#Nya Gazelle Brown

[thebowerypresents]

Say She She Get Funky at Sold-Out Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday Night

Say She She – Music Hall of Williamsburg – June 8, 2024

Some things never go out of style, like blue jeans, baseball or funky good times. Say She She brought a whole lot of the latter to Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday night, mixing a timeless funk with a modern-day sensibility — and the good times were rolling. The set opened with “Reeling,” the three vocalists — Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown — delivering soulful soprano harmonies while the band thumped a groove behind them, as if Sharon Jones had been reincarnated as three opera singers, former Dap-King Binky Griptite leading on guitar to complete the scene.

Brown exuberantly announced, “We came to make you dance” after the opening tune and it was truth in advertising. The packed house grooved to tunes like “C'est Si Bon,” with its heavy bass disco, and “Prism,” which featured the ladies doing a hip shimmy, one of many choreographed moves that helped get the audience boogying. The straight disco-funk sound evolved a bit as the set went on, a darker feel on “Echo in the Chamber,” some serious rock on “Blow My Mind,” which ended with a spicy solo from Griptite, and a modern synth groove on “Questions.”

A take on the Talking Heads’ “Slippery People” was a perfect fit, giving the band extra room to move and ending in a nifty three-woman scat jam. The trio left the stage to the let the band have their deserved spotlight and then returned in new sparkle-heavy outfits and took back the spotlight, saving some of the best vocals for late-set tunes like “Astral Plane” and the serious clavinet-funk of “Forget Me Not.” Ethereal harmonies, a groove-ready band and a packed-house party in Brooklyn, some things will never go out of style. —A. Stein | @Neddyo

Photos courtesy of Ken Grand-Pierre | www.kenamiphoto.com

[burlveneer-music]

Say She She - Silver - this is a pleasant surprise, a nice 80s vibe that avoids that decade's biggest production sins

Say She She, the soulful female-led trio, stand rock solid on their discodelic duty with their boundary breaking sophomore album Silver. The three strong voices of Piya Malik (El Michels Affair staple feature, and former backing singer for Chicano Batman), Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown front the band. Following the NYC siren song, the trio was pulled from their respective cities — Piya from London, Nya from DC, and Sabrina from NYC — to Manhattan’s downtown dance floors, through the Lower East Side floorboards, and up to the rooftops of Harlem, where their friendship was formed on one momentous, kismet eve. Silver was entirely written and recorded live to tape at Killion Sound studio in North Hollywood earlier this year and produced by Sergio Rios (of Orgone). While these analog recording techniques help root Say She She’s sound in a bedrock of tonal warmth that only tape can achieve, it is also their process of cutting the track in the moment and capturing the magic of communal creativity that has seen their sound described as “a glorious overload of joyful elation and spiritual elevation” (MOJO) and “infused with the wonky post-disco spirit of early '80s NYC” (The Guardian). Musical inspirations include Rotary Connection, Asha Puthli, Liquid Liquid, Grace Jones and Tom Tom Club. Ultimately, Silver oozes with quirk and adventure and embraces the multifaceted nature of what it means to be a modern femme. Say She She fully embrace their role as beauticians, actively reminding people of the inherent beauty in the world. They skillfully employ double entendres and humor to encourage open dialogue and fearlessly address important matters that demand attention. 

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Video: Say She She Share Gorgeous Visual for Slinky and Shimmering "Astral Plane"

New Video: Say She She Share Gorgeous Visual for Slinky and Shimmering "Astral Plane" @ColemineRecords @shorefire @SaySheShe @orgonemusic

Acclaimed NYC-based disco outfit and JOVM mainstays Say She She — Piya Malik, Sabrina Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown — released their critically applauded, eight-song, Sergio Rios-produced full-length debut Prism through Karma Chief Records last year.  Prism saw the trio quickly establishing a sound that nodded heavily at 70s girl groups — multi-part female harmonies paired paired with funky,…

[riylcast]

Episode 566: Say She She

Prism is a breath of fresh air in troubled times. The Brooklyn-based seven piece delivers sunshine psychedelic soul grooves transported from a different time. 

At the group’s core is the three-part harmony of Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown. 

Their ties to groups like Chicano Batman and the Dap-Kings betray the band’s rich and dreamy sound. 

The trio joined us to discuss their New York City origin story and the struggles of being a musician in the post-pandemic landscape.

[aweebwrites]

Monsoon

Here you go @thelucariosfish!

_________

In the tall, tan grass of the dry savanna laid a seemingly sunbathing Cheetah, camouflaged almost completely thanks to the fur that covered most of his body. The darker spots and even the messy chestnut hair the big cat had didn't hinder his ability to remain camouflaged at all. In fact, these aided him to fit into the earth tones of the dry savanna. While the sun felt good soaking into the demi human's skin, he had his eyes focused on the small group of gazelles grazing in the dry grass nearby. They seemed to have arrived earlier than expected for the rainy season. Jay could hardly wait himself. It's been hard finding a water hole to keep hydrated under the intense heat of the sun, especially with the lions and stronger animals than he hogging it all for themselves. Jay watched as a gazelle strayed from the group, his tail flicking eagerly as he wanted for the right time to strike.

Given that he was on his own and finding territory was hard, worse to find a watering hole, he decided to do the most foolish thing any cheetah, demi-human or not could do… He decided to try and talk to a lion. Bigger, fiercer, angrier cats than he. Even a female could take him down easily if they somehow got their paws on him. But what choice did he have when his adoptive parents had passed from old age? The old hyenas had taught him as much as they could about life as a cheetah through their experiences with them. He wasn't used to being in the norm anyway. He had to do what he can to survive. Of course he steered clear of the baser lions and headed for a small group of demi-human lions. In fact, it was so small of a group that was only two persons. A lion and a lioness. That didn't mean that the sole lion with a dark mane, borderline red didn't pounce on him immediately, snarling at him as he held him down with his large paws.

The gazelle strayed farther from the herd and closer to him. He licked his lips as he tightened his crouch, ready to pounce. The gazelle wandered even farther from the herd and even closer to the waiting predator. Finally, Jay saw his opening and shot out, startling the gazelle into a run as the others rushed away for safety. Jay was on its tail, keeping up no problem as he worked on getting closer. He kept up with each sudden turn to try and throw him off, paws beating roughly against the dry plains as he kept going. He was starting to get tired through, felt it in his muscles with each fast step of his paws. The gazelle started to gain distance. Jay smirked as he chased it still. He may be getting tired but that gazelle wasn't about to get away. He darted left before the gazelle could, keep it right in the right path. They were approaching even more tall grass.

Suddenly, the lion and lioness jumped out of the grass roaring at the gazelle and startling it, leaving it to skid as it tried to change direction. That was all the opening Jay needed. He pounced at the gazelle from behind, sinking his claws into its hide and biting into its back. Before the gazelle could think about trying to escape, it had the thick fangs of the lion in its neck, the lioness helping Jay hold it down. Suddenly, the lion jerks back, snapping the gazelle's neck and securing their meal. Both Jay and the lioness held onto the gazelle as the life left it then only relaxed a bit once it was still.

"For a second there, I thought you were losing your game." Kai says then licked the blood away from his thick fangs.

"So you think." Jay huffed as he pulled back, licking the claws.

"We don't have time to chat. The hyenas will be here any second now." Nya says with annoying, the lioness sniffling along the animal's back then picking a spot to sink her fangs into.

Both lion and cheetah shared a look before joining her, enjoying their catch. By the time the hyenas do arrive, they've eaten almost everything already, leaving nothing back but scraps and an occasional bite of meat. They walked away from the more primitive versions of the hyenas, letting them fight over their leftovers as they headed towards their shared den about a mile back. It was a shallow cave located in the side of a small, rocky hill and was their shared home for the past three months. Jay recalled fondly when he came here, directly to their home to discuss. 

_

The angry lion with burning brown eyes looked down at the cheetah with a snarl, thick fangs on display as his paws pressed heavily into the cheetah's shoulders. Everything in Jay screamed to run but to run was certain death in the near future. So he pushed past instincts and spoke.

'H-hey! No need for the hostility! I'm friendly! I promise!' Jay says and the lion squinted down at him, his growls only quietening slightly.

'What do you want?' The lioness' voice was low, clipped and cold as she walked over on her hind legs, her fur slightly darker than the average lion, almost matching the reddish brown of the lion's mane.

'Uh. Could you uh, let up a bit first?' Jay asked the lion nervously and his snarl was a clear no.

'Talk or you'll become lunch.' The lioness says impatiently and Jay winced once the lion's grip on his shoulders tightened.

'Ok! Ok!' Jay was quick to surrender then swallowed. 'I want to join your pride.' He managed to say as seriously as he could.

Both lions paused, sharing a look to see if they heard the same thing- the large lion over him made his first humane sound: he laughed. Loud and hard. Jay tried not to let himself get angry but the parts of his spotted face not covered by fur was getting red with his irritation.

'Are you done?' Jay asked drily after a while and the lioness started to laugh too, realising that he was serious.

This only rubbed Jay even more raw. Was he really that laughable as a cheetah for them to completely turn his offer down like this? He had always been different from the few baser and demi cheetahs he's come across before but he hadn't thought the difference would be so much for these two to all out laugh at his face… If that's the case then… He can kiss the promise he made to his adoptive parents about staying alive goodbye.

'You can't be serious.' The lion finally spoke around a laugh and Jay glared stubbornly at the larger male.

'So what if I am?' He asked, tilting his chin up stubbornly.

'Oh he really is serious.' The lioness says with light amusement in her voice.

'Last time I checked, you were a cheetah.' The lion pointed out.

'Yeah? So what of it?' Jay asked and the lion blinked at him then leveled him with an unimpressed look.

'What do you even mean. You're a cheetah. We're lions. Only lions can join prides and you aren't one. Either way, we're fine on our own.' The lion says and Jay frowned.

'But isn't hunting with just two of you harder? I could help! I'm super fast!' Jay prepositioned and the lions shared a look again.

'And what makes you think you have what it takes to hunt with us? If you need to seek unhelpful or protection or whatever, what good are you to us? You'll only drag us down. And even so, we don't need anyone else in our pride and that's that.' The lion says then let up the cheetah. 'Now scram before I change my mind.' The lion says with an aggravated growl.

Jay got to all fours, thinking quickly. He can't let this opportunity pass him. He has to convince them somehow.

'I'll prove I can be useful-'

'Look. We know the only reason you're here is because you want something from us. Not that you want to join us.' The lioness says, crossing her arms as she flicked her tail back and forth. 'What is it? Territory? Prey? Water? Pro- oh.' She stopped once she spotted the visible tense in Jay's body language once she mentioned water.

'So it's water, huh? Of course.' The lioness chuckled. 'This deep into the dry season, a waterhole with water still is a blessing for any creature.' She says then huffed.

'I'm surprised you didn't just bypass us completely and drank your fill. What? Want to settle down? Too bad. We aren't too keen on sharing out territory.' The lion went from amused to threatening.

Jay's situation was going south quickly. He had to think, and fast. He looked around quickly then looked back at them both then paused, looking at their fur.

'But you do need help hunting.' Jay insisted, regaining his courage, keeping his grin off his face when they looked struck. 'Just let me try for a while. I'm not intrusive! You won't see me around at all outside of helping you guys hunt and defending the territory. I promise!' He pleaded and both lion and lioness paused, sharing a look.

The lion gave him a long, hard look before stepping aside and have a hushed conversation with the lioness. Jay took the chance to rub at his shoulders carefully with his paws that were roughened from the harsh ground of the savanna. He was nervous. Their answer could mean life or death for him… He tensed once they turned back to him then swallowed on their approach. The lion lifted his paw and Jay flinched- but then blinked once the lion extended a paw for him to take.

'We'll see what use you have to us. But if we decide to send you away, you better leave without a fight.' The lion says aggressively.

Jay couldn't help but beam, taking the large paw and allowed him to help him to his hind legs.

'Alright! I will!' The cheetah says excitedly, flicking his tail back and forth.

'Your trial starts now.' The lioness says, gesturing to the outside and Jay nodded, already full of energy and food.

He could get them a gazelle or a zebra no problem!

'Oh. And by the way, I'm Kai.' The lion says and Jay blinked up at his cocky fanged grin, finding himself taking in his whiskered face, his intelligent eyes, his-

'And I'm Nya.' The lioness says, crossing her strong arms over her chest.

Jay looked between both powerful lion demi-humans then grinned.

'I'm Jay!'

_

That was where their partnership began. It wasn't easy for Jay. They worked him to the bone but he wasn't willing to give up. It took almost a month before he was allowed to eat with them and even more before he could share their den. They've gotten really close over the entire time period however. They groomed each other and worked together as their own strange pride. They've got a lot of strange looks from other demi-humans while the baser versions of their kind chalked it up to odd demi-human behaviour. But they worked. They fit. They become family. And Jay? Well… He long felt right at home.

All three cats looked up once thunder sounded, seeing dark clouds forming overhead.

"Well well. The monsoon is here. Finally." Jay says as they walked together, a smirk on his face.

"Monsoon?..." Kai asked confused, tilting his head to the side.

"It's a human term. It's a fancier way of saying the rainy season." Jay explained.

"You sure do know a lot about the human language." Nya says, glancing across at him as they continued their way home.

It was almost suspicious but Jay had explained that his adoptive parents were hyenas that had been helped by humans before. The human language was taught to all demi-humans by their parents and their parents before them. While what they knew may be a bit outdated, it allowed demi-humans to communicate more effectively and to understand more clearly the intentions of humans. Even though they understood and spoke the human language, it was a well kept secret from the humans that they did know it. It was an advantage no demi-human was willing to let go. All the humans knew was that they could learn it if necessary. They tend to do that with more domesticated demi-humans after all.

"I only know so much. I don't like humans very much though. It's hard to tell their intentions. They twist their words and most of them hunt us." Jay says with a frown.

"Yeah…" Both Kai and Nya says quietly, leaving Jay to frown.

Did he accidentally say something bad? Before he could even think to ask, a drip of water fell on his nose. He looked up then pressed his ears flat against his head once the drop turned to drizzle.

"Oh no!" Kai yelled then took off running.

"Huh? Hey wait!" Jay yelled, running after him, keeping up with the larger lion with ease.

They made it to the cave in the nick of time, rain pouring down seconds later as thunder rolled.

"You're really particular about water, aren't you?" Jay says, amused and Kai blinked at him mid lick of his paw. "Meaning, you don't like being covered in water." He clarified.

"Water isn't my thing. It's Nya's." Kai says as he turned around and looked out of the shallow cave.

Jay looked out too then blinked to see Nya standing there on her hind legs, taking in the rain, letting it wash over her, a smile on her face. She looked really happy… Kai laid down on his stomach then began licking his rough tongue against his paw. Jay joined him, laying beside the larger lion and licking at his mane. Sure, that meant he was guaranteed to get a hairball later but he knew how much Kai was proud of his mane. He wanted to help as much as he could. Anyway, it was a really unique and attractive mane… All spiky and standing up rather than down. Things were quiet for a while, even after Jay had finished helping Kai groom himself. They watched as Nya flopped over on her back, not caring that she was getting muddy, laughing to herself as she enjoyed the heavy downpour. Jay found himself smiling.

She really did look happy.

"Hey Jay…" The cheetah looked across at the lion as he watched his sister still.

Jay had thought for a while that they were a more intimate pair and received the yelling of a lifetime.

"Yeah, what's up?" Jay asked, tail flicking back and forth curiously.

"... Now that the rains are back… You'll stay here with us still… Right?... You won't… Abandon us too… Right?" Kai asked him softly, a look of pain crossing his face.

"Too?" Jay whispered to himself, wondering who had left them before.

The cheetah's breath caught however, remembering that the only reason he came to them was for their watering hole. Did they think after all this time he spent with them, knowing them, becoming one of them, apart of their family that… That he would up and leave that behind? No way.

"Of course not. It could rain forever and I'd stay right here with you guys. You guys are family, you know?" Jay says with a fond smile, looking out as Nya squirmed around on her back, paws up in the air.

Kai looked across at Jay, at his eyes that flashed with the lightning. They were as beautiful as they were deadly. A smile tugged at Kai's lips. Family huh. Jay blinked, his eyes widening as his cheeks reddened when Kai's tail caught his flickering one, coiling around it. He looked at Kai with those wide eyes and the lion only gave him a soft smirk before shifting closer, pressing his body right up against the cheetah. Kai nuzzled the smaller cat then licked at his cheek before settling, leaving Jay to lay there tensely, his cheeks red and his heart beating a mile a minute. What was this… He… Jay relaxed himself as he smiled softly, his heart warming as he rested against the warm mass of Kai. He was always so warm, like the sun…

Jay took a moment to wonder if the reason he was never this close with him was because he was afraid he'd leave. He didn't think too much into it, choosing to nuzzle against the warm fur of his mane instead, a purr leaving him as he closed his eyes. Kai smiled then closed his eyes too, taking in the sound of rain and the feeling of Jay next to him. Somewhere along the line, the odd cheetah got under his defences, under his skin and made himself home. From his odd jokes, to his energy filled nature, to his gorgeous features and more. But he was so hesitant to get as close as he had wanted to. Not when the dry season was coming to an end. Not when the sole reason for Jay coming into their lives would leave. But now… Knowing he wouldn't leave them… Leave him… He burrows his nose into the curly brown hair of the cheetah, taking in his scent with a content purr of his own.

This monsoon felt like a little taste of heaven.

______________

(Not the fic I had in mind to post but a fic nonetheless! I really need to get back into the one-shot scene but bet your bottom dollar I ain't done with this fic. A new series? Very likely. Highly doubt it'll have regular updates right now but in a month or so. Thanks for reading!)

[nwdsc]

(▶︎ Prism | Say She Sheから)

Prism by Say She She

The highly anticipated debut LP from Say She She (named as a silent nod to Nile Rodgers, C’est chi-chi!: It's Chic!), the all female discodelic soul band, will transport you with their dreamy harmonies, catchy hooks and up tempo grooves! The ladies of Say She She deliver a mesmerizing vocal performance, weaving their voices together in an elegant, haunting style that incorporates earworm melodies, lush harmonies, playful adlibs, and climactic hindi riffs accented with operatic cries that will reel you in and lift you into their otherworldly ether. The band's sound is a hat tip to late 70’s girl groups with the three strong female lead voices of Piya Malik (El Michels Affair staple feature, and former backing singer for Chicano Batman), Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown at the epicenter of a roaring roster of musicians including former members of the Dap-Kings, The Extraordinaires, the house band at Ronnie Scotts and members of underground cult-funk band Orgone. Pulling sounds from every corner of their record collections, Say She She is a multi- dimensional, multicultural, multi-instrumental, collaborative melting pot. Think Donna Summer meets The Rotary Connection with a sprinkling of Asha Puthli backed by members of the Meters. During the pandemic, the band found themselves making their debut LP- polishing off songs made on old tape machines in the basement studios of friends, and this September will see their much-awaited debut album, to be released via Karma Chief / Colemine Records. The largely self-produced debut album ‘Prism’ features contributions from Dap Kings Joey Crispiano & Victor Axelrod, Max Shrager (The Shacks), Bardo Martinez (Chicano Batman), Nikhil Yearwadekar (former Antibalas), Andy Bauer (Twin Shadow), and Matty McDermot (NYPMH), and is already one of the most anticipated records of the year. ���レジット2022年10月7日リリース

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: JOVM Mainstays Say She She Share Slinky and Shimmering "Astral Plane"

New Audio: JOVM Mainstays Say She She Share Slinky and Shimmering "Astral Plane" @ColemineRecords @shorefire @SaySheShe @orgonemusic

Acclaimed NYC-based disco outfit and JOVM mainstays Say She She — Piya Malik, Sabrina Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown — released their critically applauded, eight-song, Sergio Rios-produced full-length debut Prism through Karma Chief Records last year. Prism saw the trio quickly establishing a sound that nodded heavily at 70s girl groups — multi-part female harmonies paired paired with funky,…

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Video: JOVM Mainstays Say She She Share Hazy and Dramatic Visual for "Trouble"

New Video: JOVM Mainstays Say She She Share Hazy and Dramatic Visual for "Trouble" @ColemineRecords @shorefire @SaySheShe

Deriving their name as a sort of tongue-in-cheek nod to the legendary Nile Rodgers — “C’est chi-chi! It’s Chic!” — NYC-based funk and disco act Say She She features three accomplished, strong female lead vocalists: founding members Piya Malik, who has spent time in El Michels Affair, 79.5 and Chicano Batman; and Sabrina Cunningham; along with Nya Gazelle Brown, a former member of 79.5.  The…