Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Seankelly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

SeanKelly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I’ve taken as a musician was opening myself up to collaboration because of my unique situation. From a young age, I taught myself how the play the guitar in an unconventional way. I created my own tuning (something that is still a mystery to me) and removed a string on the guitar. It just sounded right to me to play that way and learn everything by ear according to the tuning I created!

Collaboration was a huge risk, not just because of how differently I play, but because it was a challenge to push myself out of the safety of my solo world and into a space where I could grow as an artist and engage more with the community. It’s intimidating when other musicians look at my guitar, scratch their heads, and try to wrap their minds around my tuning. The fear of rejection, of people not “getting” it, was very real. But taking this risk taught me an important lesson: there are people who immediately understand and can jump in to add new layers and depth to my music, and there are those who don’t vibe with it at all—and that’s okay.

Experiencing both sides of collaboration showed me that the vulnerability was worth it. It wasn’t just about sharing my work; it was about allowing myself to learn and grow through the perspectives of others. And in the end, that’s the beauty of music. It’s a risk that paid off in countless ways, making me a better artist and expanding my world in ways I never expected.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up around musicians, specifically my dad and our family friends. Growing up going to concerts and listening to the grown humans around me play really made me appreciate the craft. As a child I had a knack for learning songs by ear on the piano and the drums, and while that’s not an uncommon skill, it was enough for my parents to enroll me in lessons. The structured lessons didn’t sit well with me, though. I’ve always been someone who loves to figure things out in a way that makes sense to me vs. being told what to do/how to do. In other words- I have always loved instant gratification, which, to this day, is both a strength and a challenge. I lasted two years before saying goodbye to formal training—I really did hang on as long as I could! The lessons pushed me away from wanting to continue drums and piano- kids, man. So stubborn.

Throughout my childhood, I was always seeking creative outlets, whether it was painting, drawing, or music. But music was the one thing that kept drawing me back. At 13, the need to play something new struck again. I had started playing piano again- but it wasn’t filling my cup enough. One day I wandered into my sister’s room, grabbed her acoustic guitar (a gift from our dad that she never pursued), and laid it on my lap. I remember thinking, “How do people play without staring at the strings?” I started tinkering, creating sounds that felt right, even pulling off a string that just didn’t fit my newfound vision. In no time, I had my own tuning—one that’s as much of a mystery to me now as it is to any musician who hears it.

From that moment, I never looked back. By 16, I was performing at Seattle’s Folklife and Bumbershoot festivals (on the street that is- not the stages!), figuring out how to adapt my unconventional approach to standard guitar play. By 18, I was confident and had found my voice as a performer. By 28 I felt like I solidified my sound. And by 30 I am confidently telling people that I am a self proclaimed “sad girl” and play “sad girl music”. Think Phoebe Bridgers meets Lights!

As an artist who beats to her own drum- I try to write music that talks about things people are thinking but just never say out loud. Sometimes it’s brutal, but it feels damn good to be able to express whatever I want through this medium.

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

I realized early on that music was a language that connected me to people and experiences in a way nothing else could. The most rewarding part about being an artist is knowing that my music can touch people. Knowing that one person can connect deeply with a song that I’ve written straight out of my heart is such a privilege. Seeing that shared joy and realizing that, through all the risks and challenges, I am part of something magical and meaningful.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

3 words: support your local artists! In my opinion, showing up for the nearest hub of musicians in your community is the best thing you can do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://officialseankelly.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skcasserole/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/189y2zvpZSL0e82nFGVGxj?si=qhk_TVHMQ96FCMkMjWwU1w

Image Credits

Credit to 2 photographers:

– NightByDesign

– Sedriece Williams-Johnson