We recently connected with Sebastian Lorenz and have shared our conversation below.

Sebastian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

This has always been a tricky question for me. I was fortunate to find my passion when I was still a little kid and I grew up in an environment that would allow me to follow that path and explore, try things out, and experiment a lot. Spending a lot of time on that part of my life is amazing, but it sometimes makes me wonder whether it was a conscious decision or just the product of it being such a crucial part of my life early on. You never question if you actually want to learn how to ride your bicycle. You just do it if you have the chance to. I never experienced that one moment where the sky opened up and it’s clear that this is my path. I have had many smaller moments that would show me my love for music and prove that I couldn’t go on without it, and eventually, there was no question that this is what I want to do.

Sebastian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It all started even before I went to kindergarten. Initially, it was mainly my childish interest in technical things, like old radios or stereos. Naturally, I was very intrigued by my mom’s old classical guitar. After playing with it for some time, I started taking classical music lessons when I was four and just never stopped. My dad’s record collection introduced me to countless artists who would become significant influences and keep me busy with practicing and learning for years to come. I was very lucky to learn from phenomenal mentors and spend one-on-one time with some of my heroes, nurturing the wish to become what they are. I remember getting to play with John Lee Hooker Jr. when I was thirteen years old in a club in Basel, Switzerland, which was a huge thing and really made me want to pursue the exploration of music. Fast forward, I moved to Los Angeles, just trying to keep learning every day and doing what I love – playing guitar, pedal steel, practicing, playing shows, recording, writing, and meeting fabulous people.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I am very fascinated with the tension in one’s creative life. On the one hand, you feel the urge to keep working, stay creative, be yourself, not be boring, reinvent yourself, and not copy anyone. On the other hand, you are your worst critic, knowing what you should work on and constantly reviewing your work under a microscope. It’s almost like a perpetual motion machine – you know you’ll stay busy for life – and more importantly, you’ll stay busy with something you love no matter what. And it’s those moments when the two sides merge and everything comes together. It’s these magical moments where time seems to stand still, and you’re just in that very moment.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think it can sometimes seem unreasonable to some folks to follow a path in the arts or creative world. It takes a long time to gain the knowledge you need, practice the necessary skills, long hours, frustration, and build a network that will lead to work and unfortunately in many cases minimal financial compensation. On top of that, the journey will never end. I am frequently asked why I decide to go through the hassle rather than finding something that might seem less tiring. After all, there is no set path for life in the creative world, so people must go through this process to find their own. But as mentioned earlier, some moments reward you in a way that compares to nothing and keep the fire burning. This might be cliché, but if you’re meant to be an artist, there is no way around it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sebastianlorenz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sebastianlorenz/

Image Credits
Pran Lorenz, Alex Kluft, Matthias Rhomberg