Words by Emily Shapiro—
You may not yet know the name Stacy Barthe but this singer/songwiter from Brooklyn has been behind many of our favorite tunes for quite a few years. Barthe, who has both Haitian and Dominican roots, first hit mainstream success when she wrote “Blur” on Britney Spears’ Circus album and since then she has penned tracks for a ton of hit-making artists, including Katy Perry (“Hummingbird Heartbeat”), Kelly Rowland (“Everywhere You Go”) and Rihanna (“Cheers (Drink to That),” which reached #7 on the Billboard charts). Now, she is using her way with words to develop a new artist—herself.
Barthe has been working with Miami-based reggae/R&B/hip-hop producer Supa Dups, is currently on tour with Estelle, and has plans to drop her own album soon. Her dope new single, “No Strings Attached,” available in versions both with and without John Legend has a smooth reggae vibe mixed with a touch of sexuality, which proves to be a very pleasing combination. Check out some of her other music, which experiments with a range of genres, over at her website and, if her previous work is any indication, the upcoming album will be a must-have. But first, stream the original “No Strings Attached” below, and download the John Legend version.