Seann Medicina: “I prefer to connect with listeners in live performances. Then I can see if they are paying attention or not”
Seann Medicina is a Canadian singer/songwriter who released his debut EP, As within So Without, in 2023. The five-track offering was very well received, and it’s fair to say his follow-up has been a long time coming.
That's where Given comes into play, Seann's brand new single and the first from his upcoming album Bad Selfie. Orchestral yet humble, brazen yet measured, it's an expansive piece of music that sets the stage for a record likely to push his artistry even further.
Intrigued to learn more about the man behind the music, I was thrilled when Seann agreed to an interview. Chatting with us about the cathartic process that created Given, his love for movie composers, and why he prefers to connect with listeners in live performances, please welcome our new friend Seann Medicina!
Hi Seann, I'm so grateful and glad you could join us for this discussion. Thank you for taking the time.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, please tell us a little bit about your musical journey. When did your love affair with music begin?
In the womb, probably! I was very young and remember lying in bed listening to music from my parents' parties.
I've fallen completely in love with your latest single, Given. It's such a sonically expansive and absorbing piece of music.
You mentioned that the song "acknowledges life's difficulties and tired assumptions and how they can trap us."
What was the creative process like in bringing those complex emotions to life musically?
It was a journey of reminiscences, of noticing patterns, of feeling locked in cycles and then seeing them and pushing through them, forgiving myself for those limiting beliefs and seeing things in a different light.
It culminated in a moment of surrender, and the gratitude welled up from there. Once those feelings were processed, my mind was still trying to somehow analyze it, like a math equation or something - given this, then that. The word given persisted, and playing with the notion of giving led to the early phrasings of the lyrics.
The opening two tunes on your debut EP, As within So without, have been streamed over 31,000 times on Spotify.
What goes through your mind knowing your music is touching such a large audience?
I don't know, actually. It's a bit surreal. It's just numbers. Did they listen? Did they like it? Were they moved or annoyed? Or worse, did they click past and never notice? I prefer to connect with listeners in live performances. Then I can see if they are paying attention or not!
Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations? And, if you could "steal" one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would it be and why?
It's kind of embarrassing, but the first albums I bought as a kid were KISS records. Ace Frehley inspired me to play guitar. Hard rock and heavy metal shaped my adolescence, but my tastes wandered after that.
Surprisingly, I love a lot of movie composers, like Hans Zimmer, John Williams, and Basil Poledouris. I admire their ability to combine so many sounds in an orchestra. The arrangements are incredible.
Would I ever steal a song to claim as my own? There are so many great songs out there, penned by amazing artists, but I couldn't in good conscience claim such genius from another. It would spoil it for me!
How do you define "musical truth" in your work, and what does staying true to that mean for you as an artist?
I guess that would be maintaining the integrity of what wants to be created. The "truth" for me is a range where variations still feel like they are honoring that inner voice. Sometimes the truth evolves as you understand more of what arises out of you in the creative process, and you create a "new truth." I look at it more as a Zen thing than an objective conception of perfection.
What are your thoughts regarding the music industry of today? And, if you could, what changes would you make to it?
I don't have the historical knowledge to make meaningful comparisons with the industry today. From my little world, it seems very chaotic, very busy, very fragmented. Everyone pretends they have it figured out, but that confidence to me seems to ring hollow.
OK, Seann – desert island time! You’re allowed to grab 3 albums before being stranded on an island. Which do you go with?
Van Halen's I - I love every song on that album, and I never cease to be amazed at Eddie's brilliance.
The Beatles' Rubber Soul - Because of the amazing songwriting.
Basil Poledouris' Conan the Barbarian OST - This is a surprising one, but I found this unassuming work to be a masterpiece. Richly textured, ragged orchestral melee, I can listen to it over and over again!
Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us Seann! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you better!
Do you have a release date in mind for your upcoming LP, Bad Selfie - and do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to leave us with?
We will be staggering the release of singles periodically. The last one should come out around the end of 2026, which would technically make the LP release complete. Words of wisdom? The Truth is silent. Only when you attempt to express it does it render itself as music.
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