The Beautiful Struggle

If you sing it, they will come.

Internationally-known notables like Susan L. Taylor, MC Lyte and Lalah Hathaway may have been the draw when The Black Women’s Expo took over Chicago during the first weekend in August. However, it was two homegrown songstresses who proved to be the wild card, enticing even the vendors away from their booths with their melodic voices. “Our music isn’t the norm, so for people to be receptive towards us is a blessing,” says Stephstaa, one-half of the soul-sista musical duo, Spq-Her (pronounced “speak her”).

The day after their powerful Expo performance, the ladies of Spq-Her—Stephstaa and Wizdom—sipped fresh fruit smoothies on the patio of the Bronzeville Coffee House, radiating the glow of knowing how far they’ve come and just how far they can go. After frequently running into each other while performing in the Chicago music scene, a fateful meeting at the Hot House in 2004 marked the beginning of a new era in music for these two solo artists. Stephstaa came from the underground hip-hop world, while Wizdom was cultivated in the spoken word and soul music circles. By first building a foundation of friendship, then writing together and later recording together, the organic partnership known as Spq-Her really did form as easy as 1-2-3. “She’s a solo artist and I’m a solo artist, but we come together and we consider ourselves a team,” shares Stephstaa.

Upon first glance or listen, many are quick to compare Spq-Her to the defunct hip-hop soul group, Floetry. Both Stephstaa and Wizdom are singers/songwriters/spoken word artist/MCs with a flair for nouveau fashions, but hip-hop soul is only one of the many sounds you’ll hear from Spq-Her. Elements of opera, classical and jazz are apparent in their music and Wizdom offers this versatility helps them because “when people hear our album, they’re not gonna hear the same voice. They’re gonna hear multiple and unique sounds coming from both of us.”

Their highly anticipated album, Defenderz: Article A, showcases the synergy of sound that Stephstaa defines as timeless. “It’s music that can be played throughout generations.” On Defenderz, which features production by Rashid Hadee, Kenny Keys and 5th Element, Spq-Her is defending who they are as artists. They’re also defending the good—the good about black women, black men and black culture. “Spq-Her is about speaking about, to and from that which we come. It’s our tool to balance culture with gutter, love and hate planned action and reaction. Our music is not new, it grew out of something bigger than us,” says Wizdom. Like Common, another homegrown artist, Spq-Her does it for the people.

“Both of us went in with the thought that we need to impact and strengthen…our culture, our sisters and our brothers,” says Stephstaa on the pre-recording goal for Defenderz. Themes found within the CD include life lessons and love, especially love for the black man. On the song, “His Swagger,” Spq-Her sings a love note for all the brothers; a song inspired by men like Malcolm X and Marvin Gaye who “even though those brothers were so headstrong and they were activists, they were sexy and that swagger was powerful!” Spq-Her’s music is a throwback to the days of authentic love, not just between men and women, but authentic love among fellow artists. Stephstaa recounts stories told by her mother of Chicago back in the day, when it was about celebrating music and working together. Chicago was home to “Record Row,” the home of soul music production, distribution and indie labels along Michigan Avenue in the early 60s. “If a lot of artists in Chicago knew that history and embraced that, we would be able to embrace each other,” she says.

As artists fighting to make a way in a male dominated industry and a local music scene that rivals even the worst of elementary schoolyard dramas, Spq-Her is all the more committed to sharing their messages of love and empowerment. Fitting of her name, Wizdom offers this view of their journey: “It’s been a beautiful struggle because we learned a lot of lessons.”

Check out Spq-Her LIVE on August 20, 2008 at Darkroom, 2210 W. Chicago, 9p-2a. Free admission with RSVP and friend request/add via their MySpace page www.myspace.com/spqher.