Kat Harlton
JUNO Award-winning R&B singer/songwriter Sean Jones, just released his new single Weekend Lover.
The single, which was produced by Murray Daigle (Keshia Chanté, Faber Drive, Cauterize) is an upbeat multi-genre, retro vibe track that is the perfect summer playlist addition.
Over the past ten years, Sean has put together a catalogue of songs that have stretched in genre from soft rock to Motown Revival. It was his take on soulful classics however, that would eventually land him a unique and incredible opportunity to showcase his skills.
In 2015, Sean became the first artist to secure a solo summer residency at the historic Casa Loma in downtown Toronto. The Monday night revue titled Soul in The City gave Jones and his nine-piece band, The Righteous Echo, the chance to showcase his original songs as well as their take on popular old school hits. The show would also give emerging artists a stage to share their talents.
Soul In the City, through Jones’ hard work and tenacity, has grown to 1000+ people every Monday night. The night’s overwhelming success led to WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, handpicking Sean to create a musical experience for the passengers aboard their flights. For the project titled, The WestJet Boarding Sessions, Jones recorded new versions of classic Canadian hits such as These Eyes by The Guess Who, The Weight by The Band, and Angel by Sarah McLachlan and flew across Canada to interview some of these cherished musical icons.
We had the opportunity to chat with Sean about his new single, what satisfies his soul, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your latest single “Weekend Lover”?
Sean: This song is a nod to the days when the boys and I used to head to Scooters Roller Palace and skate into the wee hours of the morning…looking for anything BUT love. Ha! We were young and living the single life to the fullest. I have some really great memories of those days. But the lyrics also tell a really great story that some, if not all of us, can relate to. Love is so unpredictable. One minute you’re having some fun, hanging out, nothing serious. Then one day you wake up and come to the realization that you actually LIKE this person…A LOT! Now what?! I love writing about relationships because they are so much more complicated than what we generally see on TV. They are not linear. There are so many ups and downs. It’s a rollercoaster – hold on tight.
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the track?
Sean: This is a feel good tune. I just hope that this tune makes people want to move. Have some fun. I always envisioned this song as a roller skating jam and I’m hoping to hit the outdoor rinks this summer and have some fun.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Sean: Writing for sure. I come up with ideas ALL the time. My phone is filled with a thousand voice notes. Melody, structure, even ideas for the hook…no problem. Finding the perfect words to finish the song…well that’s where I call in the troops for some help. My producer Murray Daigle is a great writing partner. We’ve developed a great working relationship when it comes to developing my song ideas. He understands where I’m headed and is able to fine tune the sketch of what I’ve started and help turn it into a finished version. It’s great to have someone to collaborate with on that level. It speeds up the process and allows me to continue to generate ideas without getting hung up on any one tune.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Sean: Winning the Juno was an incredible moment, as was playing Carnegie Hall. But one highlight that I’m most proud of is the summer residency we built at Casa Loma. And it’s not just the fact that in the span of five years we took that show from an attendance of 150 to over 1000 people a night, it’s the amount of incredible Canadian talent that I’ve had the honor of sharing my stage with. It’s the smiles that people have on their faces at the end of each night. And it’s the opportunity to spend time with my band doing the thing I love to do most in this world – perform.
I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is that money is great, but it won’t buy you happiness. I’ve had to walk away from very enticing offers simply because I knew it would not satisfy my soul. Doing what you love – being able to work with and share time with people you love – THAT is where happiness resides. The rest is just noise.
Kat: What’s next?
Sean: I’m SUPER excited about the music on this new record. I’ve got some dope videos coming for a bunch of the singles so that will keep me busy. There are some touring opportunities that are being looked into right now, and I’ve also dived into the acting game. I’m in the newest installment from the “Saw” horror series called Spiral which stars Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson. I also landed a small role in a Christmas Movie coming out later this year on Oprah’s network. I’m really enjoying the process of becoming a better actor and I’m looking forward to what the future has in store for me on that front.
For more on Sean Jones visit: seanjonesmusic.com