By Ella Wilson Coates, Third Year English and Philosophy
I think you’d be hard pressed to find any gig-goer that hasn't had the disappointing experience of going to see an artist where their vocals just don’t live up to the studio version. But if you’re going to see Say She She this needn’t be a fear. With their new album ‘Silver’ being recorded live to tape what you hear through your headphones is what you will be met with in concert and then some (with the welcome addition of some funky choreo).
Before their turn as Say She She, Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, and Nya Gazelle Brown were all “backup singers and part of other people's projects.” Each of the members wanted to, like their song ‘C’est Chi Chi’ champions, ‘leave no stone unturned’ and seized the opportunity to work together on a project of their own creation; hence Say She She was formed.
After the concert I overheard someone saying “I just want to be their friend” (me too stranger). This just goes to show how evident their relationship as friends is on stage and how easily they welcome the crowd into their party. Throughout they were encouraging the crowd to dance but in the final song they asked us all to forget about them on stage and turn to someone in the crowd and dance along with them. In that final song they turned their concert into a disco and I couldn’t have loved it more.
Equally having that relationship as friends and sharing their pasts as backup singers allowed each member to have their moment to shine but then just as seamlessly join back together in beautiful harmony - no member outdoing the other.
While Say She She radiate joy through their disco beats and playful lyrics they also leave space for more reflective moments. Introducing their song ‘Echo In The Chamber’ the band told the crowd how the song was written as a comment on gun violence in America. This is definitely one of their more serious songs but even their more upbeat songs incorporate political commentary from paying homage to women activists on ‘Forget Me Not’ to the wittily written ‘Questions’ which 'probes at power dynamics and the nature of oppression.’
This interesting duality of harshness and goofiness that is captured in their music was also reflected in their outfits. First stepping out onto the stage they all wore leather – and I couldn’t write a review for their show without giving props to Sabrina’s huge puffy leather sleeves. Topping the leather ensemble they then re-entered in a sequin getup! Perhaps this is the best way to describe Say She She: leather and sequins.
Say She She have already announced a second tour of the UK later this year after this recent success. Unsurprisingly, I have already bought my ticket and suggest you do too!
Featured Image: Kaelan Barowsky
Have you seen Say She She live?
