The latest video from SIRPAUL has hit the internet, with the official premiere on Wednesday, May 18, on the ElectroQueer site here. The song is Give It Up, the latest single from SIRPAUL's Music & ME album. At EQ, they speak to director Andreas Anastasis to get to the root of his imagery for the video, which is fraught with images that combine the futuristic with more classic visuals. Why don't you check them out for yourself?
The hands of Michelangelo, the crowns of crucifixion, medicine's syringe, the duality of good and evil perched on your shoulder, they are but a few of the visual intrigues I found in the video. There are more - I find something new each time I watch it. There are ties the singer, SIRPAUL, looks other-worldly, yet throughout most of the video, he is enticingly of the world of the flesh. Where might all this be coming from, you might ask? What is at the core for most music, the need for humans to connect, to forge a bond with another human. What makes it more interesting is how the imagery relates to the world in which we live, and the one we are about to live in. In this world of electronic connectivity, how do we reach out and touch another when all we have between us are some bouncing electrons?
To put this song in your own collection, check it out here on iTunes. If you'd like an alternative, check out the Music & Me Remix album here. While you are at it, check out his other work, including a personal favorite of mine, Dismantle, here on iTunes. To learn more about the singer/songwriter, check out his official website here.
On Thursday night/Friday morning, SIRPAUL's Music And Me had a world television premiere on LOGO's NewNowNext Pop Lab. Regular readers might remember the video from the sneak peak we had a bit ago. SIRPAUL is a blog favorite, and I have loved his music for some time. I knew it was love after hearing Addicted from the Dismantle album. It has been an affair that has withstood the test of time. Here is the video, directed by Adam Sauermilch.
I went to NYC to the CD Release Party/Concert over the summer, with my blogger/friend Rickey Yaneza and my niece, Mandy. We had a great time, up and dancing in the aisles like the rest of the standing-room-only audience. To finish out the Music And Me experience, a behind the scenes look at the making of the video is available online, and I just happen to have it lined up for you to watch.
Stop by SIRPAUL's official site here, and check out the music and videos you find. You can hear the Music & Me album on iTunes here. It is well worth the purchase if you haven't already, and will quickly become a valued part of your collection. You can also check out SIRPAUL's Wikipedia page here.
Clockwise from Top Left: SIRPAUL, Ari Gold, Andy Bell, and Jimmy Somerville.
It is Saturday night, and I thought I would bring out some of my favorite out performers singing great dance songs live, and showing talent that is hard to deny. The first up is a performance I was there for, that I experienced live and in person myself, and I have to say, I loved every minute of it. This is the glorious and beautiful SIRPAUL singing Music & Me/Physical Attraction at his CD Release party earlier this year.
The music of Ari Gold has been blowing me away for a couple of years. I have not managed to get to a live performance yet, but there is still hope. After all, a chance to see the stunning performer in all his live glory is something that I can't get out of my mind. Here Ari sings Love Will Take Over at a show in the Hamptons. There is both a sweetness and a sexy quality to the performance.
One of my favorite all-time performers is the gifted and brilliant Jimmy Somerville. Whether he was with the Bronski Beat, the Communards, or singing solo, I have loved his music. I last saw Jimmy performing in New York when he was apart of The Communards, but if I got a chance to see him again, I would be there without thinking twice. His voice is every bit as mind-blowing live as it is on record, if you can believe that. This is Jimmy singing You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).
Andy Bell is the singer for Erasure, where he is paired with Vince Clarke, a man who is no stranger to talented cohorts. Clarke was an original member of Depeche Mode, and left to work with the outrageously talented Alison Moyet. But he has spent most of his career working with Andy, so that must mean something. Bell has a fantastic voice, as can be seen here in a live performance of A Little Respect.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did putting it together. I was dancing in front of my computer!
The video opens is a Wagnerian prelude, a moody movement as the camera moves through the crowded party, the guests looking like they are enjoying themselves in that tight, well-behaved social gathering. Then there is some consternation from the guests, as a handsome man with a feathered Elizabethan ruff walks through, adding something new to the party. It is SIRPAUL, and the music shifts to the Electronic Pop I know and love, and we have the latest video for Music & Me, the lead single from the album of the same name. It debuted today on the ElectroQueer blog, and it is every bit as fantastic as I hoped it would be! The imagery varies from overly drenched color to deep contrasted black and white to enriched sepia-toned pictures. Crank up the volume, set the video to full screen, and let the music play!
With a beat that drives me out of my chair and on my feet to dance in front of my computer, Music & Me is a great first single from the latest album. You can purchase the album on iTunes here or you can download it from Amazon.com here. The video sensuous nature allows us to bathe in SIRPAUL, washing the images of his handsome face as those bedroom eyes stare at us watching him, those lips talk directly to us. He even dances with us, pulling us into the video. Enjoy, watch it again and again - I sure am.
On June 26, 2010, I was lucky enough to be amidst the packed house at the Triad Theater for the SIRPAUL concert. Yes, I spoke about it already, but as SIRPAUL has released a couple of songs on YouTube, I thought it was make for a perfect Saturday night party! The first clip is Mistaken. The song is from the Album Music & Me, as are all the songs in this post. Handsome DJ Alex Lautenstein Was showcased in the darkness, before SIRPAUL and singer James Contrino used their flashlights to take the focus back on this great song.
You can notice SIRPAUL was not shy about coming out with new outfits during the show, here showcasing the pants designed for the NewNowNext Awards. He sings the fun Digital World (Killed The Radio Star), and you can see people swaying in the front, me and my friends included.
It was quite sweet when SIRPAUL dedicated this song to his partner, Paul Petersen, sometimes referred to as 'P2.' U is an absolutely beautiful love song, performed amazingly on the night.
SIRPAUL mashed up his own song with one by Daft Punk. The absolute joy of Press Rewind/One More Time was inescapable, and had the audience loving every minute, keeping the beat with their claps. Press Rewind can be found on the Music & Me album.
And if you wanna talk about joy, there is the celebratory Music & Me/Physical Attraction. I love the song, and it certainly had the audience ready to dance in their seats, prepared to jump into the aisles and feel the beat! Combine it with Madonna's Physical Attraction, and you have a song that is irresistible!
Stop by SIRPAUL's official site here, and comment if you feel so moved. You can find Music & Me on iTunes here. It is well worth the $9.99, and will be a valued part of your collection. You can also check out SIRPAUL's new Wikipedia page here.
Musician. Singer. Songwriter. Producer. Performer. Those are but a few of the titles that can be attributed to SIRPAUL. You can also add partner to Paul Petersen. And a man who wants to lend his support to LGBT Youth with his latest video release. The song is Colors from his album Music & Me, and I will just copy the dedication here. Perfect for a song that begins "It's Natural...Changing Colors. Been this way long as I remember..."
This song is dedicated in honor of: Billy Lucas (15) September 9, 2010. Indiana Cody J. Barker (17) September 13, 2010. Wisconsin Seth Walsh (13) September 19, 2010. California Tyler Clementi (18) September 22, 2010. New Jersey Asher Brown (13) September 23, 2010. Texas Harrison Chase Brown (15) September, 25 2010. Colorado Raymond Chase (19) September 29, 2010. Rhode Island Felix Sacco (17) September 29, 2010. Massachusetts Caleb Nolt (14) September 30, 2010. Indiana
Stop by SIRPAUL's official site here, and let him know what you think. You can find Music & Me on iTunes here.
It should come as no surprise to anyone, but I am a huge fan of live music. So when tickets went on sale for a SIRPAUL show in New York City, I reached for my credit card and bought my tickets. There was little that would have stopped me from catching my first SIRPAUL concert, and June 26, 2010, was blocked off the calendar. I knew where I was going to be.
I've been a fan of SIRPAUL for a couple of years now. I think the first album I downloaded was the 2006 Dismantle, and it is still a favorite. I love his song Addicted, which remains special to me. It's like I heard that, and I've been hooked. Don't get me wrong, I love them all. But there is always a soft spot for your first, right?
SIRPAUL with DJ Alex Lauterstein
Well, SIRPAUL did not disappoint. In fact, despite the fact I went in with ridiculously high expectations, I was nothing short of amazed. From showing up and being brought to my seats by Paul Peterson, SIRPAUL's partner, to find they were rather spectacular, so close to the stage I swear if I smiled, SIRPAUL could count my crows feet. I was sharing a table with my niece, Mandy, and Rickey Yaneza, blogger of the world renown Rickey.Org. We were excited to get out goodies - the ≠ button we all immediately put on, the sticker, and the download card, entitling the bearer to a free download of SIRPAUL's latest, Music & Me.
SIRPAUL lays down music that is smart, musical and danceable. From the first song to the last, the 15-song show had me clapping my hands, singing along, tapping my feet, and chair-dancing like never before. Starting with sexy DJ Alex Lautenstein hiding behind the Mac and the gorgeous Jessie Riley are on stage with the Intro/She's So Unusual opening, to SIRPAUL taking to the stage and making Killer sound sweet yet deadly, complete with Jessie, the black widow in the video, I knew this was going to be something memorable. I could hardly keep still to take picture, let alone video, which I have to apologize for in advance for the Blair Witch style during some of it. But, in my defense, no one can keep still to this music. No one. And I have to mention James Contrino, SIRPAUL's cousin. Not only is he handsome, his voice blends beautifully. [And his partner Adam was really nice, too!]
We come next to a block of songs from Music & Me, starting with Digital World (Killed the Radio Star), a clever one about life in these electronic times, Mistaken, Music & Me/Physical Attraction, Give it Up (Til Ya Get Enough) and Press Rewind/One More Time. They are all great songs, better than most, if not all of what I hear on the radio.
Secret Love from Objectified, was up next, and such a sexy song it is! Then back to Music & Me for U, an ethereal love song SIRPAUL dedicated to his partner, Paul. Colors was up next, another song from the new release, a hot ballad that reminds me a bit of YAZ. Let Me Go, Objectified, continues the electronica sound. Then comes the outstanding cut Don't Stop (Break the Beat), from Music & Me, and we were treated to SIRPAUL & James being joined by SIRPAUL's talented sister, Cherylyn, adding even more depth and beauty.
I have also had a long love affair with Do U, first as a single and then part of Objectified. What a rocking good time! And there is Thrust 2010, originally from an EP of the same name - kinda makes me sweat a bit, in a good way. He closed the concert with Shine from Music & Me. It is such a celebration of life and love, and brought everyone to their feet, dancing in the audience. Glorious!
So here is the video compilation of some of the songs I taped, along with a few pictures I took. Forgive my limited skill with the videocam, and revel in the great show SIRPAUL put on for an audience that loved every minute of it. After the show, Mandy turned to me and said 'if he has another show, I want to come!' I know I'll be there.
Stop by SIRPAUL's official site here, and comment if you feel so moved. You can find Music & Me on iTunes here. It is well worth the $9.99, and will be a valued part of your collection. And when the next show is announced, I'll race you all for tickets! And in case anyone missed it, here is me getting all fanboi-like to SIRPAUL, and him saying 'hi' to everyone here.
Saturday night, I hit the town to see SIRPAUL in concert, along with my niece Mandy, and friend and blogger Rickey Yaneza. The show was outrageously good, and I will get to that in another post very soon. But in the meanwhile, here are some pictures and video Rickey graciously took after the show.
Yes, that is you he is talking to, dear readers. I will have more on the show of this talented, sweet, and handsome man soon, I promise. Such a great night!
Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Music & Me, the latest release from SIRPAUL, will be available on iTunes. I was lucky enough to have the chance to interview him back in April, about his his career and inspriations that brought him to this point. As he was kind enough to send me an advance copy, I listened to it and loved it right away. All 12 tracks are delectable treats, just waiting to break out on the radio and be perfect for your iPod. The first single is the title track, and you can give it a listen to one of the remix versions now available on iTunes here.
Q: Your latest release, due out soon, Music & Me, seems to be a more mature, personal pop feel. To my ear, it seems an amalgam The title cut, which I love, is just a joyful exclamation. The beats and feel are brighter, and, dare I say, happier. How did it feel when you were writing it?
Happier! Honestly...that's just how I felt in general during the entire process of recording this new album! Making music for me is like an anti-depressant. It just puts me in such a healthy head space. My birthday was on January 5th. As a gift to myself I decided, this year I would be totally selfish and lock myself in the studio every free day I had that month. I wound up writing, recording, producing, engineering, mixing and editing the entire album of 12 songs, by myself, in 9 full days!! It just came pouring out of me and it is to me, the most accurate representation of who I am both personally and artistically. I'm so excited to share it with the world. The first single is going to be the title track Music & Me (Obra, Keven Maroda and Human Body already signed on to do remixes!!) I also just announced a remix contest for the song that starts today so if any of your readers want to give it a go, they can send an email to ruthlesspromotions@me.com for more details!!
Q: Another of my favorite cuts on the album is Love Taboo with a great R&B feel. What inspired that?
I'm glad you like it! Love Taboo is totally a nod to George Michael's Faith-era music. I feel like he was touching on something that was so groundbreaking in the 80's yet that album still holds up very well today. This song is funny to me because it's about how men flirt with each other. Same sex couples can be so awkward when they go out because of the potential reaction even the slightest PDA can illicit so they tend to have a very specific way of behaving in public. It's very flirty and suggestive and they use a lot of innuendos and sneak around. I think the song captures the playfulness of that dynamic.
Q:'U' looks at a rather haunted feel of love. Which came first, the music or the lyrics?
The music came first. It funny that you chose the adjective 'haunted' because the track wouldn't leave me alone until I put words to it and finished it completely. I wanted to write a song about how being in love can make you act before thinking. When you fall in love for the first time it's so different than "having been in a relationship before"... It transforms you. It makes you feel both completely vulnerable and empowered at the same time. My favorite line in that song is "with you…I can be a Knight." That's how totally how my husband Paul makes me feel…
Q:Press Rewind is an interesting premise - getting over a bad romance by hitting rewind. What made you think of that?
It's funny how songs are so subjective. I can totally see how it can be interpreted that way! I was referring more to the point where you're so consumed by someone that the thought of wanting to be with them is completely consuming! You start to question if you should rewind, or erase and start over so you can get a clear sense of perspective...but you can't!
Q: Songs like Loser Lover and Mistaken make great dance songs. Does heartbreak lead to the dance floor?
I love to go out dancing! That's always be the first place I would go after a break up…straight to the club! I'm all about grabbing my friends and celebrating the beginning of the next chapter. For some reason I never think of break ups as a bad thing…if something isn't meant to be, move on. Life is way to short to stay in some shitty relationship. The universe rewards you for letting go of anything that you feel isn't good enough for you.
Q:Shine ends the album with a real positive and celebratory message. Did you know when you wrote it it would close the album?
No. I just knew that song was special because it made me feel something so strong inside. "Shine" was inspired by the movie Avatar. I had NO IDEA how much that movie was going to affect me. It brought out so many emotions I had pent up for a long time. The scene where the character Jake flies for the first time was such a metaphor for letting go and having faith in love. It was also about letting go of the negative stigma that's attached to being gay and just allowing yourself to exist, be yourself and ultimately…fly.
Q: What song best expresses the real SIRPAUL?
I can't pick one! I feel like this album is like a shattered mirror image of me. All these songs are fragments that reflect different aspects of my personality and I always bare my soul through my music. If you really pay attention to the words of my songs there's always a deeper meaning or some sort of hidden message. Sometimes I'm telling a completely fictitious story and sometimes it's like I'm telling the world my darkest secrets and finally letting them go. I also have a very twisted sense of humor, so sometimes I like to make music that contrasts the lyrics: like a really happy dance song that's secretly about being miserable.
Q: What song left the strongest memory while recording?
Recording this entire album was the most amazing experience of my life. I had such a huge creative spurt and I was just completely immersed in the music. I allowed myself to lose track of space and time and just let the music flow freely. That's why I'd have to say Music & Me. It's my love song to Music.
Q: When you are in the studio, does the musician, singer, or producer take the lead role?
I primarily work completely by myself so when I'm in the studio, the Producer side of me totally takes the lead. It's like I'm possessed by it! I turn into this other person who is completely focused on the final product and doing whatever I need to do to get my music to be as accurately perceived as possible. After all, perception is reality, right?
******** That concludes my interview with SIRPAUL, and I hope he had as much fun answering the questions as I had asking them. I'll definitely be able to find out, as I already have my tickets to the show he is putting on June 26th in New York City. For more on this amazing singer/songwriter/producer, check out his official website here. And make sure you grab a copy of Music & Me, cause I know I will be hitting iTunes first thing Tuesday morning, so go ahead, and help support fantastic out indie musicians.
There are times I just feel I can never catch up, and lately, that is where I have been. I've been meaning to post the about these new followers all week long, because it is not often I have three handsome men wanting to follow me anywhere. Damn, even I had to roll my eyes at that one. So, back to the point, I am pleased to welcome some new members. First, a big hello to Paul Peterson. Unfortunately, aside from seeing he is a rather handsome man, I don't have much information, so I hope to get to know him in the comments soon. I'd also like to welcome the two-for-one package of Archy and Mehitabel, otherwise known as the devilishly handsome Lee Waters and Alexander Horwitz. I am a huge fan of their music, always eager to hear what they have coming next, as well as to listen to the EPs I have in my collection. If you haven't already, you should check out getupkategetup, their latest offering, here. You can check out my review of that EP here. Their official website is here.
Well, I was trying to figure out what I should use as a welcome for the new followers, and thought it might be too cheesy to welcome Archy and Mehitabel with their own video, and I don't have a new one, so I would go in a different direction. It just so happens SIRPAUL just released the title track from his upcoming CD, Music & Me, so I thought I would let everyone hear it. If you like it, feel free to stop by either SIRPAUL's website here or the YouTube page and leave a comment to tell him.
This is the second part of the interview with SIRPAUL. These questions speak to his musical journey, the evolution of SIRPAUL in his music, from the beginning up to Music And Me, which is set to be released on June 1 on iTunes. I will complete this series with the discussion about the making of the album and a review of it. And it was just announced SIRPAUL will kick off his live shows in New York City on June 26th at the Triad Theater. Tickets can be purchased here.
Your first recording, 2003’s Thrust EP, seems to me offered a nod to the late 80s Euro-Electronica of Depeche Mode and Yaz, yet had your own spin. How did you approach your first recording? SP: My first recording was actually my album SIRPAUL. For that one I basically hid in my bedroom and hoped no one was listening! Lol!! I was working with the absolute basics- a keyboard, a mic, a digital 8 track and one sampler. My second album (the unreleased Sexual.Human.Being) no one ever heard, although I think it was quite good. At that point I had incorporated some acoustic guitar and my songwriting skills were getting better. I was creating more polished, well-crafted Pop songs. By the time I got to Thrust I was working on a computer in my tiny NYC apartment. The Thrust EP was just a sampler of my songs from Switch. Switch was my first REAL album and Thrust was going to be my first REAL single. I wanted Thrust to be a respectful nod to Prince and George Michael but I honestly can never shake that Euro feeling completely out of me so you can hear those influences in anything I record. I had my cousin James come over and help me out with the process of recording the vocals on that song and he helped me get to the that part where I sing in a falsetto. We were totally cracking up during the recording but I'm actually really proud of that song! I think it doesn't take itself to seriously and it really set the tone for a lot of my future work.
Robotika had a more brooding feel, a bit sparse, almost jazz instrumental in nature. Does the music come easier? SP:Robotika was an experiment and the birth of my synonymous “alter ego.” I was trying to give myself very specific parameters and rules for the record. No real instruments were allowed. So if you heard a guitar it was totally synthesized. I loved making that album. I really stretched myself artistically and it was a huge relief to not have to feel obligated to reveal so much lyrically! But I don't think any one particular style or genre of music is easier for me to create. I honestly make music in the most organic way... It kind of just flows out of me and I have absolutely no explanation as to how or what I will create next. If you listen to the track 2001 from Robotika you will hear that I sampled it as the basis for one of the songs from my next release Music & Me (the song Break the Beat (Don't Stop!) So sometimes I'm starting one idea and finishing it almost 10 years later! When you get to the point where you are sampling yourself you know you have made a LOT of music! lol
In 2004, you released the album Switch, a much more pop-flavored outing with influences ranging from Middle Eastern rhythms and acoustic simplicity. What brought that on? SP: I think Switch was deeply subliminally influenced by what was happening in the world and in my personal life at the time. We were at the war in the Middle East and at the same time I was finding my artistic voice. I thought I could take that influence and let it speak through my music. That album almost never happened because immediately after completing it my apartment was broken into! I was out at the release party for Robotika and a compilation my label was releasing called Very Controversial! When I got home my computer (with all of the music I had ever created) along with my all of my recording equipment was gone! The police told me it was definitely an inside job done by some I had known...I was so devastated that I almost stopped making music. But I felt like without music I had no purpose in my life so I asked every person I had ever given a CD to to please return it to me so that I could put my library back together. I got back every single song except one! The sound quality of some of the songs on Switch aren't perfect (to me) because they still needed some tweaking and EQ adjustment. Without the master files I couldn't adjust anything so I had to just compile the songs, press the CD's and move on.
My first purchase, 2006’s Dismantle, returned to the slightly dark and brooding side, only amped up. There seem to be more rock influences, both in percussion and mood. Vocally, you really stretched yourself, in a good way. Even the videos had a darker feel. Was that something you were trying to do? SP: Well yes and no...but not really. I think Dismantle was just about taking yourself apart and examining every single aspect of your person and the way you love both yourself and other people differently sometimes. I was just creating and that's what came out. I did want to add more rock guitars and more Drum & Bass, Techno and Breakbeat elements but it was just what I was feeling like fusing together at the time, sound wise.
The 2007 Do U single seem to go flat out rock at times, with driving beat, but many of the mixes utilized electronica to soften that. What is your favorite version? SP: I think Do U has a very “Rock” attitude to it, but for me it was the most electronic single I had made to date at the time. Do U has a very interesting story behind it... I had “virtually” met French producers Human Body through MySpace. I fell in love with what they were doing with Naomman (who I also “virtually” met through MySpace) at the time and they really liked my sound as well. They sent me an instrumental demo track and I couldn't stop listening to it! It was the first time I was ever set to write lyrics to and sing on a song that someone else produced so it was very exciting to me. I came up with the hook for Do U while I was out dancing at Mr. Black one night and it just stuck in my head and I knew we had something special there. So I went out to the studio on Long Island and my sister Cherylyn and I finished up the lyrics and I recorded the vocals to what is now the Human Body Original Version. After it was done, I was just so excited about the track that I had to remix it. So I started editing the vocal arrangement and played with very new sounds and that's how I came up with the Robotika Remix (which is always what I call the versions of songs where I feel like I've stretched myself artistically.) I felt that the original version was a little too abstract for the “aurally repressed ears of the US” at the time so the Robotika Single Version wound up being the version we used for the video. But I can't pick just one... I love them ALL!!
Last year you had Objectified, an electronic collection that is sexually charged, both in rhythms and themes. The videos were also more abstract, with the one for the title song to have almost a layered computer screen feel. Yet vocally, you never step away from the emotional intent of the song. Was that always the intention? SP: The running theme in all of my work is always the concept of Technology vs. Nature. I just think these two forces are constantly battling to dominate one another. I never get tired of exploring this dynamic and I also feel that I'm always finding new ways to express it. On the album Objectified, I loved creating a pure dance pop album that still had smart lyrics while maintaining a sexy, fun tone. Andreas Anastasis had done the video for Do U and it was my most successful single so far, so when it was time to shoot the next video and Andreas wasn't available, I really had no idea what I was going to do! The next video needed to be really strong and I had only ever worked with Andreas. His unavailability opened the door for me to work with a new director for the first time. I was put in touch with Mark Odgers and I could tell that immediately after we met, he was the right person to shoot this video and that this was going to be something completely ground breaking and different for me. I feel like visually, this video is really quite an achievement and he did an amazing job.
Look for the conclusion and my review of Music And Me around the time of the release to iTunes on June 1. Also check out the music videos to be posted momentarily for those not familiar with his work. For more information on SIRPAUL, check out his website here, Twitter here, and FaceBook here.
In a new feature for Soundtrack to my Day, I am proud to post an interview with one of the voices that are certainly part of my own personal soundtrack, SIRPAUL. I have been a fan for several years, and when he mentioned he might be up for an interview for the blog, I jumped at the chance. It has been many years since I interviewed anyone, so I will admit to being nervous, but working with SIRPAUL was a wonderful experience, and I look forward to the readers thoughts.
First, for a bit of background information, where were you born, you grow up? SP: I was born in a tiny harbor town called Port Jefferson out on the north shore of Long Island, New York, and I lived there until I moved to NYC. My whole family still lives there and they are all about 15 minutes away from one another so when I go to visit I can see them all...I'm really close with my family.
Who were you listening to as a kid, your early influences? SP: I have three sisters and one brother and I grew up listening to the music they exposed me to... They each had artists they listened to the most: Madonna, Prince, Stevie Nicks, George Michael, and Van Halen. You can hear all of those elements in my music...But I was OBSESSED with Cyndi Lauper. My entire room was wallpapered with images of her. I had every single piece of memorabilia that was available and I would sit in my room and listen to She's So Unusual over and over and over! I really felt like she was the only person in the world that I could relate to at the time because she looked crazy and I did too! I was really into the whole “New Wave look” and you could see it in the way I dressed...I was kind of androgynous and had crazy hair colors all the time.
When did you first start making music? SP: My parents were both musicians. My father was a drummer and he played on the Ed Sullivan Show once with his band and my mother and her sister were a singing duo called Judy & Jo. They signed to Capital Records when they were teenagers and they had put out some records. One of them was an answer song to Elvis's Good Luck Charm called Don't Wanna Be Your Good Luck Charm. Their songs were GREAT! So at one point or another we all were encouraged to try our hand at music. My brother Brendan is an amazing guitarist and my sister Lisa totally rocked on the drums. But I always sang, made music and wrote songs. I remember being a little kid and making my own tapes and designing the album covers and forcing my friends to be in “bands” with me. I took it very seriously. Then my sister Cherylyn and I started playing around with a keyboard my parents bought me and we began writing real songs when I was around 12. It was all over from there. We were obsessed! By the time I was 16 we had recorded our first demo tape together as a freestyle/techno group called Double Exposure. We were offered the opportunity to start putting out music in Japan but we didn't feel like the offer was legit. (Maybe it was the fact that they wanted my sister to pose for Playboy??) My voice was still changing and I had a lot of work to do so it really wasn't the right time but we thought we were totally gonna be the biggest stars in the world!
How does being a DJ influence you as a singer/songwriter? SP: Well there's always been this misconception that i'm a DJ but I'm not. I've had a very close friendship with one DJ since the very beginning of my career. In 1998 I recorded my very first album, (the self-titled, out of print CD, SIRPAUL) in my bedroom on a keyboard and I was feeling very ambitious. I had just moved to NYC and I pressed a thousand copies of my album and 200 pieces of vinyl for my first single I Disagree. I remixed the song myself (very well, I must say at the time, considering that I was only working on a basic keyboard, a digital 8 track and one sampler!) and my co-worker at the time was Andreas Anastasis. We had just started hanging out and he was really excited to see what would happen with my singing career. He ran the door at a gay club called Twirl in Chelsea. He told me to come down and bring my vinyl to the club because he knew the DJ. When I got there he grabbed my hand and ran me over to the DJ booth and introduced me to this ridiculously beautiful DJ...DJ Alex Lauterstein. I was so nervous, but Alex was totally cool and we clicked right away. He said he would play my record and my heart just stopped beating for a minute. When I heard my song playing for the first time I think it changed my life forever!! We both loved New Wave (Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Erasure) so I guess that since Alex and I shared an affinity for the same types of music, I was probably tailoring my remixes specifically to appeal to that particular sense of aural aesthetics right from the very beginning.
In your personal life, you have a partner, right? How has that helped you with your music? SP: Yes. Paul is actually the best thing that ever happened to me. I really have never been in love before so this person coming into my life has really changed everything for me. I believe we are soul mates. Our families have both been amazing at welcoming us both respectively into their lives and rallying around us to support us as a unit. They do not treat us any different than any other couple. We both feel very blessed.
What makes you happier, making your own music, or spinning the music of others? SP: Nothing makes me happier than making music. I love to play and listen to other peoples music too, but it's honestly just not the same level of satisfaction. DJ's make music by combining other peoples music and mixing CD's together. Producers and artists are creating something out of nothing at all...which feels like magic.
Do you enjoy performing for an audience? Where can a fan catch you performing live? SP: I love performing live. I've had such an overwhelmingly emotional response from fans in the audience at my shows so I'm really curious to see what the response is like when I can actually encourage people to get up and dance! I'm in the very early stages of putting together a show in NYC to coincide with the release of my new album Music & Me. [Editor Note: It was just announced SIRPAUL will kick off his live shows in New York City on June 26th at the Triad Theater. Tickets can be purchased here.]
