Sean McMorris on SoundBetter

I'm an artist first and foremost. My songs are my calling card. If you like what you hear, reach out. I look forward to working with new talent. Each song offers a special creative opportunity.

I work out of my home studio in LA. I usually like to record both Lead & Bkg vocals. I can do topline, help you fine tune your lyrics, shape your melody, develop catchy hooks. I also play guitar and drums if you need it. If you only have lyrics, I can help you write the song and give you a hand with some of the production: whatever helps! I perform regularly in Los Angeles playing drums & singing with Billy Jospeh & The Army of Love, as well as the Leftover Cuties. I have independently released 3 solo albums out on all the major streaming platforms. It was a thrill to have Dave Gregory of XTC on guitar on my latest release "C'est la vie." Cheers!

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English
French

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Interview with Sean McMorris

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: A couple of years ago, I worked with a musician/producer in the U.K. that I met online. I wrote lyrics/melody, recorded lead & back vocals, effectively turning his instrumental track into a song. He was utterly blown away and said "so this is what it's like to work with real talent!" I took it as a compliment. My proudest accomplishments are my 3 solo albums available on all the major streaming platforms. Working with guitarist extraordinaire Dave Gregory of XTC on C'est la vie, my latest release, was a dream come true. I mean, Dave worked with Andy Partridge, for heaven's sake! If you're an XTC fan, you understand what an honor and privilege that is! Thank you Dave and Christian Cassan (producer).
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm practicing drums for a new band I'm in (Leftover Cuties). I have a couple of concerts coming up and I need to learn 30 original numbers!
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Hopefully soon!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Either & both. It's all about the music!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I always give my best and aim to deliver results that should exceed not only your expectations but mine as well. Being a pro is merely the beginning. Creating art requires much more than that. I will only take on a project if I'm the right person for it.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love the entire process but I do get a special thrill out of laying down vocals. That's the big pay off, when the song really comes to life. I love doing work as a top liner (writing a song to a finished track). It's a fascinating process for me and I love the challenge.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That everything comes easily. It's painstaking work to get great results, even at the height of inspiration.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: A reference of singers & recordings that are good representations of what they have in mind for the specific song we are working on. I'm pretty versatile as a singer and it will help me define how I approach singing/performing the song. Finding the right vibe helps me get in the zone.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don't hesitate to reach out. It's all about helping each other.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A guitar, a drum set, a keyboard, a mic, a computer.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've performed in numerous pop/rock bands, jazz ensembles, on Broadway (Bill Irwin's The Harlequin Studies), off Broadway theater productions, assisted composers with film scoring, co-written jingles (Re/Max real estate), drummed for Richard Lloyd (of the iconic NY band Television). I have a BA in jazz drumming from City College NY. I've released albums with bands PEG, Lazy Lions, The Blondes Inc., Billy Joseph & The Army of Love. I've also released three solo albums under my own name. I've been doing music on and off for 40 years!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I blend elements of the following iconic singers John Lennon (Beatles), Neil Finn (Crowded House), Peter Gabriel, Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Mike Scott (Waterboys), among others.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would love to drum and sing background vocals for Madison Cunningham. I find her overall musicianship inspiring.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Make sure you capture the right performance with a clean solid signal. Once you have that, you have the foundation for a great track. With today's digital editing and mixing tools, the sky's the limit.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: pop/rock, alternative, folk, classic soul/r&b.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Singing lead and background vocals.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I think and work as an artist more than an engineer or a tech person. I bring a personal touch to the material that hopefully elevates it and feels genuine.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: It's always different depending on the gig.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have an Apogee Ensemble & Element 88, giving me 16 mic inputs. I have a Universal Audio 610 preamp. I record into Logic. I own 2 drum kits, percussion instruments, an array of acoustic and electric guitars (6 & 12 strings), a ukulele, a bass, a varied selection of good mics (condensers, ribbons, tube), an NI Komplete Kontrol keyboard, Soft Synths, Focal monitors, SSL UF8, and more.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Madison Cunningham, The Beatles, Milk Carton Kids, Stevie Wonder, Andrew Bird, Crowded House, Pamplemoose, Arcade Fire, Parker Millsap, XTC, Punch Brothers, Kacey Musgraves, Wilco, Fink, Mike Scott, Tears For Fears, Pete Townshend, Prince, Supertramp, The Police, Steely Dan, Talking Heads, Miles Davis, Bob Marley, David Bowie, Alabama Shakes, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, David Crosby, and many more.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I record lead and background vocals. I can also play and record drums (multi-tracks) and percussion, acoustic and electric guitars. I work to shape the form of the song, fine tune chord changes, the lyrics and the melody. I help co-produce, if needed to some extent.