Feature
St. Beauty, an Atlanta based duo talks #NewBlackHistoryMusic
St. Beauty is an Atlanta based duo which comprises of Alex Belle and Isis. They are signed to Wondaland Records a groundbreaking record company spearheaded by a powerful visionary and artist Janelle Monáe. These inimitable musicians are contributing to a new black history in music by following a lineage of female artists who write, produce and play instruments. At first glance you could mistake them for being a little bit reticent until you are enticed by their alluring sound or have a chance to engage in conversation with them, a conversation I was lucky to have while they took a break from recording in studio.
Tell us how it was like growing up and what type of family unit did you have?
Alex Belle: It was really cool, I grew up with my mother, stepdad and brother. I’ve also lived with my father and my other sisters so I have a pretty full family; family is important and music is very important in my family, we are pretty blended.
Isis: Same for me. My family is really artistic. My mom sang. My dad sang, produced and wrote. My sister sang and my brother was a visual artist. I was around music my entire life. That’s why I am the way I am today. I grew up around it.
Didn’t you want to venture into something different since you grew up around all of that?
Alex Belle: No, I love music. I would search Myspace for new music and I’ve always been infatuated with music.
I hear you guys met at a vintage boutique. Did you get along instantly?
(Laughter)
Isis: I was there for a minute and Alex (Belle) started working there. We used to be like “hey what’s up” and she had to break the ice I guess. The thing that broke the ice was the showcase that they had and she needed someone to play guitar. She asked me if I knew anyone who plays guitar and I was like, “If you can sing it, I can probably learn how to play it.” From then on, we started playing as St. Beauty.
When did you ladies decide that you were starting a band, when was the “AHA!” moment?
Alex Belle: Well after we performed for the first time at the boutique we were working at, we decided that we should come together more, come up with ideas together and write together. We kept doing that and decided that we should become a band and perform together more. That’s what we did and that’s how we became St. Beauty.
Coming from a stable that is very black, how does your music contribute to the preservation of black history?
Isis: Well aside from the obvious, that we’re black (Laughs), we are very conscious of our blackness and that’s a default. The other side of it is creating a new norm, which is what I think Wondaland is about. They make sure that we show other sides that many people may have not seen or experienced before, and it’s not like we’re doing it on purpose, but it’s really who we are since the time we were growing up as well as who we’ve been in our communities or in our families. It’s sort of like being the black sheep and being a little different. So we’ve come together in a way that allows us to be free from what most people would be as far as being at a record label. We stay conscious about how we are perceived. Number one, we want to make sure that we are respected, to contribute to black history in such a way that we are going to be a norm so that when people look back in history they can use us as a reference.
Isis: There are not a lot of people like Alex and I. That is something that helped us; with Janelle being who she is and how she’s been able to be that for others who may want to come out without dressing a certain way or wearing their hair a certain way.
How’s Atlanta during Black History month, how is the vibe?
Alex: The Martin Luther King Center is here. He grew up here, and a lot of people visit here during black history month to reminisce on what happened back in the day. There’s also the civil rights museum where there’s so much history; there’s the freedom rider’s wall. Some people have gone there and can seen their parent’s pictures!
Isis: Atlanta has so much black history, we have Andrew Young and so many more Civil Rights Leaders who are from here, Atlanta is one of the many epicenters of our black history.
Would you say enough is being done to teach black and mixed race kids about their history?
Isis: Definitely not, but I think that young people are aware just by seeing everything that is happening on social media today. I’m sure everyone is aware but definitely not enough is being done.
Alex: I agree with that. There’s so many people that live in America and everyone thinks they are important, so when Black History Month happens people feel like it’s that time of the year where they hear the same repetitive stories and I feel like people want to learn more.
Isis: And there’s so much more too. I feel a lot can be done in homes too. It all starts at home, I can be taught at school about our history but if it’s not instilled at home it’s bound to just go through one ear and out the other.
What I’m also picking up is that there’s also a need for a new black history for people to look forward to. What sort of legacy would you like to leave behind with your music?
Isis: For being who we are, being great writers, being a group that people can always refer to for playing a pivotal role as far as two girls playing instruments, writing, producing, etc. That’s not the norm right now. Same way people can speak about the Supremes, Destiny’s Child, or Aretha Franklin because Aretha played piano. I feel like that is important for people to go back in time and reference us in the same breath.
Alex: We definitely want to be timeless.
Yeah, you are well on your way, I must say. Talking about being timeless and making music, what are you guys working on? Is there an Album or an LP on its way?
Isis: Both of those, an EP and an LP.
So there’s a lot of work going on?
Isis: Yes, a lot of work.
Is it too early to describe what kind of sound will come out these two offering?
Alex: Describing sound kind of diminishes how people truly feel when they hear the music, so you will have to hear it and define it yourself.
I guess that’s the point of art, it’s supposed to move you.
When should people start looking around the internet for traces of the album?
Alex: Very soon.
Are you guys looking to come down to South Africa?
Isis: When we are invited? (laughs)
If this was your final day on earth and you had one sentence to say to a random person, what would it be?
Alex: I was here. I lived. I loved. I was here.
Isis: I love you and make sure you know your strengths because people can take your energy or your power. Don’t allow that to happen.
Thank you guys for making time and I hope that you can take some of this energy back into studio and cook something nice for us.
Isis: Definitely.
Interview By: Lethabo Ngakane
Twitter: @Lambisking