Oliver Sean (born Oliver Sean Alvares; 11 October 1979) is a singer-songwriter, based in Algarve, Portugal.[1][2] His brand of music is known for its Americana influence with acoustic rock, world and contemporary undertones.

Oliver Sean
Born
Oliver Sean Alvares

(1979-10-11) 11 October 1979 (age 44)
Goa, India
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1999–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Labels
Websiteoliversean.com

Born in Goa, India, Sean has lived most of his life abroad, including Dubai and the UK.[3] His eclectic global music style is the trademark for his brand. It's attributed to his mixed Portuguese and Goan Lineage. Sean's discography with WOA International started in 1999 with his single "There She Is Again"[4] at the age of 19, having recorded it three years earlier.

As a composer, record producer and filmmaker, Sean's productions have been broadcast on international channels including MTV and VH1 and he has had several No.1 chart listings, and major top 10 chart rankings worldwide. Some of the highlights of his recognition has been Nomination for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 and hitting the Billboard Top 10 charts across multiple genres, including the Billboard Blues Album Charts and World Singles Charts. Some of his breakout chart successes have been Billboard Top 10 at number 6 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Charts in 2019 with "Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness)" [5] and #8 on the Billboard Top 10 Blues Album Charts with his album Devil is Back in August 2020.[6] The singer songwriter also secured his first UK top 50 on the Official UK Album Download Charts Official Charts Company.[7] In 2020 the artist made it into the Billboard Top 10 Artist charts [8] and secured another Billboard Blues Album Chart hit with his 2021 lockdown album Garage Sessions, Vol.1,[9]

He is a member of the Recording Academy and a voting member for the Grammy Awards.

Life and career edit

Early life edit

Oliver Sean grew up in Goa, India. His mother is Goan Portuguese and his father is American.[10] He was born to a musically inclined family as all of his uncles were musicians.[11] He started to write songs when he was 11 years old and had a band at school. At the age of 13, Sean turned into a professional and played for weddings in his uncle's band.[12] Oliver Sean's career was launched in his teens.[13] When he was 17, he formed his own band called Cloud 9.[14]

Breakthrough years (1999-2004) edit

Sean's breakthrough is traced back to 1999 when his discography with W.O.A. Entertainment began, featuring the single "There She Is Again". His debut album was I Like It. This album was nominated for 'International Album of the Year' by AVMax in 2003/04.[15] Also, one of the key moments was in the UK, when a studio head secured him a spot on Showcase TV that was aired on Sky/Granada TV.[16]

Musical career (2005-2010) edit

In 2006, Sean was involved with writing music for the French Government for the tourism campaign of the Massif Region and official song for the Goa Floats at the India Republic Day Parade[17] that won the top honors in 2006. In 2008, Sean came out with his second studio album called Darna Chod Do. The name of this album comes from Goan street slang.[18]

So Good and All I Remember (2011-2012) edit

Sean's third studio album So Good (2011) hit the Vh1 Top 10[19] for his single "Movies"[20] from the album on 4 June 2011, Featured album spot at the Virgin Megastores in Dubai, a Vh1 Specials feature in India and the MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 nomination in the MTV EMA Best India/Worldwide Act category. Sean released an Americana single titled "All I Remember"[21] in 2012. It was released in the US simultaneously announcing his first major US Tour. The music video for "All I Remember" was a featured video on Vh1 India's music channel and went on to hit the No.1 Spot on the Artist Aloud Charts (India Today Group). Sean made his debut in film music as a music director when he composed the Soundtrack for a popular Bollywood International film Cutting Chai[22] released in 2012.

Christmas and Animal Welfare (2013-2015) edit

Making a foray into holiday music Sean recorded his version of the Charles Brown hit "Please Come Home for Christmas"[23] in 2013 followed by his Christmas EP Unplugged Christmas releasing shortly thereafter. In February 2015 Oliver Sean released a live and unplugged EP titled Bootleg Recordings Vol.1[24] dedicated towards animal welfare and followed that up with the Stripped Down Summer Tour[25] across New York, Costa Rica and England.

Focus on world and film music (2016-2018) edit

Going deeper into world and film music in 2017, Sean composed the title track to a Goan (Konkani) feature film titled Devachem Planning. The singer's 4th studio album Devil in Blue Jeans was released on 31 August 2017.[26]

The album was on the iTunes bestselling preorders list in the UK[27] and two music videos/singles, New York and First Move, from the album are currently on rotation on Vh1 India/International, 9XO and RTP International. The third single from the album, "Walk Up and Kiss You", was selected by NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) for the 61st Grammy Awards Nomination Ballots in Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance categories.[28] The single went on to hit No. 1 on the iTunes top 100 singles chart and iTunes Rock Chart[citation needed] and the Devil in Blue Jeans album hit No. 2 on the iTunes Rock Album Chart and No. 14 on the iTunes Top 100 album chart.[29]

At the Fall 2018 International Independent Film Awards Sean's single New York won Gold in the Best Music Video and Best Original Song categories.[30]

Doing That and The Real Indie Project (2019 - 2020 ) edit

Keeping with his world beat roots the singer songwriter released his single Doing That (Time, Love, Happiness) on 1 February 2019. The song hit No. 1 on iTunes in the US, Canada and Turkey and a No. 2 on iTunes UK. The single then went on to hit the official Billboard Charts, coming in at No. 6 on the world digital song sales charts, for the Week of 1 June 2019, with the Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness) single.[2]

The artist was nominated for the 2020 Golden Fox Film Award, Best Music Video Category, as Director, for "Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness)".[31]

Sean won Best Music Video and Original Song for 'Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness) at the 2021 Swedish International Film Festival [32]

Sean joined forces with several high-profile indie musicians in 2019 to form a new musical project titled 'The Real Indie Project'. The singer songwriter and the musicians from his Real Indie Project released a new version of the Legendary William Bell single "Everyday will be like a holiday" as their first official single, in time to celebrate the holidays.[33]

Sean's album Devil is Back feat RIP (Real Indie Project) was released on 14 Aug and hit No.1 on the iTunes Blues Album charts.[34] The album went on to hit the Official UK Album Download Chart Official Charts Company for the week of 21–27 August 2020 breaking into the top 50's at No. 52.[35] The album broke into the Billboard Blues Album Chart at #8 for the week of 29 August 2020.[36]

The Garage Sessions (2020 - Present Day ) edit

In the midst of the pandemic Sean started streaming his live performances from his home and studio, for fans around the world to watch and connect with the artist one on one. This was called Garage Sessions, which garnered interest from fans and media around the world. The success of the livestreaming led to Sean recording an album that captured the feel of his weekly Garage Sessions livestream performance. The Garage Sessions, Vol.1 Album was released on 23 July. The album hit the Billboard Blues Album charts at #14 on 3 August 2021.[citation needed]

Sean got his first Christmas Number 1 in the UK on the Blues Charts in 2021, with his version of Everyday Will be like a Holiday.[citation needed]

Blues Dance (Worldbeat), which was released during the same time as the Garage Sessions Vol. 1 album went on to hit #1 in the US and the UK simultaneously on the iTunes Easy Listening charts, at the start on 2022.[37]

Other ventures edit

Sean has produced both his own and various international artists' music and music videos. He also hosts his own weekly radio show and podcast WOAFM99.[38]

Awards and achievements edit

  • AVMax International Album of the Year Nominee 2003
  • MTV Super Select - I Like It, 2004
  • MTV Most Wanted - I Like It, 2004
  • B4U International TV Special - Live TV Concert, 2006
  • Headiner at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) - 2006
  • MTV Exclusive - Darna Chod Do, Music Video, 2008
  • Zee TV Special TV Feature - Darna Chod Do, 2008
  • Big Goemkar (Goan of Year) - Big FM, 2009
  • Vh1 Top 10 (No.10) - Movies, Music Video 2011
  • MTV Europe Music Awards Nominee 2012
  • Grammy Nomination Considerations 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th & 58th Grammy Awards. 14. Vh1 Specials Documentary - 2012
  • No 1 on Artist Aloud Charts - All I Remember Single 2013
  • Reverbnation No.1 (World Music Genre), 2014
  • No.1 on N1M Americana Charts (Worldwide) - Single 'All I Remember' 2015
  • Reverbnation No.1 across UK (Americana Genre), 2015
  • No.1 on N1M Soft Rock Charts (Worldwide) - Single 'Movies' 2015
  • No.1 on N1M Americana Charts (Worldwide) - Single 'All I Remember' 2015
  • Breaking Music Video on 9XO - New York Single 2016
  • iTunes Bestselling Pre Orders List (UK) - Devil in Blue Jeans 31 August 2017
  • No.1 on iTunes Top 100 Charts Turkey - 22 Nov 2018 (Song: Walk up and Kiss you)
  • No.1 on iTunes Top 10 Rock Singles Turkey - 24 November 2018 (Song: New York)
  • No.2 on Album Charts (Rock) iTunes Mexico - 29 November 2018
  • No.14 on Album Charts (Top 100) iTunes Mexico - 29 November 2018
  • Gold Award for New York in Best Music Video at International Independent Film Awards - Dec 2018
  • Gold Award for New York in Best Original Song at International Independent Film Awards - Dec 2018
  • Billboard World Singles Charts #6 for Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness) - June 2019
  • Billboard Blues Album Charts #8 for Devil is Back - Aug 2020
  • Billboard Blues Album Charts # 14 for Garage Sessions, Vol.1 - Aug 2021
  • Winner at Swedish International Film Festival (Doing That, Best Music Video) - Sep 2021
  • Christmas Day No.1 on the iTunes UK Blues Charts with Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday - Dec 2021
  • No. 1 on the iTunes US and iTunes UK easy listening charts with Blues Dance (Worldbeat) - Jan 2022

Discography edit

  • There She Is Again (Single – WOA Records/W.O.A International– 1999
  • I Like It (LP – WOA Records/W.O.A International) – 2002
  • I Like It (Album Re-Release – Times Music/WOA Records/W.O.A International) – 2003
  • Libran Mind (Film Score) – 2004
  • Darna Chod Do (LP – WOA Records/W.O.A International / Crescendo BMG) – 2007
  • Christmas Time (Single – WOA Records/W.O.A International) – 2008
  • Goa Chillout Zone Vol.1 (Compilation – WOA Records/W.O.A International) – 2009
  • So Good (Single – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2010
  • So Good – The Album (LP – WOA Records) – 2011
  • NuBreed of the Middle East (Compilation – Daxxar) – 2011
  • Cutting Chai[39] (Film soundtrack – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2012
  • All I Remember (Single – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2012
  • Christmas Unplugged (LIVE EP – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2012
  • Please come home for Christmas (Single – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2013
  • The Bootleg Recordings Vol.1 (LIVE EP – WOA Records/WOA International) - 2015
  • Unplugged Christmas (LIVE EP – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2016
  • New York (Single – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2016
  • First Move (Single – WOA Records/WOA International – 2017
  • Devachem Planning (Movie Soundtrack/Title Track for Konkani Feature Film Film Score) - 2017
  • Decade of Hits (LP/Compilation – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2017
  • Devil in Blue Jeans (LP – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2017
  • Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness) (Single – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2019
  • Everyday will be like a holiday - (Single – WOA Records/WOA International) – 2019
  • Devil is Back - (EP - [WOA Records/WOA International) – 2020
  • Garage Sessions, Vol.1 - (Album - [WOA Records/WOA International) – 2021

Filmography edit

  • I Like It (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Actor / Producer – 2002
  • Darna Chod Do (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Actor / Executive Producer – 2007
  • Darna Chod Do Remix (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Actor / Executive Producer – 2007
  • (Saurabh), Music Video, Executive Producer- 2009
  • Peace Remix (Saurabh), Music Video, Executive Producer – 2009
  • Cutting Chai (Bollywood Film), Composer/Music Director[39]
  • So Good (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Actor/Producer/Director – 2011
  • Movies (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Actor/producer/Director – 2011
  • Dichotomy (Kotadama), Music Video, Director – 2011
  • Love Song (Jade Steel), Music Video, Director – 2011
  • So Naive (Eric Dulle), Music Video, Director – 2011
  • Alone (Oliver Sean), Music Video, actor, producer, Director – 2012
  • Vh1 Specials – Oliver Sean, Documentary, Director – 2012
  • All I Remember (Oliver Sean), Music Video, actor, producer, Director – 2012
  • Diacronia (Nagmah), Music Video, Director - 2015
  • Necessary Evil (Laura Ainsworth), Music Video, Director - 2015
  • Detroit on a Roll (Lorraine Milton), Music Video, Director - 2015
  • New York (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Director - 2017
  • First Move (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Director - 2018
  • Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness) (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Director - 2019
  • Everyday will be like a holiday (Oliver Sean feat. Real Indie Project), Music Video, Director 2019
  • Devil is Back (Oliver Sean), Music Video, Director 2020

References edit

  1. ^ "Portuguese artist Oliver Sean hits the Billboard Top 10 Charts".
  2. ^ a b "Leicester based Indie Artist hits the Billboard Top 10 Charts". 6 June 2019.
  3. ^ "India Goes Indie". Gulf News.
  4. ^ "There She Is Again - Single by Oliver Sean on Amazon".
  5. ^ "Portuguese Artist hits the Billboard Top 10 Charts". The Portugal News.
  6. ^ "Leicester Indie Artist hits top 10 on Billboard".
  7. ^ "Official UK Album Download Charts". The Official Charts Company.
  8. ^ "Billboard Charts". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Oliver Sean's Garage Sessions hits Billboard Charts". PRLog.
  10. ^ "Photo - Google+". plus.google.com. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Photo - Google+". plus.google.com. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Photo - Google+". plus.google.com. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Oliver Sean Official Website". Oliver Sean Official Website. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Photo - Google+". plus.google.com. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Oliver Sean Official Website". Oliver Sean Official Website. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Album - Google+". plus.google.com. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Oliver Sean's going great guns - Times of India".
  18. ^ Eye, BOB SAAR for The Hawk. "Oliver Sean at The Washington". The Hawk Eye Newspaper. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Oliver Sean Hits No 10 on the VH1 International Music Charts".
  20. ^ "So Good - The Album by Oliver Sean on Apple Music".
  21. ^ "All I Remember". 18 September 2012 – via Amazon.
  22. ^ "Cutting Chai Dreams High (Masti 24/7) - Film Soundtrack". 4 October 2011 – via Amazon.
  23. ^ "Please Come Home for Christmas - Single by Oliver Sean on Apple Music".
  24. ^ "The Bootleg Recordings, Vol.1 - EP by Oliver Sean on Apple Music".
  25. ^ "Oliver Sean "Stripped Down" Tour Travels to Manuel Antonio - Costa Rica Star News". 16 May 2015.
  26. ^ "Devil in Blue Jeans by Oliver Sean on Apple Music".
  27. ^ "Oliver Sean keeps surprising us".
  28. ^ "61st Grammy awards Lisa Panagos".
  29. ^ "Oliver Sean hits No 10 on iTunes Album Charts". ABC7 News.
  30. ^ "International Independent Film Gold Awards". International Independent Film Award.
  31. ^ "2020 Golden Fox Award Nominees".
  32. ^ "Oliver Sean's Music Video and Original Song Wins at the Swedish International Film Festival".
  33. ^ "Oliver Sean announces new single featuring the Real Indie Project".
  34. ^ "Oliver Sean hits the iTunes Charts US and UK at No.1".
  35. ^ "Official UK Album Download Charts".
  36. ^ "Oliver Sean Billboard".
  37. ^ "Featured: Interview With MTV EMA Nominee And Multiple Billboard Top 10 Artist Oliver Sean".
  38. ^ "WOAFM99 Radio Show". iTunes.
  39. ^ a b "imdb".

External links edit