专辑简介

When something is meant to be you know it right away. That is exactly how the members of Gneiss (pronounced “nice”) felt after hearing their blend of harmony for the first time, and they have been on an uphill journey towards success ever since. Nadia Duncan and Teneka Chiles come together to form the Charlotte, NC based R&B duo, Gneiss. Being a duo, they are often compared to Zhane` from the 1990’s. Yet, they go beyond their soulful sound to include an infusion of hip-hop and pop on their upcoming self-titled debut album, Gneiss. Think; a touch of TLC, with a splash of En Vogue, and a sprinkle of Destiny’s Child, and you’ll get the sound of Gneiss. Some of their influences include Gladys Knight, the Supremes, Salt-n-Pepa, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, TLC, and En Vogue.

Originally from Greenville, SC, they were born a mere four days apart sharing the same zodiac sign (Gemini) as well as a love for songwriting. They have been best friends since high school and have an unbreakable bond. This unique bond allows them to create a chemistry that helped them write and arrange the majority of their debut album, as well as, add that extra spunk to high energy performances. They have opened up for R&B groups such as 112, Calvin Richardson, and old school hip-hop legends Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, and Kurtis Blow.

Their debut album will appeal to music lovers wanting to hear something that is fun and catchy, but still has meaning. The album also shows different dimensions of their personalities and various musical influences. There is the club banger “Can U Handle”, about ladies going to the club to unwind and get the party started. Then, there is the street anthem, “Dem Boys”, about life in the dirty south. Showing a softer side is the love ballad, “Respect Me” which deals with being hurt in a relationship and refusing to go through that with the next person and letting them know it up front.

Another important topic to the group is self-esteem and they actually address this through their name. The word Gneiss derives from the name of a rock that is grey and dull on the outside, but on the inside it is filled with beautiful shining crystals. With today’s youth so focused on outer beauty and materialistic things, Teneka and Nadia wanted to make a statement about self love and the importance of inner beauty. They feel that when a person works on the inside, it will show on the outside. They want to inspire others to reach for their dreams too. Many people have hidden talents and on the outside it may appear that they are incapable of achieving a certain goal, but with hard work and dedication nothing is unattainable. With the completion of a debut album, Gneiss knows all about hard work and persistence. With every obstacle they have had to overcome, they haven’t given up, and they plan to be around for a long time!