I recently had the opportunity to talk to one of the hottest acts to come from Little Rock, Arkansas “Sean Michel”. Here is what they had to say…
(Sarah) Who is Sean Michel? Where is Sean Michel? How did Sean Michel originate?
(Sean Michel) We are just some regular guys who like to play music. We’re based in Little Rock, Arkansas. There is bio on our myspace for how we got together, etc.
(Sarah) I have to tell you. I just absolutely love Sean Michel. I love your music. Everything from your standard upbeats to your serious ballads. I think there are many people that wanna know more about Sean Michel. Tell me more about Sean Michel…
(Sean Michel) Thank you. Sarah, to be honest, I’m not real sure how to answer the question, because I’m not exactly sure what it is people wanna know more about.
(Sarah) If you could summarize and describe your sound, how would you describe it?
(Sean Michel) I have to be honest, I always hate this question because I’m never sure how to answer it. Basically, I what I hear in my mind and what I feel in my soul. However; that comes out is how it comes out.
(Sarah) Genres are only minor elaborations of the art one creates through the voice, instruments, and words, as well as, message, vision, emotion, and soul. I am curious to know, (and this only if you had to) what genre or genres would you put Sean Michel in?
(Sean Michel) Preferably none or all of them, but if I had to…I really have no idea. That is for other people to figure out, I guess. Like I said, I just play what I hear.
(Sarah) Every time I listen to your music, I feel as if I have been inspired or at least made to believe what I am listening to. Who writes the songs and how do they come up with such inspiration?
(Sean Michel) I (Sean) write all the lyrics. I get some help from some talented friends, but I write the words. Uually, the words are based somehow on something I have experienced or wrestled with in my mind. I’ll struggle with an issue for a while, and once I start coming to some sort of resolution about it, I start thinking of lines to express the struggle and conclusions it led me to…Also, there are a lot of biblical references in the lyrics, and thats because I try to process my experiences and thoughts through a biblical lens. After I get an idea for a few lines, I usually just sit down with my guitar and play and sing the melody thats in my mind. I’m the worst musician in the band, so the songs really come a long way after the rest of the guys get ahold of them and make them way better.
(Sarah) I am curious to know, which bands and artist influence you the most?
(Sean Michel) Keith Green Cece Winans, Johnny Cash, Lauryn Hill.
(Sarah) What your top five favorite Sean Michel songs? What makes them more interesting than other Sean Michel songs?
(Sean Michel) I’m sure if I can really really rank the songs, because they all come from different times in my life and have a value personally that would be hard to express numerically. I guess the one song that really stands out to me is ‘forgiven much’, because that is a story whose lesson I am still trying to learn. That is the one song we play at pretty much every show.
(Sarah) If you could choose your favorite cover you have performed, which cover would that be? Why?
(Sean Michel) A lot of the songs we cover are usually because they fit the theme of the set we are playing at that time. We covered pedro the lion’s “magazine” and twothirtyeight’s “modern day prayer” at every set this past summer, because they both really fit into the theme of sin and redemption we were going for at the time. Just the other day, we covered Robert Johnson’s classic “crossroads”, and I really enjoyed singing that song. Right now, I’d probably have to say thats my favorite. Its an old blues song, and we could make it as long or short as we wanted and just kind of feel it….plus it talks about a situation everyone can relate to, and the lead guitar part on that song is legendary (thanks to our good friend michael sutterfield for sitting in with us on a couple sets to jam that guitar part like few can).
(Sarah) So, what’s next. What is your ultimate goal (or goals) with Sean Michel?
(Sean Michel) What’s directly next is our first full length album, which we are recording right now. It’s going to be themed on the theological concept of incarnation, and it mostly consists of what are commonly known as ‘christmas songs’. However, our purpose in doing these songs is more than seasonal and will hopefully be something people want to listen to in july as well as december. It should be available by the end of this november.
(Sean Michel) Our ultimate goal is to participate in and proclaim the Kingdom of God. However; that happening is yet to be seen…
(Sarah) If there is one thing you would like others to know about Sean Michel, what would that be?
(Sean Michel) To be honest, I can’t think of anything off hand, besides check out our music.
(Sarah) What else would you like to say?
(Sean Michel) Add website – Check out http://www.myspace.com/seanmichel and hopefully soon an updated http://www.seanmichel.com/ . For those interested in booking, you can contact us at: [email protected]
(Sarah) Thank You!!!! :o)
(Sean Michel) you’re very welcome.
