Freeloader Puts Heart and Soul into Career
by Prentiss Findlay
of The Charleston Post and Courier staff
Thursday, September 13, 2001
Scott Sinclair quit his day job but he's no freeloader. Sure, that's the name of his band, but he's quick to say that putting his heart and soul into music is harder than anything he's ever done.
And he's done a lot. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Sinclair worked for eight years at Tiger Management Hedge Fund. He has a MBA degree from Stanford University. Two-and-a-half years ago, he decided it was time to act on his dream of becoming a rock 'n' roller.
"I basically said, 'I gotta do it. I can't wait any longer,'" he said.
Sinclair studied and worked hard to become a highly successful financial analyst. These days, he says, he's working even harder singing and playing guitar for freeloader to promote the band's new album, "Custom/10."
Sinclair played in bands since age 15. He finally made the decision to leave the stability and reputation of a strong corporate identity for a more unpredictable, but exciting path. He said it's been a struggle making the transition from the financial world, where he was a media analyst who identified financial opportunities for investors. These days, he's living a life of touring, sound checks and nightclub shows. He says it's like starting over again at the bottom of the ladder, but he's happy.
"One thing that's been on my mind since I did it was people's perception that being an artist or being a musician professionally is kind of an easy way to go. That somehow it's slacking off. The fact is what I did before is relatively easy," he said.
Freeloader has a raw, inspired sound that is reminiscent of the early Stones and Steve Earle.
"I love what the Stones do to the blues, and that's what I try to do, too," he said.
Sinclair also loves Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. His idols aren't great singers, but he was shaped by their songwriting.
"One of the things that influenced me a lot was just the idea of writing lyrics that stood by themselves, that actually meant something," he said.
The band takes the name for its album from Sinclair's truck, a '71 Chevy pickup named Bessie.
Sinclair plays an unnamed vintage guitar that he's taken apart and put back together time and again. It has all kinds of dings and the frets are worn. It's the only guitar he's had since high school, and he's played it for 10 years.
The album cover for "Custom/10" shows a picture of the rear ends of a bunch of pigs bound for market in a truck. Sinclair said a friend took the photo when they were driving through Thailand. There's a picture of Bessie in the CD liner notes.
It sounds like Sinclair is having a lot of fun on "Custom/10," and he confirms that's the case.
"We are having a good time. It's fun to play what we play. We try not to take it too seriously. Some of the songs come from serious places, but the performance of the songs is ultimately to just have the joy come through in that expression."
Before he wore a suit and tie and figured out market opportunities. Now he wears jeans and looks for new places to play.
"It's good to be able to just kind of hop around with your guitar and make some noise."
