We were lucky to catch up with Sean Lo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sean, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I had my bachelor’s degree in Taiwan, majoring in animal science. I always loved studying animals and thought I would pursue this path and become a scientist or researcher. Music was just a very important hobby to me. However, things took a turn in my senior year, when I was an exchange student in Australia. Back then, I lived in a countryside campus, where I had no access to any kind of music scene for a whole semester. I missed playing music so deeply to the point that I was depressed. I then finally realized the weight of music in my heart. Maybe I could live without studying animals, but I most likely cannot live without music. That’s when I started to think about becoming a professional musician.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Sean Lo, I’m a musician, drummer, composer, and arranger from Taipei, Taiwan. I started playing the drums at 11, but didn’t think of becoming a professional musician until the senior year of my bachelor’s program, where I studied animal science.
After I got out of school, I jumped into my dream of becoming a full-time musician, but it wasn’t easy. I had to deliver food for Uber Eats while I was looking around Taipei for teaching jobs. At the same time, I got into an indie rock band called BOB IS TIRED and was later signed by Kafka2020, which changed my life dramatically. I released two albums with the band and toured extensively across Taiwan and China.
Meanwhile, I was also developing a huge passion for jazz music, participating in bands such as Longshan Grocery (fusion) and Riot Jazz Society (jazz orchestra) before starting my own project, Newstand Trio. Along my journey through all these different genres, I was fulfilled but also saw what I could possibly contribute to the scene. As a performer and an educator, my sense of mission started to grow. For this purpose and my personal growth, I decided to move to New York to pursue the next level.
Now I’m studying at Queens College, majoring in jazz performance, but also making my way to become a working musician and bandleader in NYC. I’m planning to stay here for a few years to absorb and develop, before moving back home to continue my mission.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Compared to the music scene in New York, the one in Taiwan is relatively young, especially for jazz. Due to cultural differences and language barriers, many people in Taiwan lack access to quality music and a correct source of information. This motivates me to absorb what the greatest have to offer and become a bridge between Taiwan and the rest of the world. More specifically, I aim to stay in NYC for a few years to accumulate cultural experience and musicianship before returning home to share with my people. Furthermore, it’s always exciting to see the Taiwanese scene improving over the years, and even more rewarding to become part of the change.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Music conveys feelings and emotions, even the ones that are beyond words. I will always remember a concert of my band BOB IS TIRED before I joined them. I was in the audience, feeling the utmost happiness, simply because everyone on and off the stage was enjoying themselves. I decided to audition for the band because I want to bring this joy to people. Nowadays, I have played in numerous groups and projects, but still, nothing is more fulfilling than seeing smiles stay on people’s faces, from the middle of the show to the moment they walk out the door.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mulelodrums
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mulelodrums/
- Youtube: @mdrums1428
