Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Bennight.
Hi Sean, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have been driven to bring to life the world in my imagination for as long as I can remember. That world is vibrant, perhaps equally so to the physical world surrounding me, and I’ve learned the hard way over the years that I am capable of becoming lost in it. Balance is the key. I’m an introverted extrovert, or an extroverted introvert, depending on my mood and your point of view.
I like my space and solitude but without connection, all is lackluster and purpose is lost. Music is a natural connection for me, you could say it’s my first language. Something in the sounds and the space between them transports me. To say it moves me falls short as it’s so much more than physical. Sometime in high school, I had learned enough music theory to begin purposefully exploring the hows and why’s of this transcendent and powerful device.
Today, I’m still exploring the same thing. If someone listening in the audience or online finds connection and solace in the sounds and the space between them, then I have fulfilled my purpose in this craft. Those connections, though fleeting and seemingly insignificant, are what drives all of us. And they’re not just found in music. They’re everywhere.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s all relative. I don’t think anybody has a smooth road, mine included. The music industry specifically is in a state of flux that has all but erased the known roads. Navigating this career path is an off-road, uncharted, orienteering adventure with an inconsistent compass. Leading a healthy and responsible life in this industry takes direct focus, unparalleled resolve, and probably a second (and maybe third) job.
It’s important to have a diversified skill set and a balanced and healthy schedule. Burning out is easy to do. I know intimately the struggles of addiction, finances, personal health, and loss. Art imitates life and life imitates art. They are both a struggle and neither has an instruction manual. In my experience, the art that has moved me has been due to its authenticity. If you want to connect you have to have felt it and be willing to feel it again.
I’m not encouraging anybody to embrace tragedy and trauma to be more authentic in their artistic expression. I am encouraging people to find gratitude wherever and whenever possible, in elation and despair. Both are necessary elements in this strange and beautiful life. Everybody falls, but not everybody gets back up. If the road were easy, the art would be boring. Get up and tell your story.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In my early 20s, I went to live and work with my uncle who was a formative influence on me. He’s a ferocious carpenter and devours life; nothing short of inspiring to be sure. I’ve been doing home repair/remodeling/installation work for over 20 years. Trade work is an excellent parallel career to music. Both require focus, precision, and problem-solving. No job is ever the same. No gig is ever the same. I enjoy the variety.
In construction, I take on short-term repair/remodel/installs, specializing in trim and tile. In music, I write, arrange, engineer, mix, produce, and perform/record vocally and with stringed instruments. I love that in both, I have the opportunity to bring a product of imagination to fruition.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
There are so many things I enjoy about Denver the list seems long and cliche. There’s an excellent investment in the arts. The world’s best performances and exhibitions come through this city. A diverse urban experience at the foot of the rocky mountains is hard not to like. I don’t particularly like driving in Denver and I want more trains.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coloradocountryblues.com
Image Credits
Michael Mark
