Sebastian

AND NOW! The new Hit Single Release “Luv Da Nite” Jan 2011
21Century FUNK has come UPON us.

SEBASTIAN R a w a n d R e a l
With the release of his first CD of all-original music, Raw Beginning, SEBASTIAN impressively showcases his well-honed talent as a songwriter, vocalist and master of the acoustic guitar. The Arkansas-born, New Orleans-based Blues, R&B and Funk artist, who enjoys a strong following in the city and throughout the region, is now taking his career to the next level,. Sebastian’s family roots in the city’s music go back to his great uncle, Big Bill Broonzy, a widely acclaimed bluesman who counted the legendary Mahalia Jackson among his friends in the business.

After more than two decades as a performer himself, SEBASTIAN is now poised to attract wider audiences to a mellow, funky sound that is both familiar and uniquely his own. Imagine the blues-inflected R&B of Johnny “Guitar” Watson in an MTV Unplugged session and you’ll be prepared – somewhat – for the SEBASTIAN experience. Like the debut single, “I Want You,” his soulful music features raw, stripped-down, laid-back grooves with slice-of-life lyrical themes. In sum, he keeps it real with feel-good music.

SEBASTIAN can transport listeners to the atmosphere of an intimate club or an impromptu performance on the streets of the “Big Easy,” where he found his creative home in 1986. He was drawn to New Orleans music because its culturally rooted style was an extension of his own sensibilities as an artist. Four years later, his struggle for recognition among so much homegrown talent, including mentors Leo Nocentelli and Warren Batiste, led to a move to Atlanta. He wrote and recorded music that received airplay on the Georgia State University radio station (WRAS-FM), which led to his performing throughout the area with a five-piece band.

When his own group broke up, SEBASTIAN joined the R&B band Billy Ball and the Upsetters as rhythm and lead guitarist, touring the South and the Midwest. After three years on the road, SEBASTIAN returned to the New Orleans music scene in 1997, determined to make his presence felt. He appeared on Chuck C’s 1999 recording of “Another Sleepless Night,” produced by Cyril Neville. His transition to the Reggae genre, another reflection of his interest in roots music, came when he joined the Irie Vibrations band and performed on their 2004 release, Red Hot Reggae.

But SEBASTIAN’s solo career was already in the making. While he played with local acts on Bourbon Street, as well as in clubs and churches, his passion and growing popularity as a street performer set the stage for the release of his CD, On the Streets of New Orleans, in 2006.

He continues to bring his powerful one-man shows to music venues and media outlets around the city and beyond – from the Ebony Square Cultural Center to popular local destinations for music lovers, such as the Apple Barrel, coffee houses and private parties. He has received other exposure through radio appearances, including Atlanta’s “Good Morning Blues”on WRFG, hosted by Bill Hudson and local alternative music beacon WWOZ (90.7 FM) where he performed live on D.J. Keith’s show and gained national and international exposure via the station’s webcast.

In music as in life, timing is everything. With the release of Raw Beginning, SEBASTIAN is now ready to serve up to the world ample portions of the talent that has simmered for years in the rich cultural gumbo of New Orleans. So get your bowl , spoon, hot sauce and dig in for a down-home tasty treat!