By Sonia Schnee | Posted November 13, 2019
Jersey City’s music scene is continually blossoming, due in part to Cathedral Arts Live, a monthly live music series launched by Grace Church Van Vorst five years ago to celebrate diversity in music-making while also strengthening community. On Friday, November 22, Cathedral Arts Live will welcome singer-songwriter Sean Kiely and singer-songwriter Abbie Gardner to its stage. Check out our interview with Sean, below, to learn about his musical influences, what to expect at the upcoming Cathedral Arts Live show, and how New Jersey’s awesome community of artists are supporting one another. To purchase tickets to the show, please visit cathedralartslive.org.
What's your name, where are you from, where are you based now?
Sean Kiely, born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, raised in Bergen County, residing in Jersey City for nearly 12 years.
How would you describe your sound? Who are your musical influences?
I’m drawn to music that sustains a feeling or emotion for the length of a song, and that's what I try to do in my writing. I typically play in acoustic configurations where a rotating group of musicians can express themselves and improvise in that context. My music is influenced by folk, jazz, and experimental music. Some of my musical heroes are the Grateful Dead, Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch, Bonnie Prince Billy, Joanna Newsom, The Bad Plus, Yo La Tengo, Bill Callahan, Cass McCombs, The Beatles, and many more!
From “It Sure Was Good” [2018]
Animation: Hannah Subotnick
You have an upcoming performance with Cathedral Arts Live. What are you most looking forward to? What can people expect?
I’m really looking forward to sharing the bill with Abbie Gardner – we’ve played together quite a lot in a traditional bluegrass setting (she sits in with my bluegrass band The Go Bailers often at our 3-years-running Wednesday night residency at The Archer in Jersey City), but this will be a treat to play our original music on the same night. The acoustics are special at Grace Church Van Vorst, it’ll be a thrill to sing and play in that room. At least from me, I’d say people can expect some sad songs that are cut through with humor and hope.
How did you hear about Cathedral Arts Live? What are your thoughts about New Jersey's music scene?
I’ve attended a few shows in the series, including Walter Parks and the Hudson West Folk Festival. It’s really well-curated and I’m honored to be included this year. As far as the NJ music scene goes, I love living and playing in Jersey City – there are a bunch of fantastic venues around town now that weren’t here even five years ago, like Fox & Crow, The Archer, Pet Shop, and FM.
Photography by Anthony Mulcahy
What has your personal journey been like so far? How’d you get to this point?
I play and listen to a wide range of styles of music, so my journey has been full of a lot of detours and crooked lines. The thing I’m most proud of is the company of musicians that I keep, who all play in a way that’s present, joyful, playful, and beautiful. I have a difficult time staying present and in the moment in my life, so I cherish that creative space we’ve made together (myself, Bobby McCullough, Dave Heilman, Rob Hecht, Jonny Lam, Jeff Taylor, Jesske Hume, Zac Colwell, Maddie Witler, and more).
Do you have any words of advice for people who share a similar passion or have maybe faced similar obstacles/challenges?
Find gigs and play a lot. Try and be prepared, but the best way to find yourself is by being open to the moment and playing all the time. Play with a lot of different kinds of people and kinds of musicians.
Finally, what are some ways that fans can connect with you online? (Website? Facebook? Spotify? Etc.?)
seankielymusic.com
instagram.com/sean0sean
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KdSg93
DOWNLOAD: http://bit.ly/MONUMENTS
All proceeds to benefit RAICES (https://www.raicestexas.org) All musicians and engineers generously donated their time and energy to this recording so that all funds raised from it be donated to RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to under-served immigrant children, families, and refugees.