Published: May 31, 2009 10:58 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight May 2009 Edition
Steve Sebby
Steve Sebby
Steve Sebby is an instant superstar with his soulful bluesy rock vocals, solid tunes, colorful lyrics and catchy hooks. What makes Steve especially appealing is his unconventional sound that makes him a gem in a market full of clones. In this recent interview with our Webzine, Steve shares his love for music with our publication.
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
Steve Sebby: In 2008, I was mainly focused on finishing college. It didn't allow me to book as many shows as I wanted, but the 3-piece band that I was playing with was great. We played a few places in town and had a pretty large following for the small amount of shows we were playing.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Steve Sebby: We were playing shows in a college town, so we ended up getting played on the college radio stations down in Southern Illinois. That was pretty cool by itself, but then we were featured on a music show on PBS called "Studio A Presents:" It was a great experience learning how to do a show like that. It was a lot different having the audience replaced by a bunch of cameras. A crowd is what brings out the best in us, so we had to imagine that there were people there, enjoying our music. It turned out to be a great episode.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in area.
Steve Sebby: The music scene that we were playing in was a lot of music majors playing in jam bands. It didn't leave much room for us to do what we wanted. We weren't a jam band, so we had a hard time selling ourselves to the bars that didn't like change. I'm playing in the Chicago area now, which is an outstanding music scene. I'm in a place now where people are open to any kind of music, as long as it's good. I've built a bigger following here in 6 months than my band did in two years down south.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Steve Sebby: Last year we played an outside amphitheater on a nice day, and drew a crowd of around 800 people. It was a fun show, but I still have just as good of a time playing in a beer-garden for 150 people. For the most part, I like playing in a small enough place to see individuals enjoying the music.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Steve Sebby: Oh man! This could take forever. I'm a huge fan of 90's rock. I love the progressive style of the Smashing Pumpkins, but as an acoustic artist, I have a hard time emulating their vibe. Listening to them has made me experiment with all kinds of different sounds though. An acoustic guitar with a pedal board can cover a pretty wide spectrum. I also love how Ryan Adams can put together a song, so I try to combine different sounds and styles to put together a Ryan Adams, Smashing Pumpkins, Ben Harper, and Tim Reynolds type feel. I think that if I can combine enough influences within one CD, then I can create my own original sound without being compared to anyone. I always hate the question "What kind of music do you play?" Like I'm supposed to list off the artists that I sound like. I don't want to sound like anybody. That's the whole point of being an artist, right?
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Steve Sebby: Just like any struggling artist, I want to bring something new to the table. Something that we're not used to hearing, but not so weird that it's not enjoyable. We're all just searching for that next great, marketable hook, and the song that breaths life into it is up for grabs. I'm always experimenting with different sounds and styles that set me apart from the next guy, and today's technology is a bottomless toolbox.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Steve Sebby: I recently saw a documentary on the making of Oasis's "Dig Out Your Soul." They put themselves in a warehouse full of various instruments and just went to town on them. Each song was a musical adventure where they would try new, obscure techniques for writing. They'd do things like "Let's see if we can do a whole song without even adding a guitar!" or "Let's get 10 keyboards to play all at once, and see how big of a sound we can create." I absolutely loved their way of experimenting with different things to make something new. They created a playground and just had a great time, and I think it came across in that CD.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Steve Sebby: I have to do this all the time, and I still don't have a good answer. I'm pretty sure that's a good thing. It's like acoustic rock….uhhhh….with a loop pedal…..and different effect pedals….like Howie Day, but not anything like Howie Day. In an intimate setting, it's a very chill vibe with bluesy type vocals. In a crowded bar, it's a loud mixture of rock and jazz with Gomez-type vocals. I play to the crowd that's in front of me. I play what I think the patrons of that particular venue will enjoy. I'm always changing parts of my own songs to see what gets a reaction out of people. I try to sing songs that…..uhhh…..what was the question?
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Steve Sebby: People love to put a label on everything. I've heard: "You sound like the dude from Gomez." And "You kind of have a Dave Matthewsy feel." And "Freebird!" I've been getting a lot of really good feedback lately. I book shows at new places all the time, because people approach me after shows with places for me to play. Most of my shows now beget new shows, so it's starting to snowball, and I have to do less and less work to get work. I think that's a good sign.
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Steve Sebby: The plan is to take Chicago by storm. Look for me at various bars and venues in the Lincoln Park, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, and Wrigleyville areas.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans?
Steve Sebby: To my family: You've been very supportive to this struggling artist. Thanks! To my girlfriend: You've also been a great support. Thanks. To my friends: Thanks for coming to my shows. Let's keep rocking out!
