Life & Work with Sean Donovan

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sean Donovan.

Hi Sean, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Western New York, not really knowing what I wanted to do. I joined the Concert Choir in high school, and every year in June, we had an annual talent show called the Pops Concert.

After singing in the 2004 show with a cappella group, “The Footnotes” (named as such because we were runners that sang), it made me want to explore music even more. I played solo guitar the next year. I wasn’t the best-looking person, so I thought having a guitar would impress the girls in my class. Needless to say, my interpersonal skills needed a lot of work. But what I couldn’t express through speaking, I could express through song.

Since then, I have written thousands of songs, partial or full, and accumulated knowledge in several instruments, including guitar, piano and keyboards, bass, harmonica, percussion, mandolin, and ukulele.

While I moved to Nashville to pursue music back in 2015, a messy split from my fiancee in July 2022 was the spark that reignited my passion and vitality. I released my first split single, “All the Love in the World/Love You More,” in November 2022. Two more singles came out over time: “She Doesn’t Want Me” in July 2023 and “Hurricane” in February 2024. I am currently working on several songs for release this year and next.

This new batch of songs deals with the inner workings of the human psyche, diving deep into the shadow to exhume the parts of me (and perhaps others) that I find unappealing, unacceptable, and unattractive. I feel like the best is yet to come, and I’m looking forward to getting these songs out soon.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
If there is anything I’ve learned during this journey, it’s that it’s not been easy.

I struggle with generalized and social anxiety, and while I feel great when playing and singing, interacting with others and building/maintaining connections is a challenge. I listen more to my head than my heart, leading to indecision, last-minute cancellations, failed ventures, and a lack of self-confidence.

It is something I am working on, and I still have a long way to go. I feel good about the road I am on now and will put in whatever work I can do to put myself in the best situations.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Since I started writing and performing, I have taken pride in my versatility when it comes to song selection. Whether I am playing original music or covers, I don’t like sticking to one genre.

I believe I fit into the singer-songwriter/AC mold. However, I like to incorporate many musical styles into my repertoire. You’ll hear elements of folk, alternative, Americana, blue-eyed soul, dream pop, jangle pop, Britpop, electronica, and post-rock in my songs.

The same applies to my cover song selection. While I gravitate toward folk/singer-songwriter and 90s alternative music, I dive into classic rock, country, and new wave music as well.

Lately, I have received comparisons, vocally, to R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe. I think it helps that I have his late-80s/early-90s buzzed look, so the comparison is valid. I have also been compared to Adam Duritz of Counting Crows and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
While I am not an avid reader like some, I have taken some lessons from a few books like “Ikigai (Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles),” “No More Mr. Nice Guy (Dr. Robert A. Glover),” and “Warrior, Magician, Lover, King (Rod Boothroyd).”

They are helping me shape my outlook on life, love, and happiness. One I am looking forward to reading is Carl Jung’s “The Red Book.” I have been fascinated by Jung’s psychology, and his shadow aspect plays a huge role in how I craft my songs.

For self-improvement, I recommend a couple of podcasts: “Freedom from Attachment (Tracy Crossley)” and “Help Me Be Me (Sarah May Bates).” They provide relatable insight into what problems we face in our everyday lives, why we condition ourselves in certain ways, and what we can do to overcome the obstacles that prevent us from succeeding.

I am also reading up on the Chakra system and practicing regular meditation to keep me centered and focused.

Pricing:

• Performance – $50.00 per hour (depending on the type of performance)
• Songwriting – $50.00 per hour
• Session Musician – $50.00 per hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.seandonovansongs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seandonovansongs
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeanDonovanMusic
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/seandonovansong
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@seandonovansongs