Conversations with Sean Shepard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Shepard.

Hi Sean, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Antighost began in Grand Rapids, MI in 2016. I recorded our first EP “Wolves & Sheep” at Raydon Studio with our engineer and producer Mark Stewart (Raydon Studio, Keego Harbor,MI). I used the release of the EP as an opportunity to audition musicians who might be interested in joining the band. In October of the same year I met Dylan Vanderson (Drums). We played with a number of different bassists over the years and toured tirelessly across North America, releasing another EP and two full length albums. In 2019 Dylan and I moved to Detroit, MI where we eventually met Andrew Trompeter (Bass) who joined on full time as our bassist. Over the past 7 and a half years we have played in nearly 30 states across the United States and parts of Canada, touring and sleeping out of our van and playing shows everywhere from garages and small basements to clubs and venues and festivals.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Touring full time isn’t easy, if it was I really believe every band would do it, and there are a lot of bands who do, but life on the road is stressful. If you don’t believe in your music and love performing, it can easily become the worst job in the world. Thankfully, we all love what we do and believe in our band, which helps us through the difficult times. Over the years we have lost two touring vehicles, and had to endure countless repairs, which can really add up financially. We are extremely lucky, however, getting amazing support from fans who have supported us every step of the way. Being in a touring band is more than just showing up somewhere and playing a set; we are independent artists so we book all of our shows ourselves with the help of fellow musicians across the country and the underground music scenes that exist in the cities we play. Everything we do is DIY which would not be possible without the amazing friends and artists we have met over the years. Our show flyers, merch designs, and tours are all done ourselves. Our music videos are all created by us and friends who are kind enough to give their time and expertise to help bring our vision to life. We couldn’t do what we do without the amazing local photographers and videographers we have worked with over the years. That’s the beauty of DIY, everyone lends a hand to make sure people can continue to create their art, play shows and tour. Everyone who has ever given us a couch to crash on, helped get a gig together for us in another city, or just shown up to see our set and buy a shirt, has helped us. Those people are the reason we can stay on the road and continue to play shows.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I usually write the songs for Antighost by myself, either on an electric or acoustic guitar. I write a lot; sometimes songs come together in a matter of minutes, sometimes they take weeks or even months, but when I have an idea I am excited about I bring the half-baked song into rehearsal and jam on it with the guys, then we all just go from there. We tweak things and keep working on it until we feel like the song is in a good place. That’s the beauty of being in this band, there are no egos, everyone is just trying to make the music the best it can possibly be, and there is no greater feeling in the world than when it does and you get to share that music with other people when you play it live. Our live performances are what I believe set us apart. We play with a very high intensity. Our shows are full of energy, and when you give your everything on stage, I have found that audiences will respond by doing the same. When we play our songs live they are no longer our songs, they’re everyones, and being able to have the audiences we play to share in that is truly special.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice to musicians who are just starting out is to get involved. Go to local shows in your area, check out artists that you aren’t familiar with, don’t be afraid to venture into house shows and new venues to get involved in the scene, it’s the best way to meet people who share your love of music. Support other bands and artists! There are a million bands out there that are amazing artists who are undiscovered and you might see your next favorite band by going to a house show with 12 people in attendance. Play live as much as possible, practice on your sound before you start playing shows and most importantly, make sure you create a safe space for everyone at shows. Look out for one another and do your part to make sure your music scene is safe and responsible. Music is meant to be shared with everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.antighostmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antighostmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Antighostmusic/
• Twitter: https://x.com/antighostmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/antighost
• soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-293705806-96179461
• Other: https://antighostmusic.bandcamp.com/