Original Interview by: ILL WILL Adapted by: DeLonte' Briggs
DC native and band frontman, Frank ‘Scooby’ Sirius is fresh off some touring events sharing his silky, soulful, acoustic sound, but he warns you, he’s more than well rounded. Frank Sirius has been featured on MTV as a breakout artist of the year (2010) as well as performed with some of the legends of DC music from Chuck Brown to Raheem Devaughn and W Ellington Felton, and still performs with numerous bands while perfecting his own sound. A pianist, vocalist and guitarist, Frank Sirius is a one-man soul band who gracefully covers soul crooners from Otis Redding to Sam Cooke with ease. We would describe him as an older more relatable Trey Songz, without the irritating self harm-inflicting runs that has become his signature sound. Versatile, smooth, and charismatic with words that roll off the tongue, Frank Sirius is personable and his lyrics are accessible, to the point where his hooks are undeniable and easily put on repeat.
While at his last performance in Philadelphia with Candice Anitra and Walter Christopher, we got a chance to sit down and ask a few questions of Frank Sirius. Check out his influences, support and how he plans to change music from Frank Sirius via ILL WILL sponsored by SOUL-IMPRINT TV.
Q: Where do you hail from, physically and musically?
A: Washington, DC, Chocolate City, DMV, are all my homes. Whatever you want to call it. Musically I can do it all soul, go-go, acoustic, R&B.
Q: Over the years who has influenced you?
A: My dad has been singing for over 50 years, I grew up with it in the house all the time so its no mystery, why I’m still singing it.
Q: Really artists like who?
A: My favorites are the 60’s and 70’sTemptations, Doo-wop groups of the 60’s, The Spinners, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder. I just had an old soul at a young age. Right now I’m working on a Spinners remake, coming soon.
Q: What have been your main influences?
A: Honestly, being able to support myself with this career is definitely what keeps pushing me. Aside from my kids and sports, music has definitely saved my life, in a lot of ways. I’m blessed to be able to do it full time as a career.
Q: As an R&B artist, we always see a lot of collabs with hip hop, go-go and other genres music, but it seems as if we are slipping into the popping bottles, and misogyny time again. How do you remain true to your music?
A: In my opinion you have to put love back in the music. The difference between our music and our parent’s music is the lack of love in the music today. We have lost the love, I’m putting it back with every song. The sad part is the lack of love in music is the same lack of love in their lives. Art is supposed to reflect life, but when artists let made up lives influence art they negate their social responsibility, and lead our youth down fabricated lifestyles. We should keep the love and even preaching in music, we’ve lost the Marvin Gaye’s of our time, and its showing up on the streets, daily. Lets take back our responsibility to our youth through music, and it’s a joint effort. YOU WITH ME?
See the full story at http://www.soul-imprint.com
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Also check out his post-Valentine's Day performance at Blues Alley. Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Find more information at www.bluesalley.com. Frank Sirius is also featured in the February edition of The SOULetter.
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