What better way to celebrate “314 Day” in St. Louis than to catch up with musicians making waves in the local music scene and beyond? Before their show at the Grandel’s Dark Room—with unpredictable severe weather and a tornado warning on the horizon—we sat down with Shareef Keyes and Emanuel Harrold, who are ready to bring their own brand of tornadic activity to the music world as Brooklyn Saint.
Equal parts Brooklyn, N.Y. (Keyes) and St. Louis, Mo. (Harrold), this dynamic duo draws inspiration from past music endeavors, familial music influences, and the likes of Janelle Monáe, Marvin Gaye, A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie Smalls, James Brown and George Clinton. Their collaboration blends genres such as jazz, soul, house and R&B into a rich, entertaining musical experience.
The Birth of Brooklyn Saint
The joint venture came about naturally. Harrold, who was working on a project with U.K. label Gearbox Records, checked out Keyes online and decided to reach out. “‘So I’m working on a project, bro, and I would love to feature you on a song,’” Harrold recalled. “That relationship formed four or five years ago; [we kept] working, working, working, and then had a stockpile of music. I said, yo, we should form a band, because we got all this music. We should perform it, and we should take this show on the road…let’s collab, put two heads [together] and let’s form a team.”
The collaboration with Harrold was “mad authentic and organic,” Keyes said. “Working with him was easy. Working with people in any facet, if it’s not an easy transaction or easy situation the first time I’m working with you, I’m not gonna work with you again.” The initial connection eventually grew into a strong partnership. Their first show in St. Louis solidified their bond, and they knew they had something special.
When asked about the origin of the band’s name, Harrold said they bounced around several possibilities, initially leaning toward Saint Brooklyn. Ultimately, though, they thought Brooklyn Saint had a better ring to it.
Harrold and Keyes both bring unique experiences to the band. Keyes, who was previously part of Shareef Keyes & the Groove, a funk band that opened for the late Roy Ayers, brings a rich musical background. Harrold’s involvement in various projects has led to Grammy nominations and platinum records.
Their sound has appeal across a wide range of ages, creating a universally enriching experience. “I’ll send these records to my niece who’s like 20-21, and then he’s sending it to his older brothers who are maybe in their 50s,” Keyes said. “And everybody finds a way to understand it and love it and get attracted to it.”
Early Performances
Reflecting on their first performance, Harrold shared, “In my mind, it’s one thing when you’re actually in that moment, it’s like, oh, OK, it needs time. That’s how it was, because I’ve been with projects where it started from zero and then it ended up with Grammys, nominations, traveling the world, and it’s just like, it’s your livelihood.”
He continued, “You know, I’ve seen the formula of the repetitive refining, keeping at it, even though going from doing a gig, you making the door, and that was the best gig of my life. But then when you start to travel, you wake up in a different hotel room, you’re just like, I really want to do music. I don’t know where I am right now. I haven’t slept in three days, you know, but it just comes from that hard work, because that hard work will catch up to you as well. So with the experience of going through those processes now, I see it from a different lens of, ‘OK, this is what it needs to be. This can’t happen. This needs to happen. We need all of these people in place, and we need the music to be from the beginning to this level, so it can go to that level.’”
The Brooklyn Saint Sound
The duo’s sound derives from a blend of various musical influences. Keyes explained, “Not to get extra, but I think people should be listening from a standpoint of, like, if you know Masego, if you know Smino, if you know Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals, it’s all of that sort of amalgamation of a lot of great things. We stay true to a good vibe, a dancing thing; our group is, like, hip hop, jazz and house. But, you know, jazz could pull from different places. Jazz is the kind of foundation for everything else. But hip hop and house got so many different nuances to it, so you might hear some R&B tonight too—you actually will hear some R&B tonight.”
“One of the songs we’re gonna play tonight is from the movie ‘One of Them Days’ with SZA and Keke Palmer,” Keyes shared. “It’s a combination of all of that, just really good music that you could dance to, good music you can slow dance to, good music you can bop to, you know?”
When asked to tell us more about the song, Keyes said it’s called “A Woman’s Love” and it’s officially on Spotify and in the film. While it’s a Shareef Keyes track, he said, “It might end up being on the [Brooklyn Saint] record too,” which will also feature Masego, Omari Hadrwick and Stout, adding that they were working on getting Emanuel’s brother Keyon Harrold to join as well.
The Creative Process
Brooklyn Saint’s creative process is a constantly evolving work in progress. Harrold explained, “It’s so fresh and it’s so new, we’re representing original music, so that’s an original thought. After you put that thought into work, you have to perform it into action. That right there is the tricky part. So even if we recorded it a certain way in the studio live, it may not feel as good the studio way. So it’s just like from trial and error—OK, we’re gonna keep this, that don’t work live, it sounds amazing in the studio—and just keep building it out. The more we do it, the better it feels.”
He added, “In terms of the musicality, like where Shareef’s coming from, he’s an entertainer, he’s also a writer, and he’s also a rapper, and, you know, he loves the scene too. So for me, I’m like, oh OK, we know how to put that into perspective, and then, put dope musicians around us and just the idea of putting on a show, putting on an event, and just letting the words and the music speak for itself.”
Communication: The Band’s Secret Weapon to Staying Connected
Being in different cities presents its own set of challenges, but communication is key to staying on the same page as a band. Harrold said, “I’m definitely proud of how it glues together just from the communication end…and that’s been one of our secret weapons. Because we’re sharing the title of band leader. Some people don’t like to share, but it’s just communication, I’m like, ‘yeah, that makes sense to you, right?’ I just keep it moving, because there’s 100 other things that need to be done. I don’t have to argue one point. I think that’s a mature, good thing about this band.”
Goals for the Future and the Road Ahead
When asked what’s next for the band, Keyes shared his vision. “World domination (laughs). Nah. For me, I’m just ready for us to take the show on the road. I think releasing these singles to let people finally hear the sound; getting some more big shows and then just slowly turning that into a tour; and then everything else that comes with that—maybe an indie label thing, more opening up for bigger acts,” he said. “But yeah, just hitting the road, I think we’re ready for that, all of these shows we’ve done so far getting the reception that we get. Every time we finish the show, I think it’s right there. We’re touching it, you know, it’s just about getting over the hump.”
While they don’t have a release date for their upcoming album just yet, Brooklyn Saint is planning to drop two singles this summer. Keyes expressed his excitement about the album, saying, “It’s authentic. It’s rich. It’s really Brooklyn and it’s really St. Louis. I’m mad-happy about the product, for sure.” When asked if they could share the name of their new album, they looked at each other and decided the timing was right, revealing that the album would be called, Jazzy Lady.
Brooklyn Saint’s journey is a testament to their unwavering commitment to their craft and their families. As Keyes put it, the ability to create music and perform while balancing the responsibilities of fatherhood is a blessing. Each performance is not just an opportunity to showcase their talent but also a step toward building the legacy of Brooklyn Saint. “Being able to make music and perform, and both of us being hardworking fathers, that’s a blessing on its own. Every time I come here and I’m about to do a show or something great to keep building toward the brand of Brooklyn Saint, I’m grateful, so grateful,” Keyes said.