Sy Smith is an underground soul recording artist who helped to pioneer and cultivate the nu-soul scene in LA more than 10 years ago.
Press PLAY. (audio replay available through March 1, 2022)
Moving to Charlotte, NC has allowed me to meet some amazing people and actually get to talk to them as people, not as a fan. It’s been about 2 years to the day since I met Sy. I worked at Middle C Jazz and she did an amazing show. I was able to pick her brain a bit, as well as see her interact with others who enjoy listening to feel good music. As I’ve told you all before, I love live instrumentation and it compliments her voice so well. Who do you know that can hit those Minnie Ripperton notes? And no, not the ones you’re trying to hit in the shower.
SIDE NOTE: Make sure you check out Sy’s tour schedule below!
“Some of the most progressive artists of this genre today came directly from Smith’s band line-ups (including Thundercat & Kamasi Washington). Her catalog of 5 albums includes the self-written/self-produced “Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete.” All have been heralded by critics for her lyrical/vocal/musical dexterity; her vocal range moving from a gritty alto all the way to a stratospheric soprano whistle register.
Her career began with her providing supporting vocals for Whitney Houston, Sheila E., Meshell Ndegeocello, Chaka Khan, Usher, Macy Gray, The Foreign Exchange and The Rickey Minor Band. She’s currently a featured guest with trumpeter Chris Botti (her noted performances include “The Look Of Love” on his Grammy-nominated DVD “Live In Boston” and “The Very Thought Of You” on his 2018 PBS special “Great Performances”).
Sy has won 6 LA Black Music Awards in 2019/2020. She’s also earned an Emmy nomination for her songwriting (Best Music/Lyrics, 2001), 2 NAACP Theater Award nominations; she contributed songwriting and/or vocal arranging to 2020 Grammy-nominated albums by both John Legend (“A Legendary Christmas”) and Chris Dave and The Drumhedz. As a voice-over artist, she’s known among gamers for her role as Aisha in “Saint’s Row” (for which she also wrote/produced songs on the popular soundtrack). Sy is a graduate of Howard University where she earned a B.S. in psychology magna cum laude.
Will you be at Middle C Jazz as we enter the Syberspace? Let me know in the comments below if I’ll see you there! If you can’t be there, a livestream option is available.
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Always with a Brush,
NiSi