Sean Moran shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Sean, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
As a freelance musician, my days don’t always start the same way. Some mornings are slow and relaxed, and other days I’m up early heading straight into rehearsal or recording mode. Because of that, I try to keep my routine flexible but purposeful. Admittedly, the lack of structure makes it even more important for me to maintain my own accountability and stay organized (it’s easy to let a morning slip away without being purposeful).
Generally, my first 90 minutes include a quick grounding moment (usually with a full glass of water & just waking up slowly), then I check my calendar, messages, and any materials I need to prep. I try my best to stay off of social media at this hour, as it clouds my brain. If it’s a gig or rehearsal day, that time becomes all about getting ready: warming up, reviewing music, organizing/packing gear, etc. If it’s a slower day, I use those minutes to plan, respond to clients, or map out my creative work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Sean. I’m a keyboardist and piano player based in Los Angeles. I make a living bouncing between touring, freelance gigs around the city, recording projects, and working on music with my own band Whisker🐈.
What keeps things interesting for me is getting to jump between different facets of the music industry. One month I might be on the road playing shows, the next I’m in the studio tracking parts for some new music, and after that, I could find myself in a 12 piece wedding band playing all the classic hits. It can feel very spontaneous at times, which definitely satisfies my type B personality.
Something unique about this lifestyle is in the instability. Everyday is something different, and while that is super exciting, it can also be very challenging. Weeks can range from super busy and fulfilling to wide open and mellow. The discrepancy can be intimidating sometimes, but in the end, it’s absolutely worth it.
Right now I’m focused on growing my touring work and taking on projects that push me to be a better musician. I’m always trying stay on the move!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My Mom & Dad saw music in me way before I ever recognized it myself. When I was a kid, they were the ones who noticed how drawn I was to instruments, rhythm, and sound in general. They signed me up for lessons and encouraged me to stick with it! They always treated music as something real and worth investing in, even when I had no idea what it could become.
At Thanksgiving, we would go to my Aunt and Uncles house, which as a kid was really exciting. They had what felt like a massive maze of a home in the countryside. I would wander around looking for this old spinet piano my cousin used to play when she was little. I had no clue how to make actual music, but I’d sit there trying to figure out what notes sounded good together and what shapes my fingers needed to make. I’m sure it didn’t sound great, but for some reason it caught my whole family’s attention.
About a week later, a similar 1920s spinet piano showed up at our house. That was my dad’s first big move in getting me into music, and still his favorite story to tell every holiday.
In retrospect, my parents somehow saw this path for me long before I had any sense of direction. I honestly don’t think I’d be doing what I’m doing now if they hadn’t recognized that spark early on and kept nudging me towards it.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes! There was definitely a point after I graduated music school when I almost packed it in. It was my first year living Los Angeles for real (not on campus) and was saying yes to every gig I could find just to pay rent. Some of those gigs were really rough, the kind that make you question why you spent years practicing to be a good musician.
There were nights when I’d drive home from those gigs and seriously question both my life in Los Angeles and the career path I’d chosen. At the time, stability and a more familiar environment sounded incredibly appealing. The idea of moving back to the East Coast and settling into a more “normal” lifestyle started to take over all my thoughts.
But weirdly, that rough period ended up grounding me. It forced me to focus on what I actually wanted to do, who I wanted to play with, and what kind of life I was trying to build. Once I got clearer on that, the gigs slowly got better, the opportunities got more aligned, and I started feeling like myself again.
Looking back, I’m really glad I pushed through! But at the time, it definitely felt like I was hanging on by a thread.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Paul McCartney is someone I really admire, not just for his music, but for who he seems to be as a person. Beyond being one of the most influential songwriters ever, he’s always carried himself with this sense of humility, curiosity, and genuine kindness that I find really inspiring.
What I admire most is how he’s stayed grounded after decades of success. He still talks about music with this childlike excitement, still experiments, still collaborates, still shows up with gratitude. There’s no ego in the way he speaks about bandmates, influences, or even his own legacy. He’s just a guy who truly loves what he does and treats people well while doing it.
There’s this incredible interview where he explains how he and John Lennon wrote “Michelle.” He talks about discovering a particular chord, plays it on his guitar, and then shows how they worked it into the progression. He describes it all with such modesty: “It’s just a silly little song; we really didn’t know what we were doing”, and it perfectly captures what I love about him.
I think its rare to see someone with that level of impact stay that warm, open, and human. Thanks Paul!
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel the most at peace in this kind of “calm before the storm” moment, right after I’ve locked in a big opportunity but before everything actually kicks off. Recently, I got the chance to go out on tour with Petey USA, and after getting the official offer and finishing all my prep, I had this two-week window where everything just felt settled.
I knew I had an exciting six weeks of touring ahead of me, the work was done, the sounds were made, and all that was left was to show up and enjoy it. Those two weeks had this perfect blend of anticipation and calm, a kind of quiet confidence that doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it feels like complete peace. It almost feels like I can give myself a moment to breathe and back off from hustling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.seanmoranmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmorannn/
Image Credits
Sam Flood, Kelsee Becker, Tamara Dalah, Chloe Reyes
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