Features : Pure Energy Brings the Dance Floor to You with Latest Hit, “Midnight Magic”

From the mid-70s to modern day, Pure Energy has been captivating audiences with their unique blend of R&B, dance, and funk. Their latest single, “Midnight Magic,” is a multi-generational masterpiece written years ago and brought to life with a contemporary twist.

Pure Energy isn’t a new band—the group has been bringing you hits since the 1980s. Pure Energy consists of three members—Lisa Stevens-Crowder (lead vocals), Raymond Hudson (bass guitar), and Curtis Hudson (lead guitar, vocals). “Our sound has been out there in ways, whether as our music or others’,” shares the group.

Pure Energy’s sound is so timeless, it transcends trends and technology. With the help of Eric Hudson, son of Curtis and Lisa, their single, “Midnight Magic,” re-introduces funk to a younger audience. “He added a youthful sound to the single,” shares Lisa. “It’s funky, energetic R&B. You just want to get up and move.”

The record—and accompanying music video—takes listeners to a time and place deep within music itself. “Back in the day, things would pop off at midnight. Everyone would let their hair down. Dance. Party. I want people to have a good time, to dance, to feel the magic in the air everywhere,” shares Lisa.

“It has an 80s vibe but sounds fresh—that’s what makes it special. It’s the first project we did together, too. It’s a special project because it was a chance to work with family,” adds Curtis. “He’s a producer who happens to be my son—who’s produced for pop legends. He’s awesome—he’s my son and I can say that,” chimes in Lisa.

To create the lively single, the band collaborated seamlessly together. “Lisa came up with the lyrics first, then the melody. Then she presented it to Curtis for the music—the funky bass line, rhythm guitar.” Their process is years in the making, and they have it down to an art. “If anyone comes out with an idea, we all check it out. For years and years, we’ve locked down on it. Everything we created, we did together. We demo every song we make, concept to complete song.” Sometimes, one band member brings an idea; other times, a jam session leads to a musical discovery.

Lisa joined the band in the late 1970s, when the band began playing at local clubs and went on to win an award for the best band in New Jersey. These days, she’s not only a lead vocalist—she also writes music for the band. Her passion for music goes back decades. “When I was five, I knew I could sing,” shares Lisa. “I was singing ‘Sherry Baby’ in the car with my mom and her friend. Their look—like I knew how to sing—gave me a love of singing.” After that fateful day, Lisa spent her youth singing in church, developing her voice and style along the way.

Curtis Hudson, lead guitarist and vocals, also writes and produces for the band and other artists. His start in music shares similarities with Lisa’s —both grew up with Gospel at an early age. At age 12, Curtis began playing the guitar. Over the years, he honed his skills and later joined Pure Energy in 1974. Curtis Hudson co-wrote “Remember Us”—the Grammy-award winning song—for John Legend, who took home Best R&B Artist in 2021. In partnership with Eric Hudson, his son, Curtis co-wrote two songs on the new Isley Brothers album, Make Me Say It Again Girl.

Raymond Hudson, Curtis’ brother, remembers playing with his sibling most of his life. “We always did music together, so when they asked me to join, I didn’t hesitate,” tells Raymond. “We began recording, and the rest is history.” Since then, Raymond has played bass for the band and contributed his writing skills along the way.

“Our sound hasn’t changed much over the years,” shares the band. “We kind of stick to good melody, a good groove, great vocals, and the rest falls in place. The technology has changed, but our style is the same. We play live music in the same way. We have the same vocals—no sampling. We haven’t changed our approach.”

Since the 1980s, Pure Energy has been captivating audiences with their live sets. Their first album came out in 1980, the self-titled LP, Pure Energy, featuring their first single, “Party On,” which made its way up the Billboard Dance Charts to 7th place. Spearheaded by Curtis as lead writer, the group wrote and produced their work while collaborating with other artists, from Jean Carne to Wandra Rawlings. It was in 1983 that Lisa and Curtis found widespread success by writing the world-renowned hit, “Holiday,” for Madonna—helping launch her career.

1983 was a great year for members of Pure Energy—Curtis also wrote and produced Body Work for the group Hot Streak which later appeared on the multi-platinum soundtrack of Breakin’. Two decades later, Missy Elliot would go on to sample that very song for her 2005 hit, “Lose Control.”

“There’s a lot more to come with Pure Energy,” shares the band. “Working together and creating songs—it’s what we love to do. We also want to thank our fans over the years. We can’t do it without the people who love and support our music. We want to continue to grow and grow.”

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