Silk Sonic | |
|---|---|
 Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
| Website | silksonic |
Silk Sonic is an Americanmusical superduo composed of musiciansBruno Mars andAnderson .Paak. Maintaining a good relationship during Mars's24K Magic World Tour (2017 –18), Mars invited .Paak to record with him. The duo began work onAn Evening with Silk Sonic (2021), which debuted at number two on the USBillboard 200 and was praised by music critics.
An Evening with Silk Sonic spawned the singles "Leave the Door Open" (which topped the USBillboard Hot 100 and New Zealand charts), "Smokin out the Window" (which was successful), "Skate" (which charted) and "Love's Train" and "After Last Night", which had some commercial success. "Leave the Door Open" spent 18 weeks in the top ten and two non-consecutive weeks at number one. All the singles except "Skate" topped theBillboardAdult R&B Songs chart, and the album was the second with four number-one singles on that chart.
Silk Sonic received several nominations, receiving theBET Award for Best Group in 2021 and 2022 and theBrit Award for International Group in2022. "Leave the Door Open" received several nominations and fourGrammy Awards, includingRecord of the Year andSong of the Year. "Smokin out the Window" was Video of the Year at theBET Awards 2022 andSoul Train Music Awards. "Love's Train" wasOutstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) at theNAACP Image Awards.An Evening with Silk Sonic received several nominations and was R&B Album of the Year at theiHeartRadio Music Awards andAlbum of the Year at the BET Awards. Silk Sonic began aconcert residency,An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM (2022), to promote the album.
Bruno Mars andAnderson .Paak met in 2017 while touring on the European leg of Mars's24K Magic World Tour (2017–2018), and quickly became friends.[1] They were seen atAbbey Road Studios in London withNile Rodgers and Guy Lawrence ofDisclosure forChic's album,It's About Time (2018).[2][3][4] The duo co-wrote .Paak's "Anywhere" (featuringSnoop Dogg andThe Last Artful, Dodgr), which appeared on .Paak's albumOxnard (2018).[5] Two months before the release ofAn Evening with Silk Sonic, "Fire In The Sky (written by the duo) was released onShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album (2021).[6]
In early 2017, after .Paak and Mars met, they decided to get together in the studio[7][8] and try to turn "backstage in-jokes" into songs. The first thing they wrote together began with one of them saying the phrase "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. The "joke" became ahook, but when the tour ended the sessions were put on hold.[7]
In February 2020, before theCOVID-19 pandemic, Mars was listening to their recordings; they "hit the right chord", so he asked .Paak to join him in the studio.[7] Mars said, "Yo, I want to finish that song" and .Paak replied, "I'm drunk! What do you mean? Come on!".[9] An inebriated .Paak met Mars at the studio.[7] When they began to write the song, a friendly competition emerged as they tried to improve it.[7] When they finished the song .Paak said, "I'm out, what we doing tomorrow?"[9] According to Mars, "Smoking out the Window" was the first song he and .Paak wrote together.[7] Mars reunited with frequent collaboratorsBrody Brown andCharles Moniz to recordAn Evening with Silk Sonic.[7][10]
Mars found American record producer and songwriterD'Mile on Instagram and heard his composition onLucky Daye's debut studio album,Painted (2019). He asked American singer-songwriterJames Fauntleroy to get in touch with producer D'Mile.[11] D'Mile became one of the album's core composers.[7] According to him, Silk Sonic became a project after he, Mars, and .Paak worked on "Smoking out the Window".[11][12] On February 26, 2021, Mars and .Paak announced that they had recorded an album as Silk Sonic. The album,An Evening with Silk Sonic, featured American musicianBootsy Collins as guest host.[13] The album's artwork was revealed, and its first single was released the following week.[14][15] Bootsy Collins named the band after hearing the album.[16]
On March 5, 2021, "Leave the Door Open" (the album's first single) was released byAftermath Entertainment andAtlantic Records.[17] "Silk Sonic Intro" was also released the same day, featuring guest host Bootsy Collins.[18] The single topped the USBillboard Hot 100,Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and New Zealand charts.[19][20][21] Silk Sonic made their performance debut with "Leave the Door Open" at the63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021, with a 1970s aesthetic.[22][23] They also performed a tribute toLittle Richard of "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly".[24]
After performing "Leave the Door Open" at theBET Awards 2021, they introduced 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" onTwitter, hinting at an upcoming release.[27] On July 30, 2021, "Skate" was released as the album's second single with a video.[28][29] It reached number 14 on theBillboard Hot 100, number four on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 12 in New Zealand.[19][20][21] On November 5, 2021, a week before the album's launch, "Smokin out the Window" was released as its third single.[30][31] It peaked at numbers five and two on the USBillboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, respectively,[19][20] and peaked at number four on the New Zealand chart.[21]
On October 8, 2021 Silk Sonic announced a release date of November 12, 2021.[32][33] Mars and .Paak then postponed its release until January 2022 because they wanted to include more songs.[7]An Evening with Silk Sonic was praised by music critics when it was released.[34] It is the most-acclaimed studio album of Mars' career and .Paak's second-most-acclaimed, afterMalibu (2016).[35][36] The album debuted at number two on theBillboard 200, and was Mars's second and .Paak's first record to debut at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[37][38] In Canada, the album debuted and peaked at number three. It was Mars's fourth album to reach the top three and .Paak's highest-charting record to date.[39][21]
On November 21, 2021, the duo performed "Smokin out the Window" at theAmerican Music Awards.[40] One week later, Silk Sonic sang "Fly as Me" and "Smokin Out the Window" at the2021 Soul Train Music Awards.[41] On February 3, 2022, their appearance inFortnite was announced.[42][43] Silk Sonic began a concert residency,An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM, on February 25 at thePark Theater in Las Vegas.[44] It was nominated for Favorite Residency at theiHeartRadio Music Awards.[45] At the64th Annual Grammy Awards, the duo performed "777" as the opening act.[46]
"Love's Train" (a cover ofCon Funk Shun's "Love's Train") was released onValentine's Day.[47][48] In February, the song was added to Silk Sonic's debut album on digital and streaming services and was included on the webstore-exclusivevinyl recording.[49][50] On April 21,Billboard reported that "Love's Train" would be the album's fourth single.[49] The duo performed "Love's Train" at the2022Billboard Music Awards.[51] "After Last Night" was released on July 5 asAn Evening with Silk Sonic's fifth single.[52] The song's performance was influenced by the release of its parent album; it topped theBillboardAdult R&B Songs chart, the fourth single from Silk Sonic's debut album to do so. The album was the second with four number-one singles on that chart.[49]
Silk Sonic received theBET Award for Best Group in 2021 and 2022.[26][53] The duo wasInternational Group of the Year at theBrit Awards 2022.[54] "Leave the Door Open" wasRecord of the Year andSong of the Year at the64th Grammy Awards.[55] "Smokin out the Window" was Video of the Year at theBET Awards andSoul Train Music Awards.[53][56]An Evening with Silk Sonic was Album of the Year at the BET Awards.[53] The duo did not submit 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] "Love's Train" wonOutstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) at the2023 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]
In an interview with New Zealand radio DJZane Lowe for radio stationApple Music 1, Mars said that most of the album is "rooted in [.Paak's] drum beats". He continued that he works "backward from the guitar or piano", and .Paak's "music is percussion-driven, derived from old-schoolMotown influence." They credit each other for Silk Sonic's sound.[61]
.Paak said that Mars considers every detail of a song, such as its theme, its sounds, and how it would engage people with the chorus; .Paak is more of a free-form, perceptive, and "What's the vibe?" musician. .Paak affirmed that they were inspired by the 1960s, 1970s, and "the old school". According to Mars, they reunited in the studio at night to drink and play music they enjoy. .Paak said that they were influenced byAretha Franklin,James Brown,Miles Davis,Stevie Wonder, andPrince. The duo "bonded over their love of classic soul", and would play songs they loved for each other. .Paak was unsure that Silk Sonic would have become a reality without theCOVID-19 pandemic, since they would have been playing shows at the time.[7]
Silk Sonic's musical style has been described as rooted inR&B,[62][63][64]soul,[65][66]funk,[64][66]pop,[64] andhip-hop.[66] They have been described asdisco-inspired.[67] AboutAn Evening with Silk Sonic, an article onThe Ringer said: "[T]hough styled as a1960s to'70sretro endeavor, Silk Sonic isn't a work of nostalgia but rather afusion: funk, rap, and R&B as they've sounded in heavy rotation as recently as the2000s."[68]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."[69]
To achieve the sound for which they were aiming, Silk Sonic and Moniz reached out to elderly "session guys" and read "old drumming magazines". They needed the right gear, such asLudwig Drums withRemo Ambassador heads,Giovanni Hidalgo congas, aHohner Clavinet D6 keyboard, aDanelectro sitar, a Trophy Music mini-Glockenspiel, and aSolid State Logic mixing board. They were then "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 unable to do so at that time. According to .Paak, they were "fucking bashing"; those who came before them were "tiptoeing".[7] The album explores seduction, romance, reconciliation and materialism.[64][70]
Silk Sonic is known for their retro showmanship, which has been praised by tour critics and reviewers.[71][72][73] Melinda Sheckells ofBillboard wrote that "it felt impossible that Mars and .Paak had never done a show of this magnitude before as a duo".[74]Rolling Stone's Mark Gray called their concert a "soulful, energetic vibe blending disco, funk, R&B, and rock" ... "From the fashion to the footwork, the show was a masterclass in Seventies nostalgia."[71] Brock Radke ofLas Vegas Weekly called their show "enthralling and celebratory"; the duo "isn't transporting the audience to another era so much as pulling that era's amazing music into the present day".[72] Mya Abraham ofVibe found the concert aSoul Train experience; the "lighting elevated the show", and the duo studied "incomparable performers of the past". The concert "was a well-sequenced, true mastery in visual storytelling".[73]
The Hooligans and touring members[a]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [37] | US R&B/HH [38] | AUS [80] | CAN [81] | DEN [82] | IRE [83] | NLD [84] | NZ [21] | SWI [85] | UK [86] | ||||
| An Evening with Silk Sonic | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| ||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [19] | US R&B/HH [20] | AUS [80] | CAN [94] | IRE [83] | NLD [84] | NZ [21] | SWI [85] | UK [86] | WW [95] | |||||
| "Leave the Door Open" | 2021 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 23 | 20 | 2 | An Evening with Silk Sonic | ||
| "Skate" | 14 | 4 | 32 | 19 | 48 | 61 | 12 | 74 | 45 | 18 | ||||
| "Smokin out the Window" | 5 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 31 | 4 | 92 | 12 | 12 | ||||
| "Love's Train" | 2022 | —[A] | 47 | — | — | — | — | —[B] | — | — | — | |||
| "After Last Night" (withThundercat andBootsy Collins) | 68 | 17 | — | 92 | — | — | —[C] | — | — | 78 | ||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [101] | US R&B/HH [20] | NZ Hot [104] | WW [95] | |||
| "Silk Sonic Intro"[105] | 2021 | 14 | 48 | 34 | 176 | An Evening with Silk Sonic |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [19] | US R&B/HH [20] | CAN [94] | IRE [83] | NLD [84] | NZ Hot [103] | UK [86] | WW [95] | |||||||
| "Fly as Me" | 2021 | 81 | 23 | 93 | 51 | 75 | 9 | 49 | 92 |
| An Evening with Silk Sonic | |||
| "Put on a Smile" | 78 | 22 | — | — | — | 10 | — | 103 | ||||||
| "777" | —[D] | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | 132 | ||||||
| "Blast Off" | 73 | 20 | 95 | — | — | — | — | 74 | ||||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
| Organization | Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Music Awards | 2021 | Favorite Duo or Group – Pop | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [106] |
| Favorite Music Video | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Song – R&B | Won | ||||
| 2022 | Favorite R&B Album | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Nominated | [107] | |
| Favorite R&B Song | "Smokin out the Window" | Nominated | |||
| BET Awards | 2021 | Best Group | Silk Sonic | Won | [26] |
| Video of the Year | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| Viewer's Choice Award | Nominated | ||||
| 2022 | Best Group | Silk Sonic | Won | [53] | |
| Video of the Year | "Smokin out the Window" | Won[b] | |||
| Album of the Year | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Won | |||
| Billboard Music Awards | 2022 | Top Duo/Group | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [108] |
| Top R&B Artist | Nominated | ||||
| Top R&B Album | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Nominated | |||
| Top R&B Song | "Leave the Door Open" | Won | |||
| Brit Awards | 2022 | International Group of the Year | Silk Sonic | Won | [54] |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | Record of the Year | "Leave the Door Open" | Won | [55] |
| Song of the Year | Won | ||||
| Best R&B Performance | Won[c] | ||||
| Best R&B Song | Won | ||||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2022 | Song of the Year | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | [109] |
| Best Duo/Group of the Year | Silk Sonic | Won | |||
| R&B Album of the Year | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Won | |||
| R&B Song of the Year | "Leave the Door Open" | Won | |||
| R&B Artist of the Year | Silk Sonic | Nominated | |||
| Best Lyrics | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| Best Music Video | Nominated | ||||
| 2023 | Best Duo/Group of the Year | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [45] | |
| R&B Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| R&B Song of the Year | "Smokin out the Window" | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Residency | An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM | Nominated | |||
| MTV Europe Music Awards | 2021 | Best Group | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [110] |
| Best Collaboration | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| MTV Video Music Awards | 2021 | Group of the Year | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [111] |
| Song of the Year | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| Best R&B | Won | ||||
| Best Editing | Won | ||||
| 2022 | Group of the Year | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [112] | |
| NAACP Image Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Album | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Nominated | [113] |
| Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) | "Leave the Door Open" | Won | |||
| Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Soul/R&B Song | Nominated | ||||
| 2023 | Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) | "Love's Train" | Won | [59] | |
| Soul Train Music Awards | 2021 | Song of the Year | "Leave the Door Open" | Won | [114] |
| The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award | Won | ||||
| Video of the Year | Won | ||||
| 2022 | Album of the Year | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Nominated | [56] | |
| Video of the Year | "Smokin out the Window" | Won | |||
| Best Dance Performance | Nominated |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)Click on more and scroll to Smokin Out The Window.
"We didn't even know that it was going to turn into Silk Sonic" (time stamp - 45:50)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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| Tours and residencies | |
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