The Sweet Divines
Soul / Funk
THE SWEET DIVINES are doing soul music the only way they know how -- the old-school way. It’s a simple enough concept that many attempt and few get right. This four-female vocal powerhouse and hard-hitting backing band of soul specialists get it right. The result: Heavenly manna for soul purists, beat addicts, harmony lovers, and just about anyone else with a pair of ears and/or feet.
The easy catchphrases don't apply here. “Nostalgia act?” No. These are young musicians playing original material with an unpredictable live energy. “Girl group?” No. This is sawdust and pit BBQ, not peppermint and hairspray. The Sweet Divines and their band have honed an authentic soul sound that conjures past greatness -- Stax, Aretha, James Brown, funky New Orleans -- but still feels immediate, singular, and more relevant than ever.
In early 2008, the Sweet Divines made their conspicuous debut -- live and on-the-air -- at the world famous WFMU studios, just outside New York City. At the time, they were known only as the newest spinoff of short-lived, underground soul sensation THE DANSETTES. But the Divines have since established a solid reputation in their own right. Their first two club dates broke venue attendance records, and live appearances with THE MIGHTY HANNIBAL, ELI “PAPERBOY” REED, and SHARON JONES floored fans and got the Brooklyn music blogs buzzing.
The Sweet Divines’ music recalls a time when singers could sing, tunes were tuneful, records were on record, and soul music had soul. A time when bold soul sisters worked up a sweat cutting three-minute miracles in woodshed studios and blew the roofs off neighborhood nightclubs. Those of you lucky enough to have been there, give thanks. Meanwhile, the rest of us will give thanks that the Sweet Divines are here, making damn sure we get our chance too.
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