Daily Inspiration: Meet Sean Martin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Martin.

Hi Sean, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Growing up on the Northern California Coast, I had been singing since age 4 and playing guitar since 12. I was in repertory Theaters, operas, and honor choirs (Regional and State). I wrote and recorded 9 original songs at a recording studio in Mendocino, CA before I joined the airborne infantry in 2005.

I deployed to Iraq from October 2006-September 2007, and in that, I lost friends and brothers and completed many kinetic missions that pushed me to the edge of sanity and destroyed my sense of humanity. In 2009 I went to Musicians Institute to study guitar performance, and also completed the independent artist program and the audio engineering program. There I recorded the 1st EP for The Quarantined.

That record got the attention of Lucent Records in 2015, who signed us to a recording contract. We released Point the Finger under their label; our song that was a warning of creeping fascism in the United States. We made a music video at Bombay Beach, under the toxic sky made from the perpetually polluted Salton Sea. We were nominated by Pure M Magazine for Best International Artist.

The recording contract with Lucent did not work out for us due to contract disputes, so we decided to independently record our next EP, Antiquate Hate, with Ultimate Studios Inc. I hired a manager to promote the record, book shows, and do PR during that time. Due to a lot of false promises and a lack of follow-through, It ultimately tanked the release of the record. Despite being nominated for an Independent Music Award for our lyric video for “The End?!”, disputes over our record’s rights marred our music’s promotion and reach.

After a difficult divorce, I started over in Sarasota, FL. I had access to a very good home studio and started recording on my Aversion to Normalcy. After releasing 2 demos from the record to Rave reviews, I started a crowdfunding campaign with Plaid Dog Records out of Boston, PA. We recorded our new single “Instagram Hell”, and I went out to Denver to join and see about great things I had heard about their music scene.

After a successful crowdfunding campaign, I went back out to Boston to tour open mics in major cities along the way out to record our last single for Aversion to Normalcy, “One Last Chance” with Plaid Dog Records. I met so many great musicians and made friends across the US, and am so grateful for their encouragement and support.

We have an acoustic covers album called “Bedroom Inc.”, which includes some live performances from across the country, and recently released a new video for my cover of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna come”. Soon we will be re-releasing Antiquate Hate, and releasing Aversion to Normalcy, with special bonuses for our donors.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Between a record label not holding up its end of the bargain, venues getting shut down, the live music community being decimated by covid, and a manager who steals every dream I had for a record that took 5 years to afford.

YouTubers trying to steal my name during the pandemic (although I registered it in 2012 with the library of Congress,) being homeless, and going on the long journey to recover from PTSD, it’s been a trip so far, one that I’m making into a spectacular journey of overcoming adversity.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a vocalist of all styles, a guitarist, an audio engineer, a songwriter, an actor, a scriptwriter, political and social activist for mental health in the veteran community. I specialize in collaboration with artists of all kinds, as a performer and producer. I’m most known for my powerful singing voice and fantastic rhythm guitar.

A soldier in the army is around 1% of the population of the United States. An Airborne Infantry soldier is 1% of that 1%. An airborne infantry soldier who is also a musician, producer, and songwriter is 1% of that .001% of the population. There are maybe around a thousand people with my skill set, knowledge, and ability.

I’m most proud of the music I’ve created through the obstacles that were in my way. How I captured the feelings that would grip a nation divided by fear and outrage, learned from fighting a war, living in poverty, facing Hollywood in its glory and shame, and being at the forefront of making art about our society that rings more true as time moves on.

What’s next?
I’m planning on releasing 3 records this year and into 2023: Bedroom Inc. The acoustic album, features covers of Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Sublime, and Alice In Chains. Antiquate hate EP re-release. Aversion to Normalcy, a 7-song album featuring “Nemesis (Friend of mine)” “Instagram Hell”, and “One Last Chance”. I’ve got big plans for YouTube videos about the mixing process and studio creation for Aversion to Normalcy.

Also plans for a video blog about the open mics and musical underground of major cities and suburbs. I’ve got two scripts I’m working on: one about my experiences in the Airborne Infantry, and one for a steampunk-style musical about the overthrow of a tyrant, featuring the music of the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and Muse.

Pricing:

• A sticker and Pin Set- $7.99
• Full Discography (Self-titled, Antiquate Hate EP, Bedroom Inc., and Point The Finger single – $20.79

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.Thequarantined.com
• Instagram: @Thequarantined
• Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/thequarantined
• Twitter: @TheQuarantined
• Youtube: www.YouTube.com/thequarantined
• Other: Www.Thequarantined.Bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Jad Dovey, Richard Le’ Abbee, and Alexx Calise