Recently I was contacted by the band's PR rep about covering this "inventive" and "energetic" band. I was lucky enough to continue my 20 Questions series and get to know a little more about them! Check it out!
Melanie: SIRSY is the nickname that my sister used to call me when we were kids (instead of "sissy" or "sister").
T: How would you describe your style of music?
Indie pop rock chock full of soul and sincerity with just the right amount of sass. Or so some have said.
T: What artists inspire you? What non-music related things inspire you?
Everyone we've ever heard has offered a bit of inspiration. However, the Beatles are our biggest inspiration. We often find ourselves asking "what would the Beatles do?". But really, what songwriter or rock band hasn't had that thought?
We are a sci-fi loving band. We met because of a Star Trek movie and a Star Wars tee shirt.
We're also inspired by our fans who support us through every crazy adventure. It's inspiring when someone believes in you that much. We're a lucky band.
T: Listening to your first album and your new one, your sound seems to have changed a lot. Do you agree? Can you say what's motivated your evolution sound-wise?
Growing up, life experience, and (we hope) getting better at songwriting and playing.
T: Rich - I saw in a questionnaire on your website that you own Tom Jones' greatest hits (One of my all time favorite CD's. Seriously.) and that your first concert was Franki Valli and the Four Seasons (Jealous!) - Do you find yourself inspired by retro music and vocalists?
Rich: Yes! I love the sense of melody that a lot of the rock acts had in the 60s and 70s. So many songs you just can't help but sing along with.
T: Melanie - Drums, Flute, Vocals, and more! You are certainly a renaissance woman - What women in music (or other arenas) inspire you?
Melaine: Musically, I've always been a fan of big voices with lots of soul. Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, just to name a few. I also like strong women. So, Miss Piggy, Captain Janeway, and Wonder Woman are some of my favorite bad ass females. And pretty much everything Eleanor Roosevelt has ever said is genius.
T: How would you describe your live performances?
We put our all into every live show. So, the passion and energy we radiate on stage is sincere. Music critics and audience members have also said that if you close your eyes, you'll swear there are more people on stage than just two. We guess we make quite a racket.
T: What do you like about performing? What about Recording?
Our favorite thing to do is to perform live because it allows you to be in the moment and not worry about what that moment means... it's just a moment that you're sharing with the people who are listening. And that's a beautiful thing.
T: You guys have also done a Christmas cd (which is so fun, by the way!). What inspired doing something traditional like that?
We both love Christmas and the feeling you get when you hear a Christmas song. So, it was a lot of fun to record those songs and think that we can give people that feeling when they listen.
T: You guys tour like crazy and this is your fifth album in a very short period of time! How do you stay energized and inspired?
Coffee. And lots of it. :) And again, we need to say that our fans keep us going. There's nothing like their love and support. They give us the strength and energy to keep going-- even on the dark days.
T: Your latest album, "Coming Into Frame," was produced by some pretty big hitters who have worked with bands like Radiohead and The Pixies - What have you learned from this experience?
So much! Paul and Sean taught us to not overthink things in the studio. we did very few takes of each of the songs, recorded many songs without a click track, and really kept things raw and real (no autotune, etc). Other folks we've worked with in the past had "rules" to follow that were very limiting to the creative process. Paul and Sean kept things moving but also free so you felt like you could be your best.
T: You put out a lot of sound for having only two members, what do you enjoy about keeping the band so small?
It's easier to create music with just the two of us because we really are on the same page most of the time, musically. It's also fun to see the initial reaction folks have to us. They don't expect our sound to be so big.
T: What challenges have you faced as a band so far?
The van's been robbed, we've driven over 5,000 miles, and we've been inspected by border patrol 3 times, and that's just on this particular leg of the tour!
T: What advice do you have for people working in music?
Make sure you're doing it for the right reason. If you're doing it for your love of music, you'll be okay. It's a lot of hard work and sometimes there's very little payoff. But as long as you love it, then it's all worth it. If you're doing it only for the big payoff, you won't survive for long.
T: Anything else you'd like to mention?
We'd love it if the readers out there followed us on facebook, youtube, twitter, instagram, and joined our mailing list. You can find links to all this stuff at www.sirsy.com. Thanks!
T: And now for my Five Fundamental Questions:
- What is your favorite cocktail?
Rich: Beer. Rich, creamy porters to be specific.
Melanie: Lindeman's Framboise
- What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Rich: Never pet a burning dog.
Mealnie: Live life. You'll never remember the nights that you got a good night's sleep.
- What 3 items, other than food and water, would you take to a deserted island?
Rich: A boat, a satellite phone, and a vintage Darth Vader action figure still sealed in the package.
Melanie: Rich (since he'd have a boat and a satellite phone), my drum kit, and all the Beatles records on my ipod.
- What's your biggest Pet Peeve?
Rich: Driving the speed limit.
Melanie: People who watch live bands with their heads buried in their cell phones.
- If you could befriend one fictional character, who would it be?
Rich: Luke Skywalker, because I would go into Tosche Station with him to help him pick up some power converters.
Melanie: Gonzo the Great because he gets me.
Thanks, you guys! Best of Luck!
Be sure to check out the Band's new album on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and more.
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