Say She She is a female led group based out of Brooklyn, New York with vocals by Nya Gazelle Brown, Piya Malik and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham who created the band in 2017 named as an unspoken acknowledgement to Nile Rodgers’ Chic! Their music combines disco, funk, indie-soul, creating up tempo groovy sounds.
Elva, KXCI Director, interviewed Say She She the day they were scheduled to perform. In this conversation they talk about what the creative process has been like when creating and developing their sound. Say She She performed at a KXCI Presents! show for KXCI’s 40th Anniversary at 191 Toole on October 31, 2023.
Tune in as we navigate through the interview piece by piece and enjoy Say She She’s guest DJ track list below. Each artist and song is emblematic of Say She She’s musical influences and sound.
Talk break 1: Introduction
Ashu Puthli – “Space Talk” – Taught in Indian classical singing and a natural jazz improviser, in the 1970s Asha Puthli created a unique sound – soft, sexy, and meditative. Captured on classic recordings like “Space Talk” and “Say Yes,” that distinctively cool sound was an early indication of the entire rise of acid jazz and ambient dance music.
Roy Ayers “Silver Vibrations” – Jazz composer and vibraphonist Roy Ayers was born on September 10, 1940 in Los Angeles, California. Growing up around Central Avenue, the heart of the West Coast jazz scene, Ayers was exposed to local legends at an early age. Silver Vibrations-the sleek r&b dance track showcasing Ayers magical vibe skills.
Talk break 2: Walk through, track by track with Say She She
ESG “You Make No Sense” – (Emerald, Sapphire & Gold) was formed by sisters Renee, Valerie, and Marie Scroggins, all of whom handle vocals and percussion, and friends David Miles (guitar) and Leroy Glover (bass). They are an American dance punk/funk/rock band formed in the South Bronx in 1978. The beauty of “You Make No Sense”, from the album Come Away with ESG, lies in its relentless energy. Individual elements might seem sparse, yet combined, they create a track that demands movement. It’s a testament to ESG’s mastery of funk’s core; they understood that groove transcends complexity.
Betty Lou Landreth ” I Can’t Stop” – Betty Lou Landreth’s ‘Betty Lou’ album was recorded in Detroit in 1979 and remains her only album. Part sophisticated funk, part vibrant soul-jazz, with detours into country rock and torch-song, the album was the creation of the late Betty Lou Landreth. Produced and released by Detroit-born jazz historian Joel Palmer on his YaYa label, the album features many veteran and esteemed Detroit and New Orleans Jazzmen.
Talk break 3: Writing session influenced by a rare cut
