We recently had the chance to connect with Sean Donovan and have shared our conversation below.
Sean, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Most of the time, I feel like I’m wandering. When I’m in the zone, the path is much clearer and I take decisive action toward my goals. But when that clarity becomes obscured, I get lost in my own head. It’s like trekking through the thick wilderness in a dense fog with no map, compass, or GPS to guide me back to civilization.
Sometimes, though, that wandering has led me to places I didn’t think I would end up. It’s how I began playing bass more frequently. That’s making up most of my gig work right now, but I still find work doing solo gigs on guitar and piano.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sean Donovan, and I am a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer in Nashville, TN. I specialize in vocals, guitar, piano and keyboards, bass guitar, and harmonica.
When it comes to my style, I try not to limit myself to the confines of a specific genre or instrument. I have a diverse collection of music that ranges from popular music with introspective lyrics to instrumental passages that build emotions through layers and atmosphere. Whichever path I choose, I put everything I have into the work, and I am do not have a finished product until it fits my standards. Each piece needs to tell a story, build emotionally, and have plenty of weight without being too bloated.
Currently, I am working on two albums: one that is more indie rock and guitar based, while the other is more Americana and singer-songwriter focused with more piano. I hope to release one or both sometimes in 2026 or 2027.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship with my grandfather was one of cultivation and curiosity. He instilled his focus on continuous learning into me without pushing it upon me. He let me explore the topics that interested me on my own. He, alongside my parents, introduced me to the world of classical music, and during car rides to school, we would often listen to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. It may have been because I was learning the violin at the time, but it led me to attempt composition for orchestras, none of which have really panned out.
If it wasn’t Vivaldi, it was James Taylor’s Greatest Hits, Eagles “Hotel California,” or the Mamas and the Papas.
Outside of music, he fed into my interests in paleontology (particularly dinosaurs), meteorology, human psychology, and astronomy. Even if it was surface level knowledge, he helped me discover uncharted territories within myself that I don’t think would have been possible without him.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I am neurodivergent, and I struggle with Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. The idea of not being accepted can block my ability to grow consistently into my role of a musician. There have been moments throughout my journey where even the easiest letdowns would send me into a spiral of negativity. From opportunities that fell through to no responses from venues or potential collaborators to even a cold audience, any of those situations and more can freeze me to the point where I develop Impostor Syndrome.
It’s taken some time to overcome RSD and Impostor Syndrome, and while I still suffer from time to time, it’s neither as strong nor as often as it was before. I still have a long way to go to regain optimal motivation, but it’s about small steps. Reaching out to a few venues every day, freewriting, practicing piano (which can be the biggest source of Impostor Syndrome since I am still finding comfort in a live setting), and seeking out opportunities to collaborate with others have been some of the more important steps I’ve taken to build bigger action plans.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no.
Yes, because I am inherently awkward and random. I like to joke about that during my shows (“I am as awkward at the microphone as I am face-to-face”). I can also be open about my mental health struggles while also finding humor in certain situations. Some might even say I have one of the loudest laughs in the room (or maybe that’s just me).
No, because there is a lot that I hide in public compared to my private life. While it seeps out sometimes, I keep a lot of my randomness and nerdy interests inside to save face and avoid stigma. Again, I tie it back to my struggles with Impostor Syndrome.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I have no choice, really. Even if I’m performing to a room full of empty chairs, or releasing a song to a fanfare of silence, I refuse to put anything under 100% into each venture. Music is the work that I love. There will be moments where I’m feeling unwell or not enjoying myself, but I will not let those feelings seep into my work. It might seem insincere, but I want to give everyone the chance to enjoy themselves and the work that I do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @seandonovansongs
- Twitter: @seandonovansong
- Facebook: Sean Donovan Music
- Youtube: @seandonovansongs
Image Credits
Photo 1 provided by Rhythm & Lyrics Photography
Photos 2 and 3 provided by Austin Butts
Photo 4 provided by Chaz Mazzota of nashvillepop.us
Photo 5 provided by Alicia Kilpatrick
Photo 6 provided by Sheyenne Rivers
Photo 8 provided by Gabriel Lamog
Photo 9 provided by Chelsea Smith of Nash Bash Collective
