And so it begins.
Hello, and thanks for being here!
Welcome to my first ever website and blog. Make sure to check back often as I will be posting updates on what I’m up to and employment opportunities, among other lively tidbits.
It’s been an interesting road which lead me here. I’ve been working hard on finding my voice. Finding what it is that really motivates me. For a really long time, I pinned it all down on money.
I grew up raised by a single mom. We never had much money. I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go to Milton Hershey School for high school. If you haven’t heard of it, its a wonderful school where attendance is free and children without resources are given about $100,000 per year between education, room, board, clothing, and extracurriculars. I got into Hersheypark every weekend for free as a high-schooler. It was only because of MHS that I was able to afford my degree in Psychology.
Shortly after I graduated, my mom became sick and eventually passed away in October of 2009. I was working as a counselor for Wediko Children’s Services at the time. I gave her eulogy at 22. It was a hard time.
About a year later, I decided that it was time to make a change. Nothing was holding me back. I hopped in my car and drove down to Austin, where some friends I had made at Wediko graciously let me crash on their couch for about 4 months while I got my feet on the ground.
My transition in Austin was interesting. I remember thinking I would never be cool enough for Austin. In fact as I’m writing this I’m pretty sure I’m still not cool enough for Austin, and that’s okay. I don’t need to be cool, I just want to get shit done.
Anyway, eventually I got into the Burner scene. I actually discovered Flipside all the way out in the desert at Burning Man, only to come back to Austin and realize that I lived only a mile from the Flipside warehouse where the entire community gathered on a regular basis. Threads weaving together to make the tapestry of my life. That was back in 2011.
I had many experiences at burns and I do attribute much of my creative inspirations to experiences I had at burns and with people I met at burns. I’m eternally grateful to the people who give so much at those events. Where I’m at now, I feel that I need to keep burns at an arm’s distance. I feel that I need to transcend the patterns which are comfortable.
Concurrently I went ahead and quit my cushy and well-paying sales job because it was crushing my soul into dust. I vowed to make it work another way, and here we are.
I’m just about to wrap up my second semester of classes at ACC’s Music Business, Performance, and Technology program. That has been an amazing journey in itself and also very inspiring. I’m continuing to take classes there through the summer. They’re always pushing things forward there with good speakers and good opportunities for networking for students.
Concurrently, I’m taking the WWISE 101 Audio Implementation course (find it here). I can’t wait to finish this and upload a portfolio piece showing off my sound design chops. It includes a game which you remove all the sounds from and build back up from scratch. Pretty cool. I’m definitely looking for Video Game sound design opportunities.
I had the pleasure of recording my good friend Scooter Holiday the other day. I’ll be uploading links to his recordings and other’s very soon. Thanks for your patience as I continue to get all my content up!
Also on the horizon: I want to make my own event. Its going to be psychedelic in an enveloping way, but not an overpowering way. It’s going to have food and drink. It’s going to have performances. It’s my brain child, and sure as you’re reading these words right now, sure footed is the inspiration in my mind’s eye. More to come on that soon as well.
I look forward to walking on this path with you. Once I figure out more about how this whole website business works I might even get fancy and set up a mailing list. How does that sound?
Sean