Who is SIRPAUL™? At first glance, he is a fashionista mixed with a touch of sex symbol but trust me, it gets much deeper than that. A touch of Madonna with a little Lady Gaga thrown in, but absolutely an original in his own right. Listen to his music and you imagine a fun-loving guy who would be great fun to hang out with. Then read about him and see that he has a head on his shoulders, a LOVE for what he does, and he really knows what’s what in the music business. He’s an artist, a lyricist, a producer, dancer, and a fan of great music. He is very social media savvy, which connects him directly to what his fans are looking for or, more importantly, need.
I thoroughly enjoyed his answers to my questions, I learned so much about him and I hope you do to:
Q: You are pretty much a veteran of the music business. How has the industry changed in the time you have been recording/writing/performing?
A: Wow. It’s 100% different than when I started out. Now it’s all about the artist connecting with their fans and I think that’s a good thing.
Q: Tell us a little about your new solo album, ‘The Horse’ and about working with superstar international DJ/Producer Alex Lauterstein?
A: “The Horse” is the album I always wanted to make… it’s a really personal project that I feel deeply connected to. It’s about facing my fears, owning my sexuality, learning to love and becoming my authentic self. The influences on the album are all sounds that I grew up listening to so there’s a sense of 80s nostalgia in there juxtaposed with modern electropop.
I wanted to create a complete listening experience from start to finish over the course of the 15 tracks on the album. You can listen to every track from my new album “The Horse” on my Soundcloud page before you download on iTunes. I really can’t tell you how excited I am to share it with all of you!!
Alex Lauterstein is one of my best friends and he’s an amazing human being. Working with Alex is always an amazing growing experience for me. I’m a total control freak so it forces me to be open to new ideas. Our side project Simulover is very experimental and we both use it as a way to get out of our comfort zone and express ourselves without any of the constraints we place upon ourselves as solo artists.Simulover will be performing on the main stage at Washington DC Capital Pride on June 9th & 10th. Can’t wait!!
Q: You were making club music for over 10 years in NYC and then changed over to pop. Was this a natural progression for you? What are the similarities? Differences?
A: You know… it’s a very strange thing how somehow I got looped into making dance music first, switched over to pop and now I’ve somehow fused the two genres. It was a very natural progression for me and I just went with the flow. When I was feeling like making songs with electric guitars in them, I just did it. When it’s time to dance I certainly don’t hold back either and I just tap into that part of myself that basically grew up on the dance floors of NYC.
Q: Your bio is very impressive, heavy rotation on the Logo television network and a profile on MTVmusic.com. It seems like you are very good at achieving your goals, what’s up next for you?
A: Thank you. I have honestly worked very VERY hard on my career for a long time. I am proud to say that I have achieved many of the goals that I’ve set for myself thus far. What’s up next? Well I’m starting to tour and I’ll be playing at the Poptronik FestivalSeptember 1st & 2nd in Sitges, Spain alongside some of my favorite electropop artists like Garcon Garcon, Bright Light Bright Light, Kazaky, Adam Tyler, Carlos Nobrega, Markus Riva, Martika, Woman E, Queen of Hearts and many more. In October I’lll be visiting Huntsville Alabama to perform at an Anti-Bullying rally for GLBT Advocacy & Youth Services, Inc. and I’m really excited about being there. I am currently promoting my new single & video for “Body Connection” (feat. out rapper Loco Ninja) directed byAndreas Anastasis and I will be shooting the video for the next single soon. Life is insanely busy these days but all very good and exciting things are happening so I’m feeling very blessed.
Q: Today’s artists need to have a Social Media presence as well as the proper knowledge and a good Social Media plan. In your opinion, how has Social Media changed the industry? Any downside to it?
A: Social media has made it possible for emerging artists to get out there and create visibility for themselves. I was into it very early and I think it’s helped me stay ahead of the curve and let go of a lot of the resentment that some artists have against digital media. I think the only downside is that some people don’t want to pay for the music that we, as artists, work so hard to create. Social Media is amazing but it is an extremely time-consuming, full-time job that you are required to master if you want to have a genuine connection with your fans.
Q: Speaking of Social Media, where can we find you online?
A: Everywhere! You can start here:
SIRPAUL™
www.sirpaul.com
SIRPAUL on iTunes
www.facebook.com/SIRPAULMUSIC
www.youtube.com/THEREALSIRPAUL
www.twitter.com/SIRPAUL
www.myspace.com/SIRPAUL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIRPAUL
Q: Who are some of your dream artists to work with? Producers? Singers? Songwriters? Musicians?
A: Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Prince, George Michael, Terry Nunn (from Berlin) and Shirley Manson. I would also like to work with William Orbit & Mirwais.
Q: Reality TV has become synonymous with music. What do you think of shows like American Idol, The Voice, and America’s Got Talent? Are they helpful to the industry?
A: I don’t really watch them but I’m sure that they have their place in helping people get discovered. I think they are, in their own way, actually helping the industry.
Q: Longevity is something that isn’t easy to come by. What do you think are the most important aspects/tools for an artist to secure they will be around for a while?
A: Stay true to yourself and your brand. Figure out what sets you apart from other artists. Don’t jump on the bandwagon of the “new sound” or trend…it’s cheesy. Learn how to use Twitter…it’s the best thing in the world for networking that exists I’m #obsessed.
Q: Do you think some artists put out too much music in a short period of time?
A: Yes. We don’t need every single demo you ever made released as a single. Take a break, live your life a little bit and then come back with something very strong for your listeners. We need to missss you!
Q: What’s up next for SIRPAUL™?
A: I’m working on the next video, producing music for some very cool new artists and remixing a lot. I love to remix artists that are from a different genre than my own, like the remixes I just did for Christopher Dallman & Baby Alpaca.
Q: Anything you want to leave your fans with?
A: I want to thank you for letting me connect with all of you through my art. I set out to make 2012 the best year of my life and so far it has been truly magical. Command respect, live the life you set out to live, never betray yourself and always remember that you are royalty. Hit me up on Facebook or Twitter and say hello! Lots of love and light xxx @SIRPAUL
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