Sparks

About

Sparks are the influential art pop duo of Ron and Russell Mael, whose career spans more than 50 years. The Los Angeles–raised brothers are widely admired for the wit of their lyrics and the inventiveness of their music, plus their effortless ability to shift genres between glam, hard rock, chamber pop, and electro disco, sometimes within the same song. The only constants are singer Russell's dramatic, heavenly falsetto and energy, and keyboardist Ron's exquisite songwriting. Annette, the highly anticipated movie musical written by Ron and Russell, directed by Leos Carax (Holy Motors), and starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and Simon Helberg, reaches screens this year. Sparks' influence and artistic restlessness is celebrated in The Sparks Brothers, a major film documentary directed by Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World). The tagline of that documentary says it best: “50 years. 25 albums. 345 songs. Unlimited genius.”