Fast and Curious

Recording and production

Smith working on the project in 2010. After the collaboration between Smith and Mark de Clive-Lowe on the single "Truth", Lowe proceeded as sole producer of Smith's album. During the Sy Smith & Mark de Clive-Lowe Tour, Smith had alreadied recorded several songs with Lowe including "Personal Paradise" and "Super Sy" which she performed at several venues (most notably at Spread Love) in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 24, 2010.

In April 2010, Smith confirmed that she was working on a new project and that she had already recorded a song called "Message from the Stars". She also stated her plans to release a project in the summer of 2010 which resulted in the release of the buzz single "Truth". In December 2010, Smith stated in another interview, "I’m working to finish this synthy '80s throwback dance record."

In 2011, the title for album was rumored to be Sy Smith + MdcL Collections Vol. 1, which was stated through the Twitter page of Mark de Clive-Lowe. In September 2011, Smith appeared along Mark de Clive-Lowe on WGN-TV Midday News to perform her song "Personal Paradise". In December 2011, Smith announced the title of album to be Fast and Curious when she gave fans a chance to submit their "Fast" or "Curious" photo to be included in the cover art.

Musical style

Fast and Curious was influenced by what Smith called "the party in my head", which incorporated contemporary acid jazz elements including syncopated rhythms and electrosoul. Some songs have been covered including the Billy Ocean hit "Nights (Feel Like Gettin' Down)", Teena Marie's hit "Lovergirl", and The Rah Band's "Messages from the Stars". "The Fast and The Curious" is an electronica groove, which utilizes bass guitar, percussion, cowbell, and synthpop music. The album's buzz single "Truth" features a complete sound of house music with a constant drum beat. The radio version of the album's lead single "Personal Paradise" features Sheila E. on percussion. From the ending of "Personal Paradise", the album goes directly into mid-tempo song "Find My Way" where the song begins with a percussion rhythm as Smith repeats "Ohhh" and then proceeds into lyrical content. During the song, Smith demonstrates the use of her whistle register for 26 seconds in enunciated word "Ahhh" and "Oh!". Close to the end of song, Smith then scat sings "di di da" while saying "gonna find my way to you, baby".

The album's fifth song "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)", which features Rahsaan Patterson, is a mid-tempo groove that has been described as the song "that will make you wanna smack your mama." The album continues the use of heavy percussion and synth in the song "Let The Rain Fall Down" and Smith's interpretation of Teena Marie's song "Lovergirl" titled "Teena (Lovergirl Syberized)". The broken beat "The Oooh to My Aaah" and acid jazz of "People of the Sun" are cuts that illustrates a range of voices effortlessly at Smith's disposal when in the right producer's hands and with fitting material. The song "The Primacy Effect" is almost sung a cappella as Smith sings only with a bass guitar and percussion beat then the latter proceeds to invite more instruments including a piano and an atmospheric house tune. During the song, Smith once again re-invites the use of her whistle register. The song "Message from the Stars" features the use of scatting along with a funk base groove.

Release and promotion

A month before the release of the album, Smith uploaded the album to her account on soundcloud.com. She later released the album (ahead of the release date) to several music critics. Fast and Curious was originally intended to released on February 14, 2012, but pushed back to March 6, 2012. Smith offered autographed copies to fans that purchased the album through her website.

Singles

"Truth", featuring Mark de Clive-Lowe, was released on August 1, 2010, as the album's buzz single. A maxi-single EP was released to iTunes which included the music video that aired on YouTube the same day. The music video was directed by Smith's husband Shawn Carter Peterson. "Teena (Lovergirl Syberized)" was released in January 2011, as a free digital single on Lowe's bandcamp website.

"Personal Paradise" is planning to be released to the radio and a music video is also in works. The radio version of the song features Sheila E. on percussion. Sheila E. is also scheduled to make an appearance in the music video. On June 27, 2012, Smith began shooting a music video for "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)". On October 19, 2012, Smith released the music video for "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)", which featured notable appearances by Trina Broussard, Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson, and Cassandra O'Neal.

Tours

In mid-2010, Smith toured with Lowe for 2010 and 2011 tour, Sy Smith & Mark de Clive-Lowe Tour, to promote the album. It consisted of Lowe on keyboards, turntables, and synths, and Smith on vocals and sometimes on keyboard. As well as singing songs from Fast and Curious, Smith also performed songs from her previous albums The Syberspace Social and Conflict. The tour began in Atlanta, Georgia on July 24, 2010 and concluded in Los Angeles on June 12, 2011. In July 2011, the tour began again in Santa Monica, California. It finally concluded at Bekasi Jazz Festival in Bekasi, Indonesia on October 9, 2011.

In May 2012, Smith began touring with musician/producer Zo! on the Sy Smith & Zo! - The Mini Tour. The duo are performing songs from Smith's albums Fast and Curious and The Syberspace Social as well as Zo!'s Sunstorm, just visiting too, and just visiting three. Smith will also tour with The Foreign Exchange again, starting in June 2012.

Critical response

Fast and Curious received a positive review from L. Michael Gipson of Creative Loafing Atlanta. Gipson stated, "House-flavored acid jazz trips such as 'Personal Paradise' and 'Find My Way' deliver spacey, ambient grooves, while standouts 'Nights (Feel Like Gettin' Down),' featuring Rahsaan Patterson, and 'Let the Rain Fall Down' take us spinning around the discotheque on the eve of the genre's death. Smith's pop chops aren't big, but they serve every song, and her whistle notes deserve respectful nods. Some cool jams overstay their welcome with running times meant for the clubs, but you will leave sweating and smiling." Gipson gave the album a four star rating out of five stars.

Track listing

The track listing as confirmed by CD Baby.

1. "The Fast and The Curious"
2. "Truth"
3. "Personal Paradise"
4. "Find My Way"
5. "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)" (featuring Rahsaan Patterson)
6. "Let The Rain Fall Down"
7. "Teena (Lovergirl Syberized)"
8. "The Oooh to my Aah"
9. "The Primacy Effect"
10. "Message from the Stars"
11. "People Of The Sun"

Personnel