Welcome to an exclusive interview with Sean Edwards, the talented musician who recently graced us with his debut EP, Be Your Own Best Friend. In this interview, we get to know Sean on a deeper level, exploring the inspirations behind his music, the journey he took to bring his EP to life, and the stories behind some of his captivating tracks. Sean’s music reflects his personal experiences and mantra “Be Your Own Best Friend”, offering a unique perspective on life and self-discovery. So let’s dive into the world of Sean Edwards and his musical journey. 

V: Hi, Sean! Tell us a bit about yourself and how you entered the world of music.

S.E: Hello Voxwave, thanks so much for chatting to me! At a very young age I was given cornet, similar to a trumpet, by my granddad and given lessons so I could play in a brass band! Although I moved on from that a few years later, it set me in good stead in terms of having an ear for music and collaborating with other musicians! Growing up my dad always had a piano in the house which I almost felt was the forbidden fruit, his pride and joy! But I slowly built up trust and the confidence to play when the mood took me! In my school days I dabbled at drums in my first band, then I couldn’t resist but gravitate towards picking up the guitar and writing my own songs as I become more open minded, creative, and confident with age – the rest is history!

V: You recently completed the recording of your debut EP, “Be Your Own Best Friend.” Could you tell us more about what inspired you to create it?

S.E.: After writing songs in my bedroom for about ten years, I made the decision at 26 to go to music uni in Bristol, UK! This is where I met the awesome lads that are now my band! Noah Houghton on Bass and Will Davies on Drums! With their help and our producer they helped me record my songs into a fully produced band E.P. for the first time ever. I’m super excited to get a piece of myself out to the world officially!

V: The first single from the EP, “Give It Up,” has already been released. Tell us more about it and why you chose this track as the single.

S.E.: I wrote Give It Up after mulling over a break-up – Probably the first time I’ve instigated the end of a relationship. In my eyes we had tried to make it work, kept communicating our needs and expectations, but we still clashed and ultimately just weren’t right for each other. I did what I thought was right so we could both move on with life and find what was better for us!

V: Please elaborate on the title of your EP, “Be Your Own Best Friend.” Why did you choose this name?  

S.E: From personal experiences growing up, I’ve been around struggles in mental health and kind of ended up adopting the role of mediator in some circumstances and having to build up a mental strength in myself to be able to be supportive but not be too affected. Over the years this has helped to inform the “Be Your Own Best Friend” motto as I’ve tried to keep the conversations in my head forward thinking and productive as I ride the rollercoaster of life!

V: How did the process of recording the EP go? Are there any special moments or stories associated with this project?

S.E.: The best moment was probably when producer Henry, the band, and I had the best uber driver ever! He was blasting his tunes in the car and chatting to us about all sorts! This came after being let down by the faults in the Uni studio we tried to use, so we had to get back to producer Henry’s for the session. We spent long days getting the sound for each song and tracking each part! The whole process was exciting and engaging, tweaking the parts and the sound of the guitars, bass, vocals to get the songs where we wanted them! Having to record the drums for all four tracks in one day was definitely a task which drummer Will and Henry worked their arses off for. All-in-all I couldn’t have asked for a better team!

V: Many artists today aim for self-expression and originality. What qualities in your music make it unique?

S.E.: My vision is to have an element of theatrics in the way I express my personality. To write about my own learnings and experiences but keep it jovial and human, as if chatting to someone I know! Even on a deeper level, including the conversational tone, funny quips and comments that tickle you without you knowing why, and the little nuggets of wisdom out of my experiences.

V: Music often serves as a means of communication with the audience. What messages or feelings do you hope to convey to your audience through your music?

S.E.: I’d like my songs to give people a sense of relief. Evoking that sense of belief that things are alright, making light of things to show all is not lost. I like to share my quirky and sometimes surprising take on life with lyrics like “be strong, it’s alright! hate me, it’s alright! let’s move on…” or “You’re getting sucked up by the system, it’s gonna spit you out again!”

V: Which artists or music genres have had the greatest influence on your creativity, and how has this influenced the sound of your EP?

S.E.: I have always had a varied taste in music, which has made creating playlists pretty tough! But in my school years I found myself listening to Eminem, Example, Mumford & Sons, and Ben Howard! After school I started as the in-house photographer at a music venue, where I had the opportunity to see loads of post-rock, indie, and alternative bands! After being exposed to that amazing community and being influenced by new friends and new music, this has slowly built my taste and my sound today. Pulling from sounds like The Killers, Sam Fender, Oasis, and even vocally taking from artists like George Ezra and Lewis Capaldi! But to this day I still continue to listen to multiple genres of music! 

V: Do you already have plans for future projects or concerts?

S.E.: We have a show in London at The Amersham Arms 16th December! And we are currently organising an E.P. launch show in Bristol, February! The goal for 2024 will be to play more shows and whittle down the songs into an album that best represents me as an artist! I am most active about my music on instagram @seanedwardsmusic! Head there to see more of my world 🙂

V: Finally, what are your goals and what heights do you hope to achieve in the world of music?

S.E.: I like the idea that one day, enough people will resonate enough with my music to get them all in a room singing along! My songs are very personal and play a part in understanding myself and coping with life in this crazy world – Seeing that people like it enough and maybe take that sentiment from it would be an amazing feeling! Film and TV is another goal of mine, having my songs support the narrative of a scene in a film or episode would also be awesome! The ultimate fantasy would be to write a hit christmas song that annoys people after ten years of being played constantly! Maybe then I can retire?