ESQ.

From the moment he was born, ESQ. (JQ Sirls) had the “spark” that few have and the absolute drive to get there with or without anyone’s help. At six years old, he would write and illustrate his own comic books composing the music and scripts for them just in case they would become cartoon series’. By age eleven he had won 3 city recognized talent shows, 6 illustration competitions as well as becoming one of the youngest choreographers in his hometown. At age 15, he made the decision that he wanted to become a recording artist – and then everything excelled. Instead of just focusing on music, he heavily experimented in and researched every creative outlet he could find, searching for a common creative trait that he could put in his music. Not only did he find it, he excelled tremendously in nearly every field.

Before graduating college at Rockhurst University, one of the top schools in the Midwest, ESQ. had become a professional recording artist, music producer, songwriter, hip-hop street/ballroom dancer, script writer, actor, speaker, entrepreneur, graphic designer, and published children’s book author/illustrator - all while rocking out on stages and maintaining a 3.0GPA. Unlike many artists who spread themselves thin from being involved in many facets, ESQ. skillfully used the common trait he discovered between them all to inspire a continuous growth across the board – and primarily to his music. “I don’t think I’m the best, nor will I ever think I am the greatest.” Explains ESQ. “What I can assure you is that I am constantly a better musician and artist than whom I was yesterday and I am having fun doing it. That’s all that matters to me. I am forever a student and all I want to do show the world what I have to give, and challenge others to be better than only themselves.”

In August of 2009, under his previous moniker, “Wonkachild,” ESQ released his first LP “Urkel 2.0” as a personal learning experiment. He created all of the music, artwork, and web design on his own as well as distributing it physically and digitally just to see how it works. The album, which was heavily influenced by Andre 3000, Kanye West, Will Smith, and James Brown, was a massive fusion of Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, Jazz, and Big Band Pop that gained a quick and heavy underground buzz. Its core theme was finding the ‘coolness’ within the nerdiness that all of us have but never admit. The album’s title track, “Urkel” introduced a new artist who found comfort in being the freshest and most stylish nerd on the block.

Now, equipped with mentorship from various award winning artists as well as electrifying new music from Grammy Nominated hit producers Cory Bold and Da Internz, ESQ. is back with a new unpredictable edge and artistic focus. “From this moment forward, I am aiming even higher than I ever have and am forcing myself to constantly evolve. I am forever a student to the musical legends before me and my textbook of funk will forever be open. You’ll never know what I’ll do next or how I’ll do it, but that’s the magic of it all. That’s the core of what art is, and that’s what world deserves.”