Q: Tell me a little bit about the rising hip-hop scene here in the Twin Cities, with budding artists like Spooky Black, Allan Kingdom, and Lizzo making big splashes this year– and where you see it going?
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Q: I know you performed at several festivals this summer, can you tell us some of the different ways you approach a festival vs. a homecoming Mainroom show? What do you like most about each?
Sean: One major difference between doing the festival thing, and throwing a headlining show at First Ave is the preparation. This is only the 2nd time I’ve headlined in the Main Room, and even though I had a year to prepare myself since the last one, I’m still amazed by how much goes into making a show like this work. It has to be 100% of my focus.
When I was on Warped Tour this summer, I had to try my best not to get swallowed up in tour life. I lived on a tour bus. If I ate food, it was from catering. If a drank a beer, it was from catering. If you want to take a shower, you have a 5 minute limit, and have to wear sandals so you don’t get “the fungus”. It prolly sounds horrible and over-regimented, but it was truthfully one of the most liberating, eye-opening experiences of my life. Everything is taken care of, and that’s a good feeling. Also, K. Flay, Plague Vendor, and DJ Nicola Bear were my roommates for a little over a month, so that was pretty tight.
That being said, throwing a show at First Ave, even though there’s a lot more that goes into it, is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. I’m so excited to be able to celebrate my birthday in my favorite venue ever.
Q: Tell us about performing with Doomtree at their last blowout, and a little bit about your friendship with Har Mar Superstar.
Sean: Doomtree are the forever-homies. It’s refreshing to meet a group of people that are as nice as they are talented, and DT is just that.
I remember being at the first Blowout at the Varsity theater, it was right around the time I played my first show at the Dinkytowner, I kept thinking “I want to be up there”. Fast forward 10 years, I’m riding around with Mike, and he asks if I’d like to do a song at the #LastBlowoutEver, and I was like, yuuuuup. It was an amazing experience. I’m thankful for any opportunity I have to rap at First Ave, but being able to do one song “hit it and quit it” style to a sold out main room audience is another experience all together. One of the best moments of my life.
I’ve truthfully only kicked it with Har Mar about 10 times. But he’s always been real cool. I first met Mr. Tillman in 2012. Lizzo, RP Hooks, Brock Lammers, & I had driven all night from Minneapolis to New York for the CMJ marathon. First thing we did when we got to town was link up with Jacob & Brian from Me and My Arrow. We all met up at some bar on the LES. They introduced us to Har Mar. He was eating a plate of the most delicious nachos I’d ever seen in my life. I don’t remember if they were all I’m making them out to be, but after being trapped in a car for 20 hours with minimum food intake, that cheese looked like liquid gold. Har Mar offered some of his nachos, I ate a bunch. I remember thinking “this dude is rad”, and I was right.
Q: We all are hoping to hear some of your new tunes at the show– how do you feel about playing new songs live? Is there something electrifying about an audience’s first reaction to new material?
Sean: I love doing the new jams. We’ve only performed about 3 songs off the upcoming full length with Dimitry Killstorm, but every time we do, people have gone wild.
Don’t get me wrong, I love doing the older stuff as well. It’s great hearing everyone sing along… But the mixture of excitement/nervousness that comes from doing a song for the first time is such a unique feeling. I love it. We’ll definitely be debuting a couple songs off of the album on the 10th.
