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Tyra Banks is ringing in the holidays with a new project, which finds the supermodel-turned-mogul back in the recording booth for the first time in more than two decades.
Banks has dropped “Santa SMiZE,” a festive dance track inspired by her “SMiZE & Dream” ice cream (or “SMiZE Cream”) brand. The tongue-in-cheek song features Banks rapping about family dynamics at Christmas dinner (sample lyrics: “Mama drop it low” and “Granny give ’em that dutty whine”) while dishing on beloved desserts from around the world and introducing a new alter ego — Santa SMiZE — on the chorus.
Written by Banks and produced by Jean-Yves “Jeeve” Ducornet, who’s worked with the likes of Kat Graham, Todrick Hall and Nicole Scherzinger, among others, “Santa SMiZE” marks the first official musical project from Banks since 2004’s “Shake Ya Body,” which debuted on the second season of America’s Next Top Model and went on to become a club — and cult — hit. For the TV star, stepping back in the recording studio wasn’t as daunting the second time around.
“Back then, I was so nervous, paralyzed nervous,” Banks says, of her early recording experiences. “People were behind the glass looking at me,” the entertainer tells Rolling Stone. “They probably were not judging me, but my brain was screaming, ‘They hate you. They hate your voice. They hate everything.’ Now, I am completely different. I know my strengths, I know my limits, and I just wanted a holiday moment that fixed a craving.”
Rolling Stone talked to Banks about her merry musical release, the pivot from fashion to ice cream, and why plans for a musical comeback could hinge on “Santa’s” success.
What was the inspiration behind “Santa SMize?”
I love Christmas songs, and I was craving something that felt like a real, energetic family holiday party. I also realized I have never heard a holiday song that name checks family members in this way. I wanted people at holiday parties to wait for their family role to pop up and then shake their thing like, “Oh my goodness, Uncle Joe is doin’ too much.”
And then there is the global dessert breakdown. I have traveled my entire career, and I did not want to just shout out the obvious desserts everyone knows. I wanted to honor the ones that make someone stop in their tracks and say, “Wait… Santa SMiZE! She’s talking about my childhood dessert? She sees me.”
What was it like stepping into a studio again to record music?
This whole recording process was a journey. The first session, I recorded in a little unmanned studio in Sydney’s Chinatown. You get a passcode, go in, turn the lights on yourself, record, clean up, and lock the door behind you. Very basic. I wrote a lot on the fly, tried things, failed things. Then I left and listened and thought, “I do not love my vocals.”
Then the ARIAs happened, Australia’s version of the Grammys. Suddenly I am talking to The Wiggles.
The children’s musical group?
Yes, The Wiggles! And they say, “If you ever need a studio to shoot or record at, come through.” Cut to a few days later, I am inside their colorful, Sesame Street-meets-music genius wonderland. Everything is state of the art with bright colors everywhere. That is where I re-recorded parts of the verses and some of the ad-libs.
Courtesy of artist
Once the vocals were there, I worked with Jeeve Ducornet to finish the song. He was in Los Angeles and I was in Australia, so our entire creative exchange happened remotely, through phone, WhatsApp, and through voice notes flying back and forth across the world. Jeeve is a Grammy winner and has worked with so many artists I admire, so having him shape this with me felt special.
The production is definitely fun and festive and I can see this being played at all the holiday parties this year (Banks is performing live during SantaCon on Dec. 13 at Mr. Purple inside Hotel Indigo, followed by a performance Dec. 16 at New York queer nightclub VERS).
We are now finishing a separate club R&B and hip-hop remix. It is a full party. We have Busta Rhymes “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See;” we have Snoop and Pharrell “Drop It Like It’s Hot;” there is a touch of “Milkshake” from Kelis; there is Biggie “One More Chance;” and we even have the REAL Christmas queen, Miss Mariah, taking the song home. It goes hard. The remix is built for those Santa SMiZE club nights when the lights are low, the floor is packed, and everybody is dancing loose and free because the new year is so close and they can feel it.
You’ve been a part of the fashion and beauty industry for years — why the pivot to ice cream?
Fashion was amazing and I am grateful for every second, but ice cream gives me something fashion never could. It lets me create for families, build rituals, spark joy, create forever memories, make people smile without even trying.
I have been obsessed with ice cream for as long as I can remember. Flashback to little me and my mama in her car, just the two of us, single-mom life, bonding over scoops and stories. That is when ice cream rooted itself in my heart. Ice cream tastes good, but for me, it is my heart. It lets me build a story universe that I and so many others can live in forever.
NEW SINGLE
Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE
It’s been more than 20 years since you released “Shake Ya Body.” What do you remember about that time?
I remember it like yesterday. I was working with Pharrell, Wyclef, Rodney Jerkins, Mike City, the biggest producers in the world, and I could barely get the words out. I unofficially auditioned for Pharrell on the phone and he said, “You have a good voice.” Then I went into the studio and froze. Full internal meltdown energy.
Now I know when a note will not happen no matter how many times I pray on it, and I know when I need to do 25 takes and pick the best one. And I know how to flip my voice into characters without needing a bunch of effects. The quirky voices in this song are my favorites.
Could we see more music from you in the future?
I do not know if you will see a Tyra Banks album. You might see more “Santa SMiZE” songs; she has a whole South Pole catalog in her imagination that I have not even unlocked yet.
But I love writing music. Whether I sing it or someone else does, I am open. If people connect with this song, maybe it opens the door to writing for others — that would be wild. Maybe I should call Rodney Jerkins about those unreleased songs we made back in the day. “Hey Rodney, you busy?”
Last question since we are approaching the holidays: what is the best gift you have ever received?
The Barbie Dream Van. Yellow. Iconic. We could not afford the Barbie mansion, but that van was everything.
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And I loved my Holly Hobbie oven, which was basically a lamp that baked cookies. I burned so many tiny pies in that thing. Little did I know I would grow up to make desserts for real.
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“Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE” is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music and most major platforms. You can also stream or download it on Amazon Music here.
