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

Alright, Seeymoore thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Actually seeing my poems transition into songs written to provoke thought, promote discussion and hopefully help with healing from emotional scars, generational trauma through meaningful lyrics and the sharing of experience.  The sharing indicates that there are similar struggles we face, hopes we have, and outcomes, goals and purposes we would like to see come to fruition. “Real Men” is a collection of thoughts and goals to become a better man, husband and father– having been abandoned by my father. Abandoned men usually take one or two paths: Hurt and anger or achievement. Without insight and balance either of the two can be harmful or detrimental as men maturate into husbands and fathers due to lack of understanding that sadly too often leads to the transfer of unresolved issues into other relationships. Men often struggle in silence or fight ‘secret wars” due to conditioning, feelings of helplessness, not wanting to ask for help or help being unavailable or biased. I share on social media books like, “Men’s Secret Wars” by Patrick Means and Exposing the Rejection Mindset” by Mark DeJesus as just a couple of examples of resources I have read and share so other men and their families can benefit.

Seeymoore, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born and raised in Detroit Michigan, walking distance from Motown, as well as Hitsville U.S.A. I was always around music. Growing up I always had side hustles: Paper route (Won two trips from brining on new customers to Disney Florida and Kings Island in Ohio). I sold bee pollen and gasoline enhancement products in my teens.

I studied Tae Kwon do and I also fished the Great Lakes with a man named Paul, who was older and mentored me a lot.

I was raised by my grandparents and mother- and though no longer physically present I still strive to not disappoint them due to being grateful for their sacrifices. I grew up with one brother living in the same home and we still laugh, reminisce and support one another through some of life challenges even if it’s just conversation.

I joined the Naval Reserves Officer Training Course in Highschool. That program helped with discipline, professionalism and purpose bigger than self. Of course, grew up on comics like the Avengers that I now get to see in spectacular live action which was about teamwork and coping or dealing with threats too big to handle individually. This led to me joining and serving as a member of Navy Medicine. I got to travel the world. seeing and hearing perspectives from individuals in their homeland, learning things separate/different from what is taught about them. I married my high school sweetheart and fellow NJROTC cadet, we are still married, friends, and have two adult sons from us, an “adopted” son and nephew.

While serving in Navy Medicine, I earned an associate degree in environmental health, a bachelor’s in healthcare administration and master’s in emergency management. I also met individuals that would lifelong friends while serving like Derrick Shepherd, Kenneth Lee, Cliff Moss and Erik Faulkner.

Poetry and Music. I had a high school English teacher (Ms. P. Miner) that challenged me. Because I did not turn in homework, and grades were weighted on the midterm and final. I submitted a paper on works of poetry, and she said, “you did not write this.” I said, “I did.” She challenged me by saying, ” then write another one-page paper now.” I needed to pass to graduate and leave for the Navy and I wrote another. She gave me an A-. She said what a waste in a complimentary way, “you have a gift, will you use it?” One day walking past Wayne State University on my way to apply for a part time job I saw an elderly gentleman struggling with large instruments. I offered help–not knowing he was the leader of a very well-known orchestra in his youth, and they still rehearsed and played together. He offered me a job helping him set up and tear down at rehearsals and then later gigs. The bug bit. In the late 90’s while in the Navy I began turning poems to songs. We recorded with a young Marine that had a in home studio. I was also working with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) Brother to Brother Program and here we go. I went to the same barber at Unisex House of Style in Oceanside, California that believe it or not Ike Turner went to. One day in that baritone voice he sang to my son and ending up introducing me to the west coast manager for the Detroit based group, “The Floaters.” This meeting would lead to them showing me how to clear a sample though the Harry Fox Agency. Through a small local record company, my very first single “Float on Away” was released; and distributed through Solar. I remember going to Tower Records in Los Angeles to purchase a copy, I performed during Juneteenths, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday and Black History celebrations and sharing stages with Def Jef, Positive K and one of the fathers of Hip Hop, Kurtis Blow.

Cut short. A person in the Navy not knowing any of this about music questioned how I afforded a house and a Nissan Pathfinder. With no regard for my young family, launched his own inquiry and discovered the truth. He did not relent, especially after a conversation where again questioned my finances and I replied, “I do not have the vices you have (e.g., heavy smoking and drinking), there is at least a portion of a Pathfinder payment. He got pissed. I received orders to Okinawa Japan and was not able to promote and perform and walked away from music. Upon on return to the states, music (hip hop) had evolved.  I heard Busta Rhymes and put the mic down again LOL.   In the aftermath of the inquiry and prior to departing for Japan with my family (second son born), new supervisors actually asked would I perform.  Those performances led to some rewarding community work; and that work resulted in nominations for the Dr’ King Civic Award, and the NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award.

Years later a DMV poet and spoken word artist, LeRoy “Twist” who introduced me to the area’s open mic scene.  Later up walks Elijah Harvey (mentor and friend), he offered me an opportunity at a second chance after hearing me perform with Sailors at the National Naval Medical Center during a Black History Celebration.  Through BeatStars agreements some other producers on the project are A. Seewald, D. Katana and Almusawi.  After a few years of coaching, pushing and mixing, Elijah would introduce me to Matthew Shell and Erik Fredriksen, incredible artist whose outstanding mastering took the music next level.   So, in the last few months, two singles have been released (Real Men and Kiss You) and the third single “Reminiscing” is set to release (or released) February 10th.   Real Men has been nominated for a DC Wammie Award.  And now this article–and I am grateful for and hope the project inspires all that need it.

And that is my mission, to help and share with others the things that were shared and helpful to me through music and poetry…

I do want to share finally that my grandparents. mother and brother are inspirations for who I am and these poetry and music goals. Grandad purchased a device that enabled me to travel the globe prior to actually travelling the world. And as I share, “A defining moment was on a day he and his grandfather were pouring concrete for the sidewalk in front of the family home. As the cement dried his grandfather said, “let’s write our initials;” so moved by his grandfather’s gesture, he (Clint Sr.), said, “I want to be just like you.” Granddad replied, I am in masonry due to a sixth-grade education and lack of opportunity…I want you to do better!” Those were his pre-Navy orders/words of love and affirmation that set the tone for his personal and professional ethics and conduct. Most of his parents have passed, but their inspiration lives on…”

And my wife and sons… No relationship, especially marriage, is without challenges. The song “Kiss You” we perform together as a testament to not giving up on one another, easily jumping ship and ending up in the same situation with someone new vice working through things.  Do not judge me (smile) I sang the hook not because I am a singer, but we just really wanted to do this one together.  A very fun project. My name Seeymoore Bell is the combination of my grandfather’s last name and something my boys, now young men would say, and it was ironically how I felt about granddad when he would pass on wisdom like, “If you are busy doing the do’s (of life), you will not have time for the don’ts.” And I (as our sons sometimes did) would reply, “wow I did not see that (depth) you often see-more :-)

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Today easily offended, anger, mistreatment, toxic leadership and abuse are either on the rise or more apparent due to social media.   So, my ongoing lesson is to NOT treat or lead others in the same ways I was treated or led when that treatment or leader/family member was toxic. To me that is one of the worse societal mindsets is treating others through the lenses of our traumatic experiences rather than blessing, encouraging and uplifting based on lessons learned. Do not get me wrong, pain at times proves to be the proving ground for great purging, pruning or purpose, but hopefully take that pain and improve ourselves and the lives of others.

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

To me the creative and artistic minds are abstract, objective and subjective simultaneously and almost like the Twilight Zone stated, “artistic creativity is a dimension where sight, sound, emotion, logic,” legal premise can often be expressed in ways that are non-offensive, not harmful or necessarily intrusive.   Creatives can create or resonate resolve, reason, and rationale that speak to individuals, shape, help influence and affect societal norms, dilemmas.  Whether along with or against the grain with faiths and science, art can even indicate (whether accepted or not) that a society could be headed for a conscious or unconscious demise though the very subconscious of “King, pawns and Jesters.” (Quote source unknown, did not say it but it is a good one…).  The reward again, whether recognized for it or not, art, music and poetry, due to their influence is the reason that even for apocalyptic preparation, arts and creations are high on the list of things to preserve for what or whoever is left.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://instabio.cc/Seeymoorebell
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seeymoore_bell/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010075650062
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SBell0821
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@seeymoorebell2699
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@seeymoorebell357?_t=8Ymlx7sq0Gk&_r=1 https://open.spotify.com/artist/2eJToyA6Fd8NfyWsbbJgYj?si=9Hnb7ct1ROi5JWdmh75K4w https://music.apple.com/us/artist/seeymoore-bell/1647932824

Image Credits
For Real Men, Kiss You and Reminiscing cover art were done fee for service by SlMix1 on Fiverr.