jessica Care moore (left) and Stephanie Christi'an (right) of "We Are Scorpio" photo courtesy We Are Scorpio

We Are Scorpio was formed by award-winning Detroit poet laureate, jessica Care moore, and lead singer for Inner City, Steffanie Christi'an.

Executive producer of Black WOMEN Rock! jessica Care moore advocates for the musical contributions of Black women. In an interview with Stephen Henderson of American Black Journal on Detroit PBS, jessica Care moore said, “I wanted to celebrate Betty Davis. I learned about her through Questlove and Talib Kweli. She did so much to inspire Miles Davis and helped to create jazz fusion. She’s an unsung hero of funk rock music. I didn’t expect to still be doing [Black WOMEN Rock!] twenty years later. These women—Nona Hendricks, Kimberly Nicole, Steffanie Christi’an, and Divinity Roxx—this show is their lifeblood. They come because I put them in front.”

Steffanie Christi’an is a singer, songwriter, and dancer. She is the lead vocalist of the legendary house music group, Inner City, and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble, the latest group from music producer Don Was. Christi’an has independently released multiple EPs and one full-length album. From an early age, she felt inspired by rock and roll performers. Her mother gifted her with the love for music. Christi’an shares, “My mother was a punk rocker. She had a purple mohawk and wore safety pins in her ears. Her style of music was very eclectic. She listened to everything, from Mahalia Jackson and Bob Marley to The Rolling Stones. It kind of just wore off on me. I remember the first time I saw Tina Turner on MTV. It was a video for ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It.’ It just blew my little black girl mind.”

Moore and Christi’an had known each other for years but only started recording together during the pandemic. Christi’an shares, “Jessica moved to New York and a lot of the poetry she was doing had a rock influence. When she moved back to Detroit, after living in Atlanta for some time as well, she was looking for a Black rock singer. She was dating my cousin and he said, ‘I know the perfect person.’ I went to her apartment and sang for her. We’ve been rocking and rolling ever since.”

We Are Scorpio is unlike any other group. Christi’an says, “I hate to say it, but there is nobody doing what we’re doing right now. The closest group that’s doing what we’re doing would probably be Rage Against the Machine. Jessica is a talented writer and as far as my vocals, I’m a little different. I think that’s why I have always been noticed. People say, ‘Your voice doesn’t match your face.’ Jessica and I come with true authenticity and rawness and that’s missing in the record industry right now.” She adds, “I think some people pursue music careers not for the right reasons. Creators are the builders of culture. Creatives have to take responsibility for the role they play in the liberation of people.”

On August 16, We Are Scorpio released their debut self-titled album. It features artists such as Talib Kweli, Militia Vox, and LL Cool J. Detroit rapper Sada Baby joins the pair to produce an electrifying track called “I’m From Detroit.” It’s a song about the pride of belonging to a city known for its ingenuity. Though moore and Christi’an have traveled around the world, sharing their talents and performing for a wide range of audiences, they still feel it is important to represent the city of Detroit.

Christi’an explains, “Jessica and I were born and raised in Detroit. I’m the oldest of seven, you know. I miss my siblings. I miss my grandma. But I really came home after September 11th. I moved away to New York when I was a young adult and I was extremely lonely. The energy was so bad in New York. Detroit is my foundation. This is where the magic happens.”

“We Are Scorpio” is available for streaming on most platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube.