Today we’d like to introduce you to Se’nam Palmer.
Hi Se’nam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Charleston, SC. I am a musician, guitar is my main instrument/forte. I moved to Atlanta around November 2016 to be closer to my band Crispin Wah and to get my life outside of “home” started in tandem. We formed around October 2014 or so, I remember it was around the time A3C was happening. We rented a cabin in the woods and tracked so much material and that turned into something cohesive. We call our style “Shredgaze” and we’ve been working on material to really establish and pursuit this sound. This city has given me the most in regards of art and its communities and everyday I’m enthralled by how much work is put into this cities wide array of communities and the characters you meet. I couldn’t really think of a better city for me to be a part of and play music that I want to play and for Shredgaze to call a home.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well… when you’re a DIY band, you can imagine how much trial and error it takes to even try to become, if not a local buzz, then something more established. We all take L’s and if you don’t try to learn from it, then it’s self-sabotage to some degree. You are allowed to evaluate and asses within your means. We all have to work/understand the pragmatics of “what exactly are we doing?!?!?” the least you could hope is you have a good attitude, product (your music/art), some capital (a lot of it actually lol) and a good community to back that up and share with. Somewhere in DIY you have to the very least acknowledge working class cause you don’t get anywhere without them and vice versa. We’re always gonna have some things we got to work out, but the road will be smooth if you know what you’re doing. One struggle is understanding what works with YOU! not what the next man is up to and letting insecurity getting the best of you.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Well, I would hope I have some sense of identity in my playing/music so every time you heard it, you know it’s me. I’ve been playing music for well over what feels like 15+ years and every day is something cool as f*ck to look forward to or something in the past to review to help create cooler art. Back in Charleston, I used to play a lot of solo loop guitar-based shows and that involved so many events, from art fairs, lots of house shows, lots of small venues (even one time I opened for Fit For An Autopsy, doing solo guitar shit haha) and just so many other places I’ve gotten to play in. I’m just happy to get more into music and things that surround it, cause its taken me to so many places and I’ve met the coolest people out of it that I would have never expected to be in a room with. Moving to Atlanta has increased that to a huge degree, given this past year has been turbulent with the virus and a few other struggles. I don’t know what exactly set me apart from others but I think I’m the only Se’nam Palmer, so that’s good enough with me.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
Honestly, I’m not always a fan of risks on my expense (not just only capital) I really work better with certainty not cause I’m entitled or have some high expectation. I cant afford it at times, if a “risk” works with you then that’s cool, but the rest of us cant afford “taking a chance” at times where we really cant afford to take a chance. This past year has shown that disparity enough, its ok to take your time and you wont get penalized for it if its a craft of your own. Of course, if your with others, there can be an established deadline but with your own rational, sort your shit out but be as tight about as you can be. Especially if you’re playing music, learn some theory, learn a phrase or to, hear yourself and feel yourself cause when you present it to a community to get evaluated, from there you take the critiques to see if it’s worth taking a “risk” or actually planning it out and learning more to do better.
Contact Info:
- Email: Senampalmer@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.crispinwahmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/got_thall/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senam.palmer/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/got_thall
Image Credits
Forest picture: Daniel DeSimone/fmga_worldwide Studio pictures: Ken Oriole
