Sean at Con Hall

Sean at Con Hall
Yamaha promo shot at Convocation Hall/Toronto

Sunday 15 January 2012

2012

Here we are, only halfway through the first month of 2012, and it has already been a crazy one!

Let it be known that I am going to fight the urge to brag about my beautiful son, Desmond Leo Kelly, born on December 11, 2011 on this Blog. Even though he is perfect and amazing, and has brought to our lives more love and meaning than I could ever hope to describe (my amazing wife Erin is also a super hero in my eyes, she is an incredible mother to our boy).

My first gig of 2012 found me playing acoustic guitar and singing harmonies with none other than Howie D of The Backstreet Boys. I was called to help arrange some of Howie's tunes from his new album Back To Me, and then perform live with him on an internet concert put on by StageIt.com. Fans from all around the world paid to watch this online concert (the first of which was a premium package that actually had us playing some BSBs songs....that was a vocal workout!). Howie is a great guy, and was a pleasure to work with....100 million albums sold, and not one hint of an attitude, hope we can do it again soon!

Starting January 16th, I will also be working with the fine folks up at Coalition Music in Toronto on a course for young music industry professionals called The Artist Entrpreneur course.  I have been working over the last few weeks to help develop the course with Vel Omazic, the Director of Education at Coalition. Participants in the program will have access to a wide variety of resources, as Coalition is the management home to Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, Simple Plan and other great Canadian acts. We will be looking at ways to successfully navigate the often murky waters of the music business, and I am looking forward to working with the next generation of great Canadian artists!

I am also working on putting bands together for a few artists. One is Kaitlin Kavangh, a young singer from the Niagara region who I met while playing on her Gavin Brown produced tracks. The second is Rob James, formerly of Canadian pop hit makers McMaster and James. Both of these artists are very talented writers and performers, and just as importantly lovely people. 

As far as my own recording career, the onus is on giving a proper push to my solo guitar/instrumental album Where The Wood Meets The Wire. I am very fortunate that I have been so busy with my studio and session work, but I am dedicated to making sure this album gets out there. After a meeting with my friends at Opening Day Entertainment, we have decided that we will be shooting some videos for the new album. I also have my first festival dates being booked in August in BC, so looking forward to getting back out west! I am also planning my next solo guitar record for Opening Day, which I hope to start on this year as well.

Of course, Nelly Furtado is a major priority for me, and it is looking like there will be quite a bit of touring with her as well this year. Playing with Nelly is such a treat, as I am called upon to play in so many different styles. Nelly is a constantly changing source of creativity, and I relish the challenge of rising to the very high musical standards she sets for herself and the band. 

And in case it is starting to seem that I am forsaking my rock n roll heart in these other pursuits, fear not...I have been hard at work working with Brian Vollmer on songs for a brand new Helix album that is going to be nothing less than incredible. There will also be a new Crash Kelly record being worked on, to be released as part of a larger project that I cannot yet announce...but one that I am beyond excited about!

So yeah...lots going on. Wouldn't have it any other way!