Sy Smith is at the top of her game. Her latest album Until We Meet Again is not only one of the best albums of 2024 but of her career, and she recently completed the first leg of her self-funded Until We Meet Again...The Tour. In case you missed any of her concerts or she hasn’t come to your city yet, Sy is treating you to the next best thing with a live performance video for her new single “Why Do You Keep Calling Me.”
Smith was inspired by classic television programs that regularly showcased artists singing and performing their music live for the “Why Do You Keep Calling Me” visual. She enlisted director Lawrence Miner Jr. to bring her vision to life.
“I’ve been watching lots of old clips of shows like Midnight Special and really wondering why we don’t have shows like this anymore,” Sy lamented via press release about the lack of live music on TV. “I think that’s what makes platforms like Tiny Desk and (Noochie’s) Front Porch so special. I think people really miss live performances on screen,” she continued, astutely tapping into the popularity of NPR Music and DMV-based rapper Noochie’s respective platforms. “So I wanted my video to showcase this. Besides, I haven’t been invited to do a Tiny Desk yet, so…I did my own version!”
NPR and others will want to take note after watching Sy’s dazzling live performance of “Why Do You Keep Calling Me.” The video was shot in one take by Miner and is a nod to The Midnight Special late-night music program that aired from 1973 to 1981 on NBC. The songbird soars while accompanied by the track’s co-writers and rhythm section players Dre King on keys, Dennis Turner on bass and Biscuit Bynum on drums and vocalists Precious Joubert and Tiffany Cross.
Despite her coy glances and sweet smiles into the camera at times, Sy’s lyrics detail just how over and done she is with a shady ex who is sniffing back around and looking for a second chance to waste her time. She begins the performance seated behind her keyboard before standing to continue her resolute rebuke of this joker. With her stunning gold jumpsuit, voluminous hair and effervescent stage presence, she is giving every bit of soul diva and her pristine live vocals seal the deal.
“Why Do You Keep Calling Me” is Until We Meet Again’s second single following the autumn release of the funky lead number “Slide.” Sy Smith quite honestly has an entire album’s worth of potential singles, so we welcome what she brings forth next while we revel in the now. Watch her The Midnight Special-inspired visual for “Why Do You Keep Calling Me” below.
