Conversations with Sequoia Newland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sequoia Newland.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I picked up the guitar for the first time while stationed overseas in US Navy in Yokosuka, Japan. I was in the barracks (our living quarters) when a good friend of mine “B.J. Respondek” was playing his guitar in my room.
I had told him that I wanted to learn how to play the guitar and he took me up on that.

Respondek then went back to his room and grabbed another one of his many guitars and he told me “if you can play me a song in one week, I will give you this guitar” I took that to heart and 3 days later I could struggle my way through the 4-chord progression of “Talladega” by Eric Church.

At that point, Respondek was in awe that I picked up the guitar so fast that I was able to sing and play. Fast forward to a year later on the exact date of getting my first guitar we had a free concert provided by country music superstar “chase rice.” it was around 11 in the morning when chases bus stopped by the area designated for grilling on base.

Chase then proceeded to get off the bus and make his way toward our group. Call it divine intervention or happenstance but as luck would have it, I was playing my guitar. I then asked chase “hey do you want to hear a cool song?” And then I proceeded to play his song “Carolina Can” upon finishing playing for him chase then asked me if I wanted to come to sing that song on stage at the show. And of course, I said yes.

Halfway through the show chase pulled me up on stage and I sang out the 2nd verse and final chorus of his song. At that moment, when 10 thousand plus service members were screaming and cheering for me at the top of their lungs, I knew I was meant to be on stage and was going to work harder than anyone to become the best I can be.

I’ve been extremely blessed through my musical journey and I’ve had many ups and many downs. In July of 2019, I was working my day job as a union millwright when tragedy struck. I was lifting a heavy piece of machinery when I suddenly lost my grip and the equipment smashed my left ring finger in between the base of the machine and the raised flooring. I lost about 1/2 an inch off the tip of my ring finger.

At that moment I couldn’t help but think “what was I going to do? How was I going to be able to play music?
One month prior I had just recorded my first song in Nashville, TN. Called “Summer Nights” I had so much momentum going my way with music and I was months away from moving to Nashville. The accident set me back in many ways, not just with my music.

Months later, I was still out of work due to the injury and I had my truck repossessed. At that point, I was at the lowest of lows and lost. In those trying months I wrote some of the best songs of my life. Looking back, I’m thankful for the trials I went through because I wouldn’t be the man or musician I am today.

To this day, I’m still affected by the injury. I now play the guitar with 3 fingers instead of 4 on my fret hand. In 2019, I started playing live shows and was lucky to play 5 shows a year. In 2022, I currently have 126 shows booked thus far and have 4 songs on all major streaming platforms including Spotify and iTunes.

And one song “End of The Drive” on country music radio. All of which were recorded at “Omni-sound Studios” in Nashville, TN. On June 4th, 2022, I recorded 6 songs for my debut album “80 proof” at county q productions with Paul Scholten. I plan on releasing the album in increments, every 2 weeks with each song being a single starting on July 1st and dropping the full album by mid-September.

These are the dates in releasing each song.

07/01/22 : “have a drink”

07/15/22 : “raise some hell”

07/29/22 : “love you to the moon”

08/12/22 : “Ganglines and datelines”

08/26/22 : “turtle soup”

09/09/22 : “80 proof”

My goal for this album is to touch every single emotion in the listener’s heart. There is a variety of feels from sad songs to love songs to party songs. When I started playing the guitar on March 5th, 2015, I never imagined id come this far and grow so attached to music.

I don’t know how long I have been on this beautiful earth so I am going to do my best to impact as many people as I can while I’m still here.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggle has been real. I had half an inch of my ring finger amputated at work back in 2019. This setback my music career for about 9 months and caused me to get my truck repossessed.

Currently, I play the guitar with only 3 fingers on my fret hand due to the amputation. But I was able to pay to get my truck back. hard work prevails.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Country music singer/songwriter. I am most proud of the album I recorded on June 4th, 2022.

The album is full of emotions straight from my heart. I am most known for my song “Summer Nights” which has well over 100k streams on all streaming platforms. I think what sets me apart from other musicians isn’t my natural abilities but my work ethic.

I work a full-time job, play 3-5 shows a week, and write 1-2 songs a week. all while balancing personal life and relationships.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I only play the guitar with 3 fingers instead of 4.

Pricing:

• Tee shirts are 25$ if they are interested
• Hoodies are 50$
• Koozies are 5$
• Booking price varies they can email me @[email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: sequoianewlandmusic.com
• Instagram: . https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=a3oe42xtrsql&utm_content=7j76yc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sequoiafalconnewland
• Youtube: Sequoia Newland Music
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QxrI8ATgR9WT99Kfm977z?si=aHKxzl2tTxy_8yCf-2h-aA

Image Credits
Larissa Joelle