“That album, 'Lil' Beethoven,' was special to us because we wanted to try to figure out a new context to place our music in, and not rely on the usual instrumentation - guitars, bass and drums - that gives rock or pop music its power, energy and excitement.”

American singer

Russell Craig Mael is an American singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the pop and rock duo Sparks. Born in 1948, he formed the group in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. He is known for a wide vocal range, especially his high falsetto, and for a flamboyant, highly animated stage presence. Sparks later released the 2015 album FFS with Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand under the name FFS, and the Mael brothers founded Lil' Beethoven Records.