When was the moment for you when you knew you wanted to bring that piece of what was happening in the world into this album?įRANKLIN: So we have a song on this record called "How Do We Heal" that was written in 2019.
PFEIFFER: And then as you were trying to put this album together remotely during most of the pandemic - I'm going to take you now to June 2020 - you are seeing protests across the country after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were killed. But you tickle me, where we could go eat? Take me to the good times. Most days, you see, I like walking around. THE SUFFERS: (Singing) I just got to get out. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "TAKE ME TO THE GOOD TIMES") We can, you know, scratch it and try again. I made a plan for us, presented it to the band and told them, look, I really think this is going to work out in our favor, but if it doesn't work out, we don't have to release these songs. Then the pandemic hits, and we are forced to reevaluate everything we thought we knew about recording. You know, we'd all been together for many years at that point. And having all of that happen, it's like the equivalent of a breakup. Too bad we take it everywhere we go.įRANKLIN: We also split from our longtime manager at that time. For a second, wondered if we'd get past it. THE SUFFERS: (Singing) A thief stole our sh** in Dallas. We had $40,000 worth of gear stolen in Dallas. We lost two of our founding band members. It was three years of trauma and chaos and COVID, you know? And so 2019 was probably the most intense year as a band we've ever had. PFEIFFER: Your band faced some real challenges trying to get this album done.įRANKLIN: Yeah. And I know when it came to this third album in particular, this was a tough road, right? PFEIFFER: Well, I am so grateful that you fought through the inequities that you saw very clearly early on, that you were able to feel empowered to speak out because, I mean, here we are with your third album. At the end of the day, b****es got to get paid. THE SUFFERS: (Singing) Every day we struggle for the dollar, dollar, dollar, working harder, harder, harder. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "B****ES GOTTA GET PAID") And I'd start asking questions, you know, because that's what you're supposed to do when you get into a position of power, right?įRANKLIN: Especially as a minority - at least that's what I was taught - is that you get into your place, and you do what you can to make it easier for who comes after you. THE SUFFERS: (Singing) Most of these folks out here just playing pretend, talk behind your back and then call you a friend.įRANKLIN: What happened, though, is that I started speaking up when I realized that, oftentimes, we would be the only act of color in a lot of these spaces or on certain days at festival.
Once more, change or not come over there.įRANKLIN: It just started to really reek of racism after a while in that, being told that there were already enough, they were saying that there was already one big band with a Black female lead singer, and that was enough. THE SUFFERS: (Singing) Back in the days, they had rules about being a star. THE SUFFERS: (Singing) You are all up in my life.įRANKLIN: I got told that it wouldn't be successful because there were already so many bands that sounded exactly like us.
PFEIFFER: And being from Houston, it's a source of strength for Franklin, which she has needed because the industry did not always embrace her. I don't have a problem speaking up or asking questions because that's what I was taught to do. KAM FRANKLIN: I often say I come from the land of Barbara Jordan and Beyonce. Their sound is eclectic, just like the town that she's from, Houston. And with Kam Franklin as their lead singer, they've got a big voice upfront. (SOUNDBITE OF THE SUFFERS SONG, "CALL SOMEONE ELSE") They're out with their third album called "It Starts With Love." Kam Franklin heads up the big band The Suffers.
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