An Evening with Silk Sonic

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An Evening with Silk Sonic
Sketches of Mars and Paak against a tan background, between the album title and the mention of Bootsy Collins
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 2022
Label
Producer
Bruno Mars chronology
24K Magic
(2016)
An Evening with Silk Sonic
(2022)
Anderson .Paak chronology
Ventura
(2019)
An Evening with Silk Sonic
(2022)
Singles from An Evening with Silk Sonic
  1. "Leave the Door Open"
    Released: March 5, 2021
  2. "Skate"
    Released: July 30, 2021

An Evening with Silk Sonic is the upcoming debut studio album by American R&B duo Silk Sonic, composed of recording artists Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, scheduled to be released in January 2022.[1] The album is produced by Mars and D'Mile, and narrated by American funk musician Bootsy Collins.

The album was preceded by two singles: "Leave the Door Open" and "Skate". The former peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Mars's eighth number one song in the United States and Paak's first.

Background[]

American singer Bruno Mars and American singer and rapper Anderson .Paak met in 2017 while touring together on the European leg of Mars's 24K Magic World Tour (2017–18). The two were seen in the studio working with Nile Rodgers and Guy Lawrence of Disclosure.[2] They quickly became friends and decided to collaborate on a project together. In an interview with New Zealand radio DJ Zane Lowe for the Apple Music 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 "newfangled soundscape" that models Silk Sonic's sound.[3]

While in the studio, Mars and Paak tried to create a dream setlist. They dubbed it as "the setlist of doom", however they needed someone who could "thread" all the songs. Mars admitted that both he and Paak admired Bootsy Collins, who, ultimately, hosted the album. Collins came up with the name for Mars and Paak's duo.[3] According to Mars, studio sessions started in 2017 due to a phrase he came up with during the tour that ended up on the hook of one of the songs on the album. Afterwards, the duo decided to keep creating more music, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Paak affirmed that instead of "trying to make music long-distance", both of them got "in the studio face-to-face". This allowed the duo to jam out, understand how to make people feel good with the songs they created from scratch and what was missing on the tracks.[4] Mars declared, "Anderson coming into the studio and unlocking something in my brain that I've never used before ... That's how inspiration happens, you know?"

On February 26, 2021, Mars and Paak announced they have recorded an album together under the band name Silk Sonic. At the time, the band's debut album was set to be titled An Evening with Silk Sonic and features American musician Bootsy Collins as a special guest host.[5] At the same time, the artwork was revealed and is a "retro sketch of the two hitmakers' floating heads that reads, "An evening with Silk Sonic ... with special guest host Bootsy Collins". They also announced the release of the first single on March 5, 2021.[6] On the latter date, the album title was confirmed.[7]

On August 18, 2021, during an interview with Rolling Stone, Mars and .Paak confessed that An Evening with Silk Sonic was initially going to be released in the fall of 2021. However, they delayed its release to January 2022 as they want to release more songs. Mars explained he wants to let "each one breathe a bit, before dropping the LP in full." In late June 2021, the album was almost finished. Mars explained, "We're really in touch-up mode now". He furthered "We've got the bones of most of the album, so it's really about touching up parts that need a little more ... grease." Mars and .Paak confessed that at times they would recreate a song from scratch.[1]

.Paak says Mars thinks "about every aspect of the song", he exaplained "it's 'What are we talking about, what are we trying to say, what does this look like, and how are we gonna kill 'em on the hook?'" On the other hand, .Paak is "more fluid, intuitive, worm’s-eye-view kind of way".[1]

Singles and promotion[]

Singles[]

"Leave the Door Open" was released as the album's lead single on March 5, 2021, along with its music video. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and became Mars's eighth number one song in the United States, and Paak's first.[8]

"Skate" was released as the album's second single on July 30, 2021, along with its music video.[9]

Other songs[]

"Silk Sonic Intro" was released alongside "Leave the Door Open" on March 5, 2021. The song features "clapping hands and a festive half-epic tone" that are "used as a celebration, as a festive injection,"[10] as well as a brief narration from bassist Bootsy Collins.

Live performances[]

On March 9, 2021, it was announced that Silk Sonic had been added to the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards lineup. There, they performed "Leave the Door Open" live for the first time on March 14, 2021.[11] The performance was 1970s inspired and received critical acclaim.[12][13] USA Today placed it at number eight on a list of the best performances of the night and called it a ''sizzling retro throwback''.[14] The album and its lead single would be promoted once more at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards,[15] and again at the BET Awards 2021.[16]

Confirmed tracks[]

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[17][18]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Soothing Sounds of Silk Sonic". Rolling Stone. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Yoo, Noah (April 25, 2017). "Anderson .Paak, Nile Rodgers, Disclosure, Bruno Mars Hit the Studio Together: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Crone, Madeline (March 5, 2021). "Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak "Leave the Door Open" for Their New Band, Silk Sonic". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Kaufman, Gil (March 5, 2021). "Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak Know What 'We Need': To See Silk Sonic Live Onstage". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Gallagher, Alex (February 26, 2021). "Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak form new band Silk Sonic, announce album". NME. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Carras, Christi (February 26, 2021). "Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak tease fans with new band called Silk Sonic". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Watch Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak (aka Silk Sonic) Jam Out in the "Leave the Door Open" Video". Okayplayer. March 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Curto, Justin (April 12, 2021). "Silk Sonic Charm Their Way to No. 1 With 'Leave the Door Open'". Vulture. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (July 30, 2021). "Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Share New Silk Sonic Track "Skate"". Complex. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Correia, Gonçalo (March 5, 2021). "Esta é a primeira canção de Bruno Mars com Anderson .Paak. E vem aí um disco". Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak's Silk Sonic added to Grammy lineup". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "Beyoncé makes history with 28th Grammy and more award show highlights". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Lisa Respers France. "Silk Sonic made us feel a way at the Grammys". CNN. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Ryan, Patrick. "Brutally honest reviews of every Grammys 2021 performance, including 'WAP' and 'Dynamite'". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Silk Sonic Lead Serenade In Steamy 'Leave The Door Open' Performance". iHeartRadio.
  16. ^ "Silk Sonic - "Leave the Door Open" - BET Awards 2021 | BET AWARDS". www.bet.com.
  17. ^ "Credits / Leave the Door Open / Silk Sonic". Tidal. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "Credits / Silk Sonic Intro / Silk Sonic". Tidal. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
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