Songwriter, musician and published author, Sean Keefer, is on the rise. We sat down with the multi-talented man to get to know a little more about him…
Bridge: Tell our readers a little about who you are…
Sean: I describe myself as a struggling writer and musician who supports himself with a professional job that gives me the freedom to pursue my creativity. I’ve been fortunate enough to publish two novels but from the start, I knew releasing my music was a life goal.
From the time I was a child I was drawn to the guitar and through happenstance, coincidence and a little luck, I found myself listening to guitarists and songwriters in a variety of genres as well as being exposed to music from my parents and family. From Glen Campbell to Billy Joel to Van Halen to Queensryche, I believe I drew something from all to which I was exposed and that foundation is something that blended and made me the musician/person I am today – for better or worse in any event. While I have a day job, I spend my free time creating, whether it be behind a camera, a computer keyboard, guitar or microphone, I try to create something everyday.
I am fortunate to live on the coast of South Carolina where there is ample inspiration for my music and a great community of musicians to motivate me. I find being a singer/songwriter a very addictive yet frustrating process and I try to look to the dichotomy in this as a further motivating factor.
My goal is to keep creating music and simply have people want to hear it, that and maybe I’ll write another a book or two along the way
Bridge: How long have you been making music?
Sean: I’ve been creating music for decades, throwing out more music that I’ve kept. Some of the recent recordings I’ve just completed are songs that go back years. Fortunately, these days, while songs are still getting set aside, more end up being finished.
Bridge: Did you always want to make music, if not, what did you want to be when you were a kid?
Sean: When I was growing up, like many children in the south, Sundays were spent in church. As a result, I was exposed to some amazing music. Everything from hymns in worship service, to guest musicians, to members of the congregation who played guitar in youth groups, the totality of this exposure made me realize that there was something groovy about this music thing. Pretty much from the first time I saw a guitar, I was hooked and knew that was something that I had to do. I still have memories of the moment I realized guitars and I had a destiny.
Of course as I became more enthralled with music and as I created an image of what it meant to be a musician, I immediately wanted to be a rock star. I soon learned that was not something that you just applied for, but it pushed me to learn the guitar and somehow I stuck with it. No matter what I’ve done employment, professionally or personally, the guitar, and music, have always been part of me. I may have missed the rock star bus, but I’ve been fortunate to have a core group of close friends who are solid musicians. So from the start music was a goal and I’ve worked hard to keep it a that way.
Bridge: Where do you draw your inspiration as an artist from?
Sean: My inspiration comes primarily from watching and observing. This is held together by always working to play music every day and to write as much as possible. I learned as a writer of fiction novels that even if what you are writing is complete and utter crap, if you’ve written it, you have something to edit. If you have something to edit, you have something you can refine and build. So I watch, observe, play music and, listen to all the new music I can. Then I take that and work to create. If it’s crap, well then I polish my editing skills.
Bridge: What do you want listeners to get from your songs?
Sean: Like the books that I write, I want to give listeners an escape. I want, for a few minutes, to provide the conduit for them to step away from whatever is on their mind and be able to get lost in a song. The ultimate for me would be to have a listener tell me that a song I had written touched them, struck a nerve, or connected with them based on something that they experienced in their life. I think part of life is about memory triggers and if a listener somehow has one of my songs become a cue to a memory for them, well that would be quite the flattering event.
Bridge: Who would be your dream collaboration?
Sean: Tough one. Some thoughts…Jason Isbell, Robert Earl Keen, Radney Foster, and Ryan Bingham!
Bridge: What can we expect from you in 2022?
Sean: I have three goals…The release of my first EP – A Dog Walks into the Sunset, Getting out and playing my music live and Recording my second EP.
