SIRIS – A Musical Journey

SIRIS, or 《赛日》, is an American music group formed by brothers Michael Maley and Patrick Maley. The name also doubles as lead singer Michael Maley’s stage name. This critically acclaimed duo hails from Philadelphia. They gained fame as the first Western artists to release original Chinese and English songs. Their journey started with the 1997 Chinese debut album Forever Cherishing Your Love. Since then, SIRIS has embraced their role as musical ambassadors, fostering cultural unity between East and West through their music.

The Beginning

The Maley brothers began as self-taught musicians at a young age. Early influences included Genesis, Sting, U2, Rush, Level 42, and Tears for Fears. They also drew from their parents’ favorites: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Abba, Frank Sinatra, and Barry Manilow. This mix spanned pop, rock, jazz, and classical genres.

As kids, Michael, Patrick, and their sister Caroline gathered around the record player after dinner. They sang along to their parents’ old records. Their maternal grandmother’s traditional Italian songs also left a lasting mark. Music shaped their lives early on. It instilled an appreciation for diverse cultures and languages.

Chinese Influence

Michael’s interest in Chinese culture grew from his love of martial arts and Bruce Lee. After high school and two years of college, he moved to China. He studied Chinese at Shanghai’s Fudan University. Meanwhile, Patrick who just graduated high school, stayed in America, pursuing his career as a drummer; drumming with various Philadelphia bands.

Chinese Life and Love of Music

Michael’s time in China shaped SIRIS’s Chinese-inspired sound. He worked as an English teacher and translator in Shanghai. His fluency in Chinese and proficiency in martial arts led to TV commercial and film roles. In 1994, he was a stunt actor in the Chinese remake of The Green Hornet 青蜂侠. While living in China, he immersed himself in Chinese music by Jacky Cheung, Angus Tong, Wakin Chau, Black Panther, Cui Jian, Beyond, and Wu Bai. This helped him improve his language skills and his songwriting. He even performed in a Chinese Beatles cover band.

Returning Home

After his initial stay in China, Michael returned to America to pursue music. He reunited with Patrick, and they recorded Chinese and English demos. In 1995, they officially formed SIRIS, named from two Chinese characters Sai (赛) and Ri (日), meaning “to surpass the sun.” They blended Eastern and Western influences, making them the first Western artists to compose and perform original Chinese songs.

The First Album

In 1997, SIRIS released their Chinese debut album Till My Last Breath, also called Forever Cherishing Your Love (永远珍惜你的爱). Producer David Ivory engineered it. The brothers learned valuable lessons from this independent effort. A promotional tour followed in Taiwan and Mainland China. It sparked interest in their music across Asia.

The Order of Time

Upon returning from Taiwan in 1999, the brothers got to work on a new album. In 2000, SIRIS released their English debut The Order of Time. This independent album showed a progressive flair. Michael took on production duties. It earned wide praise and international radio play. Grammy-nominated artist Adrian Belew noted, “It’s nice to hear something different in a world of similar artists.”

Breaking New Ground in the Digital Age

From The Order of Time album, SIRIS released the Chinese single “Beautiful Angel,” the first Chinese song sold on iTunes in 2003. It hit the top 15 on MP3.com and top 20 on Myspace.com. The song gained traction on international radio and TV. It remains a fan favorite.

Critical Acclaim and Xing Fu (Happiness)

In 2005, SIRIS released the album Xing Fu 幸福. The title track became a hit, with heavy airplay in North American Chinese radio, Taiwan, and China. It has over 50 million streams worldwide. The Associated Press wrote, “This Philly Duo is A Big Hit!” ABC News added, “SIRIS is breaking down cultural barriers!” In 2006, SIRIS toured the US, Taiwan, and China. MTV praised them as “Magical!” They performed at MTV World’s “MTV Chi Rocks” Concert, reaching over 200 million households.

We’re All The Same

In 2007, SIRIS worked on new material inspired by Michael’s China experiences. He met Grammy-winning producer Hugh Padgham in London to discuss producing the new album. Hugh’s production style was a significant influence on SIRIS. Spending a day discussing the tricks and techniques he used on many iconic albums was a dream come true. Michael came away from that meeting feeling refreshed and empowered. This led to the Chinese album We’re All The Same (我们都一样). It was another critical success. The Chinese World Journal said, “SIRIS shows true appreciation for Chinese culture.” TVBS Television in Taiwan noted, “Their music is refreshing and emotional!”

Sichuan and a Song Embraced by Millions

In 2008, a massive earthquake hit Sichuan, China. Michael wrote “God Bless Sichuan” (上天祝福四川) featuring erhu soloist Qin Qian. It became a huge hit, with over 100 million streams. From 2008 to 2009, it topped China’s Youku.com. It stayed in the top 15 past 2013. Many families embraced it as a spiritual anthem. China’s CCTV said, “SIRIS is second to none!” SIRIS performed at relief events in 2008 and 2009. In 2009, they released a music video for the tragedy’s one-year anniversary. It gained nation wide media coverage throughout China.

New Music and Newer Beginnings

In 2009, Patrick stepped away to handle health concerns. He stayed behind the scenes lending creative support. Michael continued solo as SIRIS. That year, he released the English album 8 for free online. It hit over 1 million downloads. “God Bless Sichuan” was its lone Chinese track. SIRIS performed at the CCTV Animation Festival, reaching 300 million households where Michael debuted “Dream Goddess” (梦中的仙女) live. Tours and promotion followed in China through 2011.

New Projects and Spiritual Expression

In 2012, Michale Maley aka SIRIS co-hosted Qing Song Yi Ke on China’s 92.3FM with Keyi Chang, under the SIRIS name. In 2013, Patrick returned from his hiatus and the brothers got back to work on new music. From 2013 to 2015, Michael recorded many new songs and paused touring. Reuniting with Patrick infused new inspiration into the group. In 2018, Michael released his Chinese book Spiritual Wisdom – A Guidebook to Life. It detailed his spiritual experiences. All proceeds supporting charities in Taiwan and China.

Everything Good Takes Time

After 2018, SIRIS had a creative explosion and released a series of new material. In 2019, they released the sublime instrumental Yan Guo Chang Kong 雁过长空. In 2021, SIRIS released “April Showers.” In 2022, they dropped “Jazzy Jingle Bells.” in time for Christmas. They also covered “Mad World” by Tears for Fears and “New York Mining Disaster” by The Bee Gees. In 2023, SIRIS  honored their hometown with the single “Philadelphia” which has surpassed 1 million streams on multiple platforms. They also reissued a remastered Xing Fu. Patrick Maley also authored and released the book “The Rythm Of Life”. At the end of 2023, they released an online video of the Christmas classic “We Three Kings”. In 2024, they released the official audio single of “New York Mining Disaster” and at the end of 2024, SIRIS released the exciting instrumental “Mystic Highway – Looking For Linderman”. They currently have plans to release a “Best of SIRIS” collection plus new English and Chinese albums slated for 2025 and 2026.

The Enduring Journey

For three decades, the name SIRIS has stood as a symbol of creativity and artistic freedom, seamlessly blending influences from diverse cultures and styles. This fusion has given birth to a distinctive sound.” Now, with the passage of time, a bit older and a touch wiser, the brothers eagerly anticipate scaling new artistic peaks as they continue their lifelong musical odyssey.