{"product_id":"look-closer","title":"Look Closer","description":"\u003cp\u003eDaptone Records is proud to release \u003cem\u003eLook Closer\u003c\/em\u003e, the debut album by \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e. While the group's name may not be immediately familiar, \u003cstrong\u003eStarr Duncan-Lowe\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eSaundra Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e' distinctive voices have been featured as the background vocals for \u003cstrong\u003eSharon Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e and the \u003cem\u003eDap-Kings\u003c\/em\u003e both on stage and on record. Finally, the duo has prepared to step forward into the limelight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThough they grew up mere blocks from one another in New York's South Bronx, singing in local church choirs and in plays since a young age, the pair didn't meet until an open mic night in 1986. Bound by a mutual respect for each other's talent and a shared taste for soul music, \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e formed what would be a lasting friendship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe chemistry between these three women was instant and undeniable, and \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e were both selected to sing lead alongside \u003cstrong\u003eSharon\u003c\/strong\u003e, performing as a trio under the name The Good 'N' Plenty Girls for much of the 1990s. Over the next several years, each would leave the wedding band in their own time. \u003cstrong\u003eSharon\u003c\/strong\u003e would hook up with Desco and then Daptone Records to launch her well-documented solo career, \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e was enjoying touring with the gospel groups Glory Gospel Singers and Sister Act, and \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e was working steadily with dozens of other bands throughout NYC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1999, \u003cstrong\u003eSaundra\u003c\/strong\u003e released \u003cem\u003eBless The Day\u003c\/em\u003e, her solo full-length debut. Although the three singers kept in touch throughout the 2000s, they did not reunite until 2008 when \u003cstrong\u003eSharon\u003c\/strong\u003e recruited her old friends for a one-off performance with The \u003cem\u003eDap-Kings\u003c\/em\u003e. Soon the band realized how vital \u003cstrong\u003eSaundra\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e's backing vocals were to the live show. Rechristened as The \u003cem\u003eDapettes\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eSaundra\u003c\/strong\u003e became regular members of \u003cstrong\u003eSharon Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e' live band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBefore long, \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e joined The \u003cem\u003eDap-Kings\u003c\/em\u003e at Daptone Records' House of Soul in Brooklyn to begin recording an album of their own material. The first single from this session, \"\u003cem\u003eHot Shot\u003c\/em\u003e\" - penned by Daptone's in-house producer \u003cstrong\u003eGabe Roth\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDap-Kings\u003c\/em\u003e' saxophonist \u003cstrong\u003eCheme Gastelum\u003c\/strong\u003e, and backed with \"\u003cem\u003eGonna Make Time\u003c\/em\u003e\" - was Daptone's best selling 45 to date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLook Closer\u003c\/em\u003e, which features both tracks from the single, is the culmination of \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e's work at the House of Soul. Its all-analogue production and masterful, rich instrumentation are hallmarks of The \u003cem\u003eDap-Kings\u003c\/em\u003e, who perform on every track. Though the overall mood of \u003cem\u003eLook Closer\u003c\/em\u003e is joyous, there's plenty of variety to be found within, from the dramatic attitude of \"\u003cem\u003eYour Face Before My Eyes\u003c\/em\u003e\" to the sparkling \"\u003cem\u003eSunshine\u003c\/em\u003e\" and the sultry ballad \"\u003cem\u003eIn The Night\u003c\/em\u003e\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e's cadences intertwine beautifully on \"\u003cem\u003eGonna Make Time\u003c\/em\u003e\" against a percussive backdrop, while \"\u003cem\u003eBig Wheel\u003c\/em\u003e\" is a perfect showcase for their individual vocal talents, from emotive belting and storytelling to call-and-response and those perfectly balanced harmonies. With their first album as a duo, \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e have finally found their home on Daptone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Being a part of the Daptone family makes me feel free to stay true to the sounds of what we grew up on and love,\" says \u003cstrong\u003eStarr\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cstrong\u003eSaun\u003c\/strong\u003e agrees, adding, \"I am excited about getting this record out there and having the world hear what we've been working so hard on with The \u003cem\u003eDap-Kings\u003c\/em\u003e. It's been a long time coming. Let's Hit It!!\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Daptone","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50465990639947,"sku":"386967","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50465991065931,"sku":"386964","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/f7561a20-065e-408b-a0ed-16db85fb5ce7_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727300148","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/look-closer","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}