Artist Spotlight: Sean Donovan - Wandering Heart
Artist Spotlight: Sean Donovan - Wandering Heart
Wandering Heart by Sean Donovan live in Nashville, TN #ArtistSpotlight
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Recorded, Edited, Produced by Chaz Mazzota + Nashville Pop Check out her interview below!
Watch the Video
An Interview With Sean Donovan
Tells us about the song you are performing for the Nashville Pop Artist Spotlight. What is it about?
“Wandering Heart - This is a brand new song for an album project I’m working on. I had a hard but necessary conversation with a friend back in January. It opened my eyes to the fact that I was directionless, unmotivated, and mentally exhausted. I kept making excuses for why I was stuck in place and cursed the universe for my inability to achieve my goals. A solo writing session at 3:00 AM fleshed out the idea in full, and while there is no resolution in the song, there is a glimmer of hope that what is broken can still be repaired.”
What first got you into music? How did the journey begin?
“I started writing music back in 2005 and performed in choir events while I was in high school. After college, I started playing in various cover bands in my hometown before moving to Nashville. It wasn't until a hard breakup in 2022 that I started getting serious about performing live with both originals and covers. I've been out and about regularly since.”
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
“My style is like a dartboard. I try to write as much as possible in as many styles as I can. While my songs tend to float around the folk, Americana, and indie pop styles, I'll sometimes dive into alternative, power pop, Emo, pop punk, post-rock, electronica, country, and hard rock.”
What does your music represent?
“I am fascinated with Carl Jung’s concept of the Shadow, so my material, especially as of late, derives from shadow work. I sort through all of the things that are unappealing or hindering my growth and flesh them out through song. I want people to see, hear, and feel the visceral energy as I toss the proverbial demons from my soul into the universe.”
What is your creative process like?
“It has changed so much over the last few years. Before, I would use riffs to develop my ideas. Lately, I've been writing lyrics first and shaping the music around those. I love prompts, so that's where my creative fuel comes from. Titles, lines, subjects, you name it. Once I have the bare bones, either in my head or a voice memo, I take it to Logic and hash out the arrangements in full. That way, I can give producers/collaborators an idea of how the song should sound. It's a little messy sometimes, but it gets the job done..”
If you were to open for any 3 artists, who would they be?
“David Gray, Death Cab for Cutie, Passenger”
What is the best advice you’ve been given so far in the music industry?
“To paraphrase a friend: if you are grinding, practicing, and focusing on your craft every day, that is what will move you forward in the industry. Social media is fine, but it can breed anxiety and comparisons to others’ experiences. You are in control of your life and your abilities to chase your goals.”
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
“Probably cooking. I tend to channel my inner Gordon Ramsay when I’m in the kitchen. A few “donkeys” are thrown in here or there.”
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
“As selfish as it seems, I feel rewarded when I write a song that resonates equally with me as it does with others. For me, it's about conviction. If I believe that what I am writing is necessary and vital to myself, that will translate to others. And the fact that I have seen that with the music I write is truly a gift from the universe, and I intend to use that gift endlessly.”
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives such as yourself?
“Attend live shows, stream, buy music and merch, and share their love and experiences with the artists they love. Not only does the monetary support help, but opening up about the interactions you have with an artist helps open doors for other potential fans to explore. As an artist, this is something I need to work on as well. I love the communities that I have merged into, and by showing any type of support I can, I am only helping the cause.”
Social Media
Nashville Pop: @nashvillepop.us
Sean Donovan: @seandonovansongs
Chaz Mazzota: @itschazmazzota
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