We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sean Applebee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sean, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My purpose comes from a calling to heal through connecting people with their humanity. The greatest gift in life is to witness the power that music has to bring people together. Every performance creates a space where people bond over their appreciation for beauty, diverse perspectives, and desire to explore. Music creates a healing space where boundaries can be broken, where new ideas are formed, where new relationships are formed.
Every time I perform, I am filled with gratitude and joy to have the power to make a profound impact on peoples lives!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Beyond was first created not merely as a group, but as a way of life. It is a meditation on how the spontaneity of the moment creates a magical adventure that connects the artist and the audience to something greater than any individual. I’ve always loved music from an eclectic array of genres feeling that despite their differences, they shared something common at a deeper level. Whether it is Funk, Hip-Hop, Afro-Cuban, or Black American music(Jazz); each style represents the beauty of human experience . Each style engenders a space for communities to bond through fun and relaxation learning something new about life along the way. It is an interactive experience where the energy of everyone involved comes together to produce something far greater than any individual. The magic that arises in live performance takes people Beyond who they are and expands their horizons. This is the purpose of Beyond: to unify musicians and audiences alike in space that allows them to ascend past their limitations and appreciate the beauty of creativity.
Beyond released their debut album entitled “Beyond” in December of 2023. It is the culmination of years of sharing a special bond with very special people. It takes the listener on a journey through the styles of Funk, Afro-Cuban, and Black American Music. It is ultimately about connecting people to being alive in the moment and celebrating this beautiful thing we call life.
Beyond is available on all streaming platforms! There is special behind the scenes footage on the Beyond YouTube channel and extra content available for those who purchase the album on Bandcamp(see link on website). Everything related to the group, its new album, and upcoming shows can be found at https://www.seanapplebeeandbeyond.com
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Community:
Music is about the connection you make with your audience. I would not be where I am today without family, friends, and fans who have shown unconditional love and support throughout my career. When you seek to engage your audience in a meaningful way, there are no boundaries between you and your supporters. You can take them on amazing adventures to all sorts of unique places while expressing who you truly are in a way that is celebrated. Many artists overlook the power they have to make people’s lives better by actively including them in the performance. I have found the best way to do this is with the power of groove and rhythm. The traditions of Funk, Hip-Hop, and Afro-Cuban music that originate from the African Diaspora contain a plethora of wisdom on sounds that are deeply connected with who we are as human beings. No matter what, I make sure that the music is energized and gets people moving and grooving. This connection is a gesture of kindness towards the audience. Once this door has been opened, any artistic decisions you make will be better received and more impactful as the audience feels like they are part of what you are doing. As artists we must invite our audience into our world rather than simply forcing it upon them. This ultimately creates a loyal fanbase that feels more like a family than a crowd of strangers.
Quality Authenticity
The pursuit of originality is pointless.
I’ll never forget a conversation I had with my mentor of many years: Chicago born trumpeter/multi instrumentalist Brad Goode, famous around the globe for his vast knowledge of styles, virtuoso playing, and truly original voice. He mentioned a piece of advice he got from the legendary Chicago saxophonist, Eddie Harris.
In short, Eddie told him, ” Stylists are born, not made”.
At first Brad thought he was implying that only a few musicians are born with a special talent while the rest are doomed to fail.
Eddie then clarified by saying that he had it all wrong. What he meant was that everyone is born with a unique voice. It is simply up to each artist to develop that talent and refine it though the process of exploration.
Now how does this tie into authenticity?
What it means is that you are already original. No matter what you say, it will be in your own voice, because you are the only you. No other individual has the exact same qualities that you do and and no-one else can fulfill your purpose in this world the way you can.
Since, you will be original in whatever you do, focus on making your craft as good as it can possibly be. It is possible to consciously focus solely on originality without attention to refinement. This common pitfall leads to one only seeking to stand out at any cost. Just because something stands out does not mean that is good or useful. You see this with many pop “artists” today. Their music is based around becoming viral to capitalize off of a brief moment of fame. Ultimately, they then fizzle out of the spotlight as fast as they got into it. This is because trends based popularity come and go. On the other hand, the truth of our existence as humans is eternal and infinite. The musicians that are are successful over a long period of time are constantly engaged in the process of exploring a truth greater than themselves. Few exemplify this better than Miles Davis. In all eras of his career, his music was an authentic representation of his explorations. Records like, “Kind of Blue”, “Bitches Brew”, and “Tutu” are all genre defining pieces of art that highlight his ability to reinvent his sound across many genres from Bebop, to Avant-Garde, to Hip-Hop. We still come back to his music today because it is a quality reflection of where he was in that moment. There was no intention of being famous, or trying to be anything other than what was needed in that moment to serve the music. Creating from this space is how one finds the golden balance between quality and originality.
Teamwork makes the Dream work:
Beyond uses its member’s unique talents to its advantage. This music comes from the group living life together on and off of the stage.
To quote my hero, Louis Armstrong: “What we play is life”.
We have all built up a strong bond unified by a passion for beauty and exploration allowing the music to flow naturally and abundantly. It comes from the genuine energy of our lived experience. Most of our music comes from the band getting together to bond whether that is through musical or non-musical activities. The interactions you have outside of your performances are what allow the band to become deeply connected like a family. This connection creates a space of unified diversity. The time spent together creates a group that is extremely in tune. In both conversation and music, you finish each other’s sentences and share ideas that are sure to spark inspiration. The strength of this bond also creates a space where each member feels comfortable with the vulnerability of authentic expression. When everyone has each other’s back, you are able to go places you otherwise would not. Thus, the secret to a high level of musical expression is to be deeply connected with everyone you are playing with on a personal level.
If you want to create music that keeps evolving, find people who you can infinitely grow alongside.
When the band becomes a family, your potential becomes limitless!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Call me!!! Let’s have a conversation about how we can uplift each other and take our music to the next level. I always view Collaboration as win-win and I want nothing but success for anyone that I have the pleasure of working with.
Beyond is always looking for venues and bands to collaborate with!
We specialize in a wide variety of styles from Afro-Cuban to Hip Hop to Funk and we love exploring new areas of each style by catering our set to compliment the style of fellow acts. One of my favorite things to do is to write new music for an upcoming show that matches the style of any other band we are sharing the stage with. Beyond is a platform for genuine connection and exploration with anyone.
We have had great success opening for bands such as Alfredo Rodriguez and Kowan and Company at Cervantes Other Side as well as many successful shows at Denver famous jazz club, Dazzle.
Beyond is a movement greater than any one individual and we want you ask yourself: ” How can I go Beyond?”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.seanapplebeeandbeyond.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sean_w_applebee_music?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sean.applebee.5?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeA6d0vw9abRbQtvQoLGUeQ
- Other: https://linktr.ee/seanapplebeeandbeyond
Image Credits
Sean Applebee Nate Miller Camden Johnson Nico Colucci Jonah Sutinen Jack Bendure Victor Mestas Eli Baumgarten Eddie Ness Wyatt Wear Will Snider Nathan Burak Tober Schorr Atta Addo Reisy Ochoa Nathan Brandt Reece Parker
