Stephanie McKay
Encyclopedia
Stephanie McKay is a soul singer and songwriter
from the Bronx in New York, whose music encompasses styles include elements of classic rock, funk, pop and hip hop.
McKay's career has spanned over 20 years, during which time she has collaborated with artists including Mos Def
, Talib Kweli
, Tricky
, Carl Hancock Rux
and Amp Fiddler
. She has also released two solo albums and an EP, played lead guitar in Kelis
' band and toured the world with the Brooklyn Funk Essentials
.
. During her early years she was a member of school choirs and music groups at Truman High school, before joining The Alvin Ailey school. McKay then moved onto the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she graduated with a BFE in modern dance in 1993.
The depth of her music influences when growing up in New York are rooted in the classic soul singers of the sixties and inventiveness of popular soul bands from the seventies. She spoke of this in a recent interview she gave;
In many ways, McKay's music is the continuation of the great legacy of these artists for a new generation.
. Although never released, it was during this period that McKay began writing songs. She began to study voice privately with Don Lawrence and drums with Kenwood Dennard. A former band mate, Joi Cardwell from the "The Promise", called her to sub for a gig. The band was the critically acclaimed Brooklyn Funk Essentials
(BMG). This was the beginning of the foundation for her live performing career. She recorded two albums and completed 3 international tours with the band.
After working six years with The Brooklyn Funk Essentials, McKay went on to form her own band with Vincent Henry called Bako Babies. The album entitled 'Love Is The Reason' was released on Minor Music (Germany) in 1999.
an Obie Award
winning playwright
, poet
and novelist. It was while working for Carl Hancock Rux, she sang a demo of one of his songs. The demo was passed by Carl's manager to Geoff Barrow
of Portishead who was starting work on a new project. While on tour with Kelis
in England, Stephanie met Geoff at the recommendation of Carl's manager and they decided to complete an album.
The album was entitled "McKay" and included original compositions by Stephanie, along with producers Tim Saul and Geoff Barrow - the latter of the two is credited in the album's sleeve notes as "Fuzzface". The album also features additional instrumentation by other notable, Bristol-based musicians in Adrian Utley
and John Baggott
. The LP also contains the closing track "Echo", a Sweet Honey In The Rock
cover version, penned by the acclaimed social activist, Bernice Johnson Reagon
.
The album received critical acclaim. UK national newspaper The Guardian
commented that McKay's debut was "resurrecting the passion and pride of politically conscious and eternally lovelorn ladies of late-1960s, early 1970s soul, McKay shines bright," while dance bible MOJO described McKay as "extraordinarily eclectic" and her album was "a coherent artistic statement and worth investigating."
McKay went on to play the WOMAD, Bristol
and the Jazz Cafe in England
and her music received international acclaim and rotation on MTV
. The album "McKay" was released in Europe
on (Go Beat/Polydor/Universal). Word crossed the pond to America and Stephanie was soon signed by American company Astralwerks/EMI .
In an attempt to reintroduce McKay to the American market, US label Astralwerks released a five song EP
in September 2006 with two new songs from forthcoming album and two older songs from "McKay" album and a remix by DJ Spinna
of "Tell It Like It Is", as well as featuring on US funk musician Amp Fiddler
's album release Afro Strut.
, pop
, soul
.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
from the Bronx in New York, whose music encompasses styles include elements of classic rock, funk, pop and hip hop.
McKay's career has spanned over 20 years, during which time she has collaborated with artists including Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
, Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Carl Hancock Rux
Carl Hancock Rux
Carl Hancock Rux is an award winning writer and performer; former Head of the MFA Writing for Performance Program at the California Institute of the Arts and has taught or been in residence at University of California–San Diego, Stanford University, University of Massachusetts Amherst,...
and Amp Fiddler
Amp Fiddler
Joseph "Amp" Fiddler is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan, U.S.. His musical styles include funk, soul, dance and electronica music. He is probably best known for his contributions to the band Enchantment, and as part of George Clinton’s...
. She has also released two solo albums and an EP, played lead guitar in Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
' band and toured the world with the Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Brooklyn Funk Essentials is a music collective who mix jazz, funk, and hip hop, featuring musicians and poets from different cultures. The band was conceived in 1993 by producer Arthur Baker and bassist and musical director Lati Kronlund...
.
Early life
Stephanie McKay was born in the Bronx, an ethnically diverse district in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. During her early years she was a member of school choirs and music groups at Truman High school, before joining The Alvin Ailey school. McKay then moved onto the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she graduated with a BFE in modern dance in 1993.
The depth of her music influences when growing up in New York are rooted in the classic soul singers of the sixties and inventiveness of popular soul bands from the seventies. She spoke of this in a recent interview she gave;
"I have a brother who is eight years older than me, who was always playing 70's soul and funk music like Earth, Wind And Fire and the Ohio PlayersOhio PlayersThe Ohio Players were an American funk and R&B band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their double #1 hit songs "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster".- Biography :...
, while my mom was in the other room listening to Al GreenAl GreenAlbert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
and Barry WhiteBarry WhiteBarry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
. On my own though, I was a fan of the classic pop station WABC, where I first discovered artists like Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and Jim CroceJim CroceJames Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles...
".
In many ways, McKay's music is the continuation of the great legacy of these artists for a new generation.
Early music career
After a knee injury detoured her dance aspirations, McKay started to audition for singing jobs. One of those auditions was for producer Kashif who hired her on the spot for a new girl group called "The Promise". The group went on to be signed by Clive Davis at Arista RecordsArista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
. Although never released, it was during this period that McKay began writing songs. She began to study voice privately with Don Lawrence and drums with Kenwood Dennard. A former band mate, Joi Cardwell from the "The Promise", called her to sub for a gig. The band was the critically acclaimed Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Brooklyn Funk Essentials is a music collective who mix jazz, funk, and hip hop, featuring musicians and poets from different cultures. The band was conceived in 1993 by producer Arthur Baker and bassist and musical director Lati Kronlund...
(BMG). This was the beginning of the foundation for her live performing career. She recorded two albums and completed 3 international tours with the band.
After working six years with The Brooklyn Funk Essentials, McKay went on to form her own band with Vincent Henry called Bako Babies. The album entitled 'Love Is The Reason' was released on Minor Music (Germany) in 1999.
Solo career
While pursuing her professional music aspirations in New York, McKay continued to dance with several modern dance companies, Jane Comfort, Amy Pivar, Urban Bush woman, and sing her original music in New York City clubs. From her subsequent experience she began to gain more work as a session vocalist. She was hired to sing in the studio and onstage by various artists to complement their sound and live show. One of these artists was Carl Hancock RuxCarl Hancock Rux
Carl Hancock Rux is an award winning writer and performer; former Head of the MFA Writing for Performance Program at the California Institute of the Arts and has taught or been in residence at University of California–San Diego, Stanford University, University of Massachusetts Amherst,...
an Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
winning playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and novelist. It was while working for Carl Hancock Rux, she sang a demo of one of his songs. The demo was passed by Carl's manager to Geoff Barrow
Geoff Barrow
Geoffrey Paul Barrow is the producer, disc jockey, and instrumentalist for Portishead.Portishead—formed in 1991—was named after the small town near Bristol where Barrow grew up...
of Portishead who was starting work on a new project. While on tour with Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
in England, Stephanie met Geoff at the recommendation of Carl's manager and they decided to complete an album.
The album was entitled "McKay" and included original compositions by Stephanie, along with producers Tim Saul and Geoff Barrow - the latter of the two is credited in the album's sleeve notes as "Fuzzface". The album also features additional instrumentation by other notable, Bristol-based musicians in Adrian Utley
Adrian Utley
Adrian Francis Utley is an English musician and a member of the band Portishead.-Biography:Utley is self-taught on guitar, bass and keyboards, and played professionally from the age of 18 in working men's clubs, night clubs, holiday camps, and in cabaret, backing soul artists...
and John Baggott
Strange Sensation
The Strange Sensation is Robert Plant's backing band, formed during his nine year break from solo recording. After 1993's Fate of Nations, Plant teamed up with former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page to form Page and Plant...
. The LP also contains the closing track "Echo", a Sweet Honey In The Rock
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sweet Honey in the Rock is an all-woman, African-American a cappella ensemble. They are an American Grammy Award-winning troupe who express their history as women of color through song, while entertaining their audience. They have together worked from four women to the difficult five-part harmony...
cover version, penned by the acclaimed social activist, Bernice Johnson Reagon
Bernice Johnson Reagon
Bernice Johnson Reagon is a singer, composer, scholar, and social activist, who founded the a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock in 1973.-Early life and education:...
.
The album received critical acclaim. UK national newspaper The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
commented that McKay's debut was "resurrecting the passion and pride of politically conscious and eternally lovelorn ladies of late-1960s, early 1970s soul, McKay shines bright," while dance bible MOJO described McKay as "extraordinarily eclectic" and her album was "a coherent artistic statement and worth investigating."
McKay went on to play the WOMAD, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and the Jazz Cafe in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and her music received international acclaim and rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The album "McKay" was released in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on (Go Beat/Polydor/Universal). Word crossed the pond to America and Stephanie was soon signed by American company Astralwerks/EMI .
In an attempt to reintroduce McKay to the American market, US label Astralwerks released a five song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in September 2006 with two new songs from forthcoming album and two older songs from "McKay" album and a remix by DJ Spinna
DJ Spinna
DJ Spinna is an American hip hop music artist and producer, who, according to Allmusic.com, has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."-Biography:...
of "Tell It Like It Is", as well as featuring on US funk musician Amp Fiddler
Amp Fiddler
Joseph "Amp" Fiddler is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan, U.S.. His musical styles include funk, soul, dance and electronica music. He is probably best known for his contributions to the band Enchantment, and as part of George Clinton’s...
's album release Afro Strut.
Music style
McKay's musical style has been described as "Motown meets midnight Marauder". Her songs fuse powerful urban poetics with sonic sound waves that includes elements of hip-hop, rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
.