Conrad Sewell
The British born, Australian raised, LA-based, singer, songwriter has come a long way in a short amount of time. Conrad Sewell, undoubtedly one of the most exciting new solo artists to come out of Australia is currently making his mark internationally – just last year he stormed into the UK charts with ‘Firestone’, amassing over 300 million streams.
In 2015 (a breakthrough year for the musician), just before stepping up to collect his ARIA Award for “Song of the Year”, the 27-year-old knocked Taylor Swift off of the #1 spot in Australia with ‘Start Again’. This moment, he concedes, was his biggest achievement to date: “The song itself has always been special to me. I wrote it 3 years ago and it was so nice to have it all pay off. It was a real milestone.”
That’s a lot of attention, but for Conrad being an entertainer has been a goal since he can remember. “You never really become a singer, songwriter, you are always one. I have been writing since I was 8 years old. Sure, I did my time working at a convenience store and even tried my hand at delivering pizza, but the bigger picture was always there.”
Soul has always been in Conrad’s blood, his style of music is often described as; emotional, soulful and powerful in vocal delivery. Despite having a dedication to the Motown era and 90’s r&b artists such as Usher and Craig David, he expresses his gratitude toward current hits: “Music today is great and different. Because of streaming, there is a lot of crap out there, as no one is sifting through and anyone can put music out. But this also helps the creative process, you don’t have to follow a pop formula anymore.”
You never really become a singer, songwriter, you are always one. I have been writing since I was 8 years old. Sure, I did my time working at a convenience store and even tried my hand at delivering pizza, but the bigger picture was always there.
When the question of style comes up, his penchant for fashion is evident, describing his overall look accurately as “definitively, rock & roll.” He explains further: “I tend to stick to black and am always in a cool pair of boots, leather jacket, etc. There’s no doubt fashion and music go together. Artists I look up to had something about what they wore – Michael Jackson always had the hats and the socks. These things became iconic pieces that people always remember when they think of an artist. I’ve always wanted to have that about me – have things that people can attach to my music. They go hand in hand – you gotta look cool.”
For now, his focus is on the new debut album on 300 Entertainment which features collaborations with the likes of Birdy, Clean Bandit and Naughty Boy (British record producer known for his hit songs with Sam Smith and Beyonce). “This is a big deal for me,” he reveals. “I have been writing all over the world trying to get the right songs. I am really excited about it- it’s going to be a soul-driven album with the help of a lot of amazing producers and song writer’s.” This year’s release will see him move swiftly from talent to superstar.
Photography Trevor King
Styling & Words Jesse Arifien
Grooming Nicola Hamilton
