HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

SIRIS is the name of American music duo Michael Maley and Patrick Maley. Their name SIRIS was derived from two Chinese words "sai" 赛 and "ri" 日, meaning to surpass the sun. Hailing from the city of
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, the brothers are best known as the only western band in the world performing and composing their own original English and Chinese language songs.Chinese World Journal http://post.baidu.com/f?kz=99875734


The beginning

The brothers began singing and writing music at an early age. During their teenage years they performed in local bands throughout the city of Philadelphia. Some of their major influences included
Genesis Genesis may refer to: Religion * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of humankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Bo ...
, Sting, U2 and
Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the synth-pop bands o ...
. In 1992, shortly after graduating highschool, Michael Maley moved to China to pursue his studies in Chinese at China's prestigious
Fudan University Fudan University (FDU) is a public university, national public university in Yangpu, Shanghai, Yangpu, Shanghai, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education (China), Ministry of Education and is co-funded with the Shanghai Municipal ...
. During that time, younger brother Patrick remained in America and continued his pursuit of music as a drummer.


Chinese Influence

Siris' Chinese inspired music is due in large part to Michael's experiences in China. While living in China, he not only studied at
Fudan Fudan University (FDU) is a national public university in Yangpu, Shanghai, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education and is co-funded with the Shanghai Municipal Government. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, ...
but also worked as an English teacher and Chinese/English translator.Associated Press Michael's fluency in Chinese and strong martial arts background helped him gain notoriety in TV commercials and films. In 1994 he was featured in the
Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
produced
martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
movie
The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell (director), James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas i ...
. After his initial four-year stay in China, Michael returned to America and reunited with his brother Patrick. In 1996, the brothers returned to their musical roots and formed the band Siris. They adopted a unique multi-cultural approach to making music by melding influences from the
east East is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fact that ea ...
and
west West is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some Romance langu ...
.


Professional Career Highlights


1997 to 1999

Beginning with their 1997 debut Chinese EP entitled, "Till My Last Breath" (直到我最后一息) SIRIS became the first
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
group in
music history Music history, sometimes called historical musicology, is a highly diverse subfield of the broader discipline of musicology that studies music from a historical point of view. In theory, "music history" could refer to the study of the history of ...
to record an original
Chinese language Chinese ( or ) is a group of languages spoken natively by the ethnic Han Chinese majority and List of ethnic groups in China, many minority ethnic groups in China, as well as by various communities of the Chinese diaspora. Approximately 1.39& ...
album. The album was co-produced by
Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...
nominated producer David Ivory. In 1998 the brothers moved to
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
and
Mainland China "Mainland China", also referred to as "the Chinese mainland", is a Geopolitics, geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addit ...
to promote the new album. Breaking new ground in the Chinese market would prove difficult. After a modicum of success in Asia, they returned to the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
in 1999.


2000 to 2003

The year 2000 was a turning point for SIRIS as the brothers returned to the studio to record their first English album "The Order Of Time". That same year, they also formed their own record label and production company, "Run Hard Music". "The Order of Time" was a very progressive offering that stayed true to their musical roots. The album also managed to celebrate their Chinese influences, containing many Chinese references throughout. These references were evident on both the packaging and on three of the albums twelve tracks; including the progressive title track "The Order of Time", "Ma Ma Hu Hu" and their Chinese single "Beautiful Angel" 美丽的天使. "The Order of Time" was officially released and distributed worldwide in February 2001. While the record industry was facing new challenges from music downloads and online file sharing, Siris seized a new opportunity. On the strength of their English single, "My Love For You Will Always Be" and the albums' lone Chinese track "Beautiful Angel" 美丽的天使, SIRIS quickly jumped to the top of MP3.com's
top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
pop chart. "Beautiful Angel" broke the top 20, reaching number 11 and became the first Chinese song in MP3.com's history to enter the charts. After more than 2 million downloads, 100,000 units sold and a string of successful performances, Siris' critically acclaimed English debut was an independent success. In 2002,
Music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...
legend
Adrian Belew Robert Steven "Adrian" Belew (born December 23, 1949) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. A multi-instrumentalist primarily known as a guitarist and singer, he is noted for his unusual approach to the instrument, his ...
commented, "It's nice to hear something refreshing in a world of similar artists!" In 2003, Siris once again took part in breaking new ground as their Chinese single "Beautiful Angel" became the first Chinese song to be sold on Apple's
iTunes iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management (MDM) utility developed by Apple. It is used to purchase, play, download and organize digital multimedia on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating s ...
.


2004 to 2007

In 2004, SIRIS went back into the studio to focus on new Chinese material. In 2005, they released the Chinese EP "Xing Fu". The album received widespread critical acclaim and helped solidify their unique place in
music history Music history, sometimes called historical musicology, is a highly diverse subfield of the broader discipline of musicology that studies music from a historical point of view. In theory, "music history" could refer to the study of the history of ...
. In late 2005, a successful promotional tour of
Mainland China "Mainland China", also referred to as "the Chinese mainland", is a Geopolitics, geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addit ...
,
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
and the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
followed. On the strength of their hit single "Xing Fu" 幸福, SIRIS was heavily featured by major U.S. and Chinese media throughout 2005 and 2006.
ABC News ABC News most commonly refers to: * ABC News (Australia), a national news service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation * ABC News (United States), a news-gathering and broadcasting division of the American Broadcasting Company ABC News may a ...
stated: "SIRIS is certainly breaking down cultural barriers between east and west... these two guys from the City of Brotherly Love may just change the world of
Rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
!"
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
described SIRIS' music as "Magical!" and stated "They should be embraced because there is sincerity in their work." In 2006 SIRIS was invited to perform at several high-profile television events including the
Phoenix Television Phoenix Television is a majority State-owned enterprise, state-owned television network that offers Standard Chinese, Mandarin and Cantonese-language channels that serve mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and other markets with substantial C ...
Chinese New Year Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival (see also #Names, § Names), is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a New Year, new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar, lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is one of the most important holi ...
Global Gala and the groundbreaking MTV Chi Rocks! Concert, celebrating MTV's strong push into the Chinese market.2006 MTV Chi Performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNTNL0lmc0 SIRIS debuted several music videos of their hit songs: starring MTV Chi VJ, Angel Tang in "Shi Shi Me Dao Li" 是什么道理 ("What's the Reason") 是什么道理 ("What's the Reason") Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HdF4px71n4 and "Xing Fu" 幸福 in 2007. Since its release, Xing Fu has been downloaded over 25 million times.PR Web https://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20080808/bs_prweb/prweb1192464 In 2007, SIRIS announced the release of a brand new full length
Chinese language Chinese ( or ) is a group of languages spoken natively by the ethnic Han Chinese majority and List of ethnic groups in China, many minority ethnic groups in China, as well as by various communities of the Chinese diaspora. Approximately 1.39& ...
album entitled "我们都一样" (We're All The Same). The new album was released in North America and became the first half of their planned double Chinese/English album release for 2008.


2008

On August 8, 2008 - just in time for the Beijing Olympics, SIRIS announced the release of its brand new "double" Chinese- and English-language album, "8". The new album included 20 original Chinese and English songs. Prominent singles featured in the release are "God Bless Sichuan", "I Was Chinese in My Previous Life", "China", "A Trip To Nowhere", and "You'll Be Okay." The Mandarin single "God Bless Sichuan" was pre-released on July 1, 2008 as a tribute to the survivors of the tragic Sichuan earthquake on May 12, 2008. The song features renowned mainland Chinese Erhu soloist, Qin Qian. In 2008, "God Bless Sichuan" became the No. 1-played song on mainland China's most popular video-sharing Web site, Youku.com. To date, the song remains one of the top 15 all time downloaded songs on China's Youku.com, with over 20 million downloads. The band's 2008 offering was its fifth studio album and the first full-length "double" Chinese- and English-language album ever released. The album was made available for free on the band's official Chinese Web site. Shortly after the album release, SIRIS announced plans to tour Asia and North America. The band also made an announcement that all proceeds from physical album sales and portions of tour revenue would go to the Sichuan earthquake disaster relief.


2009 to 2011

In 2009 SIRIS went through an unexpected transition. Michael Maley went solo with the SIRIS name after brother Patrick became ill.Xinhua News
/ref> While Patrick recovered, Michael continued to perform extensively in the Chinese market, making several television appearances, including an emotional performance at the "Love Across The Pacific" benefit concert commemorating the one year anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake in San Francisco. In 2010, Michael, now exclusively performing publicly as SIRIS, embarked on a successful promotional and concert tour of Mainland China. Although the brothers still collaborated, Patrick decided to no longer participate in live performing due to health concerns. Now referred to by international fans as SIRIS, Michael continued to perform at high-profile events throughout China, including the Sheng Tai Zhong Guo concert aired nationwide and the Second Annual Mainland China Cartoon and Animation Festival in Dong Guan China.China Net http://www.china.com.cn/info/movies/2009-12/23/content_19119675.htm The concert was aired live on CCTV. It was performed in front of 200,000 fans and watched by over 400 million viewers on live TV. It was at this show that SIRIS unveiled his new single "Dream Goddess" in a collaborative performance with talented young singer Wang Huan. SIRIS successfully toured 15 cities in 2010 and performed at select shows in the US during 2011. In late 2011 SIRIS was invited as a celebrity judge and performer for the Third Annual China-Paris International Modeling Contest in Beijing. Upon wrapping up a 2-year stay in China, SIRIS returned to the US to prepare for a new album release.


2012 to 2015

In 2012 SIRIS re-mastered and re-released the album "8", specifically targeting the US market and featuring the singles "A Trip To Nowhere" and "You'll Be Okay". In 2013, SIRIS re-released "God Bless Sichuan" to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake, embarking on an extensive fund raising promotion to support families afflicted by the 2008 disaster. From 2012 to 2014 SIRIS cohosted a popular Chinese language radio program called "Lunch Break" with award-winning KTSF television host Keyi Chang.Keyi (Thea) Chang http://www.ktsf.com/travel-with-thea/ The weekly program was broadcast on San Francisco's KSJO 92.3 FM on Tuesday's and Friday's at 4pm PST.Lunch Break KSJO 92.3FM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfriUJavKO8 The talk show featured top 40 Chinese music and special celebrity guests from around the globe. Although the show officially stopped airing in 2014 it is periodically broadcast to promote special events across the Bay Area. After a short hiatus from recording and performing in 2014, SIRIS returned to the studio to record new material in 2015."Phoenix Chinese News http://news.ifeng.com/a/20161206/50368285_0.shtml


2016 to 2019

From 2016 to 2018 SIRIS produced new music for two forthcoming albums. In May 2019 they officially announced plans for these releases via their website. In June 2019 they also released two new instrumentals, Fei Tian 飞天 and Yan Guo Chang Kong 雁过长空.


2020 to 2024

In late 2020, SIRIS recorded the smooth jazz ballad "April Showers," which was officially released in the spring of 2021. Aside from the typical contributions of the Maley brothers, the song featured Andy Rampula on saxophone and Doug Bossi on guitar. In 2022, SIRIS released their rendition of "Jingle Bells," titled "Jazzy Jingle Bells," during the Christmas season. During this period, they also released revamped versions of two pop classics on YouTube: Tears for Fears' "Mad World" and The Bee Gees' "New York Mining Disaster 1941." In 2023, SIRIS officially released "Philadelphia," a heartfelt ode to their hometown, which was originally recorded 15 years earlier but remixed and remastered for the updated release. 2023 also saw them reissue a remixed and remastered version of their critically acclaimed 2005 album, "幸福" ("Xing Fu"). On January 12, 2024, SIRIS released their rendition of The Bee Gees' hit song "New York Mining Disaster 1941," paying homage to the Gibb brothers and the Bee Gees' legacy. On January 19, 2024, SIRIS released a previously recorded 1997 single, "永遠珍惜你的愛" (Forever Cherishing Your Love). The Mandarin Chinese language ballad, originally released on their debut Chinese album of the same name, was enhanced and remastered for the official release. On December 12, 2024, SIRIS also released an instrumental titled "Mystic Highway (Looking For Linderman)". The song blends elements of modern rock with traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu and guzheng. An official press release by the band claims the song title pays homage to the 1980 movie "My Bodyguard".


Other Projects and collaborations

In 2018 Michael Maley wrote and published a new Chinese language book penned under the SIRIS name, titled: "Spiritual Wisdom - A Guidebook To Life" The book depicts many of his life experiences which include stories of his time living in China. In 2020 the music of SIRIS was featured in the
NetFlix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
Japanese reality series “Terrace House: Opening New Doors”. The songs "You Are", "我就是你的爱", and "A Trip To Nowhere" were featured in Season 2 – Episode 12 “If Only You Were Five Years Younger”. In 2021, SIRIS composed and recorded songs for the A&E Original Biography "Kisstory" featuring the career of the rock band
KISS A kiss is the touching or pressing of one's lips against another person, animal or object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely; depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sex ...
. In 2024, Patrick Maley wrote and published a new book titled "The Rhythm of Life." The book is an instructional guide on the art of drumming and the music business.


Discography

*''直到我最后一息 - Till My Last Breath - Chinese'' (1997) *''The Order Of Time - English'' (2001) *''Martial Arts Channel - Sound Track'' (2003) *''幸福 - Xing Fu - Chinese'' (2005) *''我们都一样 - Chinese'' (2007) *''上天祝福四川 (God Bless Sichuan) single - Chinese'' (2008) *''8 - Chinese/English double album'' (2008) *''Dream Goddess - Chinese'' (2010) *''8 - English album'' (2012) Re-mastered *''Fei Tian 飞天'' (2019) Single *''Yan Guo Chang Kong 雁过长空'' (2019) Single *''April Showers'' (2021) Single *''Jazzy Jingle Bells'' (2022) Single *''Philadelphia'' (2023) Single *''雁過長空 / Across The Endless Horizon'' (2023) Single *''幸福 - Xing Fu - Remastered Special Edition'' (2023) EP *''New York Mining Disaster'' (2024) Single *''Mystic Highway (Looking For Linderman)'' (2024) Single


Side Projects & Credits

As a studio / touring drummer Patrick Maley has performed with accomplished acts such as:
Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...
,
Three Dog Night Three Dog Night is an American rock band formed in 1967, founded by vocalists Chuck Negron, Cory Wells, and Danny Hutton. This lineup was soon augmented by Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards), Joe Schermie (bass), Michael Allsup (guitar), and Floyd Sn ...
,
The Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their f ...
, The Rip Chords, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and many others. Michael Maley established the company Run Hard Media which produces television programs and films for the Chinese market.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Siris (Band) Alternative rock groups from Pennsylvania Progressive rock musical groups from Pennsylvania Musical groups from Philadelphia Musical duos from Pennsylvania American rock music duos Mandarin-language singers