Artist
Stooshe
Why we feature this artist Three voices with room for attitude and an old soul chorus Stooshe's first recordings sounded as if three distinct personalities had arrived in the studio at once. Karis Anderson, Alexandra Buggs and Courtney Rumbold could trade line…
- From
- United Kingdom
- Sound
- Pop, R&B
- Active
- 2010–present
Start with the music
Tracks to explore
The artist, in context
The story of Stooshe
Why we feature this artist
Three voices with room for attitude and an old soul chorus
Stooshe's first recordings sounded as if three distinct personalities had arrived in the studio at once. Karis Anderson, Alexandra Buggs and Courtney Rumbold could trade lines, harmonise or turn a phrase into a small theatrical scene. The group's combination of contemporary R&B attitude and older soul-pop shapes made Black Heart especially distinctive.
The first singles
The London trio formed in 2011 around a project developed with songwriter and manager Jo Perry. Early material made a virtue of humour and outspoken delivery. Love Me, featuring Travie McCoy, brought that approach into a more widely heard single in 2012, giving the group's vocal exchanges a clear pop structure without removing their individual edges.
Black Heart followed with a much stronger connection to the dramatic girl-group ballad. The performance could be poised and melodically clean while the lyric described a far less reassuring romantic situation. The harmonies gave the track a shared emotional weight, making it sound like more than one singer's private account over an anonymous backing.
London with the Lights On
Slip introduced another rhythmic setting before London with the Lights On appeared in 2013. The album gathered the singles with material including My Man Music, Jimmy and Put the Kettle On. The mixture allowed the trio to move between cheeky conversation, affectionate reassurance and a more exposed kind of singing without abandoning the group dynamic.
A version of TLC's Waterfalls belonged to the early release period too, placing Stooshe in conversation with another highly recognisable vocal group. Their own strongest material was more particular than a list of influences, however. The voices could give a short line different meanings by changing who answered it, making the arrangement feel like a social scene with three active participants rather than one lead singer and two decorative parts.
Essential releases
Love Me
The Travie McCoy collaboration gives the trio's early humour and vocal exchanges a direct pop frame.
Black Heart
A soul-pop ballad whose elegant vocal surface sits against a much more troubled romantic story.
London with the Lights On
Slip and the earlier singles share an album with a wider range of three-part vocal scenes.