"As thick and sweet as molasses, Sean Rowe's baritone is one of those rare singing voices that will leave you forever changed. Like Al Green, Van Morrison, or Gil Scott-Heron at their best..." -Metroland Magazine

Rowe has been writing and performing music for the last decade, perfecting his earthy baritone singing and street-beat inspired guitar playing. His percussive acoustic guitar technique mimics the downbeat of a kick drum, the backbeat of a snare drum, and the harmonic support of a bass player. This large repertoire of sounds coupled with the bottomless power and charming sensitivity of Rowe's dynamic singing voice make his live performances explosively sparkle.

SEAN ROWE BIO

Resonant, robust and resolute: the voice of Sean Rowe is deep, distinct and endearing.

"As thick and sweet as molasses, Sean Rowe's baritone is one of those rare singing voices that will leave you forever changed. Like Al Green, Van Morrison, or Gil Scott-Heron at their best..." -Metroland Magazine

Hailing from Troy, New York, Rowe has been writing and performing music for the last decade, perfecting his earthy baritone singing and street-beat inspired guitar playing. His percussive acoustic guitar technique mimics the downbeat of a kick drum, the backbeat of a snare drum, and the harmonic support of a bass player. This large repertoire of sounds coupled with the bottomless power and charming sensitivity of Rowe's dynamic singing voice make his live performances explosively sparkle.

With his second release Magic (April 21, 2009/Collar City Records), Rowe's lyrics are objective and passionate, each song portraying a feeling and mood by way of scattered imagery and events. Purveying a wide range of emotions, Magic is filled with life's most sad and joyful moments. Rowe's songs bear visions of impressionist paintings of struggle and pain, truth and beauty - undeniably a balance of dark and light. Oftentimes dreamlike, Rowe's stanzas consist of non-linear glimpses that affect you in a visceral and instinctual manner.

Rowe use a narrative style in Magic, but with a seemingly omniscient knowledge, as showcased on "Surprise," a song which conveys tricks of the imagination - both in dwelling on the past and in hopes for the future. Rowe's subdued and introspective side can be heard on "Time To Think", a dimly lit glimpse of a troubled heart accompanied by strings, with the inevitable passing of time being represented by a steady but restrained pulse. "Wrong Side of The Bed" is an up-tempo rock song whose minor key is fitting for a cynical look at the decay we are faced with in the world and in ourselves.

"Every song to me is about getting down to the truth. It's about connecting. In a way I think that's love because it's understanding. A song like "Jonathan" (on the new CD) is really dark stuff, but it's also trying to connect, trying to understand. And I just think that's really important, especially when I write. I'm not just writing in a therapeutic way for myself. I'm really trying to grab somebody and open up and say, 'Look at this!'"

In the end, Magic communicates an idea that is emotionally affecting, while still leaving room for subjective interpretation and an element of mystery. There is no mystery, however in the love and admiration of Sean Rowe fans, as the production of Magic was entirely a fan-funded endeavor.

Rowe explains the reasoning behind the lapse in time for the release of the second album "I was sort of preoccupied," he says. "I was living at a wilderness school. I spent a lot of time living alone. I did this solo wilderness survival trek for 24 days, and I was really focused on that aspect of my life, which is a big part of it between that stuff and the songwriting, that sort of weird paradox. Also, I've always done (the recording) for myself in the past. So, I guess that's why it took a long time."

Rowe's official debut album, 27, was re-released on November 2004. The record earned several awards including the prestigious New York Foundation of the Arts Artist Fellowship Grant for music composition.

In the fall of 2005, following the success of 27, Rowe was chosen out of 1,000 American acts to tour throughout the UK for a month under the management of Contemporary Music Events and Artist Services (CMEAS). In late 2007, Rowe was one of four finalists chosen from a pool thousands of songwriters in the Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition produced by Jezebel Music. Rowe was also selected to perform a showcase event for the 2009 South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas.