Silk Sonic’s Secret Sauce
Lots of people are talking about Silk Sonic, the instantaneously successful collaboration of Grammy-winning musicians Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo shared some quality time creating what they coined a fantasy setlist, hosted by legendary bassist/singer/songwriter Bootsy Collins. Their nine-track album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, was released on November 12, 2021.
The album meanders through the sounds of the 1970’s, resting comfortably on the foundations of disco, funk, and R&B. Listeners are enveloped by rich melodies that transport them, if only emotionally, back some five decades.
Strong praise emerged from all over the globe upon the release of An Evening with Silk Sonic, and for good reason: the album’s got something special.
Silk Sonic slid world-class strings into their arrangements.
Drums also play a key role in the vibe of the album, but the strings in this collection truly bring the tracks to life. And the strings, given the decade the artists wished to emulate, were not only welcome but necessary to achieve the desired sound.
The most cozily reminiscent and easily identifiable element of 70’s music, especially disco, is the strings. Stringed instruments add both smoothness and brightness, which keep tracks fluid and bodies in motion.
Thanks to conductor/arranger Larry Gold, boasting a CV brimming with pop and R&B heavyweights including Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, The Roots, Kanye West, Michael Jackson, and Rihanna, and a bit of help from Steve Tirpak (John Legend, Aretha Franklin, Lana Del Rey), current and soon-to-be Silk Sonic chart-toppers can embrace and retain truly authentic ’70’s vibes.
Gold, a classically trained cellist and member of the band MFSB —the group credited with the birth of Philadelphia soul— appears to be the proper ‘best fit’ for An Evening with Silk Sonic.
Violins, violas, and cello were used in more than half of the album’s tracks.
When listeners find themselves wondering ‘What is it about this song,’ it just might be the arrangement.
Though there’s a lot of special to this album, most notably its euphonious lyrics and infectious melodies, the strings, which highlight the most authentic ‘70’s sounds, are the real winner.
An Evening with Silk Sonic is available on Apple Music and all streaming platforms. Smokin Out The Window, released on November 5, 2021, has debuted this week at Number Eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
