Interview: Sun King Rising Release New Music Album “Delta Tales”
Q: Hi John! How have things been going since the release of your album, “Delta Tales?”
Things are going extremely well! I’m delighted with the great fan response and the many excellent reviews that we have received. We’ve centralized the album reviews on the SunKingRising.com website so fans can see them all. It is a very gratifying feeling to see that there are people out there who really understand and love our music.
Q: You’ve had quite a ride with your current single doing very well on the charts. What has been the most thrilling thing that’s happened to you in the past year?
Yes, the single “Free Will In China Blue” has been doing extremely well both in the US and internationally, especially in the United Kingdom. The interesting thing is that the song almost didn’t make the release since I wrote it after the CD went to manufacturing and it was originally slated to be a digital bonus track only. But the record company loved the song and wanted it to be the single. Free Will is now included on the second printing of the CD and is also included on the vinyl version of Delta Tales
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not making music?
I’m a medical research scientist currently working on the genetic causes of why people’s cells differ so much in response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It’s an exciting time for both science and music.
Q: You live in Port Isabel, TX. What is your favorite thing about the city?
It’s small town Texas. The people are friendly, and the location has that tropical coastal feel of perpetual vacation. I’m as far south as you can get in Texas, right in the Texas Delta. My recording studio, Reborn Pelican Studio, sits right on the water, which I can see while sitting and composing at my Yamaha piano.
Q: If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would that be and why?
There are a lot of great artists that inspire me and whome I’d love to meet and share a stage with. Legends like Van Morrison and Steve Winwood. Also, some of the incredible musicians who defined southern soul like Steve Cropper, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, and Booker T Jones. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to sharing a live stage with my virtuoso cousin, Steve Schuffert, who has contributed so much outstanding guitar to the Sun King Rising recordings. We haven’t played music together since our early teens!
Q: Are you political at all? Do you get involved in social media debates?
I definitely have political opinions, but I refuse to share them publicly since I don’t want to alienate anybody. There are a lot of opinions out there and most (but not all) of them have a rational intellectual basis at their core, so I don’t like it when one side denigrates another. I generally think it is unwise to assume that people want to hear your opinions. I certainly get turned off hearing certain musicians always nattering on about their political views.
Q: What is one thing about yourself that you would change?
I’d give myself more time to create music.
Q: If you had any advice for an up and coming artist, what would that be?
Work hard, trust your instincts, and be kind to people. It is never appropriate to act uncivilly. You never know when it will come back to haunt you. Follow the golden rule. Also, learn as much music theory as you can, it will help you at unexpected times.
Q: Any plans for a new single?
Yes. There will be something very special coming off the next album. We have a couple of choices right now, so I don’t want to give a title. But……I suspect it is going to be another slice of southern soul with an earworm of a hook!
Q: Will you be releasing a follow up album?
Absolutely! We are very close to finishing up the second Sun King Rising album to be titled “Signs & Wonders”. I think we’ll finish the principal recording in November, and we should probably have it out in late Spring or early Summer. I’m excited because I think that I’ve written some of the best songs of my career for this one.
Q: Any last shout outs or words for your fans?
Keep up your support! It is greatly appreciated. Also, look for the live debut of Sun King Rising to happen after the release of the second album. It was awful not being able to tour the first album. That said, we will now have the benefit of twice as much material. We especially hope to book some upcoming festivals where we’ll be able to utilize the whole Sun King Rising live band, complete with horn section and background vocalists.
Website
https://www.facebook.com/SunKingRising
Bandcamp
https://peacocksunriserecords.com/project/sun-king-rising/
