There truly aren’t any guarantees in life; but if you’re hoping for a hit song, Sean Garrett, is pretty much a surefire bet.  Sean has been responsible for hits such as Usher’s “Yeah,” Beyonce’s “Upgrade U,” Fergie’s “London Bridge,” Chris Brown’s “Run It,” and much more. 

It’s a lengthy track record of success that has made him one of the most successful songwriter-producers of today.  So how does a top-notch songwriter-producer top all of that success?  Well, he takes the ultimate risk and ventures out on his own as a solo artist; which is exactly what Sean intends to do this spring with his debut album release, Turbo 919. 

Sixshot got the fast-moving artist to slow down and talk making conscious music, why Kanye West is his biggest inspiration, handling disappointment, letting go of his past, and more.       

I read that you wanted to make a groundbreaking record.  What would you say is groundbreaking about this album?

My record is definitely ground breaking because it has some extremely incredible records on there from “Turbo 919;” to my next single with Lil' Wayne on it; to this beautiful acoustic piano record that I did called “One Day.”&nb sp; It’s gonna give people an opportunity to see that they never knew I could sing like that—they never knew that I had a voice.  You’re not gonna listen to my album and only hear one or two singles.  This one has about eight singles on the album.

In addition to the love songs you have the track, “People,” which is a very conscious anthem.  What inspired that song?

"People" is a record that I sort of felt obliged to do.  Even though I talk about gripping on the bed and come on in and young love—I'm still very conscious about the state of the world.  I still wish that everyone could love each other and reach back and help the next man that may not be as fortunate.  That’s the reason why I wrote that record—to inspire the people to reach back and give back.  Personally, I tend to support the Boys and Girls Club of America.  That was a starting place for me when I was about five.  I’m becoming more acclimated to that society and getting involved with it.  So I can’t say it’s easy ‘cause my schedule is hectic, but im always promoting and sponsoring things.

How did your approach in writing for yourself differ from writing for someone else?

Of course writing for yourself is a little bit more self-indulgent.  People get an opportunity to see my emotional side and see my craziness as far as records like “Turbo 919.”  They’re gonna say, “Oh he’s playing with different cards!”  I work hard to impress my listeners.  I’m probably most inspired by Kanye [West].  We’re cut from the same cloth.  We both stated as songwriter-producers and then went to being artists.  He went through people telling him that he’s not an artist and just a producer.  He came out and showed the world differently.  That’s what it’s all about: people have their opinion and you overcoming it.  It’s about triumph, believing God, staying focused on your dream, and keeping it moving.

You have such a track record of success so what happens when a song isn’t as successful as you may hope it to be?  How do you handle a situation like that?

You gotta take the wins with the losses.  When you work like I work you get to the point where you’re just working and not really worried about that.  All I want to do is make my fans happy and get them excited about music and life.  That’s my way of speaking to the world.  That’s my gift that I give back to the world—make people smile and have a good time in the clubs.

I read that you don’t hold onto the past.  What in your past have you had to let go in order to grow as a human being?

I guess the biggest thing is people‘s opinion.  You have so many people telling you what you should be doing and you’re clearly very good at what you do.  So you have to let go of that stress on you.  People let their insecurities affect you and it’s about having faith in God and believing in positivity.  A lot of people slow you down because they get caught up in negativity.  That’s not the way for me.  That’s just my perspective.  I always think positive and let go of the negativity.

As you stated people wanted you to be a songwriter when you first came in the industry despite your wishes to be an artist.  At the at last moment you took the songwriting route.  Why did you take that route at that point as opposed to remaining focused on being an artist?

I felt like God must have been given me more to say than what I could put on an album.  I do have so many different emotions and thoughts.  That’s why I'm able to write from a girl's perspective and from things my peers have been through.  So that’s God.  You have to let him guide your life.  So I can’t complain about nothing.

Some people in the industry say that you’re too focused or serious.  Are they telling the truth?

Why does it have to be my generation that stops buying music?  So I don’t like to play around with people’s hearts, minds, souls, and their pockets.  So when I do music I try to do something to make them feel good and want to purchase music.  I just want to do my part to help contribute to a great generation of music.

For more information please visit:
www.myspace.com/seangarrettmusic