The Stylistics celebrate five decades of success on tour across Brazil: “becomes new music”

This Friday (27), the The Stylistics takes the stage Vivo Riocompleting a six-date tour of the American group in Brazil. It’s a rare occasion to see live the still active legacy of more than 55 years of a successful career, with enthusiasm that perseveres and which should result in a new studio album – the first in 17 years – in the coming months.

“It’s about love”, he defines Herb Murrellone of the original members of the group, alongside Airrion Loveand of Jason Sharpwho joined the team in 2011. “And the love spread to the world for us through songs like ‘You Are Everything’, ‘Betcha By Golly, Wow’, ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’.”

During their lively visit to Brazil, which also included shows in Brasília, Goiânia, Santos, Curitiba and São Paulo, the trio performed hits such as “I’m Stone In Love With You” and “You Are Everything”spilling the good broth of Philadelphia soul from the 1960s and 1970s. Between charisma and choreography, they made the stage a mirror of a trajectory that goes back to the cultural cauldron that persevered amid the musical ebullience of recent decades – and which reaches 2024 with an impressive 1.5 million monthly listeners for the group, on Spotify alone.

“This happens because of the young people who are on these music platforms, who, through them, become new music, because they have never heard it before, many of them are listening to us for the first time.”

In the passage, the Rolling Stone Brazil spoke with Murrell and Love about the group’s legacy, the Philadelphia soul scene and the group’s next steps, which promises a single for the months ending 2024.

Rolling Stone Brasil: I wanted to start by talking about legacy – it’s been more than 55 years on the road, seeing the industry as we know it practically being formed. In your opinion, what is it about your music that has made it so relevant for so many decades?
The Stylistics: First of all, we love the song – both the fast and the slow. It’s about love. And the love spread to the world for us through songs like “You Are Everything”, “Betcha By Golly, Wow”, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”. These are songs that people carry with them, so we’re blessed to be in this position, to be affiliated with the songs that people still love after all these years.

At this point in our career, we celebrate every year that passes now. Because, you know, a lot of the groups that came out at the same time as us are no longer in the scene. And we are blessed to still be here, doing what we do. So it’s a celebration, every day, every month, every year. It’s a real blessing!

Rolling Stone Brasil: And you started at a very unique time, at the height of rock’n’roll, in the midst of the British Invasion in United States music… yet, you chose to continue with your Philadelphia Soul, with romantic R&B, as they said. Did you ever think about exploring other genres?

The Stylistics: Well, we’ve always made love songs, but we were lucky enough to release hits during the disco era. Not that we were trying to go that route, it just happened that the songs took off, songs like “I Can’t Give You Anything But My Love” were big hits for The Stylistics. Even ballads or mid-tempo tracks were being played in clubs. So that sustained the group through that transition of music, but it wasn’t like we were trying to go down that path – it just happened to be the songs we were making, so we took off.

Rolling Stone Brasil: Speaking of Philadelphia Soul, maybe it’s worth explaining to us, in Brazil, what was happening at that time, which made Philadelphia music so unique?

The Stylistics: Composers. Different producers. Everyone worked under the supervision of [Kenneth] Gamble and [Leon A.] Huff and producer Thom Bell. So it was a marriage of music, I would say, that these composers had the talent to write in a certain way, compared to other seals, labels and companies. And Philadelphia, because of this melting pot of songwriters and producers that came together under Thom Bell, and Gamble & Huff, ended up making it possible for [o gênero] was a success.

Rolling Stone Brasil: Bringing a little to the current scenario, I saw here that you have 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. It’s an impressive number, even for current pop names. How do you connect with today’s streaming audience?

The Stylistics: [risos] Well, what I would say is that this happens because of the young people who are on these music platforms, which, through them, becomes new music, because they have never heard it before, many of them are listening to us for the first time. And they’re surprised, they say, ‘Oh, wow!’ or, ‘I know these songs, my mom or dad always plays this song.’ That’s how they connect, you know?

Rolling Stone Brasil: And do you see a connection between your music and what has come out in today’s music production?

The Stylistics: Well, a lot of new artists are sampling old musicians, because it’s the feeling they’re sampling. And I think that transcends the decades in which we were successful, to take it from oldschool to new sounds, and I think that’s what has attracted young people who have been listening to our music. So that’s kind of what happens.

Rolling Stone Brasil: Of course, if we talk about releases, we need to talk about your new album. I heard you got together in the studio recently, that’s great news! What should we expect?

The Stylistics: Hopefully, we are finishing our new album. And we hope to release a new single in the coming months. And the album should be out around February. We are blessed to still be able to do what we do in the studio.

Rolling Stone Brasil: You are on your way to ending a six-date stint in Brazil. How has the public here been here during this time and what can we expect for the remaining shows?

The Stylistics: Oh, it’s great! So far, it’s been incredible, seeing people jumping around, clapping, dancing to our songs, you know? And of course, when we release the big songs, [cantando] “we can make it happen / happen again / we can make it”.

They can expect to hear all the hits we had. Of course, “We Can Make It Happen Again”, “I Can’t Give You Anything But My Love”, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”. And, of course, checking out the choreography, it’s more than just us standing there, singing. We’re moving, dancing and bringing them into what we’re doing on stage. It’s a well-rehearsed situation. I think they will like it.