Shut up and sing.
Kam Franklin has heard that one before, but she’s not letting it get to her. As the lead singer, songwriter, and producer of The Suffers, she is also a proud activist with a lot on her mind. “I put everything I want to say into the music. It’s been really terrifying to write about these topics and to actually record them…if it makes [people] uncomfortable because it’s the truth, then yeah, I want to put it out.”
So it won’t be surprising that the new album from The Suffers leads with a mission statement as its title. “It Starts With Love”- which was purposefully released during Black Music Month via Missing Piece Records – speaks to how challenging it is to be fully authentic in the roles of musical entertainer and social justice advocate when the two can sometimes seem at odds. Musically cathartic, with bona fide pocket groove and jubilant, punctuating horn lines – “It Starts With Love” invites listeners to dig deep and shake it out.
It’s clearly resonating with fans and critics. The Suffers have been accumulating acclaim from outlets like Consequence, BrooklynVegan, NPR Music, The Bluegrass Situation and the Houston Chronicle who said, “This is the group’s most ambitious, accomplished album to date.” With performances on coveted Late Night spots and sit downs with the likes of Brené Brown, they’re on a roll.
Play MPE’s own David G. had the chance to chat with Franklin recently – you can catch the full conversation here.
If you’re a tastemaker looking for more information about The Suffers, or want to access their recent single “Don’t Bother Me”, request access here.