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Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
SiR on his upcoming Hollywood Bowl show, his mother's passing and making a classic record
In a TikTok video captured by a fan at one of SiR's sold-out L.A. shows last August, the Inglewood-born singer-songwriter breaks down into tears after his wife appears onstage behind him. 'Y'all give it up for my beautiful wife, Kelly Ann,' he says on the mic after collecting himself. When he leans to give her a kiss, the crowd erupts into a sea of 'aws' and cheers. It was a tender moment between the couple during the final stretch of his Life Is Good tour in support of 'Heavy' — his most vulnerable project yet, which took five years to make and tackles his years-long battle with drug addiction, depression, infidelity and the process of getting sober. Behind the scenes, though, SiR was grappling with a different hardship: The death of his mother, Jackie Gouché, a talented performer who sang with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, and helped build SiR's confidence as an artist. His team was 'ready for me to just drop everything and come home,' says SiR over Zoom. 'But I prayed about it. I talked to my family, and we made the decision for me to finish the tour out, in honor of her.' So by the time he got to the Hollywood Palladium, where he performed back-to-back shows, he says, 'I think I was drained and I needed my support, and my wife just so happened to be there, which was just perfect for me. I'll never forget that night.' Since that emotional performance, SiR, born Sir Darryl Farris, released an extended version of 'Heavy,' subtitled 'The Light,' in April, which features six new tracks, some of which are new, such as 'Sin Again' and 'No Good,' and others that didn't make the cut on the original project. The Grammy-nominated singer, who is signed to L.A. powerhouse label Top Dawg Entertainment alongside R&B darling SZA, is set to make his headlining debut at the Hollywood Bowl on July 20 for the KCRW Festival. The upcoming show will feature an opening set from singer-songwriter Leon Thomas, of whom SiR is a 'huge fan,' along with two surprise appearances from, he says, the 'best guests I could get.' Ahead of the upcoming show, we caught up with the 'John Redcorn' singer to discuss how he's keeping his late mother's memory alive through his music, how becoming a father of two daughters has affected him both personally and artistically and his goal to make a classic record that everyone knows. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. You recently wrapped up your Step Into the Light tour a few weeks ago. How was it being onstage with your older brother, Davion, who sang background vocals, and your uncle Andrew, who is a gospel bass legend? It was so fulfilling. I've worked with them before on so many different levels. My uncle plays on all my songs, and Davion and I write songs together, but to have them on the road with me was just a different outer-body experience. I think my favorite part of all of that was the time we spent [together] before and after the shows, like having dinners with my uncle and finding out things about my parents that I didn't know. Finding out stories about my grandfather that I'd never heard. Now, our bond is that much stronger. It's really nice to have him on the road. My uncle Andrew is awesome. I got sick of my brother. [laughs] You were also on tour last year in support of 'Heavy,' which is your most vulnerable project yet. How was it performing these songs this time around as opposed to last year? Did any songs hit differently? We changed the set list just a tad because we had new music that we wanted to promote. The newer songs felt great. I was really specific about which ones I added because I wanted them to be songs that I enjoyed singing. The songs that I have in the set list that are staples still hit the same, and the audience still responds the same way. But it was surprising to see people singing the new music. I was fully prepared to go there and have to explain myself through these songs, but people were already vibing and singing along, which was great. My audience is great. I love my fans so much. What songs did you add from the 'Heavy Deluxe: The Light' project? We added 'No Good,' 'Sin Again,' 'Out of My Hands' and then, of course, 'Step Into the Light,' which we added to the end of the set. But we also have songs like 'John Redcorn' in there, which is a staple. If I don't sing 'John Redcorn,' people will come for my neck. Last August, a fan posted a video of you crying during one of your shows at the Hollywood Palladium after you saw your wife, and the comment section was filled with sweet and supportive messages. Do you mind sharing what headspace you were in that night and why you felt so emotional in that moment? That was the end of the tour, so I knew I was done, and in the middle of that tour, I actually lost my mom. At the time, I was on the phone with [TDE Chief Executive Anthony 'Top' Tiffith], and he asked me if I wanted to continue. They were ready for me to just drop everything and come home. But I prayed about it, I talked to my family, and we made the decision for me to finish the tour out, in honor of her. My energy was just so low. I've never felt like that and had to go perform, and we had like eight more shows left. So by the time I got to the Palladium, I was drained. There's a song that I sing called 'Tryin' My Hardest,' and I wrote that when I wasn't sober and I was just trying to work myself through recovery. It was an ode to my mother and my wife, just telling them that I wasn't giving up every time I relapsed. I [think] it was that song that she came out to. Half the time, tears were flowing down my face. So I think I was drained and I needed my support, and my wife just so happened to be there, which was just perfect for me. I'll never forget that night. We sold out the Palladium twice. You had a really close relationship with your mother, Jackie Gouche, who was a phenomenal artist in her own right. Have you written any songs in dedication to her since her passing? I have a song that goes: (Starts singing lyrics) Her name is Danielle, born in December but never felt the cold Chocolate skin and a heart that's made of goldA certain resemblance to someone that I know As bitter, as sweet As easy as it was to sweep me off my feet I never imagined that you may never meet I wish you could be here to watch my baby grow She's gonna to do well Her name is Danielle. It's just a song about my daughter that I wrote for her, and hopefully, I put it on the next project. Ooh. But we'll see. My mother was such a big reason why I started really writing songs and wanting to be SiR. I was a different kind of guy growing up. I was very timid. I wasn't sure about my musical abilities or gifts, and anytime I sent her songs, she would just light up and tell me how beautiful it was and give me advice, which was very important. After a while, I just kept impressing her and kept blowing her away in her own words. She was a huge part of my confidence. You've been vocal and vulnerable about your experience of dealing with addiction and all of the lifestyle changes you've made since becoming sober. Can you talk about what you've learned about yourself throughout this time? I've learned that I have an addictive personality, no matter what the drug is, and I've created some good habits. The gym is now the biggest addiction that I have. I definitely had to just learn who I was looking at in the mirror, because when you're inebriated, intoxicated all the time, you don't really know what's going on or who you are, and it's a tough place to be. It's a tough hole to dig yourself out of, but once you get out of that, you've got to navigate not falling back into the hole. It took about a year before I even got close to being sober. I'd have, like, sober weeks, and relapse after relapse and things like that. But at this point, I'm proud of where I am as a father, as a husband, and I'm trying to make sure that I just keep nourishing my artistry, because as much as I'm glad that that album came out, it took me five years to put that album out, and that shouldn't happen. I always like to think of myself as a hyper-creative, and I should be able to have an album out every year. I'm a studio rat, so we should be able to find it. But my sobriety had to be at the forefront of everything, and I'm navigating being SiR sober. This is all new, and it's definitely fun, but I definitely had to really work to get here. Since releasing 'Heavy,' you had another daughter, whom you talked about earlier, so now you're a father of two. Can you talk about how fatherhood has affected you personally and creatively? Fatherhood is like, ooh man, it's a process. It taught me a lot about myself. I'm selfish. I'm impatient. I'm getting old. [laughs] My body doesn't move and respond the same. When you have a 3-year-old who's running as fast as she can and you're trying to keep up with her, it's tough. But it also just taught me a lot about how well I was raised. My parents were sweet. They were so nice and so kind and so gentle with us, and very protective, but in the best ways. If I'm half as good of a parent to my kids as my mother was to me, I think they're going to be fine. On Sunday, you are going to headline the Hollywood Bowl for the first time. How are you feeling about the show and what are you most excited about? I can't lie, I was excited about Leon Thomas' set, but I realize now that I'm not going to be able to watch it, because I'm going to be doing my vocal warmups and getting ready for own thing. So now I'm just excited to see that sea of people. In L.A., I've done some really good shows, but it's a 17,000-cap venue, and I think we're doing good on ticket sales. This is the largest SiR audience that I've ever seen, so I'm excited to see the fans and hear them sing along. Have you met Leon Thomas before? We haven't met, but I'm a huge fan. I don't know if a lot of people [know], but Leon Thomas was a songwriter before he started putting music out on his own. Of course, everyone knows him from his acting days, but he was a part of a writing group that is based in L.A. and has been writing songs for other artists, so to see him come to the forefront of his own artistry is a beautiful thing. I think I'm on the waiting list for a Leon Thomas session. Collaborating is big right now with me, especially since things have changed and I don't work as much as I used to on my own. I want to bounce ideas off of good artists, and I want to have great musicians in the room so we can make sure that everything is where it's supposed to be in the song. We talked about it. I texted him [last] week just to thank him for being a part of this, and I wanted to congratulate him on all of his success. He's a good guy, and I'm definitely a huge fan. Why is collaboration so important for you now? What's changed? I want better songs. I've been around a long time. I got a lot of music out, but I have this thing in my head where I just want a classic. I feel like I have some really good records, but I want a song that everybody knows. As a songwriter, I think the most beautiful music comes from collaboration because you have people there to give you guidance in your own thought process. Even if I'm leading the way, I have somebody in my ear that's navigating into this place we're trying to get to. But I definitely just want to write better songs, and I'm not afraid to ask for help. I've had to learn that the hard way. I spent a lot of time over the years just kind of closed off in my box, which was great because it created my world, my sound. But now that I have established my sound, I should always be open to people helping me create in my world, especially if they know what my world is. Have you started thinking about your next project yet? I am definitely thinking about my next project. It does not have a name. We don't have a date, but I am as busy as I can be right now, just with new songwriting and trying to stay ahead of it, because if I make you guys wait another five years for another project, I don't think I'ma survive. I might have to go get me a day job. So I'm definitely working, but I'm not gonna rush. I'm not gonna force anything. I'm not just gonna put out anything. We need, you know, at least 40 to 45 minutes of just greatness, and I'm gonna do everything I can to deliver for the fans, because they deserve it more than anything.
Scotsman
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Legends of historic Fife cave inhabited by saint to be told in film screened in cave itself
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It is a natural cave carved by an underground river thousands of years ago and was the home of a miracle-working saint, whose arm bone is believed to have helped Robert the Bruce's army win the Battle of Bannockburn. Now a film telling the story, mystery and legends of Saint Fillan's cave in the East Neuk of Fife is to be shown in the tiny cave itself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Light, the Bell & the Burden explores mysteries around belief, folklore and healing through St Fillan and the relics connected to him. Amongst these relics are eight river stones which are said to have specific healing properties; the saint's bronze bell known as the Bernane, also used for healing and the arm and hand of the saint himself, which is said to have glowed with light allowing the saint to write sermons in the cave, in the village of Pittenweem. Commissioned by ENF with support from Event Scotland's National Events Programme, the video will be installed inside the coastal cave measuring around 10 metres by six metres, where St Fillan is said to have lived as a hermit towards the end of his life in the eighth century. It features a recorded performance of The Witch of Leanachan, a dramatic and haunting piece written by fiddle player and composer Donald Grant, who is joined by 'maverick', genre-bending cellist Su-A-Lee of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Filmmaker Andy McGregor, whose previous audio-visual work includes creative direction of the annual Castle of Light show at Edinburgh Castle, large scale video installations for Walter Scott 250th anniversary and a long association with the East Neuk Festival, which commissioned the film, said: 'It's an honour to be invited to make this work for this the 20th year of the Festival and for this unique and hallowed space. The story of St Fillan and the wider history of Pittenweem establish themes which resonate for me personally, and – I hope – universally when expressed in the work. 'I have always been drawn to the area where belief and ritual overlap and to spaces, objects, stories and sounds.' Robert the Bruce is said to have had a reliquary containing St Fillan's arm bone, which he brought to the Battle of Bannockburn. Legend claims the bone fell out, indicating a 'miraculous sign', which was credited with victory in the battle. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad St Fillan's Cave is embedded in a natural rock behind the small town of Pittenweem. Svend McEwan-Brown, director of East Neuk Festival, said: 'Festivals happen in special places for a reason – it's the magic combination of place and performances that give them the edge when it comes to leaving audiences with incredible memories of magical experiences. 'Andy McGregor has been involved with ENF since the very beginning and it is wonderful to welcome him back to create what I am sure will be a special work in a wonderfully atmospheric space.' Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland said: 'The Light, the Bell & the Burden installation utilises the power of events to showcase one of Scotland's many fascinating tales from our history. EventScotland is delighted to support the East Neuk Festival in their 21st year, where a range of talented artists are set to gather in some of the most charming villages, and venues in Scotland. 'The festival is part of an exciting portfolio of events taking place across the country that we are supporting to deliver a wide range of economic and social benefits and strengthen our position as a world-leading tourism and events destination.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beta Reveals Sales for ‘Let It Rain,' ‘The Physician II,' ‘The Light'
Leading sales agency Beta Cinema has revealed a tranche of sales to major territories for 'Let It Rain,' 'The Physician II' and 'The Light.' The Swedish comedy 'Let It Rain,' directed by two-time Oscar-nominee Hannes Holm, was sold to Leonine (German-speaking territories), Benelux and Singapore (September Film), Czech Republic (Film Europe), Former Yugoslavia (Blitz), Bulgaria (Beta Film) and Israel (Lev Cinemas). More from Variety 'Case 137' Director Dominik Moll on Exploring the Gilets Jaunes Riots in His Cannes-Premiering Political Drama: 'These Divisions Still Exist' in French Society Breaking Through the Lens Co-Founder Daphne Schmon on What Has to Change for Gender Equity in Film: 'We Need Actions to Speak Louder Than Words' Riley Keough to Star in Albert Serra's English-Language Debut 'Out of This World,' Exploring U.S.-Russia Rivalry Amid the Ukrainian War (EXCLUSIVE) Robert Gustafsson ('The 100-Year-Old Man'), Jonas Karlsson ('The Snowman') and Karin Lithman ('The Bridge') star in the tale of a grumpy widower who, by miracle or coincidence, finds himself at the center of an event that could transform not only his own life but the fate of his entire village—and possibly the world. Holm earned two Academy Award nominations for 'A Man Called Ove' in 2015. The film became an international box office hit in 2016, grossing over $30 million worldwide, and was later remade as 'A Man Called Otto,' starring Tom Hanks. Holm is one of Sweden's most successful filmmakers, with other hits like 'Adam & Eva' (1997), 'Shit Happens' (2010) and the 'Andersson Trilogy' (2012-2014), all of which set box office records in Sweden. The sweeping epic, 'The Physician II,' starring Tom Payne ('Horizon,' 'Prodigal Son') in the leading role as the gifted healer Rob Cole, was presold to Spain (Dea Planeta), Portugal (Outsider Pictures), Italy (Rai Cinema), Austria (ORF), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Bonton), Former Yugoslavia (Blitz), Poland (Monolith), and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (Paradise). This long-awaited sequel to the international box office hit 'The Physician,' explores early treatment of the human soul and is set amidst a gripping royal intrigue in medieval Europe. Emily Cox ('The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die'), Aiden Gillen ('Game of Thrones,' 'Maze Runner') and Liam Cunningham ('Game of Thrones,' 'Hunger') co-star. Tom Tykwer's Berlinale Opening movie 'The Light' was sold to Italy (Rai Cinema), Benelux (September Film), Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia (European Film Forum), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery), Hungary and Bulgaria (ADS), Greece (TFG), Turkey (Bir Film), Taiwan (Cineplex) and Brazil (Imovision). The politically charged drama stars Lars Eidinger and Nicolette Krebitz as parents of a modern Berlin family on the brink, navigating deep personal and ideological rifts in a rapidly changing world. Tykwer ranks among Germany's most acclaimed directors with a track record including his breakout hit 'Run Lola Run,' 'Cloud Atlas' with Tom Hanks and Hale Barry, and the international hit series 'Babylon Berlin.' Deals across more than 15 territories for Beta Cinema's Cannes Première title, 'Amrum,' directed by Fatih Akin, were announced earlier this week by Variety. Beta Cinema's Cannes slate also includes the Italian hit comedy 'U.S. Palmese' by directors Antonio and Marco Manetti, the Spanish debut 'The Remnants of You' by Gala Gracia and the Nina Hoss-led Berlinale drama 'Cicadas,' directed by Ina Weisse ('The Audition'). Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Reedland' Review: Outstanding Slow-Burn Thriller Announces Potentially Major New Dutch Director Sven Bresser
Johan (Gerrit Knobbe) is a reed-cutter. As 'Reedland' opens, we meet him in his natural habitat, surrounded by hissing, shivering reeds shot in close-up, then in wide shot. It's a sonic and visual maze, the natural world's equivalent of TV static: earth-bound, mud-rooted and subtly threatening in its hypnotic, fluttering illusion of uniformity. Reeds are the perfect hiding place for horrors, as will shortly become abundantly clear, when a girl's body is revealed in the dirt, in all its helplessness. A violent crime fracturing a tight-knit community is hardly a new subject for arthouse cinema, but it is handled here by freshman writer-director Sven Bresser with an original eye and a keen sense of how to generate a persistent atmosphere of foreboding. It was filmed in Weerribben-Wieden in the Netherlands, and the landscape is integral to this finely calibrated mood. 'Whispering' is probably the adjective most associated with reeds, giving the land the stark sense of harboring infinite witnesses who cannot speak of the crimes they have seen — at least, not in any language we can understand. More from Variety Beta Reveals Sales for 'Let It Rain,' 'The Physician II,' 'The Light' 'Case 137' Director Dominik Moll on Exploring the Gilets Jaunes Riots in His Cannes-Premiering Political Drama: 'These Divisions Still Exist' in French Society Breaking Through the Lens Co-Founder Daphne Schmon on What Has to Change for Gender Equity in Film: 'We Need Actions to Speak Louder Than Words' Well-chosen place-name titles are more than just a convenient piece of orientation for an audience. When used judiciously, they plant a flag in that location, forever binding the place and the film together. 'Reedland' is not the name of a town or road, but a terrain that provides the physical and psychological setting for an eerily poetic character study. Knobbe is an extraordinary presence as Johan, a widower who has worked at his job for decades, and is now also an attentive grandfather. As the camera studies Knobbe's weather-beaten face, you watch him, trying to place which Ingmar Bergman film you might know him from. But he isn't an actor, and you've never seen him before. He is an actual reed-cutter, discovered by Brasser during the process of researching and building the film, which makes his tightly controlled performance all the more impressive, and provides persuasive evidence of Brasser's aptitude as both talent-spotter and performance coach. Knobbe's face is shaped by his work in the outdoors, in a way that you simply don't see with actors nowadays, when a high proportion of both men and women seem to be engaged in counterintuitive quests to make their faces, the primary tool of an actor, less capable of expression. Knobbe's, by contrast, gives lived experience — it is its own craggy, fathomless landscape. In addition to Bergman, the lineage of European filmmakers into which this dark, finely judged film slots includes the likes of Michael Haneke and Thomas Vinterberg. But 'Reedland' also recalls Japanese director Kaneto Shindō's 1964 masterpiece 'Onibaba' with its hints of supernatural evil. There, as here, reedland is presented as a breeding ground for more than just mosquitoes: It contains madness and murder. The two films share some visual strategies, with reeds-as-labyrinth shots just as effective a motif now as they were 60 years ago. Not to suggest that DP Sam du Pon's camera only gets landscapes to work with. Numerous vignettes of the small community's existence both in public and private afford Bresser and du Pon the opportunity to explore how people reconcile their public and private selves, on one occasion via the precise framing of a shot where Johan engages with pornography on his laptop, and we glimpse artwork by his granddaughter pinned to a wall in the background. With a tight runtime, magnetic central performance and bleak but compelling subject matter, theatrical prospects could be potentially rewarding for an appropriate arthouse distributor. This is a film designed to be seen on the big screen, and while it should certainly have appeal for high-class streamers, it'd be a pity to see it skip cinemas. For audiences looking to take a step up from standard Scandi-noir murder fare on TV while staying firmly within the realm of accessible narrative cinema, 'Reedland' is an outstanding discovery. Best of Variety The Best Albums of the Decade
Perth Now
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Disturbed's David Draiman proposes to girlfriend onstage
Disturbed's David Draiman proposed to his girlfriend live onstage. The 52-year-old rocker asked his girlfriend of more than a year, model Sarah Uli, to be his wife at the heavy metal band's concert in Sacramento on May 9. In a tear-jerking moment, he told her onstage at the Golden 1 Center: "You are the light in the darkness for me." David - who has 11-year-old son, Samuel, with his first wife, Lena Yada - invited his partner to join him onstage. He told the crowd: 'At this time, I would like to call Miss Sarah Uli to the stage, please. 'Everyone say hello to my lovely lady Sarah. 'And she's looking at me and she's wondering, 'What the f*** is he doing?'" He then paid a touching tribute to the model: 'Sarah, my love, you have made my life so much better. You are the light in the darkness for me. I love you more than anything I have ever loved in this world, and it would be the absolute pinnacle of my life and my existence…' David then got down on one knee before they performed 'The Light'. He asked her: "Sarah Uli, will you marry me?" She agreed and was seen wiping her happy tears away. The couple made their romance Instagram official in January 2024, with David penning alongside a picture of the pair: 'She completes me. [red love heart] My goddess." The 'Down with the Sickness' rockers are currently on a 25th anniversary tour for their debut studio album, 'The Sickness'.
