INTERVIEW : BRICK & LACE
Interview by : Sébastien Jobart
on Tuesday, April 19th 2005 - 33 751 views
A trio turned duo, Brick & Lace's career took off while the three sisters were still studying. They became backing vocalists for Beres Hammond and Diana King. Initially signed to Jive Records, R. Kelly's label, they tell us they have decided to part ways with it, and are now working on an album. With Tasha having left the group, it is with Nyla and Nyanda that the interview can begin.
Reggaefrance / Hello Brick & Lace, can you introduce yourselves?
Brick & Lace / Nyla: We are Brick & Lace. We are two sisters, born in Jamaica, and we do dancehall / reggae / rn'b.
So lots of influences. What were your influences?
Nyla: We listened to so many artists and so much music... Reggae of course, because we come from Jamaica and couldn't escape it... But also Barbara Streisand, Whitney Houston, Lionel Ritchie, the Bee Gees...
Nyanda: Our mother is American, so we listened to a lot of American pop music, and back in Jamaica we fused it all together. But we grew up listening to a great diversity of music.
When did you decide to pursue a career in music?
It was three years ago, when we decided to get serious about it. We were studying at the University of Miami, and we felt music calling us. We told ourselves that the call was too strong to ignore, and we decided to give ourselves the means to have no regrets. But we've been singing since we were little girls in churches in Jamaica. We're well known there.
So you didn't finish your studies?
Nyla: We didn't finish them. We finished high school. We did two years of university. One day, we'll go back.
I read that you turned down touring with Lauryn Hill to continue your studies, is that true?
Nyla: No, that's not true. We did indeed turn down that offer, but it wasn't because of our studies. In fact, it was to pursue a collaboration with Redzone, a company based in Atlanta. It's a big producer, called Tricky Stewart.
Nyanda: We had to make a decision: either go abroad and be Lauryn Hill's backing singers, or stay and work on our own projects. We decided to work on our music.
Why did you choose the name Brick & Lace?
Nyanda: Brick & Lace symbolises female strength. Brick means strength, and Lace means femininity, beauty, elegance.
The two go together.
Nyla: Our mother came up with Lace, and we added Brick. We also wanted something to describe the rougher elements in our music. We call our music Sexy Roots Dancehall, with rn'b. We needed a name that suggested that we deejay as well. It's a combination.
Is it important for you to talk about women?
Nyanda: Yes, absolutely. As women, it's our responsibility. We tackle feminist subjects. All those subjects... Women like to feel sexy, they like to have fun. Our female audience is very important to us. And in Jamaica, we have a large female audience.
Do you write your lyrics together? Who has the last word?
Nyla: We make an effort. Sometimes I have an idea and I go and ask for her opinion. If she's with me, which happens most of the time, we finish everything together, with the vibe.
Sometimes, we have a song
Nyanda: We write a lot together. We like to express ourselves, we write about life, everyday things. Things everyone can relate to. It's nice to write because you can let all your feelings out.
Does being sisters make collaboration easier?
Nyla: A bit of both (laughs)! You answer that one.
Nyanda: Whether it makes things easier? I wouldn't say that.
Nyla: Yes and no. Sometimes it's good to have a perspective.
Nyanda: Sometimes we are so similar!
Nyla: That's true. We have the same vision, we know what we want. We manage to select the songs. We trust each other and we respect each other.
There were three of you at the start, what happened to your sister, Tasha?
Nyanda: Actually there are 4 sisters at home. Our sister was part of the group, but she's more interested in the business side. Which is no problem, she's still part of the creative process. She's gifted at arrangements, harmonies...
Did you sign with Jive Records?
Nyla: Not any more!
Nyanda: We had too many artistic differences with them. I don't think they fully grasped how to market dancehall. They didn't understand it. And they agreed with that. So we decided to part ways, very amicably.
Did nothing come out of your work with Jive?
Nyanda: Yes, we worked with two producers in Miami. But it's all about relationships. It's good to feel that the company is behind you, supporting you. You need that. Having a company with you is one thing, having it understand the project is another.
Is it important for you to break into America?
Nyla: Yes, because our mother is American...
Nyanda: We have brothers, family over there. We grew up there. We have a lot of American friends. Now that we're in Europe, we have lots of European friends. The main aim is for the music to be heard in as many places in the world as possible. I think that's what any artist wants. Without, excuse me, the interviews, the TV, and all the rest... Just for people to enjoy the music. The rest is secondary.
This is your first European tour, and with Marcia Griffiths and Lady G on top of that. What are your impressions?
Nyanda: It's wonderful. It's a dream come true. Marcia Griffiths is adorable.
Nyla: She's very close to our family as well, so it's nice to work with someone you know and like. Lady G is extremely respected. They both are, but especially Lady G in the dancehall community. Lady G is a deejay, Marcia a singer... It's great to see all these styles brought together under the same banner: reggae dancehall.
It's a good line-up. With a group of women...
Nyanda: Yes, it's great fun. I think that's it: we're having fun. And we're getting good feedback. The crowd has been so... I mean, the vibe in Europe is incredible.
Nyla: So many of them don't understand a word of English, and yet they react to this music. It's my first time here. It's so different from the United States.
There is a lot of machismo in reggae.
Nyla: Yes, there is so much of it in this business. But women now have the opportunity to make themselves heard. To be heard. Women are asserting themselves more and more at the moment. And we'll see more and more of it.
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