Summertime by Sifuentes is an album that has multiple layers. Jim Sifuentes created this album after and in the midst of some very trying life situations. From a cancer diagnosis to losing a job he had for 19 years, the album is nothing short of a testament to the power of perseverance. He also wanted to share his gift of music with his children and his friends.
“My cancer diagnosis at 50 was a bit of an awakening for me of the tenderness of life, being in and out of a situation and being able to overcome it. Additionally, six months after losing my job, I had a heart attack. With all this going on, I realized I wanted to get back into the music. I wanted to get back with my brother who grew up making music with me and put some songs out at this point in both our lives so I could do something with the talent I have since I didn’t do it when I was younger.” he said.
The album includes songs Jim, who’s now over 60 years old, wrote when he was a teenager as well as ones he wrote just last year. This a testament to his songwriting skills and musical ability. These songs, no matter how many decades apart. still paint a narrative within the sequencing of the album. As a songwriter and storyteller, Jim’s album crafts an auditory journey of where he was mentally and sometimes even physically, at various points in his life.
“I made the song ‘The Memory’ when I was in my 20s and visiting my old neighborhood. I wanted to add a brass sound that was reminiscent of Glenn Miller for that one as an homage to my parents who enjoyed listening to him. My colleague and collaborator Matt Riggen did that part of the song for me. There’s another song on there called ‘Mary’ that I wrote for a girl I was dating when I was 19. I actually was able to perform it for on stage at that time in my life and that’s an unforgettable memory.” he said
Some songs on the album have both sentimental and practical value.
“The track ‘Rumors’ is one me and my brother recorded when we were the age we are on the cover of the album. That was between the 80s and 90s. I decided to add that one to the tracklist because I had 11 songs and my goal was 12 and that one just naturally fit the tone of the album.” he said.
Other songs paint a picture of the reality of life when it’s clouded in uncertainty, a feeling many twenty somethings can relate to. This one has a significantly darker melody than the other songs on the album which have an upbeat pop rock feel to them.
“I wrote ‘Searching for the Day’ when I was 19. I didn’t know what I wanted to do outside of being a musician and people were asking me if I was going to college and what I was going to do with my life. And, at that point, I didn’t really know. I never forgot those lyrics.” he said.
Jim Sifuentes collaborated with his brother Bill and multitalented musician Matt Riggen to create the sound of the album. His brother is a musician and songwriter in his own regard and Matt is a colleague and collaborator that Jim met while in the Chicago Park District. Throughout the album, the three of them play multiple instruments and each one brought their own ideas and expertise to the songs.
The sound of the album is Beatles inspired with Jim growing up studying their music but now he can listen to them for pure enjoyment. Many of the songs on the album have a lighthearted uplifting atmosphere to them as Jim sings of enjoying the summer, love and the aforementioned topics across the album.
“I grew up on The Beatles. I wanted to do something that compliments them and is true to that sound but do it in my own style and my own way. Paul McCartney is my biggest influence and I was thinking ‘Would Paul McCartney and John Lennon be proud of this if they heard it?’ he said.
Jim’s love for the bass is directly connected to his love and admiration for Paul McCartney.
“My goal was to make melodious basslines that compliment the songs just like he did.” he said.
The importance of the bass goes all the way back to Jim's younger years which is a full circle moment considering this album encompasses multiple moments from his younger years and life overall.
“I’ve had that bass for about 40 years. When I was a freshman in high school, I got put on academic probation and my Mom told me I needed to get on the honor roll and if I did, she would get me something. I asked her for the same bass that Paul McCartney used. I didn’t know how to play it at that time but it was something I really wanted. She told me that if I made the honor roll for the next three and a half years, she would get it for me. So that’s what I did and for financial reasons, I didn’t get it until about four years after I graduated but I still got it and I still play it to this day.” he said.
When speaking to Jim, his love for life and the music shined through with every story he told and every word he said. He shared that his mission statement for life is
“Create and play a melodious song of love with your life.” With the album out now, all the people who were not aware of Jim’s wide ranging musical ability are fully aware now and he is happy to share it with them.
Music has been the source of happiness and comfort throughout Jim’s life. Even with everything he’s been through, it was always there for him.
“...I got fired in July and in January I had a heart attack. But the music came back. I picked up my guitar and I said ‘Darn it, I love music.’ It actually brought me back to life. I never lost my optimism. It gave me life in a whole new way. All throughout my life when things were going haywire, especially when I was younger, I’d go to my guitar and express how I was feeling…I came back to music and music revived me. It’s like it partnered back with me. It was always there.” he said.
By putting this album out, Jim has continued to move through life with a positive forward thinking attitude.
“Given where I’m at and what I’m doing at this point, I’m happy with the result and where it’s going. It’s also a testament to people my age that no matter what challenge you have, keep living fully and go after what you have to go after because I’m going to do it until I can’t. That’s what I’ve been doing and I still feel good. I have a choice every morning to decide if I’m going to decide to feel good to decide to feel well and I always choose to feel well.” he said.
Summertime by Sifuentes is available on streaming services now.
You can see more of Sifuentes and his love for music by keeping up with him on these platforms.
Apple Music
Spotify
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