Seume

“Judging from this teaser, this video may be one of the coolest things you’ll see all year.” – Present Magazine

“It’s gorgeous” — The Pitch

In anticipation of the music video premiere for “Will Ya Be My Friend”, I’m dubbing this month FRIENDuary! With Valentine’s day, it’s already a month of love… And since I’m a wolf pack of one and don’t have anyone to buy a box of chocolates, I want to give you a special package instead!

All month long, you can download my entire album for just $2! Yes, I typed it. A dollar sign with a numeral two after it. AND, with the high-quality mp3’s, you’ll get the album cover image for your iTunes library or wherever else you’re storing your musica. Easy like Sunday morning… Just click the image below!

Or, ain’t got a penny to spend? Download the “Will Ya Be My Friend” single for FREE below. You’ll have the option to get updates and specials from me moving forward, and you’ll be the first to get a heads up when the video premiers! And I’m telling you… the final product is incredible. Mur Mur Man Productions — the creative team of DJG and PJC — put together something really imaginative, unique and engaging. I couldn’t be more thrilled with it or more excited to share it with you next month!

You can help spread the love by clicking the “share” option in the widget. Easily give your friends on Facebook, or Twitter, or Myspace (etc.) the heads up on a free track, so they too can get into the FRIENDuary spirit!

For you KC folk, we’ll be premiering the “Will Ya Be My Friend” music video at The Brick on Friday, March 12. I’ll be playing a set after the premier, and am getting some other talented friends on the bill, too. It’s gonna be a good night here at home before I hit the road for SXSW!

Hope you had great holidaze and that 2010’s off to a good jump. Can’t believe it’s already FRIENDuary… I’ve got lots new stuff coming your way (even before the vid premier!) so keep your ears back and your eyes peeled. If you haven’t heard the album, or heard just a few tracks, the whole thing’s streaming below. And for just $2, it’d be my pleasure to hook you up with a copy!

Thanks for your support!

-Seume

It’s COLD in KC! So cold, my “new” 1982 VW Vanagon — aka The Wookie — refused to start yesterday morning. But hey, I refused to start this morning, too. It’s too warm with the covers pulled up all cozy-like! And speaking of covers, here’s my version of Sam Cooke’s, “A Change Is Gonna Come”. Hope you dig it.

The stop animation video for “Will Ya Be My Friend” is in its final stage, so look for a premier shortly after the New Year. Working on new T-Shirts, stickers, and other ideas (Vinyls, USB drives w/ album downloads…) to roll out in the next couple months, too. Trying to take advantage of being ushered inside by the weather!

And just making some changes. Growing during the winter on the inside light.

I’m smellin a year-in-review pot roast cookin. Needs to stew in the crock for a couple more weeks to really soak up all that flavor! I’m gettin hungry… Might have to hook up a little meal at the local grocery deli. $4.99 for an entree, 2 sides, bread, AND a drink! And after this one, the punch card says the next one’s FREE.99! Get outta heeeya.

I leave you with an intimate photo from last Saturday @ The Brick. DJG’s 7th annual art exhibition went off really well… great to be surrounded by his artwork on the walls. And the spread of munchies was nothin to shake a fist at either.

Rub yo tummy.
-Seume

There isn’t anything getting ready to come outta your screen that’s gonna hit you right in the kisser. No… I’m pretty sure that technology is sitting next to Smell-O-Vision in a secret vault!

I just wanted to you to be the first to know that there are only 50 CDs left from the first 1000 printed. I’m not mentioning this to talk about my sales… au contraire, mon frere… many of these first prints were given away to promote the album. Part of the process, really.

I AM letting you know because this first batch is special, and not just because it is the first run of the first album (both pretty good reasons for specialness, yeah?). It’s also unique because the next batch will have different track start/end times for “Something You May Wanna Know” and “Will Ya Be My Friend”. (The locusts at the beginning of the latter will be moved to the end of the former. Got that? Haha!)

The track time change is to prep for “Will Ya”’s release as a single, in the coming months. We got a stop animation video brewing for it and everything! Check out the progress here.

So, that’s a small variation, yes. But, it’s just another reason why, if you want to buy a CD, getting it from this first batch is the way to go! Otherwise, they’ll soon be going to radio stations, press outlets, etc… And they won’t appreciate the significance like you.

It really comes down to this. I think this first print is special — I’m biased, I know! — but I thought you might agree and would appreciate the “heads up!”. Especially since it doesn’t come with getting hit in the face by a flying object! Though, you might get your face slapped if your friends find out you didn’t give them the low down too, eh?

The album is packaged in a tri-fold digipak with original artwork by Liverpool design group, Smiling Wolf (album cover photo shot by Alexandra Wolkowicz, of Arctic Monkeys album fame). The insert has all the song lyrics, credits, and a photo of yours truly (uh-oh… fold out!) shot by Chicago photographer, James Exley. All that’s to say, it’s wrapped up pretty.

You can pick up your CD at the Grassland Records Store (store.grassland-records.com). Your support, as always, is much appreciated.

Thanks for listening.

-Seume

P.S. Great show coming up with another great poster, courtesy of the one-and-only DJG.

Carrie a’ Paris told me I needed to write a new blog post… again. Ask and you shall receive!

I’m not gonna doooo, what you think I’m gonna doooo, and try to write a long catch up post. Oh no, mi amigo, forgetting what is behind, I press on for the prize. This is all mustard. But I will say this: My summer was good. I stayed cool. Thanks for the yearbook advice!

It’s turning into fall here in America’s Heartland. The changing seasons stir up obvious inspiration. And the fire pit on PJ’s property is getting stoked. Kumbaya, my Lord…….. kumbaya.

And now, a scene from Wayne’s World:

She will be mine… oh yes… she will be mine!

I took my Telecaster down to Midwestern Musical Co. in the KC Crossroads a few days ago with the mind to trade her out. It’s gonna be a tough breakup and I wish I didn’t have to do it. It’s me… really. She’s permanently left her mark on It Is What It Is , so I’ll always love her. But it’s time for a change, and all I got is change. I’ve never understood it, but apparently you really can’t have your cake and eat it too.

I’m spending the weekend with an Epiphone, and we’re already taking pictures together. Yeah… It’s like that.

She’s got what I want — a beautiful body and a heart of gold. Golden tuners, anyway. But for real, for real… I really like this guitar. Haven’t finalized the trade yet and it’s only Friday, but come Monday, it’s done dada!

Ooookay…. I just got really tired. Goodnight — star light, star bright.

Awesomeness!

David Seume @ The Brick 9/5/09 from Gnarly Enterprises on Vimeo.

Show Poster by DJGDESIGN.COM

The month of July is gone… long gone, at this point. Shoot, it might as well be 2010 the way things are movin’. I’m realizing I gotta write shorter updates more often. Trying to mash over a month into one go shorts out my circuits. But the upside is that you can enjoy this less-than-epic prose like a warm glass of milk before hitting the sheets. Set your sails for R.E.M. and wake up a shiny, happy, person.

I spent the first part of the month in Holland with the fam. I’m usually back there for Christmas/New Years, so it was nice to be back with the sun out doing its worst. Almost every day was mid 70’s to high 80’s (that’s mid 20’s to low 30’s for the Celsius world), so if I wasn’t helping out with the renovation of the upstairs at my folks’ place, you could find me on the Wassenaar beach getting baked. The remodeling process was actually a bit sentimental, ’cause the top floor of our row house there was my (and my brothers’) room during the high school years. One of my jobs involved tearing down the ceiling we’d painted to look like a giant American flag when we first moved to the place in ‘97. At the time, it was a way to feel at home; it’s only since then that I think I’ve become a patriot. And swapped the brush for the pen.

For the Fourth of July, by the way, we grilled up some chicken and hot dogs on the back patio. Our house is one of 5 attached houses in a row – a row house, if you will – and we’ve got some great neighbors. Two houses away, our friend Petra and her family were also enjoying dinner outside, heard us (no surprise…), and started an impromptu sing of the Star Spangled Banner. We couldn’t see each other through the hedges, so it was cool to sense the camaraderie with only our ears. Ears that didn’t hear any fireworks that day… the Dutch save those for New Years… and it is CRAZY!

While I was back, I also had the chance to meet up with a few friends from the high school days. I had great conversation and chill time with Dave S. and his wife Marcha in Leiden, aka “Little Amsterdam.”

They recently got a killer pad — after 10 years on a waiting list! — in this beautiful, vibrant, 16th century city. A canal boat parade cruised by a couple blocks over this evening and not even Marcha, who’s Dutch, knew what it was about. The idea of a spontaneous parade gave the night an extra good vibe. Dave and I hope to do some collaborative work together in the future, as he’s a graphic designer and we share similar opinions about a lot of things.

My other HS reunion was with Arthur R., who I call Arturo, and the rest of Holland calls DNA. He’s the producer and 1 of 3 MCs in the hip-hop group L4. Before I hit him up a few weeks before heading over there, I wasn’t aware Arturo was in music, too – it’d been nearly 10 years since we’d seen each other. At that time, neither of us was especially active in music, so it was rad to connect on that level and share our experiences producing and performing music. We linked up a the Zwarte Ruiter (Black Rider) in The Hague and ended up meeting up with the other 2/3s of L4, Stam and Niffy. The night wrapped up with a jam session at a local spot where I joined the fellas on stage alongside the host band. I found a tambo and chimed in with some vocals to suit their free-styles. The place was packed, the atmosphere was right, and it was super dope to do a bit of performing with DNA and the fellas. Click on the pic to rocket over to L4’s myspace.

I crashed on Art’s couch – Dave’s couch got some Seume stankonia, too! — and in the hazy morning, out of the blue, we started putting a track together in the home studio. A few hours later, we were pleased with a demo and called it quits to grab the best Turkish pizza in town, right down the street. Arturo and I got together for one more session a week later during which he and the boys laid down their verses. We’re doing the back and forth online to finish it up and will have it for you to hear soon!

I’ve got another collabo cooking with KC’s best hip-hop ’09 nominee, D/Will. I invited him up to perform our co-produced track during my set at the Pitch Music Awards Showcase on Aug. 6th. The performance got a mention in the Wayward Blog by Pitch music editor, Jason Harper.

OK… go catch some Zzz’s.

-Seume

I’ve been in far away, exoctic places — The Netherlands and Wisconsin. This weekend, I’ll get around to filling you in on the details from the vanishing month of July.

But quickly, this.

- The Shadow Box was dope last night.
- I play at 10PM for the Pitch Music Awards Showcase tonight in KC, MO with special guest D/Will.
- Voting for my nomination for Best Singer-Songwriter this year in KC closes TONIGHT. Click below to help take me to soaring heights of popularity:

The Singer/Songwriter category is #22. If you’re unfamiliar with the other bands, you don’t have to vote for anyone else…

I endorse these bands/artists:

The ACBs (Pop)
Moire (Metal)
D/Will (Hip Hop)
Wrong Crowd (Punk)
Levee Town (Blues)

—

I’m off to work on a track with D/Will. See you tonight at the show, or in a few days right here.

-Seume

Hoi from Holland (where I’m spending a couple weeks with my parents and sisters)!

As you probably know, college and independent radio are some the few remaining “offline” outlets for new music, not dictated by corporate shysters. People who care about music can still decide what they wanna hear. What a concept…

So, I’m stoked to have earned several more Weekly Top 30 album spots on college/indie radio nationwide (and one in Calgary) as well as the #5 slot on KVSC in St. Cloud, MN. And one of the things I’m most happy about is that the album as a whole is getting airplay, as opposed to just a couple tracks.

Thanks for listening, my friend. Hope you’re doing real well.

PEACE
AND
LOVE

-Seume

The Pitch just released their Music Award nominees for 2009 and I was picked for the Best Singer-?Songwriter category. It’s definitely real motivating to have the music appreciated and recognized like this just 6 months after self-releasing my first album…

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR ALL YOUR LOCAL KANSAS CITY FAVORITES

I’m also 1 of 30 acts from the group of nominees — 126 in 21 categories — that will be playing the Music Awards Showcase in Westport (Kansas City) on Aug. 6th. Wristbands for the best night of the year in local music are just $5. So if you’ll be around… COME OUT! The official schedule hasn’t been released yet, but I’m hoping my set won’t conflict with the other bands I wanna check out. A few of my friends we’re also nominated (congrats fellas!):

Moire for Best Metal — myspace.com/moire
The ACBs for Best Pop — myspace.com/theacbs
Levee Town for Best Blues — myspace.com/leveetown
* Levee Town’s guitar player, Brandon Hudspeth, graced a few tracks on It Is What It Is, most notably the shredding lead on opener, “The Fire”. He also played slide guit on “Leavin” and the violinesque volume swells after the second chorus of “Something You May Wanna Know”. B, thanks and congrats on another recognition for you and the band!

And congrats to all of this year’s nominees. Lots of great bands on the list… it’s good to be a part of it

Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten some overseas press–in the UK.  On my birthday, April 21st, I got a message from Simon, the director behind Seume album art and web design, about being mentioned in The Drum UK.

To read the article on their site, you have to create a sign-in (why?), so here’s the text for those of you who won’t wanna do that (don’t blame you).

Smiling Wolf has worked with musician David Seume on a number of design tasks.

The Liverpool-based agency developed branding, sleeve art and packaging for the singer as well as launching his new website – davidseume.com – featuring motion graphics and a blog.

Seume’s recently released debut album cover featured a specially manufactured and photographed typographic installation.

So yeah, a design based mention, but good to be mentioned no doubt. Thanks Si, for the heads up, and to John from Smiling Wolf for recently giving my myspace some new threads.

Also, just last week received a nice review for It Is What It Is from UK based online music mag, Room Thirteen. For this one, you don’t have to do anything but click to read Joanna Vallance’s remarks on what she calls “A Varied and Promising Album”.

And, It Is What It Is is getting airplay at nearly 100 college/indie radio stations nationwide (and Canada) and is a weekly top 30 album at WLFR in Pomona, NJ. Hopefully I’ll be soon be cracking more top 30’s and start grabbing some top 10’s (or the top spot, yeah?), but the reception thus far even for a self-released debut has been proper cool. Mos def.

I’m off to Wheaton, IL tomorrow for a week at my brother’s house. Gonna landscape his crib. If I can get it together, I’ll shoot some before and after photos to throw up on Flickr. I know you wanna see ‘em.

So that’s about it for now. I’ll soon be writing an post about stuff from the last month: the L.A. show, some KC shows, the “Will Ya Be My Friend” video, some local recognition, and just generally why it’s been a while since the last update.

cheerios,
seume