Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean James Sweeney.
Sean James, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I can’t call it. My mother told me when she was pregnant my father used to play guitar for us when I was kicking in her belly. Apparently, my pops would also put headphones on her stomach so I could hear the likes of B.B. King and others such as Stevie Ray Vaughn rippin’ stratocaster on songs like “Lenny”, before I was even born. It feels like music has always been a prominent part of my life and something I’ve been naturally drawn to. My paternal grandfather was an Irish folk singer songwriter of his time in Ireland in the 50’s-70’s. So, I guess in essence seeing my father and my grandfather playing music at a young age was where it all started. At least in terms of understanding of the purpose, and power of music in my life.
I was born in Lawrence General Hospital and grew up in the Lowell/Dracut area along the Merrimack River not too far north of Boston. I remember my folks used to take me and my younger brother to the Lowell Folk Festival every year. Definitely check that out if you haven’t yet. It’s usually the last week in July every year in downtown Lowell, MA. Fast forward past the early one or two elementary school piano recitals, some junior high drums, playing gigs on guitar in garage bands while sometimes attending Dracut High School, and making noise in the basement with friends. Into the first years of college in Lowell is when I started to become more obsessed with writing music, and I started to play guitar every day. Playing original music at local shows and gigs in and around downtown Lowell, at places such as the Eggroll Café, The Back Page, Uncharted Art Gallery, The Worthen House and many other gemstone spots. At one point I realized that even though I was blessed to be surrounded by a somewhat progressive and vibrant art and music scene in Lowell, I wanted more. Plus, after spending many evenings in Kerouac Park with an acoustic guitar, I was always fascinated with idea of getting “on the road” and meeting new people.
Luckily for me Boston wasn’t too far. I had a few homies that were going to Berklee at the time so I was hip to the idea of musical opportunity in Boston. First, Last, Security, later I moved into a craigslist sublet with a piano in one of the pictures. Moving to Allston was the answer I had been looking for. Here I was able to quickly assimilate into the music scene and navigate my way through house show venues and local club venues and become involved. This allowed me to meet more musicians and make connections artistically and musically, at a rate that I had not been able to before. Being exposed to, listening to, and living with musicians from various backgrounds and influences helped me learn and grow as a musician and person. The D.I.Y. culture of the music scene in Boston is mixed with the plethora of genres and styles. Guided by both the schools, such as Berklee, Boston Conservatory, etc. and the history of previous musicians coming out of this city, help contribute to somewhat of an underlying optimism among many young musicians. Resources like the Boston Compass and The Boston Hassle have been responsible for printing and distributing gig lists, show calendars and a bunch of art related content through online and printed magazine throughout the city. These among many others have been extremely useful and helpful tools for finding shows, new bands, and cool things in general to do every month. Also something must be said about Boston Radio and its ability to showcase local new undiscovered artists on stations like wers, wemf, and wzbc. As well as the cool things that are being done over at scat TV Somerville local access television. There are opportunities here in transient Boston that some folks rolling through the revolving doors of the city have been able to take advantage of and make careers in art and music. For me Allston has primarily been about being surrounded by people who are passionate about music and want to play.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Even though I definitely and genuinely consider myself super blessed that I am able to experience and be a part of the Boston music community there were always obstacles to overcome. It has not all been as easy as dunkin’ donuts into a cup of cheap cup of cold coffee. I definitely consider myself very lucky to have been able to find people and friends to make music with. However, the struggle of paying “that good old” rising Boston rent on time every month, going to school at UMASS Boston, as well as keeping up with bills and student loans etc. In between working a variety of jobs, such as serving ice cream at J.P. Licks in Coolidge Corner, selling pickles on Park Street downtown for Grillo’s Pickles, working for a property management company in Allston, busking for bucks, and of course playing paid gigs, finding more time for art and the craft is always challenging. I guess that’s life though in general so I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining because in reality we don’t have a whole lot of time in life and if you want to make a positive and honest impact with art or anything for that matter, you’re going to need to either be super rich or willing to try to work through the struggles. Other typical struggles like finding consistent musicians. Finding the time and energy every day after work to be disciplined to shed and practice the instruments which in themselves can be hard at times but if you try to enjoy the process it’s a labor of love. There are always obstacles to overcome especially in a city, but the end results are usually worth the time and effort. Living in an Allston DIY shared space show house, hosting a decadent amount of both local acts and a butt-ton of touring bands from all over the country and beyond Playing live in bands around the city at local show house venues like Trixies Palace, Sealbeards, and of course Shed Cellar. Clubs such as O’brians on Harvard Ave in Allston, and the Middle East on Mass Ave in Cambridge. As well as going “on the road” as Kerouac would say, a few small east coast tours through NY, Philly, and down to Nashville. Being blessed as hell to be a part of bands such as The Rad Dads, Alosi-Den, The Strange Fuzz, Jack Romanov, Looks like Mountains, Electric Therapy, Dancelujah, Year of The Clam and many, others. Reaching these small obtainable goals and having these crazy rad-gnarley experiences have instilled a humble confidence within me as an artist to know that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and put in the work. These small feelings of accomplishment have allowed me to set new bigger goals and try to focus on my long-term career as an artist/musician, in an attempt to understand how, what I create can relate to a larger community beyond the one I live in.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Write. Record. Perform.
Inform. Entertain. Inspire
I like songs. People remember songs. Most of my life I feel like I’m trying to connect and express with the song that has been here before us, is here now, and will be here after us. Which sounds hilarious when I hear myself say it, but I mean it sincerely. I’ve been growing as a song writer over the years, I hope, and of course with art and music there is no ceiling; one can always get better, yet I have been feeling a bit more content and confident in my work. Which is cool, and definitely inspires me to create more. Lately I’ve been songing a bunch with my new band Year of The Clam. We say were soul & roll, or “a story of harmony” but we’re cool with whatever’s clever when it comes to genres. We have been playing live around town and have a few upcoming shows in August, so get to the gigs fam. (Oh and…we have pins. I was lucky enough to recently be able to embrace my love of pins, my inner pin head, and purchase a pin maker that allows me to inde”pin”dently make custom pins, badges, and buttons.) We are also in the studio recording new songs that will hopefully hit the World Wide Web this fall of 2018. So please feel free 2 feel free 2 get to an innanet nearby and toss us a few likes, shares, downloads, and streams @yearoftheclam. I am also working on my second solo record, the follow up to “Patterns in the Sky”, by Sean James, released in 2017. Today I am looking forward to staying focused and creating and sharing more music with the world. I am thankful and grateful of the communities and people I have been able to meet and become involved with. I am inspired to give back and contribute. Remember Folks Keep High Fives Alive, and have a lovely.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9789952266
- Email: seanjamesartist@gmail.com
Image Credit:
David Kinchen
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