An Interview with Brooklyn Saint
Brooklyn Saint is the genre-blending duo of vocalist Shareef Keyes (Brooklyn) and drummer-producer Emanuel Harrold (St. Louis), whose sound spans house, soul, and jazz with the pulse of hip-hop and the heart of R&B. First linking during the pandemic on “See”—a collaboration that sparked momentum across stages and studios—the pair have since built a live reputation on feel-good grooves, dynamic polyrhythms, and cathartic, sing-along hooks. With a full-length album on the way, Brooklyn Saint is leaning into soulful storytelling, communal energy, and a commitment to music you can feel. We sat down with Brooklyn Saint to talk influences, process, and what’s next.
Hey, thanks for chatting with us. Tell us a little about yourself.
Brooklyn Saint is a dynamic duo composed of Shareef Keyes and Emanuel Harrold. Keyes, a Brooklyn native, is a vocalist influenced by icons like Marvin Gaye, A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie Smalls, and James Brown. Emanuel, from St. Louis, captivates audiences with his dynamic, polyrhythmic sound, drawing influence from Max Roach, Quincy Jones, De La Soul, and more. The band thrives on performing original music and connecting with their audience through rich rhythm, lyrics, and emotion.
Who or what inspired you to start making music? And, when did you start?
Emanuel grew up immersed in church music, played in drum and bugle corps, and later joined jazz bands. He’s jammed with his brother Keyon Harrold and toured the world with Gregory Porter. His influences range from Clifford Brown, Max Roach, and Earth, Wind & Fire to Jon Batiste and Robert Glasper. Shareef has worked with Masego, Ghostface Killah, and Bun B, with music featured in film and TV. He’s released projects like My Mood, contributed to Play This at the BBQ, and shared the single “A Woman’s Love.” Behind the scenes, he also serves as a creative mastermind shaping projects across various media.
What is your biggest challenge as an artist?
Getting momentum—timing is everything.
What is your favorite project or single you have released?
Emanuel: “I Think” ft. Gregory Porter. It’s my original composition and lyric, released on Gearbox Records, and it has surpassed 1 million streams as an independent jazz record.
Shareef: “A Woman’s Love,” featured in the motion picture One of Them Days, is a huge accomplishment. Overall, there are so many to choose from.
Who are your inspirations? What artists or bands are you listening to?
Keyon Harrold, Masego, Mackie Facts, Black Spade, Robert Glasper, Stout, Omari Hardwick, and Braxton Cook. We love everything from Louis Armstrong to Amy Winehouse—we’re music lovers.
What’s the process behind working on a song like?
For a Brooklyn Saint song, inspiration comes from jazz, house, soul—and a good lyric. It’s a hybrid approach: built for the stage with a touch of studio polish. Inspiration comes from love and, definitely, the hard times and searching we all experience as humans.
Tell me about your upcoming music and what inspired you to create it!
Creating this new music has been a joy. We feel we have great musical chemistry, and it’s reflected in both our live sets and our studio sessions.
What are your plans for 2025?
Release one single, create more content, and perform two more times this year.
Have any shoutouts?
Masego, Stout, Keyon Harrold, Bee, Adina, the Brooklyn Saint band members (recording and live), and our families in Brooklyn and St. Louis!
Brooklyn Saint is doubling down on groove, community, and craft—honoring jazz and soul traditions while pushing the dance floor forward. With their forthcoming full-length and a growing live footprint, Shareef and Emanuel are poised to deliver a 2025 packed with rhythm, emotion, and timeless songs that move both hearts and feet.