Vibe.com, February 13th, 2006
In the second-floor balcony of a dimly lit Manhattan bistro, the three sisters of Black Buddafly are eating light, despite tempting selections like rice and peas and jerk chicken. Perhaps these German-bred imports (born to a German mom and Senegalese dad) are more inclined to bratwurst and schnitzel than Caribbean cuisine. But when Sophie Schmahl, 24, the vigilant “Mother Teresa of the group,” declines the crawfish (“What is that?”) offered by a persistent waiter, Jazz, 22, eventually convinces her and twin sister Amina, 22, to taste.
It’s a minor feat, but this readiness to test unfamiliar waters is exactly how Black Buddafly found residence with Russell Simmons’s nascent Def Jam subsidiary, the Russell Simmons Music Group. “We felt like we couldn’t give our all in Germany,” says Sophie in her still-traceable accent. “We wanted to be challenged and pushed to our limits.”
Despite securing a production deal with BMG Germany, the ladies (then named Choyce), who could barely speak English, flew to America four years ago with only $600. “Everything was so much bigger than we thought,” says Jazz, the bashful dancer of the crew. “We were scared and shocked.” But through networking and serendipity, they met RSMG president Tony Austin, who inked them to his Chocolate City Music imprint.
With those naive days now behind them, Black Buddafly shows their sassy, freewheeling attitude in the whispery bedroom anthem “ Rock-A-Bye,” off their self-titled debut — the video features racy sister-on-sister action, a concept the girls eagerly embraced. Working with Simmons was a revelation. “I like that he’s very hands-on,” says Sophie. “He’s not just trying to make something that’s hot at the moment.”
With Destiny’s Child disbanded and few contenders in sight, Black Buddafly is relying on their diversity (Sophie digs jazz, Amina likes pop, and Jazz favors R&B;) and their innate harmonizing skills to pull ahead. “It’s not about who has the strongest voice but how well you blend. That’s our strength,” says Sophie. “There’s nothing that can really throw us off.” Sisterhood is powerful.
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