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Silk Sonic
American R&B superduo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Silk Sonic is an American musical superduo composed of musicians Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. With the two maintaining a strong relationship during Mars's 24K Magic World Tour (2017 –18), Mars invited .Paak to record songs. During this time, the duo began work on their collaborative effort, An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021), which debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and saw widespread acclaim from music critics.
An Evening with Silk Sonic spawned the singles, "Leave the Door Open", which peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100 and New Zealand charts, as well as "Smokin out the Window", which were commercially successful. "Skate", which charted moderately, and "Love's Train" and "After Last Night", which both had minor commercial success. "Leave the Door Open" spent 18 weeks in the top ten and two non-consecutive weeks at the top spot. All the singles except "Skate" topped the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, and the album was the second with four number-one singles on that chart.
The duo received several nominations, winning two consecutive BET Award for Best Group in 2021 and 2022. They also won International Group of the Year at the Brit Awards. "Leave the Door Open" received various nominations, notably, it won four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. "Smokin out the Window" was awarded Video of the Year at the BET Awards 2022 and Soul Train Music Awards. "Love's Train" won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) at the NAACP Image Awards. An Evening with Silk Sonic received several nominations and won R&B Album of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards and Album of the Year at the BET Awards. Silk Sonic embarked on a concert residency, An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM (2022), to promote the album.
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History
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2017–2021: Beginnings and breakthrough
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak met in 2017 while touring together on the European leg of Mars's 24K Magic World Tour (2017–2018) and quickly became friends.[1] The two were seen at Abbey Road Studios in London with Nile Rodgers and Guy Lawrence of Disclosure, for Chic's album It's About Time (2018).[2][3][4] They co-wrote .Paak's "Anywhere" featuring Snoop Dogg and The Last Artful, Dodgr, which appeared on the former's album Oxnard (2018). Two months prior to An Evening with Silk Sonic release, "Fire In The Sky", written by the duo was released on the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album (2021).[5]
In early 2017, after .Paak and Mars met on tour, they decided to get together in the studio with no intent, besides their mutual appreciation and affection.[6][7] At this point, the duo decided to try to turn the "backstage in-jokes" into songs. The first thing they wrote together started with one of them saying the sentence "Smoking out the window". They imagined a "stressed-out" man smoking too many cigarettes, as he tried to find his way out of "anxious" situations, and saying this phrase. In the studio, the "joke" was turned into a hook. Once the tour ended, the sessions were put on hold.[6]
In February 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mars was listening to their recordings, which "hit the right chord" so he asked .Paak to join him in the studio.[6] Mars said "Yo, I want to finish that song", to which .Paak replied "I'm drunk! What do you mean? Come on!".[8] Despite being drunk, .Paak met Mars at the studio.[6] When they started to write the song, a competitive, friendly spirit emerged as they tried to improve on the work.[6] Once they finished the song .Paak said; "I'm out, what we doing tomorrow?"[8] According to Mars, it was the first song he and .Paak wrote together. That song was "Smoking out the Window", which was born during the tour.[6] Mars reunited with frequent collaborators, the American songwriter and producer Brody Brown and the Canadian recording engineer Charles Moniz, to record An Evening with Silk Sonic.[6][9]
Mars found, American record producer and songwriter, D'Mile on Instagram and heard his composition on Lucky Daye's debut studio album, Painted (2019). Then, he asked American singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy to get in touch with the producer.[10] D'Mile became one of the core composers of the album.[6] According to the former, Silk Sonic became a project after he, Mars, and .Paak worked on "Smoking out the Window".[10][11] On February 26, 2021, Mars and .Paak announced they had recorded an album together under the name Silk Sonic. Their debut album was titled An Evening with Silk Sonic, featuring American musician Bootsy Collins as a special guest host.[12] At the same time, the artwork of the album was revealed and the release of the first single the following week.[13][14] Bootsy Collins named the band after he heard the album.[15]
On March 5, 2021, "Leave the Door Open" was released as the album's first single by Aftermath Entertainment and Atlantic Records.[16] "Silk Sonic Intro" was also issued on the same day, featuring the album's special guest Bootsy Collins.[17] The debut single peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and New Zealand charts.[18][19][20] Silk Sonic made their performance debut with "Leave the Door Open" at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021, adopting a 70s aesthetic accompanied only by two backup singers.[21][22] They also performed a tribute to Little Richard consisting of "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly".[23] The debut single was performed again at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards, with a similar aesthetic.[24]
After performing "Leave the Door Open" at the BET Awards 2021, they tempted fans with a new song.[25][26] On July 28, 2021, .Paak posted a picture of a red car with the phrase "You've Been Invited To Silk Sonic's Summertime Jam This Friday" on Twitter, hinting at an impending release.[27] On July 30, 2021, "Skate" was issued as the album's second single alongside an accompanying video.[28][29] It charted moderately, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, number four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 12 in New Zealand.[18][19][20] On November 5, 2021, "Smokin out the Window" was released as the third single, a week before the album's launch.[30][31] It peaked at number five and two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, respectively.[18][19] It also peaked at number four on the New Zealand.[20]
2021–present: An Evening with Silk Sonic and residency
Initially, Mars and .Paak stated that the album would be released in the fall of 2021. However, its release was delayed to January 2022, as they wanted to include more songs.[6] Despite their previous scheduling, on October 8, 2021, coinciding with Mars's birthday, Silk Sonic announced the album's release date of November 12, 2021.[32][33] An Evening with Silk Sonic received widespread acclaim from music critics upon release.[34] It is the most acclaimed studio album of Mars' career and .Paak's second most, after Malibu.[35][36] It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and it was Mars's second and .Paak's first record to enter the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, debuting at number one.[37][38] In Canada, the album debuted and peaked at number three. It became Mars's fourth album to reach the top three and .Paak's highest-charting record so far.[39][20]
On November 21, 2021, the duo performed "Smokin out the Window" at the American Music Awards of 2021.[40] One week later, Silk Sonic sang "Fly as Me" and "Smokin Out the Window" at the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards.[41] On February 3, they were announced to also make an appearance in Fortnite.[42][43] Silk Sonic embarked on their concert residency, An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM, which started on February 25, 2022, held at the Park Theater in Las Vegas.[44] It was nominated for Favorite Residency at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.[45] At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, the duo performed "777" as the opening act.[46]
On February 14, 2022, "Love's Train" was released as a commemorative song for Valentine's Day.[47][48] The song is a cover of Con Funk Shun's "Love's Train". On April 21, 2022, Billboard reported that "Love's Train" was the album's fourth single.[49] In February, the song was added to Silk Sonic's debut album on digital and streaming services and it was also included on the webstore exclusive vinyl recording.[49][50] The duo performed their version of "Love's Train" at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.[51] "After Last Night" was released on July 5, 2022, as the fifth single from An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021).[52] Its charting was influenced by the release of its parent album. It topped the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, becoming the fourth single of Silk Sonic's debut album to do so. The album was the second with four number-one singles on that chart.[49]
Silk Sonic won two consecutive BET Award for Best Group in 2021 and 2022.[26][53] In 2022, the duo won International Group of the Year at the Brit Awards.[54] "Leave the Door Open" won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 64th Grammy Awards.[55] "Smokin out the Window" was awarded Video of the Year at the BET Awards and Soul Train Music Awards.[53][56] An Evening with Silk Sonic won Album of the Year at the BET Awards.[53] The duo declined submitting the album for Grammy consideration, Mars said "We truly put our all on this record, but Silk Sonic would like to..bow out of submitting our album this year"[57][58] In 2023, "Love's Train" won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) at the NAACP Image Awards.[59] In September 2024, .Paak denied that the duo was defunct, "Silk Sonic always has a place to put out more music".[60]
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Artistry
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Influences
In an interview with the New Zealand radio DJ Zane Lowe for radio station Apple Music 1, Mars said that most of the album is "rooted in [.Paak's] drum beats". He continued, saying that he works "backward from the guitar or piano", whereas .Paak's "music is percussion-driven, derived from old-school Motown influence." They credit each other for the sound that models Silk Sonic.[61]
.Paak says Mars considers every detail of a song, such as its theme, its sounds, and how it would engage people with the chorus, while .Paak is more of a free form, perceptive, and "What's the vibe?" musician. The latter affirmed that they were inspired by the 1960s, 1970s, and "the old school". According to Mars, they reunited in the studio during the night to drink and play music they enjoy. .Paak said the duo was influenced by Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and Prince. The duo "bonded over their love of classic soul" and would usually play for each other songs they loved. .Paak was not sure the project would become a reality if the COVID-19 pandemic had not occurred, since they would have otherwise been playing shows at that time.[6]
Musical style and themes
Silk Sonic's musical style has been described as rooted in R&B, soul, funk, hip hop and pop music.[62][63][64] Its sound has also been described as disco-inspired.[65] Of An Evening with Silk Sonic's sound, The Ringer wrote, "though styled as a 1960s to '70s retro endeavor, Silk Sonic isn't a work of nostalgia but rather a fusion: funk, rap, and R&B as they've sounded in heavy rotation as recently as the 2000s."[66] Sputnikmusic called the album "rich and authentic, existing at the irresistible intersection between 70s funk nostalgia and the luxuries of a modern day studio. As a result, An Evening With Silk Sonic lives up to its billing as a true experience: it’s sexy, ever-so-smooth, and radiates confidence and charisma."[64]
To achieve the sound they were aiming for, Silk Sonic and Moniz had to reach out to elderly "session guys" and read "old drumming magazines". They needed the right gear, such as Ludwig Drums with Remo Ambassador heads, Giovanni Hidalgo congas, a Hohner Clavinet D6 keyboard, a Danelectro sitar, a Trophy Music mini-Glockenspiel, and a Solid State Logic mixing board. Afterward, they were "emulating old-school playing styles and recording them", using one or two mics and several musicians playing at the same time in the same place. Despite having all the instruments to re-create the sound they were not able to do so at that time. According to .Paak, they were "fucking bashing!", while the ones that came before them were "tiptoeing".[6] It explores themes of seduction, romance, reconciliation and materialism.[62][67]
Showmanship
Silk Sonic is known for their retro showmanship, which is acclaimed by tour critics and reviewers.[68][69][70] Melinda Sheckells from Billboard commented that "it felt impossible that Mars and .Paak had never done a show of this magnitude before as a duo".[71] Rolling Stones's Mark Gray called the concert a "soulful, energetic vibe blending disco, funk, R&B, and rock". Gray also praised it by saying, "From the fashion to the footwork, the show was a masterclass in Seventies nostalgia."[68] Brock Radke from Las Vegas Weekly dubbed the show "enthralling and celebratory". Radke added the duo "isn't transporting the audience to another era so much as pulling that era's amazing music into the present day".[69] Mya Abraham of Vibe also found the concert to be a Soul Train experience, but the "lighting elevated the show", and the duo studied "incomparable performers of the past". Abraham furthered that the concert "was a well-sequenced, true mastery in visual storytelling".[70]
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Tour
- Bruno Mars – lead vocals, congas, guitar, piano, congas (2021 – present)
- Anderson .Paak – lead vocals, drums (2021 – present)
The Hooligans and touring members[a]
- Jamareo Artis – bass guitar (2022)
- Eric Hernandez – drums (2022)
- Kameron Whalum – backing vocals (2022)
- Dwayne Dugger – saxophone (2022)
- James King – backing vocals (2022)
- John Fossit – keyboards (2022)
- Mateus Asato – lead guitar (2022)[76]
- Maurice "Mobetta" Brown – trumpet (2022)[71]
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
Promotional singles
Other charted songs
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Awards and nominations
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Notes
- "Love's Train" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[97]
- "777" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[97]
- Tied with Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar for "Family Ties".
- Tied with Jazmine Sullivan for "Pick Up Your Feelings".
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References
External links
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