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. With the two maintaining a strong relationship during Mars's24K 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 USBillboard 200 and saw widespread acclaim from music critics.
An Evening with Silk Sonic spawned the singles, "Leave the Door Open", which peaked atop the USBillboard 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 theBillboardAdult 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 consecutiveBET Award for Best Group in 2021 and 2022. They also wonInternational Group of the Year at theBrit Awards. "Leave the Door Open" received various nominations, notably, it won fourGrammy Awards, includingRecord of the Year andSong of the Year. "Smokin out the Window" was awarded Video of the Year at theBET Awards 2022 andSoul Train Music Awards. "Love's Train" wonOutstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) at theNAACP Image Awards.An Evening with Silk Sonic received several nominations and won R&B Album of the Year at theiHeartRadio Music Awards andAlbum of the Year at the BET Awards. Silk Sonic embarked on aconcert residency,An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM (2022), to promote the album.
Bruno Mars andAnderson .Paak met in 2017 while touring together on the European leg of Mars's24K Magic World Tour (2017–2018) and quickly became friends.[1] The two were seen atAbbey Road Studios in London withNile Rodgers and Guy Lawrence ofDisclosure, forChic's albumIt's About Time (2018).[2][3][4] They co-wrote .Paak's "Anywhere" featuringSnoop Dogg andThe Last Artful, Dodgr, which appeared on the former's albumOxnard (2018). Two months prior toAn Evening with Silk Sonic release, "Fire In The Sky", written by the duo was released on theShang-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 theCOVID-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 producerBrody Brown and the Canadian recording engineerCharles Moniz, to recordAn Evening with Silk Sonic.[6][9]
Mars found, American record producer and songwriter,D'Mile on Instagram and heard his composition onLucky Daye's debut studio album,Painted (2019). Then, he asked American singer-songwriterJames 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 titledAn Evening with Silk Sonic, featuring American musicianBootsy 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 byAftermath Entertainment andAtlantic Records.[16] "Silk Sonic Intro" was also issued on the same day, featuring the album's special guestBootsy Collins.[17] The debut single peaked atop the USBillboard 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 the63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021, adopting a 70s aesthetic accompanied only by two backup singers.[21][22] They also performed a tribute toLittle Richard consisting of "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly".[23] The debut single was performed again at the2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards, with a similar aesthetic.[24]
After performing "Leave the Door Open" at theBET 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" onTwitter, 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 theBillboard Hot 100, number four on theHot 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 USBillboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, respectively.[18][19] It also peaked at number four on the New Zealand.[20]
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, afterMalibu.[35][36] It debuted at number two on theBillboard 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 theAmerican Music Awards of 2021.[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, they were announced to also make an appearance inFortnite.[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 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]
On February 14, 2022, "Love's Train" was released as a commemorative song forValentine's Day.[47][48] The song is a cover ofCon 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 exclusivevinyl recording.[49][50] The duo performed their version of "Love's Train" at the2022Billboard Music Awards.[51] "After Last Night" was released on July 5, 2022, as the fifth single fromAn Evening with Silk Sonic (2021).[52] Its charting was influenced by the release of its parent album. It topped theBillboardAdult 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 consecutiveBET Award for Best Group in 2021 and 2022.[26][53] In 2022, the duo wonInternational Group of the Year at theBrit Awards.[54] "Leave the Door Open" wonRecord of the Year andSong of the Year at the64th Grammy Awards.[55] "Smokin out the Window" was awarded Video of the Year at theBET Awards andSoul 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" wonOutstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) at theNAACP 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 the 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, saying that he works "backward from the guitar or piano", whereas .Paak's "music is percussion-driven, derived from old-schoolMotown 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 byAretha Franklin,James Brown,Miles Davis,Stevie Wonder, andPrince. 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 theCOVID-19 pandemic had not occurred, since they would have otherwise been playing shows at that time.[6]
Silk Sonic's musical style has been described as rooted inR&B,soul,funk,hip hop and pop music.[62][63][64] Its sound has also been described asdisco-inspired.[65] OfAn Evening with Silk Sonic's sound,The Ringer wrote, "though 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."[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 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. 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]
Silk Sonic is known for their retro showmanship, which is acclaimed by tour critics and reviewers.[68][69][70] Melinda Sheckells fromBillboard 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 fromLas 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 ofVibe 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]
The Hooligans and touring members[a]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [37] | US R&B/HH [38] | AUS [77] | CAN [78] | DEN [79] | IRE [80] | NLD [81] | NZ [20] | SWI [82] | UK [83] | ||||
| An Evening with Silk Sonic | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| ||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [18] | US R&B/HH [19] | AUS [77] | CAN [91] | IRE [80] | NLD [81] | NZ [20] | SWI [82] | UK [83] | WW [92] | |||||
| "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. [97] | US R&B/HH [19] | NZ Hot [100] | WW [92] | |||
| "Silk Sonic Intro"[101] | 2021 | 14 | 48 | 34 | 176 | An Evening with Silk Sonic |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [18] | US R&B/HH [19] | CAN [91] | IRE [80] | NLD [81] | NZ Hot [99] | UK [83] | WW [92] | |||||||
| "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 | [102] |
| Favorite Music Video | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Song – R&B | Won | ||||
| 2022 | Favorite R&B Album | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Nominated | [103] | |
| 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 | [104] |
| 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 | [105] |
| 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 | [106] |
| Best Collaboration | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| MTV Video Music Awards | 2021 | Group of the Year | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [107] |
| Song of the Year | "Leave the Door Open" | Nominated | |||
| Best R&B | Won | ||||
| Best Editing | Won | ||||
| 2022 | Group of the Year | Silk Sonic | Nominated | [108] | |
| NAACP Image Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Album | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Nominated | [109] |
| 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 | [110] |
| 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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| International | |
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| Artists | |
| Other | |
