February 17th, 2021

Teen duo ‘The Loop’ draws musical inspiration from Black women

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

Teen duo ‘The Loop’ draws musical inspiration from Black women

Musicians M’Zariah Starr and Marcia Bibbins PHOTO: MICHAEL BRYANT, STYLING: I AM KREYOL

Powerhouse Boston-based music duo The Loop is releasing two new singles in celebration of Black History Month and Women’s History Month. “See Me Beyond My Skin” and “Affirmations” are from The Loop’s upcoming EP, “What I Feel.” The songs draw inspiration from powerful Black women who have disrupted their own industries like The Loop plans to do to the Boston music scene.

Musicians Marcia Bibbins and M’Zariah Starr are only 15 and 16 respectively, but their sound and dedication to their craft transcend their years. The group name stands for Ladies of Opportunity and Promise, an apt moniker for these two talents.

Bibbins, a singer, songwriter, actress and model, has sung on several records, including “Dance With My Mask On” on Amazon Music and “We The People – Get Up (As We Speak)” by Agenda Records. Starr works as an actress, dancer, singer, rapper and voiceover artist, with credits on Blue Bloods, “The Nutcracker” by Dance Prism and others.

Lifelong friends, they began creating music together at Boston Arts Academy, where Bibbins is still a student. Starr says, “It gives the space and opportunity for her to show her strengths and me to show mine. That’s a blessing. When we’re together, we’re really strong.”

“See Beyond My Skin” releases on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, iHeartRadio on Feb. 18, the birthday of Toni Morrison. Inspired by the late pioneering author, the song originated as a poem and incorporates spoken word and soft but strong melodies to address issues of racism and colorism. “That’s where we tell our stories, through the music,” says Starr. “We wrote the song to bring everybody together.”

“Affirmations” releases on March 18, Queen Latifah’s birthday, and ruminates on themes of self-love. As young women, particularly working in an image-centric industry, Starr and Bibbins work hard to choose self-love and acceptance every day. “All these empowering Black women that we see today and in generations behind us, having them as inspiration spreading positivity, spreading self-love, it really does have an impact on our music and ourselves,” says Bibbins.

Bibbins and Starr write about universal topics to engage not only listeners their own age, but multigenerational music lovers. They address powerful subject matter in their music but aim to spread a message of positivity, love and acceptance. In addition to inspiring others, the musicians use songwriting and performing as part of their own self-love practice.

“As we get older and this continues to grow, I think we’ll continue to blossom,” says Bibbins. “We put everything in our hearts into the music.” Perhaps the most exciting part of their journey is that it’s just beginning.