The ‘divine gift’ of charisma is only granted to the rare few in this world. Charisma is a fluid ambiguous aspect of human personality where the ‘chosen ones’ exhude extreme acute charm and a magnetic quality of character and appearance, complete with overwhelming wit and articulation. The less fortunate, particularly the insecure, will shy away and even disparage a trait they can neither understand nor hope to achieve. But charisma remains in the essence of the gifted minority; infiltrating our heroes, greatest entertainers and accomplished artists. And to this illustrious group must be included Aria award winner, ‘Flaunt It’ purveyor, MC, lyricist, vocalist, wordsmith and musician – Seany B. To watch Seany B perform is to be confronted by pure sexuality and undeniable fortitude. But to open one’s ears to the auditory delight of this ability-laden artist is to accept his incredible technique and profound vocal timbre. His adlibbing is always jocular, his lyrics often scandalous and his ability, unassailable. But one can not help wondering if the very same personality the media portrays Seany B as, is indeed the person he truly is, once the glitz, jazz, disco balls, stage and microphone are taken away.

Seany B’s distinctively resonant voice booms to me across the phone as he sits in his Melbourne home. Indeed, what he has to say and how he says it is conflicting to my ears – I am overwhelmed as much by the beauty of his bass heavy cadence as the eloquence of his words. With a rough american accent picked up from his high school days in the states balanced with his innate comprehension of australian life, attitudes and slang, Seany B is a child of many worlds. With a czechoslavakian father who didn’t mind popping Julio Inglesias or Tito Puente onto the stereo and a mother reared in The South Bronx who loved her motown, Seany B lived during the 1980s and early 1990s in a multi-lingual household, enduring the life of ‘a mixed kid’ growing up in Melburnian Australia. He collected comics and held an especial admiration for Wolverine – until the casting of Hugh Jackman in the X Men movies ruined that for him – with Rick James now taking pride of place as a superhero. “What does music mean to you?” I ask, readying for a lengthy response. “Everything” Seany succinctly replies. Okay. “So what was the first album that really made you stand up and took notice?” I ask him. “Well, really all we had in those days was Rage,” Seany comments. “But my older cousin had NWA’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’ and when he played ‘Fuck Tha Police’, I was changed. I had never heard swearing before – mainstream music just didn’t have that,” Seany reflects.

Surrounded by plenty of soulful funk with James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Rick James, Seany B easily took to hip hop where he retains that HipHop still remains as the roots of his musical psyche. However, his liberal mind and balanced appreciation for talent and skill has kept the world of music forever open without barriers. As a notable wordsmith posied alongside his passion for music, I also couldn’t help wondering what book opened up his mind to the world. “The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.” Seany B promptly notes when I ask him. “Wasn’t he a bit shocking?” I ask. “He was quite shocking,” Seany laughs at me. “I really admire Oscar Wilde. He was shocking, sexual, subversive, experimental, witty and full of innuendo.” “Isn’t that really you?” I ask him, noting the characteristics he so obvously admires. “I really love words,” Seany discloses. “I love the english language; dissecting the language and written word, looking at accents in spoken word and illustrative language and tones and how to use them. How you can change the accents to give new meanings in the same sentence and utilise audible punctuation. See, in dance music, words can interfere – there is no room for wit.”

Leaving Australia to be schooled in the states certainly opened Sean’s eyes. He worked hard at his schooling to be accepted at Gold Coast’s Bond University on scholarship for a triple major. “Wow,” I mumble innanely when he tells me this. “You’re smart.” “I’m not a pretty face,” Seany replies promptly; his remark portraying that he is used to being underestimated. Living in beautiful Broadbeach and enjoying the coastal caches of the golden beaches, climate and girls, Seany B also worked at MyBar to earn a crust. “I loved the latin band they had on Tuesday nights,” I note. “They had a lot of great music throughout the week,” Seany quips in response. Returning to Melbourne after completing his triple major, Seany took to rapping over house music in a few clubs where he met with JJ Styles who then introduced him to DJ Dean Cherny. And thus, Dirty Laundry came together followed by a lengthy period of success. Seany acknowedges the Dirty Laundry years as great ones, fondly reminiscing over the many memories. But at the end of 2006 when the phenomonal success of Seany B in “Flaunt It” ate the mainstream and dance world, the band, understandably concerned for their own careers, may have questioned the priorities of their star MC. When Seany parted company from Dirty Laundry well-supported by the unexpected and unprecedented accomplishments with TV Rock, I’m quite sure there would have been no looking back. Since featuring on “Sunshine City”, Seany B has also seen the recent release of “Breathe” alongside Dylan Rhymes & Jonno Fernandez to vinyl with the last five months of his life dedicated to recording his pending album.

As a Capricorn and therefore destined to ‘always be right’, the stars dictate that Seany is consistently practical and while often demanding, remains disciplined and methodical in his perspectives. This is the crux of his being, for it appears that Seany B will meet confrontation head on and wrest his envinronment to suit what he deems is best. No doubt, such personal aspects will also feature on his ready to be released work. With an album that highlights “raw talent” and “natural musicianship”, Australian audiences will certainly be keen to perceive Seany B’s personal offerings. “My upcoming album takes me as a three dimensional fully faceted human being and presents this,” Seany reveals. “I elaborate a lot on this album. The truth is in the message, something that can often be lost in the delivery. But it’s all about me in this album. I’m the co-producer on this album – the nucleus and the genisis came from me,” Seany boldly states. There is no facetiousness to Seany’s tone – merely fact and determination. “My whole life has come to this point,” he reveals. “What’s more important?” I ask, “Being popular or being great at your craft?” “Of course being great at your craft,” he retorts, though his tone still remains kind. “You do what you love without losing the love for it, because you love it. It might seem all fun when you first start out, but after the honeymoon’s over, you can wake up in a bad place if the love is not there.”

With the first track from the album “B Good 2 Me” ready for release as a single in January, Seany B is presently focussed on his gruelling gig schedule. After an incredible performance at Brisbane’s Fluffy Festival, and frequent gigs recently at The Regatta, Seany’s chops are primed for the Rancho Urban Festival, Saturday December 1. Here, he will no doubt treat the crowd to his customary energetic performance that will exhibit his raw talent, natural musicianship and latent sexuality. In spite of such triumphs, Seany B still remains an enigma in the Australian music industry. However, to judge upon his skills and performances, Seany B heralds the coming of a new age in music: the charismatic rhapsodist. Well may Australia welcome his coming.

You can catch Seany B around Australia over the coming months, stay tuned to local guides for further dates:

Dec 1 – Rancho Festival, Brisbane
Dec 6 – Q Bar, Melbourne
Dec 8 – Cargo Bar, Sydney
Dec 8 – Oceans 30 Festival, Gold Coast
Dec 15 – Club VIP Xmas Party, Sydney
Dec 16 – St Kilda Sea Baths, Melbourne
Dec 16 – Cushion Lounge, Melbourne
Dec 22 – Ocean Blue, Melbourne
Dec 23 – Dirty Love Boat Cruise, Melbourne
Dec 31 – NYE The Beach Party, Beach Hotel, Melbourne
Dec 31 – Dirty Love at Eve, Melbourne