(June 29, 2025) Producer Craig Sullivan was born in the U.K., however, he decided to show off his musical gifts at another place of residence. And with his first two CD’s, simply titled The First and The Second, Sullivan, AKA Sir Spencer, made himself at home in the U.S., presenting a marvelous bouquet of eighties-dusted soul, funk and dance. Much of his musical heart on those projects was invested in the funk institution that is The Minneapolis Sound, and Spencer showed his knack for attracting talent that enhanced his inimitable sonic soundtracks, including Jason Peterson DeLaire, who was an integral part of The First and The Second.
For Spencer’s introduction to First Listen, “To Myself” (US Records) from the upcoming full-length, The Third, steps into pure futuristic territory. This repetitive, self-evaluation layers many synthesizers and a rarity of wah-wah guitar from Mike Remington, anchored by a solid funk bass foundation. Grammy winning vocalist/musician and “To Myself” co-writer Jeffrey “Blckatom” Holmes (Chris Brown) locks into an intense emotional zone on a cut clocking in at less than 3 minutes.
What makes this track tick is a supporting team of musicians adding a key dimension in the positives of vulnerability as Spencer explains: “As the lyrics of the song suggest, sometimes we need a little help, and having the contributions of Jeffrey, Mike, and Sam (Brawner) really brought this song to life.” Normally, voices drowning in electro effects can deter the musicality. Yet considering the “overthoughts” that dominate “To Myself,” Spencer and company elevate this storyline several notches. Let us welcome Spencer to SoulTracks by listening up!
By Peggy Oliver
