Sean Grinsell is an emerging songwriter and multi-instrumentalist producer originally from Detroit and not living in Chicago, Illinois. He began playing music when he was just 3 years-old. Over the years he picked up a number of instruments. By high school he had learned to play trumpet, drums, keys and guitar. Soon he was writing his own songs.
Among his influences Sean Grinsell counts legends of Classic Rock, Prog-Rock and Blues like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. With these inspirations in mind he creates experimental instrumental music that blurs the lines between genres. In 2021, he’s making his professional recording debut.
“R is for Redemption” is the brand new EP from Sean Grinsell. The 5 song collection finds the adventurous composer jamming on the letter R to create an instrumental concept album of sorts. Stylistically the record finds a creative niche somewhere between Classic Rock, Jazz and Blues. Within that space Sean paints a rich musical tapestry.
From the Black Sabbath meets P-Funk intro of the opening track “Rogue,” to the Deep Purple meets Herbie Hancock jammin on the closer “Refraction,” Sean Grinsell takes us on a fearless musical exploration. He delves into Zappa-like percussive staccato riffing on tracks like “Rush” and he digs into darker territory on the slow Blues of “Rift” and the subdued psychedelia of “Reflection.” Throughout the record, Sean Grinsell delivers some impressive jams and virtuosic performances on multiple instruments.
Check out “R is for Redemption” in its entirety below, or listen on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear the track “Refraction” on the Deep Indie Jazz playlist. We had the chance to chat with Sean Grinsell about the past, the future and his debut record. Read his answers to our 8 questions. And follow the links at the end of this article to connect with Sean Grinsell. Get on his socials and get in the loop on all of the music to come from this exciting new talent.
8 Questions with Sean Grinsell
Where are you from?
I’m from the Metro Detroit area, Farmington Hills! Currently, I have lived in Chicago, Illinois for the past 3 years!
How long have you been making music?
I’ve been making music for about 1.5 years now! I started getting serious about songwriting and music production in the beginning of 2020. However, I’ve been learning and performing music for about 10 years now!
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
For this project, I handled the majority of the songwriting and production. I oversaw the creation of the structures, melodies, harmonies, and other characteristics of the music! For professional development, I reached out to audio engineer Anthony Gravino who did outstanding work on mastering the EP!! But, getting the music to that point, I had to create the music on my own!
Who are your biggest musical influences?
My biggest musical influences span across different time periods, allowing me to form my musical voice! Some of the most notable influences include Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. I have found great inspiration in combining the hard rock, blues, and psychedelic genres to experience new sounds and moods for the tracks!
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
My family has been incredibly supportive of my musical aspirations. They’ve inspired me to work as hard as I can to achieve my dreams. They always want to hear the new projects I have released and others that I am currently working on. They always give great feedback and continue to inspire me to keep working every day!
What inspired you to create this project?
The purpose of this EP changed over time. I originally only wanted to post my music to SoundCloud to try something new, to grow as an artist and to get feedback. The music was well received, which made me think about expanding the project to something larger.
While I was on a walk through my neighborhood, I vividly remember the idea that I should get the music professionally developed then submit it to major music platforms, blogs, and websites! After that point, I was committed to it and began working to achieve my goal! During the creation of this EP, I had the idea to use a redemption arc to give the listener a musical story that can be told without words, a story that they can apply to their own life experiences and make it their own!
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
I just finalized the concept that I wish to pursue for a 10 song album! This album will explore genres such as hard rock, funk, acoustic, and more! I am indescribably excited to work more on it! I hope to continue to show my music to more people and continue to follow my dreams!!
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I am so grateful for all of the support that I have received in the production and release of my music. There’s no question that I could not have done any of it if it wasn’t for the wonderful and abundant support from those who continue to listen to my music and provide feedback! The music I have planned for the future excites me greatly and I cannot wait to share more of myself and my story through my music. Thank you for continuously being with me on my musical journey!! – Sean Grinsell
