December 2023}} The group cites Nile Rodgers and Chic as major influences on their sound.{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Anthony |title=Say She She surprised by Chic's Nile Rodgers |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/say-she-she-surprised-by-chics-nile-rodgers-who-inspired-the-bands-unique-discodelic-sound/ |access-date=12 December 2023 |publisher=CBS News |date=28 November 2023}}
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.{{cite web |title=Say She She: KCRW Live from Apogee Studio (Oct. 6, 2022) |url=https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/live-from/say-she-prism-apogee-performance-interview |website=KCRW.com |date=6 October 2022 |access-date=21 December 2023}} That relationship transformed at a house party in Harlem when the two were joined by Brown for a spontaneous rooftop singing session.
Shortly after, the trio began writing music together. They were soon collaborating with musicians from Orgōne, The Dap-Kings, The Shacks, and Chicano Batman.
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."{{cite news |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |title=Say She She: Prism review – boundary-busting discodelic soul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/19/say-she-she-prism-review |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=19 December 2022}}
On Feb. 4, 2023, CBS Saturday Morning aired the band's first televised appearance.{{cite news |title=Say She She performs 'Fortune Teller' |url=https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/4g8tXYDr2uo7sYsoHy__SLM71GhvfsRl/ |access-date=12 December 2023 |work=CBS Saturday Morning |date=4 February 2023}} 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."
Their sophomore album Silver was released Sept. 29, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/silver-mw0004054084|title=Say She She - Silver Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}{{cite web |title=New Music Reviews (10/2/2023) |url=https://www.kexp.org/read/2023/10/2/new-music-reviews-102/ |website=KEXP.org |access-date=21 December 2023}} The album was positively reviewed by public radio station KCRW who ranked it the top album of 2023.{{cite web |title=KCRW best albums of 2023 |url=https://www.kcrw.com/best-of-2023/best-albums |website=KCRW.com |date=6 December 2023 |access-date=12 December 2023}} WXPN named them the Artist to Watch in October,{{cite web |title=11 concerts to see this week, including Say She She, Genesis Owusu, Palehound and more |url=https://xpn.org/2023/10/15/concert-picks-20231015-saysheshe/ |website=XPN.org |date=15 October 2023 |access-date=21 December 2023}} and KEXP placed it in the top 20 of its year-end album review.{{cite web |title=KEXP's Best Albums of 2023 |url=https://kexp.org/countdowns/best-albums-of-2023/ |website=KEXP.org |access-date=21 December 2023}}
They toured throughout 2023, performing in Europe and America, including the Glastonbury Festival{{cite news |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |title=Glastonbury 2023 review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/26/glastonbury-2023-review-giggly-rap-on-friday-smiths-covers-on-saturday-and-a-mystery-act-that-surprised-no-one |access-date=12 December 2023 |work=The Guardian (UK) |date=26 June 2023}} and the Hollywood Bowl.{{cite web |title=Playlist: 2023 KCRW Festival Highlights |url=https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/about/watch-and-listen/playlist-2023-kcrw-festival-highlights |website=hollywoodbowl.com |access-date=12 December 2023}}
Discography
- Prism (2022)
- Silver (2023)