If you missed the Grammys, there is one stand-out performance that you must make sure to catch. With its groovy execution, Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak came out in matching burnt orange suits to perform a show-stopping arrangement of their first single from their new band Silk Sonic titled “Leave the Door Open.”
Introducing Silk Sonic
The duo has the world beyond ecstatic for what is to come as together the two vocalists are as smooth as, well…silk. Their first single topped the charts almost immediately after its release on March 5th and has held a steady spot there ever since.
Some might think that this pairing sprouted out of nowhere, but there’s much more to the formation of the soon-to-be big-time duet. In fact, the two artists toured together back in 2017 on Mars’ 24k Magic tour. Paak opened for Mars and the two got very close. That tour was when the two first attempted creating music together. They told Zane Lowe in an Apple interview that was the year they began working on “Leave the Door Open.”
In that same interview with Zane Lowe, the pair talked further about their band’s creation. Named by the infamous Bootsy Collins, the band had gone through much trial and error before landing on Silk Sonic. After juggling with other options like The Conquistadors or Atlantic Stars, they immediately knew Collins’ suggestion was the perfect name for them.
Silk Sonic is Beyond a Mere Collaboration
The two artists discussed that once they began working in the studio together, their music was beyond simple collaboration. Paak explained the distanced experience collaborations can be between artists— some never requiring the artists to ever meet. However, Mars and he were a different story— and clearly great enough to produce an entire album.
The interview went into detail about Paak’s impeccable skills on the drums. They shared an interesting fact that “Leave the Door Open” was actually built around the drums.
Pair of Perfectionists
Zane mentioned a certain loneliness that most solo artists must experience. As both Mars and Paak were solo artists, they agreed that their partnership felt “natural” and “organic.” Their comfort with one another ultimately led to creating an album together.
However, they mentioned that it was no easy feat. Though the two sound heavenly together, both are known to be perfectionists. Paak mentioned that he hadn’t found an artist he had worked with who had challenged him the way that Mars had in a long time. “Sometimes you gotta go through hell to get to heaven,” said Paak, “last dude that pushed me like that was Drake.”
Future of Silk Sonic
Their album “An Evening with Silk Sonic” doesn’t have a set release date. However, both artists shared on their Instagram accounts that it has been recorded. The two told Zane they were looking to make a “setlist of doom” using conceptual creation and their personal love for funk.
“An Evening with Silk Sonic” will be Mars’ first album release since 2016, and 2019 for Paak. In addition, Bootsy Collins will be featured on the album as a “special guest host.”
Listeners everywhere are eager to hear what the two stars have cooked up. Hopefully, the album will explore ranging genres. The prospect of their album teases what may be the best funk record of this generation.
featured image from: IG @brunomars
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