Silk Sonic Delivers Another Earful of Soul

The band smoothly takes us back a few decades with their latest single “Smokin Out the Window”.

By Elise Christopher

Silk Sonic, the duo made up of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak, has released its third single from the long-awaited album An Evening with Silk Sonic. The duo’s popularity has been growing with no sign of stopping. “Leave the Door Open” had the public locked in, getting more than enough radio play and a Grammy performance. Follow-up “Skate” got similar rave reviews and left everyone even more eager for the album. “Smokin Out the Window” was the third and final teaser before the release of An Evening with Silk Sonic last Friday, November 12. 

Just like on their previous two singles, the two artists effortlessly produce a sound reminiscent of Motown and a bygone era. It’s undeniable that elements of their music sound familiar. Anyone that has listened to soul artists of the ’70s and ‘80s can recognize them: the tambourine, the bass line, the horns, the list goes on. Silk Sonic’s music is a welcomed blast to the past with a modern spin.

The song is about a woman doing them dirty, using up their money and time—even bringing along her “badass kids”—just to leave them “smokin’ out the window”. While the elements of hurt and betrayal remain throughout the track, the delivery of certain lyrics and ad-libs add a bit of comedy. 

It’s a journey through the mourning of a love that “started out so tender and so sweet,” and while it ended on a sour note, you can’t help but want to groove along.