Sean Watkins

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sean Watkins


Img_capt = Sean Watkins at Manchester Students Union in July 2006
Img_size = 200
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Sean Charles Watkins
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1977|2|18|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Vista, California, United States
Instrument = Guitar, piano, mandolin, ukulele, bouzouki
Genre = Progressive bluegrass, folk, country
Occupation = Musician, songwriter
Years_active = 1994 - Present
Label = ATO Records
Sugar Hill Records
Associated_acts = Nickel Creek, Fiction Family, The Scrolls, Mutual Admiration Society, Sara Watkins
URL = [http://www.seanwatkins.com/ seanwatkins.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =

Sean Charles Watkins [http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1594923&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=10&start=1 Sean Charles Watkins Writing Credits at ASCAP.com] ] (born February 18 1977), a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, is one third of the contemporary folk band Nickel Creek.

Career

Nickel Creek

Sean Watkins began his tenure with Nickel Creek playing mandolin, but later switched to guitar. The band has released three albums and won a Grammy for "This Side" -- a coveted trophy that Watkins reportedly put on top of his toilet at home. Explaining the somewhat odd situation, Watkins said that "it seems like a humble place. I didn't want to put it out in plain view of my house. I didn't feel like displaying it right when you walk in. It's a nice crown for the porcelain." [http://www.lawrence.com/news/2003/nov/06/millionselling_trio/ Million-selling trio Nickel Creek gives bluegrass a facelift] ] In addition to playing with Nickel Creek, Watkins has released 3 solo albums and appeared on several others.Of this experience, Watkins has said, "I've learned now to look back to music that has lasted through the years and to appreciate the timeless value that it has."

As a solo musician, his early material was contemporary bluegrass, but he has since incorporated other influences into his music (especially indie rock). Watkins' solo music career seems to reflect Nickel Creek's: turning from traditional bluegrass songs to indie rock with bluegrass instrumentation. He is the oldest member of Nickel Creek. Sean qualified for the National Flatpicking Championship in 1993 at age 16, and "My first instrument was the piano when I was six", Sean recalled. "I took classic instruction for seven years, but three years into that I discovered bluegrass music, through my piano teacher's son, who had a bluegrass band that played every Saturday night at a pizza place in Carlsbad. I really got into it, and when Sara Watkins and I met Chris [Thile] , we started playing with him on Saturday nights too."

His sister Sara Watkins, also a member of Nickel Creek, plays violin and sings background vocals on the two latest of his three solo albums. In 2004, Nickel Creek participated in a project dubbed "Mutual Admiration Society", a collaboration with former Toad The Wet Sprocket singer Glen Phillips. Sean and Sara are also part of the 2007 soundtrack for the psychological thriller "Bug" with the track "No Way to Live".

Current projects

In 2006, Sean and Switchfoot member Jon Foreman started a collaborating duo called "The Real SeanJon". [http://www.nickelcreek.com/ Nickel Creek Official Website] ] A full length LP, titled "Betrayal", will be released in 2008.Watkins, Sean. "a very long blog about what i'm up to". "MySpace". January 5, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2007.] In March 2008, the duo announced that the had changed their band name to "Fiction Family". In a spring 2008 interview, Jon Foreman said that the album would have a summer 2008 release and the duo was considering having the album be distributed by Starbucks. [ [http://mammothpress.com/index.php?area=readinterview&pid=165 "Switchfoot – 02.24.08"] . "Mammoth Press". March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.] However, a September 2008 press release by Nickel Creek confirmed that the album, "Fiction Family", is to be released on January 20, 2009, on ATO Records. [ [http://clicks1.musictoday.com/cts/click?q=1;104298;Bc7UKcXiQIQEVKfe%2BXQFkA%3D%3D "update on everything Nickel Creek"] . nickelcreek.com. September 15, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008.]

In January 2008, it was reported by Billboard that a new supergroup octet tentatively named "The Scrolls" had formed. The octet is comprised of Watkins, his sister Sara Watkins (fiddle), Glen Phillips (guitar, vocals), Benmont Tench (piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Greg Leisz (various), Pete Thomas (drums), and Davey Faragher (bass). The group plans to have an album out by fall of this year.Graff, Gary. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003699107 "Heartbreakers, Imposters, Nickel Creekers Make The Scrolls"] "Billboard" January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2008.]

In addition, Watkins plans to release what he calls "15 minutes of noise" as a digital download on his website. He said that the final product was "very strange",Watkins, Sean. "a very long blog about what i'm up to". "MySpace". January 5, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2007.] and that there would "be some cool art to go with it". [Watkins, Sean. "about the "15 minutes of noise" and my string quartet.". "MySpace". January 5, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2007.]

Discography

olo

Nickel Creek

The Real SeanJon

References

External links

* [http://www.seanwatkins.com Sean's website]
* [http://www.nickelcreek.com Nickel Creek's website]
* [http://www.mutual-admiration-society.com the MAS website]
* [http://www.therealseanjon.com The Real SeanJon's website]